In addition to reading, Sarah and I watch TV, too. In the past, I posted occasional updates to a Tab devoted to TV. But I’m going to put new information in individual posts instead. So I’m starting with this season’s TV.
Of course, in the last couple of years, TV has changed from working on an easy to summarize Spring/Fall schedule to having shows appear almost at random. This really undermines the very idea of a “season,” so I’m including a show or two from the end of 2009 as well.
One surprising thing about recent TV is how I watch almost nothing on the CW or Fox. These were my mainstays as recent as two years ago, but they’ve totally dropped the ball lately. And I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying shows on CBS (isn’t that the old people’s network?).
And so, for 2010:
Glee
I really like about 1/2 of this show. I absolutely can’t stand the adults. The whole fake pregnancy was one of the worst plot lines I’ve had to sit through in a long time (and yes I had to sit through it to watch the parts of the show I liked). In fact, the whole extended family of the Glee Club teacher is just dreadful. [I understand that the show defies reality but you can’t have a woman (his wife) with no experience be the school nurse and then have her give out drugs to the students and have NO repercussions.] If they could have his wife and her sister die in a flaming car crash, that would be fine. The teen plots on the other hand are rather good (if you are completely willing to suspend all disbelief and accept that reality doesn’t exist, which I can do within the confines of teen life in high school–jocks on the glee club?!). As for the songs, well, I don’t think I knew more than 1 or 2 for the whole season, and there’s no way I’m buying one of the soundtracks, but I can appreciate the choreography. Oh, and yes, Jane Lynch is the best thing on the show hands down.
Modern Family
One of the two best new shows of the year. The whole cast is solid. And I love that they can maneuver back and forth to have the main plot line focus on different family members. I have laughed at an awful lot of lines from this show. And it just keeps getting better and better. Moon landing, heh heh.
How I Met Your Mother
Still very strong. I believe we are supposed to meet Your Mother this season, which I assume means that this is the last season. And if it is, it will have ended on a very high note. Of course if it isn’t the last season, then we’re in for even more laughs.
The Big Bang Theory
We had stopped watching this show during season 1. During Season 2 we tried it again and found it to be much better. Then we watched the Season 1 DVD and laughed and laugh and weren’t sure why we stopped watching it in the first place. This season is just as strong as the rest and the characters are really falling into place. (Although I really hate Shedlon’s catchy phrase “Bazinga.” I don’t know why but it really bugs me.) The entire cast is great, and I love that Penny isn’t “smart” but she’s not a ditz either.
Chuck
I gave season one of this to Sarah for Christmas and we got totally hooked back into Chuck. So much so that it is the show I tend to look forward to most each week. Although I have to admit that I’m not 100% with this new Chuck 2.0 yet. I’m not sure that I like his new “I’m a spy, damnit” attitude. It seems to have happened too fast. But I’m on board, and willing to let them show me what they have in store. Adam Baldwin, by the way is one of the best things on TV. Although I greatly miss Anna!
Life Unexpected
Watched the pilot, sort of liked it. Haven’t watched the first proper episode yet (although the preview makes it seem to soap opera-y for me). It’s been compared to the beloved Gilmore Girls and I absolutely did not see that in the pilot, but I’ll give it a chance.
Better Off Ted
This is absolutely the funniest thing on TV (and I’m sure it will get canceled any day now–and no thank you Lost for preempting Ted for the foreseeable future). It is incredibly clever, with one-liners flying all over the place. The cast works great together, Portia di Rossi is phenomenal and Alison Anders is probably my favorite actress on TV these days. The deadpan delivery of everyone is phenomenal, and who doesn’t love Glasses and Mustache down in the lab (actually, Glasses and Moustache are the same person. Damn).
Scrubs
This new Scrubs is really not very good. Let me count the ways. Why does the tough guy student talk in ex-act-ly–the–same–man-ner as Dr Cox? Exactly! Why is James Franco’s brother so grotesque looking? Why is the blonde (new J.D character) so insecure (J.D. was never insecure except around Dr Cox, and we liked hanging out with him, she on the other hand needs a kick in the pants). Why is the mean blonde lady a doctor? Wasn’t she a student last year? But most importantly, what happened to Turk’s family? He has only mentioned Carla once in 6 or 7 episodes. WTF? And just where is J.D. supposed to have gone to? Did they even address it? So why do I watch? Because Turk is frikkin hilarious and the show does have moments of inspired lunacy. It really should have ended last year though, and I hope the it ends this year.
New Adventures of Old Christine
Matthew is one of the few really eccentric characters on TV that I enjoy. Usually when characters are written to be hilariously weird, I just find them too unbelievable to be funny (I’m looking at you Kenneth on 30 Rock). And the rest of the cast is really solid too. I can do with out the Richie scenes, and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of new Christine (the title doesn’t make much sense otherwise), but it’s still really quite funny. In fact I think I may have laughed more this season than in previous ones. Although, let’s get this right out there: she isn’t fat. At all. Stop making jokes about her being fat. She isn’t. Even remotely. Lazy? Sure. Drunk? Sure. Kinda dumb? Sure. But Fat? No.
Community
I enjoyed this show from the start, but since the show has come back for the winter it has really hit its stride. They’re no longer focusing on the phony romance interest between Jeff and Britta, which wasn’t believable or interesting. Rather, they have an excellent supporting cast and they’re all being put to great use. This has been a really pleasant surprise. And Community is definitely one of our must-watch shows.
The Office
I feel like it’s been off for so long that it’s practically off the air. But the wedding shows were great, a delightful conclusion to Jim and Pam’s romance. I have to wonder where they will be going with the show in the future. The whole being bought out thing defies common sense, but the cast is still top notch.
30 Rock
I’ve always been lukewarm on this show. And, in no way should it have won the Emmy for best comedy in any of the years it won (The Office has always been funnier). But this year it has refined itself enough to have really hit on a good formula (and of course Alec Baldwin is fantastic). It might even deserve the Emmy this year actually.
Sit Down Shut Up
This show was on in the fall and I have no idea if it’s coming back or if it’s been canceled or what. It’s the newest Fox sitcom that will likely get canceled after a season. This show holds up surprisingly well under repeating views (there are so many jokes that you miss about 1/4 of them the first time through). I wanted this show to be awesome because so many of the Arrested Development cast is involved here. And it’s mostly very good. I think the last few episodes have really shown off the writing chops.
Project Runway
The last “season” blew. This one is promising now that it’s back in NY.
The Simpsons
The 3D Special “on ice” was very enjoyable. And it had the best joke: “I think the Internet message boards used to be a lot funnier 10 years ago and I’ve sort of stopped reading their new posts.” Every episode we watch (and I admit we don’t always watch the new ones) is still damned funny.
Some other shows that we’re watching (that aren’t new)
The Inbetweeners
This show just came out on BBC America and it is hilarious. It is rude and vulgar and a delightful look at horny teen boys. But BBC America, you have to stop bleeping every word!
Late Late Show
Craig Ferguson is hilarious. You can watch just for the monologues, but his guest interviews are wonderfully surreal and unlike any other interviews on TV. Although I miss his cheeky monkey jokes and the sound effects board (bring ’em back Craig!)
The John Dore Show
A surreal and hilarious Canadian show.
The Whitest Kids U’Know
Yes another skit comedy troupe. These guys are pretty hit or miss, but when they get one right, it is fantastic.
and of course:
The Daily Show & Colbert we pop in from time to time. As well as Robot Chicken. And they never disappoint.
And we’re looking forward to:
Parenthood
Now that Lauren Graham has signed on, I’m there!
I’m sure there’s other things that I’ve left out, but that’s all that’s on the TiVo at the moment. We’ll see if anything new peeks its head up.
Oh and a couple of interesting music shows that I have recently found include:
Later with Jools Holland
Embedded
Austin City Limits
It’s also just starting to really sink in that Reaper has been canceled. It wasn’t the best show around, but it was always enjoyable. Seeing Sock in a new (not very good looking) sitcom just seals it for me. Sigh.
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