Television Anyone?

I've been watching House

It’s been good. I wished House would have been in the mental hospital for more than just two hours. I liked him in there. It broke up the formula of the show, and was refreshing.

by NotAHippie on Oct 26, 2009 3:34 AM EDT reply actions

The premiere was great

Franka Potente was a nice addition to the list of guest stars.

I think semi-new House is interesting, as well.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 26, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

30 Rock

It’s the best show on TV, as far as I’m concerned.

For sci-fi geeks, “Defying Gravity” was very good, but unfortunately ABC only ran eight episodes (other episodes available online)

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Oct 26, 2009 4:23 AM EDT reply actions

probably right about 30 Rock

either that or “How I Met Your Mother”

or the Steve Phillips reality show that has to be in the works

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by Matt Klaassen on Oct 26, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I watched How I Met Your Mother once

and thought it was terrible. I hear a lot of people say good things about it, so I’m stuck wondering what to believe. That I watched a bad episode and the show really is good, or people have really bad taste. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Sarcasm alert

its terrible

although Steve Phillips reality would be awesome

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by Matt Klaassen on Oct 26, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn't pick up on that, because I really know some people whose taste is usually very good

that actually like it.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I sort of enjoyed Defying Gravity

30 Rock is on top for comedy, The Office is a close second, and I believe there is a new contender in the arena in Modern Family. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should check it out.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

30 Rock just doesn't do it to me

The characters are all such caricatures that I cannot even begin to empathize with a single person on the show. I’ve seen multiple episodes and am left sitting there wondering where the comedy is.

And it’s not like I cannot enjoy some high-brow comedy. I absolutely love Arrested Development and Curb.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 26, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

If you love AD and Curb

I don’t understand how you can’t like 30 Rock, oh well. I guess I’m not really looking to empathize with characters on a comedy show. The jokes come at you so quick there’s no time for it.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Modern Family was surprisingly good

I saw half an episode by accident and now it is on my DVR records it every week.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Oct 27, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Sons of Anarchy

Has been useful as a modern retelling of Hamlet, I guess. Really though, it’s a great show. I wish they would take that extra step and divorce it from mainstream tv. It’s theme, what it means to be free, is an important one and makes for good discussion. The gun fights and strippers and other non sense might get a lot of viewers but I think they detract from the original message of the show.

by Dadunca on Oct 26, 2009 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

I watched 4 or 5 episodes from season one and it felt like an obligation

So I gave it up.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

And it’s not like I dislike the show while watching it, but I watch just about everything else that me and the old lady have set to record on the ol’ DVR well before SoA.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 26, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Flash Forward

It’s filling my time until Lost comes back, though I’m not nearly as attached to it as I am to Lost. It’s intriguing enough to deserve my hour every week, though.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Oct 26, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

Of the new shows I'm watching, the mystery in this one has its claws in me the most

And the hobbit from Lost will be on starting next week.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

FlashForward

It has been interesting—the negative for me is that sometimes for little bit roles they get really bad actors—I don’t know what the deal is. I like most of the regulars though.

by nwroyal on Oct 26, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Desperate Housewives

Don’t effin judge me

by kansasjhawk044 on Oct 26, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

Glee

I’ve been enjoying it. The plot needs to stop going in circles but it is a really fun show.

30 Rock is very good

The Office seems to be bouncing back from an off year last year.

…and I also can’t wait for Lost…

by nwroyal on Oct 26, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Glee?

I’ve tried for my wife’s sake, but Glee makes Frasier look like Monday Night Football (Or Football Night in America or whatever the F—- it’s called). And I say that without judgment.

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by Matt Klaassen on Oct 26, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm about ready to give Glee up.

They take the musical numbers way too seriously, too much high school drama, and not enough Sue. Sue should be the center of the show and it should be a 30 minute comedy. Instead they tried to make it some weird sort of hybrid show trying to pull from all demographics, and all they’ll succeed in doing is alienating every single group from the show. I may watch til the end of season one, but thank god for DVR and skipping through the musical numbers.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Sue is actually kind of wearing thin on me

Jane Lynch has that good-in-very-small-doses quality to me. Anything more than a morsel, and I’m getting irritated. She was possibly the only part of Party Down that didn’t work for me.

Back to Glee, I actually really like Finn and Puckerman, and every once in a while the music really hits on all cylinders. The Pilot was great. After that, it seems as though Ryan Murphy is in over his head, as he doesn’t know how to pace a show for 22 episodes. Hell, Nip/Tuck has been so bad that it isn’t even fun for a trashy diversion anymore. For that matter, Running With Scissors had major issues, and he only had to balance the narrative elements of that for 90 minutes.

I know that for the series to work in the long term, the web of lies the characters have woven need to stay entangled for a while longer, but it does make me restless.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 26, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

As do Christopher Guest movies, but they are still funny (well, maybe not For Your Consideration)

Glee is somewhat uneven and, as nwroyal noted, repetitive, but pretty good for a watch with your wife show. It is sort of like The Office in that the Jim and Pam stories are the ones I like the least (well, next to Michael’s detours into Homer-level stupidity), but I can tolerate those parts as necessary for the show to appease a certain section of the audience that has kept the show on the air.

by Gopherballs on Oct 26, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Christopher Guest movies are... "festive?"

Is Glee supposed to be funny? If it is, it’s either failing, or just so subtle that I’m so stupid to I’m missing it. It’s just over the top with the musical numbers (I think they actually expect them to be good)… it’s more like if the Guest character from Guffman decided to make a TV show: It would be Glee.

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by Matt Klaassen on Oct 26, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think it is suppose to be 1/3 musical, 1/3 comedy, 1/3 post-modern afterschool special

The episodes I have seen have generally had at least a couple parts I found funny. While not my thing, the music is well done and non-offensive. The show seems to work best when it veers into dark areas, but cannot go there too often. The show overall is a jumble, but enough works to keep me from leaving the room.

by Gopherballs on Oct 26, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

And that is exactly what I think the show should be

Waiting for Guffman meets High School Musical with some dark humor thrown in. That would be perfect.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Regarding the musical numbers

The ones I tire of are the ones that break from reality and take place inside the characters’ heads. I’m OK with multiple voice-overs, but the sequences that break from reality are bothersome.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 26, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Of the new shows, Modern Family and Community have taken

Of returning shows, Parks and Recreation is the most improved (which still might not be enough to save it), while 30 Rock’s start to the season has been a bit rough (but still one of the funniest shows on TV).

Mad Men is the only drama that I like enough to watch regularly, probably because it has no doctors, lawyers, cops, or former 90’s “It” girls who talk to dead people.

by Gopherballs on Oct 26, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

awesome last line

Short of actually developing acting skills, Jennifer Love Hewitt should have spent some time a few years back developing buttocks.

Haven’t seen Modern Family or Community. Parks and Rec, we’ve talked about it. It should be good, but it just isn’t. I dunno, Michael Schur’s still stuck in 2005 with the A-Rod/Jeter tweets, maybe that’s the last time he was able to write a good sitcom, too.

30 Rock’s been pretty good, NBC is a mess right now and hasn’t promoted it at all. Given that its the only really critically acclaimed show o nthe network now, they’re pretty safe, and must feel it, given the direct shots at the network, particularly in the first ep. (“Ladies and gentlemen, Jay Leno.”)

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.

by Matt Klaassen on Oct 26, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

30 Rock

The best part of the “Ladies and gentlemen, Jay Leno” joke was Jay Leno’s sorry “Thanks guys” response that was aiming for a meta “I’m in on the joke” bravado but simply came across as lame and milquetoast as always (and involved dancers for some reason). The episodes have been solid, just none have hit on all cylinders yet.

I feel bad for Parks and Rec because I have found it legitimately good this season, minus one obvious too-over-the-top clunker, but it arrived so undercooked last year after all of the hype that I cannot blame people who gave up on it (especially after the terrible pilot).

by Gopherballs on Oct 26, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

If Parks & Rec is actually good in its second season

then it really does resemble its sister show, The Office. The first season of the American Office was so awful that I was unable to believe it could be good until I finally dusted off a gifted set of DVDs of seasons two and three almost a year after they were given to me last Christmas. I was shocked to find that The American Office had actually righted itself.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 26, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Apt comparison

The U.S. version of the Office had an initial problem of finding its right tone, as the pilot was a note by note recreation of the British pilot and the rest of the first season seemed to fluctuate between too awkward to too cruel to too silly. And it suffered from an easy comparison to the British version. With time to retool before the second season, it then started to become a much different show than the original.

I guess it was not too surprising that Parks and Recreation had trouble out of the gate — NBC first announced it as a spinoff of The Office that was suppose to debut after the Super Bowl (before a script was written), the producers could not put together a viable spinoff, so the compromise was a delayed but wholly new show in the same vein as The Office. With the rushed development, the first season was too much like a knockoff of The Office just in a different setting. And the show of course failed to meet high expectations when two of the first three episodes were lousy. The other episodes, however, were generally solid, and with the time off, the producers were able to retool the characters and the main story, including ditching the pit (the idea of the pit was probably funnier on paper) and the Amy Poehler character’s inter-office crush. It is not a great show by any means, but it has found a nice rhythm.

by Gopherballs on Oct 26, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

30 Rock, Community Service, and I'm suprised.......

there is no love for Mad Men, which is probably my current fave. Office seems like its dropped off a notch or two. All time fave has to be “The Wire.”

by Nighthawk at the Diner on Oct 26, 2009 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

I haven't watched Mad Men at all, and refuse to pick it up midstream without renting the prior seasons

I’m sure I’d like it, but I just don’t have the time to go back right now. It would also be a bigger motivator if AMC would go HD. I do watch Breaking Bad on there though. I felt the 2nd season wasn’t as good as the first, but it seems the story could be moving in an interesting direction.

by AxDxMx on Oct 26, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Totally on board with The Wire

Best piece of art/media ever produced.

As for Mad Men, I think it’s beautiful looking (art direction and set design is impeccable), but I hate nearly every character on the show. After the first season, I sat there and thought to myself, “Why am I still watching this? I kind of care about what happens to Don Draper, but only kind of.” I really dislike Campbell, but it is at least as much because I cannot stand Vincent Kartheiser, the actor. It kind of goes back to my issues with 30 Rock (not being able to empathize), but at least with Mad Men they seem like they could have been real people. 30 Rock is simply populated with cartoons masquerading as people and resembles the terribleness that The Simpsons has become (or Family Guy has always been) only it is live action.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 26, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I know I'm alone in this...

But I really liked the show John From Cincinnatti. That was the best thing I’ve seen in a long, long time.

by Dadunca on Oct 26, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, surprised nothing has been said about Friday Night Lights yet.

Season 1 was very, very good and with an ending like that, I figured it would definitely blow it in Season 2. Well, they certainly tried to blow it but the characters were just good enough to keep me around. Season 3 was every bit as good as season 1 and now I’m very excited to see what happens.

Disclaimer: As long as Riggins is out of eligibility

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Oct 26, 2009 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

I keep thinking that he'll fail chemistry

and have to repeat his Senior year like O’Bannion in Dazed and Confused (who I think was a fullback, too).

That would be pretty stupid.

by Dadunca on Oct 26, 2009 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Modern Family is hilarious

best new show hands down.

by stram#1 on Oct 26, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Weeds

i just latched on and am watching all the old episodes.

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Oct 27, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions

I really enjoyed the first and second season, after that it hit a wall.

I’m plowing through The Shield right now, getting ready to start Season 5. Good show

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Oct 27, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I've been keeping up with House, CSI and CSI: Miami

Unless I'm wrong...
My Twitter feed

by Top Ramen on Oct 27, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

Crap, hit the post button too fast

The season premiere for House was fantastic.

I want to start watching Community and Modern Family, but haven’t remembered to set the DVR yet.

Neither South Park nor the Simpsons have had any memorable episodes yet this season, and ‘The Cleveland Show’ is just awful.

Unless I'm wrong...
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by Top Ramen on Oct 27, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I can't believe the Cleveland Show is bad!

I mean, Family Guy

is super-duper hilarious, original, and witty

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.

by Matt Klaassen on Oct 27, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

WOW, no love for Always Sunny in Philidelphia

gotta check it out
Scrubs is always solid for a good laugh
Dexter is amazing and another showtime program Brotherhood has really got its hooks into me. Can watch instantly on netflix

Guilty pleasure has been and forever will be Nip/Tuck; it’s like a relationship I just can’t seem to leave no matter how crazy she gets. I think that’s part of the appeal now, just how bad will the trainwreck get, regardless I’m glued to the rerun every Sunday night.

Biggest dissappointment this season has been the UFC on Spike. The heavyweights are all weak and Kimbo Slice is the only interesting guy on the show.

by Your_Moms_Boyfriend on Oct 27, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

It's Always Sunny is amazing

Milk steak.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 27, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, and

really into Dexter. This fourth season has been surprisingly adept at not having a child ruin the show.

When’s Brotherhood coming back? It’s in the next few months, right?

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 27, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Good shows listed by all so far; stuff I'm watching now

Dexter is my heroine; even though the DVR has it covered, I can only wait about 15 or so minutes to fire it up, and get watching it.

Weeds was awesome in season 1, I missed season 2-3? due to thesis writing, but then I watch most of last season. At first it was just strange, but then the General Lee got into it, and it kinda got addicting again. Still not as good as the 1st season.

South Park has been solid, not great like some of the earlier seasons, but pretty funny. My complaint now is that some of the episodes are offensive to be offensive, not to have a point like they used too. But I have liked South Park since it started and will probably always like it.

An old show that I am watching over on DVDs right now is Samurai Jack. I wish that was never canceled. Probably my favorite show of all time, for all the main reasons one likes a show. Perhaps they will draw up a movie one day, but I doubt it.

Sponsoring a glorious game for Will Ebner against CU, buy drinking heavily starting.....now.

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Oct 27, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

I watched the first two seasons of Weeds as they aired

but as the third season began, I forgot to start DVRing it. Now when I see an episode in passing, I can’t help but wonder what the hell happened to that show. And not necessarily in a good way.

by Old Man Duggan on Oct 27, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

my faves

Im a big Thursday night NBC fan. All the shows are funny. I agree with a couple of comment above, Parks and Rec has been good this season.
Modern Family is hilarious. It has this The Office meets Arrested Development feel to it.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is always great, and now that The Venture Bros is up and running again, Im watching that too. I forgot how funny of a show that is

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Oct 27, 2009 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

My Shows

The Essentials:
      1.) House – a bounce back season so far, but I do agree more time in mental hospital would’ve been interesting.
      2.) Mad Men – very intricate drama. I enjoy unraveling the secrets of the characters each week and seeing how it plays out.
      3.) Glee – Maybe my favorite new show this season. Great music and solid performances especially the main teacher.
      4.) Dexter – if I had Showtime, I would be addicted. As it is I’ll have to wait till next summer for netflix. Same goes for The Tudors, Big Love, Weeds.
      5.) Bones – great mix of characters and interesting way to solve cases as far as murder of the week shows go.
      6.) The Office and 30 Rock are the funniest hour of my week.

That’s what I enjoy. Can’t wait for mid-season returns of Chuck, Lost, Scrubs, 24.

by lordbyronk on Oct 27, 2009 6:37 PM EDT reply actions