earl – procrastinationchronicles.com

next week 5/11

May 10, 2009 3 Comments

New and notable in the week ahead. Procrastinator picks underlined…

Monday

Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – The gang is all getting ready to take 3 months off.
House (Fox, 8pm) Season Finale – I believe there will be a case and they will solve it at the end of the hour.
Charm School (VH1, 9pm) Season Premiere – This season they add contestants from other VH! shows as Ricki Lake steps in for Sharon Osborne in trying to class up the ladies.
Castle (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – Castle solves a crime, and probably.

Tuesday

The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – I wish I knew this finale was three hours long before I agreed to go watch it with a friend.
Fringe (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – Leonard Nimoy adds to his recent Star Trek public appearances with a guest as founder of Massive Dynamics.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Brav, 11pm) Series Premiere – The latest look at ladies of leisure.

Wednesday

America’s Next Top Model (CW, 8pm) Season Finale – Commercials and catwalk decide the latest model winner to drop into oblivion.
Lie to Me (Fox, 8pm) Season Finale – There’s lying and lie detecting.
Lost (ABC, 8/9pm) Season Finale – Highlights at 8 are followed by the two hour finale, I’m still 12 episodes behind so more to add to the tivo.
Rules of Engagement/New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, 8/8:30pm) – Bumped by Barack last week, these two shows try out a new night.

Thursday

Bones/Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, 8/9pm) Season Finale – Motley Crue joins the crew and then a chef wins.
Smallville/Supernatural (CW, 8/9pm) Season Finale – The guys fight the villains and demons.
My Name is Earl/Parks & Recreation/The Office/30 Rock (NBC, 8-10pm) Season Finale – The laughs ensue.
CSI/CSI: NY (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Finale – The crime scene gets investigated.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9pm) Season Finale – Whose lives will change in the finale and will Izzie be back next season?

Friday

America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 8pm) Season Finale – Two hours of funny videos.
Don’t Tell the Bride (BBCA, 8pm) Series Premiere – The get money for a wedding but the groom has to plan it.
The Game (CW, 8pm) Season Finale – This show wraps up with a wedding or does it?
Ghost Whisperer/Flashpoint/Numb3rs (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season Finale – Ghosts and crimes and crimes.
Prison Break (Fox, 8pm) Series Finale – Finally putting this show out of its misery.

Saturday

Primeval (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – A monstrous crocodile is loose.
Beverly Hills Groomer (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – We follow someone from Groomer Has It trying to make it.

Sunday

Extreme Makeover/Desperate Housewives (ABC, 7/9pm) Season Finale – Crazy enthusiasm and then just plain crazies.
Sit Down, Shut Up/The Simpsons/King of the Hill/Family Guy/American Dad (7, 8-10pm) Season Finales – The animation continues.
Survivor (CBS, 8/10pm) Season Finale – Two hour finale followed by the reunion show.
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 9pm) – This special shows the shorts.

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.

fall is in the air

May 19, 2008 4 Comments

Well we’ve had a week to wrap up the up fronts where networks tout their fall and onward tv seasons for advertisers, so let’s take a look at what looks like it will look like:

ABC

New:

Life on Mars – David E Kelley’s version of BBC series where cop transports back to 1970s
Opportunity Knocks – Game show where they knock on your door, or something

Returning: 20/20, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal (final season), Brothers & Sisters, Eli Stone, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap
Midseason returns: According to Jim, The Bachelor, Lost, Scrubs (New from NBC)
Noteworthy not returning: Men in Trees, Miss Guided, October Road, Women’s Murder Club

CBS

New:

Eleventh Hour – Jerry Bruckheimer’s latest, adapting from the british 4 part sci fi series dealing with mysterious cases
The Ex List – This one is based on an Israeli show where a psychic tells a woman she has already met her true love and so she revisits the exes
The Mentalist – Simon Baker uses his powers of observation to solve crimes
Project Gary – Comedy starring Jay Mohr as a recent divorce, and contractor which might explain the ‘project’ part
Worst Week – This comedy of newly engaged couple is another BBC show made over american style

Returning: 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, Amazing Race, Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, New Adventures of Old Christine, Numb3rs, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, The Unit, Without a Trace
Midseason returns: Rules of Engagement
Noteworthy not returning: Moonlight, Shark

New:

90210 – The next generation, as a new brother and sister move and start at West Beverly High, including pop bys by Jennie Garth as Guidance Counselor
Surviving the Filthy Rich – With Reba’s JoAnna Garcia as nanny to rich kids, based on a book series
Stylista – New reality from Tyra Banks where folks compete to work at Elle

Noteworthy note: Contracting out Sunday nights to production finance company Media Rights Capital who will be responsible for two dramas and two comedies and selling the ad time.

FAT City, IM Valentine, Book of Murphy, Surviving Suburbia

Returning: ANTM, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural
Midseason return: Reaper
Noteworthy not returning: Aliens in America, Girlfriends, New Amsterdam

Fox

New:

Fringe – JJ Abrams latest starring Joshua Jackson teaming up to investigate unexplained phenomena, I wanna say like the x-files
Do Not Disturb – Comedy starring Jerry O’Connell working at one of NY’s uber hip hotels

Returning: American Dad, America’s Most Wanted, Bones, Cops, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Family Guy, House, King of the Hill, Kitchen Nightmares, Moment of Truth, Prison Break, Simpsons, Smarter than a 5th Grader, Terminator, Til Death
Midseason return: 24, American Idol, Hell’s Kitchen.
Noteworthy not returning: Back to You

NBC

New:

Crusoe – As in Robinson…
Kath & Kim – Molly Shannon and Selma Blair in remake of Australian sitcom about mother and daughter living together again
Knight Rider – If you caught the ‘hit’ tv movie you’re familiar with this remake
My Own Worst Enemy – Christian Slater as a gov agent/normal guy whose two lives start to blur
Thursday Night Live – Special SNL shows leading up to the elections

Returning: The Biggest Loser, Chuck, Dateline, Deal or No Deal, Heroes, E.R. (final season), L&O:SVU, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock
Midseason returning: Friday Night Lights, L&O, Medium
Noteworthy not returning: Bionic Woman, Journeyman, Las Vegas

Additional Notes:

Tons of new shows scheduled for after fall, but we’ll chime in later once those become more solid, other than the fact that I should note there’s an Office spinoff scheduled as well as the new Joss Whedon show Dollhouse with Eliza Dushku, scheduled for midseason. I miss the Grr Arg.

And if you want to see the current stab at the schedule you can check it out at TV Guide.

next week 5/12

May 9, 2008 No Comments

Stay tuned this week for the finales of many a show, does this mean it’s summer?

Monday

Samantha Who? (ABC, 9:30) Season Finale – Samantha’s birthday brings her family, buddies and romance together for some chaos.
Medium (NBC, 10pm) Season Finale – Being a medium and a mom is a challenge, or something.
The Bachelor (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – I hear it’s one of the most dramatic and romantic yet!

Tuesday

Beauty and the Geek (CW, 8pm) Season Finale – And I’m sure the beauties and the geeks have all learned a little about each other.
Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 10pm) Season Finale – One of the detectives is caught up in a case and becomes a suspect.
Women’s Murder Club (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – The gals get involved in the pursuit of a the kiss me not killer.

Wednesday

America’s Next Top Model (CW, 8pm) Season Finale – The latest Top Model will be chosen.
Til Death/Back to You (Fox, 8/8:30pm) Season Finales – I don’t actually watch either of these comedies but I’m sure hijinks will ensue.

Thursday

My Name Is Earl/The Office (NBC, 8/9pm) Season Finales – Both these shows will air two part episodes as finales.
Smallville/Supernatural (CW, 8/9pm) Season Finales – There will be battles.
CSI/Without a Trace (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Finales – There will be murders and missing people.
ER (NBC, 10pm) Season Finale – And the special guest star is… Steve Buscemi.

Friday

Ghost Whisperer/Moonlight/Numb3rs (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season Finales– Um, ghosts and vampires and fbi cases.

Saturday

Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30pm) – Steve Carrell and Usher join to round out the season.

Sunday

Extreme Makeover/Desperate Housewives (ABC, 7/9pm) Season Finales – Two hour episode of Makeover followed by housewives that are oh so desperate.
Academy of Country Music Awards (CBS, 8pm) – They came, they sang, they won, and lost.
Everybody Hates Chris/Aliens in America/The Game (CW, 8/8:30/9pm) Season Finales – Everybody… ok I don’t watch these shows either.
The Simpsons/King of the Hill/American Dad (Fox, 8/8:30/9:30pm) Season Finales – Animated shows need time off too.

next week 4/28

April 26, 2008 2 Comments

Monday

House (Fox, 9pm) – Back after the strike hiatus and our favorite curmudgeon is back diagnosing and annoying those around him.

Tuesday

Shark (CBS, 9pm) – Back from strike I sometimes catch this abrasive celebrity attorney as he continues trying to convict and keep his personal life together.
The Riches (Fx, 10pm) – Last ep due to the strike, I dig this show but so far have this season all backlogged on tivo.
Women’s Murder Club (ABC, 10pm) – Returning from strike is this light yet enjoyable procedural show with each of the gals bringing cop, coroner, da and journalist pov.

Wednesday

Secrets of the Dead (PBS, 8pm) – Documentary that shows the story of two men who escaped Auschwitz to try to warn the world.
The Farmer Wants a Wife (CW, 9pm) Series Premiere – This is what it sounds like, a version of The Bachelor on a farm, personally I pass.
Boston Legal (ABC, 10pm) – This show gets a new time slot though I’m not sure what the old time slot was as I could never quite get into this crazy legal show.

Thursday

My Name is Earl/Scrubs/The Office/30 Rock (NBC, 8-10pm) – The second week of the new order of the lineup.

Friday

Man vs. Wild (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – Bear Grylls returns to the wild to show how he can keep getting out.

Saturday

Nascar (Fox, 7pm) – They go round and round I think.
The Shell Seekers/A Teacher’s Crime (Hallmark/Lifetime, 9pm) – How could a person decide which movie of the week to watch?

Sunday

Cold Case (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – This procedural, that I usually miss, solves old cases as it wraps up another season.
Family Guy (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – This family gets a pet or something, and Amanda Bynes guests.
This American Life (Show, 10pm) Season Premiere – This NPR show starts its second series of televised stories.

next week 3/31

March 28, 2008 3 Comments

Monday

The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, 9:30pm) Season Finale – Could it be peramenopause and could her gynecologist be Jason Alexander.
CSI: Miami (CBS, 10pm m/t) – A special two parter brings Elizabeth Berkley back into David Caruso’s life.

Tuesday

Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – He yells at people again.
Live to be 150… Can You Do It? (ABC, 10pm) – Barbara (76) talks to ‘old’ folks including Paul Newman (83).

Wednesday

Criminal Minds/CSI: NY (CBS, 9, 10pm) – Post strike returns.

Thursday

My Name is Earl (NBC, 8/8:30pm) – Post strike return and Paris wouldn’t let Britney be the only useless guest star on a series.
Miss/Guided (ABC, 8:30pm) Season Finale – Apparently though I noted this as a finale last week, there is one more.
CSI/Without a Trace (CBS, 9/10pm) – Post strike returns.
Make Me a Supermodel (Bravo, 10pm) Season Finale – And a model is chosen.

Friday

Ghost Whisperer/Numb3rs (CBS, 8/10pm) – Post strike premieres.
Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi, 10pm) Season Premiere – The fourth season begins, and a friend is going to loan me the started dvd.

Saturday

NCAA Championship (CBS, 6pm) – In this one the ball goes through a hoop…

Sunday

Sony Ericsson Open (FSN, Sat noon/est, Sun 1pmest) – This one’s tennis… Women’s finals on Saturday and Men’s on Sunday, with coverage starting Sunday 3/30.

tv catch up

January 30, 2008 2 Comments

As the strike continues some of you may be at a loss for what to watch. This might be a good time to catch up on early seasons of some good shows that you may have missed out on. Here are some of my favorites that are worth a look, or even a second look:

Bones (Season 1 and 2) – Great chemistry between Bones and Booth and a fun supporting cast as the squints/lab kids help the FBI solve crimes through forensic anthropology, think of it as CSI/Crossing Jordan for the bodies that are just bones.
Brothers & Sisters (Season 1) – A fun soapy drama about partly dysfunctional and totally loving family with a great cast, although uneven there’s always something interesting going on from matriarch Sally Field to newest Walker Emily Van Camp.
Grey’s Anatomy (Seasons 1-3) – More soapy fun, and the best was the first season as we first meet our surgical interns and get involved in their work and romance, mostly romance at work, I’m even ok with the fact that Meredith bugs.
Heroes (Season 1) – The first season introduces us to our ‘heroes’ as they get their powers and their plotlines bring them together, somewhat uneven as they get rolling but engaging from the start and riveting by the end.
House (Seasons 1-3) – Crotchety, drug addicted, medical genius is how he’s portrayed and you get to watch him abuse patients and coworkers as he tries to diagnose the undiagnosable patients and somehow pretty entertaining, mostly thanks to Laurie but good surrounding folks for him to play off of.
Lost (Seasons 1-3) – This show has a faithful following partly because it’s really different and really well done with the interplay of on island action and back story character development, and partly because you really can’t miss an episode for fear of missing some big explanation.
Prison Break (Season 1 – Season 2 also available) – I recommend this with a warning, I loved the first season fun, watching one guy’s plan to break his brother out of prison, and watching it mostly getting thrown for a loop, but was super annoyed by the second, I have yet to tune into the third.

Maybe you’re more of a 1/2 hour comedy sort of person? How ’bout:

Girlfriends (Seasons 1-3) – Four sassy mostly professional gals deal with life and love and each other and their one guy pal through their different experiences.
How I Met Your Mother (Seasons 1 & 2) – Hopeless romantic Ted tells his tales of love, but its the ensemble cast that makes this work, as theoretically we eventually meet Ted’s true love.
My Name is Earl (Seasons 1 & 2) – I find Jason Lee kind of endearing in general and enjoy his bad guy turned good, using his lottery winning to fix his karma by righting his wrongs, with the help, or harm, of his misfit friends.
The New Adventures of Old Christine (Season 1) – Julia Louis-Dreyfus found a great format for her broad humor as she plays a hapless single mom hanging with her family and friends trying to get her act together.
The Office (Seasons 1-3) – A painful office (based on the British series) at first pained me to think of why I’d want to watch at the end of a day at the office, but its oddball characters and biting humor won me over.
Scrubs (Seasons 1-6) – Hospital comedy seen through the eyes of goofball JD as he and his buddies treat patients… well it’s kind of like Grey’s Anatomy but shorter and wackier.
30 Rock (Season 1) – This show took a little while to find its rhythm but when it does this behind the scenes look at a sketch show gets it super right with Tina Fey at the helm.
Two and a Half Men (Seasons 1 & 2) – Kind of an Odd Couple, where the guys are brothers and one of them has a kid (at least shared custody), sometimes kind of a crass humor, but pretty good humor nonetheless.

next week 1/7

January 4, 2008 3 Comments

Monday

Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann (ABC, 8pm) Series Premiere – Drew Lachey joins two of the judges from Dancing With the Stars to create two singing and dancing teams to compete in this six week series, I didn’t get Dancing with the Stars either.
Medium (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Things were shook up employment-wise for Allison and her husband, with her out of the DA’s office how will she solve her creepy vision mysteries?

Tuesday

Bones/House (Fox, 8/9pm) – See where it all began with the pilots of these two fun shows.
One Tree Hill (CW, 8/9pm) Season Premiere – The fifth season moves forward four years to try to beat the high school turned college show crisis and get the cast to about their appropriate ages.
People’s Choice (CBS, 9pm) – The people, they pick their picks for tv and movies as Queen Latifah hosts, nobody really cares what the people think do they?

Wednesday

Law & Order: CI (NBC, 9pm) Season Premiere – The show banished to cable returns in reruns for its 7th season to the network where it started, this is the one L&O that bugs me, mostly D-Onofrio who I used to like.
Cashmere Mafia (ABC, 10pm) – The show stops off in its regular timeslot.

Thursday

My Name is Earl/30 Rock (NBC, 8/8:30pm) – Ok these are the last ones we get for who knows how long, enjoy.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9pm) – Ditto on last in the queue.

Friday

Catch up on some repeats (Grey’s/Cashmere Mafia on ABC) or catch some new eps of shows (Ghost Whisperer, Moonlight, Numb3rs on CBS or Friday Night Lights and Las Vegas on NBC) or maybe just go out and see a movie.

Saturday

If you didn’t get away from the television last night definitely get away tonight, unless you’ve got some netflix stacking up there’s nothing on.

Sunday

Golden Globes (NBC, 8pm) – Many thanks will be given out to the Hollywood Foreign Press for tv and movies this evening.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox, 8pm) Series Premiere – I haven’t heard anything about this but am intrigued and glad that Summer Glau from Firefly is going to protect them.
Commanche Moon (CBS, 9pm, also Tues/Wed) Miniseries – Prequel to the Lonesome Dove miniseries though I hear this one doesn’t live up to the previous.
Rock of Love 2/Scott Baio 46… and Pregnant (VH1, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – I got hooked on these shows last season, not good but I was truly addicted to Rock of Love.
Masterpiece: Persuasion (PBS, Check Your Local Listings) – This starts off a little Jane Austen theme for the now Masterpiece/Masterpiece Theater I always mean to watch them and this is supposed to be good.

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