grey’s – Page 3 – procrastinationchronicles.com

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 5/19

May 16, 2008 No Comments

More finales this week, hope the new Bachelorette and Last Comic will keep you entertained moving forward.

Monday

Big Bang Theory/How I Met Your Mother/Two and a Half Men/Rules of Engagement/CSI: Miami (CBS, 8/8:30/9/9:30pm) Season Finales – I have to say that Big Bang sort of grew on me over the season – Sheldon makes the show, HIMYMother also still makes me laugh, though 2 1/2 Men doesn’t as much, and I usually turn to Samantha Who instead of Rules… Horatio on Miami makes me cringe whenever he opens his mouth.
Bones/House (Fox, 8/9pm) Season Finales – I have to say I like this lineup and I’m surprised how much I look forward to Bones, and in the finale we revisit Gorgamon!
Gossip Girl/One Tree Hill (CW, 8/9pm) Season Finales – I can always use a little Gossip, the cheesier it gets the more I dig, but I refrain from visiting that Tree Hill.
Bachelorette (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – This two hour episode reintroduces previously dismissed DeAnna to us while introducing her to 25 potential true loves, what’s the ratio one bachelorette to every five bachelors?

Tuesday

American Idol (Fox, 8pm – also Wed 8pm) Season Finale – Performances on Tuesday with who knows how much filler on the 2 hr results show on Wed, but at least we’ll finally see the battle of the Davids and wonder if America could really prefer Archuletta to Cook.
NCIS (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – The two hour season finale.
Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 9pm – also Mon 8pm) Season Finale – The finalists compete on Monday, with a replay Tues at 8 before the winner is chosen at 9.
Reaper (CW, 9pm) Season Finale – This show’s gotten much more interesting with Sam in trouble as the demon rebellion loses trust, is Sam really the son of the devil, but didn’t he date a girl who he thought was the devil’s daughter?
Shark (CBS, 10pm) Season Finale – Sebastian’s nemesis threatens his daughter.

Wednesday

Criminal Minds/CSI: New York (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Finales – Murders and crimes.
Boston Legal (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – Wacky legalness.
Law & Order (NBC, 10pm) Season Finale – McCoy has some trouble with the politics of his new role as DA.

Thursday

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – I don’t totally know the format of this but folks compete with dance.
Ugly Betty/Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8/9pm) Season Finales – Something happens on Betty and then of course more drama with Meredith and Derek, let’s hope they leave them together for a while this time.
Last Comic Standing (NBC, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – This hour and a half ep kicks of the latest search for some funny.

Friday

Take a break, see a movie, read a book…

Saturday

Vinegar Hill (CBS, 8pm) – This telefilm based on the book by A Manette Ansay stars Mary Louise Parker as a wife and mother

Sunday

Recount (HBO, 9pm) – This film dramatizes a story of the human side of the controversial 2000 presidential election.

next week 4/21

April 18, 2008 4 Comments

Monday

Gossip Girl (CW, 8pm) – We’re back from the strike and get to find out how Blair adjusts to being dethroned as queen bee and how Serena adjusts to getting ready to being Chuck’s new step sis.

Tuesday

Most Outrageous Moments (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – A shows will clips of moments that are outrageous.
Reaper (CW, 9pm) – Post strike premiere as Sam decides if turning against the devil is a good idea.

Wednesday

Pussycat Dolls: Girlicious (CW, 9pm) Season Finale – The latest girl group that I will never listen to will be chosen.
Men in Trees (ABC, 10pm) – Last episode before a hiatus as that annoying Anne Heche is girly or something.
Law & Order (NBC, 10pm) – The cops and lawyers return from strike but Jesse Martin is bowing out as Anthony Anderson takes his place in the latest cast change.

Thursday

Ugly Betty/Grey’s Anatomy/Lost (ABC, 8/9/10pm) – Post strike returns to Mode Magazine and two shows that I have been greatly anticipating!
Supernatural (CW, 9pm) – And the brothers fight or find or whatever they do to the supernatural.

Friday

Moonlight (CBS, 9pm) – The vampire show I don’t watch returns from strike.

Saturday

The Mighty B! (Nick, 10:30am) Series Premiere – Amy Poehler is the voice of this animated overzealous girl scout equivalent.

Sunday

Big Brother (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – And they… elect a king?
Aliens in America (CW, 8:30pm) – This is new and I don’t remember if this is the first back from strike… but Raj gets a girl, or tries to get rid of a girl.

* ‘next week’s are posts of new or noteworthy shows for the week to come and do not imply endorsement by the procrastinator

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.

best, tv

top tv of 2007

December 24, 2007 2 Comments

30 rock So if I’m sharing end of the year best lists I would be remiss not to throw down a little tv. The problem is it seems like a strange time to do a best tv list. So though midseason shows may be getting the short shrift we’ve probably seen enough of things to give it a go.

Andy Barker, PI (NBC) – GF
Battlestar Galactica (SciFi)- MSN, SK
The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – TV
Big Love (HBO)- GF, JP, GG, MA*, MSN
The Bronx is Burning (ESPN) – TV
Brotherhood (Show) – GF, MR
Brothers and Sisters (ABC) – SAT
Burn Notice (USA)- KT
Californication (Show)- GG, MR
Chuck (NBC) – SAT, TV
The Colbert Report (Comedy) – JP
CSI (CBS)- KT
Damages (FX) – DB, GG, MA, SK, TV
Desperate Housewives (ABC) – KT
Dexter (Show)- AFI, DB, SK, MR, SAT*
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) – GF, TV
Entourage (HBO) – GG
Everybody Hates Chris (CW) – AFI
Extras (HBO) – GG, SAT
Flight of the Conchords (HBO) – GF, JP, SAT
Friday Night Lights (NBC)- AFI, DB, JP, KT, MA, MR, MSN, SAT, SK
Frisky Dingo (Cartoon) – KT
Gossip Girl (CW) – TV
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – GG, SAT
Heroes (NBC) – DB
House (Fox)- GG
Kid Nation (CBS) – JP
Life (NBC) – KT
Life of Ryan (MTV) – KT
Longford (HBO)- AFI
Lost (ABC) – DB, JP, MA, MR, SK
Mad Med (AMC) – AFI, DB, GF, JP*, MA, MR*, GG, MSN*, SAT, TV
Nip/Tuck (FX) – DB
The Office (NBC) – JP, MSN
Planet Earth (Discovery) – GF, JP, MR, MSN
Pushing Daisies (ABC) – AFI, DB, GF, JP, MA, MR, GG, SAT*, TV
The Riches (FX)- JP, SAT
Samantha Who? (ABC) – TV
The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy)- JP
The Shield (Fx) – JP, MA, MR, MSN
Sopranos (HBO) – AFI, DB, GF, JP*, KT, MA, MR, MSN
Tell Me You Love Me (HBO) – AFI, JP, KT
Top Chef (Bravo) – JP
30 Rock (NBC)- AFI, DB*, GF*, JP, KT*, MA, MR, GG, MSN
The Tudors (Show) – GG, MR
Ugly Betty (ABC) – AFI, MA, SAT
The War (PBS) – JP, MR, MSN
Weeds (Show) – JP, MR, SAT
Yo Gabba Gabba! (Nick) – JP

AFI – American Film Institute, DB – David Bianculli on Fresh Air, GF – Gillian Flynn for EW, GG – Golden Globe Nominations, JP-James Poniewozik at Time (new and returning), KT – Ken Tucker for EW, MA – Michael Ausiello for TV Guide, MR-Matt Roush at TV Guide, MSN, SAT-Satellite Awards, SK-Stephen King for EW, TV – TV Guide

* denotes top pick. I’ll update this list as new critic’s picks become available.

next week 11/19

November 16, 2007 5 Comments

Monday

The Bachelor (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – Two weeks touting the bachelor, really? Anyhoo, you get this, he picks a gal and they break up doing promotional appearances… ‘After the Rose’ show airs on Tuesday at 10pm.
Weeds (SHO, 10pm) Season Finale – I’ve started making my list of cable shows to get on dvd if this pesky strike keeps up, I like ML Parker, and is this the one that one of those Olsens joined?

Tuesday

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (ABC, 8pm) – I can taste the turkey and mashed taters already. Followed by ‘He’s a Bully Charlie Brown’ to round out the hour.

Wednesday

Pushing Daisies (ABC, 8pm) – Just when I wondered if this show could be any more delightful they get a guest spot from Paul Reubens (the artist formerly known as Pee Wee Herman).
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC, 10pm) – All may not go smoothly for the Darlings as a couple of meetings are arranged, Tripp and Simon Elder and Patrick’s wife and his transsexual mistress.

Thursday

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade/National Dog Show (NBC, 9am/noon) – I don’t recall watching the parade in recent years but I assume it’s all floats and bands and whatnot, you know, a parade, but I do try to catch the dog show, though I always just root for the big fuzzy breeds I like best.
Ugly Betty/Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8pm/10pm) – Buffy alum night as Faith/Eliza Dushku gets ugly and Oz/Seth Green pops by Grey’s for what I can only hope will be some funny.
October Road (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Sappy, and in my opinion unwatchable (though I admittedly stopped watching), show where boy returns home after writing first novel, somewhat unflatteringly, about his small home town and its inhabitants and comes to wonder if his best gal, that he ditched, is raising his kid.

Friday

Numbers (CBS, 10pm) – Christopher Lloyd guests for the makings of a little Taxi reunion with he and Judd Hirsch, and I’m sure there’s some math.

Saturday

Battlestar Galactica: Razor (SciFi, 9pm) – A movie that explains some of the haps from the series that I hear great things about but have yet to start the dvds.

Sunday

The Simpsons (Fox, 8pm) – Sideshow Bob’s family nods to Friasier as Kelsey Grammer is joined by Frasier’s Niles/David Hyde Pierce and Martin/John Mahoney.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC, 7pm) 100th show – Ty and the gang help a family of ten by doing something extreme.
Action Sports (NBC, 11am – check your local listing) – Highlights of the season’s best competitions in the Dew Action Sports tour for skateboarding, fmx, and bmx.

my schedule

October 17, 2007 10 Comments

Well almost everything has started and 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 for watching, or at least tivo backlog. (I do try to narrow things down to no more than two shows per time slot.)

Monday

8pm NBC – Chuck (CBS – How I Met Your Mother)
9pm NBC – Heroes (CBS – Two and a Half Men/Samantha Who?)

Tuesday

8pm Fox – Bones
9pm Fox – House (CW – Reaper)
10pm NBC – L&O SVU

Wednesday

8pm ABC – Pushing Daisies (CW – ANTM or in repeats Sun 9pm)
9pm CW – Gossip Girl (NBC – Bionic Woman)
10pm ABC – Dirty Sexy Money

Thursday

8/8:30pm NBC – My Name is Earl/30 Rock
9/9:30pm NBC – The Office/Scrubs (ABC – Grey’s Anatomy)

Friday

10pm CBS – Numb3rs

Sunday

5pm CW – (encore) Girlfriends
10pm ABC – Brothers and Sisters

And for a full grid of the current listings check out a couple of sites that I find helpful:

next week 9/16

September 14, 2007 27 Comments

Ok now we’re cooking with gas (I’ve never used that expression before in my life)…

Monday:

Deal or No Deal (NBC, Mon 9/17, 8pm) This is the one with Howie Mandell and the chicks with briefcases, I’ve never cared enough to figure out how it really works.
Prison Break (Fox, Mon 9/17, 8pm) Ok I loved, loved, loved this show the first season and I could write an entire post on how bad it was in season 2. I watched the first 17 minutes, or whatever they showed online, and am not, I repeat, not going to watch another season.
K-Ville (Fox, Mon 9/17, 9pm) Pilot – I guess it’s just wait and see about whether this is more than an average cop show set in a less than average recovering from Katrina New Orleans setting.

Tuesday:

Beauty and the Geek (CW, Tues 9/18, 8pm) I have watched an episode or two of this show and was mildly amused by the fish out of water challenges that make people look dumb.

Wednesday:

America’s Next Top Model aka ANTM (CW, Wed 9/19, 8pm) There is a true addictive quality to this and although I can’t for the life of me remember who wins from year to year I dig the journey. The first episode isn’t the best because there are just too many girls to get a real sense of who’s who, so stay tuned.
Back to You (Fox, Wed 9/19, 8pm) Pilot – This has decent buzz, and I like a decent sitcom, but it is opposite ANTM and Pushing Daisies so it might just get a week or two to woo me.
Kid Nation (CBS, Wed 9/19, 8pm) Pilot – So if kids ran their own town would it break child labor laws? That seems to be the question put to courts. Is the show interesting enough to merit the pain CBS is going through? Time will tell.
‘Til Death (CBS, Wed 9/19, 8:30pm) This show about two couples, one newlyweds and the other not, with Brad Garrett, wasn’t quite funny to me, paired with Back to You it could get a fresh wind.
Gossip Girl (CW, Wed 9/19, 9pm) Pilot – I have mentioned that I’m looking forward to this show so hopefully it’ll have enough trash as we meet our previous queen bee, who spent a mysterious year at boarding school, when she returns to of course find her old best friend has taken her place.
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox, Wed 9/19, 9pm) Pilot – It looks like mean guy who had reality show where he tormented wannabe chefs might now just torture full restaurants, not interested.
Plus they are doing a recap show for Grey’s Anatomy that focuses on Addison before she moves on to Private Practice (ABC, Wed 9/19, 9pm)

Thursday:

Survivor: China (CBS, Thurs 9/20, 8pm) I watched this show for the first few seasons and am actually kind of a fan. They have a really good formula of alliance building and challenge winning to keep the outcome up in the air, and since the decision is really up to the other contestants there’s no weird judge or America votes thing.

procrastinator’s picks are underlined.

returning fall favorites

August 24, 2007 9 Comments

Ok the clock is counting down and although I’m always excited about new shows there’s nothing quite like a returning favorite, and here are a few of my most anticipated:

Heroes – (NBC, Mon 9/24, 9:00) A random group of folks suddenly realize they have special abilities, from time travel to reading minds to who knows what. They have to navigate their own lives and of course a big conspiracy plot and of course more people with special abilities. I wasn’t sold on first watch but I found myself looking forward to it each week as it grew nicely into its ensemble and its story arcs. I still think it has some uneven parts and characters but I like the fact that the characters are flawed and at different stages of struggling with their newfound powers and that good and evil are often not all that clean cut. Oh and did I mention Veronica Mar’s very own Kristin Bell is joining the ensemble for at least a little while?
Lost – (winter/spring) After Gilligan’s Island no one really thought the deserted island thing would fly, but when the plane crashed the survivors had more than cracking coconuts to deal with. They’re uncovering the mysteries of the island, it’s previous and current ‘Others’, as well as dealing with each other. The heavy use of backstories is a great tool to keep character development fresh and give us some time in the real world. I am of course as frustrated as the next person that they seem drop in more mysterious happenings without really ever explaining much, I mean what’s up with the smoke monster? New viewers would be confused, but then again so are the rest of us, but I stilll can’t resist it.
Grey’s Anatomy – (ABC, Thurs 9/27, 9:00) So surgical intern Meredith Grey starts in a Seattle hospital and we follow her, and her fellow interns, and other medical staff, through the traumas of medical care, but more importantly the dramas of their personal lives. And yes its all overdone enough to be unrealistic so you just have to give it a dose of soapy suspended reality. I still have a slightly Ally McBeale-esque visceral disdain for the title character, but the ensemble really ended up working.
How I Met Your Mother – (CBS, Mon 9/24, 8:00) This show made me laugh out loud last season more than any other. The episode with Robin as Canadian popstar and the slap bets alone raised the bar on this series. What started as a schmaltzy unrequited crush show turned into a great use of an excellent ensemble. Though I still can’t help but wondering if it would be better without the whole How I Met Your Mother premise.

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