On All the Television I Watch
So I watch a lot of television. I did the math on it once earlier this year and figured that it amounts to give or take 15 hours a week. Naturally, I've been falling behind.
But at the moment, I'm only about one week behind in each of my shows. Some have ended their run for the fall, and some will shortly. I'm not sure what all of you are watching, but I can say that (with a few noted exceptions) for the most part, you should be watching these shows. Check 'em in your downtime, if you have any.
Oh, and potential SPOILERS ahead-but I'll try to keep them to a minimum.
24
The recent "Redemption" TV movie was fun, and it was good to have Jack back, even though it was pretty much just good for a bit of action. We all know Jack Bauer at this point, and the movie really played up the badass angle. I got a major Temple of Doom vibe the entire time I was watching it. At any rate, I'm very excited for the new season (mostly for the characters that will be returning...), though I still have that bad taste in my mouth from Season 6. And that was over a year and a half ago.
30 Rock
Still one of the funniest shows on TV. Consistently well-written and funny. My only complaint this season is that I've noticed we're focusing more on the personal lives of Liz, Jack, etc. and less on TGS and the behind-the-scenes hilarity of a live sketch comedy show. I miss that.
Battlestar Galactica
Okay, haters, calm down. I used to be one of you. You can't even mention the name of this show to someone without them casting nerdy judgment. But seriously, everything you've heard is true. It's the best show on television. I'm currently in the middle of Season 3, trying to catch up before the series finishes its final run starting January 16th. I've gotta get cracking.
Californication
I no longer see Fox Mulder when I look at David Duchovny-he's just Hank Moody to me now. By far, one of my favorite characters ever on television. I find him insanely relatable (maybe it's the writing thing), and it's an incredibly funny show. Scathingly so. I'm impressed that the second season has managed to keep up the vitality of the show given the events of the first season's finale.
Chuck
At times I think I watch this show because I miss Alias. I really say that to excuse the show's predictability, but really it's more the whole potential for the geek-gets-the-girl story line that I love. The Buy More subplots are usually good for a laugh, and that's to say nothing of the great Adam Baldwin (Jayne!) who bounces between a bully, badass, and buddy so effortlessly.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
A seventh season is officially on the way! Now I've only got to finish watching the fifth and sixth on DVD. I only fell behind because I didn't know if the show was ending and I didn't want to watch all of what I had stored up with no new episodes to look forward to. But I used to plow through these like nobody's business. I've gotta get back into that.
Dexter
When I first heard about this show (pre-Season 1), I read the books to get a sense for it. After the first season, the similarities end. The show has come into its own, forging ahead of the books and giving Dexter Morgan a life that is also very relatable...you know, for a serial killer. Jimmy Smits as Dex's potential best friend Miguel Prado (the current Season 3 storyline) is inspired, and exactly what I'm talking about when I say that the show has evolved past the books.
Flight of the Conchords
Haven't heard anything about the upcoming second season, but I'm very excited. The first one was a home run. And I miss Murray. God bless that man.
Fringe
J.J. Abrams has done it again. Take The X-Files and mix it in with Lost and a dash of Frankenstein, and you've got Fringe. And even that description doesn't do it justice. The omnipotent "Company" (used way too often in TV these days: Prison Break, Heroes, Lost, even Terminator lately) angle is a little convenient, but only a minor complaint. John Noble's Walter Bishop is a brilliant portrayal of a mind gone mad with science-who cracks me up at every turn.
Heroes
Remember when this show used to be good? I'm comparing it more and more to Prison Break these days-amazing first season that finds characters wandering around aimlessly in the seasons to follow. Very little of interest seems to happen on the show nowadays-the two-part "Eclipse" episode was decent in concept (almost an alternate universe story you see in comics regularly), but was poorly executed. Hopefully if Bryan Fuller returns for the end of the season (current speculation has him entering around episode 20 for the finale if contracts go as planned), they can set things up to be good again next year. But I feel like we've been saying that since the end of Season 1.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
My brother has been saying that the show has started to wander into "caricature" (every character becomes boiled down to one trait, which is then blown up to grotesque proportions-The Office does this a lot) territory in the recent fourth season. He's right, but honestly, I'm okay with it. It's still consistently hilarious and even self-aware (the opening scene of the finale was perfect), and for me, it's still filling the void that has existed since Arrested Development was cancelled (even that wandered during it's final season).
Kitchen Nightmares
My one reality show guilty pleasure (well, Hell's Kitchen as well in the spring, but you get the idea). I allow it because it seems so absolutely not steeped in reality. Gordon Ramsay just keeps cracking me up, and I really wish someone would give him a sitcom. A remake of Mr. Belvedere is long overdue.
Lost
Season 4 came out on DVD yesterday, and I'm almost wishing I hadn't asked for it for Christmas so I could go out and get it now. That's how much I loved it. After suffering through some contrivances during the second and third seasons, the fourth really hammered home how fun and exciting the show really is. And how about a cliffhanger! Season 5 can't come soon enough.
My Name is Earl
When I recommend this show to people and they ask me what it's like, the only one I can even remotely connect it to is The Simpsons. I know! It's that good. Very clever and very in touch with its universe and characters, this one manages to find morality in half hour installments. Sure it seems crass and rough around the edges for audience it's aiming for, but people said the same thing about The Simpsons back in the day.
My Own Worst Enemy
Another pretty good one cancelled before it found an audience. It now joins the ranks of Blind Justice, Smith, and Raines in the category of Career Revival Fail. Shame because they were all pretty decent.
Prison Break
This show is proof positive that it's hard for me to quit watching television. Consistently cheesy since the end of the first season, it's now shuffling its way through its fourth. I've learned lately to appreciate it in a fun, almost B-movie kind of way, but oh how the mighty have fallen. And I'm sorry, Michael Rappaport, but I just can't see you as a badass. Maybe it's because the first thing I saw you in was as a bad actor (Dick Ritchie, True Romance), but you're just too cute for a real role.
Pushing Daisies
Let's all just get this out of the way: Why did this get cancelled? *cries* I know, I know, ratings, blah, blah, blah. But really it suffered the same way Arrested did-it's too smart for television. I haven't seen such snappy writing since that show left us. Such a shame. And from what I've heard they got canned after they'd wrapped on the 13th episode-so no sort of series conclusion is in order. They might do a direct-to-DVD movie to resolve things (also happened for Fuller's Dead Like Me series), but I'll believe it when I see it.
Real Time with Bill Maher
Insanely biased, but it's the only political type show I watched leading up to the election. Hey, at least it was funny. I know everyone's go-to on this subject is The Daily Show/The Colbert Report, but I just can't get into those. Maybe I just have trouble to committing to a nightly show.
Reaper
One of my favorite new shows from last season (and there were a lot of those), I'm very interested to see how it finds an audience in the post-writer's strike season. It's been hard for a lot of sophomore shows, and I really hope this one gets off the ground. It's too good not to-and it's good having a show like Buffy back on the air.
Scrubs
Thank you, ABC, for letting them just end it already. Hopefully the time they've had to prepare this final eighth season will lead to a non-disappointing ending. Hopefully.
South Park
Now here's where I really go for my social/political commentary. People that still think it's dick and fart jokes need to get out from under the rock and start watching the best animated series (and possibly the best satirical series) currently in production. I can't say enough good things.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Easily the worst show I actively watch. My love for the Terminator franchise is that dedicated. The glaring changes to the mythology and God-awful dialogue occasionally part to reveal a cool action sequence or two. I sometimes think that the only reason I still watch is that I'm waiting for teenage John Connor to hook up with his hot-bodied cyborg protector. Is she a pleasure model?
The Office
The show has indeed adopted the "caricature" syndrome over the last couple of years, but it's still relatively funny. I miss the dry british wit of the original, but I have to admit that the American remake is still fresh and funny, and one that I manage to keep up with week-to-week. Really excited to see how the marriage plotlines work themselves out by the end of this season.
The Unit
Remember when Dennis Haysbert left 24 and you thought he only went on to do ads for Allstate? Well, here's where he really went. He went from helping Jack Bauer to being him in this brilliant military special ops program. He's the leader of the team, but rest assured, all of the members are like Jack as well. It's like a whole team of them. Yeah, the show's that badass. One of the few shows I watch that isn't as much a serial-you can kind of jump in on any episode for self-contained story goodness.
True Blood
Probably my favorite new one this season (to be fair, there wasn't much to pick from). It's done now, but it was truly a stellar season. They've created a very rich universe, though I'm not sure how much of it comes from the novels. From what I've heard of all the Twilight business, this show seems to be a much more grown-up version of a vampire romance with other elements of the supernatural. I love that they humanize the creatures without foregoing their bloodlust and biological needs. The show has a very real feel, and I think that's what I like the most.
Whew! I think that's everything. 25 shows altogether, since I decided to include ones that are currently on hiatus. Thank God things are going to cool down for the next month or two-I need a rest.
But at the moment, I'm only about one week behind in each of my shows. Some have ended their run for the fall, and some will shortly. I'm not sure what all of you are watching, but I can say that (with a few noted exceptions) for the most part, you should be watching these shows. Check 'em in your downtime, if you have any.
Oh, and potential SPOILERS ahead-but I'll try to keep them to a minimum.
24
The recent "Redemption" TV movie was fun, and it was good to have Jack back, even though it was pretty much just good for a bit of action. We all know Jack Bauer at this point, and the movie really played up the badass angle. I got a major Temple of Doom vibe the entire time I was watching it. At any rate, I'm very excited for the new season (mostly for the characters that will be returning...), though I still have that bad taste in my mouth from Season 6. And that was over a year and a half ago.
30 Rock
Still one of the funniest shows on TV. Consistently well-written and funny. My only complaint this season is that I've noticed we're focusing more on the personal lives of Liz, Jack, etc. and less on TGS and the behind-the-scenes hilarity of a live sketch comedy show. I miss that.
Battlestar Galactica
Okay, haters, calm down. I used to be one of you. You can't even mention the name of this show to someone without them casting nerdy judgment. But seriously, everything you've heard is true. It's the best show on television. I'm currently in the middle of Season 3, trying to catch up before the series finishes its final run starting January 16th. I've gotta get cracking.
Californication
I no longer see Fox Mulder when I look at David Duchovny-he's just Hank Moody to me now. By far, one of my favorite characters ever on television. I find him insanely relatable (maybe it's the writing thing), and it's an incredibly funny show. Scathingly so. I'm impressed that the second season has managed to keep up the vitality of the show given the events of the first season's finale.
Chuck
At times I think I watch this show because I miss Alias. I really say that to excuse the show's predictability, but really it's more the whole potential for the geek-gets-the-girl story line that I love. The Buy More subplots are usually good for a laugh, and that's to say nothing of the great Adam Baldwin (Jayne!) who bounces between a bully, badass, and buddy so effortlessly.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
A seventh season is officially on the way! Now I've only got to finish watching the fifth and sixth on DVD. I only fell behind because I didn't know if the show was ending and I didn't want to watch all of what I had stored up with no new episodes to look forward to. But I used to plow through these like nobody's business. I've gotta get back into that.
Dexter
When I first heard about this show (pre-Season 1), I read the books to get a sense for it. After the first season, the similarities end. The show has come into its own, forging ahead of the books and giving Dexter Morgan a life that is also very relatable...you know, for a serial killer. Jimmy Smits as Dex's potential best friend Miguel Prado (the current Season 3 storyline) is inspired, and exactly what I'm talking about when I say that the show has evolved past the books.
Flight of the Conchords
Haven't heard anything about the upcoming second season, but I'm very excited. The first one was a home run. And I miss Murray. God bless that man.
Fringe
J.J. Abrams has done it again. Take The X-Files and mix it in with Lost and a dash of Frankenstein, and you've got Fringe. And even that description doesn't do it justice. The omnipotent "Company" (used way too often in TV these days: Prison Break, Heroes, Lost, even Terminator lately) angle is a little convenient, but only a minor complaint. John Noble's Walter Bishop is a brilliant portrayal of a mind gone mad with science-who cracks me up at every turn.
Heroes
Remember when this show used to be good? I'm comparing it more and more to Prison Break these days-amazing first season that finds characters wandering around aimlessly in the seasons to follow. Very little of interest seems to happen on the show nowadays-the two-part "Eclipse" episode was decent in concept (almost an alternate universe story you see in comics regularly), but was poorly executed. Hopefully if Bryan Fuller returns for the end of the season (current speculation has him entering around episode 20 for the finale if contracts go as planned), they can set things up to be good again next year. But I feel like we've been saying that since the end of Season 1.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
My brother has been saying that the show has started to wander into "caricature" (every character becomes boiled down to one trait, which is then blown up to grotesque proportions-The Office does this a lot) territory in the recent fourth season. He's right, but honestly, I'm okay with it. It's still consistently hilarious and even self-aware (the opening scene of the finale was perfect), and for me, it's still filling the void that has existed since Arrested Development was cancelled (even that wandered during it's final season).
Kitchen Nightmares
My one reality show guilty pleasure (well, Hell's Kitchen as well in the spring, but you get the idea). I allow it because it seems so absolutely not steeped in reality. Gordon Ramsay just keeps cracking me up, and I really wish someone would give him a sitcom. A remake of Mr. Belvedere is long overdue.
Lost
Season 4 came out on DVD yesterday, and I'm almost wishing I hadn't asked for it for Christmas so I could go out and get it now. That's how much I loved it. After suffering through some contrivances during the second and third seasons, the fourth really hammered home how fun and exciting the show really is. And how about a cliffhanger! Season 5 can't come soon enough.
My Name is Earl
When I recommend this show to people and they ask me what it's like, the only one I can even remotely connect it to is The Simpsons. I know! It's that good. Very clever and very in touch with its universe and characters, this one manages to find morality in half hour installments. Sure it seems crass and rough around the edges for audience it's aiming for, but people said the same thing about The Simpsons back in the day.
My Own Worst Enemy
Another pretty good one cancelled before it found an audience. It now joins the ranks of Blind Justice, Smith, and Raines in the category of Career Revival Fail. Shame because they were all pretty decent.
Prison Break
This show is proof positive that it's hard for me to quit watching television. Consistently cheesy since the end of the first season, it's now shuffling its way through its fourth. I've learned lately to appreciate it in a fun, almost B-movie kind of way, but oh how the mighty have fallen. And I'm sorry, Michael Rappaport, but I just can't see you as a badass. Maybe it's because the first thing I saw you in was as a bad actor (Dick Ritchie, True Romance), but you're just too cute for a real role.
Pushing Daisies
Let's all just get this out of the way: Why did this get cancelled? *cries* I know, I know, ratings, blah, blah, blah. But really it suffered the same way Arrested did-it's too smart for television. I haven't seen such snappy writing since that show left us. Such a shame. And from what I've heard they got canned after they'd wrapped on the 13th episode-so no sort of series conclusion is in order. They might do a direct-to-DVD movie to resolve things (also happened for Fuller's Dead Like Me series), but I'll believe it when I see it.
Real Time with Bill Maher
Insanely biased, but it's the only political type show I watched leading up to the election. Hey, at least it was funny. I know everyone's go-to on this subject is The Daily Show/The Colbert Report, but I just can't get into those. Maybe I just have trouble to committing to a nightly show.
Reaper
One of my favorite new shows from last season (and there were a lot of those), I'm very interested to see how it finds an audience in the post-writer's strike season. It's been hard for a lot of sophomore shows, and I really hope this one gets off the ground. It's too good not to-and it's good having a show like Buffy back on the air.
Scrubs
Thank you, ABC, for letting them just end it already. Hopefully the time they've had to prepare this final eighth season will lead to a non-disappointing ending. Hopefully.
South Park
Now here's where I really go for my social/political commentary. People that still think it's dick and fart jokes need to get out from under the rock and start watching the best animated series (and possibly the best satirical series) currently in production. I can't say enough good things.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Easily the worst show I actively watch. My love for the Terminator franchise is that dedicated. The glaring changes to the mythology and God-awful dialogue occasionally part to reveal a cool action sequence or two. I sometimes think that the only reason I still watch is that I'm waiting for teenage John Connor to hook up with his hot-bodied cyborg protector. Is she a pleasure model?
The Office
The show has indeed adopted the "caricature" syndrome over the last couple of years, but it's still relatively funny. I miss the dry british wit of the original, but I have to admit that the American remake is still fresh and funny, and one that I manage to keep up with week-to-week. Really excited to see how the marriage plotlines work themselves out by the end of this season.
The Unit
Remember when Dennis Haysbert left 24 and you thought he only went on to do ads for Allstate? Well, here's where he really went. He went from helping Jack Bauer to being him in this brilliant military special ops program. He's the leader of the team, but rest assured, all of the members are like Jack as well. It's like a whole team of them. Yeah, the show's that badass. One of the few shows I watch that isn't as much a serial-you can kind of jump in on any episode for self-contained story goodness.
True Blood
Probably my favorite new one this season (to be fair, there wasn't much to pick from). It's done now, but it was truly a stellar season. They've created a very rich universe, though I'm not sure how much of it comes from the novels. From what I've heard of all the Twilight business, this show seems to be a much more grown-up version of a vampire romance with other elements of the supernatural. I love that they humanize the creatures without foregoing their bloodlust and biological needs. The show has a very real feel, and I think that's what I like the most.
Whew! I think that's everything. 25 shows altogether, since I decided to include ones that are currently on hiatus. Thank God things are going to cool down for the next month or two-I need a rest.