OnAir Solution's USB HDTV-GT is a moderately priced, but full-featured HDTV adapter for your PC. It doesn't have the couch potato appeal that a real TV has, but this probably works better than your TV.

With the GT you'll be able to record or pause your shows at up to 1080i resolutions, pulling from cable (QAM, unencrypted) or over the air. It will even do analog, while it lasts. Best reception of OTA signals does take a little fiddling with the antenna, but just a nudge can make all the difference. Highly recommended.