Oh, he’s doing that because he feels like he’s missing out? I thought the joke was that he curled into fetal position because the guy is peppering him with questions and is feeling overwhelmed.
I had a boss that’d always try to talk about films, TV, and frequently referenced actors to me, and I’d always feel a bit bad that I never got it.
I imagine you have your own methods to handle these types of discussions, but this is my trick.
"Have you watched random niche show you've never heard of?"
"No, but I've heard it's pretty decent. What's it about?"
At this point, you can check out of the conversation while they talk about a show you'll never see. Personally, I like to half listen because I like to hear about stuff people have a passion for
I do try to engage in conversations about it when prompted to, but I always feel rather bad when they ask and can somehow instantly tell that I have absolutely no clue.
I like to think he’s overwhelmed by an instant realisation of his own brief mortality in the face of what must be hundreds of cumulative hours of shows that he will most likely never watch