Is it possible that there is nothing new or noteworthy on this week? Aside from Wednesday’s America’s Next Top Model season finale and the American Music Awards on Sunday I don’t have much to report. I do vote for Analeigh to be the winner. On Top Model, not the AMAs.
breaking up is hard to do
I had to spread the news to two fans of My Own Worst Enemy that it was officially shutting down. I had to admit that I had already dropped the show because it stressed me out too much. The already axed show that I am missing a little bit is Easy Money, though admittedly only a little bit. I am happy that of the already kept shows, Mentalist and Life are in the bunch. Unfortunately there are a number of other shows that may or may not be sticking around like Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money. I will just keep the season pass on tivo as long as they keep putting them out.
TV Guide has a nice recap of what’s in, what’s out, and what’s on the bubble.
next week 11/10
New and notable in the week ahead… the procrastinator is probably going to stick to the regular shows this week.
Monday
- Trivial Pursuit (Synd) Series Premiere – America has another opportunity to answer questions for cash.
Tuesday
- Brothers to Brutha (BET, 8pm) – This special previews the reality show following five brothers in the R&B group Brutha.
- The Universe (Hist, 9pm) Season Premiere – To start, deep space disasters are examined looking at the dangers of space travel launch and reentry.
- Chase (Scifi, 10pm) Series Premiere – This reality competition will have competitors evading chase or something.
- Extreme Loggers/Extreme Trains (Disc/Hist, 10pm) Series Premieres – How extreme can you get?
- Deliver Me (Disc Health, 10pm) Season Premiere – Follow real women having babies.
- Blush (Life, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – The search for the nest great makeup artist…
Wednesday
- CMA Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood host this year’s country awards.
- Top Chef (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere -The latest crop of cookers head to NY to start with cooking ethnic foods.
- Estate of Panic (SciFi, 10pm) Series Premiere – Contestants go for cash by trying to make it through or out of a mansion filled with obstacles.
Thursday
- Kitchen Nightmares (Fox, 8/9pm) – A special back to back showing of Chef Ramsay’s attack on kitchens.
Friday
- The Price is Right Salutes the Troops (CBS, 9pm) – What better way to salute the troops.
Saturday
- Ricy Gervais (HBO, 9pm) – Extras and The Office star performs his Out of England routine.
Sunday
- TRL Finale (MTV, 8pm) – Performances, interviews, and clips of the show throughout the years.
turning blue
So I read through my booklet, got up early, and went to wait in line to get my sticker that says “I Voted.” I felt very knowledgeable and very American.
I then spent the day racing around at work and had to wait to come home to find out my election results. And where did I turn? To the majority of stations that were showing election coverage? No.
After a quick call to a fellow politico I logged on and played with the online interactive map as the states turned blue. Then I turned on an episode of Privileged (which I still find pretty cute), on the only station showing original programming. You know, while still clicking around online. Has the Internet replaced television for the most up to date information? For some things I suppose it has.
I think the convenience of the web may lack the excitement of the broadcast. It also may lack the bloat of useless information by not needing to fill every moment, or at least its easier for me to filter it out. I did try to catch Colbert and Stewart on Comedy Central but I forgot to adjust for the east/west difference. Now I can go back to catching the NewsHour for my news, a dose a day is all I can really handle.
next week 11/3
New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.
Monday
- Inside the Actor’s Studio (Bravo, 8pm) Season Premiere – I’ve never actually watched this show but I assume they just spend some quality time with actors, this week it’s Goldie Hawn.
- First Class All the Way (Bravo, 9pm) Series Premiere – Get an inside peek at schmancy travel with a ‘concierge’ who takes us along on trips we can never afford.
- SNL Presidential Bash (NBC, 9pm) – This special two hour presentation revisits political sketches new and old.
- Raising the Bar (TNT, 10pm) Season Finale – This is the legal show where the Saved by the Bell guy has the really bad hair.
Tuesday
- Election Coverage – No matter where you go you’re gonna find them talking election.
- Daily Show and Colbert Report (Com, 10pm) – For those who prefer a little sass with their information.
Wednesday
- Life (NBC, 9pm) – This falsely accused back on the force slightly odd detective show tries out a new time slot.
- Law & Order (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – The kids are back bringing a little more cops and lawyers to the case of the week ripped from the headlines.
Thursday
- 50 cent: The Money and the Power (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Our latest celeb reality show has ‘entrepreneurs’ competing for 50’s dough.
Friday
- Survivorman (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – The Sierra Nevadas are this week’s place to survive, but it looks like this week Les might get lost.
- Henry Rollins: Uncut (IFC, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – Rollins visits New Orleans.
- Whale Wars (An Pl, 9pm) Series Premiere – It’s a war with the whalers not with the whales.
Saturday
- Yeti (Scifi, 9pm) – If you’re desperate enough you can check out this made for tv movie about a college football team that crashes in the mountains and faces a snow creature.
Sunday
- Ruby (Style, 8pm) Series Premiere – Ruby apparently weighs 477 pounds at the start of her a weight loss journey.
- Summer Heights High (HBO, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – This eight part high school mockumentary is an Australian import.
my schedule
Well another year of television and almost everything has started. Until they cancel more stuff, move stuff around, or we get to midseason changes here is where things seem to be settling in for me. I wouldn’t recommend it all but it’s what I watch, or at least what I tend to tivo (I am still trying to narrow this down to no more than two shows per timeslot).
Monday 
- 8pm: NBC – Chuck (CBS – The Big Bang Theory/How I Met Your Mother) (CW – Gossip Girl)
- 9pm: NBC – Heroes (CBS – 2 1/2 Men/ABC – Samantha Who?)
Tuesday
- 8pm: Fox – House
- 9pm: CBS – The Mentalist (CW – Privileged)
- 10pm: NBC – Eli Stone (NBC – L&O: SVU)
Wednesday 
- 8pm: Fox – Bones (ABC – Pushing Daisies) (CBS – The New Adventures of Old Christine/Gary Unmarried)
- 9pm: NBC – Life
- 10pm: ABC – Dirty Sexy Money (NBC – L&O)
Thursday
- 8pm: NBC – My Name is Earl
- 9pm: NBC – The Office/30 Rock (ABC – Grey’s Anatomy)
- 10pm: ABC – Life on Mars
Friday 
- 9pm: CBS – The Ex List (CW – ANTM encore)
- 10pm: CBS – Numb3rs
Saturday
- Nothing
Sunday
- 9pm: CW – Easy Money
But wait there’s more… known midseason and cable picks: Breaking Bad (AMC), Burn Notice (USA), Celebrity Rehab (VH1), The Closer (TNT), Dexter (Show), Eureka (SciFi), Flight of the Conchords (HBO), Greek (Fam), Lost (ABC), Project Runway (Bravo), Reaper (CW), Saving Grace (TNT), Scrubs (ABC), Sons of Anarchy (FX).
next week 10/27
New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.
Monday
- Chuck/Samantha Who? (NBC/ABC, 8/9:30pm) – Arrested Development’s Tony Hale performs a guest star rock block on two of tonight’s fun shows.
- Gary Unmarried (CBS, 9:30pm) – A special night presentation of the pilot, does this mean Worst Week is out, the network says no.
- South Park (Com, 9:30pm) – Can pink eye ruin Halloween?
Tuesday
- Greek (ABC fam, 9pm) Season Finale – They have managed to stretch one school year over multiple seasons but it’s time for things to come to an end, but just for this year thankfully, next year Rusty moves into the house, but what will become of non president Casey?
- Coolio’s Rules (Oxy, 10pm) Series Premiere – Rap dude starts a catering business and raises his kids in this latest reality addition.
- It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – Will Linus ever see the Great Pumpkin?
Wednesday
- Barack (Fox, CBS, NBC, 8pm) – He’s paying for some time, as I understand it his fundraising can afford it.
- Shaken Not Stirred (MyNet, 10pm) Series Debut – DL Hughley, Anthony Anderson, and Paul Rodriguez start their interviews with Al Sharpton.
Thursday
- 30 Rock (NBC, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – They’re back and starting a string of guest stars with Megan Mullally.
Friday
- Ghost Hunters (SciFi, 7pm) – Seven hour special presentation.
- Halloween H2O (Fx, 7pm) – Check out the 20th anniversary edition of this holiday classic.
Saturday
- Gladiators (BBCA, 4/5pm) Series Premiere – I think this might be American Gladiators but British, would just saying British Gladiators be too much to ask?
Sunday
- Brotherhood (Show, 8pm) Season Premiere – I’m already hooked on Dexter, I can’t watch another show on a cable channel I don’t get.
- The Simpsons (Fox, 8pm) – Treehouse of Horror strikes again.
what’s new?
Well the majority of the new shows have hit the air and although I’m not sure there are any real stand outs this year there are a few that so far have been added to my repertoire.
- Easy Money (CW, Sun 9pm) – Nothing is easy as we follow a family that runs one of those high interest loan shops and learn that the favorite son who is keeping the business on track questions the business and whether he is in fact their son.
- The Ex List (CBS, Fri 9pm) – I don’t know that I won’t get tired of this gal looking up and hooking up with her exes from days gone by but so far the perspective and supporting cast just feel fresh and funny.
- Life on Mars (ABC, Thurs 10pm) – I’ve never seen the original UK series so I’m not sure how they compare but I am enjoying Jason O’Mara as a present day cop mysteriously finding himself having to solve crimes in the 70s with tough guys Harvey Keitel and Michael Imperioli.
- The Mentalist (CBS, Tues 9pm) – I do like Simon Baker, and he strikes a good balance with the smug and injured lead character using his peculiar skills in observation and personal interactions to help solve crimes.
- Privileged (CW, Tues 9pm) – Joanna Garcia is just darned likable as she tries to help two troublesome girls get their grades up while keeping them out of trouble and figuring out how to deal with her own family and live her own life.
next week 10/20
New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.
Monday
- Rita Rocks (Life, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Single mother starts up a little garage band with some neighbors, and ‘rocks.’
- Real Chance of Love (VH1, 9pm) Series Premiere – I Love New York rejected some dudes and now they’re back for some love picking of their own.
- Scream Queens (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – The ladies compete for slasher film fame.
Tuesday
- Living with the Wolfman (AnPlan, 10/10:30pm) Series Premiere – A couple on a wolf preserve.
- The Rookies (A&E, 10pm) Series Premiere – Field training officers take a new crop of police academy grads out on the street of Tampa.
Wednesday
- World Series (Fox, 5pm) – The Phillies vs the Red Sox or the Rays kick off the series tonight.
- Stylists (CW, 9pm) Series Premiere – Lackeys compete to become lackeys at Elle magazine.
Thursday
- Hip Hop Awards (BET, 5pm) – Katt Williams hosts this gala with top noms to Lil Wayne.
- American Gangster (BET, 7pm) Season Premiere – The life and times of some of the most notorious black crime figures.
- Celebrity Rehab (VH1, 10pm) Season Premiere – Dr Drew is back with another crew of ‘actual celebrites’ trying to get clean, and rumor has it Jeff Conaway is back.
Friday
- Catch up on the tivo backlog or pop in a netflix, I’ve been catching ANTM repeats.
Saturday
- World’s Ugliest Dog Competition (AnPlan, 10pm) – I think we all get the idea on this.
Sunday
- Calzaghe/Jones 24/7 (HBO, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – All about the boxers or something.
next week 10/13
New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.
Monday
- Little People, Big World (TLC, 8pm) Season Premiere – I think we’re following a family.
- Samantha Who? (ABC, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – This Applegate amnesiac show amused me last year.
- My Own Worst Enemy (NBC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Christian Slater is a spy with an average guy split personality as his alter ego.
Tuesday
- The Cleaner (A&E, 10pm) Season Finale – I didn’t love this Benjamin Bratt gets druggies clean show.
- Eli Stone (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – I’m assuming Eli survives his brain surgery and still has those wacky visions.
- Iditarod (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – This reality show follows the ‘toughest race on earth’.
- The Rachel Zoe Project (Bravo, 10pm) Season Finale – Annoying people at work and some pretty clothes.
Wednesday
- Presidential Debate (Various, 6pm/pst 9pm/est) – They’re back.
- Time Warp (Disc, 8/8:30pm) Series Premiere – Looking at things like movement too fast for the human eye and juggling.
- Project Runway (Brav, 9pm) Season Finale – I am so behind on this I can expect to find out who won before I get caught up.
- Parking Wars (A&E, 10/10:30pm) Series Premiere – I think this is like your worst parking moments caught on tape.
- Prototype This (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Can a car be designed that eliminates road rage?
- Chocolate News (Com, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – This sketch show has David Alan Grier giving his take on current events.
Thursday
- International X-Games (ESPN2, 8pm) – Do the boards flip the same way in mexico?
Friday
- Crusoe (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – Crusoe crashes on an island and faces danger… more Gilligan or Lost?
- Real Simple, Real Life (TLC, 8pm) Series Premiere – A team of experts help simplify a person’s life.
- Crash (Starz, 10pm) Series Premiere – The film comes to tv with Dennis Hopper as one of the ensemble.
Saturday
- Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling (CMT, 8pm) Series Premiere – Ten ‘celebrities’ like Danny Bonaduce compete to be the top celebrity wrestler.
Sunday
- Action Sports (NBC, Sat/Sun 1pm/pst, also on USA and Spike) The Playstation Pro in Orando will give you another chance to catch people doing the near impossible on boards, bikes, and more.