Although my girlfriend and I do not watch a lot of TV, she has recently started watching morning chat shows (Jeremy Kyle, Trisha and other such shite). She tells me she doesn't like them as they are, she just says she finds the people on there hilarious and stupid. I keep reminding her that that is exactly WHY they keep putting chat shows on air. It sucks people in to a world where they can feel superior, despite the obvious irony about it.

Anyway, as far as your problem goes...when he settles in for an evening of TV, suggest that you go out for a meal, or to the cinema, or to a bar or something. Encourage him to spend more time with you out of the house, engaging in conversation rather than gawping at the TV for hours on end. If this doesn't work, let him know how you feel about his addiction to the "idiot box" and that you would rather spend time with HIM without having the television as some sort of intermediary.

And if that doesn't work...then maybe the relationship can't work. Opposites attract, but there has to be a limit.