It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

[penfold_x]

The new fall television season can't start soon enough for me! This summer was especially dry, with Mad Men and Sons of Anarchy moving to the autumn. This summer was Merlin (am I the only one who thinks Uther is just doing what needs to be done?), So You Think You Can Dance, Ice Road Truckers, and lots and lots of reading.

Sadly, this fall is also on the lean side. Some shows I enjoy, like Lost, aren't coming back until January, two of my favorites (Doctor Who and Torchwood) not having full seasons, while the networks are producing fewer new shows, of questionable quality (Cougar Town? WTF, ABC?!).

Must-Squee TV
Bones (September 17, FOX, Thur@8)
Supernatural (September 9, CW, Thur@9)

Also Recording
Big Bang Theory (September 21, CBS, Mon@9:30)
Castle (September 21, ABC, Mon@10)
House (September 21, FOX, Mon@8)
Mad Men (August 16, AMC, Sun@10)
NCIS (September 22, CBS, Tue@8)
Sanctuary (October 9, SYFY, Fri@10)
So You Think You Can Dance (September 9, FOX, Tue@8, Wed@8)
Sons of Anarchy (September 8, FX, Tue@10)

Auditioning
Flash Forward (September 24, ABC, Thur@8)
NCIS: LA (September 22, CBS, Tue@9)
Stargate: Universe (October 2, SYFI, Fri@9)
V (November 3, ABC, Tue@8)
Vampire Diaries (September 8, CW, Thur@8)

On the Bubble
How I Met Your Mother (September 21, CBS, Mon@8)

Not much genre programming on my currently recording list (*sniff* I miss you, Atlantis and Battlestar), so I'm really hoping SGU, V, and Flash Forward deliver. Given SGU's sides, it's probably a foolish hope, but V and Flash Forward appear to have real potential. Recording Vampire Diaries is more about morbid curiosity.

Thanks to some hard sell during our most recent FriendCon, myfieldnotes and mrwubbles have gotten me into Castle. The premise is ridiculous, but Nathan Fillion is a charisma machine, the leads have good dialogue, and the family interaction is excellent.

House has moved up from bubble status; the dynamic with the new interns made the show much more watchable last year, and the closing arc gave me hope that they might actually start developing House's character. Fringe, Heroes and Dollhouse are entirely out. Fringe's characters are wholly unlikeable, Heroes has completely lost the plot (I think I watched about five minutes of last year), and Dollhouse suffers from a fatal flaw: no matter how cool the special effects are or how awesome Echo is, I can't bring myself to care about characters that have no memory of themselves week-to-week, because it utterly precludes character development. Wake me up if Echo has a breakthrough.

Comments

[easter.livejournal.com]

I can't wait for 30 Rock. *squee* Glee is up there, too (I am so fifteen years old inside, omg). Both are taping while we're away, provided I didn't completely screw up setting up the TiVo.

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of cruising by Glee, particularly if Fox thinks to place some of its SYTYCD contestants on the show (Evan Kasprzak should have his own arc!), but I'm worried the humor's going to be a little too black for me.

[easter.livejournal.com]

I feel so pathetic that I only watch two shows. I almost feel as if I should be TiVoing more to get our money's worth out of the DVR, haha.

If you're around and feel like giving me a call, we'll both be up for some time yet!

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Don't. There's a lot of mediocre out there.

[easter.livejournal.com]

Very true.

Here too, although my glut of Extreme Makeover, Home Edition in French is pretty hilarious.

[vretallin.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed the Glee pilot and rewatched the directors cut on Hulu.

[mrwubbles.livejournal.com]

Oh no, no, think of Glee as a sarcastic, modern day "Grease".
Yes, pimping a new show b/c dagnabbit, sucking you into Castle wasn't enough. Must avenge for getting me back to Granada's Holmes! LOL

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Must avenge for getting me back to Granada's Holmes!

WHAT? Check the math again, my friend. I still owe you for quite a bit. The Granada Holmes was only the beginning of paying you back for years of "oh, just look at one episode"!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm totally stealing the phrase "must-squee TV"!

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Yours! Please, nothing more complimentary than when a writer takes a phrase.

[easter.livejournal.com]

I loved that too.

[goldiebug.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to several of the same shows, and I love Castle! Believable premise? who needs one when you've got leads that gorgeous and cool. :-) Going to try Glee, have the pilot ready to watch. Vampire Diaries, yes, "morbid curiosity" describes it exactly! I hope Flash Forward is as good as it sounds. I see your point about Dollhouse and character development, but there's been some great Whedonesque WTF?! surprises, and it's got Helo from BSG, hello! :-) (Do you see a trend in the shows I watch, and why? ;-) I'm enjoying Merlin (still have a few eps to go so thank you for no spoilers here), it's been cheesy fun. Same with Legend of the Seeker, now there's some silly swords and sorcery goodness!

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm pretty sure we have very similar tastes. I haven't seen Legend of the Seeker--what channel is that on by you?

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I was bad. I did NOT buy SPN #4 at the stores, figuring, well, I have yet to watch seasons 1-3 so by the time I do, #4 will be half price ;)

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Hee! Well, in this case, I think you're missing out (by not watching seasons 1-3, at least), but it took me a couple of seasons to warm up to Atlantis, so I've been where you're at.