tv

breaking up is hard to do

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With the wrapping up of Grimm and Bones, two shows that I quite enjoyed but abandoned along the way, made me start doing another think on shows that had once be enjoyed (some making my favorite tv of the year lists) and had to be given up along the way. Real estate for tv shows these days is limited so though I like to give some a long leash eventually the cost (time)/benefit (enjoyment) needs to hit a reality check.

  • The 100 (CW) – This pretty teens style CW show really developed into an interesting post-apocalyptic take but after a mixed season last year (as well as some unfortunately cast cuts) this year’s latest impending doom just couldn’t keep my interest.
  • The Blacklist (NBC) – I was never a fan of Elizabeth and as all the drama revolves around her it was always a matter as to whether Red and the others could balance that out, and when things turned to Elizabeth and her baby I couldn’t take it anymore, I wish they had killed her off.
  • Empire (Fox) – I love a fun soapy show and the musical angle on this just made it that much more fun, but these all seem to have a shelf life, no matter how much I enjoy the characters there’s a limit to how many circles of drama can keep me engaged.
  • The Outsiders (WGN) – This captured a little of the spirit of the total chaos of Sons of Anarchy with the wild folks in the woods but turned out to be too much of a mixed bag to keep it in the lineup.
  • Sleepy Hollow (Fox) – The first season of this was what’s been described as ‘bonkers awesome’ and then while they continued to struggle with how to manage the stories and supporting cast the key was always the chemistry between the two leads, and when they decided to nix one of the two in a reboot that was it for me.
  • The Walking Dead (AMC) – Ok, so the drama here was usually a good balance of zombie chaos outshone by drama and violence of the more human kind but somehow eventually managed to undermine the characters and my patience in sticking through some of the downs for more sparing ups.

And some previous drops Awkward, Grey’s Anatomy, Last Man on Earth, Major Crimes, Modern Family, Nashville, Suits and my most controversial Breaking Bad following season 2 (I am tempted to go back and see if I would have turned back around on this).

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new and noteworthy tv: 9/23-9/29

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crazyones

My first fall conflict, I’ll catch The Black List Saturday while I give Castle and Hostages a run…

Monday

  • How I Met Your Mother/2 Broke Girls/Mom/Hostages (CBS, 8/9/9:30/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – There have been moments of great humor throughout the years on HIMYM and here’s hoping the final season brings some of those, I can’t recommend Broke but I have to admit I’ve tuned in and chuckled, so here’s to hoping Mom has a few of its own with Anna Faris and Allison Janney and Hostages can extend a movie premise into a series for Toni Collette and Dylan McDermott.
  • The Voice/The Blacklist (NBC, 8/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – I’m out on Voice but you know, the original judges are back, then James Spader returning is always worth a look.
  • Black Ink Crew (VH1, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – More tattoo parlor drama.
  • Castle (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Beckett won’t leave the show but they will undoubtedly continue to manufacture some ridiculous relationship drama.

Tuesday

  • Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD/The Goldbergs/Trophy Wife/Lucky 7 (ABC, 8/9/9:30/10pm) Series Premieres – Cautiously optimistic for any Joss Whedon show as these agents protect us, less optimistic for 80s flashback sitcom and the latest lottery winners but sandwiched in there is Malin Akerman and Bradley Whitford bringing some potential funny to family life.
  • NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles/Person of Interest (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season Premieres – Yup, I’m out on these.
  • Income Property (HGTV, 9pm) Season Premiere – Basement apartment anyone?
  • Fangasm (Syfy, 10pm) Series Premiere – Fans become roomies to get ready to embody their, I don’t want to say, geeky Comikaze culture.

Wednesday

  • The Middle/Back in the Game/Modern Family/Nashville (ABC, 8/8:30/9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – The return of some family funnies around a new take on the Bad News Bears, followed by a show that I dug starting last season but I somehow have 19 saved on my TiVo.
  • Revolution (NBC 8pm) Season Premiere – The power of the power, not so much for me.
  • Criminal Minds/CSI (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Crimes and killers, fortunately for me another pass.

Thursday

  • The Big Bang Theory/The Crazy Ones/ Two and a Half Men/Elementary (CBS, 8/9/9:30/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – I am still enjoying the expanded cast on this show, have my fingers crossed for the return of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Robin Williams, skip the men but am back for more Sherlock and Watson cases.
  • Parks & Recreation/The Michael J. Fox Show/Parenthood (NBC, 8pm) Season/Series Premieres – Was loving MJF on Good Wife but here’s a return to comedic form in what I hope is a nice pairing with P&R followed by more Braverman drama.
  • Glee (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – The show must go on.
  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – What ridiculous drama must these hospital employees survive next?

Friday

  • Masterchef (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Junior edition.
  • Undercover Boss/Hawaii Five-0/Blue Bloods (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season Premieres – Let’s pretend I don’t watch these on Friday just because I have too busy a social life.
  • Dateline (NBC, 9pm) Season Premiere – It’s newsy.

Saturday

  • 48 hours (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – It’s newsy.
  • Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:29) Season Premiere – Tina Fey and Arcade Fire.

Sunday

  • 60 Minutes/The Amazing Race/The Good Wife/The Mentalist (CBS, 7/8/9/10pm) Season Premieres – Newsy, and then I skip the Race which peeps enjoy but tune back for Wife and Mental.
  • Once Upon a Time/Revenge/Betrayal (ABC, 8/9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – I’m anticipating dropping Betrayal like I did the two earlier shows, but worth a look.
  • The Simpsons/Bobs Burgers/The Family Guy/American Dad (Fox, 8/8:30/9/9:30pm) Season Premieres – Animation domination.
  • Instant Mom (Nick, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Tia Mowry returns to sitcom form as a new step mom.
  • Breaking Bad (9pm) Series Finale – Apparently people are into this show which wraps its run tonight.
  • Homeland/Masters of Sex (Show, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Another drama joins the lineup with a look at early sex researchers.
  • Eric & Jessie (E!, 10pm) Series Premiere – Eric Decker and his fiance…
  • Eastbound & Down/Hello Ladies (HBO, 10/10:30pm) Season/Series Premieres – Is he a family man and is he a ladies man?

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: 9/24-9/30

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Things are really rolling now and starting to get my first time slot triple bookings, thank goodness for OnDemand…

Monday

  • How I Met Your Mother/Partners/2 Broke Girls/Mike & Molly/Hawaii Five-0 (CBS, 8/8:30/9/9:30/10pm) Season/Series Premiere – I’m sticking it out to find the mother though the series is uneven, and may give the broke girls one more shot but there’s not enough in our other comedies to keep me laughing or action in Hawaii to keep me tuned in.
  • Dancing With the Stars/Castle (ABC, 8/10pm) Season Premieres – More dancing and then the latest couple has finally gotten together.
  • Chrissy & Mr. Jones (VH1, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – The latest reality couple, spin-off from Love and Hip Hop.

Tuesday

  • New Girl/Ben and Kate/The Mindy Project (Fox, 8/8:30/9:30pm) Season/Series Premieres – What could pan out to be a funny lineup.
  • NCIS/NCIS: LA/Vegas (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Military investigations and then back to Vegas.
  • Private Practice (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Medical and personal drama returns.
  • Call Me Fitz/Less Than Kind (Dir, 9/9:30pm) Season Premieres – Am I missing out on anything without DirectTV?
  • Tosh.o/Brickleberry (Com, 10pm) Season/Series Premiers – Tosh shares and then the comic stylings of cartoon inept forest rangers.

Wednesday

  • Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Is there a new captain in the mix and do I care anymore?
  • Criminal Minds/CSI (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Crime it up.
  • The Middle/Modern Family/The Neighbors/Revenge (ABC, 8/9/9:30/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Neighbors doesn’t look to bring much funny but I’ll give it a shot as I revisit some pretty funny fams but no cheesy comeuppance for me.
  • South Park/Key & Peele (Com, 10/10:30pm) Season Premieres – Cartoon kids and sketches.

Thursday

  • The Big Bang Theory/Two and a Half Men/Person of Interest/Elementary (CBS, 8/8:30/9/9:30/10) Season/Series Premieres – I kind of wish Big Bang had a better partner, and Person didn’t hook me, but then I’ll tune back with cautious optimism for the new Sherlock.
  • Last Resort/Grey’s Anatomy/Scandal (ABC, 8/9/10pm) Series/Season Premiere – Last Resort is getting some buzz and I did finally drop Grey’s, and Scandal…
  • SNL Weekend Update Thursday (NBC, 8pm) – More politics and funny.
  • Prank My Mom (Life, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – Does pranking a mom seem like a good idea?

Friday

  • Kitchen Nightmares/Fringe (Fox, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – Nightmares and weirdness.
  • CSI: NY/Made in Jersey/Blue Bloods (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – I’ll give the Jersey girl a shot.
  • Flea Market Flip (HGTV, 9pm) Series Premiere – Who can reinvent their finds for the biggest funds.

Saturday

  • 48 Hours (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – Killer justice.

Sunday

  • 60 Minutes/The Amazing Race/The Good Wife/The Mentalist (CBS, 7/8/9/10pm) Season Premieres – News, racing, and then the return of two of my fave dramas.
  • The Simpsons/Bob’s Burgers/Family Guy/American Dad (Fox, 8/8:30/9/9:30pm) Season Premieres – Cartoon it up.
  • Once Upon a Time/666 Park Avenue (ABC, 8/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Let the fairy tales continue and then the hotel creepiness begin, worth a shot.
  • Call the Midwife (PBS, 8pm) Series Premiere – Will this 1950s London midwife be the new PBS rage?
  • Making Monsters (Trav, 8pm) Season Premiere – Starting with Megadeth props.
  • Dexter/Homeland (Show, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Another season of cops, killers, and coverups and people with Showtime say good things about Homeland.
  • Destination Fear (Trav, 11pm) Series Premiere – Looking for the haunted.

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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tv

dropped

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I’ve mentioned some of the shows that I’m looking forward to, but fall is also the time to make some cuts. There have been a few shows that have been dropped over the years, I can’t wait for them all to get canceled… Sometimes it’s because I can’t keep up with more than two shows per time slot but typically I just can’t take it anymore. For these I’ve only included shows that I’ve stuck with for a bit, and admittedly these aren’t all recent drops.

  • American Idol (Fox) – I keep trying, and tune back in to catch the new competitors as well as the new judges but I just find myself with not enough to keep me tuning back in, I’m out.
  • The Apprentice (NBC) – I tried some of the early seasons of these but just can’t get on board with watching the ‘celebrities’ fight and fight their way through challenges.
  • Criminal Minds (CBS) – This gruesome case of the week got a little monotonous for me though I do still tune back into reruns now and again.
  • Glee (Fox) – I loved the moments where they got the mix of humor and heart and music just right but those got fewer and farther apart, I’m slightly intrigued about life after high school but history tells us that it won’t improve things.
  • Gossip Girl (CW) – I loved a few seasons of this but again post high school shenanigans and re-pairings lost my interest much like every other teen drama.
  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – I was still hanging on to this when a triple booking last season meant I would have to take an extra step like watching online, after I missed a couple eps… no more Meredith for me.
  • Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – Though the show did make me want to visit Hawaii again, and I liked the banter between the boring and the funny leads, one character of interest in a case of the week wasn’t enough.
  • The LA Complex (CW) – It was so bad it was good but then this Canadian kids trying to make it big in LA just got plain bad.
  • Once Upon a Time (ABC) – I love a fairy tale remake but though I was engaged in some of the retold tales the present day town didn’t have much to offer.
  • Person of Interest (CBS) – If two men who don’t emote go around trying to save people does anyone care?
  • Private Practice (ABC) – Who would have thought that you could get cheesier than Grey’s?
  • Scandal (ABC) – The thing that may have kept me tuned into this was the fact that the lead wore some beautiful outfits, but the scandalous items and their resolutions are a little too preposterous.
  • Survivor (CBS) – Reality shows are the easiest for me to drop, I’m not engaged in the new set of characters and though new each season, it’s somewhat repetitive.

As noted on a couple shows are also probation: ANTM (CW), L&O: SVU (NBC), The Voice (NBC). What’s no longer in your queue?

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tv

my schedule

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There still may be some rearranging but here’s where I’m at…

Monday

  • 8pm- How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
  • 9pm – House (Fox) / Hart of Dixie (CW)
  • 10pm – Castle (ABC)

Hart of Dixie is the new addition to this evening, not an incredible show but I like Rachel Bilson and the Gilmore Girls-esque town, it makes me happy. House has been hanging by a thread on my schedule but I’m always interested if not entertained by the supporting cast shakeups.

Tuesday

  • 8pm – Glee (Fox)
  • 9pm – New Girl/Raising Hope (Fox) / Ringer (CW)
  • 10pm – Parenthood (NBC)

New Girl is one of two new enjoyable sitcom additions with a nice quirky feel that I hope they’ll grow into well, and it brought Raising Hope, which I sort of enjoy, back from being abandoned by me. Ringer is hanging on by a thread but I keep wanting to give Buffy a chance and see where it’s going.

Wednesday

  • 8pm – The Middle/Suburgatory (ABC)
  • 9pm – Modern Family/Happy Endings (ABC) / ANTM (CW)
  • 10pm – L&O: SVU (NBC)

Sitcom addition number two, Suburgatory, is another nice dose of quirky fun made better than average by the lead. ANTM all star edition is getting me back on board with this, and the new cast may not be enough to keep me on board with SVU.

Thursday

  • 8pm – The Big Bang Theory (CBS) / Community/Parks & Rec (NBC)
  • 9pm – [Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)] / Person of Interest (CBS) / Bones (Fox) /[The Office (NBC)]
  • 10pm – The Mentalist (CBS) / Prime Suspect (NBC)

Prime Suspect may not be getting great ratings but it is coming into its own, while it’s clearly the 9 o’clock hour that’s a problem. Grey’s is always borderline on schedule, but I can pick them up online if need be while PofI isn’t the most awesome new show I might be more interested than the no longer in its prime Office.

Friday

  • 8pm – Chuck (NBC)
  • 9pm – Grimm (NBC)

I was a little over Chuck’s family drama over the past season(s) but hoping their final year and rogue spy troupe is back to basics and giving the new fantastical procedural a go.

Saturday

  • Day of rest or frolic

Sunday

  • 9pm – The Good Wife (CBS)

She’s still good.

And not forgetting cable I’ve got Sons of Anarchy (Fx), It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Fx), Walking Dead (AMC) still in the queue and am still on board but not sure how much I love the new totally bizarre but working it out American Horror Story (Fx).

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new and noteworthy tv: 9/19-9/25

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So my TiVo might be maxed out this week…

Monday

  • Dancing with the Stars/Castle (ABC, 8/10pm) Season Premieres – I don’t do dancing but still enjoy Castle and his muse.
  • How I Met Your Mother/Two and a Half Men/2 Broke Girls/Hawaii Five-0 (CBS, 8/9/9:30/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Still find enough to laugh at on Mother which kicks off with an hour and then willing to give Ashton and the Broke Girls a watch, 5-0 is maybe going to retire from my schedule but we’ll see how the night goes.
  • The Sing-Off/The Playboy Club (NBC, 8/10pm – PBC replays on Bravo 9/25) Season Premiere – I might not stick with it but I actually kind of enjoy these singing things and Ben Folds as I recall is a great judge, and I don’t know about the bunnies.
  • American Underworld (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Mark Allen Johnson pursues dangerous stories.

Tuesday

  • The Biggest Loser/New Girl/Raising Hope (NBC, 8/9/9:30pm) Season/Series Premieres – I don’t do the feel good of loser but willing to give Girl a go and maybe a second chance to Hope which I kind of dropped last year.
  • Dancing with the Stars/Body of Proof (ABC, 8/10pm) Season Premiere  – Meet the cast then results followed by Dana Delaney in a show that I found too poorly done.
  • Glee (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – This show is uneven but when it works it’s wonderful.
  • NCIS/NCIS: LA/Unforgettable (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season Premieres – I don’t really do Navy but am willing to give the supposedly forgettable show a once over.
  • Tosh.0/Workaholics (Com, 10/10:30pm) Season Premieres – More of this funny.

Wednesday

  • The Middle/Modern Family/Revenge (ABC, 8/9/10pm – Revenge replays 9/23) Season/Series Premieres – Two funny comedies get an hour each and then it looks too cheesy to stick with but maybe once.
  • The X Factor (Fox, 8pm) Series Premiere – I actually want to watch this but the two hour time slot is filled up, perhaps just a drive by to catch the judges in early audition rounds.
  • Criminal Minds/CSI (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Get your crime on with returning CM cast and Ted Danson joining the lab.
  • Harry’s Law/L&O: SVU (NBC, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Cast shakeups on both shows are worth a look though maybe not continued watching.
  • The Ultimate Fighter (Spike, 9pm) Season Premiere – 32 new hopefuls compete.

Thursday

  • The Big Bang Theory/Person of Interest/The Mentalist (CBS, 8/9/10pm – POI replays 9/24) Season/Series Premiere – The funny guys are followed by some pre crime fighting and what happens to our protagonist after taking out Red John?
  • Charlie’s Angels/Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8/9pm) Series Premiere – The angels aren’t supposed to be good so may be muscled out of this time slot for me, though I’m still sticking with Grey’s.
  • Community/Parks & Recreation/The Office/Whitney/Prime Suspect (NBC, 8/8:30/9/9:30/10pm – Prime Suspect replays 9/24) Season/Series Premieres – Hoping that the new boss on office and whitney can hold up the funny, though Whit is rumored to not, and intrigued by Bello as the latest lady detective.
  • Prison Diaries (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Confessions from death row.
  • Sweet Genius (Food, 10pm) Series Premiere – Another sugar packed competition.

Friday

  • A Gifted Man/CSI: NY/Blue Bloods (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Series /Season Premieres – Willing to take a look at the surgeon with a ghost but skip the rest of the crime night.
  • Kitchen Nightmares/Fringe (Fox, 89pm) Season Premieres – Pass.
  • Nikita/Supernatural (CW, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – Pass.
  • Dateline (NBC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Pass.
  • Ghost Adventures/The Dead Files (Trav, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premiere -Not my kind of travel.

Saturday

  • Bang for Your Buck/Dear Genevieve/The Making of (HGTV, 2:30/5/7pm) Season Premieres – Spa bath, master bath, and the making of the magazine.
  • 48 Hours Mystery (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – Newsy.
  • Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:29pm) Season Premiere – Alec Baldwin hosts with Radiohead.

Sunday

  • 60 Minutes/The Amazing Race/The Good Wife/CSI: Miami (CBS, 7/8/9/10pm) Season Premieres – It’s all about the wife.
  • Extreme Makeover: Home Edition/Desperate Housewives/Pan Am (ABC, 7/9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Will give the retro flight show a shot.
  • The Simpsons/The Cleveland Show/The Family Guy/American Dad (Fox, 8/8:30/9/9:30pm) Season Premieres – I don’t really do these.
  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO, 9pm) Season Premiere – The empire continues.
  • Sister Wives/Long Island Medium (TLC, 9/10pm) Season/Series Premieres – Wives and a psychic.
  • Dirty Soap/Kendra (E!, 10/11pm) Series/Season Premieres – More reality.
  • IRT (Hist, 10pm) Season Premiere – More deadly roads.
  • Storm Chasers (Disc, 10pm) Season Premiere – More storms.
  • Watch What Happens (Brav, 11pm) Season Premiere – More late night talk.

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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returning fall favorites

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The drought is almost over, and as I wait for the critics to chime in on what’s worth a watch of the new crop of shows, we can take a look at what I’m most looking forward to returning.

  • Bones (Fox, 11/3) – Of the procedurals this still is probably my fave, like all the characters, and curious to see how the Booth/Bones baby will play.
  • Community (NBC, 9/22) – Embracing pop culture and media to the hilt, way more hits than misses with our pack of misfits.
  • The Good Wife (CBS, 9/25) – They’ve done an excellent job making each character and each storyline dimensional enough that I’m intrigued by it all, this season will the good wife be a little bad?
  • Modern Family (ABC, 9/21) – This show is a little uneven for me, but when it’s on, it’s on and the mix of family characters makes me laugh.
  • Parenthood (NBC, 9/13) – I had written this show off early but after a marathon I ended up falling a little bit in love with the Bravermans and their family drama, and Lauren Graham and Peter Krause don’t hurt.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC, 9/22) – This show has really found its stride with the small town politics and their quirky crew, adding Rob Lowe and Adam Scott was also surprisingly a great move.
  • Sons of Anarchy (FX, 9/6) – It’s just too fun to watch these bad boys try to do good, and sometimes try to do bad, a hunky lead and complex family and motorcycle club relations keep me coming back for more.
  • The Walking Dead (AMC, 10/16) – I am thoroughly intrigued as to how they’re going to keep the story of these survivors of the Zombie-pocolypse going after a short season intro, although I’ve learned not to watch before bed, I can’t wait for season two.

Honorable Mention (TiVo Season Passes): ANTM (CW, 9/14), The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 9/22), Castle (ABC, 9/19), Chuck (NBC, 10/21), Dexter (Show, 10/2), Glee (Fox, 9/20), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9/22), HIMYM (CBS, 9/19),  House (Fox, 10/3), It’s Always Sunny (FX, 9/15), L&O: SVU (NBC, 9/21), The Mentalist (CBS, 9/22), The Office (NBC, 9/22).

Shows listed in alphabetical order and all premiere dates are of course subject to change.

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looking beyond summer…

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The fall upfronts are done. ‘The what?’ Some of you may be asking… This is when the networks start pimping their fall shows to advertisers.

Personally I try not to get too invested in anything new. Most of the pilots aren’t finalized and certainly aren’t reviewed so things can change dramatically between now and then (and even go away). Though I am admittedly not immune the hope of a high concept show (Charlie’s Angels), the return of a favorite talent (Sarah Michelle Gellar in Ringer), or creators with a somewhat proven track record (Once Upon a Time from the creators of Lost and Spielberg’s Terra Nova).

What I tend to pay a little more attention to at this point are shows that have been canceled (see notations below) and shows in a schedule shootout. Every fall there is at least one time slot where something gets kicked to the curb that would normally make the cut. I do like to watch new shows at least once so thank goodness for a couple of replays and online viewing to ensure the right picks are getting the season pass. Here’s what it’s looking like for me for now:

Monday

  • 8pm – How I Met Your Mother/Two Broke Girls (CBS) vs. Terra Nova (Fox) vs. The Sing-Off (NBC)
  • 9pm – House (Fox) vs. Hart of Dixie (CW) vs. Two and a Half Men (CBS) – willing to give Ashton a try
  • 10pm – Castle (ABC) vs. Hawaii Five-O (CBS) vs. The Playboy Club (NBC)

Tuesday

  • 8pm – Last Man Standing/Man Up (ABC) & Glee (Fox)
  • 9pm – Ringer (CW) & New Girl (Fox)
  • 10pm – Unforgettable (CBS) & Parenthood (NBC)

Wednesday

  • 8pm – The Middle/Suburgatory (ABC) vs. The X Factor (Fox) vs. Up All Night/Free Agents (NBC)
  • 9pm – Modern Family (ABC) vs. ANTM (CW) vs. Harry’s Law (NBC) vs. The X Factor/I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox) – I admittedly can’t endorse 2 out of those 4 but I do watch
  • 10pm – Revenge (ABC) & L&O: SVU (NBC) – say goodbye to Stabler

Thursday

  • 8pm – Charlie’s Angels (ABC) vs. Big Bang Theory/How to Be a Gentleman (CBS) vs. X Factor Results (Fox) vs. Community/Parks & Rec (NBC)
  • 9pm – Grey’s (ABC) vs. Person of Interest (CBS) vs. The Secret Circle (CW) vs. Bones (Fox) vs. The Office/Whitney (NBC)
  • 10pm – The Mentalist (CBS) & Prime Suspect (NBC)

Friday

  • 8pm – Chuck (NBC)
  • 9pm – Grimm (NBC)

Saturday – Nothing

Sunday

  • 8pm – Once Upon a Time (ABC)
  • 9pm – The Good Wife (CBS)
  • 10pm – Pan Am (ABC)

And for a look at your own schedule check out TV Guide’s fall grid and for what’s been canceled (and sticking around) check out The Futon Critic’s scorecard. New shows are in italics.

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best, tv

critic’s picks – top tv of 2010

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Well it’s that time again, the time to reflect on the best of the year that’s passed. A tv season doesn’t quite follow the annual flow but I’ll go with it and note what critics are touting as the best of the year.

Abbreviations follow the alphabetical listing and links to posted lists are at the end.

Stay tuned to see what made my personal top ten list.

  • 30 Rock (NBC) – EN, AFI, TG, KT, GG, Sat
  • 30 for 30 (ESPN) – AS, DF
  • Archer (Fx) – TGBetter Off Ted (ABC) – MR
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – E, GG
  • The Big C (Show) – AFI, GG, Sat
  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – SK, MR, EN, JP, AFI, JL, TG, AS, TVG, GG, Sat, DF
  • Breaking Bad (AMC) – SK, MR, JP, AFI, TG, AS, TVG, KT, Sat, DF
  • The Choir (BBCA) – TVG
  • Chuck (NBC) – E
  • Community (NBC) – EN, E, JL, AS, KT, DF
  • Cougar Town (ABC) – MR
  • Damages (Fx) – SK
  • Dexter (Show) – SK, E, GG, Sat
  • The Event (NBC) – SK
  • Friday Night Lights (DirTV) – SK, E, JL, KT, Sat, DF
  • Fringe (Fox) – MR, E, JL, KT
  • Glee (Fox) – E, AFI, TVG, GG, Sat
  • The Good Wife (CBS) – MR, EN, JP, JL, TVG, KT, GG, Sat
  • Great Migrations (NatGeo) – TG
  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – E
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) – E
  • The InBetweeners (BBCA) – TG
  • In Treatment (HBO) – EN
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Fx) – TG
  • Justified (Fx) – JL, TVG, KT
  • Life (Disc) – TG
  • The Life and Times of Tim (HBO) – TG
  • Lost (ABC) – MR, E, TG, TVG
  • Louie (Fx) – EN, JP, E, TG, AS
  • Mad Men (AMC) – MR, EN, JP, E, AFI, JL, TG, AS, TVG, KT, GG, Sat, DF
  • Men of a Certain Age (TNT) – TG, KT
  • Modern Family (ABC) – MR, E, AFI, JL, TG, TVG, KT, GG, Sat
  • Morning Joe (MSNBC) – SK
  • Nurse Jackie (Show) – GG, Sat
  • The Pacific (HBO) – JP, AFI, TG , AS, TVG, DF
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) – MR, JP, E, JL, TG, AS, KT, DF
  • Party Down (Starz) – MR, JP, E
  • Raising Hope (Fox) – E, Sat
  • Rubicon (AMC) – MR, JP
  • Sherlock (PBS) – TVG
  • Sons of Anarchy (Fx) – SK, E, TG
  • Spartacus (Starz) – MR
  • SpongeBob SquarePants (Nick) – SK
  • Terriers (Fx) – MR, EN, JP, JL, TG, AS, TVG, DF
  • Treme (HBO) – EN, TG, AS
  • True Blood (HBO) – E
  • The Tudors (Show) – Sat
  • United States of Tara (Show) – EN, Sat
  • Vampire Diaries (CW) – E, DF
  • The Walking Dead (AMC) – SK, E, AFI, TG, TVG, GG
  • Work of Art: The Next Great Artist (Brav) – KT

AFI – American Film Institute, DF – Daniel Feinberg for Hitfix,  SK – Entertainment Weekly, MR – Maureen Ryan for TV Squad, EN – Emily Nussbaum for NYMag, JP – James Poniewozik for Time, E – Dramas and Comedies, GG – Golden Globe Nominations, JL – Jace Lacob for the Daily Beast, KT – Ken Tucker for EW, TG – Tim Goodman for Hollywood Reporter, Sat – Satellite Awards, AS – Alan Sepinwall for Hitfix, TVG – Matt Roush for TVGuide

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tv

my schedule

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Until mid-season or the schedules shake up again I’ve mostly settled in to a lineup. So far here’s how things shake out. Though there aren’t any new breakout hits for me I have added a couple new picks.

Monday

  • 8pm – Chuck (NBC)/How I Met Your Mother (CBS) [House (Fox)]
  • 10pm – Castle (ABC)/Hawaii Five-O (CBS)

I’m still tempted to drop House but I get into this mental state where I feel like I’ve invested so many seasons into it so I kind of want to see how things play out. Other than that old favorites Chuck, HIMYM, and Castle are joined by fluffy fun enough so far 5-0.

Tuesday

  • 8pm – No Ordinary Family (ABC)/Glee (Fox)
  • 9pm – Raising Hope/Running Wilde (Fox)
  • 10pm – The Good Wife (CBS)/Parenthood (NBC) [Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC)/Sons of Anarchy (Fx)]

So far NOFamily is a nice mix of family drama and super skills [though this isn’t a bad show I found I wasn’t engaged enough to keep it on the listings] while the uneven Glee still keeps me coming back. Keeping SofA on the schedule is not a problem since FX replays stuff repeatedly, but debating on what to do about wanting to add 1-8-7 to my already booked hour. Since both Hope and Wilde are on my chopping block I wish I could move one of these up an hour.

Wednesday

  • 8pm – The Middle/Better With You (ABC)/America’s Next Top Model (CW)
  • 9pm – Modern Family/Cougar Town (ABC)/Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
  • 10pm – The Defenders (CBS)/Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC) [Terriers (Fx)]

Am losing interest in ANTM and the Law & Orders but keeping them in the running with the comedies. Better w/You isn’t quite funny but the episode about living in a fire house kept me interested just because I’ve always wanted to live in a fire house (or light house) but it may go soon. Terriers is probably my favorite new show so keeping that on the agenda isn’t a problem while Defenders is so far sort of charming enough to keep me tuned in.

Thursday

  • 8pm – The Big Bang Theory (CBS)/Bones (Fox)/Community/30 Rock (NBC)
  • 9pm – Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)/The Office (NBC) [Project Runway (Life)]
  • 10pm – The Mentalist (CBS)/It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Fx)

Another tough first hour as I’m not willing to give up Bones, Big Bang or Community though the rest of the night seems to fit in fine. Holding out to see if Office picks up or drops off, especially with Michael’s scheduled departure.

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