New Year, New Posts

Ok, I have sorely neglected this poor blog. But I have been watching lots of television, well at least until the writers strike started to really hit home. Perhaps as a writer, I should pay more attention to the why's and what's happening with the strike. But as I currently don't write for television or movies or anything along those lines I just sit back and wish them the best in their goals and hope against hope they will get this settled and get back to work soon. The strike has currently hit me with the lack of a new season for "24" and the looming reruns in the near future. But the new year will bring some new and returning shows that have yet to entertain us this season.



Top on my list is Wednesday's 2 hour "Law & Order" with new characters. I am looking forward to enjoying all that Jeremy Sisto has to offer as Detective Lupo. Not only have I enjoyed his acting talent over the years, but he is verra nice to look upon.

We have some mid-season offering to check out as well. I'll keep you updated on what I try and what I drop.

The two shows that began the new season that I decided were not for me, "Cane" and "Pushing Daisies". The first just didn't do it for me. When I don't look forward to watching a show and wish it were over so I can move on to the next, its time to drop it. And the latter, well, have you watched it?? I found the first episode odd to say the least, but gave it another week anyway. After that I knew no matter how well liked or reviewed this one is, "Pushing Daisies" is just not my cup of tea.

Some of my favorites have surprised me, "Chuck" for one. It is not my usual drama joy, but the acting and story lines keep me coming back. And "Moonlight" I knew would be one I'd watch if for nothing else but the vampire aspect has surprised me with how much I truly love this show. It's got to be the hopeless romantic in me that is drawn to Mick and Beth's story. I do want to see them get together, but as will most story lines like this once that happens will the passion be over? Will the excitement continue? I will enjoy it as long as they can drag it out and hope that they keep this one for a long time.

Well, look for a more weekly posting here in 2008.

New Offerings

Well so far I have no complaints about the new shows the networks have given us. I do have a few favorites among the newbies. On NBC there's Life & Journeyman, FOX's K-Ville, the CW has Reaper and of course CBS has Moonlight. So far I will continue to watch everything I have sampled to date. I'm looking forward to checking out Women's Murder Club and Pushing Daisies.

The few shows I have to wonder whether or not they will make it. As entertaining as they were ABC's Dirty Sexy Money and Big Shots feel like a very guilty pleasure and not much substance. Time will tell.

The other shows I will stick with are ABC's Private Practice, CBS's Cane, and NBC's Chuck and Bionic Woman.

I managed to keep up with everything during the first week, but now here it is Tuesday and I haven't watched everything from Sunday yet. Of course with my new fancy DVD recorders I am able to have 2 DVD's for each day and they take up no space.

Great start for Sunday night

Since the CBS shows were running a bit late thanks to sports, eeww, I watched Cold Case live, but recorded Shark on one of my new DVD Recorders. I know I've fought this new technology, but I am getting the hang of it and so far liking it alot. But back to the shows... Cold Case was fantastic as usual perhaps even one of the best episodes I have seen since it began. Hubby even enjoyed that one and that is not one of the shows he regularly watches. Lily is back after being shot last season and she is carrying some baggage as expected. How will it effect her job? And what interesting cases will they solve this year?

I just finished watching Shark, it has moved from Thursday night last season to Sunday night. Another great show with another great case. Thank goodness they brought back Jeri Ryan's character even though she lost her job last year as the D.A. She and James Woods have a great chemistry together and this will surely be another great season.

"You're into voodoo now? You know you're white, right?"

That was just one of the cool lines from K-Ville, the new show from FOX that aired at 9 pm EST. I love cop shows, don't ask me why, I haven't a clue, but it is very hard for me not to enjoy them. This one is no exception and with Cole Hauser to look at, well I will not be complaining. I enjoy some eye candy now and then. And his voice is also nice to listen to. Back to the show... I like the fact that they film the show in the actual location, New Orleans. It is a reminder to the rest of us that Hurricane Katrina did a real number on that area of our country and the affect is still very much alive. The partnership between the two cops is a good combination, one has a clear goal, bring back the city he lived in and loves. The other was more mysterious until that WOW ending. I didn't see that one coming. The car chase scenes were shot in chunks of time, it was different, not sure how I feel about it yet. The storyline for the first episode was a good one, that kept you guessing until they wanted you to begin to put it all together. Besides the two main characters, the captain is a favorite of mine as well. He too had a cool line with, "There's more loose ends than a whorehouse". This is a keeper for my list let's see how long the network thinks so.

And They're Off...or On...

Well last night was my first viewing of the new television season. Prison Break on FOX at 8 pm EST was first up. This is the third season of this action packed show that I have enjoyed. But I do have to admit, I'm a little tired of prison life and Michael is now incarcerated in Sona prison, the worst of the worst criminals in Panama are dumped here never to be seen again. There was plenty of prison fighting, more than I cared to view. Is it a guy thing or what? Is this what the male demographic comes to see? I personally prefer a little more of a story, which by the end of the show is what I got. I love the suspense of the man behind the wall, Whistler, and look forward to learning more about his story. I am disappointed to know that Sara will not be seen. I was really hoping to see her and Michael get some kind of happiness together. Of course I will continue to watch if for no other reason than Dominic Purcell, that man is a joy to watch. I loved him in FOX's John Doe from years back. That was one of my many disappointments when they cancelled that show. It had a great suspense story, but that is another rant for another time.

New Territory

It has finally happened. I was forced to move away from what I am comfortable with and try out a new technology. One of my 3 VCR's died over the summer and I knew I would have to get another one before the new fall season begins. I knew we wouldn't have to invest much money as VCR's are becoming a thing of the past, but my DH (Dear Husband) loves the new technology and has been keeping his eye on all the latest offerings. Well he managed to find a DVD recorder for a mere $80, a deal even I could not pass up. We picked up a package of DVD+RW's and I had my third recording apparatus that I would need once the TV season was in full swing.

Once we arrived home it was the usual scene whenever DH gets a new gadget to play with. He managed to connect the new DVD recorder to the current equipment in the living room, television, cable box, VCR and stereo receiver. When he tried to show me how it would work, not only was I beyond the time of day when I could take in new information, I was in the throes of PMS. I vaguely watched as he put the TV on the auxiliary channel and turned on the receiver with the surround sound. Then I spoke.

"I want it to work like my VCR's, I don't want to have to have the surround sound on just to watch television." Don't get me wrong, SS is a great thing to have while watching a movie, but I don't need all that just to watch television. The one thing I will never own is one of those huge, takes up a whole wall, televisions with surround sound. I can't handle the loud, thundering, house shaking noise while watching an episode of CSI or Men in Trees.

The following hours consisted of just what I expected. DH, while trying to please me, managed to squeeze himself behind the small space he had made behind the heavy entertainment center and began the many attempts at connecting and reconnecting wires to try and make the DVD recorder so that I could watch regular television through it without the surround sound. Nothing was working. There were expletives flying around the room as he went from the space behind the equipment to the couch deep in thought. I tried to tell him never mind and just do it the way he did at first, but he was lost in his zone that no one could penetrate. After a few hours of that he sat down on the couch and looked at me and said, 'it's set up the way I had it the first time'. I just smiled and said okay. I will have to learn to adjust. There will come a day when my VHS tapes will go the way of records and cassettes and I will have no choice but to conform to the new DVD's. At least I can learn slowly with the new DVD recorder, as I still have 2 VCR's.

Getting Ready

It is that time of year where we television junkies get ready for the new fall season to begin. We have been teased and taunted by the brief snippets of new shows to debut. How many will live up to their hype? How many will last more than a few episodes?

Over the next few weeks I will be visiting the various networks websites to get as much information as possible on the new season. Now granted I will not be previewing every show out there, I am an hour long, drama/suspense TV viewer. No half hour comedies or reality show offerings.

Of course the beginning of the fall season brings the end of the summer offerings we have viewed on various cable and regular networks. I will be sorry to see some of them go, as they will not be back. But if every channel used the same schedule, I would need many more VCR’s to keep up.

Keep your eyes open for my thoughts on the new season and feel free to voice your own.

Summer Shows

Luckily the major networks don’t offer much in quality new shows over the summer, (I need time for warm weather outdoor activities) but the one I have been enjoying is Traveler on ABC, Wednesdays at 10 pm.

I tried watching Kyle XY, now that it is back on ABC Friday nights, but I’ve missed too much while it aired on ABC Family. I was unaware new episodes had continued on ABC Family, and am a bit disappointed because I did enjoy the show. Another irritation with the major networks, giving up on shows too quick or moving them without enough advertisement.

Fox is showing new episodes of their drama Standoff on Friday nights at 9 pm. This is a show I enjoyed when it first aired in the fall of 2006. Of course the pilot episode left much to be desired, luckily I give a show more of a chance than just the first episode.


Of course cable channels have a wealth of offerings in the off season of regular television.

TNT has The Closer, an awesome show, need I say more? (Don’t worry I will at a later time.) A new show Heartland, a medical show revolving around organ donation follows The Closer on Monday nights beginning at 9 pm.

USA has brought back The 4400 and The Dead Zone, both favorites of mine, and a new show Burn Notice. I haven’t watched Burn Notice yet, but I’m looking forward to it.

Last but certainly not least, the Sci-fi Channel always has a great collection of shows. Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis, have all ready aired their season, the first ended the series. I haven’t finished the shows yet, so I will have much to say later. I am also watching the new series, Painkiller Jane, I like the police procedural and this one has kept my interest with its enjoyable cast of characters and the science fiction element that has our good guys chasing not your run of the mill bad guys.

Ghost Hunters, not to be confused with Ghost Whisperer on CBS, is a great documentary on Sci-fi.

I will be discussing each of these shows in future posts as well as touching on some of the new offerings coming up in the fall.

Intro

I am an admitted TV junkie, which brings me to the reason for this blog. This is where I can express my opinions, frustrations and joys of the television world. I look forward to two issues of TV Guide, The Fall Preview and Returning Favorites. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t spend my life sitting in front of the television. TV is my guilty pleasure, my escape from reality. I record most all of the shows/movies I watch on TV. With the odd schedules and responsibilities it is impossible to sit down every night and watch uninterrupted, so I have two VCR’s, (I had three, but one died, need to get another before the new fall season starts) and I record my shows. The way I figure it I can watch more television that way since I get to fast forward through the commercials.

When do I watch? While I do my domestic duties and hobbies or late at night if I can’t sleep. Sometimes I get behind a week or so, don’t be surprised if I am not up to date with my thoughts and opinions.

What will you find here if you decide to read? I watch most hour long shows, some movies and the occasional obscure item. What won’t you find? No half hour comedies or reality shows. The comedies have their purpose and many enjoy them, but I have three greyhounds, a husband, and well our extended family could be a sitcom, (wasn’t that a reality show once?) regardless, my life has enough comedy.

As for reality shows, I used to watch a few, but then they all bled together. A mixture of chosen personalities thrown together to create conflict and act like adolescents, I don’t need that kind of mind numbing escape. I have a couple of childish adolescents masquerading as adults in my neighborhood, that’s enough reality for me, it occasionally adds to the comedy as well.

Regardless, you’ll get my personal opinions, my frustrations with the major networks and some insight to some great programming. Feel free to share your thoughts.