If you don't have tickets to the Super Bowl, watching the game on a plasma television could be the next best thing to a seat in the stands.
But before you invest your bonus on a big screen that you can show off to your friends on Feb. 6, be aware that a plasma TV is like a high-maintenance lover: It requires lots of money and attention.
Manufacturers also have worked out some of the kinks since plasma TVs hit the market in 1999 - so they look better than ever.
However, there's a "tastes great, less filling" battle heating up between plasma and other types of slim, flat displays, namely LCD sets.
The larger the screen, the higher the price; they do not come in small sizes.
Once you figure in costs for delivery, installation, service plans, power-surge protectors, a wall mount (or TV stand) and the necessary cable box, antenna or built-in signal receiver, you're talking another thousand bucks - at least.
High-definition, however, still appears the wave of television future - again, because the picture looks so good - therefore, upgrade to an HDTV plasma for long-term satisfaction.
Manufacturers insist that current plasmas will last as long as traditional televisions.
But Consumer Reports editor David Heim says plasmas are "still too new in the marketplace" to prove their longevity.
Even with this new screen-saver-like technology, burn-in is still possible.
Perhaps surprisingly, there's not always one built-in.
These are more expensive, but you can receive high-definition broadcasts "out of the box" - either over-the-air using an antenna or by subscribing to a cable or satellite package that includes HD channels.
These can cost $300 to $500, but you may be able to lease one from your local cable company for a few dollars a month.
Place it at eye level, says Circuit City spokesman Steve Mullen.