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September 25, 2006
Chat about the new TV season
Is it Must See TV or not so must see?
The new fall TV lineup: Love it or Hate it? Or, worse, Madly Indifferent?
Join the LC as we discuss our faves – and not so faves. And just a warning - this is the longest blog in history!!!
ALESIA: STUDIO 60 - I almost had to like it with the Tommy/Aaron team, plus my darling Bradley (and no Donna in sight, thank goodness, was that done to a crisp or WHAT?), but Amanda Peet was surprising. Didn't expect to like her much, but I did. Loved the writing - "I brought the NASDAQ down just by reporting to work."
BONES - I love this show. Which is nuts. Because I don't like ANY of those crime shows, like CSI, CSI Miami, CSI Beaverville, whatever. Don't like it, know enough about how the stuff works to find it ridiculous, but just love the show. David Boreanaz is delicious in it and the interplay between Booth and Bones is fab.
THE BIGGEST LOSER - what can I say? I have a love/hate relationship with reality TV, but the people on this show inspire me. I'm not crazy about the hostess, she's insincere and brittle, but these people working so hard for health and for their families is amazing. I miss Jillian, though. She was such a hardass she was fun.
LANI: My DVR is going to burn out this year. The new TV season looks SO good! I can’t wait.
Returning shows: THE OFFICE. Can’t wait. Can’t wait. Can’t wait. I really liked Season 1, LOVED Season 2, and am so excited to see Season 3 tonight! While it’s a brilliantly funny show, and I love Steve Carell, I watch it for Jim and Pam. I just love those guys. Jim is like the ultimate beta hero, and you know how I love me my betas!
GREY’S ANATOMY. Faboo. I just finished watching Season 2 on DVD last week, and I’m ready for the new season. Although, I have to say, I’m a little tired of Meredith/McDreamy. To be honest, I’m liking them both less and less as time goes on. But for Burke, Cristina, Izzie (although I was disturbed by the McCrazy) and George (who I think would be GREAT with Izzie once she gets on those meds) I will watch forever. Especially Burke and George. Sigh. Betas.
HOUSE. The funny thing about House is that it’s up and down. It’ll be brilliant one week, and the next, they’re dragging out an improbable storyline with his ex-girlfriend. And this whole thing with Cameron and House – no chemistry. None. Move on. But still, I watch, because... Hugh Laurie. Sigh.
GILMORE GIRLS. Am a little wary, but after investing six seasons of watching into this show, I’m not gonna give up yet, although they’ve pushed me to the point where I don’t even give a crap who Lorelai ends up with. I don’t like her much anymore. And Luke was a total idiot last season. So if the new show runner can save the show, I’m in.
LOST. Fingers crossed that the stellar storytelling continues this year. And hands up for more shirtless Daniel Dae Kim! Love him!
New Shows: HEROES. This sounds really cool. I’m not typically a superhero kind of girl, but I’ve heard such great buzz about this show that I have to tune in.
STUDIO 60. Love it. Aaron Sorkin gets a bit preachy in his political stuff, but at least in a TV environment, he’ll only do it about once an episode. It’s not even necessarily that I disagree with his politics (well, not all of it) but damn. The man sure loves his high horse. Anyway, I love Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford, and am surprisingly not turned off by Amanda Peet – usually I don’t like her, but here, she’s okay.
30 ROCK. I don’t like Alec Baldwin, but I love Tina Fey. All the previews I’ve seen look really stupid, but I have to give it a shot. Judgement withheld.
TWENTY GOOD YEARS. Just kidding. Not watching. Hoping that if I close my eyes and sing “la la la” it’ll disappear and it’ll be just like it never aired.
ALESIA: >>and George (who I think would be GREAT with Izzie once she gets on those meds)
Sick and wrong. Would be like incest, but yuckier. You are so wrong on this.
EILEEN: GREY’S ANATOMY. George and Izzie? What are you thinking? That would never ever work. And not because of the McCraziness thing either. Being a bit McCrazy myself, I have great sympathy for those things. George is not in Izzie's league. I know that's not nice, but it's true and I think relationships like that are doomed. George and Callie are clearly doomed too which is too bad because I really like Callie and George deserves someone who thinks he hung the moon which she clearly does. Still, not George and Izzie. No no no. That would be worse than George and Meredith.
Don't get me started on the wonders that are Preston Burke.
I'm hoping we see more of what happened to the older generation this season, too. I want to know why Meredith's father abandoned her.
HOUSE. This is one of those shows that I thought was okay, but everyone else raved about so I kept watching it to try and figure out what I was missing. I'm predisposed to like a cranky hero with chronic pain in his leg (have any of you met Cowboy?), but I still am not completely sold. Plus, the first episode this season was a brain tumor episode and those give me the heebie-jeebies. Been there. Done that. Sat shiva in the T-shirt.
GILMORE GIRLS. I still love it. Last season was difficult though. I'm predisposed to like a cranky hero who is occasionally an idiot (see above about anyone having met Cowboy) so I'm still rooting for Luke.
I'm not sure how I felt about the Luke's illegitimate daughter thing. I thought the mother's reaction to having Lorelai around was interesting. Being a single mom, I've taken a fair amount of grief about dating so I know that kind of attitude is definitely around, but it's usually from people who are happily married and have never walked the walk.
VERONICA MARS I am psyched to have a Gilmore Girls/Veronica Mars back to back evening. I loved this show. Talk about tight writing! Weaving all those little mysteries in to the bigger full season mystery arc was fabulous. I know it got a little complicated, but I still thought it was smashing. I'm ready to date Veronica's dad and be the Mom she never had, too.
LOST. Daniel Dae Kim is beautiful, isn't he? I would vote for more shirtless Matthew Fox, too. Does anyone remember a series he did called HAUNTED where he was a detective who had had a near death experience and now could communicate with the dead. Plus, there was this whole thing with his son having been kidnapped. It lasted like two episodes and was cancelled.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES I dunno. I felt pretty burned by the end of last season. I hated every one of the main characters by the end of it. I like my heroines flawed, but they have to redeem themselves at some point. I saw no redemption. I'll give it at least one or two episodes this season, but I don't have a good feeling about it.
MEDIUM This is coming back, isn't it? I loved it so much I bought the book by the woman on whom the character was based. And the guy who plays her husband? He can cuddle me after my bad dreams any day!
MY NAME IS EARL He had me at karma.
STUDIO 60 I liked this one. A lot. It'll have to stay that smart and fun for me to be willing to stay up until eleven o'clock on a Sunday night though. I especially love that they seem to be willing to take on some pretty huge issues. Like the religion thing. It will be interesting to see how they handle it. They did a good job of making Sarah Paulson's character sympathetic (although that lisp thing she's got going may make me want to smack her soon), a person whose personal convictions have become public fodder, it will be interesting to see if they can maintain that.
HEROES. I'm intrigued, too. Largely because I'm still waiting for my superpower to develop. I know I've got one. It's just a matter of time. Maybe this will give me some clues as to how to find it.
UGLY BETTY I'm really hoping this one is as fun and sweet as it looks.
LANI: Okay, this whole thing against George and Izzie – crazy. They’re best friends, and as far as I’m concerned, she’s out of his league. She needs to dump the McCrazy and get a grip, and then she’ll be worthy. But George is one of the best guys on TV. I love him; he’s absolutely got all the things a hero needs. I’m sorry – nice hair and big pecs aren’t what matters. He has the heart and soul and talent of a Greek God, and that’s all I need. Sorry, I have a George thing. Obviously.
AND I can’t believe I forgot to mention VERONICA MARS!!! I love it. Can’t wait to see V go to to college. It’s always a little unsettling when a major element of a show changes, but I think it’ll be handled well. I’m a little wary about the three mystery arcs, rather than just one big one, but I think it’ll be interesting. And anything that brings Jason Dohring into my home on a weekly basis is okay by me. ;)
Oh – and was anybody else disappointed by the GREY’s premiere last night? They slaughtered Miranda Bailey’s character. And WTF with the plague? Yargh!
EILEEN: You think George and Izzie should be together because of his inner beauty? Puh-leeze. It's a recipe for disaster. Plus, he'd totally enable her McCraziness. He's too sweet to give her the emotional slap she needs. And she's gonna need it again. Her kind of McCrazy is the kind of McCrazy that keeps on giving. She picked the curtain that has the lifetime supply.
Oh. My. God. I've started to think of these people as my friends. I'm that concerned. Who's McCrazy now?
BETH: Well, Lani, much as it pains me, I'm going to have to agree with you on Grey's anatomy.
During the season premiere, I kept asking, Who is this quivery woman and what have they done with my Bailey? If I need someone to get hysterical over their patients, I'll call Izzie.
And what happened to McDreamy being stoic and cold when he found out Addison cheated? Whatever--I'm rooting for McVet. I know Meredith will never go for him because, well, she really IS too dark and twisty and the resulting relationship would be far too sane and healthy to garner ratings, but I can dream.
Love Cristina and Burke, though, as always. And love that Addison found the notorious black panties. I'll be tuning in all season; I just hope Bailey sacks up. I am very interested to see how they get Izzie back on surgical rotation. After what she did, there is NO WAY the hospital could ever risk having her on staff in any capacity ever again.
As for new shows, I am trying very hard not to get sucked into any fresh addictions (I watch too much television as it is!). But I am intrigued by "Brothers and Sisters"--lots of great actors--and I'm going to check out "Men in Trees", mostly because it's set in Alaska and you all know about me and Alaska. Also, it's created by Jenny Bicks, who used to write for "Sex and the City."
And let's not forget the upcoming finale of Project Runway. My personal favorite is Laura (and I would actually wear her designs!), but I pick Michael to win the whole she-bang.
ALESIA: I didn't like GA, either. Although you know my feelings on McSlutty. He's going around chasing after Meredith when he hasn't even had the common courtesy to inform his WIFE that their marriage is OVER yet. So, speaking as a spouse, I'd take the WEEDWHACKER to his McBalls.
And when is Alex (Alec?) going to get smacked down for his attitude? Trust me, there's no way he'd get away with mouthing off like that to his superiors up the chain in a real hospital. Really clunks for me.
WHITNEY: Another one who misses the old Miranda. Who was that wimpy, teary woman, and what did she do with the Nazi we know and love?
And as for Finn . . . I lost all respect for him last night, what with his I want to keep my hat in the ring speech. It’s been awhile since I was single, but from what I remember, not being exclusive doesn’t mean you can sneak off in the middle of your date to have sex with someone else. And come on. Is a ruggedly handsome Seattle vet who looks just like Chris O’Donnell really so hard up for a date that he’d put up with that kind of crap?
The only other show I’ve caught this week is The Amazing Race. And, as always, a big thumbs up, even though the team I was rooting for has already been eliminated. Although the cheerleader team just may be the most irritating team ever to have raced. Do they not hear themselves? Are they not aware of just how stupid that stiff-handed clapping is?
MICHELLE WEIGHS IN, DESPERATELY JEALOUS, FROM THE LAND OF NO NEW MUST-SEE TV: We get shows such as Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden (Good Times, Bad Times), which is kind of like As The World Turns or The Bold And The Beautiful, except in Dutch with Dutch actors. That can be fun (I have no idea what is really going on, but I make up my own script, based on how the characters are acting).
We also get Dutch Big Brother (I make up the script for this, too, based on how the characters are acting). I think, but am not totally sure (because I missed the particular episode, of course) but I seem to remember hearing that 2 of the contestants on BB over here had sex in the BB house.
And we do get a lot of the good American shows already mentioned on several of the channels, but they tend to be hit and miss for me in terms of when we get the new seasons (as I said, it's later here than in the US). If it is a first season show in America, then we might have to wait longer until the show is a success in the States.
So this is what usually happens when I we get a new season over here. I miss the first episode, because that was the only week I forgot to buy the Dutch TV guide (The Veronica). Then I get visitors, so miss the following week, too. After that I just think, "I'll wait for the DVD." So I wait until I come to America, and mass buy all the great shows I've missed.
I have a trip planned to NJ next week, mainly for the New Jersey Romance Writer's conference, but also to catch up with friends, spend time with Teenager No 1 and...to have a DVD shopping spree.
[Oh Patient One is sighing as I type this - he's worrying about the credit card bill I am going to run up. Don't worry, dear, I won't go too mad].
So LCs and chicklets, here is my question. If I could buy only ONE season of ONE show, which one should I buy? And why?
EILEEN: Which one DVD should you buy? Well, it's one we haven't mentioned. I
would say WEEDS. I loved this show. Smart, clever and filthy filthy
filthy. My favorite line at this point? "You've made your bed and now
you have to f*ck in it."
Brilliant. Simply brilliant.
BETH: Yeah, Weeds is pretty hilarious. (We don't get Showtime, though, so I have to wait until the end of each season to get the DVDS.) Also, maybe try Entourage or The Office. (Even though I know the British version is supposed to be better. Speaking of which, has anyone seen "Footballers' Wives"? I'm kind of dying to see that!)
MICHELLE: I've been thinking about how I watch shows, and how I read favorite authors. And one big shining banner just jumped into my brain.
With favorite authors, I go out and buy their book. Then I read the WHOLE book in one sitting. I just cannot read chapter by chapter over a period of days or weeks. I want the whole book and I want it now!
I am thinking that is why I don't, generally (despite time delays or whatnot) track much-awaited shows on TV. Even if I miss episodes #1 and #2. I really love to wait until the whole TV series is available on DVD. I want the whole thing, from beginning to end, from episode one or (or chapter one) through to the the conclusion. Right now. Or Right Now Later (once said DVD is available).
Is this some kind of classifiable disorder? Or am I just looking for instant gratification :-) (Or is it both? No hope left for moi...)
ALESIA: So if any of you made it this far . . . what do YOU think??
Hugs,
Alesia
Posted by Alesia at 6:00 AM | Comments (15)
Comments
I am thinking that I am going to be spending way too much money on DVDs next week :-)
Posted by: Michelle C at September 25, 2006 9:10 AM
I am thinking that I spend way too much time watching TV.
The LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 25, 2006 11:23 AM
LC Ladies-
Michelle, Entourage would be a great series to have on DVD...I can't believe how much I laugh when I listen to those guys...especially Drama.
GA: Izzy and George would just be a no no. She needs to sort through a many a issue, and I too will be interested to see how she gets back into the hospital.
While I do agree with you on most shows, you've clearly overlooked one of my must see shows...PRISON BREAK! Yes, you must suspend belief in order to watch the show but that's the best part. The show is amazing and the writers are really talented as I had no idea how season two would last outside of Fox River.
Every week I'm on the edge of my seat wondering, where on earth is this story going to go and every week I'm shocked. There's intrigue, conflict, and my personal favorite romance and a lot of it. All of these men are deeply in love with women that they now can't have. One character keeps risking getting caught for the woman he can't let go of, but who has clearly moved on.
And has anyone taken a look at Wentworth Miller or Dominic Purcell, the leads? Puhleez, looking at either of them quickly reminds me that McDreamy is none other than the lawnmower riding nerd in Can't Buy Me Love...
Posted by: Risha at September 25, 2006 12:30 PM
Ooh, speaking of hot leads, the older cynical brother on SUPERNATURAL?? Yummy. He was on a short-lived show called DARK ANGEL and he was great on that, too.
Posted by: Alesia Holliday at September 25, 2006 12:33 PM
LOL, Eileen. I am thinking that I will be watching too many DVDs when I get back from my trip.
Risha said: "Michelle, Entourage would be a great series to have on DVD...I can't believe how much I laugh when I listen to those guys...especially Drama."
Thanks for the recommendation, Risha (although Oh Patient One is sighing sorrowfully as I add another show to my "must get whilst in America" list).
Posted by: Michelle C at September 25, 2006 1:05 PM
Michelle, Oh Patient One will love Entourage! It was my ATM who turned me on to it!
Posted by: Risha at September 25, 2006 1:13 PM
Risha said: "Michelle, Oh Patient One will love Entourage! It was my ATM who turned me on to it!"
Risha, your ATM turned you on to it? This is a story you just HAVE to share with us, LOL. Interested people want to know...
Posted by: Michelle C at September 25, 2006 1:24 PM
Here's my line-up.
24 - Jack rules!!
Lost - I'm glad I don't have to share Sayid (YUM!)
Studio 60 - Its seems that Matthew Perry has left Chandler behind!!
HBO's Rome - OMG - pure lust and sex. LOL I'm not really sure I can post here without breaking some FCC rule. You just have to see it to believe it - that's all I'm saying.
Posted by: Cindi at September 25, 2006 1:32 PM
Oh goodness, on my blog and via my friends...we call my DH - ATM. It's because he always has to be the adult once I spend my entire paycheck on research for my stories.
Posted by: Risha at September 25, 2006 1:53 PM
I agree with Lani- I'm afraid I may have to buy a new DVR when mine goes kaput this season. I'm of the philosophy I'll TiVo anything once because I don't want to miss out on a show that actually makes it through the season! LOL I'm a late comer to Grey's Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, and Veronica Mars. So... I don't want that to happen again! LOL Old shows: 24, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother, Lost, GG, Veronica Mars, and G.A. are the main ones. The new ones I've seen and thought I could watch again: Studio 60 and Kidnapped for sure; maybe Six degrees... looking to see how Heroes goes as well. I didn't care much for Sisters & Brothers or Shark. I'm most excited to see Season 6 Dvd of GG in the mail from Netflix today! LOL
Posted by: Amber at September 25, 2006 2:21 PM
Well, unlike Alesia, I adore the crime shows, especially the original CSI, so I was quite hyped for last week's premieres. CSI was great although hubby wants them to make a connection between last week and this week since it's a 2-parter and it looks like they really just wanted to do a really short ep and a really long ep and rolled it into one two-parter. And that sentence probably didn't make any sense to anyone who doesn't watch. Oh, well.
Last night's Cold Case and Without a Trace were good, too. Although the whole time I was watching Without a Trace I kept saying, "Hah! This is so like the whole "I Know My Name is Steven" thing." And I thought they ended it too soon. I wanted at least one more minute.
Hubby is dearly anticipating the new Heroes tonight. Worse luck in the world, though, that has it up against Two and a Half Men, which is my humor for the week. Curses. I run into the same thing on Wednesdays when Lost and Criminal Minds are on at the same time. Luckily, they moved Bones way back last season so I can at least tape one and watch one.
Posted by: Dia at September 25, 2006 4:58 PM
Oh, Dia! So you're the one keeping those crime shows in business, huh? You know, I totally agree that they're good, but I just can't watch. Too many dead/hurt kids. Not enough juicy soap opera drama! So, I can't be with you there!
Amber - my new motto! "I'll TiVo anything once!" LOL!
And I don't care what you all say - George and Izzie!!!! Totally!!! ;)
Posted by: Lani at September 25, 2006 6:17 PM
>>Too many dead/hurt kids. Not enough juicy soap opera drama!
This is why I won't even watch Kidnapped once. Just don't want to see it.
Posted by: Alesia Holliday at September 25, 2006 6:19 PM
Okay, I can't believe no one has mentioned Prison Break. The show with not one but two hotties. Wentworth Miller is absolutely wonderful and Dominic Purcell is hot since he got out of prison grays and into that white shirt. Plus the writing is great, 24 type on the edge of your seat action every week and you never know what's going to happen, including I can't believe they killed her and oh my gosh they chopped off T-bags hand.
Not into McDreamy and McWhiney. House is okay if I remember to watch it. Love NCSI but that's the only one. Like Bones and can't wait for Lost. Earl makes me laugh and 24 will be a life must stop its on show when it returns in January.
Posted by: cindy at September 26, 2006 1:32 PM
Okay-- starting from Monday
Studio 60- I'm not a Sorkin acolyte, especially, but Matthew Perry has been my Sooper Seekrit TV Boyfriend forever. And I love Bradley Whitford and Steven Weber and Timothy Busfeld.
Tuesday:
House- Hugh Laurie. Sigh. And I love Cuddy and the morally ambiguous Wilson. My mother is insisting I watch Dancing with the Stars because she's *ick* crushing HARD on Mario Lopez. I may have to give it a go just to keep her from asking me if I watched this past week even though I've never watched an episode before.
Wednesday:
Bones- I love the chemistry between David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. And it's so much fun to see David get to crack wise for once. And I love the flirtation between Angela and Hodgins.
I'm going to give Lost a try-- not because of any major plot twists, but because they've added Rodrigo Santoro to the cast. I fell in love with him in Love Actually (Karl, the enigmatic Chief Designer) and I've been dying to see him in something else.
Thursday:
Used to be a dedicated CSI person, but they so jumped the shark last year, so over the summer my CP introduced me to Supernatural, which has a lot of the old Angel and Buffy people working on it. The writing can be very uneven, but it's generally entertaining and The Pretty is very consistent. Jensen Ackles is very nice to look at for an hour and even better to listen to, because he has the most unexpected voice coming from that pretty face. (And I don't normally go for overt pretty. The Hub says my tastes are idiosyncratic-- and that's on a good day.)
Friday:
NUMB3RS- I'm stupid about math, so whether or not it makes sense or not, makes no never mind to me. I told the Hub (he of the near-Ph.D. in statistics) that if the math was wonky and he started pointing it out, I was going to lock him outside. But I love David Krumholtz and Rob Morrow and Judd Hirsch and Peter MacNicol and Diane Farr. And they have a nice dose of pretty with Alimi Ballard and Dylan Bruno.
Stargate: Atlantis. Although it's done for now. But I still have a few eps backed up to watch.
I don't think there's anything on during the weekend that I watch, but I have the first season of Entourage on DVD to work my way through since I adore Jeremy Piven.
Posted by: Barb at October 1, 2006 12:18 PM
