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critic’s picks – top tv of 2009

December 23, 2009 1 Comment

madmen We’re wrapping up the year and critics and award shows are singing the praises of the best of 2009. Following is a consolidation of what I’ve found on folk’s best lists.

Who said which? Initials included after titles and full names and links below. Am I missing some? Post them in comments and I’ll make updates. What do I think? Stay tuned for my year end tv post.

Battlestar Galactica (Syfy) – JP, MR, Wat, TG, AS
Better Off Ted (ABC) – TG, AS, CNN
The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – AFI, MR, Wat, SA, AS, CNN, AF
Big Love (HBO) – JP, AFI, TG, SA, AF
Bored to Death (HBO) – TG
Breaking Bad (AMC) – JP, MR, WG, TG, KT, SA, AS, AF
Chuck (NBC) – Wat, AS, AF
The Closer (TNT) – TVG, SAG
Community (NBC) – TG, AS
Cougar Town (ABC) – TVG
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) – TG, WG, SAG, AS
Damages (FX) – TVG, SA
Dexter (Show) – WG, SAG, TG
Dollhouse (Fox) – Wat
Flight of the Conchords (HBO) – TG, SA, AS
Friday Night Lights (NBC) – JP, AFI, TVG, MR, WG, Wat, KT, AS, AF
Fringe (Fox) – KT, CNN
Glee (Fox) – JP, AFI, TVG, MR, WG, SAG, TG, KT, SA, CNN
The Good Wife (CBS) – SAG, KT, SA
Greek (ABCFam)- TVG
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) – TG, SA, AF
Hung (HBO) – TG
In Treatment (HBO) – SA, AS
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) – TG
The League (FX) – TG
Lost (ABC) – JP, TVG, WG, Wat, TG, AS
Mad Men (AMC) – JP, AFI, TVG, MR, WG, Wat, SAG, TG, KT, SA, AS, AF
The Middle (ABC) – TVG
Modern Family (ABC) – JP, AFI, TVG, TG, MR, WG, Wat, SAG, KT, AS, CNN, AF
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (HBO) – AFI
Nurse Jackie (Show) – AFI, MR, Wat, TG, KT, AF
The Office (NBC) – JP, TG, WG, SAG, AS, AF
Parks and Recreation (NBC) – JP, TG, Wat, SA, AF
Party Down (Starz) – AFI, Wat, AS
Sons of Anarchy (FX) – JP, Wat, TG, KT, SA
Supernatural (CW) – Wat
30 For 30 (ESPN) – AS
30 Rock (NBC) – TVG, TG, WG, SAG, SA, AF
24 (Fox) – TVG
Torchwood: Children of Earth (BBCA) – MR, Wat, AS
True Blood (HBO) – AFI, MR, Wat, SAG, TG, KT, CNN, AF
Ugly Betty (ABC) – AF
United States of Tara (Show) – AS
Weeds (Show) – SA

AF – Ausiello Files, AS – Alan Sepinwall for Star-Ledger, AFI, CNN, JP – James Poniewozik for Time, KT – Ken Tucker for Entertainment Weekly, MR – Matt Roush for TV Guide Magazine, SA – Satellite Awards, SAG – Screen Actor’s Guild (best ensemble), TVG – TV Gal, TG – Tim Goodman for SF Chronicle Comedies, Dramas, Wat – The Watcher by Maureen Ryan, WG – Writer’s Guild

my schedule

October 6, 2009 1 Comment

Looks like fall shows have launched and now that I’ve given it a look or two, with my goal as always to keep shows to two per time slot max, until they cancel, reschedule, add, or I just get over something, here’s where I’m at:

Monday

8pm – House (Fox) / How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
9pm – Gossip Girl (CW) / Big Bang Theory (CBS 9:30)
10pm – Castle (ABC)

House is one of those shows I wish I could give up but somehow don’t (Laurie is good but they just almost kill a person until they save them every week), Gossip Girl is a quality guilty pleasure, and Castle has Nathan Fillion who is great enough to pull off this relatively formulaic weekly crime drama; although I do occasionally catch 2 1/2 Men I would love to redo the schedule and put HIMYM and BBTheory in the same hour, both are good fun. I’ve been catching Trauma on Saturday repeats.

Tuesday

9pm – Melrose Place (CW)
10pm – The Good Wife (CBS)

Melrose has just been so bad I can’t quite turn away, mostly because there is no competition for me on this night (I hope the cheesiness is intended) but I’ll probably tune in until Heather shows, and have found Julianna and supporting cast to be interesting in the mix of personal drama and weekly lawyerness on Wife.

Wednesday

8pm – The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) / The Middle (ABC) / Mercy (NBC)
9pm – Glee (Fox) / Modern Family (ABC)

Christine is finally paired with something that might be kind of funny, too bad it’s on another network, let’s hope they don’t mess up my time blocks, unless they pair Middle with Modern which so far is good; Glee is my favorite new show of the season, and I don’t know why so far I keep watching Mercy it’s not actually good. Have been getting SVU and ANTM on repeat nights.

Thursday

8pm – Bones (Fox) / Community / Parks & Recreation (NBC)
9pm – Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) / The Office / 30 Rock (NBC)
10pm – The Mentalist (CBS)

I still dig Bones and am happy that Community actually seems to be funny paired with P&R which I still find a little uneven but funny. I am almost over Grey’s (I’m never excited to watch but still seem to enjoy the episodes) and still enjoying Office and looking forward to return of 30Rock; oh yeah and Simon is still good on the Mentalist.

Friday

8pm – Law & Order (NBC)
9pm – Dollhouse (Fox) / ANTM (CW)
10pm – Numb3rs (CBS)

L&O is always a good staple but I don’t so much care, Dollhouse is still a little uneven but I love the way they explore the themes of identity, and I really want to be over ANTM (the less of Tyra the better); Numb3rs is a show I just keep on the list just because I kind of like the math FBI brothers and their dad.

Saturday

9pm – Trauma (NBC)
10pm – Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

I don’t know if I’ll stick with Trauma but we’ll see, and if I miss an ep of any of the L&Os I don’t really notice but keep them in the queue.

Sunday

Day of rest.

But what about cable? Fortunately those shows I’m still getting tend to repeat in the off hours so I can catch at random times, currently I am mostly catching Sons of Anarchy on FX and am going to have to check online for the final eps of Greek and Monk until I decide on a cable commitment (I’ve got some Dexter waiting for me one someone else’s Tivo as well).

next week 9/21

September 19, 2009 5 Comments

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

Heroes (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – I just couldn’t take it anymore so I have no idea what they’re up to and I’d like to keep it that way.
House (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – I am not entirely sure why I still watch this show, every episode they almost kill someone until they save them and House is an ass, but now I just need to see if he’s an insane ass.
Dancing with the Stars/Castle (ABC, 8/10pm) Season Premiere – I don’t watch the dance but I am taken in by Fillion on Castle.
How I Met Your Mother/Accidentally on Purpose/Two and a Half Men/The Big Bang Theory/CSI: Miami (CBS, 8-11pm) Season/Series Premiere – Accidentally is supposed to be a stinker but Mother and Big Bang are pretty consistently funny, and I never watch Caruso on CSI.
Brick City (Sund, 10pm) Series Premiere – First of a five-part series on Newark NJ.
Misadventures (Trav, 10pm) Series Premiere – First Brazil and then Burma.

Tuesday

NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles/The Good Wife (CBS, 8-11pm; GW repeats Sat 9pm) Season/Series Premieres – First the original which I’ve honestly never see, then LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell head up the latest spinoff, does this mean CSI: L&O: NCIS: Boston is next? But wait, Wife is supposed to be a great mix of drama and cases.
The Forgotten (ABC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Christian Slater heads up volunteers helping to fight crime.
The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck (Oxy, 10pm) Series Premiere – More reality fare on the menu as they follow a chef and her team.
Table for 12 (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – I think this is the one with more kids and no tabloid divorce.

Wednesday

The New Adventures of Old Christine/Gary Unmarried/Criminal Minds/CSI: NY (CBS, 8-11pm) Season Premieres – First some laughs and then some murder, not to give anything away.
Mercy/L&O: SVU (NBC, 8-10pm; Mercy repeats Sat 9pm) Series/Season Premiere – The lives of three nurses and then back to the special victims.
Modern Family/Cougar Town/Eastwick (ABC, 9-11pm; MF/CT repeat Fri 9pm) Series Premieres – With this chunk of new shows let’s hope for a winner, rumor has it Family is the best on this block.

Thursday

CSI/The Mentalist (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – I’ll pass on CSI but I do like Baker’s charms.
Flash Forward/Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8/9pm; FF repeats Fri 8pm) Series/Season Premiere – First the blackout that is the premise for at least one season and then George is out and Izzie is in, except for the break Heigl takes to shoot her movie, would that be at the same time Mer is out maternity leave, damn me for still watching this show.

Friday

Brothers/Dollhouse (Fox, 8/9pm; Brothers repeats Sun 7pm) Series/Season Premiere – This new show isn’t supposed to be all that but tune in to see what the latest capers Echo and the crew get into.
Smallville (CW, 8pm) Season Premiere – Clark continues.
Ghost Whisperer/Medium/Numb3rs (CBS, 8pm) Season Premieres – Don’t tune into the two visions shows but do tend to catch the crime math.
L&O (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – And the longest running drama series is back.

Saturday

48 Hours Mystery (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – I’m not even sure why it’s 2 days.
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30pm) Season Premiere – Megan Fox hosts with U2 in the musical guest spot.

Sunday

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition/Desperate Housewives/Brothers & Sisters (ABC, 7/9/10pm) Season Premiere – Construction, soapy drama, whiny drama.
The Simpsons/The Cleveland Show/Family Guy/American Dad (Fox, 8pm) Season/Series Premiere – Animation all night long.
60 Minutes/The Amazing Race/Cold Case (CBS, 7/8/10pm) Season Premieres – News, racing, and an old crime set to old music.
Dexter/Californication (Show, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – I don’t get this channel but make someone else save Dexter for me, what will the season bring.
My Fair Wedding (WE, 10pm) Season Premiere – Something about a wedding.

Repeat times noted for new series on traditional network channels, please always consult your current local listings.

returning fall favorites

September 9, 2009 No Comments

mentalist With Sons of Anarchy starting this week I am starting to get excited about some of the shows that are coming back. What shows you say, well let me tell you:

Bones (Fox, 9/17) – Booth and Bones and the rest of the squints have just kept up the good chemistry while doing science on the stiffs.
Castle (ABC, 9/21) – Nathan Fillion finally found a good role where he could work his charms, and be called out by new partner when they border on smarmy, on admittedly not cutting edge crimes.
Chuck (NBC, 2010) – Sad to see I have to wait even longer for the great mix of comedy, action, and of course romance on this spy show.
Dexter (Show, 9/27) – I may get mad at Dexter for letting people into his life and jeopardizing his serial killer secrets but I can’t wait to see what mess he’ll get into next.
Dollhouse (Fox, 9/25) – I would follow creator Joss anywhere but Dollhouse really started hitting its stride last season as Echo takes on new personalities each week while she and others take on the secrets.
Gossip Girl (CW, 9/14) – Still my favorite trashy pleasure with the gang that gets into tons of drama and tons of great clothes, what will life post high school have in store?
The Mentalist (CBS, 9/24) – Simon Baker is another favorite, and his role of overly observant tortured crime fighter suits him, though who knew California had a Bureau of Investigations.
Sons of Anarchy (Fx, 9/8) – The boys are back, with the women who love them, dealing with crime and family, keeping you on the edge of your seat.
How I Met Your Mother/Big Bang Theory (CBS, 9/21) – These two gangs made me laugh.
30 Rock/The Office (NBC, 9/17) – Work can be funny too.

best, tv

my top tv of 2008

January 8, 2009 3 Comments

As noted I’m a little torn about coming up with a top ten tv list whilst waiting for midseason to hit, but here goes. In alphabetical order:

Bones (Fox) – My favorite of the procedurals, Bones the forensic anthropologist and Booth the FBI guy are great characters with great chemistry and I like all the supporters and flavor added to each body-of-the-week mystery.
Breaking Bad (AMC) – Who knew the dad from Malcolm in the Middle could turn out like this, as he gets himself in terrible situations when he starts to manufacture meth with an unpredictable partner in crime, all to support his family when he’s diagnosed with cancer.
Chuck (NBC) – Action and camp combined and I’m not sure whether I like the geeks put into the spy world or the spies put into the geek world better, with an amusing and compelling supporting cast.
Dexter (Show) – The first season was still the best to date but I can’t turn away from Dexter and his murders and his code and the scary and comical and idiotic people around him, though I do sometimes yell at the tv.
Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog – Not exactly television but this web based villain musical story (now available on dvd and through itunes) is a great piece by Joss Whedon (of Buffy, Angel, Firefly fame), all the main characters are fantastic but if I didn’t love Neil Patrick Harris before I do now.
Flight of the Conchords (HBO) – Hilarious songs tie together the silly stories of these two offbeat New Zealand musicians trying to make it in New York.
Gossip Girl (CW) – Campy soaps done right are just plain fun, and this one has over the top characters and situations going through plot twists faster than their spectacular outfits, Chuck’s ridiculous bowties and ascots alone would keep me tuned in.
Pushing Daisies (ABC) – This was good while it lasted with its fanciful production matching story and concept and design and cast to the wonderful mysteries solved by bringing folks back to life for just a minute, when it’s more than a minute let’s just say complications arose.
Saving Grace (TNT) – That Grace sure is crazy and it’s fun to watch her wrestle with doing the right thing by her police cases and doing the wrong thing in her personal life all while being pushed by her guardian angel, Touched by an Angel this show is not.
Sons of Anarchy (Fx) – I wince at least once an episode at some act of unbelievable violence as this motorcycle gang survives more trouble than seems possible, but the charismatic protagonist gives the show a little heart to go along with the drama.

A little shout out to some of the comedies that didn’t make the list this year but made me laugh enough just the same, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, and The New Adventures of Old Christine.

And of course you can see what the critics are saying.

next week 12/8

December 5, 2008 1 Comment

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC, 8pm) – The gang puts on a holiday pageant.
Boston Legal (ABC, 9pm) Series Finale – I never got into this Practice spinoff but it’s had a good run.

Tuesday

Olive the Other Reindeer/Santa’s Funniest Moments (MNT, 9/10pm) – Reindeer games and outtakes.
Manhunters (A&E, 10pm) Series Premiere – Follow the US Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force hunt down the ‘worst of the worst’.
A Shot at Love (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – Tila Tequila has been replaced by bisexual twins being courted by both men and women.

Wednesday

Little Spirit: Christmas in NY (NBC, 8pm) – This animated holiday special tells a tale of magical spirits in NY.

Thursday

Sarah Silverman Program (Com, 10:30pm) Season Finale – What will Sarah get up to now?

Friday

Greatest Holiday Moments (NBC, 8pm) – Songs of the season countdown.
Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/The Flight Before Christmas (CBS, 8/8:30/9pm) – More Frosty! and a reindeer.
The Family Entertainment Awards (CW, 9pm) – Formerly known as the Family Television Awards, it now touches on family friendly entertainment in tv, movies, and video games.

Saturday

MADtv’s Best of Christmas Sketches (Fox, 11pm) – If you like a holiday sketch here you go.

Sunday

Survivor (CBS, 8/10pm) Season Finale – The reunion special kicks in at 10.
Dexter/Califronication (Show, 9/10pm) Season Finales – And another season down, does this mean I need to wait a whole year for another Dexter?

my schedule

October 28, 2008 1 Comment

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 9/22

September 20, 2008 1 Comment

And the premieres are really cooking, get your tivos ready…. New and notable for the week ahead, procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

Heroes (NBC, 8/9pm) Season Premiere – First we countdown, maybe that means they try to explain what the heck has happened in the first two seasons, then what’s normally an engaging but uneven series has some promising buzz as this year we meet the ‘villains’.
Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 8pm, second rounds Wed/Thurs) Season Premiere – Who will delight America this season and how long can we keep Cloris Leachman in the mix?
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – This show grew on me throughout last year, as the geeks and their straight woman/hot girl Penny make fun, super misfit Sheldon steals the show.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – This show has a great ensemble and the Barneyisms are almost worth it alone.
Two and a Half Men (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – They’re back with more odd couple shenanigans.
Worst Week (CBS, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – Folks are saying this could be funny, but again, not sure about one mishap after another for a whole season.
Boston Legal (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Is this show still on? Is this show still getting emmy nominations?
CSI: Miami (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – I think someone shot Horatio, can anyone really stand David Caruso?

Tuesday

Opportunity Knocks (ABC, 8pm) Series Premiere – A game show where families win based on knowledge of each other.
NCIS (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – I admit I’ve never seen this navy investigation show.
Eureka (SciFi, 9pm) Season Finale – Maybe we find out what happened all those years ago and how their new fixer was involved.
The Mentalist (CBS, 9pm) Series Premiere – Simon Baker solves crimes after years as a fake celebrity psychic.
Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Luke Perry won’t do 90210 so catch him in this ep, will he be creepy?
Without a Trace (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – I used to watch this show but no longer catch the FBI’s weekly missing person drama.

Wednesday

Knight Rider (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – Unless there were significant changes from the made for tv movie/pilot this one’s a pass.
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – I actually like this ridiculous show where JLDreyfuss and her gang are obnoxious but funny.
Gary Unmarried (CBS, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Jay Mohr deals with his divorced dad lifestyle.
David Blaine (ABC, 9pm) – I’m always a little wary of these ‘magicians’ who do something like hang from a wire for days.
Criminal Minds (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – I think we ended last season with an explosion, is all the team coming back?
CSI: NY (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – This one isn’t as annoying as Miami and is a decent procedural.
Lipstick Jungle (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Of the identical average new chick shows of last season (the other was Cashmere Mafia) this one rolled over to this season, let’s hope they fine tuned things.

Thursday

Ugly Betty (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – I never quite appreciated this campy soap drama.
My Name is Earl (NBC, 8/8:30pm) Season Premiere – Last season’s coma didn’t quite work, let’s hope this season is back to its white trash misfit make amends roots.
Survivor: Gabon (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – So they’re in Gabon, wherever that is.
The Office (NBC, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – What’s in store this year for Michael and Pam and Dwight and that other main guy?
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Now that we’re over most of the Mer/Der drama let’s get back to the rest of the gang.
ER (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – I recall hearing that this 15th season is the last and they’re trying to get as much of the gang back together as they can, Clooney is a long shot.

Friday

Presidential Debate (Various, 6pm/pst) – This election season feels like it has been going on forever but now we could really start to get down to it as Jim Lehrer moderates.

Saturday

Dirty Sexy Money (Soap, 9am) – Catch up on delightful season one with this marathon.
Chris Rock (HBO, 9pm) – In his Kill the Messenger special we see comedy from a few locations on his tour.
48 Hours Mystery (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – I don’t know that I’ve ever watched this true-crime series.

Sunday

60 Minutes (CBS, 7pm) Season Premiere – The stop watch still ticks.
Extreme Makeover: Home (ABC, 7/8pm) Season Premiere – I f I read this correctly a single mother of four took in her sister’s 10 children…. I can’t even take care of my plants, she deserves a house.
The Amazing Race (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – I understand this is one of the ‘good’ reality shows.
The Simpsons/King of the Hill/Family Guy/American Dad (Fox, 8-10pm) Season Premieres – The animation evening continues.
Desperate Housewives (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – As I understand it they’re refreshing things by skipping ahead five years.
Cold Case (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – Another one of those procedurals I didn’t keep up with.
Dexter (Show, 9pm) Season Premiere – Ok I’m still on season 3 on netflix but this one is addictive.
Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – So if anyone missed it the now making out Rebecca and Justin are not really related, she only thought she was his sister for a while.
The Unit (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – When the team protects the vice and president elects, they could just paste a current candidates head on the actor’s bodies.
Californication (Show, 10pm) Season Premiere – Too easy to make a David Duchovny joke.
Little Britain (HBO, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – A fav british sketch show may take a few weeks to get its new american legs.
The Life & Times of Tim (HBO, 11pm) Series Premiere – Steve Dildarian former ad guy and fun painter creates this new animated series.

more fall fun

August 18, 2008 No Comments

So some folks were asking about shows that they know I watch but weren’t listed in Fall Favorites… By now folks know I watch and enjoy more shows than a person probably should. In addition to previously noted favorites Bones, Chuck, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, Heroes, The Office, Pushing Daisies, and 30 Rock, there are a few other returning shows that typically hit my tivo:

America’s Next Top Model (CW, Wed 9/3 ) – Yes Tyra is annoying but it’s not really about her, it’s about the annoying wannabe models and this year they promise a transgender contestant.
Big Bang Theory (CBS, Mon 9/22) – I don’t love this show but Sheldon makes me laugh enough, and Darlene is joining her Roseanne boyfriend as a regular this season.
Brothers & Sisters (ABC, Sun, 9/28) – I almost don’t even like this show but I can’t help but tune in to see what mess the Walker family is getting into and this season we should see the real illegitimate half sibling.
Criminal Minds (CBS, Wed 9/24) – I usually actually only catch this special FBi unit cathing the brutal serial killer of the week show in repeats.
Eli Stone (ABC, Tues 10/14) – This quirky guy with visions that may be leading him along won me over, but did we really leave him in a coma after an operation?
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, Thurs 9/25) – Yes Grey herself is totally annoying but maybe as she theoretically sticks with McDreamy this season we can focus on the rest of the good supporting cast.
House (Fox, Tues 9/16) – Last year’s shakeup to cranky House’s team gave him some new fodder, though they didn’t find a good balance yet of old and new, and what of best bro after his girlie’s death?
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, Mon 9/22) – This show still has a lot of hilarity, though I don’t care how he met the mother, or whether it is or isn’t Sarah Chalke.
Law & Order (NBC, midseason) – I dropped this for a few years but found myself tuning back in this last season as the current ensemble seems to be working.
Law & Order: SVU (NBC, Tues 9/23) – I know this show is all about Stabler and Benson but I don’t love them, though I keep tuning in, this is the one with the sex crime slant.
Life (NBC, Mon 9/29) – This detective back on the force after being falsely accused amused and interested with his oddball antics though not so much on the conspiracy of his conviction.
Lost (ABC, midseason) – Well I loved the start of last season but at the end of the day was a little underwhelmed by the Oceanic 6 getting off and having to go back, this season starts a new chapter, I’m very curious and definitely still in.
My Name is Earl (NBC, Thurs 9/25) – I am still amused enough by Earl and his trashy family getting his karma back in line, though bored by the coma version of Earl and the normally likable Alyssa Milano.
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, Wed 9/24) – I still think this is a great role for Dreyfus to do broad funny as an crazy and awkward single mom with her misfit family.
Numbers (CBS, Fri 10/3) – This isn’t a great procedural but the interplay between FBI and math genius brothers solving cases works, though math brother just lost his credentials, whatever will they do.
Reaper (CW, midseason) – This show started strong last season and almost lost me with its capture of the week but the devil’s bounty hunter and friends found a new rhythm by introducing some additional intrigue, and the devil is fantastic.
Samantha Who? (ABC, Mon 10/6) – Applegate is winning as her post amnesia persona tries to marry her old bad ways with her new clean slate.
Scrubs (ABC, midseason) – I was surprised by the network move though I think this show has a great cast and good balance of silly fun, though we’ll see how well they transition to the predicted new young cast additions.
Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox, Mon 9/8) – This show grew on me as the cast and intrigue were better developed while Sarah and her son John try to change the future by jumping years with the help of hot chick terminator Summer Glau.
Two and a Half Men (CBS, Mon 9/22) – This show’s lost its edge a bit for me as the brothers work their odd couple dynamic with lazy kid getting less cute as he grows up, but there are still some good laughs.

And before you ask, current cable faves include: Battlestar Galactica (behind but catching on dvd), Breaking Bad, Burn Notice, The Closer, Dexter (dvd), Eureka, Flight of the Conchords, Greek, Project Runway, The Riches (yet to be renewed), and Saving Grace.

summer drought

June 2, 2008 1 Comment

Aside from continued reality and game shows, is there anything new coming this summer? Well if you have cable you’re not without hope, and there’s even one or two for you network kids… Here’s a couple of things I’m mostly looking forward to:

Sunday, June 1
In Plain Sight (10 p.m., USA) Series Premiere – This premiered last night though I have yet to watch, and it does repeat throughout the week (yeah for cable repeats), but I miss a good fresh procedural so I’m excited to see Mary McCormack as a US Marshall dealing with folks in witness protection.

Tuesday, June 3
30 Days (Fx, 10pm) Season Three – I actually have yet to catch this show but I’m intrigued by the premise, ‘Supersize Me’ guy (and other designated folks) walks the walk in this reality take on 30 days in the life of people from minimum wage workers to white supremacists to coal miners.

Thursday, June 5
Swingtown (CBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – I’ve read some good and bad of this show about a couple who moves into a swinging 70s neighborhood, it’s either an interesting look at the 70s sexuality and politics or it’s just trashy and superficial, either way could be worth a look.

Fear Itself (NBC, 10pm) Series Premiere – This could be as dreadful as last season’s ‘Masters of Science Fiction’ but they’ve got some good talent lined up to do standalone episodes, and perhaps they might even be scary, so probably inconsistent but maybe some gems.

Thursday, July 10
Burn Notice (USA, 10pm) Season Two – I’ve been catching up on this in repeats and though I initially dismissed this ex spy guy as a stiff and predictable, I found the camp and the characters grew on me, fluffy is fine for summer.

Thursday, July 11
Flashpoint (CBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – I have no reason to expect this to be any more than a burned off summer series but I give network stuff a chance during the summer, so this Emergency Task Force drama is worth a shot.

Monday, July 14
The Closer/Saving Grace (TNT, 9/10pm) Seasons Two – Here are a couple of leading ladies who know how to entertain, Kyra Sedgewick is a deputy chief running a special unit cracking down on crime making things happen with her interrogation skills while Holly Hunter is a cop who won’t stop fighting crime unless she’s getting drunk, sleeping with inappropriate men, or talking to her special guardian angel, I can’t wait.

Sunday, July 27
Mad Men (AMC, 10pm) Season Two – I initially skipped this show as the thought of watching a show about advertising… lets just say I get enough of that in my day job, but folks they are a raving, so much that I’m tempted to check it out. Fortunately they’re doing a season 1 marathon 7/20 12pm.

Tuesday, July 29
Eureka (Sci Fi, 9pm) Season Three – I caught this show in the first season and was entertained by this secret super scientist community, it’s quirky characters, and the hijinks that ensue, while of course the not super scientist sheriff needs to help keep it all together.

Other summer series:
Charlie Jade (June 6, SciFi, 8pm), Army Wives (June 8, Life, 10pm), The Bill Engvall Show/My Boys (June 12, TBS, 9/9:30pm), The Middleman (June 16, ABC Fam, 8pm), Monk/Psych (July 10, USA, 9/10pm), Stargate Atlantis (July 11, Sci Fi, 10pm), The Cleaner (July 15, A&E, 10pm), Weeds/Secret Diary of a Call Girl (June 16, Show, 10/10:30pm), Primeval (Aug 9, BBC, 9pm)

For most of the rest you’ll have to wait ’til fall but for those of you who asked: Dexter season three premiere is currently scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28, with season two now available for download on iTunes and on dvd Aug. 19. And Flight of the Conchords isn’t scheduled until 2009 though the dvd for season one is out. And of course these dates may change, I’ll continue to check in on premier dates on ‘next week’ posts.

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