Returning Shows

What shows will I be looking forward to this Fall? Well, in no particular order:

Bones – as I noted before, I only watched Bones initially because it starred David Boreanaz of Buffy fame. But I found it to be an unusual show with charming characters, and have stuck with it since the beginning. Unlike many of its fans, I wasn’t bothered by the finale from last season. I thought it was cute and funny, a way to use the characters in a different way than we had seen before. Plus, I rarely demand that all finales be “big”. I’m just happy with a good episode. Besides, Bones is best when it doesn’t engage in serious arcs. I’ve found all of their attempts at arcs to be mildly disappointing, and rarely well thought out. I also was not bothered by the revolving door of lab assistants. I thought each one was well drawn out and each brought something to the cast. There were things that happened in the last season that I didn’t like, however, including the break up of Angela and Hodgins, which seemed forced and story-line driven, rather than character-based. I also thought that Cam’s reunion with her “stepdaughter” was a bit maudlin and predictable.

House –I believe this show is an acquired taste. You have to understand that the show is well-named – it is all about House. Even the “patient of the week” is designed to showcase a part of House’s complicated character. And I would never say he is lovable; House is far too prickly, selfish and mean-spirited to call lovable. Unlike most viewers, I didn’t mind the addition of the new doctors, with the mild exception of Thirteen, who I just found to be nearly unwatchable. However, Taub and Kutner were both great characters. The suicide of Kutner was unfortunately spoiled for me, but the episode was still extremely well done. Sometimes, there really is no sign that a person is suicidal. That we didn’t see Chase and Cameron didn’t disappoint me much. I also must say that I don’t care one way or another about Cuddy and the possibility of a romance between Cuddy and House. The show would be better off playing off the sexual tension between the two rather than in indulging in what would eventually be a disastrous affair for both. I would be very happy if the show brought back the detective, whose relationship with House was certainly unique. I am also a huge fan of Wilson and House. The show ended on a great note. House has not only lost his touch, he has also developed hallucinations. In other words , House’s Vicodin addiction finally bit him in the ass.

Fringe – I didn’t pay as much attention to this show as I should have when it started, despite the fact that it was from J.J. Abrams. However, as the season progressed, it became extremely fascinating, even without the obvious “reveal” of Leonard Nimoy in the final scene. I hope that Nimoy continues on the show. The biggest surprise was not that William Bell was in a different world than ours, but that Peter is not “our” Peter; that somehow Peter died and Walter (or someone else?) brought another Peter from another world to ours. Will another Walter try to find him? Unlike many, I actually liked Olivia, attributing her flatness of affect to grief over the death and possible betrayal by her boyfriend/partner. I like the way everything in the show, every seemingly unrelated case, was connected to the overarching mystery, or the Pattern. Walter Bishop is also one of my all-time favorite characters, and who isn’t happy to see Joshua Jackson in a role as intelligent as he appears to be?

Dollhouse – This is one show that I actually avoided watching when it first came on, even though it is from the same brilliant mind that produced Buffy and Angel. Once I started watching, I couldn’t stop. I have mixed feelings about the concept of a Dollhouse and the use of dolls by rich people for their every pleasure and need. It is also obvious that executives interfered with the show. I’ve heard that the unaired season finale that was shown at Comic Con was fabulous. Hopefully it will be part of the DVD. That this show was picked up for a second season is a miracle, and I am eagerly looking forward to it.

I am, of course, eagerly looking forward to the return of Chuck and Lost, but that is not until next year, literally. And did you notice that all the returning shows I’m most anticipating are on Fox?

Yet Another Blog for Me!

Okay, so, I probably need another blog like I need a hole in my head. Not that I've counted the holes in my head, but I'm sure I've too many.

Why another blog? Well, Lost will end someday, my friends. When that sad day comes, what will I do? I've enjoyed the writing of posts and the sharing of ideas that the past year has brought. One of my colleagues told me that she thought I was just another frustrated writer (she said it way nicer than that, by the way). And she was right. So, it makes sense that I should start another forum for television. Here I'll write about the shows I enjoy, and those I don't. I will make bold predictions and confess when I'm wrong. I'll rhapsodize about shows I once loved. In other words, it's all tv, whenever I feel like it.

So, what shows do I like to watch? Well, my biography mentions two sets of series that are iconic to me. First, the Star Trek series. This show started the year before my birth, and I cannot honestly remember a day when I didn't know what Star Trek was. I thoroughly enjoyed most of the movies, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and, to a lesser extent, Star Trek: Voyager. (I watched half an episode of Enterprise and hated it.)

My second biggest love is for the Buffyverse shows: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I laugh at myself because I initially refused to watch the first show because of its stupid name! Now, I'm wishing I had had a blog 12 years ago so I could have written about that.

And my first foray into the blogosphere started with Lost. I won't say more...

What I really like to watch are well written, character driven dramas. Most of the dramas I thoroughly enjoy have story arcs, where a story line carries over several episodes or more. See, well, Lost, The Dollhouse, or Fringe. However, I also enjoy some plain old well written procedurals, as well. Examples of the latter include The Closer (season finale on Monday, August 23!), Leverage, and House. I'll often start watching a show solely because an actor I love from another show is on it. Case in point: Bones. The premise disinterested me, and I thought the names of the characters were rather silly (Temperance Brennan? Seeley Booth? Please). But, David Boreanaz was in it, and I just wanted to see how he would be as a character other than Angel. And I was hooked.

I watch relatively few reality shows. I did watch American Idol one season, but only because of Ruben Studdard. What can I say? I'm from Birmingham too. However, I'm totally addicted to Project Runway, and actually enjoyed watching So You Think You Can Dance while my husband worked late.

I also watch few situation comedies, with the exception of 30 Rock. But even 30 Rock is troublesome for me, since my husband and I haven't watched those we've got on DVR, which pretty much is the whole last season.

Speaking of my husband, all I can say is thank goodness for the DVR - it is saving our marriage! My husband loves television too. As long as it is a sports event, a sports show, or talking heads (politics). He abhors most dramas (The Sopranos and Deadwood being the only exceptions), most comedies (save 30 Rock and Seinfeld), and all reality. Some of my shows he can handle watching in the same room with me, but most he cannot. For some reason, he detests Jeffrey Donovan of Burn Notice. He thinks Chuck is too silly. The only show we have in common is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Otherwise, we're total opposites, tv-wise.

Some things about this blog - I will never post spoilers about shows. However, if I read that an actor or actress if joining or guesting on a show, I will post it (I'll include a spoiler alert - if I think of it!). Please respect that this is a spoiler-free site. I will not be including re-caps of most shows. I know that is what I do with Lost on "Pretty Obsessed with Lost", but I'd never go to work if I tried to do that! I am not as interested in gossip as I am in the shows themselves. When the gossip affects the show, though, it's fair game.

Also, I love hearing what y'all have to say. Is there a show you think I should be watching? A show you think is lame that I am watching? Bring it on.