I Just Read About That…

Fall 2013 brought in a whole slew of new shows that we wanted to check out.  And while we dropped some after an episode, we still have a few that are lingering on the DVR which we are never really all that excited to watch them.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that a couple of shows that we thought were sure goners are still around.  And of course, there’s always those shows that we never watched and when we see an ad for it we say, “that’s still on?”

So last time, I did a tally of networks.  Let’s see who wins this time:
NBC: 4  FOX: 6   CBS: 3  Comedy Central: 1  FX: 1  ABC: 3  Lifetime: 1 SyFy: 1  

SUNDAY
The Simpsons (FOX)
This season has been very sharp again.  The death of Marcia Wallace is very sad, we will miss Ms. Krabappel.

Bob’s Burgers (FOX)
Bob’s Burgers gets better and better.  There is more absurdity in each episode and yet it is still spot on funny.  Be sure to watch the opening credits for the name of the store to the right of Bob’s store and the name of the exterminators (both change each week).

MONDAY
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
HIMYM is ending this season.  Last season wasn’t great, but this season has proven to be really really strong.  I wasn’t sure how they would pull off an entire season set in one weekend, but it has been really enjoyable (and extra funny).  I’m a little bummed that Marshall has been on his own all season so far, but the rhyming episode was a lot of fun–perfect for Siegel.

Sleepy Hollow (FOX)
I thought the premise of this was pretty wonderful from the start.  I really enjoyed the first three episodes which were weird and spacey and over the top and funny.  Then the show got a little mired down in logistics (the fact that the intro/explanation has become about 90 seconds long says how convoluted it has gotten already).  And then I worried it was going to be all about fighting the Headless Horseman over and over.  But they seem to have planned for more stuff, so I’m still intrigued.

TUESDAY
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)
I had mixed expectations for this because while I like Andy Samberg, I didn’t want to watch a vehicle for him.  But the show has done a great job of using his strengths (and actually downplaying his zaniness) and really highlighting the strengths of the rest of the cast.  Terry Crews and Andre Braugher are just outstanding.  And I like Melissa Fumero and Joe Lo Truglio.  I’m less keen on Detective Rosa Diaz and Administrator Gina Linetti as they’re a bit too cliched.  But otherwise the show is really funny, and I look forward to it a lot.

New Girl (FOX)
New Girl is still the show I look forward to most.  Although I feel like the show’s polish has lost its shine a bit.  The reintroduction of Coach is fun, but I fear that Winston (who has slowly become my favorite character) is getting lost in the shuffle now.

The Mindy Project (FOX)
I loved seeing Ders (from Workaholics) on the show.  But for the most part, the opening pre-credit sequence is really funny, yet the show itself falls flat.  And truth be told once the credit music starts I have to turn it off–what a ghastly theme song.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
I wanted to like this show so much!  It had the stamp of Whedon; I’ve really enjoyed the Marvel movies; it brought back Clark Gregg!  But this show has proven to be what happens when the super heroes aren’t around.  It’s everything you ever wanted to know about the bureaucracy of the super hero world.  I grew tired of the infiltrator plot long before it concluded.  And while I love FitzSimmons (and think that is very clever) and Clark Gregg rules and I really like Ming-Na Wen–who does that pissed off leather jacket wearing female character more subtly than Detective Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn 99, I find the show really slow and often dull.  The post-Thor episode had some more action but, ugh, I need some flash.

WEDNESDAY
Modern Family (ABC)
This season has been pretty funny.  But I fear it is nowhere near its peak.

Key & Peele (Comedy Central)
Absolutely nothing on TV makes me laugh as hard as Key & Peele.  Their parodies are spot on, their original jokes are hilarious.  Everything they do is, simply, great.

Super Fun Night (ABC)
Super Fun Night should be amazing.  But instead it is okay.  Rebel Wilson is usually hilarious, but why did she pick to do so many fat jokes? She’s better than that.  And frankly, why did she do an American accent (it’s quite good, actually, but I’d much rather hear her original voice–can she at least play an Australian on some episode?).  And the whole romance angle of the coworkers is just…blah.  But for me the stars of the show are Liza Lapiri as Helen-Alice (absolutely fantastic) and outstanding Canadian comedian Lauren Ash (as the weirdly Jodie Foster-looking, strangely butch and always funny Marika).  These two are my favorite supporting cast on TV.

Face Off (SyFy)
I was leery of this season, bringing back old artists (did we need allstars already?), but it was a great season.  All reality game shows should be like this–no backstabbing (what, people even HELP each other?), very little offstage drama, just people working hard to make something awesome.  (Project Runway, watch this show to see how a reality competition is done well).

THURSDAY
Big Bang Theory (CBS)
This show is consistently funny–having a huge cast certainly helps, and I’m thrilled that Raj is talking now (I hope he’s getting more money).  But seriously, WHY DO THESE PEOPLE WEAR SO MANY LAYERS?  IS IT FREEZING IN CALIFORNIA??

Parks and Recreation (NBC)
We missed the England episodes (stupid DVR) so I have no idea where Andy is.  And of course we often wonder why everyone in Pawnee is so stupid.  And I’m very curious about what they have in store now that Leslie is ousted.

Elementary (CBS)
I’ve become a huge fan of this show this season.  I did enjoy it last season, but after watching the season finale at the beginning of this season, I feel like the show has just gotten better.  They must have a bigger budget as they’re outside more as well.  Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu are both outstanding.

Parenthood (NBC)
We’re a few episodes behind here, and I rather hate the running for mayor plot, but I still think this is a very solid show.

Grimm (NBC)
Such a good show.  Stays solid every week, and even if the “mythology” is confusing as all hell, and I’ve more or less forgotten about the whole baby plot, I really like this show a lot. I’m really happy that they’ve kept Monroe and Rosalie happy together–it’s nice to have a stable relationship of two super nice characters,

Project Runway/All Stars (Lifetime)
This season was pretty poor.  The All Stars season is always kind of dumb, but Alyssa Milano adds a new layer of stupidity.  Nice to see Jeffrey again though.

Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell (FXX)
FX started a new network (FXX) for reasons I’m unclear about.  And Kamau was given five nights a week, rather than once a week.  He does a great job.  And his supporting folks are even funnier.  He has replaced Jon Stewart as my evening “news” guy.  And the next time he and his crew go on a stand up tour, I want to be there.

Archer (FX)
Starts again in January!  EEEEEEEEEEE!

Still hanging out on the DVR:

The Michael J. Fox Show (NBC)
There are moments of very funny things on this show, but it is SO sitcom-y.  The last episode we watched was one of those where the behavior of the characters only ever happens on sitcoms.  And that’s a shame.  I assume if they didn’t have to pick up a full season (as part of the contract) that it would have been cancelled already.  But it’s still on the DVR and we may watch it a few more times.

The Goldbergs (ABC)
This is one of those shows that sits on the DVR waiting for us.  I like the show.  But that’s it.  The mom bugs me for some reason and yes, it’s pretty cliche riddled.  I think I’d watch it if there was nothing else on, but there’ always something else on.

The Crazy Ones (CBS)
This show is trying so hard for us to like it.  So very hard.  I love Hamish Linklater and I’m happy to see Sarah Michele Gellar try her hand at comedy (even if she is the straight woman), but this show is just never as funny as they think it is.  But we haven’t cancelled the season pass yet.

We gave it a try:

Dads (FOX)
This was predicted to be the first cancelled show.  We watched one episode only because we like Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi. But holy cow what a bad show.

Mom
This show is just too “shocking” to be funny.  It’s the Two Broke Girls formula with little substance (poor Alison Janney).

The Millers
I wanted to like this.  I did.  The cast is great!  Will Arnett, Jayma Mays and the awesome Nelson Franklin.  But the adhesiveness of the mother and father just make it impossible to watch.  I was shocked this got picked up for a full season.

Sean Saves the World 
The only reason I watched this was for Echo Kellum, who was awesome on Ben & Kate.  He’s slightly different here, less oddly funny.  But even if he had a lot more screen time, he couldn’t save this turd.

Bunheads (ABC FAMILY) CANCELLED
Poor Amy Sherman Palladino.  This show was great.  What on earth does ABC Family have that’s better?

Ben and Kate (FOX) CANCELLED
I mentioned this last year, but they aired some reruns and I realized just how much I liked this show.

Go On (NBC) CANCELLED
I didn’t love this show, but it was solid and consistently funny.  Pity.