Monday, October 16, 2006

Fall TV Conclusions

I promise I am going to TRY not to talk about TV so much anymore. But I feel a need to offer my thoughts on all the shows I decided to watch/try this year, so here it is:

Monday

Prison Break
Not as suspenseful as last year. They fake us out a lot, enough that I'm delighted and annoyed whenever they do it. The characterization is breaking down, in that the characters are far less sympathetic than they were last season, and they're starting to do dumb things (Lincoln, you idiot, it's a TRAPPPPPPP!!!!!). But the hottie factor and the acting are still enough to keep me in.

Heroes
There isn't a single character on this show that is fully sympathetic to me. They either whine too much or are ugly people (inside, not out). My favorite is the younger brother who can fly, with Mohinder a close second, followed by Greg Grunberg, who I want to hug and cry, "Weiss!" every time I see him. Verdict's still out on this one.

The Class
It makes me laugh. I was pissed to see Richie is apparently married, to Darla of Roseanne, no less. If that's the case, I may not watch anymore. Some of the funnies are getting repetitive (with the Yonk Allen storyline and the neurotic reporter). But I love the snarky twin and Jason Ritter's getting a little rumpled and more interesting.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Still my favorite new show. Wonderful writing, great acting, excellent chemistry. It amazes me how gripped I am every week, and I can't wait to watch new episodes.

Tuesday

Eureka
Never a stellar show, it was nonetheless interesting, and I liked the up-ramping they had of the main romance in the alternate-timeline finale. Except SciFi had a timing issue and the show started about five minutes late, which meant I didn't get to see the very end. Pissed me off. I'll watch next summer--it's been renewed for a second season.

Veronica Mars
Recording this pending watching the first seasons on DVD, now that I'm done with Supernatural.

Wednesday

Lost
So far, least compelling season. First episode disappointed. Second was better. I'm very eager to see the third, which looks action-packed and full of funny.

The Nine
Not as good as I'd hoped, but I haven't shut it off yet. Not much else to say about it. Feels like they're going in circles already.

30 Rock
Totally unfunny. I deleted it from my Season Passes already. I loved Tina Fey on SNL, but the writing on this show was just DUMB. Tracy is on stage riffing on nothing and being lame and cliché, and Liz and Alec Baldwin are staring at each other like he's brilliant. It's just stupid all around.

Twenty Good Years
I want Lithgow to dial it down a notch, but it made me smile a few times. That was more than 30 Rock did, so I kept it. Doubt it will last long, unless it gets funnier, but I do love both actors.

Friday

Numb3rs
This is a nice, solid show that explores relationship dynamics well, while giving us really interesting cases every week. It's not at the top of my list, but it's a comfort viewing every weekend.

Thursday
I did this out of order on purpose. I now LIVE for Thursdays.

Six Degrees
Gone! Nothing good about it. Nothing horrible, but nothing good.

Ugly Betty
Extraneous stuff is stupidly caricature, but the relationship between Daniel and Betty, and the storylines that consistently prove that the superficial hurts a lot, but the substance is a lot more powerful, make it a good show.

Smallville
This show has never been great. The bad things are worse--Lana, Clark being dour, Lana, Lex simplifying, Lana--but Chloe rocks my socks, Jimmy is an adorable addition, I like the return of the Freak of the Week element that has an overarching connection, and Clark is just always someone worth watching. I like the Green Arrow storyline. This is my fun, mindless viewing.

Supernatural
Dean and Sam. Nuff said.

Also? Great writing and incredible chemistry. Best show on TV right now, if you can handle the horror-movie-every-week element.

Plus, there's Dean and Sam. And they don't even need to take their shirts off. :)

So, what are your thoughts on the fall season?

9 comments:

MJFredrick said...

I LURVE Supernatural! Too bad it's opposite Grey's, so I tape it every week.

I like The Nine a lot. The first night I liked it better than Lost.

I'm with you on wanting to call Greg "Weiss!" I like the son of the Professor X character, and the set-up is pretty intriguing.

My son LOVES Studio 60.

I like The Unit, PB, Bones and Standoff.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

Yeah, thank god for recording devices, right, Mary? LOL

I've heard good things about The Unit, Bones, and Standoff. Bones I never had an interest in because I'm so DONE with police procedurals. The only reason I watch Numb3rs is because of the math thing, and they aren't constantly trying to outdo each other with the gruesomeness of their crimes. The Unit is not my kind of show, and while Standoff looked okay and I love Gina Torres, the main couple was too cutesy-annoying-in-their-bickering in previews, so I didn't do it. Maybe I should have.

MJFredrick said...

I started watching Bones because Angel is in it, and I like it. I think it's the only procedural I watch. The Unit was recommended by Bob Mayer (not to me, personally) and since my last two heroes were Special Ops....And the neat thing about Standoff is that the normal conflicts you see in romances on TV are not dragged out. They're actually handled with maturity and the respect these characters have for each other.

BTW, you would LOVE Trish M's new ms! Supernatural and Buffy rolled together, with lots of Whedon references!

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

Yeah, Bob Mayer's endorsement of The Unit is significant because he doesn't like much. LOL And, of course, he WAS Special...Forces? I'm not sure if Green Beret was Forces or Ops and I'm scared to get it wrong. :(

BTW, you would LOVE Trish M's new ms! Supernatural and Buffy rolled together, with lots of Whedon references!

Oh, you are such a TEASE! It sounds awesome! I want it!

Is that her YA she just wrote so fast?

Karmela said...

You know how much I *heart* Supernatural and I've already bought the Season 1 DVDs even though I've seen every single episode. I'm interested in picking up Veronica Mars because I've heard so many good things about it.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

Yes, I liked you even more when I saw that SPN had survived your TV cutting. :)

Given all the positive commentary on VM, I'm sure we'll both get hooked on that, too.

Anonymous said...

Natalie,

I've only continued to watch Heroes of all the new tv series.

I tried watching 6 Degrees.did not like it so I stopped watching after the first episode.

I watched "The Nine" liked the first episode but I forget to watch after Lost,I usually re-watch it to see if I missed something so I forget that the other show is on.

I tend to only watch one show a day especially in the month of September and October(Major baseball fan and my team was in the playoff,so I was not paying much attention until yesterday that my Mets were eliminated from post-season)

on Monday I watch Antique Roadshow,Heroes and some thing else that will take my mind of thinkgs.

Tuesday: Gilmore Girls, and sometimes Law & Order SVU(only if the crime is not too gross or disturbing)

I watched Veronica Mars the first season and enjoyed it quite a bit. I loved 21 of 22 episodes, I hated the last episode of season 1 and was tempted to stop watching but I decided to try it again. I watched the first 10 episodes and was really not liking it anymore but what really turned me off the show was episode 11 that is when I stopped watching. don't get me wrong I love the character of Veronica Mars and the way she was written the 1 season but I did not like her at all in the second season. I'm also not a Logan fan he reminds so much of Sark from Alias.

Wednesday: Lost

Thursday: I'm trying to watch "The Office" most of my friends both in real life and in cyberspace just love this show, so I decided to try it. and Grey's Anatomy.

Friday: If I'm home I watch whatever catches my eye usually its "Close to Home" and I've seen a few episodes of Numbers.

Saturday: Sports, usually College Football and when its in season baseball.

Sunday: The Amazing Race,sometimes Cold Case and Without a Trace.

it kind of helps that Cold Case and Without a Trace film alot of their scenes around here so I usually watch to see if I recognize the area around here.

I heard that Studio 60 is going on Haitus and they are going to run Friday Night Lights for a few weeks in its time slot.

They are also having a Heroes marathon this coming Sunday they will air 3 of the first 4 episodes of the series, they won't air the pilot again.


Rose

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

Dammit, I posted a comment to Rose the other day and it disappeared. I hate when that happens.

I'm bummed to hear they're putting Studio 60 on haitus. I don't get why. Neither show is in the top 20. In fact, last week, only Ugly Betty and Shark were, of the new shows.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

Okay, now I REALLY don't get it.

Last week, Studio 60 had a 5.9/9, which was second in its time slot. Friday Night Lights had 3.6/6. So WHY are they dumping the higher-rated show???