best, books

critic’s picks – best books of 2011

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I think by now we all know that I don’t get to new releases right away, but here’s what some of the critics are talking about out of this year’s crop. And of course I mostly stick to fiction so that’s what’s covered here. Check the links out below for full reviews and lists, and check back for the best (though maybe not ten) of what I did read this year.

  • The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahmad – PW
  • Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson – Ti
  • Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks – Am, JM
  • The Sense of Ending by Julian Barnes – SFG
  • Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton – Ti
  • The Illumination by Kevin Brockmeier – MC
  • The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky – PW
  • The Death Ray by Daniel Clowes – Ti
  • Open City by Teju Cole – Ti, MC
  • Daughters of the Revolution by Carloyn Cooke – SFG
  • The Angel Esmeralda: Nine Stories by Don DeLillo – MK
  • The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt – Am, PW
  • The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides – Am, PW, MC
  • You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon – JM, SFG
  • Say Her Name by Francisco Goldman – PW
  • The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach – Am, NYT, MK, SFG, MC
  • Volt by Alan Heathcock – PW
  • Ten Thousand Saints by Eleanor Henderson – NYT
  • The Stranger’s Child by Alan Hollinghurst – PW
  • Train Dreams by Denis Johnson – PW, MC
  • The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler – Ti
  • Chango’s Beads and Two-Tone Shoes by William Kennedy – PW
  • 11/22/63 by Stephen King – NYT
  • The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan – Am
  • Leche by R. Zamora Linmark – PW
  • A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin – Ti
  • The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – PW
  • 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami – Am
  • The Call by Yannick Murphy – PW
  • The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht – Am, NYT, MK, PW
  • The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje – Am
  • State of Wonder by Ann Patchett – LG, PW, MC
  • The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta – MC
  • The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock – PW
  • Swamplandia! by Karen Russell – NYT, JM, SFG, MC
  • Cain by Jose Saramago – PW
  • Luminarium by Alex Shakar – PW
  • Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin – Am
  • There but for the by Ali Smith – PW
  • Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan – Ti
  • Someday This Will Be Funny by Lynne Tillman – PW
  • I Married You for Happiness by Lily Tuck – PW
  • The Submission by Amy Waldman – MC
  • The Pale King by David Foster Wallace – MK, Ti, MC
  • The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson – Ti

AM – Amazon, MC – Maureen Corrigan for NPR, MK – Michiko Kakutanis, JM – Janet Maslins, NYT – New York Times, PW – Publishers Weekly, SFG – SFGate, Ti – Time

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new and noteworthy tv: 1/9-1/15

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The awards season is upon us…

Monday

  • America’s Money Class with Suze Orman (Own, 9pm) Series Premiere – Suze keeps her knowledge going.
  • First Week In/Mobster Confessions (Disc, 9/10pm) Series Premieres – The first week in prison and then what will the mobsters confess?
  • Caged (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Cage fighters MTV reality style.

Tuesday

  • Dance Moms (Life, 9pm) Season Premiere – More yelling.
  • Shipping Wars (A&E, 9pm) Series Premiere – Who doesn’t want to see which cargo carrier will end up on top?
  • The Game/Let’s Stay Together (BET, 10/11pm) Season Premieres – More relationship foibles.
  • Tabatha Takes Over (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere – Before the makeover the salon makeover.

Wednesday

  • One Tree Hill (CW, 8pm) Season Premiere – Getting ready to say goodbye to this series in its final season, if you knew it was still on.
  • Are You There, Chelsea? (NBC, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Apparently this new sitcom is a good match for Whitney, which means I’ll hate it but you Whitney likers might feel differently.
  • People’s Choice Awards (CBS, 9pm) – The award seasons are getting in full swing.
  • Amazing Eats (Trav, 9pm) Series Premiere – First, pork-a-palooza.
  • Ghost Hunters/Face Off (Syfy, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Ghosts and makeup artists.
  • Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy/American Restoration (Hist, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – More travels and restorations.

Thursday

  • 30 Rock (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – They’re back!
  • The Finder (Fox, 8pm) Series Premiere – The new series from the Bones folks, he can find anything, worth a shot.
  • Critics’ Choice Awards (VH1, 8pm) – These picks might be a bit more indicative than the ‘people’s’ choice.
  • Rob (CBS, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Rob Schneider tries to offend a whole new crop of people.
  • Sins & Secrets (ID, 9pm) Season Premiere – Murder and its investigation.
  • Snakeman of Appalachia (AnPl, 9pm) Series Premiere – The men aren’t snakes themselves.

Friday

  • Sweet Home Alabama (CMT, 9pm) Season Premiere – Giving southern love another chance.
  • Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – Bill’s back.

Saturday

  • Miss America Pageant (ABC, 9pm) – Just because Chris Harrison is hosting doesn’t mean they’re hooking up.
  • The Fades (BBCA, 9pm) Series Premiere – The latest drama brings a teen to a battle between the living and the dead.
  • Pit Boss (AnPl, 9pm) Season Premiere – More rescues.

Sunday

  • Golden Globes (NBC, 7/8pm) – Arrivals and then will Ricky Gervais be found amusing or insulting?
  • Undercover Boss (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – The bosses go back to work.
  • Napoleon Dynamite (Fox, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – John Heder returns to his role in this animated version.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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best, tv

procrastinator picks – top tv of 2011

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The critics have given their best lists so it’s time for mine. As most of you know I don’t get top tier cable so some of the HBO and Showtime and other options are waiting for a Netflix showing for me to properly evaluate. And as with all of my top ten lists there could be a good degree of variability particularly on order but also on inclusion depending on the way the wind blows… but here’s where I ended up today:

  • Justified (Fx) – Last season’s plot line did a great job of not only showcasing why we love US Marshall Raylan but the complexities of the good and not so good guys in rural Kentucky.
  • The Good Wife (CBS) – I’m still impressed with the well rounded stories and characters and the politics that go into everything they do, be it the weekly court case, the running of the law firm, the family drama and of course the politics.
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC) – This series started off a little rough not quite knowing what to do with their Office spinoff-ish format, but the show has really found its footing week after week with small town office politics and the characters involved.
  • Sons of Anarchy (FX) – Have recently been wondering how many club members could die a season and still keep going, but this show makes me mostly suspend belief as I am caught up in all the tensions wondering how they will ever make it through the next jam.
  • Bones (Fox) – So far I still enjoy the chemistry and character between/of the two leads as their relationship progresses on this sciency procedural with a supporting cast of folks that add good stuff to each week.
  • The Glee Project (Oxy) – This new angle on talent competition, looking for someone who would fit into a specific show focusing on slightly underdog characters, coached and judged by the cast, staff, and creators gives a great look at both the talent and what goes into getting it all together.
  • Men of a Certain Age (TNT) – Ray Romano, Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher each embodied a wonderfully nuanced character dealing with the dramas of life, I enjoyed what was unfortunately the final season.
  • Parenthood (NBC) – Ah the silly Bravermans keep making missteps but they seem to mostly balance family drama ridiculousness with some touching and truthful moments from each of the generations.
  • Cougar Town (ABC)/Community (NBC) – These two comedies were more uneven than some but still consistently gave me the most laughs and enjoyment, both took a little while to find their footing but they each were able to find the funny in their off beat characters and situations.

And of course lots of  stuff almost made the list, my TiVo is certainly full! What are your picks?

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new and noteworthy tv: 1/2-1/8

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It’s a new year and the new shows are starting up again…

Monday

  • Antiques Roadshow (PBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – How much for that thing in your attic?
  • The Bachelor/Wife Swap (ABC, 8/10pm) Season Premiere – And the returning bachelor is Ben Flajnik followed by a dose of celebrity swap via Tracey Gold and Carnie Wilson (tomorrow is the Gary Busey episode).
  • Pretty Little Liars/The Lying Game  (ABCFam, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – Will liars never learn.
  • Hoarders/Intervention (A&E, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – More people need help.
  • Alaska Wing Men (NGC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Starting by offering air support to dog racers.
  • It’s a Brad, Brad World (Brav, 10pm) Series Premiere – If you’ve been missing a little something from Rachel Zoe’s office.

Tuesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Sweat ’til you cry.
  • Switched at Birth/Jane by Design (ABCFam, 8/9pm) Season/Series Premieres  – More family fun.
  • Work It (ABC, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Rumor has it the worst show of the year, er, the tv year.
  • Jamie’s American Road Trip (BBCA, 10pm) Series Premiere – Jamie starts in East LA.

Wednesday

  • Dog the Bounty Hunter (A&E, 10pm) Season Premieres – More bounties.
  • Nova (PBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – First a look at volcanoes and those who study them.
  • Toddlers & Tiaras (TLC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Whatever.

Thursday

  • Wipeout (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Winter wipeouts.
  • Project Runway Allstars/24 hour Catwalk (Life, 9pm) Series Premieres – Does your returning favorite make it past first round and can a collection be put together in a day?
  • Jersey Shore (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – Must we have another season?

Friday

  • Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Can they find the perfect dress?
  • Merlin (Syfy, 10pm) Season Premiere – Get ready for more hocus pocus.
  • Portlandia/The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (IFC, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – Funny folks return.

Saturday

  • Republican Presidential Candidates Debate (ABC, 9pm) – David Gregory moderates.

Sunday

  • Ax Men/Cajun Pawn Stars (Hist, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Bring out the ax and bring in the junk.
  • The Firm (NBC, 9pm) Series Premiere – The series picks up some time after the book and movie leave off, we’ll see.
  • Gator Boys (AnPl, 9pm) Series Premiere – Animal rescue gator style.
  • Downton Abbey (PBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – People seem to dig this series and now season two.
  • Shameless/House of Lies/Californication (Show, 9/10/10:30pm) Season/Series Premieres – Showtime dramedies return including a new one with fave Kristin Bell among others.
  • Absolutely Fabulous (BBCA, 10pm) Season Premiere – The return of Edina and Patsy for those who miss them.
  • Watch What Happens (Brav, 11pm) Season Premiere – Andy Cohen hosts.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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best, tv

critic’s picks – top tv 2011

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It’s that time of year again, yearend top tens! So the critics favored some new and some old. I don’t have Showtime, or HBO, so more to add to my queue. Check the links at bottom for a little more background and in some cases a longer list (people, I know 10 is arbitrary but 30?). Stay tuned for my Top TV of 2010, I’m still assimilating my TiVo backlog.

  • 30 Rock (NBC) – TG
  • American Horror Story (Fx) – MEF, GG
  • Archer (Fx) – TVM
  • Awkward (MTV) – MoR, MEF
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – MR
  • The Big C (Show) – Sat
  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – AS, Sat, TG, JL, AFI, GG
  • Boss (Starz) – GG
  • Breaking Bad (AMC) – AS, Sat, TG, MEF, TVM, MoR, AVC, KT, JP, AFI, MR, DF
  • The Colbert Report (Com) – KT
  • Community (NBC) – AS, Sat, JL, MoR, JP, MR, AVC
  • Cougar Town (ABC) – TVM
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) – AFI
  • Downton Abbey (PBS) – MEF, JL, MoR, MR, DF, KT
  • Enlightened (HBO) – GG, JP, KT, AVC
  • Episodes (Show) – Sat, GG
  • Friday Night Lights (DirTV/NBC) – JP, AS, Sat, JL, TVM, MoR, AVC, DF
  • Fringe (Fox) – TVM, MR, KT
  • Game of Thrones (HBO) – AS, TG, MEF, JL, GG, MoR, AVC, JP, AFI, MR, DF
  • Glee (Fox) – GG
  • The Good Wife (CBS) – JL, AVC, JP, AFI, MR, KT
  • Homeland (Show) – AS, TG, MEF, JL, GG, TVM, MoR, AVC, AFI, MR, JP, DF, KT
  • The Hour (BBCA) – DF
  • The Inbetweeners (BBCA) – TG
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Fx) – Sat, TG
  • Justified (Fx) – AS, Sat, TG, MEF, JL, TVM, MoR, JP, AFI, MR, DF, KT, AVC
  • Louie (Fx) – AS, Sat, TG, TVM, MoR, JP, AFI, DF, KT, AVC
  • Men of a Certain Age (TNT) – AS, MoR
  • The Middle (ABC) – MR
  • Modern Family (ABC)  – Sat, MEF, AFI, MR, GG
  • New Girl (Fox) – MR, GG
  • Parenthood (NBC) – JL
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC) – AS, TG, JL, TVM, MoR, AVC, KT, JP, AFI, DF
  • Raising Hope (Fox) – MEF
  • Sons of Anarchy (Fx) – Sat, MEF, TVM
  • Treme (HBO) – Sat
  • The Vampire Diaries (CW) – DF
  • The United States of Tara (Show) – AS

AFI, AS – Alan Sepinwall for HitFix, AVC – AV Club, DF – Daniel Feinberg for Hitfix, GG – Golden Globes,  JL – Jace Lacob for The Daily Beast, JP – James Poniewozik for Time, KT – Ken Tucker for EW, MEF – Maria Elena Fernandez for The Daily Beast, MR – Matt Roush for TV Guide, MoR – Maureen Ryan for The Huffington Post, Sat – Satellite Awards, TG – Tim Goodman for the Hollywood Reporter, TVM – TVMcGee

 

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/26-1/1

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My resolution might be to watch less tv…

Monday

  • Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (ABC, 8pm) – On a mission from Santa.

Tuesday

  • Texas Multi Mamas (WE, 8pm) Series Premiere – If you live in Texas and have had multiple births, this is the group for you.
  • Kennedy Center Honors (CBS, 9pm) – Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins and Meryl Streep are honored.
  • Extreme Couponing (TLC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Head to head bargain hunting.

Wednesday

  • Felipe Esparza (Show, 10pm) – Comedy special of Don’t Worry They’re Not Going to Laugh at You.

Thursday

  • Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – Time to set some resolutions.
  • NY Ink/Hook, Line & Sisters (TLC, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premiere – Success comes with problems and then fishing family fun.
  • Alaska: The Last Frontier (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Is it really the last frontier, follow a family and decide for yourself.

Friday

  • Infested!/Confessions of a Hoarder (AnPl, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Yuck and yuck.

Saturday

  • New Year’s Rockin’ Eve/Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest (ABC, 8/10/11:30pm) – Let the rockin’ begin.
  • New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly (NBC, 10/11:30pm) – Waiting for the ball to drop.
  • American Country New Year’s Eve (Fox, 11pm) – Please let me not ring in the music with country.

Sunday

  • Mob Wives (VH1, 8pm) Season Premiere – Plastic surgery anyone?
  • Hoarding (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Oh and yuck.
  • Oprah’s Next Chapter/Extreme Clutter (OWN, 9/11pm) Series/Season Premiere – Stephen Tyler is the first celeb we look at and then well, yuck.
  • Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-off (Food, 9pm) Series Premiere – Eight celebs compete on teams hosted by Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri.
  • Angry Boys (HBO, 10pm) Series Premiere – Chris Lilley plays six characters in a mockumentary series.
  • Finding Bigfoot (AnPl, 10pm) Season Premiere – Is a baby bigfoot just a mediumfoot?

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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random bits of pinterest: holiday

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I have a weakness for snowman themed desserts and simple holiday delights, someday a bigger house will inspire more decor:

the wreath possibilities are endless

 

i could almost do these

 

he’s so happy

 

rice crispies are always festive

 

shoot them fast before they melt

 

doughnutty goodness

 

Happy Holidays! And of course feel free to browse other random delights posted at pinterest.

 

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/19-12/25

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As we head into the holiday season my focus is on catching up the TiVo backlog…

Monday

  • Who’s Still Standing? (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – Quizzing you this week while threatening to drop you through the stage.
  • Kung Fu Panda Holiday/A Chipmunk Christmas (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Ho ho ho.

Tuesday

  • SNL: A Very Gilly Christmas (NBC, 9pm) – Bring on the holiday sketches.
  • Chopped (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Let the marmalading begin.
  • Gordon Ramsay’s Ultimate Christmas (BBCA, 10pm) – For those of you who want to associate Ramsay with a holiday.

Wednesday

  • A Home for the Holidays (CBS, 8pm) – Adoption inspiration with Martina McBride and friends.
  • A Michael Buble Christmas (NBC, 9pm) – In case seeing Michael on SNL made you sad you missed this special.

Thursday

  • Disney Prep & Landing/Prep & Landing 2/I Want a Dog for Christmas Charlie Brown (ABC, 8/8:30/9) – Ho ho ho.
  • X Factor (Fox, 8pm) – The results show tonight follows the final performances Wednesday, I was never able to give this show a real shot due to scheduling conflicts, is anybody on board?

Friday

  • Shrek the Halls/Phineas and Ferb/Prep & Landing 2/Kung Fu Panda Holiday (ABC, 8/8:30/9/9:30) – In case you missed any of this ho ho ho.
  • Olive the Other Reindeer/Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW, 8/9pm) – Next year I’m creating a new holiday special.
  • Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me (BBCA, 8pm) – A new special sharing one of NPR’s fave radio shows gone visual.

Saturday

  • The Sound of Music (ABC, 7pm) – Music to your ears?
  • It’s a Wonderful Life (NBC, 8pm) – Wonderful?
  • A Christmas Story (TBS, 8pm) – A marathon that runs through Christmas Day.

Sunday

  • Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade (ABC, 12pm) – It’s an extravaganza.
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – First the animated and then the Jim Carrey live action version.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/12-12/18

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Winding down for the year…

Monday

  • I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – Snoopy and Spike make an appearance.
  • Fear Factor (NBC, 8/9pm) Season Premiere – Joe Rogan hosts some dares that are even crazier than the previous seasons.
  • Rollin’ with Zach (OWN, 8pm) Series Premiere – A travel show with Oprah show winner Zach Anner who checks things off his list of travels, the rollin’ refers to his wheelchair.

Tuesday

  • William and Kate (NBC, 8pm) – Cuz its been too long since we talked about them.
  • Dirty Jobs (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – Mike does more dirty jobs.
  • Cops & Coyotes (ID, 10pm) Season Premiere – Protecting the borders.

Wednesday

  • Barbara Walters Presents the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011 (ABC, 9:30pm) – Maybe this needs to be renamed something other than ‘fascinating’.
  • 24/7 (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – The Flyers and the Rangers get all NHLish.
  • America Caught on Camera (Trav, 10pm) Series Premiere – Clips from random videos on vacay.

Thursday

  • Charlie Brown Christmas/The Year with Katie Couric (ABC, 9pm) – Holiday fun then all things 2011.
  • Impractical Jokers (Tru, 10pm) Series Premiere – I hate hidden camera practical joke shows.

Friday

  • Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown/Ice Age: Mammoth Christmas (Fox, 8/9pm) – More holiday fare.
  • The Life & Times of Tim (HBO, 9pm) Season Premiere – Awkward animated Tim returns to more endeavors.

Saturday

  • Winter Dew Tour (NBC, 1:30pm, Sun  11am) – The Nike Open from Breckenridge Colorado.
  • Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/The Story of Santa Claus (CBS, 8/8:30/9pm) – More ho ho ho.
  • WWE Tribute to the Troops (NBC, 9pm) – Because I watch the WWE for feel good moments.

Sunday

  • Survivor (CBS, 8/10pm) Finale – May the person who played best win, and of course the reunion episode.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/5-12/11

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Ho to the ho.

Monday

  • American Country Awards (Fox, 8pm) – Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth host.
  • A Sing-off Christmas (NBC, 8pm) – You say Christmas, I say a capella group.
  • Charlie Brown Christmas/Prep & Landing (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Ho ho ho.
  • The Mortified Sessions (Sund, 8pm) Series Premiere – Celebrities share past moments, mostly embarrassing we believe.
  • T.I & Tiny (VH1, 9pm) Series Premiere – More following people reality style.
  • Candy Queen (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Because there aren’t enough dessert and event shows.
  • Lizard Lick Towing (Tru, 10pm) Season Premiere – So I didn’t watch this show but apparently one of them got stabbed so they’re bringing in some new blood.
  • Love Games (Oxy, 10pm) Season Premiere – Dating competition bad girl style.
  • Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets/Stalked (ID, 10/10:30pm) Season Premieres – Crimes revisited.

Tuesday

  • A Michael Bublé Christmas (NBC, 8pm) – I was thinking we needed a holiday variety show.
  • Eureka/Warehouse 13/Haven (Syfy, 8/9/10pm) – It’s the syfy holiday season.
  • Hidden City (Trav, 10pm) Series Premiere – Crime novelist Marcus Sakey digs up some real life untold stories.
  • Moonshiners (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – If you were moon-shining in Appalachia or law enforcing moonshine I bet you thought there wouldn’t be a reality series about you.
  • Teen Mom 2 (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – I think this is the second season about the second set of teen moms.
  • Storage Wars (A&E, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – What’s in your unit?

Wednesday

  • State of Play (BBCA, 10pm) Series Premiere – Murder and politics kicks off this miniseries.
  • Toddlers & Tiaras (TLC, 10pm) Season Premiere – I hate the idea of this show.

Thursday

  • The First 48/Beyond Scared Straight (A&E, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – A look at stuff and youngster gangsters.
  • The Great Big American Auction (ABC, 10pm) – Ty Pennington takes another step away from Trading Spaces.
  • Grimm (NBC, 10pm) – A special night and time investigating another fantastical criminal.

Friday

  • Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/Yes, Virginia/The Elf on the Shelf (CBS, 8-10pm) – Ho, ho, ho.
  • Invention USA (Hist, 10pm) Series Premiere – Science experts check out amateur inventions.

Saturday

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/The Flight Before Christmas (CBS, 8/9pm) – Ho, ho, ho.
  • The American Giving Awards (NBC, 8pm) – Bob Costas hosts an award show honoring charities.
  • Republican Presidential Candidate Debate (ABC, 9pm) – Stephanopoulos and Sawyer moderate.

Sunday

  • Celebrity Rehab (VH1, 9pm)  – Season 4 revisited.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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