Television Musings

Jean TellerAutumn is upon us, and I haven’t talked fall television yet. That’s a bit of a disappointment for this videophile. It’s been mentioned before on this blog that I am a TV addict, and my last post on TV shows was back in April (“TV’s Goodbye and Hello”).

For the fall of 2009, it looks like we have somewhere around 35 new shows premiering this year. I doubt if I’ll be watching even a third of those.

A few of the summer shows caught my attention: Hawthorne on TNT, Royal Pains on USA and Warehouse 13 on SyFy (that’s the former SciFi Channel). And of course, I watched my favorite cable/summer shows: TNT’s The Closer, Saving Grace and Leverage, USA’s Burn Notice, and SyFy’s Eureka.

Supernatural

Now the fall shows have arrived. I caught the premiere last week of Supernatural’s fifth season on the CW, and watched the first episode of CW’s new series, Vampire Diaries. I will go to the ends of the Earth to watch Supernatural for what could be its last season; the teen angst of Vampire Diaries – even with the main teen being more than 250 years old! – may mean I drive a stake in the heart of that show. I’m giving it another ep or two, we’ll see. That’s it for the CW on my to-watch list.

Fringe returns for its second season on Fox.

Last night brought new eps of the above shows as well as the first new shows in returning favorites Bones and Fringe on Fox. I’m also a fan of the returning Dollhouse, and I’m watching the new Glee, although I’m not sure how long that one will last on my DVR. So I was glued to the TV for the premiere of Bones, then changed channels for another hour of Supernatural.

Dollhouse comes from Joss Whedon.

Next week is going to be busy – my DVR may go on strike!

Monday brings the return of Heroes on NBC and Castle on ABC. When the dust settles, my Monday’s will read: Heroes and Trauma (premieres the 28th), also on NBC, and Castle. Then in the spring, Chuck returns (hurrah!) along with Day One to replace Heroes and Trauma.

A number of other premieres hit the airwaves on Monday as well: Dancing with the Stars on ABC, How I Met Your Mother, Accidentally on Purpose, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men and CSI: Miami on CBS, and House on Fox.

Tuesday, I’ll be watching the finale of Warehouse 13, the premieres of returning NCIS, new NCIS: Los Angeles and new The Good Wife on CBS, and the first episode of new series The Forgotten on ABC. And that about sums up my Tuesday evening’s lineup.

NCIS, a perennial favorite on CBS, returns September 22.

Wednesday, as far as new episodes goes, is a full night. For me, not so much. I’ll check out new shows Mercy on NBC and Eastwick on ABC, and possibly ABC’s Cougar Town. The only show at the moment on this night is Glee over on Fox.

Other shows beginning their fall seasons on Wednesday include The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds and CSI: NY on CBS, and Modern Family, joining Cougar Town and Eastwick on ABC.

Flash Forward is a new ABC series.

Thursday is a problem night for me. Next week brings the highly anticipated premiere of ABC’s Flash Forward, and the return of that network’s Grey’s Anatomy and CBS’s The Mentalist. All of which means I have shows from 7 to 9 on three networks, plus one at 9 (what with Bones, Fringe, Vampire Diaries and Supernatural already programmed on my DVR).

Tonight will find me watching the season finale of Eureka. Next Friday, I’ll watch the returns of Ghost Whisperer and Numbers on CBS and Dollhouse on Fox, which sums up my fall watching for Friday. Other premieres include the new Brothers on Fox, and the returns of the CW’s Smallville, NBC’s Law & Order, and Medium, now on CBS.

Saturdays usually find me watching movies or cleaning off the DVR. Sundays I’m awaiting the return of Cold Case (the 27th) and the new Three Rivers (premieres October 4) on CBS.

Two other premieres that I’m looking forward to are White Collar over on USA (October 23) and V, a reimaging of a classic series on ABC, on November 3.

Shows that have returned or premiered so far in September include: 90210 and Melrose Place (yes, you read that correctly – both are new takes on old favorites), America’s Next Top Model, One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl over on the CW; So You Think You Can Dance, Glee, Cops and America’s Most Wanted on Fox; Saturday Night Football and 20/20 on ABC; and Football Night in America, Sunday Night Football, The Jay Leno Show, The Biggest Loser, Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday, Parks and Recreation, The Office and Community on NBC.

Others premiering later in the month include Dateline, Saturday Night Live (the 26th) on NBC; 48 Hours Mystery (the 26th), 60 Minutes, The Amazing Race, and Cold Case (all returning the 27th) on CBS; Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters (the 27th), Shark Tank (29th), Hank and The Middle (30th); and The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy and American Dad on Fox (the 27th).

October brings Private Practice, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Ugly Betty and Supernanny on ABC, ’Til Death on CBS, and 30 Rock and Southland on NBC.

Are any shows capturing your attention this season? What’s programmed into your DVR?

I’m off to clear off the DVR to make room for next week’s barrage of shows!

TV’s Goodbye and Hello

Jean TellerLooks like it’s been a while since we talked TV. After saying goodbye to two favorite series within the last week, it seems like a good time to check the schedule, what’s on my DVR and what’s coming up.

Battlestar Galactica ended its reign on the Sci Fi Channel last week. After four seasons, spread over five years, we finally found our favorite travelers settled and most of our questions were answered. I adored the three-part finale, and I’m looking forward to checking out the new prequel series, Caprica. A movie, The Plan, is set to air in November.

Battlestar Galatica's gallant crew.

Wednesday night, the series finale of Life on Mars aired on ABC. This was a favorite of mine, and I was very disappointed it had been cancelled even before a full season had aired. However, I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how the premise could continue for any length of time, and I was extremely happy with the way the series was wrapped up. Here’s hoping the cast members soon find other TV homes– it would be a shame for television viewers to be deprived of the talents of this crew: O’Mara, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, Jonathan Murphy, and the always great Harvey Keitel.

Life on Mars will be missed.

So what does that leave on my DVR? Oh, you just had to ask, didn’t you?! Believe me, I am not suffering when it comes to TV viewing.

Castle stars Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion.A couple of the mid-season shows that I’m watching include the delightful Castle, starring Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, over on ABC; and an intriguing Dollhouse, the latest from Joss Whedon, on Fox. I’m still giving Kings (NBC) a shot, but I have a feeling it won’t last too much longer on my viewing calendar. The revamped Cupid premiered this week on ABC, and while I’m still a bit uncertain about this one (I loved the 1998 version starring Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall), it’s waiting on the DVR.

Castle airs at 9 CST Mondays on ABC.

New shows on the horizon include NBC’s Southland, The Listener, Merlin and The PhilanthropistCBS’s Harper’s Island; ABC’s The Unusuals; Sci Fi’s Primevel, Warehouse 13 (could this be like Special Unit 2, a short-lived delight on USA?), Stargate Universe; and USA’s Royal Pains. Oh, and I wish I had HBO: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is coming to the small screen, based a series of popular books with a great fanbase.

Southland's cast prepares to take on a tough Thursday slot on NBC.

And I’m waiting, impatiently, for the Dr. Who specials this year, and the series’ return next year on Sci Fi, as well as the returns of Eureka on Sci Fi, Burn Notice on USA, and The Closer and Leverage on TNT.

Would you like a quick look at my current TV week? Sunday: Cold Case and Kings; Monday: 24, Chuck, Heroes, Saving Grace and Castle; Tuesday: NCIS, The Mentalist, Fringe, Cupid; Wednesday: Lost, Life, The Unusuals (in place of the missed Life on Mars); Thursday: Grey’s Anatomy, Eleventh Hour, Supernatural, Bones, and soon Harper’s Island and Southland; Friday: Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, Numbers, Terminator, Dollhouse, and whatever’s on Sci Fi; Saturday: movies or catching up on DVR/tapes. Yikes!

Burn Notice airs on the USA Network.

Supernatural

The Closer follows Brenda Leigh Johnson, a tough police lieutenant who loves junk food.

What favorites am I missing? Any recommendations?

Now, I need to go search for my life. See ya next week, same time, same channel!


MY COMMUNITY




Pay Now & Save 50% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
Last Name: *
Address: *
City: *
State/Province: *
Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
Email:*


(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Live The Good Life with Grit!

For more than 125 years, Grit has helped its readers live more prosperously and happily while emphasizing the importance of community and a rural lifestyle tradition. In each bimonthly issue, Grit includes helpful articles, humorous and inspiring articles, captivating photos, gardening and cooking advice, do-it-yourself projects and the practical reader advice you would expect to find in America’s premier rural lifestyle magazine.

Get your guide to living outside the city limits delivered straight to your mailbox. Subscribe to Grit today!  Simply fill in your information below to receive 1 year (6 issues) of Grit for only $19.95!

SPECIAL BONUS OFFER!

At Grit, we have a tradition of respecting the land that sustains rural America. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing to Grit through our automatic renewal savings plan. By paying now with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of Grit for only $14.95 (USA only).

Or, Bill Me Later and send me one year of Grit for just $19.95!