The Most Important Thing In The World Right Now: Fall TV
So, I’ve been watching a lot of TV the last few weeks while new shows premier and I thought I should write an entry about my first impressions so far of this TV season. Because, you know, TV has been my best friend these last few weeks as I’m stuck in bed unable to eat or move without screaming in agony.
Who am I trying to kid? I’d be watching the same amount of TV even if my gums weren’t swollen and full of painful wisdom teeth. I’d just not be able to ask my family to bring me the occasional pudding. Or pain pill. Or beer. Sometimes all of the above.
Here are some of the NEW shows I’ve tried and my thoughts about them so far. I’ll revisit this entry at a later date and let you know if I’m still watching any of these:
Melrose Place
Okay. I will admit I started watching this solely for Max from Greek. I have a giant crush on that character and lucky for me? He’s almost the exact same character on this show. Unfortunately? The show is not really my cup of tea. I’ll record it every week in case I get desperate, but if anything better fills that slot on one of my four tuners? It will be replaced. I will say this though…Ashley Simpson? Is an AWFUL actress. Whereas Katie Cassidy (formerly of Harper’s Island) is FANTASTIC. She’s the only reason I don’t just trash it all together…I love her character and especially her unrequited crush on Not-Max. I think she’s a great actress and when/if this show fails, I hope she finds a new home on my television. I’ve liked her in everything she’s done so far. Especially her stint as Ruby on Supernatural. Love her.
Glee
If you follow me on Twitter you know I love this show. Every week it just makes me happy. It is why I watch TV. This week I was in huge pain Wednesday night. Sobbing my eyes out and my face covered in icepacks. But Glee? Made me laugh. I’ll definitely agree it’s not for everyone…especially if you have a low tolerance for random musical numbers in your entertainment. But I love Mr. Shuster with all of my heart and last week’s episode where Kurt came out to his Dad? Fantastic. MrZ and I laughed our asses off at the football play “Ring on It” – just good, cheery TV. And Jane Lynch as the militant cheerleading coach? Priceless.
Vampire Diaries
Of course I’m watching it. How could I not at least try it? And I kinda like it. I wish that Ian Somerhalder’s character was the nice guy because he’s too pretty to hate…but it’s just an entertaining show. Another one that will get booted if too many conflicts arise, but for now? It’s entertaining enough. My only hope is that eventually let Elena in on the Vampire world. The constant “Oh no! Will she find out the truth?” drama will get annoying really quickly. Have you read the books? Did any of the humans know about the vampires in the books?
The Beautiful Life
Yes…I tried it. It had Corbin Bleu, I was too curious to see the Disney Vet on a “grown-up” show to pass it up. Yes…I hated it and the CW made a good move in canceling it already. So. Terribly. Bad.
Community
I love it. Of course…Joel McHale is one of the many celebrities I’m blindly loyal to. I will watch and try my best to ADORE anything and everything he does. (See also: Ellen DeGeneres, Angelina Jolie and Selena Gomez.) Danny Pudi as Abed is actually my favorite character on the show, most consistently making my laugh out loud in both of the episodes I’ve seen. Seeing him ask Jeff for his shirt this week? Perfect. The show makes me laugh out loud and the only other sitcom that’s done that since Friends is How I Met Your Mother, so I’m pleased to add it to my lineup.
NCIS: Los Angeles
I like it just fine. I prefer the NCIS franchise to the CSI franchise because I feel like it doesn’t try so hard to be realistic. I feel like NCIS knows it’s not at all equal to reality and therefore plays around with the humor a bit. The Los Angeles version seems a bit more serious than the original, but it’s still lighthearted enough that I can let myself like the characters and get into the mystery without shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it like I do with CSI. Plus, I love LL Cool J in it. He’s great. And also hot. I’ve heard my critics say that if you like the original, you’ll like the Los Angeles version…and I agree.
The Good Wife
I actually don’t like Julianna Margulies that much. I liked her okay as nurse Hathoway on ER but she always rubs me wrong in interviews. However, I thought the premise of the show was unique and I wanted to give it a try. After the pilot I can definitely say I’m pleased. Her character is one I feel like I can really get behind and I enjoy watching her simply juggle her family life and her career…I feel like that alone is enough to make it a good show and I think the writers know that too. The political drama and marital strife are almost ancillary so far, at least in the pilot. I think as long as they don’t weigh the balance too heavy on that part of the story? I’ll stick with it.
Modern Family
LOVED THIS SHOW. I totally cracked my ass UP at it and hated it when I realized it was only half an hour. I’m thrilled to add this to Community to my sitcom list. I miss watching sitcoms and am happy to add more to my DVR. I didn’t realize the premise that the three families were actually all related until the very end of the pilot but that makes it even better. So cute and so far seems to handle the whole Gay Couple Adopting thing very well. I love the personalities of the two men especially with Cameron being the obvious more flamboyant of the two but Mitchell being the one with The Speech that Cameron was almost rolling his eyes at. Cracked me up!!! And the angels/fairies on the wall above the crib? Priceless. And then Phil as the “Cool” (but totally NOT) Dad? Perfect casting choice. He played that well. I really hope that show does well.
Cougar Town
I watched this only because it was on after Modern Family, but I actually laughed a bit at it. The verdict is still out whether or not I’ll keep watching it…again, it depends on how full my schedule gets, but it’s a cute show. We’ll see in the middle of the season if it is still on my lineup.
Flash Forward
I really got into this pilot. I’m hoping it isn’t like many of these other serial dramas that get you hooked and then you never actually get to solve the mystery because it gets canceled. I’m hoping since they flashed to a point later in the season that we can at least have that mystery solved. It’s an interesting concept and I’m definitely hooked on it after the pilot. My only complaint is that Joseph Fiennes seems a little over-the-top with his expressions. Almost like I sometimes feel like he’s on a skit about a cheesy drama as opposed to on an actual drama. That might get annoying if I don’t get used to it. So far though? I like it.
Eastwick
Okay…I tried to record this by the HD channel froze up that night…so I tried to watch it online and the show kept freezing up 17 minutes in. The first 17 minutes seemed okay…anyone else finish it? Should I try to watch it again online?
Next Up…My Thoughts the Returning shows like House and Bones
I live for Glee. As do the rest of my college theatre major and music major friends. It’s like we’re “home” again.
And the coming out scene had me sobbing, so while it’s a fun and light show, there are still portions that have a great impact….kind of like life.
I’m soooooooooo sorry you’re in pain. I just had my first root canal 2 weeks ago so you have my complete empathy.
Love Jane in anything and she’s fabulous in GLEE. My husband watches this w/o falling asleep so that’s saying something! It’s after SYTYCD so 2 hours of fun! I’m cautiously optimistic about flash forward.
I am so in love with Glee. And Modern Family. I’ll be interested to hear your take on returning shows, especially HIMYM. I hope Barney and Robin doesn’t signal the downfall of the show like Niles and Daphne did on Frasier.
I really wanted to like Vampire Diaries, since I like all things vamp/warewolf, but I just couldn’t.
I wasn’t going to watch NCIS LA, because in the pilot, they had Louise Lombard as the head of NCIS LA, and I don’t like her. But I am happily watching it now they got rid of her. And the 2-hrs premiere of House.. love it!
Another Gleevotee. Also, I did not like Eastwick. It might be alright if you’d never seen the movie or read the book. It was just such a pale shadow in comparison to the movie.
Our new shows this season are Glee, FlashForward, and the forgotten. We liked Vampire Diaries ok, but our two tuners are already committed to FlashForward and Bones at that time slot. I tried Community and Modern Family, but they didn’t pass the DH test, so they’re out.
Of continuing shows, we’re doing Bones, House, Dollhouse, Castle, HIMYM, and Lie to Me (new to us) for sure. Numb3rs and Criminal Minds are potentials for the cutting block. Already gone are Medium, Heroes, Supernatural, Smallville, and CSI.
Hmm, let’s see. On my list of must watch tv:
Glee!
NCIS
House
Grey’s
Dollhouse
Modern Family (High-Larious)
The Good Wife
Maybes:
NCIS: LA (kind of boring but hoping it gets better)
Flashforward
Hmm, I feel like I’m missing something but this is all I’ve got so far.
It always amazes me how much TV you manage to watch – I can only really follow one or two shows. No wonder you have to get up so darn early
It’s so refreshing to read about people who watch as much (if not more) TV than I do.
My line up is forced to be a little shorter than I would like, because I don’t have DVR…yet.
Here it is:
Glee
Bones
House
America’s Next Top Model
Project Runway
The Office
Community
Psych
Monk
All I can say is that I’m loving TV this fall!!
Sorry about the teeth – sucks.
So stupidly excited about the Amazing Race tonight!!
Glee – LOVE.
The Good Wife – I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did.
Cougartown – could go either way. Still trying to get over the fact that Courtney went from cool, young, and hip to a cougar.
Modern Family – made me LOL a couple of times. (Lilly – won’t that be hard for her to pronounce?)
Flash Forward is still on the Tivo.
Eastwick was okay if there isn’t anything else on that night.
I’m still deciding on NCIS LA. LL Cool J is OK, Chris O’Donnell is HOT. But their version of Gibbs… I think she’s just too much. And no Abby. I don’t know. We’ll keep watching for now.
I loved Ruby #1, too. Did you notice Ruby #2 is in Flash Forward?
oh my god, I love that you like NCIS. I’m always surprised to find out other people watch it because we started watching it because it’s so bad it’s good! We have a game wherein when one of the characters does something totally tru to their character stereotype we say it out loud. (i.e. “Abby is different” or “Gibbs is old! Technology is hard!” or “Mcgee’s a nerd!”) It makes it interactive.
Also? Whomever guesses “who did it” first “wins” that episode. HA.
I completely agree with you about Glee (LOVE!) and Vampire Diaries (Like, want Ian to be a good guy, and will wait and see how the season goes).
I watched a little bit of NCIS: LA but I didn’t really like it – I think maybe my expectations were a little high and I need to go back and watch it again before I completely pass judgement lol.
I think that Abby (in NCIS) is fab and so funny!!! What is it about the girl science/computer geeks in these shows – I think Garcia in Criminal Minds is cool too!
Oh, Glee. The last episode made me laugh and cry. That show is so fantastic.
The other new show I’m enjoying (so far) is Flash Forward. Like you, I hope they don’t cancel it before we find out what’s going on. Joseph Fiennes didn’t bother me half as much as Seth McFarlane. Maybe it’s because he’s used to doing voiceover work, but dude does some strange stuff with his face while he’s talking. It kind of embarrassed me, honestly.
I ended up watching Eastwick by accident. (There was nothing else on.) It’s okay so far, but not something I would plan on watching.
On Vampire Diaries? How much do you want to know? I read the whole series over the summer, so I can give you the scoop, but don’t want to spoil you.
I saw the preview for the TV show, but it made me so mad that I’ve yet to watch it. Why? Just the fact they made Elena a brunette. Which, I know….kind of ridiculous for me to get mad about, but in the books they make SUCH a big deal about her ethereal blonde hair and it is kind of a big deal that it just seemed wrong for her not to be blonde. It was almost a character trait, that blonde hair. And I felt if they couldn’t even get that part right, they don’t really care and are just trying to cash in on the Twilight faze.
i forgot that we haven’t discussed this yet!!! i love it!!
I keep missing Glee. I am going to have to get caught up online. As much as I love my TV…I am trying not to get caught up in new shows…I am kinda I don’t know. I am of course all about HIMYM, Big Bang, BL, SVU, and Project Runway. And of course Lost when it comes back on….other than that? I am scaling back….I am trying to be more active I think. It hasn’t happened yet but that is the whole point…..
I am also a total Gleek, I watched last week’s episode over again this morning and still gush over it. We’ll have to agree to disagree on Community, so far I haven’t been wowed but I did kind of like Beautiful Life (in comparison to Melrose). I was a little disappointed that Beautiful Life was canceled so early, I thought it had a little promise. I also liked the Good Wife and plan to give it another shot too. Melrose, Katie Cassidy is awesome but Ashley Simpson is so awful it’s painful.
Love Glee. Loved the scene with Kurt coming out to his dad – thought it was a breath of fresh air compared to most coming out to your parents scenes. I’ve had Single Ladies stuck in my head ever since, though, and I kept expecting Kanye to jump in and say…oh never mind. That joke has been done to death.
Don’t love NCIS Los Angeles yet, but I’m willing to give it a chance because I love NCIS so much. And wasn’t the first episode of NCIS the best episode ever? Loved. it.
The Good Wife I really like so far. I think the thing that spoke to me the most was when she said something to the effect of – it doesn’t get easier, you just learn how to live with it better. I think that’s true of so many things. People always say that it will get “easier” when you lose someone (like your dad or my mom), but it doesn’t get “easier”, you just learn how to live with it better.
Cougar Town was okay. Not sure what I think of it just yet.
Flash Forward has a lot of potential. Very interested to see how it plays out.
Eastwick was okay. I’m not jumping up and down about it, but I’ll stick with it for awhile.
My husband and I love Joel McHale on “The Soup,” so we’ve been watching “Community,” but I’m sorry, I just don’t think it’s that funny. The main girl, Britta, rubs me the wrong way. I hate that type of character–the “I’m so cool and educated and hip and quirky and untouchable,” so I hate that Joel McHale is chasing after her. Though I did laugh out loud at the last five minutes last week during the skits for Joel’s and Chevy Chase’s Spanish assignment. Luke wants to keep watching it, but I think more for the Joel Factor than the Funny Factor.
You’ve turned me into a total Gleek and for that, I am forever grateful! Loved the “coming out” scene too and my girls have been singing and dancing to “Single Ladies” again.
I liked “Cougar Town”, but it is on at the same time as “Glee” so I’ll have to remember to DVR it.
Eastwick was ok. I never saw / read “Witches of Eastwick” (or anything related) so this is my first look at the Witch World (other than Harry Potter and Blair Witch). Anyway, I like it, but I don’t know how I feel about Rebecca Romjin.
Didn’t catch the “Good Wife” and I wish I did. Must see if I can catch it online.
Didn’t even bother w/Melrose Place.
Oh and YES! I’m hooked on Flash Forward and so is pDaddy…
Eastwick is worth watching- this is one show I have added to my list of fall tv shows.
THANK THE TV GODS I READ YOUR BLOG!!!!!!!!
ok, I totally got hooked on NCIS this summer on USA and I thought it was an old show that never played anymore and then you write about this!! I’m so excited I will be watching both episodes tonight! Thank you for your post
I also hated Melrose Place.
I’m kind of interested in the Good Wife now, tho.
eeeeeeNCIS!!!!!!!!!!
I watched the first Glee last night and I think I am hooked.
I’m still on the fence with Vampire Diaries. I’ve only read the first 2 books in the series but so far it seems to be only ‘loosely based’ on the books. Some of the plot points are there, some are not, some things don’t seem familiar at all. Even Elena is off. So, it’s hard to say whether she’ll find out about the vampire world (as she does in the book) but I’d guess she will. For now, I’ll continue watching but it has yet to hook me.