Because of the strike, which I support wholeheartedly, Winter TV will be interestingly scheduled. Here is one blogger who took the time to compile a list for you.
NOW LISTENING: Cops in the background – honey has the day off and is watching TV.
Drumstick the networks to get The Dresden files back. I miss this show.
Dec 042007
Seriously. I love Saving Grace, and had no friggin’ idea there were four whole new episodes, starting this week. Luckily, my trusty DVR saved the first one for me tonight. 
Also, the DVR is forgiven for continuing to record Heroes this season. After all it isn’t the DVR’s fault that Heroes has been sucking wind all season.
Nov 302007
I can not deal with nothing but crap ass reality television from now until Summer. Unfortunately, if the talks between the studios and networks and the WGA don’t change tone soon, that looks like exactly what we’ll get. I don’t even know what to say.
Nov 192007
So that song I was looking for so hard the other day that I heard on the show Moonlight? I emailed one of the people on the credits and they wrote back confirming it was the song, letting me know when the album would be available on iTunes and in stores (next year, basically) and… they sent me the song itself in MP3 to tide me over. Melt. Happydance.
You know what that means? I will market the ever loving SHIT out of their next album here when it hits shelves, because that was not only nice but good business. Meanwhile, I have been building an entire playlist out of Moonlight songs on iTunes. I will post it as an iMix and link it here when the season is over. With the exception of three songs not yet released, I’ve found them all on iTunes. Yay, Apple! Much like Rescue Me with Denis Leary, Moonlight has a fantastic soundtrack each episode.
So as the Fall season wears on, stumbling along on already existing episodes during the writers’ strike, what has remained on your Tivo / DVR? What have you added?
I’m loving Moonlight, but fear CBS may cancel it, even though they did order 4 more episodes. That would piss me off. It’s an interesting show. I thought I’d love Women’s Murder Club more than I do. I’ll keep DVR-ing it, but I like Moonlight a lot more. Thank goodness for a two shot DVR!
I left on CSI Las Vegas, Extreme Home Makeover, Bones, House, Big Bang Theory, Weeds, Californication, Heroes, Dexter and more from my original Fall line up post. Of those I like Extreme Home Makeover and Heroes the least this season.
Extreme Home Makeover has gotten so obvious in its quest for tears. It’s as if Ty Pennington’s DUI earlier this year robbed him of the power to decide how the show was run, and forced him to bow to ABC’s heavy hand. I’m glad they help people, but there really isn’t any need to pour on the sap – the stories stand by themselves.
As for Heroes, it’s been one weak story line after another this year. Like Lost last season, they seem to be dragging it out for no reason, leaving too many loose ends from week to week. I’ll watch for a while longer, but if they don’t tie it together soon I’ll give up, and with the writer’s on strike that looks unlikely.
Even House is pushing the envelope this season. I thought the game show premise would be fun, but it seems to be taking too long to resolve, and I don’t really like any of the characters competing enough for them to stay, especially plastic surgeon guy.
What’s your take on TV this Fall? On the strike?
When you hear a song on television as background to a scene and like it, if the show you are watching is mainstream you may luck out and see it on their web site. If the show is less mainstream? You’re screwed.
Tonight I was watching my DVR of Moonlight and heard a song that has the line “To hell with the devil, I’m selling my soul to you”. I’d love to know who sings the version they used, but the CBS show site sucks – no song list for the episodes. Bah humbug.
Update: Received two links to solve the problem. I love the internet! Link 1, Link 2
So today I finally go that enormous phallic symbol all those spam emails have been promising. I’ve always wanted one, but I had no idea it would arrive all gift wrapped-like in its own box, even though SNL did warn me. (video NSFWK)
So what is it really? It’s a huge TV we Woot-ed in the last Woot-off. Huge. Just in time for the writer’s strike, so we can catch up on all those movies we have yet to see. The box is taller than me, y’all. We now have a TV suitable for the truly television addicted like ourselves. Of course, the neighbors’ tweenage sons will probably be able to see the Playboy Channel from across the street now. Their parents will be so pleased! Best of all? It has a built in browser and internet connection, and comes with a WiFi keyboard, so I now have the hugest computer monitor ev-ah, also. Wheeeee!
I like a few reality shows (Kitchen Nightmares, Top Chef, American Idol – that type of already existing thing, though I think there are way, way, way too many reality crap shows on now). But I have a sneaking suspicion that network powers that be will try to prevent a resolution to the strike by adding reality shows to replace current television instead of paying writers what they are worth. Boycott reality shows! Call for reruns of older shows that showcase excellent writing in a show of support, like M*A*S*H or a Bit of Fry and Laurie, or newer shows that showcase writing like Battlestar Gallactica instead. We don’t need a new “Rock of Love” or “Flavor of Love” or “Amazing Race” or anything. We don’t even need the CURRENT shit like that. Boycott! Call for intelligent TV! Support writers past and present!
(and a little nugget from Ze)
Because you are fucking with my television pleasure if you don’t (oh yeah, and because they deserve it). Here’s how the strike affects the TV Junkie like myself.
Remember my Fall TV post, in which I revealed my possibly unhealthy but oh-so-enjoyable obsession with television? Well, I’ve had a chance to watch a few of the shows that were new this season and report back.
The Big Bang Theory is on top of the pile of new shows so far. It is definitely a keeper. I haven’t laughed out loud that much at a television show in years. It is smart and goofy and has an excellent cast. My biggest fear for this show is that it will be short lived for being too smart, but I hold out hope of being pleasantly surprised. Even honey liked it, laughing as much and as often as I did. I highly recommend it!
Torchwood is another hit, this time coming to us from across the pond. If you liked X Files, you will enjoy this British show about everything from murder to alien technology.
Dr Who is off the DVR again, and for the same reason as last year. Not only that, honey requested I not try to record it anymore. It turns out he hates the constant cast changes anyway. Wheee!
Kitchen Nightmares is another Gordon Ramsey hit as he takes dysfunctional restaurants and whips them into shape. Gotta love it. I do miss the narrative overlay, and the follow up visits with the restaurants. MamaPop misses a lot more things about the BBC version in their review.
For those of you who are television junkies like us (witness the Summer and Fall DVR lists), you probably get frustrated trying to keep track of when the hell your shows start up again. Look! I found an alphabetical list of start dates for every Fall show! Sweet! And, you’re welcome.
Where else to read my writing today:
Profy: Review of MX Play
Tags: Fall TV Schedule
Aug 262007
This is where the internet discovers that I watch entirely too much television. How do I manage to watch so much TV, write and still read so many books? Multitasking. I am easily distracted and find I can focus better when doing more than one thing at a time. That means it is not uncommon to see me, laptop in tow, watching a show, with a book next to me in case I decide to put the laptop down. I know I’m weird, but hey, it works for me.
Anyway, I thought I’d do the DVR list early for Fall, instead of putting it off until the shows were almost over like I did for the Summer DVR lineup. I actually have scheduling conflicts this year, something that hasn’t happened since I got the DVR in the first place. I also got some sad news – one of my favorite shows, The Dresden Files, has been “put on hold” or “canceled”, depending which sources you believe. Of course, I think Dresden Files is technically a “mid-season” show on Sci-Fi and not a “Fall” show, but still. Very sad.
I’ll just go day by day. I haven’t decided how the scheduling conflicts are going to play out yet, either. I am such a television junkie that I actually, for one brief moment, considered buying a second TV. So I could get a second DVR/Dish combo. So I could record more shows. But that would be totally KRAZEE, right? Right?? Right.
Sundays:
Sunday is currently full of shows that are already on DVR Season Pass status.
8 PM ABC Extreme Home Makeover – Ty Pennington (sex-ay), sobbing homeowners, fabulous remodels, the amazement of watching a house get built that quickly – what’s not to love? There has been some debate over whether or not the houses actually get built in a week. I’m guessing because of the tight filming schedule it is a week or pretty fucking close to it, and I can tell you, living with a very good contractor? That. Is Amazing.
9 PM SHO Dexter – Why are you not watching Dexter yet? If you missed last season, rent the DVD and catch up quick! This show is based on a series of books about a serial killer who only kills serial killers, and who’s day job is working in the crime lab for the police. Stars Michael C Hall of Six Feet Under fame.
9 PM LIFE State of Mind – Another Six Feet Under alum, Lily Taylor, plays a psychologist in practice with several other psychologists, a psychiatrist, a dysfunctional office manager who hates people and a lawyer. I like this one a lot, except for the stupid dream sequence in the opening credits of the show.
10 PM LIFE Side Order Of Life – 90210 alum Jason Priestley’s new show, I was leery about it when it first began two weeks ago, but it has now sucked me in somehow. Thus, it stays on the DVR. A good compromise show for couples, kind of like a light date movie with not much substance. I don’t know why they switched it from 9 PM to 10 PM, as there is not a lot of questionable content, but… whatever.
Mondays:
Mondays have surprised me by being the day when I have possible scheduling conflicts. That is so weird. I remember when Mondays were the worst night in television, and now that dubious honor falls to Saturday.
Already on DVR Season Pass status:
9 PM NBC Heroes – Duh. Are you kidding me? Of course I watch Heroes. Why don’t you? I cant wait to see how it turns out and who the new “evil” one is.
9 PM CBS Two and A Half Men – We weren’t expecting to like this one last year, but we both do. Besides, I’d always wondered what happened to Jon Cryer… his career that is. It seems there is life after Duckie.
9:30 PM CBS Rules Of Engagement - David Spade is still playing David Spade… and it is still funny. This time he plays “that friend”, the single one all married and engaged guys have that gets them in trouble.
10 PM TNT Saving Grace – Still watching it until it ends sometime in mid-Fall. Still not sure how it hooked me, but hook me it did, as I mentioned here.
Here’s where the scheduling conflict may come in, with the show I want to add to the Monday night DVR lineup:
9:30 PM ABC Samantha Who – Christina Applegate’s new vehicle about a horrible person who gets a do-over in life. I like her, but I already know I like the David Spade show, and I’m already recording Heroes. You can only record two at a time, so this poses a problem. Heroes stays, that’s a gimme. I’ll have to run it by the honey, but I’m guessing he’ll want to keep Spade’s show in this spot, as he doesn’t have many male centered shows right now.
8:30 PM CBS The Big Bang Theory – Bringing back Rosanne’s Johnny Galeki in this comedy about two super smart geeks fumbling with life, Big Bang Theory has promise. Since I don’t have anything on at 8:30 yet, this one gets added to the line up.
Tuesdays:
Two shows already on DVR Season Pass are:
8 PM FOX Bones - The small screen adaptation of the Dr. Temperance Brennan mystery book series by author Kathy Reichs has both of us hooked, much like House. I’ve heard complaints about the main character acting wooden, but the character is written that way. Her inability to relate to other people is key to the plot. If the show unfolds like the books have, you will get to see her transform as she learns more and more about human emotion. Plus, you get disgusting, gross, bloated, gassy, bloody, very dead bodies, murder, mystery and forensic anthropology – what more do you want?
9 PM FOX House, MD – Hugh Laurie plays genius, asshole, addict doctor Gregory House in truly yummy fashion. This season is causing me a great deal of angst already, as the writers are messing with the formula. The formula makes me happy. Previous messing with the formula (the Trigger plot, the Stacey plot, the Vogler plot) has not been good at all. Hopefully, the team will return somehow, and fast, because I am not looking forward to the story arcs without them. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised, but more likely… not
New to my Tuesday line up:
9 PM CW Reaper - Trying to throw more sci-fi in there (honey loves all sci fi, and I like some sci fi – though generally I like fantasy and magic sci fi, not robot sci fi). A show about a 21 year old “grim reaper” who has to be a soul bounty hunter (it’s hard to explain), this show will either fail miserably or be amazing. Either way we will be able to tell by episode two if it stays on the DVR or not.
Wednesdays:
8 PM FOX Back To You - This new Kelsey Grammar / Patricia Heaton vehicle about two newscasters who hate each other but have to anchor the same show should be funny. The two actors are comedic geniuses. If they can shake their typecasting from Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond, we should have a show to watch for years to come.
8:30 FOX ‘Til Death – This show stars another Everybody Loves Raymond alum, Brad Garrett, and is a funny take on what happens when a jaded married couple going on 20 plus years together is suddenly faced with shiny, happy newlywed neighbors next door. This is on Season Pass from last year.
9 PM FOX Kitchen Nightmares – Super chef and asshole hottie from across the pond Gordon Ramsey, of Hell’s Kitchen and BBC TV fame, back in your kitchen and even more in your face. What’s not to love? This guy is the House, MD of the restaurant world, but with more cussing.
9 PM NBC Bionic Woman – I was such a huge fan of the 70s version of this show that I’m giving this one a try. I’ve heard it is an entirely new and much more edgy take on the original premise, so I’m looking forward to it. Plus, 20 odd years later you know it will have better special effects.
10 PM ABC Dirty Sexy Money – new show with Peter Krause of Six Feet Under fame.
Thursdays:
8 PM NBC My Name Is Earl – This funny Jason Lee drama is back on my DVR for another season.
9 PM CBS CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – The only CSI in the franchise that we watch, thanks to characters like Grissolm, we both love this show. It is a standing Season Pass holder, and we both can’t wait to see what happens to Sara in the season opener.
9 PM CW Supernatural – Another sci fi themed show we’re trying. We missed the first season last year for some reason, so now we’ll have to catch up to the plot. The jury is out on whether it will stay on DVR or not.
10 PM Big Shots – last minute add because it has Christopher Titus. We’ll see how it goes.
With two 9 PM shows, there is no room at 9:30 for Scrubs. Hmmm. I just noticed that. Oh well.
Fridays:
8 PM SCIFI Dr Who – This one is on there solely for honey. I do not watch this show at all. I didn’t watch it as a kid in its original form either. I am not sure why, but this telephone booth riding space doc just never grabbed me. Maybe it is because they change actors playing the doctor more often than Spinal Tap changes drummers, making it hard to invest in the character. I dunno. It was on DVR for honey last year and got booted from DVR. Not because I don’t love honey, but because SciFi channel couldn’t make up its mind when it wanted to show it. So head’s up, SciFi channel – if you change the day and time like you did last year, it’s coming off the DVR again. We’re too tightly scheduled in this television watching house for that kind of horseshit.
8 PM Fox The Next Great American Band – A reality show about the next mediocre band to hit the airwaves? Sign me up. After all, I need at least one or two reality contest trainwrecks in the lineup 
9 PM ABC Women’s Murder Club – Another television show based on mystery books, this one is taken from James Patterson’s female detective series. Half CSI, half sisterhood, this one should be a fun watch.
9 PM CBS Moonlight - Vampires, private detectives, crime and romance, what’s not to love? I hope this show will be as good as it sounds.
Saturdays:
Saturdays has become a television graveyard. We spend many Saturdays watching some of the shows from the rest of the week, or watching movies from Blockbuster (Yes, somehow, in the middle of the TV, the writing, the social life, the reading… we find time to watch movies too. We rule.).
9 PM BBC Torchwood – We heard good things about this series, so we are trying it out. It supposedly has extraterrestrials monsters, crime solving, science fiction and paranoia. Cool.
Hope you enjoyed the concrete proof that I am a television junkie. That should be enough television to tide me over until Lost and American Idol return in January/February. I hope.
Where I got the fall schedule from: Futon Critic
Aug 152007
I’ve been meaning to write a whole post about what’s on my DVR this Summer for months. When I was watching the semi finals of some shows and the finale of some this week I realized I better get cracking – I’m late. So, better late than never, incontrovertible proof that I watch far too much television:
Reality Shows
Hell’s Kitchen (has ended): Who doesn’t love asshole chef Gordon Ramsey? If the recent finale of Hell’s Kitchen left you wanting more, don’t worry – he has a new show coming up in the Fall we can record, Kitchen Nightmares. And by the way, aren’t you glad Rock won out over that whiney nanny??
On The Lot: It’s Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher – you know what I mean), the ever obnoxious Gary Marshall and a rotating “guest judge” giving aspiring directors a shot at a job with DreamWorks. The finale is next week, so you may have to wait for next summer to see it, but it is highly worth it. The film makers create two minute movies using assigned themes each week, the panel critiques, then the audience votes. My favorite, Zach, left last week, so now I’m rooting for Will. Honey is rooting for Jason. I can’t root for Jason – he wears that retarded hat all the time. It’s distracting.
So You Think You Can Dance: Last year my favorite, Benji, won. This year, his sister Lacey is in the competition and I am rooting for her – she is excellent. The finale is tonight I believe. (I record it and won’t see it until later in the week, so don’t tell me who wins!) The reason this is on my DVR and Dancing With The Stars is not is because this show showcases real talent, real dancers and real choreographers and just means more.
Top Chef: I enjoy watching this show because of the chefs. They seem more “real” than the ones on Hell’s Kitchen (Seriously, still wondering how the whiny nanny with no cooking experience got on Hell’s Kitchen this year, folks.) and you get to see a lot more actual cooking, which appeals to the foodie in me.
Dramas
Saving Grace: I tried this one out because of Holly Hunter. I love Holly Hunter, she is a fantastic actress. I almost bailed after the first episode because of the overtly religious undertone of the show. My first thought was “On man, not another preachy 7th Heaven – Touched By an Angel crapfest.” In the end I came back and gave it a second chance and now it is on my DVR. It has a great ensemble cast, and once I started watching I found the religious nature of the show balanced by the struggle to accept the religious nature as true. Also as evidenced by the most recent episode, it is not afraid to fairly portray religious people as occasionally bat shit crazy and not right in the head, or to portray that even the most evil can find good. It’s interesting. So what brought me back for more viewing and helped me get hooked? The theme song, an original by Everlast.
John From Cincinnati: this show also has religious undertones. I think. Maybe. Ah, hell, who knows, this show is somehow both addictive and confusing as all get out. It has a phenomenal ensemble cast, including Rosanna Arquette, Luke Perry and Ed O’Neill (of Al Bundy fame), surfers, lawyers, crazy gay guys that see dead people, a harelip, vietnam vets, stoners, floating grandpas – it’s weird. “I don’t know Butchie, instead”
Side Order of Life: Jason Priestly also has his own show this year (must be a comeback year for the 90210 kids). I am not sure how I got suckered into this one. If I had to say whether Luke Perry’s or Jason Priestly’s show was better, I’d go with Perry. This is a nice show, and recording it helps fill the gaps on the nights when there is nothing else on. About a photo journalist who can’t seem to figure out what she wants in life, her ex (Priestly), her friend with cancer and her boss, it is a safe bet for a compromise watch or a gap filler.
State of Mind: Starring Lily Taylor of Six Feet Under fame (I miss that show so much), State of Mind follows the psychologists, psychiatrists and lawyer in a connecticut practice as they display their own neuroses while treating their patients. It’s pretty good so far, though I could do without the dream analysis at the beginning of each show.
Rescue Me: Denis Leary. ‘Nuff said. No, seriously, we’ve watched this show about New York firemen from the beginning and it is truly a stellar show. It has had a long run, with no sign of plot weakness, so hopefully it will continue to rock my DVR into next Summer. The most shaky story line so far has been this year’s baby plot, and for a show that’s been on this long to have only had one shaky story line that’s saying a lot.
Weeds: How are you not watching Weeds?? It is kind of an intermediate show, starting now and lasting partially through the Fall season. It has Mary-Louise Parker. It has Kevin Nealon. It has pot. It has wit. It has small town politics. It has rival gangs. Shoot, the whole show is based on the premise that a widowed mom in need of cash would grow the best hydro in town and take over the territory – how can you lose? In it’s third season, it looks like it is here to stay for a while.
Californication: David Duchovny is finally back on screen with the new series Californication. He plays a one hit wonder author named Hank Moody. I actually haven’t watched the pilot episode from Sunday yet, so Ill come back and change this when I do. This is another intermediate show falling between the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall.
Comedies
I don’t have any new comedies on DVR this Summer. To fill the gap I am recording ‘Til Death reruns, but that will stop once Fall rolls around. Why aren’t there many good sitcoms anymore? Is the market for lightness and humor just dead?
Booted From The DVR List
Don’t Forget The Lyrics: The new Wayne Brady show featuring karaoke singers vying for a million dollars got on the DVR list because I think Wayne Brady is hysterical. It came off the DVR list because he just couldn’t be hysterical enough to make up for the bad singers, and the good voices were too few and far between. It’s one thing to listen to an American Idol bad audition for 30 seconds,, and entirely different to have to listen to one for 30 minutes. Yikes. I’d recommend skipping this one unless you have ears of steel
Damages: This show had great promise with an all star cast featuring Glen Close. I couldn’t stand it. At all. Not only was it convoluted (and not in the good Lost and Heroes kind of way), it was annoying. It’s off the list.
These Would Totally Be On DVR List If The Network Could Figure Out to Mark Them As New Once In A While
Ice Road Truckers, Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters, Deadliest Catch, The Daily Show, Colbert Report, What Not To Wear. What do they have in common? Because the network they are on hasn’t figured out that only ONE show per week should be marked as “new” and the rest as “repeat” or “rerun”, we can’t DVR them. When you try to DVR “new episodes” or a “season pass” of these, you get a full DVR with 19 copies of the same shows, same episodes. And good luck if they run a marathon, in which ALL the episodes should be marked as old – you get 72 hours of the same show, and another full DVR.
The theme from Saving Grace by Everlast:
Tags: Everlast, summer television, tivo, dvr, saving grace, holly hunter, weeds, david duchovny
Technorati Tags: Everlast, summer television, tivo, dvr, saving grace, holly hunter, weeds, david duchovny
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