TV Roundup

Now that the TV season is starting to wrap up, I thought it would be fun to jot down my thoughts on the season as I have a few times in the past. As in those instances, let’s walk it through on a day-by-day basis.

SUNDAY

For the majority of this year, Sunday has been home to the second half of the third season (got that?) of Battlestar Galactica. I had to be persuaded by about ten different people to try this show out, but overall the series is absolutely one of my favorites. This season spent too much time talking about my least favorite part of the show – the “relationship” between Apollo, Dualla, Starbuck and Anders. I don’t mind a little of this, but it’s not even remotely as interesting as whatever the fuck is going on with the Cylons. When the Cylon Basestars finally appeared in one of the last episodes of the year, I think I actually shouted out loud.

God, I’m a loser.

In any event, the show is still good though this season didn’t quite compare to those of the past. Still, 2008 is a long time to wait for Season 4, though apparently some type of mini-series will air in the fall, but one out of sequence and not relevant to the serious cliffhanger this season ended with.

The Amazing Race: All-Stars has been completely enjoyable, despite the cast being far from the best players of the game in prior years. Count me as someone who wishes Rob and Amber had stayed on even longer; they were entirely amusing, and not just because every other racer becomes obsessed by them. I’m rooting for either Danny & Oswald or, surprisingly, the Beauty Queens. I didn’t much care for them in their season but not only do they seem more normal this go-round, but the other two options are decidedly unpalatable. Eric and Danielle (I had to look her name up) are just boring, and mean, in their own ways. They barely tolerate each other and deal with this by making banal but mean-spirited remarks about every racer, including each other. But they are nowhere near as awful as Mirna and Charla. Charla is pretty annoying but also admirable for the way she dives so whole-heartedly into competitions where she’s at a serious disadvantage. Her attitude and sense of entitlement makes her far less likeable, however, and Mirna (her cousin) couldn’t be more obnoxious. If it’s not speaking in broken English to foreigners – repeatedly – it’s the fact that she plays rude and brazenly and is then genuinely shocked when anyone does the same to her.

Typical of most reality show contestants I end up hating, Mirna has absolutely no sense of how she comes across, and it’s possible she’ll watch this whole season and think nothing of it. We really should start making an All-Star list of Most Loathable Reality Stars, as she’d definitely be playing as a starter.

Also watching Desperate Housewives, occasionally, with Abby – it was always something I could tolerate, but it seems somewhat boring thus far this year. It’s a well made show, but definitely not something I really care all that much about. On the other hand, this is a seriously good picture of Marcia Cross.

As of last weekend, The Sopranos and Entourage are back. Both were fun episodes, and I'm hoping the Sopranos wraps things up well. I'm genuinely happy that I know that things will be resolved this year and not, as in every year before, something I'll have to wait years upon end for. And while Entourage was just okay, every episode contains some good laughs -- and it's hard to have a problem with Carla Gugino getting more work.

MONDAY

It feels like Heroes has been on hiatus the entire year, though it’s only been about six weeks. I don’t care that it’s written cheesily – once you accept the comic book tone, I have to admit I love this show. It will be really interesting to see, if what I hear is true, what happens next season with mostly all new characters. I can’t imagine that Hiro and Peter and The Cheerleader could all disappear. There will have to be some continuity, but regardless of next year, the final few episodes of this season are things I’m definitely looking forward to.

On the other hand, I feel pretty strongly that this season of 24 is easily the worst ever. Sure, everyone points to the mountain lion in Season 2, but nothing for me is worse than the two episode stretch of Rain Man Andy Richter, Gredenko cutting his arm off and some of the worst acting by Rick Schroeder the series has ever seen. (Seriously, saying “I’m still looking for answers. You’ve found yours” to Nadia was just phoned in.) I have faith that this show will turn around, but I’m nervous. It doesn’t help that the actor playing Wayne Palmer is, frankly speaking, pretty piss poor. I never buy him, pretty much ever.

We’ve also spent time watching a few failed series -- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and its successor, The Black Donnellys are both probably gone for good. I still have to say, I don’t get why they’d end either of these shows without finishing a year makes any sense. They weren’t terrible shows but apparently got terrible ratings. But they were both well made, and involving people who know what they are doing. Sure, they both could have been one season and out – but why pull the plug so fast? There’s a reason studios do this – I’m sure they think they’ll get more ratings with re-runs or new smaller shows that cost less to make, but … anyhow.

TUESDAY

Not much on these days. Abby watches Gilmore Girls and I do my very best to avoid it completely. I don’t understand it, and frankly am probably annoying enough about it that I make it less fun for Abby to watch. On the other hand, I love Veronica Mars which is another series that apparently is doomed to constantly being under threat of being cancelled. If you don’t watch the show, I don’t blame you – for some reason, the clever writing and genuinely interesting “mysteries” aren’t advertised well at all. The show constantly references films that almost everyone I know loves, and is written as well as anything on television. But nobody who doesn’t watch this knows or believes it. Anyhow, I like it enough that I’m sure it will be cancelled soon.

WEDNESDAY

If Tuesday is a bit sparse in programming, Wednesday is jam packed. We just finished watching Top Design which certainly wasn’t the most exciting show I’ve ever seen but certainly entertaining enough. It seemed pretty obvious that Matt was going to win, but I must say when you only sort of care if certain contestants DON’T win, the show is missing something.

Friday Night Lights just wrapped up its inaugural season, and man is that show fantastic. Though it just got given a measly six-show renewal, the finale was written in a way that would stand up if it had been a single season show or had more episodes later. I was actually a little disappointed when Dillon actually won the title game – seemed a bit too cheesy, until it sunk in how well they handled it. And that’s the thing about the entire show – every choice, pretty much, seems honest and correct. The acting and writing, and the overall tone of the show are all fantastic. I honestly can’t recommend it highly enough.

Lost has gotten way back on track, as the episodes before the break were just flat. With the exception of the dumbest episode ever (Jack and his tattoos), the rest this year have been generally quite good. Some actual answers have been provided (go figure!) and things are starting – just a little – to make a bit of sense. I’m in for the long haul.

America’s Next Top Model hasn’t been awful this year – I don’t much like many of the models, but surprisingly there has been a little less self-serving Tyra Banks this year (though obviously still quite a lot.)

THURSDAY

This season of Survivor was primarily a failed stupid experiment with the Haves and the Have Nots, though I think things are coming around. (I haven’t watched this week’s episode, though the previews made it look like the two tribes merge, which is a good thing.) The show has always been good and I’m hoping that the Immunity Idols actually come into play in a real way this season.

I never thought I’d say it, but The Office is probably at this point slightly better than the British version. (I know, I know.) But it’s consistently hilarious. Dwight Schrute rules!

My brother takes pleasure in hating Scrubs, which I don’t really get. When the show doesn’t work, it’s pretty unfunny. But when it works, it’s genuinely funny. I’ve watched this more in reruns than on Thursday nights, but it’s still good.

Finally, Abby got me hooked on CSI, and it’s been really good this year. I am pretty intrigued about the whole “miniature” cases, and overall I’m enjoying the show. I have zero interest in watching any of the other shows (Miami, NY) but this one is solid.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

Pretty much nothing – or, to be more accurate, watching some of the stuff recorded from the prior days. And whenever they're officially on, this is when we also tend to see things like Ace of Cakes, Good Eats, America's Test Kitchen, Mythbusters and No Reservations. We've also enjoyed the hell out of Planet Earth which probably merits its own post. And the first episode of Deadliest Catch wasn't half bad either.

So yes, we watch a lot of TV, but by and large, it’s good TV. There is a lot of godawful stuff on the tube these days, but there’s also plenty of good things to watch.