tv

new and noteworthy tv: 9/13-9/19

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Another week until the full onslaught of fall kicks in, get your dvrs ready… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Oprah Winfrey/Nate Berkus Show (Syndicated) – I don’t really follow daytime but thought it worth noting that Oprah kicks off her last season while her latest protege, who is adorable, gets his own show.
  • 90210/Gossip Girl (CW, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – I watched GG for a few seasons with pleasure but just lost interest as the college years started, which would make me think this might be the last good season of 90210 if I had ever liked it.

Tuesday

  • One Tree Hill/Life Unexpected (CW, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – Another couple shows that I gave a little time to but just couldn’t stick with.
  • Parenthood (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – This show grew on me over the season with the family drama and the always likable Lauren Graham and Peter Krause (and we all know they’re dating in real life right?).
  • Fashion’s Night Out (CBS, 10pm) – Neil Patrick Harris hosting almost makes me want to tune in.
  • 1000 Ways to Die (Spike, 10pm) Season Premiere – Um, ick.
  • Sextuplets Take NY (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – The obsession with procreation continues.

Wednesday

  • Survivor (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – Another season, another destination, Nicaragua.
  • Ma’s Roadhouse (Tru, 9/9:30pm) Series Premiere – A Dallas man and his ma manage a bar, bike shop, and tattoo parlor.
  • Outlaw (NBC, 10pm, repeats Friday) Series Premiere – Jimmy Smits stepping down as Supreme Court Justice to help the little guy hasn’t gotten great buzz for a relatively procedural courtroom drama.
  • The Ultimate Fighter (Spike, 10pm) Season Premiere – Fight!
  • Top Chef Just Desserts (Brav, 11pm) Series Premiere – If you’re a Top Chef fan you can imagine what this’ll be like.

Thursday

  • The Apprentice (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Taking a break from celebrities, this season features the unemployed.
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia/The League (Fx, 10/10:30pm) Season Premieres – So wrong it’s right, and then taking fantasy leagues to the next level.

Friday

  • Ghost Adventures (Trav, 9pm) Season Premiere – Travel at its spookiest.
  • Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – Bill keeps it real.

Saturday

  • Dvr catch up?

Sunday

  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO, 8pm, repeats various) Series Premiere – Maybe the most critically buzzed about new show, Martin Scorsese directs Steve Buscemi as an Atlantic City power guy during 1920s Prohibition.
  • Real & Chance/Fantasia for Real/La La’s Full Court Wedding (VH1, 9/10/10:30pm) Series/Season Premieres – More shows, more reality.

Since scheduling come fall gets difficult and networks sometimes rerun pilots I’ll try to note repeat airings for new shows, all times are typically PST.

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tv

returning fall favorites

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Though I learned from Alan Sepinwall that fall doesn’t officially start until September 20, I think anything after Labor Day is fair game.  The tv season is in fact starting and what, you might wonder, have I missed most? Well since you asked:

  • Bones (Fox, 9/23) – Still a favorite among the procedurals, Booth, Bones, and the rest of the lap techs are fun characters with cases that bring out the best balance of science and humanity in everyone.
  • Chuck (NBC, 9/20) – They’ve done a really good job of having Chuck evolve as a spy without losing the total humor of the situation and the great supporting characters keep bringing the geek and the spy skills.
  • Cougar Town (ABC, 9/22)/Community (NBC, 9/23) – These two comedies both started out pretty dumb, but both situations of misfits bonded together by proximity (and characters forcing the bond), really grew into their characters and their funny to make them two of the highlights of my week.
  • Dexter (Show, 9/26) – No season has been as good as the first, and I still think I hate all the women, but I still long to find out what happens to Dexter and how he gets into and out of trouble and murder (or justice) each week.
  • Glee (Fox, 9/21) – This show is uneven for sure but there is enough heart and originality and of course fun musical numbers to make this show must see tv for me.
  • The Good Wife (CBS, 9/28) – Maybe the best show introduced last year, the tragic politician’s wife story brings a subtlety and drama to each of the characters and situations that make me as interested in the ongoing character stories as the weekly procedural.
  • Sons of Anarchy (FX, 9/7) – Tonight! Probably my most anticipated and favorite show to watch, the motorcycle gang and their families are violent and scheming and unmerciful as they protect their business and each other.

Honorable mentions (other fall stuff on season pass): ANTM (CW, 9/8),  The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 9/23), Castle (ABC, 9/20), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9/23), House (Fox, 9/20), How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 9/20), It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX, 9/16), Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 9/22), The Mentalist (CBS, 9/23), The Middle (ABC, 9/22), Modern Family (ABC, 9/22), The Office (NBC, 9/23), Parenthood (NBC, 9/14), 30 Rock (NBC, 9/23).

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best, tv

critic’s picks – top tv of 2009

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madmenWe’re wrapping up the year and critics and award shows are singing the praises of the best of 2009. Following is a consolidation of what I’ve found on folk’s best lists.

Who said which? Initials included after titles and full names and links below. Am I missing some? Post them in comments and I’ll make updates. What do I think? Stay tuned for my year end tv post.

  • Battlestar Galactica (Syfy) – JP, MR, Wat, TG, AS
  • Better Off Ted (ABC) – TG, AS, CNN
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – AFI, MR, Wat, SA, AS, CNN, AF
  • Big Love (HBO) – JP, AFI, TG, SA, AF
  • Bored to Death (HBO) – TG
  • Breaking Bad (AMC) – JP, MR, WG, TG, KT, SA, AS, AF
  • Chuck (NBC) – Wat, AS, AF
  • The Closer (TNT) – TVG, SAG
  • Community (NBC) – TG, AS
  • Cougar Town (ABC) – TVG
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) – TG, WG, SAG, AS
  • Damages (FX) – TVG, SA
  • Dexter (Show) – WG, SAG, TG
  • Dollhouse (Fox) – Wat
  • Flight of the Conchords (HBO) – TG, SA, AS
  • Friday Night Lights (NBC) – JP, AFI, TVG, MR, WG, Wat, KT, AS, AF
  • Fringe (Fox) – KT, CNN
  • Glee (Fox) – JP, AFI, TVG, MR, WG, SAG, TG, KT, SA, CNN
  • The Good Wife (CBS) – SAG, KT, SA
  • Greek (ABCFam)- TVG
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) – TG, SA, AF
  • Hung (HBO) – TG
  • In Treatment (HBO) – SA, AS
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) – TG
  • The League (FX) – TG
  • Lost (ABC) – JP, TVG, WG, Wat, TG, AS
  • Mad Men (AMC) – JP, AFI, TVG, MR, WG, Wat, SAG, TG, KT, SA, AS, AF
  • The Middle (ABC) – TVG
  • Modern Family (ABC) – JP, AFI, TVG, TG, MR, WG, Wat, SAG, KT, AS, CNN, AF
  • The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (HBO) – AFI
  • Nurse Jackie (Show) – AFI, MR, Wat, TG, KT, AF
  • The Office (NBC) – JP, TG, WG, SAG, AS, AF
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC) – JP, TG, Wat, SA, AF
  • Party Down (Starz) – AFI, Wat, AS
  • Sons of Anarchy (FX) – JP, Wat, TG, KT, SA
  • Supernatural (CW) – Wat
  • 30 For 30 (ESPN) – AS
  • 30 Rock (NBC) – TVG, TG, WG, SAG, SA, AF
  • 24 (Fox) – TVG
  • Torchwood: Children of Earth (BBCA) – MR, Wat, AS
  • True Blood (HBO) – AFI, MR, Wat, SAG, TG, KT, CNN, AF
  • Ugly Betty (ABC) – AF
  • United States of Tara (Show) – AS
  • Weeds (Show) – SA

AF – Ausiello Files, AS – Alan Sepinwall for Star-Ledger,  AFI, CNN, JP – James Poniewozik for Time, KT – Ken Tucker for Entertainment Weekly, MR – Matt Roush for TV Guide Magazine, SA – Satellite Awards, SAG – Screen Actor’s Guild (best ensemble), TVG – TV Gal, TG – Tim Goodman for SF Chronicle Comedies, Dramas, Wat – The Watcher by Maureen Ryan, WG – Writer’s Guild

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