Spouse chooses ghastly crime (Investigation Discovery channel, Homicide Hunter show, for instance) and other sensational programs (such as My 600 Pound Life and Dr. Pimplepopper). They run on a loop, so he will watch programs he's seen again and again. These shows involve him intensely and often he talks back to the TV. He has an active social life, so that's not an issue. He watches Turner Classic Movies as well as political shows, such as Rachel Maddow's, so the range of programming is not an issue. The level of interest is. Would anyone else have observed a person glorying in crime and circus sideshow subjects?
Never heard about that Dr. show. I can't stand to hear " these people are disgusting- how can you watch this ". Because it's a show with made up characters. I draw the line at images of concentration camp victims. I know what happened and it makes me ill but I can't see it. Love to read but can't read anymore about that. It is gut wrenching.
He loves drama and gets in to it, real, imagined or on tv.
Try switching over to SCI which is a science channel. Fascinating shows. Such as "Engineering Catastrophes" which has to do with engineering errors made on buildings, bridges, etc.
Another is "Mysteries of the Abandoned" which has to do with buildings that had been abandoned world wide, and the mysteries as to what were these buildings used for and why they are no longer in use.
Another similar show is "What on Earth?" has to do with strange things scientist have found around the world and the mystery behind them.
One show that your hubby may be too intense is "Sinkholes", why they happen, and showing buildings sinking into the earth.
These shows are educational, and one can watch over and over. Pretend to watch one and ask hubby to join you and you can ask him questions about what is being shown. That way it can draw in his interest.