Friday, September 18, 2009

What's on My PVR This Fall

It's been a VERY long time since I've done a post about all the other shows I'm watching. It's like some show about a bunch of people on a time-jumping island has taken over my life or something.... Now that the fall is back, and with it a lot of promising fall TV, I'm seriously worried about this Lost Rewatch and how I'm going to keep up with it. Here's hoping the posts don't soon look like this:

3.8 Flashes Before Your Eyes
Desmond goes back in time. Or imagines it. Or something.
Highlight: His underwear blows off in the blast.
Discuss.

I promise I'll try to prevent that from happening.

But I still haven't updated you on what I'm watching, and what went by the wayside last year. First, the tragic losses:

Ugly Betty: I loved this show. It was full of snark, and Betty, and Mark, and Wilhemina. And then Mark's snipes weren't so snipey and he was kinda nice to Betty (boring!) And then Wilhemina fell in love and actually became happy (UGH). And Betty didn't hook up with Gio (whatever!) And then Dad started getting it on with LaGuerta from Dexter, and Hilda was ragging on about how he wasn't waiting long enough (12 years or something) after their mom died. I'm sorry, Hilda... how long did you wait after your husband died before you were in bed with your son's gym coach? A week? An hour? I just couldn't take it anymore, and I deleted it from the PVR.

Heroes: Oh, this one was hard. In season 1 it rivalled my affections for Lost. It's the only series besides Lost where I did a weekly long post about it immediately after the ep aired. I suffered through that horrid finale, I came back in season 2 and desperately tried to find something I liked about it still, but there was enough there that I couldn't get rid of it, and then in season 3 the love just died. When Hiro became 12 years old again, I deleted the rest of it from my PVR, and stopped recording it. It was the most painful deletion of a timer I've had. But it's gone. No more.

And in between, and NOT one of the casualties despite what it might look like, is Fringe. Many have asked me what happened between me and that show. I got up to the 6th or 7th episode and I was working on the Finding Lost Season 4 book in the fall, and then in the spring I was working on Finding Lost Season 5. I wasn't finding enough time to devote to watching Fringe (or much else, for that matter) and to be honest, it just wasn't grabbing me. But there was enough that I DID like that I wanted to soldier on. So, I decided I'd wait for the DVDs to come out in the summer and catch up. I deleted the rest of them and waited. And then... they came out last week, ONE WEEK before the new season. Awesome work, there, Fox. I'm only about a third of the way through the season, so the rest will have to be on my PVR (I'll have to find a way to get last night's premiere... we had someone watching the kids while we were out and they stopped the recording on the show).

What I am still watching:
The Office (it also premiered last night, but I haven't had a chance to watch it)

Mad Men: I will post a longer post on this soon, but this season is freakin' fantastic. I LOVE THIS SHOW.

Dexter (new season starts September 27... longer post on that one soon, too)

Gossip Girl: The new season started this week and it's already off to a rockin' start. I thought I was going to KILL Chuck Bass in the first 5 minutes, and then realized no, no... but how much do I love that the writers are very aware that once you get a couple together, the audience loses the fun of the sexual tension? They know not to do that with Chuck and Blair, and I think they'll be as interesting as a couple as they were when they were just trying to be one. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to pick up a copy of Spotted, the new episode guide to Gossip Girl. The launch was this past Monday, and it was awesome.

Being Erica: It begins September 22 on CBC. If you're not watching Being Erica and you live in Canada... WHY?! It's one of the best things on television, an excellent show, with great writing, acting, and a perfect lead. Tune in!!

Dollhouse: It begins next Friday, September 25 (I'll try to get a longer post up on that soon, before it begins). This season promises a bunch of genre favourite actors, including Alexis Denisof, one of my favourite actors in the universe, Summer Glau, and Jamie Bamber.

30 Rock: It doesn't start until October 15, and I cannot WAIT.

Friday Night Lights: OBVS. It premieres October 28 on DirecTV and I'll be watching that feed. NBC has decided it doesn't have the ratings to run in its regular TV season, so it's pushed its second run of the episodes to next summer.

My new favourite show:
Glee: Also a longer post coming on this one soon (sheesh, seriously, get your act together, Nik), but I LOOOOVE this show. Love it. I was in love with the characters in the first episode, and while we're only on the third, I feel like I've known these people forever. And if an episode featured no one but Jane Lynch, I'd still be happy. That woman is a comedy goddess.

New shows I can't wait to see:
Vampire Diaries: Probably soapy, but I don't care, I love soapy. Especially when it involves vampires. I have the first couple of eps on the PVR and I'm hoping to catch up on the weekend.

Flashforward: It stars Charlie Pace, Harold without Kumar, Shakespeare, and Penny Widmore. What's not to love??? It begins next Thursday, September 24.

V: This doesn't start until November, but it's got Juliet and the trailer looked fantastic, so I'm there.

Bored to Death: It's got Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, and Zach Galifianakis, and it's created by writer Jonathan Ames (whose books I LOVE). It premieres this Sunday on HBO and HBO Canada, and my longer write-up on it appears tomorrow.

Shows I'm kinda catching up on:
The Big Bang Theory: When this show first showed up in lists of new fall TV shows for 2007, I read the synopsis and basically said, "Well, THAT is my kinda show." And then an onslaught of my readers posted here and said it completely sucked, don't watch it, it's awful. THEY LIED. I've watched a few eps and thought it was hilarious, and so now I have a mish-mash of eps on my PVR from various seasons, in various orders, and I'm just watching them. And loving it.

Other shows I know I should be watching...
How I Met Your Mother: Watched the first episode, hated it, and now everyone is telling me I should have given it more of a chance. I don't have much time now, but here's hoping I can catch up somehow. The Alyson Hannigan factor is huge, of course. As is the Jason Segel one. And the Neil Patrick Harris one. Dammit, why am I not watching this show?

So, am I missing anything? (It's not like I can add anything.) And if someone could send me a schedule of how I could actually handle this while also doing the Lost rewatch and writing the book in the spring, that would be awesome. I have a feeling some other shows are going to drop off my schedule, to be picked up at a future time when... Lost isn't on the air. :( Oh no. I just imagined that future when Lost isn't around. I've gone to my dark place again....

28 comments:

Joan Crawford said...

Speaking of other Good Canadian Shows, have you ever watched "Less Than Kind"? It has a Curb Your Enthusiasm feel to it. I only catch it occasionally, but I love it every time I do.

Ann said...

You need to give How I Met Your Mother another chance- it's great!

I haven't been watching Glee, but I've heard SO many good things about it I'd better start.

The Question Mark said...

that's a real shame about Heroes. I own Seasons 1 and 2, and while they couldn't even be mentioned in the same BREATH as Lost, I still tried my hardest to enjoy them as much as I could, and they were quite fun.
I haven't seen all of Season 3, and I'm still contemplating buying the DVD. Was it really that bad? I want desperately for that show to be great, it has so, so, SO much potential.

Unknown said...

@Question Mark,

DO NOT BUY HEROES S3 DVD ... I have watched/suffered through all 3 seasons thus far and will not be watching S4. I agree that the show HAD potential, but it is done ... FYI -- S3 was about a "Genosha-type" storyline (X-Men ref), where some secret gov't operation was imprisoning people with powers. S3 fell totally flat (not surpising since the show has been going downhill since the S1 finale) and did not answer any of the plothole questions from the end of S2. Kring pretty much just dismisses all the time paradox stuff he created in S2 and moves forward on a new S3 storyline without any explaination.

Kate said...

I recently got into Chuck. It's amazing, cheesy (but in a diginified manner) and sweet and HILARIOUS and fun. :) I have definitely fallen in love with the characters.

I agree about Hereos although I've stuck it out thus far and enjoyed the end of Season Three. Season Two...is possibly the worst season of any show that has ever existed. Such a disasterous fall from that first season, I couldn't even believe how ridiculous it was even without the Writer's Strike excuse. Season Three started off rocky, got rockier, and then managed a slow climb back up to decency (in my opinon) with the coming of the mid-season finale-like episodes of "The Eclipse". It's the sort of thing where you can watched and be fairly entertained but, it's almost laughable to compare to quality TV like Lost. Or Chuck. I loveee Chuck.

Basically the only shows I watch right now are Lost, Chuck and The Office. I'm not much a tv-girl and what I do watch I watch via dvds and the internet. ;)

Gillian Whitfield said...

I don't have any suggestions, but I am REALLY looking forward to Flash Forward. I might watch V.

A.G.Wooding said...

You really need to find time for Lie to Me as well, Tim Roth is just brilliant.
Also does anyone know when Damages starts back, I have heard absolutely no news about a 3rd season and im starting to think its been cancelled and i havent heard.

Joan Crawford said...

P.S. 3.8 Flashes Before Your Eyes
Desmond goes back in time. Or imagines it. Or something.
Highlight: His underwear blows off in the blast.
Discuss.

Hahahaha! Love it!

Hector said...

Oh, I'd recommend United States of Tara, which is really great. The new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Mentalist is really great, Lie to me actually got really interesting towards the last half of the season.
I love Glee also!

JS said...

I heard an interview with Matthew Morrison on NPR and decided to find it on hulu. I just watched the first three episodes and I am in love! It's like Fame, with underdogs.

I am coming back to The Office.

I stopped watching How I Met Your Mother in season 2 when I thought he was never going to meet my mother. But now he has so I will have to catch up.

Heroes was a disappointment. So much potential. That's what happens when you do not have a story. Lost was always great, but it got tighter once they had an end date.

Rebecca T. said...

Glee has definitely caught my interest. I'll watch it for the music if for nothing else.

I saw the premier of Vampire Diaries. Just interesting enough to hook me. Like I don't have enough to do. Grrr....

But I'm so super excited about the new season of Castle (I loves me some Nathan Filion). Yeah! and Ack! Where will I find time for it all?

Mike Cunningham said...

CHUCK!! Nuff said.

The Shout said...

Season 3 of Heroes really was terrible wasnt it? In one scene an agent bursts into Isaac's loft looking for someone, wipes his finger on a painting and says 'still wet.must have just missed them'.Oil paint can take hours to dry! They could on a plane to Australia for he knows. And Sylar - has he gone good or is he still evil? who cares?!

Huge waste of potential.

Most of the series I watched finished last year (BSG, The Wire, The Shield) so there's a big gap in my schedule. Fringe definately got better in the second half of Season 1,Flash Forward looks interesting and in Jan there's another post apocolyptic show called Day One which looks good. Come May when Lost and 24 have both come to an end there's going to be one hell of avoid to fill.

Paithan1 said...

Honestly, since school started on August 31, I've fallen behind on the LOST rewatch; I was doing so well...Now, I'm barely keeping my head above water with what I'm DVRing during the week. I'm still sticking with Heroes (I just wanna know...) and Castle on Mondays (love that it didn't get cancelled.) I LOVE NCIS and can't wait for the spinoff (LL Cool J & Chris O'Donnell? Really.) Plus the soap that is 90210 & Melrose Place. Glee is genius! I love the music and the quirkiness.

Thursday is the HARDEST night of tv this year. Flashforward, Survivor, Bones, & Vampire Diaries. I can only watch 1 & tape 2. Hopefully, the CW will have Vampire Diaries repeating somewhere...Then Fringe & Supernatural. And there's actually something to watch on Friday nights once Sept. 25 comes...Smallville (I just can't wait to see him fly!) and DOLLHOUSE. I had a student writing a story about "Bots" who could become anyone and would then have their memories erased. When I said something about her being inspired by Dollhouse, she looked at me like I had 2 heads. I said Joss Whedon, Eliza Dushku, Dolls...still nothing. I told her I would introduce her to the genius of Joss Whedon (we'll be writing screenplays later on in the semester and I have Buffy scriptbooks.)

And the Amazing Race on Sunday. Of course I have no time for anything else. I always vow not to pick up any new shows and then this happens...And then there will be V. I'M SO PSYCHED ABOUT THAT!!!

Robbie said...

Have you ever watched House? It starts again monday.

Anonymous said...

Castle and Chuck definitely. They're awesome!

asiancolossus said...

I'm so glad one of your favorite shows is Glee, so is mine, it is corny but also has an edge. I love the music, makes me happy! If you have a Glee post show recap I'm there!

I'm also looking forward to V and Flashforward if nothing but to see Juliet, Charlie and Penny more!

I hope that you give Ugly Betty another chance. I think they've already stuck it in the dead zone on Fridays and if it doesn't pull at least 5 million ABC will shoot it. Yes I agree, the writing has not been as sharp, but there were still very bright moments, like when Daniel lost his fiance. The new boss ex bf looks interesting. And I hope Betty will finally transform a bit, and take off those braces, it would be interesting to see.

Vampire Diaries has been interesting, its still on probation. I promised my friend I would catch Tru Blood which is supposed to be awesome. I think I will give Heroes one last chance. If its the same old stuff, I'll ditch it.

My problem right now is figuring out when everything is, I'll be disoriented for the first month at least! Welcome back to the fall season Nikki!

Anonymous said...

So true about Heroes!! Felt the exact same way Seasons 1 & 2. Had the same doubts halfway through S3 and stuck it out--but was so sorry I did! Not a chance I'll watch any more, the series just plain ran out of ideas after S1 and keeps recycling what they think worked.

Kate said...

@Mike Cunningham & Anonymous:

YES! Chuck fans in the house!! Whooh whooh whooh! One of the best shows ever and I'm honestly not even sure why--it just is. I watched both seasons in six days. It's a Monday show so, people should tune in and watch the awesomeness!

Greg Tramel said...

I'm a GLEEK!

Being Erica is EXCELENT but it takes some digging to watch it in the US

Anonymous said...

Might I suggest Sons of Anarchy!

Anonymous said...

Yup, I've said goodbye to "Heroes" and I never got into "Chuck," as I found the whole Buy More setting a big bore. This season I'm actually dropping "CSI" in favor of "Fringe" and "Supernatural," which is my number one recommendation right now to "Lost" fans. The leads on "Supernatural" are great and the buildup of the story over the last few seasons has been perfect, but best of all there are all kinds of funny "Lost" parallels, like the guys ending up mysteriously on a plane in the season premiere, Mark Pellegrino playing Lucifer and just this week, Titus Welliver going on and on about those easily manipulated humans while playing one of the four horsemen.

Also, I can't believe no one mentioned any of the great stuff on USA, especially "Burn Notice"...

Nikki Stafford said...

Joan Crawford: I haven't watched Less Than Kind, even though the ads for it always make me snicker. When is it on?

Ann: I will definitely try to find time for HIMYM... one of these days...

Katey: See my other post about Chuck. :)

AG Wooding: I remember the ads for Lie to Me (and I heart Tim Roth immensely) and wanted to watch it, but it just seemed like one more show that would inevitably be cancelled and I didn't have time to invest in it. Is it coming back for a second season? When is it on?

Hector: Definitely a big United States of Tara fan (I was only listing off the shows that would start in the fall, and I don't think that one's scheduled yet, is it? And yes, Curb is one of those shows I watch sometimes, and love it every time, and with the Seinfeld cast coming back it'll pretty much be must-see TV. So I've got the PVR set for that, too (wow, ANOTHER show I forgot to mention! You know you're watching far, far too much TV when...)

Nikki Stafford said...

Jennifer: LOL! That's a great story. I hope you get her hooked!

Robbie: I've watched a grand total of two episodes of House, and disliked both of them. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind, but it just didn't grab me. Eccentric guy heading up a medical department and ALWAYS figures out what's wrong, even if the person has some disease that hasn't surfaced since 1736... it just wasn't my thing. But many, many of my friends watch it.

briuyx: I have the first two seasons of Supernatural on DVD and started watching it last summer, but then never went any further even though I LOVED it. It's definitely one I'm interested in seeing more of. And I haven't mentioned many USA shows because I can't get that network in Canada... only when a Canadian network picks it up and plays it here (in which case I don't often realize it was originally a USA show...) ;)

Anonymous said...

The Border. I love it.

Don't forget that Flashforward is based on local (well, local to us) Canadian author Robert J. Sawyer's novel.

Flashpoint. I love that it's a show about trying NOT to kill people.

Peggy said...

If you DVR The Office, be sure to check out Community too - pretty funny!

A.G.Wooding said...

Yeah the second season of Lie to Me is coming back on Monday 28th of September and I know what you mean, us brits have the advantage of knowing if a show has alredy been cancelled before it airs over here. I refused to watch Dollhouse until I found out it had a second season.

Greg Tramel said...

i thought the 1st few episodes of Dollhouse sucked BUT it redeemed itself with the last 3 episodes of Season 1, and i can't wait until Season 2 starts this Friday

the unaired episode was good but not necessary to enjoy the show

i was actually starting to get into Defying Gravity on ABC but looks like there is a good chance it will get canceled