my schedule

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

Monday

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

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

Tuesday

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

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

Wednesday

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

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

Thursday

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

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

Friday

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

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

Saturday

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

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

Sunday

  • Day of rest.

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

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next week 9/21

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

Monday

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

Tuesday

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

Wednesday

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

Thursday

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

Friday

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

Saturday

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

Sunday

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

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

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next week 5/11

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.
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next week 1/19

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

Monday

  • Australian Open (ESPN2, 12:30am, through next week*) – The open continues!
  • Electric Company (PBS, 3:30pm*) – A new generation of whatever it was this show did.
  • House (Fox, 8pm) – If you’re not a season pass sort of person you should note the new time and rumor has it we will eventually see more of the original casties Cameron and Chase.
  • Will Work for Food (Food, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Next Food Network star competitor Adam Gertler checks out food related jobs.
  • Momma’s Boys (NBC, 10pm) Season Finale – Will the mommas and the boys agree on their romantic choices?

Tuesday

  • Inauguration (Check Your Local Listings*) – This looks like it goes on all day and night but as I understand it the actual oath taking and inaugural address happen around noon DC time.
  • Tour Down Under (Vs, 1pm*) – Lance is back and you can check him out in this tour that runs through Sunday.

Wednesday

  • Lost (ABC, 8/9pm, repeats Saturday) Season Premiere – Recapping the previous seasons at 8 then the two hour premiere at 9, I’m kind of curious as to when we’ll be and whether we’ll be doing flash backs or forwards.
  • Lie to Me (Fox, 9pm) Series Premiere – If you’re down with The Mentalist, Monk, and/or Psych, this latest guy with great observational skills put Tim Roth in the lie detector seat.

Thursday

  • Winter X Games (ESPN, 6pm, ESPN2, ABC*) – The stars of snow compete in Aspen through Sunday.
  • Bones (Fox, 8/9pm) – New time slot for our crime solving duo and the squints.
  • Burn Notice (USA, 10pm) Season Premiere – Our ousted spy is still trying to get answers while helping people in this mostly cheesy but fun caper show.

Friday

  • Wolverine and the X-Men (Nicktoons, 8/8:30pm) Series Premiere – Nothing much going on a friday night so I have stooped to noting cartoons.

Saturday

  • Gone Country (CMT, 8pm) Season Premiere – Non country folks like Justin Guarini and Micky Dolenz try out their country chops.
  • Miss America Live (TLC, 8pm) – Being on The Learning Channel I might think Miss America would teach me something.
  • US Figure Skating Championship (NBC, 9pm) – If you’re down with the tiny girls spinning around…

Sunday

  • SAG Awards (TNT, 8pm) – Film and TV actors honor each other.
  • The Last Templar (NBC, 9pm) – The miniseries continues on Monday as Mira Sorvino and Scott Foley do the sort of find the secret museumy, archaeological kind of thing.

* Check your local times.

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my schedule

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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next week 9/15

New and notable for the week ahead, procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • The Closer (TNT, 9pm) Season Finale – I now have this entire season saved on tivo.
  • Weeds (Show, 10pm) Season Finale – This show is still in my queue but some catching up on other shows first.

Tuesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – The families are back, you people who love the joyous transformations get ready.
  • House (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – I dig the curmudgeonly doc and am curious to see if they find a better balance between new and old supporting docs.
  • Lincoln Heights (ABCFam, 8pm) Season Premiere – The preview looks like a young couple suffers a melodramatic robbery turned hostage situation.
  • Big Brother (CBS, 9pm) Season Finale – Someone wins…

Wednesday

  • Ultimate Fighter (Spike, 10pm) Season Premiere – 32 fighters try to win a UFC contract.
  • Manswers (Spike, 11/11:30pm) Season Premiere – I stumbled upon an old episode of this show and learned how to beat a drug test, not that I need that information.

Thursday

  • Smallville (CW, 8pm) Season Premiere – I watched this show for the first season so I am totally out of touch with Clark and his new superfriends.
  • Supernatural (CW, 9pm) Season Premiere – Two generic good looking brothers fight the supernatural, you’d think I’d be interested but I never was.
  • Burn Notice (USA, 10pm) Season Finale – Whatever sort of fix will Michael get forced into this week, I’m actually usually looking forward to seeing him get out of it.
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – This super un pc show, this week it’s about cannibalism, actually made me laugh though it didn’t hit the tivo season pass so over time I sort of dropped it.

Friday

  • Davis Cup (Vs, 9am, fri-su) – US vs. Spain, will typically hit singles on Friday/Sunday with doubles on Sat.
  • Dog Whisperer (NatGeo, 9pm) – 100th episode brings back some now well behaved doggies and looks back at the not so well behaved doggies.

Saturday

  • Primeval (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – Anomalies and dinosaurs or something.

Sunday

  • Beach Volleyball (Fox, 11:30am) – The granddaddy of all tournaments in Manhattan Beach, can Misty and Carrie get their mojo back?
  • Emmy Awards (ABC, 8pm) – I admit I don’t really watch this awards show and this year the reality hosts don’t make me want to change my mind.

* Check your local listings, live events typically noted as PST.

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more fall fun

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.

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fall is in the air

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

CW

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.

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next week 5/19

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.
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next week 4/28

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.
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