So...now that November Sweeps are over, let's take a look at the viewing habits going on in this house...
Desperate Housewives -- Still enjoying this show, but it seems to have lost some steam. Perhaps it's because all the stories with Susan (Teri Hatcher) have become rather silly? Maybe it's because there's too much of Bree (whom I dislike immensely as a character)? Maybe it's that the Alfre Woodard story is unfolding slower than Lost? Just wish it was as fresh as it was last season.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent -- The show has been somewhat reenergized by the addition of Chris Noth...not that it needed it. Anabella Sciorra's presence is relatively negligible. Maybe they should team Noth and D'Onfrio more often?
King of the Hill -- The show's in its final season. It's been pre-empted by more sports than it deserves so far this season, but the few episodes that have aired have been just as good as always. Let's hope the Hill family and their friends get the send off they deserve.
The Simpsons -- It's funny...I can still quote old episodes and I love them dearly, but the newer episodes confuse me as I can barely remember what each one's about on second viewings. Maybe a billion years on TV is too long? Yes...I just blasphemed.
Family Guy -- Let's face it, the show's really just an endless stream of pop culture jokes and bathroom shtick...but I'm glad it's back and still find it hysterically funny.
American Dad -- This show has gotten much better since it started and seems to have found a nice stride in balancing the ridiculous and the sublime. We just need more stories involving Roger and Klaus.
Arrested Development -- As funny as it's ever been...and if you haven't heard it's pretty much coming to an end soon as FOX cut the full season order down to 13 episodes. It will be missed.
Kitchen Confidential -- While we've enjoyed this show (all 4 episodes that aired), it really wasn't given a chance. Bad FOX!
Prison Break -- We have to wait until March to get new episodes?? Can't FOX cancel some other crap that's still on (like the piece of shit wedged between The Simpsons and Family Guy) to find the right spot so we can find out what happens next? Great show that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Medium -- We regularly Tivo this show and do enjoy it when we watch it, but we tend to let episodes pile up for a week (or three) before catching up. It's good, but it's not "I have to watch it now"...and the episode that wound up essentially being a commercial for Memoirs of a Geisha was just annoying.
Bones -- While it's not original (I think we need to take off shoes and grab a friend or two to actually count the number of procedural shows on TV right now), it's a lot of fun due to the cast of characters. If it wasn't for the chemistry between David Boreanaz and Emily Deschannel (as well as the rest of the cast that includes Eric Millegan, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin and Jonathan Adams), it wouldn't be worth watching. I hope it survives being separated from it's perfect partner in January. That perfect partner is...
House -- It's nice to have something of a break from all the "arc" shows that seem to fill our days. Hugh Laurie still drives this vehicle as the wonderfully crochety Dr. House and the two hour block of this show and Bones works so well.
My Name is Earl -- Easily the best new sitcom in quite some time. Smart move in taking it to Thursdays to re-energize "Must See TV". Now if they'd only pair it with Scrubs instead of the dreck called The Office.
Commander in Chief -- I'm still not 100% sure what it is I like about this show beyond such an engaging cast. Maybe it's the possibility that the "political" aspects of this show are about as removed from reality as a "President" can get (insert your own jokes about the current administration here). If I want real politics, I'll turn on the ever depressing and comedic news...here's where I go for the fantasy.
Boston Legal -- What started off as a great concept on The Practice and then became its own fun series has quickly become tiresome, repetative and silly...and yet I still watch...it's just not a "gotta watch it now" show...
That 70s Show -- With Eric & Kelso gone, it's just feeling old and tired...although the bit with killing off the guy everyone assumed would become Eric's replacement was pure genius...unfortunately, his replacement is blah...thankfully the show's ending in May.
Stacked -- Not sure why I'm still watching this as FOX has cancelled so many other better sitcoms...
Lost -- I'm just glad that a show takes risks with the status quo...anyone can be "offed" at any moment...sure it's mind-numbing in it's advancement of "what's going on" (one step forward, four back), but I'm hooked for the duration.
Invasion -- Imagine a show going any slower than Lost and you're pretty much up to speed on this. It's Invasion of the Body Snatchers if it needed 24 hours to tell the entire story...and yet they manage to keep this slow boil show intriguing every step of the way (and when they give you info, they give you info).
Veronica Mars -- Hands down the BEST mystery show on TV. If you're not watching this, insert your own insult here...
Criminal Minds -- Look...CBS is airing a procedural drama...what is this number 27? Luckily, my boycott of the network kept me away from all of them...and it took Mandy Patinkin to break that...hopefully someday they'll move away from the procedure and get into the characters a bit more (is Elle really Jason's daughter??).
Law & Order -- It's not "Must See TV" anymore by any means, but I like Dennis Farina and Jesse L. Martin enough to keep watching...Sam Waterston's become too boring and predictable...we need some new "Order" here.
Joey -- It's mildly amusing at best...but being taken off the air for January and February can't be a good sign. If it goes at the end of the season, it won't be missed...
Will & Grace -- And neither will this...thankfully, it's all over in May...until the guest star studded reunion.
The Apprentice -- The latest version actually has a few contestants you could see winning...unlike the last two...I'm never sure if I'll watch the next version until it airs and then I get hooked anyway.
Night Stalker -- would probably be a better show if it had no connection whatsoever to the series it is based on; Kolchak: The Night Stalker (Just released on DVD). The one season cult hit from the 1970s was an inspiriation for The X-Files and this remake is being helmed by one of the forces behind that show (Frank Spotznitz). But quite honestly, the concept is so far removed from the original (Middle Aged, frumpy, cynical and sardonic reporter Carl Kolchak investigates things that go bump in the night) it may as well be something else. Here we have young, hot, mysterious reporter Carl Kolchak invetsigating things that go bump in the night in an effort to find who (or what) really killed his wife (a crime he was accused of). It's warmed over mush from several other and far more successful shows (none of which were Kolchak). Is anyone surprised it lasted as long as it did? (Although ABC gets a big finger for cancelling it after airing the first part of a two parter -- the one episode I didn't see -- because the three people still watching deserved better, Sci-Fi gets kudos for picking up all ten episodes for airing next summer).
Reunion -- OK...so it's gonna end at 13 episodes and we're never gonna know who killed...you know...I've seen every episode to date and I can't remember the name of the character killed...so is it really any good? It is an interesting concept (a big flashback story where each episode is one year closer to the present), but the acting's cheesy and the actual storylines are cliched and hackneyed (and we won't get into the fact that the young actors look silly playing their older selves in the present day scenes).
Smallville -- Best Season Ever.
Everwood -- Best Season Ever. Now give us more seasons on DVD Warner!!!
The Bernie Mac Show -- I still watch, but the charm and orginality has gone...as have the ratings since it's now on Firdya nights.
Malcolm in the Middle -- FOX has done wrong by this show. As funny as it has ever been (though I do miss Francis at the dude ranch stories), it probably won't last longer than this season because of the Friday time slot...very unfortunate. I hope they go out on the same high note they came in on.
Threshold -- This is the faster paced and more stand alone episode alien invasion series than Invasion. It's is also the one that's been cancelled.
Justice League Unlimited -- Waiting for Cartoon Network to air the last 8 episodes of Season 3 (or season 5 if you count the two seasons of the "limited" version of the show) is like waiting for turtles to mate. There had better be another season after this one, because they've passed on a 6th season of
Teen Titans -- which is going to end next month. The show started as an odd show and grew into a GREAT adaptation of a comic book. It will be missed.
The Batman -- Living in the shadow of the amazing animated series of the 1990s, this show is a pale imitation...but it's still Batman...so it's not completely worthless.
Battlestar Galactica -- Left us hanging in the middle of season 2 with a potential Civil War within the fleet...can't wait to see where it's going. A thousand times better than the original...if you're not watching, catch up before the rest of the season starts as everything up to that point is on DVD.
The Sopranos -- Can you believe we've got another season and a half of this show. How long has it been?? Did Family Guy have this long a wait between seasons? I'm gonna have to rewatch the whole series to date just to remember who is who.
Entourage -- A fun HBO show that makes great use of Jeremy Piven.
The Dead Zone -- While USA seems to have taken on the BBCs concept of making Christmas episodes, this show wasn't ruined by theirs. Can't wait to see how the overall story arc both mimics and diverges from Stephen King's novel...
Monk -- While I still enjoy watching it's gotten a bit monotonous and while the chance from Sharona to what's-her-face was rather seamless, the show has lost something.
24 -- Can't wait for Season 5 and all the fun logic loops we'll have to take.
Scrubs -- The best comedy on TV gets no respect, but does get new episodes (and another DVD release). Hooray.
Jake in Progress -- It'll be interesting to see how this show changes as I was surprised by it last year...I'm sure things will get mucked up entirely.
Deadwood -- I loved the first season and fell out of touch with season 2. Kind of like another HBO show. Maybe I'll try and catch up before season 3 starts...and maybe I won't.
Well...that's all for now...I'll be back, hopefully, on Christmas Day with a surprise about one more show I didn't mention.
Be seeing you.
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