I know what you mean about not wanting to leave the kids. Now that my kids are school age it's a struggle to do things without them.

As far as "The Color Purple", Oprah was in the movie and she helped out with getting the play on Broadway.

On the rare occasions when I do watch TV, it's usually the evening shows on PBS stations (the stations that show Sesame Street, etc). I like "Will and Grace" and "King of Queens" but haven't been watching them much lately.