Sunday, January 13, 2013

Let the Winter Season Begin!

When last we met, I was culling my new shows, enjoying my old shows, and lamenting breaks and Lexie's death. (Yes, I am still obsessing. This week's Grey's had a reference to McSteamy and Shonda killed yet another character, and the preview for next week's Grey's SHOWED LEXIE AND MARK'S FACES AGAIN.

So I thought I'd check in with where I am on my existing shows and start to talk about some of the shows coming up in the "winter season." (Don't get me started on "winter season." We used to have one TV season. It ran from September through May, and that was good enough for us. Now we have a winter season, a summer season and the early-mid-late-early fall season. Why can't we just have three seasons that run consecutive episodes with no breaks: September through December, January through May, June through August. I should be the head of a network.)

OK, I stopped watching:
  • 666 Park Avenue, which has since been canceled.
  • The New Normal
  • Arrow (although Vic still watches)
  • Beauty and the Beast (although Vic still watches)
I was still watching Emily Owens, M.D., and Last Resort. These have both been canceled. Last Resort's finale is 1/24. Not sure about EO.

I'm back on the Glee train--but I can't say for how long. The last couple of episodes were pretty good, but there are still issues.

Downton Abbey started last week. I'm rewatching the first two seasons before I get started. If you need something to tide you over, I suggest Downton Arby's: http://screen.yahoo.com/downton-arby-s-28723019.html

Fringe ends this week. I caught a glimpse of Fauxlivia in the preview for this week's episode, but there are a lot of things that have me worried. I'm ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT.

My summer shows are coming back (yes, even though they are no longer the exclusive purview of summer, I still call them my summer shows.
  • Suits (1/17)
  • White Collar (1/22)
  • Psych (2/27)
The new show I'm most looking forward to is The Following, starting on Fox on Jan. 21. I love Kevin Bacon, I love James Purefoy, and, yes, I watch shows about serial killers. Other new shows I'm interested in:
  • House of Cards, Netflix (2/1): I'm excited that Netflix is creating original programming--I mean, how else am I going to get new episodes of Arrested Development (premier date TBD)--but why can't I save this show to my Instant Queue before it starts airing?!?
  • Golden Boy, CBS (2/26): A cop show from Greg Berlanti starting Mr. Pamuk from Downton Abbey and the marvelous Chi McBride. I don't have high hopes for it, but I'll give it a try.
  • The Americans, FX (1/30): Keri Russell as a KGB agent who has infiltrated an American suburb in 1981? Count me in.
  • Monday Mornings, TNT (2/4): Another medical show? I know. But it has Apollo from the reboot of Battlestar Galactica (insert purring noise here) and a bunch of fantastic actors, so I kind of have to give it a try. Did I mention it has APOLLO???
  • Zero Hour, ABC (2/14): Hello Dr. Greene, welcome back to network television! Plus a show about conspiracy theories? Yes, yes, and yes.
  • I don't know much about the three shows--no premiere dates, too lazy to look up stars and plots and even the networks they're on--but just given what they're about, I'm curious.
    • Hannibal (about Hannibal Lecter)
    • Dracula (about ... if I have to say it, you're too stupid to be reading this blog, no offense)
    • Bates Motel (a Psycho prequel from Carlton Cuse, the guy who gave us LOST)
  • Family Tree, HBO: Something from Christopher Guest. That's a must watch.
Regarding a couple of other new shows: I tried 1600 Penn--no, and I recorded Deception and couldn't bring myself to watch it. I've seen previews for Do No Harm, and that doesn't interest me.

That's all the TV talk I have this week!

4 comments:

  1. Hi Patty. Long time listener, first time caller. I like your assesments of the upcoming season. I don't think we share a lot of shows, but I'm kind of a sports guy. However, with the football season coming to an end, I will take your advice and look up a few. ANYWAY.....just wanted to mention a couple of shows that, me being too cheap to ever order premium cable, I never had the chance to enjoy. But a frined turned me on to a couple that I would mention, and see what you had to say about them.

    ONE: Sparticus. I had absolutley no idea wha this was about (except gladiators, duh). So, I start watching. Here's my internal dialog: Whoa. Woahhhh. WHOAAAA!! (end of dialog) That's a lot of sex! I kind of expected the violence, but the sex? Cinemax meets Caligula meets Gladiator meets Melrose Place. Just a bounus! And, Proving that I am NOT homophobic, do not have a problem with a little something for the ladies in there (actually, a lot for the ladies). I just got throught the first season. I heard the lead passed away from Lymphoma, sadly, so it will be a different show next season. I thought it had good Roman-like intrigue and backstabbing. Just what you want in period authentic Roman era bitch-slapping.

    No 2: Entourage

    Not as high on this, but entertaining as much as it probably provides and insight into the seedy business and deal-making end of Hollywood. Since Mark Walberg is producing, I'm assuming it has some realsim. It seems like I might get tired of it after a couple of seasons (have just seen 2) but, maybe the writing will hold out.

    Anyways, Ill hang up and listen to your response.

    Lynn

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    Replies
    1. Hello, long-time listener, first-time caller! (Are you a Dr. Horrible fan? That's what I always think of when I hear that line!)

      So, yes, it sounds like you and I would not be good roommates, TV wise. But that's OK, because we can always bond over fishing. No. Football? Sort of. Hunting? No. Stitching, crochet and beading? No. Wordplay? Absolutely. Dogs? Definitely. See? We have tons in common. :-)

      So, in response to your specific shows, I am also too cheap to get premium channels, so I haven't watched the shows you mention, but being a maven of pop culture, I am familiar with both.

      Re: Spartacus. I *can* be a sword-and-sandal kinda gal (loved Gladiator, and watched a fair amount of Rome when it was on), but for some reason, this one just didn't appeal to me. And yes, Andy Whitfield passed away after the first season. They weren't even sure they would continue the show, but he told them he wanted them to, and I hear the new lead is doing a fine job. Perhaps I will see what Netflix has to offer in the way of Spartacus. I do like a little something--or a lot of something--for the ladies, if we're going to keep using that euphemism.

      Re: Entourage. My nephew and most young people I know LOVED Entourage. And I read *a lot* about Entourage. Enough to decide that wasn't a show for me either. Although if anything were to draw me in, it would be Jeremy Piven. I have been a huge fan of his since Ellen and Cupid--a show that was canceled waaaaaaaay too soon.

      Re: Seinfeld. Love him. When the show came out on DVD, I almost bought it, but it was never at my price point. (I'm cheap in that way too.)

      So, speaking of bonding over football, I'm devastated by my team's loss, but I'm glad the Ravens took down the Pats too--put a big ol hunk of smelly football foot in my Pat "friends'" mouths who were "so disappointed" to not be able to beat the crap out of the Broncos in the AFC championship game. [Insert finger gesture to all of those people here.] And I look forward to the Super Bowl. As always, for the commercials.

      Delete
  2. P.S. Jeremy Piven (sp?)is great in Entourage.

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  3. P.P.S. And I still watch every Seinfeld that is ever on....ever.

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