The TV Season Thus Far
OK some shows haven’t premiered yet. (Life on Mars is starting in 5 minutes for instance and Lost hasn’t started yet) But a few shows have been on long enough to form an opinion. So here’s your chance to rant or rave.
I will say that after a frankly amazing run at the beginning of the century TV has seriously tapered off in quality and how compelling they are. Even the shows I like have something lacking that wasn’t there a few years ago. I watch but I just don’t look forward the way I have in past years.
Here are the ones I’ve watched enough to have much of an opinion on.
Fringe. I was about to stop watching after episode 3. However episode 4 was strangely compelling and made me hold on a bit longer. It looks like it may actually go somewhere interesting rather than merely being a cheap X-Files knock off. Episode 4 was well directed and acted as well, as opposed to the prior two episodes. I’m not convinced yet but at least I want to believe.
My Name is Earl. Far better than last year which was so bad I nearly stopped watching. Still a tad too over the top in places and not as compelling as the first season. But worth catching.
The Office. I haven’t seen tonight’s yet but this is looking like the best season yet. Easily the best show on this season. And I say that as someone who always acknowledged the quality of the show but never got excited about it. I can’t say I’m excited but I’m seriously enjoying it.
House. This is a show that can easily get caught in a rut. However I kind of dig the PI subplot. We’ll see how it goes. I have to admit that this is the show I find most compelling this season.
Pushing Daisies. Easily the best written show. If only my dang ABC affiliate would get off their behind and start broadcasting in HD. Although the lead lady reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where there was the woman ugly in some light and hot in others. This show is just so creatively written though. Wow.
Burn Notice. OK, it had its half-season finale a couple of weeks ago and is off until spring. Still I dug the ending. In some ways this season was a bit of a let down. They are trying a tad too hard to stick to formula. But they did shake it up a little bit. It’s easily my second favorite show after Lost though. (Here’s hoping BSG returns from two disappointing seasons to knock it out of the park though)
I’m probably forgetting a few. But those are the ones that come to mind.
Clark, I agree wholeheartedly. Life On Mars looks promising as well, and The Office is now officially the best thing on TV (at least until MILF Island returns).
Comment by Supergenius — October 9, 2008 @ 9:45 pm
…and MAN will they just get BSG back on already!!
Comment by Supergenius — October 9, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
I’ve watched the first two episodes of Fringe. So far it’s okay, nothing special, but based on your comments I’ll give it a few more weeks before I give it the boot.
I’m watching Heroes mostly just out of habit. Hope it goes somewhere this season. A lot of the plot lines are feeling pretty ridiculous though.
My favorite new show by far is True Blood. I put off watching it until I had four episodes on my DVR and then was so taken with the first episode that I ended up staying up until 4am to watch them all. Last Sunday’s episode was especially good. The best new HBO show in a while.
I’m also looking forward to 30 Rock starting up again, and of course Lost and BSG next year.
Comment by mike d — October 9, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
And have you guys seen MY OWN WORST ENEMY? … Wow. It’s available as a free preview on iTunes. Christian Slater’s amazing — and what a delightfully intriguing premise!
Comment by Silus Grok — October 9, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
LOL, Silus. Awesome.
Comment by Supergenius — October 9, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
I don’t even dare ask…
Comment by MCQ — October 9, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
@MCQ: Don’t. Oh please don’t.
Comment by Silus Grok — October 9, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
MCQ, not a 30 Rock watcher?
SG, how are you going to catch BSG w/o cable?
I gave up on Fringe after episode 3, perhaps too soon?
Comment by Tim J — October 9, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
Life on Mars was a BBC show that ran two seasons. It was very good. From what I’ve seen of the previews for the US version, scenes at least and possibly dialogue have been lifted entire. Bittorrent the BBC version and call it good - there is no way the US version will equal it.
The only show I’m into now, pending Lost this winter, is Mad Men. And that show I live and breathe.
~
Comment by Thomas Parkin — October 9, 2008 @ 11:34 pm
Let us know what the US version of Life on Mars is like.
Comment by Ronan — October 10, 2008 @ 4:36 am
Is Eli Stone any good? The preview with the singing and dancing has me intrigued.
Criminal Minds is back and as horrible as ever. Seriously my favorite show.
Until NUMB3RS starts back up, I’m sure.
Dancing With The Stars has a couple good contenders on it. Unfortunately Maxim’s partner just got injured and he won’t be on anymore. (Misty May Treanor)
America’s Next Top Drama Queen is as great as ever. Tyra has some amazingly bad moments. Makes me groan out loud, and my husband say, “TYRA RULES!”
UFC Ultimate Fighter has been off the hook great. Give these guys access to unlimited alcohol and the best reality series is born, I swear. Nogueira is an awesome coach, too. (I started talking to my husband about coaching strategies and he was clueless. “I just watch it for the fighting!” That’s like, the last thing I watch it for.)
Project Runway is almost done and I’m really disappointed with the season. The designers are all good but last year’s were mind blowing, so it just seems boring this year. Where’s the human hair on the clothes this year? Fortunately there’s enough drama going on between the contestants to keep it a little interesting. At this point I’m kind of hoping Kinley wins it, just out of spite.
Comment by Susan M — October 10, 2008 @ 7:23 am
Oh man, when Jim was mixing up stories behind Dwight’s back (Dumbledore on Battlestar Galactica returning the ring to Endor, and saying the show was a frame-by-frame copy of the original) I had to pause it until I stopped laughing. So funny!
Mrs. David J and I are really digging “Life.” Damian Lewis is one of my favorites right now (after seeing “Band of Brothers”).
And I’m done with “Heroes.”
Comment by David J — October 10, 2008 @ 7:26 am
I’m loving Fringe. So far, so great. Each episode has been better than the last one, which is how it should be. It’s cheesy, but it’s very fine cheese.
Pushing Daisies has picked up right where it left off, which is very high production values and good storytelling. Chi McBride and Kristin Chenowith are two of the best supporting actors on TV. I’m a little concerned about this one because the ratings are low and the strike seems to have really hurt the sophomore shows.
I think House has been very good so far in season 5. I thought season 3 was particularly weak, and I had almost given up on it, but season 4 rebounded extremely well. I really like the new PI character played by Michael Weston. In case you didn’t know, that character is being introduced for a detective series spin-off.
I’ve just about had it with Heroes. I *might* give it one more week (to see if the introduction of Daddy Petreli can generate any interest), but that show has really abused its audience. Time travel combined with limitless powers for multiple characters has made the logic of the plots just collapse. It’s not good, and at least half the time, it’s not even entertaining.
I’ve enjoyed this season’s episodes of The Office, but I’m not quite as optimistic. I think it’s going to be a challenge to keep the show fresh and try to avoid making a half-hour sit-com into a serialized soap. So far, so good, but there are hazards ahead.
I DVR’d both 11th Hour and Life on Mars last night, but haven’t watched either yet. I’m lowering my expectations for both of them. This year doesn’t seem to have much in the way of new shows. I think Fringe may be the only one that sticks for me.
Comment by BTD Greg — October 10, 2008 @ 7:44 am
I’ve given Heroes another chance this year. So far I’m okay with it, though I’m not expecting it to be great television.
Comment by danithew — October 10, 2008 @ 8:12 am
Kath & Kim looks like it might be OK. There was some funny but I’m not expecting it to be great.
Susan, you should check out 90210. From the one episode I saw, it looks horrible in every way. Definitely good for some laughs.
Comment by Tom — October 10, 2008 @ 9:08 am
“Is Eli Stone any good?”
It’s probably my wife’s favorite show and the epsiodes I’ve seen here and there have been watchable.
Comment by Tim J — October 10, 2008 @ 9:20 am
Is there anything else on TV today as compelling as MILF Island? I think not.
Comment by a random John — October 10, 2008 @ 9:24 am
Oh yeah, 90210! I flipped to it on commercial and it does look sublimely horrible. My husband actually used to watch the original one all the time.
Comment by Susan M — October 10, 2008 @ 9:25 am
Does nobody here watch Chuck? Really? Man, I love that show! And Big Bang Theory? Funniest show on TV.
Love, love Pushing Daisies. I was worried it wouldn’t be as good when it came back this year, but so far I’m not a bit disappointed.
I only watched Kath and Kim last night because I’m sick; even with the fever I could only make it halfway through–just awful, I thought.
Last nights episode of The Office killed me. I was starting to get a little bored with it last year, but so far this season has been really funny.
My hubby loves Life, but the main guy is way too annoying to me.
Can’t wait for 30 Rock and My Own Worst Enemy.
Comment by shazbraz — October 10, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Chuck, Big Bang, HIMYM, Life, Pushing Daisies…all great again. (Chuck people!!)
Can’t wait for 30 Rock & My Own Worst Enemy.
Gave up on Fringe after epi 3.
Tivo’d Life on Mars last night, haven’t watched yet. Loving the Mentalist (though, I might add, I really like looking at Simon Baker).
Tivo’d Kath & Kim, but haven’t watched it yet and now, thanks to shaz, I’m kinda scared to!
The Office last night was GREAT.
Eli Stone was banished to the backup tivo for this season and is teetering. We’ll see. I was fast forwarding through a good portion of the final eps last season, which is sad, because I really wanted to like it.
I watched The Ex-List last friday and was…I think mortified is a good word!
Comment by gabby — October 10, 2008 @ 10:41 am
All I’m watching lately is Mad Men, Dexter, Chuck and Entourage. Of those, Mad Men and Dexter have been the best. Watching Vince plot his comeback on Entourage has been fun, but for me that show has yet to come close to its incredible first season.
Comment by MCQ — October 10, 2008 @ 10:58 am
Heroes. I forgot to mention Heroes. It had been moderately good but not great. This week’s episode made me more excited about the show for the first time in a long time. It’s still no where near as compelling as the first season but it’s become heads and shoulders better than last season. I still think the time travel is the achilles heel in the show. There are huge logical problems with the way they handle it giving the show an ad hoc feel. But I’m still watching it.
Chuck is good but not great but definitely worth catching. It seems they are trying to shake things up over last season. Let’s hope so otherwise it’ll become stuck in a rut. And this is a show very capable of doing that given the structure it has set up.
I’ve heard Mad Men is good but haven’t watched it yet. I was initially excited about Dexter from two episodes I’d seen on TV. I then put it in Netflix and got an “icky” feeling from it when I tried to watch it. We’re giving it one more chance tonight.
Comment by Clark — October 10, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Greg, a show with that detective is oddly compelling. The main issue will be writing of course. House must be a very hard show to write for but it is consistently well written - especially the dialog. Even in its weakest season - season 3 - the writing was sharp even if the plot was a bit weak.
Life on Mars (which I DVRed but haven’t watched yet) looks good but the writers and producers on it haven’t exactly had good track records. Will this go the way of The Office or Coupling? (The first episode is reportedly nearly a scene for scene copy of the pilot of the British series)
Comment by Clark — October 10, 2008 @ 11:48 am
Mad Men is the best drama I have ever seen on TV. (I keep meaning to do a full KB post on it…) Granted, I don’t have HBO, so I’ve missed out on some, but Mad Men is really, really great. Acting, script, production values, everything about it is fantastic. Rent season one, and then catch up on season two. You want to be caught up on this before we have the JFK assassination, the Beatles, etc. We’re in late 1962 now, Marilyn Monroe has already died, and Bob Dylan just got his first mention. Many of the characters are right at a tipping point, and the fifties are being laid to rest.
Comment by Greg — October 10, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
I dropped Fringe after the first show. It was okay, but just not enough to overcome The Biggest Loser or Dancing with the Stars (I’m married to a reality TV lover)
I’m loving the new Knight Rider as I said on the “Best Bad Movies” thread. It’s so bad that it rules, much like CSI:Miami.
As just about everyone else I set the DVR last night for Life on Mars, so we’ll see how that is.
The new season of CSI started last night, we’ll see how Laurence Fishburne does replacing Grissom. I like Morpheus, but it’s going to be weird with Gil gone.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles still rocks, but I’m afraid that like Jericho, I’m one of the few who dig these kind of shows and it will end up being canceled.
Comment by Darin H — October 10, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
Fringe has gotten better.
Knight Rider rules.
Comment by Susan M — October 10, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
I’m diggin’ Fringe, mostly for Walter. That voice! He’s awesomely creepy.
I’m a Chuck fan, too. It’s silly and over the top, but fun.
And I’m still watching the Sarah Connor Chronicles. I just can’t help myself.
I’ve been meaning to check out Knight Rider, but I keep forgetting.
The Office rules.
Comment by bythelbs — October 10, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
I’m having so much trouble with my TiVo this season - it’s recorded the wrong show 6 times so far. Life on Mars was the latest casualty, recording Grey’s Anatomy instead (but with the info still showing Life on Mars) Ah well, another Bittorrent. =P
I agree with gabby on The Ex List, although the rest of the show was amusing enough. (Assume you’re referring to the Gandhi, etc.) The Mentalist is sort of like Psych, but more serious. Robin Tunney is so attractive, too. Life and Chuck continue to be most-looked-forward to (and double the dose of Life, lately!) (First episode of Dexter was good, too, can’t wait for more.)
Comment by FHL — October 10, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
I think that’s part of what mortified me, but to be honest? I think she’s a spectacularly sucky actress. I expected to like it (c’mon! I watched men in trees!), but I don’t know. It’s set to record tonight and we’ll see if it becomes my weekly trainwreck or not.
Everyone’s tivo recorded life on mars / grey’s wrong. Luckily I had both set to record anyway, so I was good. Thank goodness I was giving Grey’s one more shot!
That, by the way, was a good description of the Mentalist! However, I think our double dose of life comes to an end this week w/ Christian Slater’s show starting Monday.
Comment by gabby — October 10, 2008 @ 6:16 pm
Chuck has been okay. It’s not dropped off any since last season, but it’s not any better either. I thought the writing in the John Laroquette episode was a bit weak, but it’s been fairly consistently entertaining, and the acting is pretty good. Zach Levi and Adam Baldwin make that show. The B-storylines (usually at the Buy More) have always been pretty weak.
The other show I watch fairly regularly is Bones, but it’s been kind of so-so this season after a truly horrifically bad season 3 finale. I like it, but I’m a little cautious about recommending it to others. It’s kind of a guilty pleasure.
Comment by BTD Greg — October 10, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
does anyone second Burn Notice? I’m half way through season one on DVD. I’m basically enjoying it, but feel like it could easily be not worth my time. I was just thinking about whether I should continue when I read this post’s positive comment. Sounds like I should stick with it…
Comment by Jeremy — October 10, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
Grey’s Anatomy: Shit sandwich
Even my recently wife who used to love it (having recently completed residency) has agreed that it is crap. I won’t waste anyone’s time with an exhaustive list of the reasons, but the primary two are these:
1. Nothing ever happens.
2. The “characters” (if they can even be called that) seem to have a different set of motivations each week, invented to suit the needs of the writers.
Add to that the fact that four years into the show (see point #1) the characters aren’t out of their second year of residency yet (except for the characters that are sometimes residents and sometimes attendings) and you are forced to but one conclusion:
Shit sandwich.
Comment by a random John — October 10, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
You’re just realizing this now, arJ? Come on man!
Comment by Supergenius — October 10, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
We’re also halfway through season one on disc of Burn Notice and love it. Definitely a keeper…
Oh, Grey’s is bad. Really, really bad. But hubby works late on Thursdays, so I keep it around to watch until he gets home and we can watch Rachel Maddow…And I am the woman who watched 12 seasons of ER out of “loyalty” for some odd reason…
Comment by gabby — October 11, 2008 @ 7:33 am
Heroes is barely watchable this season, which is still more than I can say for last season.
Burn Notice also had a great first season, but so far this year it’s just following a formula.
The Mentalist is interesting so far, and My Own Worst Enemy looks good. I still want to like Fringe, but I just don’t know…
I am loving Sarah Connor Chronicles again this season. And The Closer. And The Unit.
Comment by C Jones — October 11, 2008 @ 9:04 am
@Tim J: No cable … heck, I don’t even own a TV! But I do have iTunes. So no problem.
@Susan M: Eli Stone is WONDERFUL! … I’m not just saying that because the lead male is ADORABLE. The premise is clever, the execution is just out-of-the-blue delightful, and the stories are endearing without being trite. Definitely catch-up on last season via iTunes. Another off-center delight is Pushing Daisies. The colors, the story lines, the dialog! Amazing … like Big Fish comes to TV.
Comment by Silus Grok — October 11, 2008 @ 9:09 am
( Tim J = Surfer Timmy? )
Comment by Silus Grok — October 11, 2008 @ 9:10 am
BTD Greg re:Chuck. That is all true. We watched the first couple of episodes and almost stopped because it is so hokey, but then we just got sucked in and now it is our fave. LOVE Adam Baldwin. Would pretty much watch him in anything. And I’m liking the Buy More stuff now that Tang is gone.
Comment by shazbraz — October 11, 2008 @ 11:04 am
I’ll second Burn Notice. I still enjoyed the second season. I also enjoy The Closer.
I like The Unit, too, but I’d like it a whole lot better if there were no wives. The wives are annoying. But Dennis Haysbert is awesome.
Comment by bythelbs — October 11, 2008 @ 6:23 pm
Chuck and Heroes are the two shows that I know aren’t great (I kept threatening to stop watching each last year) but somehow I keep watching and enjoy enough to keep on the list. However, as I said, the last Heroes was enough to push it from being last on the list. (Which is honestly where Fringe is at the moment)
I finally watched Life on Mars. It was good, although not great. The main character screaming and acting like a doofus got annoying fast. Also the fact that it’s supposed to all be in his subconscious while he’s in a coma makes it all less compelling. (Unless of course David Lynch was doing it - but he’s not)
Burn Notice is a bit more cliched this season. Although I did like the cat and mouse with the folks trying to run him. I can’t help it. I just kind of dig the relationship with his mom and the way he explains everything he’s doing. The writing could be a lot sharper this season but the character and style really does it for me. I am hoping they shake it up a bit more next season. (Maybe take it out of Miami?)
Comment by Clark — October 11, 2008 @ 9:13 pm
BTW - that was undoubtedly the funniest The Office ever. I really like how they’ve brought out an other side to Michael.
Comment by Clark — October 11, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
SG,
Hell no. I actually thought that the first season was fine and the cliff hanger that it ended on had possibilities. It went downhill from there and fell off a cliff during the Superbowl episode which ended with a guest star being blown to bits in the hospital only to never be mentioned again.
I’ve been complaining loudly since then. It has taken years of my whines plus the first episode of this season to convince my wife.
Comment by a random John — October 11, 2008 @ 10:17 pm
I started watching Burn Notice on hulu. It’s pretty good. It’s on my list, along with Pushing Daisies (really good!) and Chuck (a good laugh for the inner geek.)
Comment by Ben — October 20, 2008 @ 10:07 am
The only problem with Burn Notice is that it is intensely formulaic. Watching more than a couple of episodes back-to-back really highlights this — it is like clockwork.
Comment by Steve Evans — October 20, 2008 @ 10:12 am
Yes, although that formula is part of its charm. What can I say? I’m a sucker for the good hearted guy who wanders around helping people whether it’s the original form (Route 66), as an angel (Highway to Heaven), or so forth. It’s a classic style that’s been used in dozens if not hundreds of shows. But it’s done well in this show.
Comment by Clark — October 20, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
Way OT, but is this your company mentioned on Slashfood, Clark?
http://www.slashfood.com/2008/10/20/just-say-yes-to-amano-artisan-chocolate/
Comment by C Jones — October 20, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Yup, that’s us.
Comment by Clark — October 21, 2008 @ 10:08 am