tv

next week 7/20

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

Monday

  • Waking Up With Al (Weath, 3/6am) Series Premiere – Al Roker gets the limelight, well the crack of dawn weather limelight.
  • Torchwood (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – I don’t really follow this but apparently there is a preview at 8 for part 1 of the Children of the Earth series.
  • Dating in the Dark (ABC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Blind dates usually don’t entail literally not being able to see, until now, though infrared cameras make it all watchable (this clearly has the right target following the Bachelorette – The Men Tell All).
  • The Tor Show (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – Talking with celebrity guests.

Tuesday

  • Restorer Guy/The Real Estate Pros/Moving Up (TLC, 7/7:30/8pm) Series/Season Premiere – The filx it up, sell it, fix it up.
  • Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Gordon Ramsay is back berating kitchen staff.
  • Ruby & the Rockits (ABCFam, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – David Cassidy is back and he’s playing an 80’s heatthrob whose long lost daughter returns, and apparently his brother is also a Cassidy.
  • The Colony (Disc, 7pm) Series Premiere – Can these latest volunteers survive the wake of a fake disaster.

Wednesday

  • Toddlers & Tiaras (TLC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Four-year-old, Texas pageant, why oh why.

Thursday

  • Wild Russia (AnPl, 8pm) Series Premiere – Simple enough, looking at the wild in Russia.
  • Samantha Who? (ABC, 8/8:30pm) Series Finale – It’s too bad this series won’t be back again but here’s a last chance for some laughs with Sam.

Friday

  • ATP Tennis (ESPN2, 1/10:30/12, Fri/Sat/Sun) – The US Open Series starts showing the quarters from Indianapolis.

Saturday

  • Action Sports (NBC, 1pm, Sat/Sun) – The Alli Dew Tour has the Skate Open coming from Boston.
  • Being Human (BBCA, 9pm) Series Premiere – A ghost, a werewolf, and a vampire live together, why do I feel like there should be a punch line somewhere in that.

Sunday

  • Tour de France (Vs, 4:30am) – The tour wraps up again in Paris, but who will be in yellow?
  • Easy Money (CW, 7pm) – Burning off eps of yet another canceled series.
  • Extreme Cuisine (Food, 10pm) Series Premiere – Jeff Corwin starts off eating weird stuff in Mexico.
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tv

breaking up is hard to do

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wenemy.jpgI 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.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Fall-2008-Shows-66966.aspx

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tv

my schedule

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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 chuck.jpg

  • 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 bones_main.jpg

  • 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 life.jpg

  • 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).

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tv

what’s new?

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privileged.jpgWell 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.
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tv

next week 9/29

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

Monday

  • Chuck (NBC, 8pm, repeats Sat) Season Premiere – A fun mix of action and humor as mild mannered tech repair guy starts another season of spy fun with his regular and spy companions.
  • Life (NBC, 10pm and Friday) Season Premiere – Eccentric cop returns to the force for another season after being framed and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit.

Tuesday

  • The IT Crowd (IFC, 10pm) Series Premiere – This one is a UK import introduces a couple techies and their less techie boss.   
  • Paris Hilton’s New BFF (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – Without Nicole Richie I don’t really see what Paris’s draw is.
  • Scare Tactics (SciFi, 10pm) Season Premiere – Tracy Morgan hosts what seems to me like super cruel tricks on people.

Wednesday

  • Pushing Daisies (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – This was perhaps my favorite show of last season, it’s a visual delight as crimes are solved by our pie maker bringing folks back to life for a moment of hopeful insight.
  • Private Practice (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – I’ll give this imperfect Grey’s spinoff one more shot, but was so not feeling Addison’s new life with the medical group misfits.
  • America’s Got Talent (NBC, 9pm) Season Finale – Can they top last year’s ventriloquist?
  • Friday Night Lights (DirecTV Channel 101, 9pm) Season Premiere – I wasn’t really following this move but if you’re a fan I guess it’s good it’s still on.
  • Dirty Sexy Money (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – The Darling family is at it again, all except Samaire Armstrong who is rumored to return for guest visits, this is rich person drama done right.

Thursday

  • Vice Presidential Debate (Various, 6pst/9est pm) – I think folks are more interested in this debate than in the presidential ones.
  • Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed (MNT, 9pm) Series Premiere – Not sure I’ve yet to turn into a show on this odd non-network network and not sure this show will drive the change.
  • Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style (Bravo, 11pm) Season Premiere – Gretta Monahan joins Tim ‘make it work’ Gunn in giving individual makeovers.

Friday

  • Wife Swap (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Not a fan of this opposites exhibiting or doling out what seem like extremist behaviors to someone else’s family.
  • Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – Jennifer Love Hewitt whispers to ghosts, though I’m not sure she really whispers.
  • Everybody Hates Chris (CW, 8pm) Season Premiere – Chris returns to start high school.
  • WWE Smackdown (MTN, 8pm) Season Premiere – I think this was on the CW last season.
  • The Game (CW, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – Not sure what’s going on with the ladies of the football league.
  • Supernanny (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – The nanny’s deal with the brats some more.
  • The Ex List (CBS, 9pm) Series Premiere – Jane Doe from Grey’s tracks down all her exes after being told she’s already met the one.
  • Sanctuary (SciFi, 9pm) Series Premiere – I’m not sure what this show’s about but apparently it includes live action over virtual sets and originally began online.
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon, 9/9:30pm) Series Premiere – Animated Star Wars, what more do you need to know?
  • Numbers (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – Math wiz Charlie’s no longer got FBI clearance, whatever will FBI brother Don do?

Saturday

  • My Big Redneck Wedding (CMT, 9pm) Season Premiere – Monster trucks and weddings go together like…
  • Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team (CMT, 9:30) Season Premiere – Really there have already been two seasons of this show?

Sunday

  • 4real (CW, 5/5:30pm) Series Premiere – Cameron Diaz heads to Peru then folks named K’naan and Sol travel to Kibera in East Africa.
  • In Harm’s Way (CW, 6/7pm) Series Premiere – Real people in tough jobs like bull riding and the coast guard.
  • America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 7pm) Season Premiere – The videos, they are funny.
  • Valentine (CW, 8pm) Series Premiere -Greek gods bring a new (or old) technique to bringing folks together.
  • Easy Money (CW, 9pm) Series Premiere – Roseanne’s Laurie Metcalf runs a loan-shark business…
  • The Girl’s Next Door (E!, 10pm) Season Premiere – Did I hear a rumor that one of Hef’s gals is getting the boot, may not see that in this ep as Hef celebrates year 82 in Vegas.
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new fall tv

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Well this season is a bit of a wild card as this last year’s strike shook up the pilot cycle. Shows didn’t produce in the same way and most didn’t have a traditional critical review. Since most critics are relegated to watching shows live like the rest of us we’re relying a little more on buzz and people associated show than critical reviews.

So what am I looking forward to:

  • 90210 (CW 9/2) – The nostalgia factor alone (Brenda and Kelly return!) makes this a must see, though so far it’s not quite appointment tv.
  • The Ex List (CBS 10/3) – Though I admittedly was annoyed by her Jane Doe character on Grey’s, Elizabeth Reaser’s new role has potential as she looks up her former loves to find the one that could be true.
  • Fringe (Fox 9/9) – With JJ Abrams (Lost and Alias) behind the show who can help but be a little excited though early leakings of the pilot have people noting that it has potential but a little way to go.
  • Life on Mars (ABC 10/9) – This redo of a BBC hit has present day cop stuck in the 70s, there’s potential with casting like Jason O’Mara, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, and Lisa Bonet.
  • The Mentalist (CBS 9/23) – Simon Baker (the Guardian) stars as a former ‘fake’ psychic and now uses his skills and charisma for good, I just really like him.
  • My Own Worst Enemy (NBC, 10/13) – I always dig a spy show and I actually like Christian Slater though I can’t quite picture him as two different characters, the spy org apparently plants a brain chip to create a clean cut alter ego and this one is breaking down.

And of course there’s more shows coming:

  • Crusoe (NBC 10/12) – A series based on the old story is pretty hard to take seriously.
  • Do Not Disturb (Fox 9/10) – Jerry O’Connell stars in this Hotel comedy hoping for hilarity, he’s normally likable enough but initial reviews haven’t been good.
  • Easy Money (CW 9/21) – A family of loan sharks walk the line of legality in this ‘dramedy’.
  • Eleventh Hour (CBS, 10/9) – Rufus Sewell stars in this redo of BBC miniseries where a scientist and his by-the-book FBI partner come in at the last minute to solve scientific mysteries, for some reason the promos just look dull.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS 9/24) – Jay Mohr stars as a single dad divorced guy dealing with his kid, his ex, and his new life, though Mohr can be good this show might be average.
  • In Harm’s Way (CW 9/21) – This reality show checks out folks in tough jobs.
  • Kath & Kim (NBC 10/9) – This remake of the Aussie show stars likable Selma Blair and Molly Shannon in roles that made me cringe in the previews.
  • Privileged (CW 9/9) – Cute Joanna Garcia (Reba) is a live-in tutor for some spoiled girls, based on some books, this show might not be great television but it could be entertaining enough.
  • Knight Rider (NBC 9/24) – This show was previewed in a tv movie this last year and neither new lead (Michael Knight’s son), nor Kitt (voiced by Val Kilmer), nor the story had any new or retro pizzazz.
  • Stylista (CW, 10/22) – It’s another reality competition and in this lackeys are hoping for an entry level lackey gig at Elle magazine.
  • Surviving Suburbia (CW 11/2) – Bob Saget returns to the comedic in this darker role of husband and father dealing with life.
  • Valentine (CW 9/21) – Greek Gods play with regular folk’s love lives, Aphrodite in the regular world seems doubtful.
  • Worst Week (CBS 9/22) – Based on another hit British show, I’m skeptical that although the lead is apparently appealing this one problem after another show can keep the laughs coming.
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