diff --git a/television/channels/prototypes.rs b/television/channels/prototypes.rs
index 27bce75..43da9e3 100644
--- a/television/channels/prototypes.rs
+++ b/television/channels/prototypes.rs
@@ -159,12 +159,42 @@ impl CommandSpec {
     }
 }
 
+/// Execution mode for external actions
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, serde::Deserialize, serde::Serialize, PartialEq)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
+pub enum ExecutionMode {
+    /// Fork the command as a child process (current behavior, tv stays open)
+    #[default]
+    Fork,
+    /// Replace the current process with the command (tv exits, command takes over)
+    Become,
+}
+
+/// Output handling mode for external actions
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, serde::Deserialize, serde::Serialize, PartialEq)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
+pub enum OutputMode {
+    /// Inherit stdin/stdout/stderr (current behavior)
+    #[default]
+    Inherit,
+    /// Capture output for processing
+    Capture,
+    /// Discard output silently
+    Discard,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Deserialize, serde::Serialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct ActionSpec {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub description: Option<String>,
     #[serde(flatten)]
     pub command: CommandSpec,
+    /// How to execute the command (fork vs become)
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub become: bool,
+    /// How to handle command output
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub output_mode: OutputMode,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Deserialize, serde::Serialize)]
diff --git a/television/main.rs b/television/main.rs
index 7cd0884..f545427 100644
--- a/television/main.rs
+++ b/television/main.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use television::{
     gh::update_local_channels,
     television::Mode,
     utils::clipboard::CLIPBOARD,
-    utils::command::shell_command,
+    utils::command::{execute_action, shell_command},
     utils::{
         shell::{
             Shell, completion_script, render_autocomplete_script_template,
@@ -123,18 +123,8 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
         debug!("External command: {}", formatted_command);
 
-        // Execute the command with inherited stdio
-        let mut child = shell_command(
-            &formatted_command,
-            action_spec.command.interactive,
-            &action_spec.command.env,
-        )
-        .stdin(Stdio::inherit())
-        .stdout(Stdio::inherit())
-        .stderr(Stdio::inherit())
-        .spawn()?;
-
-        let status = child.wait()?;
+        // Execute the command using the new action execution abstraction
+        let status = execute_action(&action_spec, &formatted_command)?;
 
         if !status.success() {
             eprintln!(
diff --git a/television/utils/command.rs b/television/utils/command.rs
index 10922a7..0ffec0b 100644
--- a/television/utils/command.rs
+++ b/television/utils/command.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use std::{collections::HashMap, process::Command};
 use tracing::warn;
 
 use super::shell::Shell;
+use crate::channels::prototypes::{ActionSpec, OutputMode};
 
 pub fn shell_command<S>(
     command: &str,
@@ -32,3 +33,55 @@ pub fn shell_command<S>(
     cmd.envs(envs).arg(command);
     cmd
 }
+
+/// Execute an external action with the appropriate execution mode and output handling
+/// 
+/// Currently implements the existing behavior but designed to be extended with:
+/// - `become` flag for execve behavior
+/// - `output_mode` for different output handling modes
+pub fn execute_action(
+    action_spec: &ActionSpec,
+    formatted_command: &str,
+) -> std::io::Result<std::process::ExitStatus> {
+    // For now, preserve existing behavior regardless of the new flags
+    // In the future, this will branch based on action_spec.become and action_spec.output_mode
+    
+    let mut cmd = shell_command(
+        formatted_command,
+        action_spec.command.interactive,
+        &action_spec.command.env,
+    );
+
+    // Configure stdio based on output mode (future extension point)
+    match action_spec.output_mode {
+        OutputMode::Inherit => {
+            cmd.stdin(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
+                .stdout(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
+                .stderr(std::process::Stdio::inherit());
+        }
+        OutputMode::Capture => {
+            // Future: capture output for processing
+            cmd.stdin(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
+                .stdout(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
+                .stderr(std::process::Stdio::inherit());
+        }
+        OutputMode::Discard => {
+            // Future: discard output silently
+            cmd.stdin(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
+                .stdout(std::process::Stdio::inherit())
+                .stderr(std::process::Stdio::inherit());
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Execute based on become flag (future extension point)
+    if action_spec.become {
+        // Future: use execve to replace current process
+        // For now, use normal execution
+        let mut child = cmd.spawn()?;
+        child.wait()
+    } else {
+        // Normal fork execution (current behavior)
+        let mut child = cmd.spawn()?;
+        child.wait()
+    }
+}