Let Me Populate Your DVR For You
The new fall season has finally more or less arrived here, and on some networks is well underway.
First of all, let me say this: the writer's strike really fucked a lot of networks, shows, and viewers. Not just when it happened, the biggest problem at the time is nobody really cared that it was happening. The worst effects are being felt now.
Put it like this: when NBC places a full-season order for Knight Rider, what that tells you is the mid-season replacement options are even worse. I shudder to think from what a full season of Knight Rider is actually sparing us.
Now see, that last sentence is grammatically correct but it just makes no sense to me.
There are a few shows that returned in decent shape, a few more that returned in terrible shape, and a few more that just shouldn't have returned at all. None came back strong, that's for sure.
Returning Shows
The Office - People are saying it's lost the magic, but I'm still laughing. Pam in New York is really annoying and makes no sense, but the show as a whole is surviving that well.
Desperate Housewives - Jumping forward five years is an interesting and daring choice to dust off the show that wasn't really getting dusty yet. It hasn't really lived up to the promise of the premise though, with most characters just doing the same stupid shit they always did. Overall, still enjoyable, if not just a touch weaker.
Pushing Daisies - This is where it starts to hurt. Ummmmm... I stopped watching after two episodes, and I think I deleted the Season Pass on my DVR. If I didn't, I will when I get home. Remember the episode last season with Paul Reubens? Me neither, it was boring and I skipped it. That's what this whole season has been like. The characters and the style are still wonderful and magical, but the plots are boring and worthless. Plus, how long can we really care about the relationship between two people that can't touch one another? Sorry.
Survivor - Kidding. No writers, no strike, no problem. Still watching, will probably watch until Jeff Probst goes to ground in some tropical jungle and kills the entire cast slowly over 39 days with the camera crew watching through night-vision footage. He will then crown himself the winner. Awesome.
Lost - Dear god, please be good. Last season raised the bar on amazing.
24 - We know this will be ridiculous, and we'll watch anyway.
Burn Notice - You should be watching this. Season Two should be about over. I'm waiting to get it on DVD and power through, same way I did with Season One.
BSG - Can't wait to see how this turns out.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles - I don't even know what to say about this. I just.... don't know what to say.
Did I forget any returning shows?
New Shows
Life On Mars - I'm watching this, every week. It's kind of like I don't care whether I watch it or not, but once I turn it on I'm really into it. The entire cast is superb with special props to the lead, Jason O'Mara. It's a cop show and Lost, plus Harvey Keitel. What's not to love? It's a little broad sometimes and the "cop" aspect of the show could use a little work, but overall it's worth the time.
Knight Rider - see above, way above, like the third paragraph.
The Big Bang Theory - A new sitcom, which makes it an endangered species. I accidentally watched some of this and was not, I repeat not, trying to poke out my eardrums with an ice pick. As far as your traditional sitcoms go, it was funny and charming. If traditional sitcoms are your thing. They are not my thing, so I hated it.
Gary Unmarried - I really like/liked Jay Mohr. If you haven't seen Action then you haven't watched TV. It's a spiritual prequel to Break A Leg that was cancelled (as are all the wrong Fox series) too soon. This new show is, again, a traditional sitcom (tell a joke, hold for laughter, follow that up with a zinger!), but Mohr is pretty irresistible. The kids are not annoying, which is another in the plus column. Studio three-camera sitcoms are not really my bag anymore as I said, but this one is worth checking out if you're into that sort of thing.
That's about my rundown. These are only the shows that I have seen or am a fan of, so I've left out a lot. I'm not Tim Goodman, I don't have four TVs! Append the list in the comments with your favorite shows or tell me what an idiot I am for having an opinion at all.
Jimmy Scotch
in drew lanning
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8 Comments
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Reader Comments (8)
Not sure how or why anyone would still be watching the national stations. I gave up years ago when Survior started...what a waste of photons.
I will assume you mean broadcast stations, not simply national stations.
Let's list why you would watch them:
The Office, Lost, 24 (retarded but fun).
Those are only three that I'm aware of. I hear 30 Rock is good (I watch it sometimes but can't get into it), as is that one with Christina Applegate. Whatever.
Now if you meant all national stations in general including basic cable, here are more:
Battlestar Galactica
Burn Notice
Mad Men (I hear, don't watch it myself)
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Project Runway (Tim wins, I'm a convert)
The Riches (cancelled?) :(
Now if you mean all national stations including premium cable, there's:
Californication
Weeds (tried it, not my thing, but good)
Entourage
Now I may agree that Survivor is a waste of photons... but then again, Twinkies are a waste of calories yet I still eat them.
AND, I forgot Grey's Anatomy in the original blog. It's fine, same old same old. Eric Dane has WAAAAY too little to do, he's the whole show for me, but if you're a chick (or just a dude comfortable with your testosterone level, be it high or low), then it's not bad.
Guess I'm just an old fart. I have tried to watch Lost and felt lobotomized. and 24? Maybe if you're on Neptune where a day can last 4 years it makes sense. I'll give you BSG and just about anything on SciFi, and if I could afford premium stations, Love Californication and Weeds, but I don't have the disposible income needed. I guess I should clarify: ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and such shall not be tuned in. PBS, History Channel, SciFi, reruns on Spike, Lifetime and TVland will be my joy in life.
i love 30 rock. i think it's funnier than the current episodes of the office. if you have time and want to give it another shot i would suggest you pick it up from the beginning.
i also love "it's always sunny in philadelphia." if you want a different kind of half hour comedy from your traditional sitcoms, this one is hilarious. a lot of people have problems with the characters being all around awful people, but i think that's what makes the show great.
I'm actually watching 30 Rock. I agree that it's really funny, but my main issue with it is that the characters and situations are so outlandish that, while they are hilarious, they don't offer me anything to become emotionally attached to.
I may have wanted to care if Liz could adopt a baby, until she gave the adoption agent a concussion and tried to use that to her personal advantage. Funny? Yes. Endearing? No.
I seem to remember the first season being that everyone besides Tracy Morgan was essentially normal... exaggerated, but basically normal. Watching now it seems like Tracy is the sane one.
The Office at least has at its core an emotional underpinning with Jim and Pam (and to a lesser extent Dwight and Angela).
Aw who cares, it's all just TV anyway?
Oh man, BSG. Can't wait.
I haven't watched Life on Mars yet. I'm a huge fan of the original British one, so I'm scared of it. But I told myself I'd give it a shot. It might be more of an Office, instead of a Coupling situation.
Daisies started out weak, but is now getting quite the plot.