The Week Ending 11/11

I think I have pretty much settled into it now. Monday has Chuck and Journeyman; a light dramedy spy thing (did you notice that the frat in the one where he went back to Stanford was Lambda Delta Psi or LDS? Mormons anyone?), and a sci-fi time travel fixsomebody's problem every week. Tuesday is House. Wednesday is Pushing Daisies, another dramedy about solving "crimes" with an element of the supernatural. Thursdays are the staples, The Office, Earl, Grey's, and ER. The Office and Earl are the better of these, the others are sliding. Grey's to the point where I might give it the old heave ho, ER to the point where I might wish I could. Friday has Moonlight, another crime solving-PI thing with suprenatural overtones. Sunday is The Simpies. The Tivo picks up Cane, which I catch up on periodically, Women's Murder Club which I am trying to motivate myself to give it that second chance I said I would give it, and some reality stuff, Last One Standing, The Amazing Race, and Dirty Jobs. I think I may try adding 30 Days to this. I miss The Daily Show, though I had not watched it in a while before the strike. And Project Runway starts today. I look forward to that. So, if anything perks the interest, or when turnover starts happening, I'll check back in. Until then, steady onward.

The Week Ending 11/4

This week included some Halloween Episodes, particularly the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror. It was OK. Not great, but not terrible. It ended in a creepy way, with Ned, post Devil-diddly-doodly saying he hoped he had gotten his point across. It was weird in a lame way. Oh well. Chuck was back into it's old decentness. There was another spy-guy who escaped fromthe CIA and was trying to blow up stuff. Chuck tracked him down and got him not to. We also got some more relationship development between Chuck and Morgan, which was decent. Er brought us Abbie getting in trouble, perhaps suggesting her falling into alcoholism. We also see Pratt taking leadership roles and Moretti teasing Pratt, showing maybe he isn't a jerk. And, maybe we add a new character, I liked her, though I don't think she will be around long. A decent episode. Neela's intern is occasionally funny. Grey's Anatomy, I like the two guy doctors resuming their friendship, though I don't like the new lady. Maybe I associate her too much with her role on The West Wing, but I don't like her. I am still waiting for this to get a little more energy. Yawn. House was good. The patient this week could not find his own identity, but instead took on the identity of whoever was in the room with him. A novel, if ridiculous concept. If in fact, three of these interns stick, I hope it's Kumar, 13, and the black Mormon. I wonder if any of them will stay... Journeyman was interesting. The brothers seem to be getting their relationship back on line, I hope that continues. That story was paralleled as our hero went back to save two brothers, though the "bad" one is not the one who needed it. We saw that changing stuff in the past makes things in the future change, suggesting the possibility that that vehicle will be used more often. We also saw one of the brothers completely convinced that our hero was a time trveler, then, in the present deciding time travel was impossible. That seemed a bit lame to me. I like Moonlight, again. The reporter got a taste of what being a vampire was like and we hear the "downside" essentially adding up to loneliness. I suspect that by the time the show ends the two will be together. I like it anyway. My Name Is Earl was not great this week. It involved another episode of COPS and there are other things they do that I like more. Oh well, any show can have an off week. Pushing Daisies was good. This episode centered round Kristen Chenowith's character and I occasionally have trouble distancing her from Ainsley Hayes, which is troubling. But, Chi McBride is funny every week and I like the narrator. I was also glad to see that the main guy can't eat his own pies, as the fruit involved dies when he touches it. Glad to see that consistency. The Office was very good. Jim and Dwight and Michael in their mustaches was very funny. I wonder if Karen will be back for long or only an episode. The Finer Things Club is very funny, Oscar's gay remark was also good. And, I'm glad Jim was lame in the club. It felt like an easy opportunity to trend sappy and I'm glad they didn't. I shouldn't have expected anything else, I suppose. The week seems to be draggin on. I guess I am falling into a bit of a tv rut. As one is wont to do, I suppose.

The Week Ending 10/28

Well, I finally gave Women's Murder Club a try. It was OK, but pretty hokey. I think I will give it one more shot. I like Angie Harmon. I like James Patterson. But the shape of the show was not one that I enjoyed and the story was kinda lame. It also started in media res regarding the characters. I prefer a little more background. So, I guess we'll see what happens. The Cane I watched this week was goodish, though it tends to list toward evening soap. I am gonna have a hard time leaving Jimmy Smits, though. I also enjoy Rita Moreno and Hector Elizondo. This episode involved Smits giving some fake information to his brother who then took it to the rival sugar gang, who then made a bad deal based on it. That followed up with the obligatory discussion about loyalties and so on. A long story line, I suspect this show won't make it to the end of it. But, I'm hanging on. Chuck hit another speed bump this week. It has to walk a fine line to keep from just being lame. One thing I liked this week, though was the portrait of his relationship with his sister. I like images of positive brother/sister relationships. Hopefully it will get back on track soon. Damages wrapped up well. Patty showed her true nasty nature by agreeing to a nondisclosure settlement with Frobisher, who was then shot by the mole he had cut loose. Patty then gave the tape of damning evidence to the DA so he could get reelected. But, she then gets double crossed as Ellen agrees to go back to work for her while spying on her for the Feds, who were working with her mentor guy. I hope they bring this one back. I would like to see where it goes. ER was good. There were some funny bits with Morris being approached by lots of attractive women. We see Abbie thinking about getting back on the wagon. I was worried about this story line, but they avoided the drunken bits that I feared. At least so far. John Stamos is back in the ER as opposed to ICU his trip there appeared to do him some good. Stanley Tucci is also back from a conference. I like his character, but I suspect he will be killed off or something like that soon. I feel like he is too big a name to stick long, a la Alan Alda. Grey's Anatomy seems to be falling into a bit of a rut. But, it's not like I am going to quit watching it in the middle of a season. House was good. He fired the old guy, whom I liked, but Foreman came back, and that's good. I wonder how he will be brought back into the fold. Journeyman made a bit of a departure this week. He went back and found a guy who was a legendary missing person. He had to help him save another family, which was normal, but, instead of turning him into a story, he let the story go. I guess it is an obvious move for a "good guy" but I don't think we had firmly established that this guy was one like that. IF they continue to suggest that he might do something for his own gain and he doesn't, it may get old, but the first time, it was good. Moonlight is now trying to deal with the after effects of the reporter letting the vampire eat her blood for a bit. There was a kiss. It has been coming for a while and the only question now is when the DA boyfriend will get the shaft and when he will turn the reporter into a vampire. Interesting questions, but obvious. As I mentioned here some time ago, I am not sure how long the back drop of campire stories will remain interesting enough to carry the show, but for now, it is kind of fun. The main guy is good, the rest, so-so. My nMae is Earl was good. I think we may have added another long-time character for Earl to pursue in the person of Alyssa Milano. We'll see how that progresses. Randy as prison guard has been funny. I am suprised at how well they have dealt with a change in the show's location from the world to prison. I suspect he will get out soon, but the scene change has been impressive. I hope it is not indicative of running out of ideas. Pushing Daisies continues to be good and funny. The Office, bak in it's 30 minute slot was still very funny. This week sees Jim being nice to Michael again. Which is always cool. Be nice to the lame boss every now and then because they need it. Andy's retelling of Angela calling out D while they were "necking" was funny. Dwight is out of his funk. The World Series is finally over. I look forward to the return of The Simpies.

The Week Ending 10/20

I watched a couple of Cane's this week. My Tivo failed me on the pilot, but I was able to find it on Youtube. I like it. I think I will stick with it. I'm a little nervous about the evening soap opera possibilities. I don't want to watch Dynasty, but right now, Jimmy Smits is good enough to keep me. He is the adopted son of Hector Elizondo's Rum magnate and is given control of the family business ahead of the two blood sons. He is not the typical wholesome Smits though, with some dangerous happenings in both of the episodes I watched. I liked him angry. We'll see where it goes and if it can hold me. Chuck was less than stellar this week. There was a bad girl spy from out of town who came in and the vibe she brought with her was not a good one. I hope it does no continue in that direction. As Lisa later put it, it was the Charlie's Angels direction and I am not interested in that. Damages was good again. Funny that last week I forgot that Frobisher's lawyer killed himself at the end of the episode. I guess he won't be back after all. We also saw that the good guy friend of Ellen looks like he may turn out to be a bad guy. And, we are starting to see a lot of space developing between Ellen and Patty. I will miss Danson if the season comes back for a second episode, but I could imagine another big nameish kind of person taking the role of the object of a big case each year. I am excited to watch the season finale and see if they tie everything up suitably. If Carter was originally the focus of the show, I think it's clear that Abby is becoming the focus of the show now. Last week she was giving everybody love, this week, her son gets hurt and she needs love from everybody else. It looks like she may fall off the wagon, which is not really a story line I am intereted in pursuing, but oh well. Morris is showing out as a metrosexual and a new gay guy was hired to man the desk. Also we saw a bit of Greg's gay brother getting some grief, but he seemed to handle it well enough. (So did Greg in my opinion, I think they did a good job with it.) Following in the footsteps of Carrie and her child issues, I think this show is at least willing to look at sexuality issues in a meaningful way without reorting to cariacatures. So, that's good. Grey's was good. I like Callie being forgiving. It sort of brings George up short for not telling her the actual truth, which is that he wants out of the relationship. I hope Callie catches a break somewhere along the line. I liked the issue with the chief's niece. I think that was handled well, identifying the difference in roles between the uncle and the doctor. Journeyman took an interesting turn, delving into the how and why of his traveling a bit. He somehow found out something about tachyons, which seemed out of the blue. Then he talks to a professor who calls him in the past. Also weird. I am interested to see where that goes. The episode also brings into question if it is ok to break the law in the past, which, apparently, it is. It also allows Dan to drop some evidence on the scene of a crime to change what's going on. I wonder if we are heading to an ends justify the means kind of thing... In Moonlight, we finally get to see some effects of sun exposure, though I wonder why he doesn't carry a balaclava around with him. If shade works, why not clothing? Also he had to bite the reporter. Early stages of her deciding she wants to be turned into a vampire and live with him forever. We'll see where that goes. My Name is Earl was hit and miss this week. It had each main character telling a creative writing story. Unfortunately, each story was right in line with the character, so I did not really enjoy any of them, except Crab Man's ode to vegetarianism, which was very funny. I liked the idea behind it, though, that some people do not need to escape from their normal life, they want to escape to it. Pushing Daisies rose a bit of a flag this week. There were vehicles that were powered by daisies and of course all of the people involved in it were bad guys. I wonder if they are slamming environmentalists. I hope not, because I have laughed out loud during every episode of this that I have watched. Mostly due to Chi McBride, but there have been other moments as well. I like it. I wonder if Kristen Chenowith will end up with the new guy that is trying to court her. That might be good. I have to confess I am interested in baking a pie with cheese in the crust, just to see what it tastes like. Still like the show. The Office was good again. Michael was dealing with money issues and walked into the Office to "declare" Bankruptcy. Very funny. The signing of the cast was also funny. This week marks the end of the hour long episodes, to my chagrin. We finally see Jan in a somewhat easy light. She managed to be there for Michael when he needed it. I like Darrell putting Kelly in her place also. I hope they have more moments. No House, no Simpies. I also missed Laughlin and did not get it tivoed. So, it goes off the list. Brad had to run a lot in the Last Man Standing. It was not his best event. I felt for him struggling through. He finally had to quit and he took it really hard, which was a shame. I liked seeing a picture of his daughter, which I had not seen in a while. I bet she is huge now.

The Week Ending 10/13

Sorry I'm late, it's been a busy week.
And it has been a good week in TV viewing land for me. I added two saved shows to the repertoire, Pushing Daisies and Moonlight. And they were good. This week, I look to check out Life, at the request of MJRB. We'll see how that goes. As for this week in tv...
The Simpsons are always solid. I am going to start including Sunday in the previous week, because I usually do this Monday and it is just easier. Consequently, I have seen two Simpies this week, both of which were good. In the first, we had Maggie being weaned off her need for Marge's love and affection, resulting in an independent Maggie and a needy Marge. An interesting commentary on parenting, though I am not sure if it reaches a conclusion. We had a funny bit of inept parents on the computer... not sure how realistic that is... We also had Homer becoming a tow truck operator, ending up making a comment about overenforcing laws. Does it make sense? For those of us who might have exceeded the speed limit from time to time, maybe not. The next one had Steve Buscemi as a bank robber who turns Marge into his mother. Some funny bits, though nothing too memorable. Chuck was good again. There was a funny bit where Captain Awesome (sister's husband) teaches Chuck the tango. He later attempts to use what he learned only to discover that he only knows the girl's part. More funny gender bending from Chuck. (His partner was a notorious crook of some variety, despite numerous attempts to convince us that the nefarious looking man was the crook. She gladly led.) I still find it engaging. Journeyman went back to the earthquake World Series game and discovered that he could not successfully do things outside the scope of his mission, failing to alert the public about the impending disaster but successfully rescuing the single fellow he was after. The dynamic between he and his ex-girlfriend and he and his wife is a bit sketchy for me still. Will he end up with one or the other? OR not... Not a story line I am neccesarily fond of. I still like the main actor, though. I think he does well. Damages this week was good, though we see Patty looking like she is about to hire Frobisher's lawyer. He, meanwhile, is getting questioned by his own firm, where he is going to be shadowed by a partner on the case. I think this show is making some moves to hang on to some of the characters that have proven popular while resolving this case. I also think we see that Patty is surprised that Ellen is blamed for the murder, suggesting that she was not culpable, though that has seemed like what we have been leading up to. I am quite interested to see the upcoming season finale...
House was good this week. It involved a case that they did not solve quickly enough. The culpable intern, one I like, was concerned that she would be fired but House kept her, suggesting that she would never make the same mistake again, as it resulted in death. Foreman got fired from his job in New York. I would like to see him come back. Maybe dueling diagnosticians??? I caught up with Pushing Daisies this week and I like it a lot. If you haven't seen the previews, the main character can touch things and bring them back to life for a minute before he touches them again to send them back to death. If he doesn't, something else dies. I like the characters in the show. It also has a Lemony-Snicket's-style narrarator. It is cool and quirky. Chi McBride is one of the stars and he is very funny. He plays a PI who also knits. Think, a closeted Rosie Grier. Lots of little jokes and quips, dry humor kinds of things. I like this show a lot and hope it catches on.
Thursday was solid as usual. Michael Rappaport guested on Earl. He did a solid job as a former friend of both Earl and Joy. This one saw a lot of connections being made between the characters. This was not particularly surprising as it is a small town they live in and, I like it. I wonder if Rappaport will stick around... The Office was good, as always. Meredith and her cast, Andy and his trio/quartet by phone. Angela and Dwight. And the kidnapping. Office gold, as always, though I missed Jan. Grey's was OK. I like the sister. I like that they seem to be coming to some sort of resolution. I like Miranda and Callie teaming up (why was Miranda being sucha loser about it before?). I wonder what will happen with Callie and George. I like the idea of the woman telling her friends the truth and them coming back and giving her the business as well, but I thought it was a bit hokey to be drumming up all that hysteria about losing her tongue. She could still write, email, etc. It was not like she was dying, or losing all ability to communicate. I thought that was a bit lame. As for ER, it was ok. I certainly felt like we were about to hear that Morris's girlfriend was dead, but it was his Dad, whom we never knew. I felt like that was a bit of a setup, but who cares. This episode saw a lot of Abbie patting people on the back, giving the empathetic contact. I don't like Sarah, either (Stamos's daughter?). We'll see how that goes.
I watched three episodes of Moonlight and I like it. It is probably on the level of the hokey XFiles episodes. The main character is a Vampire Private Eye. I like him. He has been keeping a close eye on a girl his ex-wife, who turned him into a vampire, kidnapped to give them a family. He killed his wife and saved the girl from being turned into a vampire herself. The girl then grew up and became a reporter, who is now about the same age as him and they are becoming friends. In this most recent episode, she finds out he is a vampire. This is not a great show, but I am enjoying it, despite the main girl's distracting resemblence to Rachel Weisz. (For some reason, Chuck's sister's resemblence to Lucy Lawless is not as distracting, nor is Chuck CIA girlfriend's resemblence to movie Marsha Brady/girl from Dodgeball I think?) I like the secondary character of friend vampire, who is 400 years old and is not shackled by the scruples of the PI. I suspect the stories will fade quickly or become supremely repetitive, but right now, it's fun. I guess that's about it. Brad performed well on Last One Standing. He thumped some dude in Zulu stick fighting. I don't get why he didn't get to fight again, but, there you go.

The Week Ending 10/6

I feel like this was a good week for TV in my house. It began with The Simpsons, which I always enjoy. We had Homer becoming a lying down opera singer, we got a guest voicing by Placido Domingo. All good. We had another episode of Chuck, including the CIA woman getting a job at the Winer house next to the place Chuck works. We also saw Chuck using his computer skills to disarm a bomb. (Actually he managed to give the bomb an internet virus that had been wreaking havoc with his own computer.) Again, the point is not to be intellectually ground breaking, but the tone fits the show, which I like. Damages sits waiting on my Tivo. As do the last two weeks of Cane. And the last two weeks of Moonlight. ER was good this week, though not particularly noteworthy. I don't like Neela much, nor do I like John Stamos and it felt like their stories were front and center. Yawn. I watched the premiere of Last One Standing and loved it. If any of you choose to check it out, root for Brad. He is a former student of Dad's and a friend of mine. And, he looks good in this episode, despite having chili and salt rubbed into his recently aquired wounds. What fun. By the way, this is not a Fear-Factor-style tough show, it is a bout figuring out how to compete in indigenous tribal games. I think I would like it even if I did not know a contestant. As for Grey's Anatomy, I don't like the moves George is making. I think he needs to be up front with Callie. I also don't like the moves she is making, preferring not to know. I think Diahann Carrol does her part well. I suspect she, like her son are now gone for good. House was fun this week. I cared less about the case than about the dismissing of the doctor folk. One girl is particularly annoying and I hope she doesn't last. I wouldn't mind seeing the black Mormon stay, or the guy who plays Kumar. Journeyman was good this week again. This time the person he saves then knows him in the present, which might make for some interesting moments later on. My Name is Earl was very gay friendly this week, and very funny. Pushing Daisies is still waiting on me. The Office was good, with everyone finding out a bout Jim and Pam. We also see Ryan being a complete loser. In fact, with Michael, it's like dueling losers. Creed provided a good laugh. But, then again, this show is pretty reliably laugh out loud funny.

Reviewing The Week of 9/24

Wow, what week. Lots of stuff premiered. So much, in fact, I was not able to watch it all during the week, and I still have not gotten to Cane, though I am very interested in it. Oh well.
The Simpsons started Sunday and they were right back on the road. The open included a couple of references to the movie, including an appearance of Spider Pig. It was good. Lionel Richie made an appearance. There was a riff on greed being bad. It was a good episode. Just like I like.
Monday saw the beginning of Chuck, the second chance for K-Ville, and the beginning of Journeyman on my calendar. I liked Chuck a lot. I thought the tone was very good. It was kinda light, spy-stuff but not afraid to poke fun at itself. At some point, I was reminded of Ed, which I really liked in the beginning. I think the main guy is funny, though his friend is a bit off. Too dorky, maybe. The NSA guy is appropriate (he was also on Daylight, which got cancelled, Adam Baldwin). The CIA girl is appropriately cliche in the Jennifer Garner on Alias way. And, like I said, the tone is right on. It's not farce, but it's funny. This will stick for my Tivo season.
K-Ville, on theother hand, bid farewell this week. This episode was a lot better, in my opinion, but I felt like they were trying to go dark and didn't earn it. It felt a little bit like The Chief. I liked the idea of the show, I liked Craig T. Nelson, but it always felt a bit hokey. I like Cole Hauser, I like cop shows, but this one just couldn't find the right tone. Oh well.
Journeyman was another good one. It presents a mystery that will go on for a while, it reminds me of Quantum Leap, and I like the lead actor. When we saw Reed Diamond, I was a little worried because he looks a lot like the main character, but then it turns out they are brothers, so that was OK. I like Moon Bloodgood, though it is a bit odd that the last show I saw her in also dealt with weird time things (Daylight). Maybe this one will last longer. I hope so.
Tuesday gave us Cane, which I have not seen yet, Damages, and House. I really like House a lot and I still do, even without Omar Epps. I think Hugh Laurie is especially good, particularly when you realize what he really sounds like. I think his antihero is particularly enjoyable because it often seems to be a bit of an act and he's a softy underneath. I like Robert Sean Leonard and his character is good. I also like Cutty. This show introduced the premise for the first part of the season, that House is going to choose among a gazillion people to hire for his staff. I think it will be good. I'm excited.
Damages was good this week again. Glenn Close got a moment to seriously fall apart and I thought she did it well. Not a lot of Ted Danson survives in my memory until now, but I feel like I can imagine how the next season of this show could still have Rose Byrne in it, which I initially thought would be impossible. This is another winner for my Tivoing.
Wednesday got nothing.
Thursday was a good one, seeing the start of The Office, My Name is Earl, ER, and Grey's Anatomy. I love The Office. I am excited to see the tension with Dwight and Angela. I like Jim and Pam together. Nipple chaffing was very funny. And, of course, Steve Carrell is great. I liked him no less this week.
My Name is Earl was good. Earl is in jail and one of the people in jail was Russell Crowe's #2 from 3:0 to Yuma. He was very funny. And, this show saw too little Eddie Peeples and Jamie Lee Pressley, but it set the bit for the first part of the season with Earl in jail. And, I enjoyed it. I think it is funny that Earl moralizes more than most other TV shows, but I am generally cool with the morals he espouses. I think Jason Lee is good.
ER is an old friend that pretty much can't do anything unforgiveable. This episode was not great, but it was fine. It filled the typical spot. I think we are setting up for the show to revolve around Abby. I like Stanley Tucci's character. I am also warming up to Morris. They keep checking in.
Grey's Anatomy was back for another season. I thik I will miss Isaiah Washington, though I won't miss supporting his homophobia by watching a show he is getting paid for. I like Meredith's little sister. I think she will be a good character. I wonder if she will replace Ellen Pompeo at some point. I hope Derek and his old friend get back to being friends. I think that would be a good relationship. I hate Karev's hair. I hope Callie stays on the show, I like her character, though I am a bit worried now that George and Izzy are doing their thing again.
Friday offered up Numb3rs, and I decided to cut it loose. I never thought it was a great show, but I liked David Krumholz and I liked the possibility of hearing some mathematical jargon with which I was familiar. Now, though, it just seems a bit lame. The math connections are being stretched, the tone is shifting to trying to be too badass, it just doesn't work. I don't care about it anymore, so I am cutting it loose.
I still intend to watch Moonlight, but I haven't seen it yet.

The Week before 9/23

So this week saw the premiere of K-Ville and Back to You. I watched K-Ville and I thought it was OK. There were bits and pieces I liked, and there were bits and pieces I did not like. I like Cole Hauser. He made a comment about the location of bullet holes that felt a little like Encyclopedia Brown. I think the twist at the end about his origins was a bit hokey. I think Anthony Anderson had his good moments, he did not make me feel like he was supposed to be doing a comedy. I did not like his character dumping the guy in the lake at the beginning. That felt a little torture-dark, especially when that word got thrown on it later. The old partner still having his radio also required some stretching of my disbelief suspension, though I probably liked that character the most. Lyndsae commented about the potentila negative effects of putting a crime show in New Oreleans and wondered about how that might affect the image of the people there and from there, suggesting it was a little different than doing it in New York or LA. I was not aware of that dynamic, myself. I guess all in all I did not love it, but I felt like it warranted one more viewing. If it doesn't get me this week, it will be gone.
Back to You was OK. I like Patricia Heaton and I liked her here. I do no particularly like Kelsey Grammar unless I can't actually see him (Sideshow Bob). I do not particularly like any of the bit characters either. I would not be annoyed if this were on and I was in the room, but I will not choose to watch it again. I'm just not much of a sitcom guy.
Saving Grace also had its season finale. It was not a huge deal, but I thought it ended well. Grace finally came clean about something that had happened to her that was relevant to the case they were working on and Earl lauded her for it. I think the "theology" here may turn out to be a twelve-step variety, rather than the Touched By An Angel Christianity I feared. I liked this show. I won't miss it, but I look forward to getting back to it.
Damages was good again. It is proving to be a fairly solid show. This week we saw Ellen's parents, which would be Andy Sipowicz's first wife and Greg Medavoy. I enjoy seeing old NYPD Blue people. I feel like Ellen is sliding from her good girl persona as she convinces her dad to try to jack around a woman he hit with his car. And, it turns out bad for him anyway, which at least is good from my moral sense. This show is dark, but fun for me.
Dirty Jobs was a compilation of crew favorite bits. I had seen most of them, but they are almost as good in rerun as they are the first time.
I think that was about all of note this week, though there was a Flight of the Conchords marathon that aallowed me to catch the first couple of shows I had missed. I think it got better, but the first ones were also good.

The Week of 9/16

A bit of irony that in last week's reviews I forgot about Damages. I have been enjoying that one this summer. Lyndsae has said that she feels like the "mystery" is developing too slowly, but I like it. I am interested in finding out how the characters got from point A to point B. I think Ted Danson has been really good. I think Glenn Close is OK, but not great. The other characters are passable. perhaps Zeljko Ivanek is decent. I feel like Close will be back for a second season, but Danson will not. This season has sort of been telling the story of his case. It is a dark show, but I like it.
The Closer wound itself up this week. The ending was in line with what we had seen all season. Fritz and Brenda had a fight that seemed a bit ridiculous to me. I couldn't find myself buying his anger, and I didn't think her emotions were caused by him. But, it all fell in line with my expectations of the series, which are not exceptionally high. I'll enjoy waiting for it as the new season approaches.
Saving Grace was good. It finishes next week (I believe). I would enjoy seeing some spares killed off from the office, maybe the Native American/Mexican? buddy, maybe the lou again. Other than that, this week saw a really unbeleivable attitude by Grace's sister, being unreallistically overpretective of their grandfather, who, also unrealistically was killed by falling off a horse. A bit lame. But, they needed a device and they got one.
Still no Dirty Jobs. I am not happy. I did watch a little of Blue World, though. It was cool. I learned that though the average winter temperature in Antarctica is -100, the water below the ice never goes below 28. I also saw footage of a seal keeping the ice hole through which he is able to get to teh surface to breathe clear using his front teeth as a kind of grinder. I also some really crazy creature lights in the depths of the ocean. An interesting show to be sure.
This week should see some premieres. We'll see if they're any good...

The week of 9/9

Well, this week saw me return from Japan and have not a whole lot of serial tv to catch up on. There were a couple of episodes of The Closer and Saving Grace, and the Season Finale of Flight of the Conchords. I liked Flight of the Conchords, though as there was less singing, I liked it a bit less than some of the others, though the mad dancing scenes were funny and did remind us of the ridiculousness of Footloose. I really liked Flight of the Conchords all season. I think it is awkward-funny and I enjoy the silly songs. Among my favorites were Mermaids, If That's What You're Into, and the What the Uck rap. But there were lots of good ones. I hope to catch the first two or three episodes in rerun when I can.
As for The Closer, I think it is not a well-written show. But, I like the charcters and I have become involved with them, so I still watch. Almost every show involves Brenda getting a confession from somebody in the interrogation room. I am reminded of the intensity of the scenes when Andre Braugher would do the same thing as Pembleton on Homicide; Life on the Streets and can only conclude that Brenda has none of the same fire or intensity. Kinda like Murder She Wrote in comparison. But, as I said, I like the characters, so I stick around. The Season Finale is (was) September 10th. This week left me with the To Be Continued tag, which, when you have lots of shows that have plot lines drawn out over several weeks seems a bit goofy. Every episode could say that.
Saving Grace has proven to be better than I expected. I like Holly Hunter, and so thought to give this show a chance, but I feared dogmatism and God in your face ism. But, I got neither. It seems fairly ecumenical in its religiousity, and I'm ok with that. The supporting cast leaves a lot to be desired, but I will be back for another season if there is one.

A New Blog begins

OK, here I am going to attempt to keep track and perspective on the serialized tv that I watch. Truth be told, I watch a lot of tv, but the vast majority of it is sports related, be it Boxing, Football, Basketball, soccer, etc. That stuff will be covered elsewhere or not at all. Here, I hope to put in a word or so about my weekly tv watching. I also will attempt to have a place for dates of season premieres, season finales, etc. Am I a bit of a tool for having a tv blog? Perhaps, but, then I guess my audience already knows that I am a bit of a tv head, and a bit of a tool so what difference does it make, right? Maybe by choosing to keep trak of it, I will be able to admit to myself that some of the crap I watch is just that and maybe go pick up a book instead. I guess we'll see.
By the way, "Regular Shows" with an asterisk are shows I intend to give a shot when they start in the upcoming season.