By TPerl
I figured it was my turn to chime in on TV, especially since I spend so much time watching it.
Between Playhouse Disney (Handy Manny is our current favorite show, which is to say my 3-year-old loves it) and all of our animated films on DVD (Cars is already on its 15th viewing right about now), here's what I've been watching these days (not including sports):
Monday:
Heroes - First of all, I am huge fan of the X-Men movies, and it probably explains why I like this show so much. Although I never really got into "Lost", I think it's unfair to make any comparisons to that show at this point. Clearly there's a plan for this story (at least for this season), and the creator has made a point of stating that in each episode he does NOT want people to be waiting for something to happen - and I'd have to say that he's been true to his word so far.
Studio 60 - Funny in a West Wing kinda way, but did you expect anything else? I don't understand the criticisms about how unfunny the "show within the show" is - if those skits were really that good, they would've been on the real deal: SNL (and we all know how unfunny most of that shit is). And the fact that I don't see "Chandler" every time Matthew Perry is on screen is a credit to either the writing, his acting, or both.
Tuesday:
Friday Night Lights - Two words, kids: Minka Kelly. Also, I agree with Bones about the story and the characters feeling very real - and this coming from a guy whose high school didn't even have a football team (Go Bronx Science!).
Law & Order: SVU - Always solid, even in reruns. Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni are a great duo. Mmmmmmmm, Mariska...(drool)
Wednesday:
Professional Poker Tour (Travel Channel) - Not to be confused with the WPT. I can't seem to find any other "go-to" show on Wednesday night right now, but at least I always have the PPT. And just like the name suggests, no amateurs in this show except for the occasional exemption for celebrities. The poker is great (obviously) and the stats that flash on the screen are always relevant and add to the game.
Thursday:
My Name is Earl & The Office - A great block of TV for me. I think Earl has not been as funny this season, but still enjoyable. But without Jamie Pressley, this show would be nothing - she is consistently the best part of the show, and deserves all the praise she is receiving. The Office is still fantastic - and I don't even mind the Jim/Pam romance thing, and it seems like they're going to do the right thing and not make them get together.
I finally caught a couple of episodes of 30 Rock, and I'm now a fan.
When Scrubs finally returns on Nov. 30, my TV Thursday will be complete.
And I haven't watched ER in like 5 years. Does anyone?
Friday:
Law & Order - Horrible move putting this on Fridays, but hey where am I going anyway? Gotta love the "ripped from the headlines" storylines. Still, I'm always waiting for those great Lenny Briscoe one-liners that are only available on TNT nowadays...
Other shows that may stop my remote as I flip around (some are good, and some are just filling airtime it seems):
High Stakes Poker (Game Show Network, Tuesday & Friday?) - This is more than just a televised poker game, and I recommend this show to anyone who likes watching any of the other poker shows out there, including Celebrity Poker Showdown. This is a table of eight of the best players in the world playing a high-stakes CASH game, with some of the bigger pots reaching well over 100 grand (that's 100 grand of THEIR money, not a stack of tournament chips). There's no tournament, no waiting for the "final table", and no bullshit. All the great characters of the game are usually playing - Mike "The Mouth" Matisow, Sammy Farha, Phil "The Unibomber" Laak, Daniel Negranu, etc. These guys are playing to win, and they don't hold back on the swearing, trash-talking, and funny banter. Add in commentary by AJ Benza and Gabe Kapler, and how can you not be "all-in" on this one (Can I be any cornier)?
World Poker Tour (Travel Channel, Sat night)- If my wife doesn't let me play on Saturday night, at least I can pretend. And yes, I realize this is the third poker show I've mentioned so far.
The Simpsons - I usually miss it cause we're putting the kids to bed, but I still look forward to watching it on DVR.
Deal or No Deal - I still can't figure out why I can't stay away from this one. Maybe because it seems like it's ON ALL THE FUCKING TIME!
1 vs. 100 - Why don't they just call it "Mob or No Mob", since it's trying so much to be like that other gameshow. The only interesting part of this show was that Ken Jennings was part of the first Mob - and I assume the show creators thought he'd be their anchor in case anyone got close to the million dollars, but he got knocked out on like the third show. This is another one where I wish I could somehow turn the TV off, but something pulls me back. Please help!
Biggest Loser - Fat, sweaty, people in tight, revealing clothing - What's not to like? But the female trainer this year is MUCH hotter than the last one, mostly because she doesn't look as much like a man with breasts. I think I like this show because of its inspirational stories, and how these people don't just lose weight but really turn their whole lives around. Either that, or the female trainer.
Las Vegas - The antithesis to the fat and sweaty people. They should just call this show "Breasts, Breasts, and More Breasts. And a casino." Although it's rare that I'll watch a full episode of this show, it's obvious that the plot is always secondary to all the eye candy on this show.
Interestingly enough, there's a fellow on pajiba.com called "The TV Whore" who's writing a similar series of posts this week. I thought I watched a lot of TV until I read what this guy watches just for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. So I guess I'm not a full-blown TV whore - perhaps just a TV slut?
How does "TV Skank" sound?
D. Bones
4 comments:
You watch waaay too much poker on TV.
Heroes has been entertaining, but I watch it in fast-forward. There just isn't much real suspense in the inter-personal storylines to hold my interest. It does seem as though the season's overall arc will pay off at least a little. But the whole project seems like a cheesy rip-off of better sources, The X-Men chief among them (which got ruined this summer by hack director Brett Ratner). I'll keep watching, but mostly I'm just waiting until it all falls apart.
Studio 60 was doomed in its conception. Aaron Sorkin made a wonderful behind-the-scenes-of-a TV-show show in "Sports Night." Then he made a wonderful behind-the-scenes-of-Washington show in "The West Wing." The first show made the family atmosphere of a hard-working cable sports highlight show into real drama and snappy comedy. It took itself just seriously enough to pull off drama.
The West Wing was just as snappy with the added gravity of global and domestic politics. The first four seasons of that show offered brains and heart in massive, equal doses.
But Studio 60 thinks the happenings of some SNL-knockoff would hold any real weight in the world. Sorkin set up the significance of the show-within-the-show to unreachable heights. The supposedly brilliant sketches have been awful (fine with me, but that's not what the writing would have us believe). And he betrays any impartiality by making the stand-in for his real-life ex-girlfriend (Harriet on the show) into a grating, ignorant shrew whom he tries to salvage with huzzahs about her talent, of which I have yet to see any evidence.
Anyway, I could go on all day about my disappointment with Studio 60. I'll send you an email.
[slobbering sound]...Minka Kelly...[slobbering sound]...
Deal or No Deal is one of the more fascinating concoctions ever on television. A game show with no skill necessary...except when people screw it up? There's $1,000,000 and $400,0000 and $300,0000 and three lesser amounts on the board, you've got an offer for $250,000...and you take it? Why the fuck? You have to open one more case and even if you lose the $1 million, the odds are that with another good guess (you'd need to go one more round), your offer will be higher than or close to $250,000 (even if you are unlucky enough to lose the $400,000 next). Stupid people! I root against them constantly.
I was never a big fan of all those cookie-cutter police procedural/forensics shows. They are perfect insomnia filler. One clue leads to another clue leads to an arrest that may or may not be the right person who may or may not get convicted. Yawn. I see the attraction, but I don't see this as weekly appointment viewing.
In fact, the impression I get most from your list is that you don't have or utilize a DVR. Record your shows! Live in freedom!
I think I may be the only person who loves Friday Night Lights for a reason other than Minka Kelly (down, boys). I can't say enough about how good this show is. And since we're all in agreement about it, I won't. I will admit that I slobber over Kyle Chandler and his goyish menschy goodness.
Like Bones, I'm monumentally disappointed in Studio 60. I wish NBC would just make it stop. I register my own form of civil disobedience by refusing to watch the episodes on my DVR. Take that, General Electric! Still love Bradley Whitford, though. Even like Matthew Perry in this role.
I know I will be accused of being the girl that I am for saying this, but I am still getting a kick out of Desperate Housewives. Yeah, it's not really good pulpy bad television (can you follow that sentence?), but I still like it. I was actually "turn on all the lights at home" scared by one of the recent plot twists. Shut up.
Also still like House, though I'm not sure how wild I am about the more personal storylines they're developing. And the guy in a fatsuit recent episode wasn't that enjoyable.
The Office has been mildly disappointing this season. Still enjoyable, but only one or two good laughs lately, compared to a lot of awkward moments. But it's still brilliant. Just the thought of Dwight reading a fax from future Dwight or having Mos attack Ryan is enough to make me giggle.
SVU is much funnier (or rather, funny at all) if you recall Chris Melone's role in Wet Hot American Summer. I tend not to watch as the subject matter gives me the creeps.
I have recently taken a liking to NFL Films Presents and Inside the NFL. And for this, my boyfriend owes me.
My dad went to Bronx Science. I think he was class of '66. And he still hates the Yankees.
I also realized how many of my shows are NBC shows. Am I just an NBC junkie?
I own X-Men 1 and 2, and I bought 3 on DVD the day it came out without ever seeing it. With all the bad buzz about X-Men 3, when I finally watched it, I did not think it was "ruined" at all. 2 was the best, of course. 3 seemed consistent with the others at least, and I can definitely say I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I don't know, but I just think it wasn't even close to being as bad as everyone made it out to be.
I will also throw in that my wife DVR's "The Nine", and I've watched it a few times - nothing special about this one, but I think she's committed at this point.
I did watch the first 2 episodes of "Smith" (w/ Ray Liotta) until they cancelled it. I didn't think it deserved such a quick hook.
Even if I DVR all those other good shows out there that I'm not watching, with 3 small children I don't think I'll be able to really catch up on my DVR watching until about 2016. I still have the same 3 Netflix movies sitting on the TV for about 3 months now. "Living in freedom" is all relative when you have so precious few hours of peace in any 24 hour period.
You'll understand some day.
And can you really be "goyish" AND "menschy"?
Clear eyes, full hearts...
...Can't lose!
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