Over the last decade or so, we’ve come to accept that the best time to buy a TV is in late January, just ahead of the Super Bowl. At this point, TV makers are already talking about their next wave of upgrades so the current models start to go on sale. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s just before the “big game,” which is the single most-watched TV event of the year. (And the second-biggest eating day of the year behind Thanksgiving!)

As someone who loves everything about movies just as much as football, I personally think that logic is flawed. If you’re a fan of pop culture like me, waiting until the end of January to upgrade is a bit late. For the pop culture obsessed (like me), there’s a parade of big-screen-worthy events going on right now.

It’s awards season for the film and music industries — a marathon of Guilds, Globes, and Grammys, which builds up to the Oscars next March**. **Along with all of the awards shows, there are hours and hours of red carpet pre-shows, late night talk show appearances, YouTube videos, and all the other promotional content that actors and musicians make to endorse their most prestigious work. Why would you delay until the Super Bowl to upgrade your TV when there’s so much to watch right now?

In my family, there’s just as much fanfare around awards shows as football. For signature events like the Golden Globes, Grammys, and the Oscars, we invite over a big group friends and family to watch. I like to print out ballots with all the categories for everyone to guess who’s going to win, and give out a prize to the winner. We get a bit competitive about it, too, which the whole thing so much more fun.

Turning your living room into a screening room, with the right size TV for your space and a booming surround sound system, can make you feel like you’re right there in these live TV moments, whether you’re at the 50-yard line or on the red carpet. While sports benefit greatly from some of the tech in new TVs, like higher refresh rates, every single show you watch will look better on a bigger, brighter, sharper set.

Upgrading from a conventional LED model to an OLED TV, specifically, creates deeper and more vibrant colors and better contrast for sharper lines. You’ll see the difference in the details of every exquisite Oscar gown, every thrilling performance, and the look on every winner’s face as they give their acceptance speech.

Now on to the important part — shopping. Though Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed, retailers are still pushing prices down on TVs for the rest of the holiday season. Right now, for instance, you can scoop up a 75-Inch LED TV from Samsung for just $450. Another option I’d look at is Amazon’s Hisense 65-inch Mini LED, which is currently just $950 — that’s 37 percent off. Most retailers cycle through and adjust deals regularly throughout December, so you need to keep tabs on any deals that catch your eye.

You should also brace yourself a bit: As we mentioned, TV makers will announce new TVs in January at Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which means your currently new TV is about to become an older one That’s no big deal, though. Most of us hold on to TVs for seven to 10 years, so it isn’t as if you’re going to lose out on much by missing a single iteration.

As for me, to say I am excited for this year’s awards season is an understatement. I studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and even named my dog Oscar after the golden statuette given out at the Academy Awards. If you love movies and music as much as I do, you deserve to watch each and every awards show on the best screen possible. Start creating that space today, and viewing all of these major TV moments will be your best experience yet.

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Jamie, Senior Editor of Expert Reviews, joined the Hearst Enthusiast Group in 2021. She has covered technology and consumer lifestyle gadgets since 1995—and shared her expertise in print, digital, and in broadcast originating the role of The Gizmo Girl for ESPN’s Cold Pizza. She has written about, tested, and reviewed everything from turkey fryers to high-definition TVs. Her byline has appeared in TWICE, Sound & Vision, Consumer Reports, and many others. In her free time, Jamie is in a yoga class, searching for the perfect matcha latte, or walking the boards.