Yes, fellow couch potatoes, The Herald’s Powers That Be have decided to force Taylor on TV into an early retirement. No hard feelings here. At its inception, this column was really just a happy accident. Back when I worked as editor of the Lake Wylie Pilot, I was out wining and dining with a group of newspaper people that included the then-publisher of the Herald. She overhead me talking passionately about some TV show or other and offered me my own column. How could I say no?

My first Taylor on TV was a massive piece on the series finale of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” still my all-time favorite television show. Between then and now, I watched a whole lot of good stuff that I felt privileged to write about in this very spot: The debut of “Lost,” and then, after its disappointing second season, its glorious season-three rebirth. Jack Bauer kicking terrorist butt season after season on “24.” Shane murdering Lem and betraying Mackey on “The Shield.” Veronica Mars catching Lilly’s killer.

While writing this column I saw the beautiful beginning of “Pushing Daisies” and the sad, touching finale of “Six Feet Under.” I became smitten with that wonderfully snappy “Gilmore Girls” dialogue and enthralled by the dizzying lunacy of “30 Rock.” Like everyone else, I was tuned in when Tony Soprano and family sat down to eat those onion rings.

Would I have seen all of these things if I wasn’t writing this column? Tough to say. But there’s little question that knowing I had to turn in one of these babies every week drove me to search out good TV storytelling in places I might not have otherwise looked. (Places like the USA network, which has me hooked on “Burn Notice,” and Showtime, where “Weeds” is a personal fave.)

I want to thank you, the reader, for both your attention and feedback over the last five years. Whether you e-mailed with a question, to thank me for introducing you to your latest TV addiction or even to inform me of just how wrong I got it in a recent column, I appreciated the fact that you took the time to read Taylor on TV and drop me a line.

Of course, just because I’m not writing about TV anymore doesn’t mean I won’t be watching it. The upcoming season looks particularly promising with new shows from “Alias” creator J.J. Abrams and “Buffy” guru Joss Whedon coming this fall or shortly thereafter. (And, yes, I find it disturbingly ironic that Joss finally gets a new show on the air and I won’t be here to talk about it. That’s just not fair at all.)

I still believe that the best storytelling in the world is done by TV writers, producers, directors and actors. They get all the benefits of cinema but with a much larger canvas to create on. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a group of sophisticated characters evolve naturally over the course of many seasons, regardless of whether they change for the better or worse, come together or grow apart. Well, actually, there might be one thing more satisfying — when you get to not only watch, but to write about it, too.

You guys have been great. Thanks again for reading. Now go find something good on TV to watch.

You can find Bob Taylor on the web and read past installments of “Taylor on TV” at www.robertbriantaylor.com.