You’re surfing through the channels at home and there it is — the movie you’ve seen 2,000 times.
You can’t help yourself. You’re watching it again.
Doesn’t matter if it’s already half over.
Doesn’t matter that you actually own the movie on DVD and could watch it anytime you want.
Something makes your finger freeze on the remote. You are hooked.
Romantic comedy, sci-fi classic, black-and-white, color, ‘50, ‘30s, ‘80s, musical, three-hanky weeper, buddy picture — it’s almost never the best movie you’ve ever seen.
In most cases, we found, you don’t even pick the movie. It picks you.
This TV watching phenomenon, as far as we can determine, doesn’t even have a name. Comfort film? Meatloaf movie?
It is believed the phenomenon did not exist before the advent of basic cable.
The need to fill up so many hours of TV time is the reason why “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Air Force One” seems to be on — somewhere — every minute of the day.
Meanwhile, we asked a selected group of TV celebrities — ranging in age from 17-year-old Demi Lovato to 70-something Regis Philbin — to tell us the movie they can’t say no to and why.
Here’s what they said — and here’s looking at you, kid:
* Meredith Vieira: “The Wizard of Oz.” And also the “Sex and the City” movie. It might take someone with a psychology degree to analyze that combination.
* Steve Wilkos (“Steve Wilkos Show”): “Papillon” with Steve McQueen. This is the ultimate prison escape movie.
* Regis Philbin: “An Affair to Remember.” One of the great love stories ever made. How can you miss with Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr and the Empire State Building?
* Robin Roberts: “Dirty Dancing.” I can’t wait to hear Patrick Swayze say, ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner!’
* Maria Bartiromo (CNBC): “Houseboat” with Sophia Loren and “Charade” with Audrey Hepburn because they are classic, fun and bring me back to that golden era.
* Maria Menounos (“Access Hollywood”): “The Wizard of Oz.” It’s a timeless fairy tale. When I think of Dorothy Gale and her adventures in Oz, I sometimes think of myself and my own adventures in Hollywood.
* Billy Bush (“Access Hollywood”): “Miracle.” That story never gets old. Neither does feeling really patriotic and proud.
* Gary Apple (SNY anchor): “Hoosiers.” Aside from being a huge fan of Gene Hackman, the story itself transcends sports.
* Joy Behar: Alfred Hitchcock’s “Notorious,” with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. The cast is brilliant and it has incredible tension.
* Judge Judy: “The Sound of Music.” I love the music and Julie Andrews is terrific.
* Jeanine Pirro: “Gladiator.” It’s not just an historical classic about the triumph of the human spirit, it’s about settling scores. It’s about strength and honor.
* Sherri Shepherd (“The View”): “Gladiator,” because Russell Crowe fighting to avenge his wife and child is sexiness at its best.
* Demi Lovato: “Stepbrothers.” Will Ferrell and John C. Riley are hilarious in this! The comedic timing is genius and the one-liners never get old!
* Brian Williams: “The Godfather.” Like any man my age from Jersey, I know every word of dialogue. Same with Part 2 . . . Part 3 is dead to me.
* Rachael Ray: “Groundhog Day,” because it’s constantly on TV and it’s an obsession of my husband’s that became an obsession of mine.
* George Stephanopoulos: “Annie Hall.” Woody Allen’s a genius, and “Annie Hall” is his masterpiece.
* Julie Chen: “Pretty Woman.” It’s one of those movies that I probably know all the lines to. I love every frame. Every part. Every girl wanted [Julia Roberts’] hair. I still do. I am from Queens and big hair is in my DNA.