Fall Television - The Best Shows So Far

Well its been about a month since the first fall premiers aired.  Between baking and keeping up with my DVR, I've had time for little else in the past four weeks.  We're coming to a time where the leaders of the pack are emerging.  Here are the shows I watch within a couple hours of their airing:

Caution, if you haven't seen the episodes, spoilers ahead...

The Good:

Hart of Dixie - I am adoring this sweet, funny little night time soap.  From the awesome country music soundtrack to the lovable Summer Rachel Bilson.  I love that the show maintains a sense of humor about itself.  I love that they go for the easy laugh: "I just played Dixie with my butt.  This is officially rock bottom." I love Scott Porter.  I love that the mayor warned her to beware of Burt Reynolds while walking around at night which got a chuckle from Hubby.  I loved even more that Burt Reynolds ended up being a pet alligator.  Though that made me wonder how they know which alligator is Burt Reynolds.  Its not like he's missing an eye or had a large spot.  It would be pretty dangerous to assume that the alligator you've just come across is a pet and then be mistaken.  But I digress.  Now, will the emergency of the week get a little tired? Yeah, probably.  But I have faith in Josh Schwartz to not milk the whole "I want to take over my father's practice while his partner doesn't want me to" thing too far.  There already seems to be a little back story intrigue developing between the mayor and Scott Porter's fiancee.  Which will be perfect for a mid-season sweeps about Rachel Bilson and Scott Porter not deny their attraction to one another.  Though, my money is on the red-neck neighbor for her true love interest. 

Ringer - Oh my goodness how campy is this show? It is awful.  But then why isn't it listed under The Bad or The Ugly?  Because y'all this show is SO awful it crosses over into awesome.  It is just laughably bad.  From the moment I saw that horrible green screen scene on the boat I was hooked.  I adore Sarah Michelle Geller and Ioan Gruduff (or as Hubby calls him "Mr. Fantastic") is a treat to look at.  But she is potentially the worst liar on earth and he is simply a moron.  I hate the name Siobhan for a main character and hate the nickname Shiv.  Her best friend reminds me so much of Blossom that on a weekly basis I find myself IMDBing the show to confirm that Mayim Bialick doesn't play her.  Bridget may be the least evasive junkie ever.  And yet? I just can't look away.  I clap my hands with glee when something ridiculous happens - like wee little SMidGe wearing a white silk blouse and 4 inch heels to dispose of the dead hitman's body and some how wrangling it into a steamer trunk all by her 90lb self in under 20 minutes.  Love!

Modern Family - This show had me at Hello.  I have loved every moment of it since Cam presented baby Lilly complete with Lion King intro music and a spot light.  So far the third season is maintaining the status quo with the laughs.  I especially loved Cam's banner and sparklers for the announcement that they're adopting a little boy.  The one thing we unanimously don't like in my house is New!Lilly.  She is awful! I know that saying a child is awful is not nice.  And let me be clear.  The actual little girl(s) who play her are probably lovely child(ren).  But she went from being this adorable (albeit weepy) little silent baby to being practically a teenager with a bad attitude.  She's been SORASed* beyond recognition.  I understand that the twins who played her before were not enjoying it and their mother did what any good mother would do and decided not to continue.  But there are so many child actors now a days, I can't believe that the only Asian child the casting directors liked were these little girls.  They couldn't have found a 2 year old? or even 3? If New!Lilly is a day under 5, then I'm 27.  In the season premier, she had a full sentence to say.  Why? We don't need any more comedians in this already awesome cast.  She should be and adorable set decoration and prop.

* SORAS - Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome - Occurs when a plot contrivance baby has outlived it's cute quotient (usually after having been kidnapped at least once and/or having suffered some horrible baby only disease) and the child gets sent to boarding school (or in the case of Belle Brady on Days Of Our Lives) toddles up the stairs to go to bed and comes down a sassy 16 year old ready to be paired with a love interest and have it's own plots. 


Revenge - I honestly didn't think I'd like this show very much.  I was inundated by the previews so I felt compelled to watch.  I like that she is not going around killing people but just ruining their lives.  Sure the show is a bit heavy handed with some things.  And there are a few plot issues I can't get over: Really? The super hot townie guy named his boat after and is still hung up over a little girl he met when he was 12? And that isn't supposed to be creepy? But otherwise it is a frothy good time.  I'm not sure how they'll have a season two.  But you know what? Maybe they don't need one.  For now, I'm truly enjoying this show and eagerly wait for Wednesday nights to see what will happen this week.  Just this weekend I got the following text from my cousin Anne: "Ok, I'm caught up on Revenge and you're right, I'm hooked" and I replied "yay!" (see I'm not always wordy.)


The Vampire Diaries - What can I say about this show that hasn't already been said?  It is quite simply, fantastic.  I love that they found a creative way to essentially break up Elena and Stefan.  Rather than going to the common love triangle or petty squabble or heaven forbid having them "take a break."  I love that she didn't just hop into bed (proverbally) with Damon but that the spark is still there.  I love that Caroline and Taylor have finally joined together into a pretty super couple.  And I love that these people aren't idiots.  When Caroline was missing for a few hours, Taylor put the pieces together and then actually went to the correct person who could help him help Caroline.  Perfect.  I could do without the Jeremy seeing dead people story line but I'm willing to let it play out.  I love that Alaric is having an identity crisis and that it has resulted in him becoming a sarcastic booze hound - or as he so eloquently put it while watching a house full of his drunken history students, "I am every parents' nightmare.  I'm the chaperon from hell." I still watch every episode with a smile and a squeeee.  I'm such a fangirl, I can't even hide it. 

Grey's Anatomy - I have watched Grey's Anatomy since the very first episode.  And I'll admit there have been times where I haven't liked it that much (um Ghost Sex? George getting married over night to Callie? And then cheating on her with Izzie his "sister?) But in recent years, Grey's has gotten a little better.  It isn't as funny or quirky anymore which is a little sad, but I think this year it is getting back to that.  We are seeing more friendships amongst the adult doctors.  I love that Mere's house is still a bit of a halfway house for wayward docs.  I hope that Alex will get to have a love interest this year.  Not one who will go crazy and/or die and/or leave him.  I loved him and Izzie before she started having tumor/ghost sex with Denny.  I love that he is a kickass pediatric surgeon.  Let him be one show! So, yes, it appears that I am reinvested.  Dammit! Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. If you used to watch and have given up, maybe give it another shot.  It's a helluva lot better than Secret Circle and Project Runway is almost over so what else are you watching on a Thursday night at 9pm? 

Project Runway- As with most reality competition shows that I watch (Top Chef, The Amazing Race) I like the general concept of the show but the cast members can make me love a season or barely care about it.  This season I think I'm back to loving it.  I adore Anya and really think she is going to win the whole thing.  I get so annoyed with the other contestants when they bitchily snark that she has no sewing experience and that they should win because they've been sewing since they were 8 (yo Laura, that is not a factor.  Just because you've been sewing since you were a wee child (PS, what 8 year old sews? were you in a sweat shop?) doesn't mean you "deserve" to win.  You will win (she won't) if you are the best DESIGNER.) Yes other designers, that applies to you too.  This is a DESIGN competition - not a sewing competition.  In the finale you don't have to sew your own garments.  You are allowed to outsource that as all the real designers do.  Do you really think Michael Kohrs sits down at his Singer and sews each dress he makes?  You are insane.  They have little Guatemalan women (or 8 year old Laura) to do the actual sewing for them.  The key is to design a garment that people want to buy and Anya does that.  She is the first designer they've had on this show in a long time who makes beautiful but accessible clothing.  And she is such a genuinely nice, smart person.  Normally I'd just DVR a later showing of this show and watch on the weekends but stupid Lifetime only airs it once and they make it an hour and a half.  Last season, that meant I ended up not really watching.  This season, that means that I've bumped other shows in order to watch PR real time.  Next season, who knows. 

Nikita - I was originally really intrigued by this show.  I have been looking for a replacement Alias ever since 2005 (the last season didn't count... too much scrambling and back story changing.)  But Nikita didn't really get her hooks into me until the end of last season.  My sister and I typically get together to watch The Vampire Diaries together and one evening she wanted to stay a little longer to watch Nikita since she didn't have a DVR.  So I begrudgingly obliged and watched with her.  And I got hooked.  Damn you Shane West and your gravely voice and your chiseled good looks! And that smirk! Lord help me when he smirks! Excuse me, I need a minute.  Ok.  I'm good.  So anyways, yeah, the end of last season got me back into Nikita, but I was nervous that Thursday nights for me were too busy, so how would I keep up with watching Shane Nikita? Luckily, they moved it to Fridays! Yay! The stories are still a little redundant and sloppy.  But I love where they are going with the show.  I also love Julie Cooper Melinda Clark, and she's great when she is strong and in charge and evil.  Honorable mention goes to Lyndsy Fonseca.  I'm glad that she's finally gotten off that couch and I covet her hair.   All viable reasons to watch a TV show I know. 

Blue Bloods - This is one of the few shows I can watch with my husband.  He enjoys the cop drama, I enjoy Donnie Whalberg.  We both enjoy counting how many times Tom Selleck takes a deep sigh and sounds like an old man.  Is the family aspect of the "family full of cops" plot line a little heavy handed at times? Yes.  Is it getting old that the police commissioner's hot headed son seems to randomly be assigned (or inserted) into every hot ticket crime? Of course.  But you know what... it works.  I am really looking forward to Rabbit from U-571 getting a meatier story line this year.  And I'm so happy they dropped that stupid "Blue Templar" C-plot that they kept trying to make happen last year.  I could do with less of the quirky grand daughter, and they should stop making Danny's wife such a nag about various parts of his job.  A job he's had since he was 18 and she married into and has lived with for a decade.  But overall, I really enjoy this little family drama and hope it continues to do well. 

The Amazing Race - This show has always been a favorite of mine.  Of any reality competition show out there, this is the one I'd like to do the most.  I love seeing all the foreign locations and love imagining how I'd handle each challenge.  As I mentioned with Project Runway, the strength of each season really depends on the cast and as of yet I don't have a particular couple I'm rooting for yet.  This season has been a little slow and I'll admit it is mostly watched as background entertainment while I do my grad school homework assignments that are due Sundays before midnight.  (hey! you don't develop such a deep and abiding love for TV as I have without being a procrastinator!) There really isn't much else on to get me to stop watching. So for now, I'm still in. For better or worse. 

Up next? See what shows I (or the networks) have already cut from the season.  

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

After a summer full of reruns and mid-season replacement reality shows, I am so happy to announce that the Network TV Fall Premiers are right around the corner!  This is one of my most exciting times of the year, all the anticipation and hope.  But what will I watch?  There is a lot of new programming out there this year.  The big networks got a little heavy handed in their cuts at the end of last season (RIP Better With You) and a few favorites ended their runs.  I am lucky that I have a dual tuner DVR and another TV so I have a lot of flexibility in doubling up viewing times.  (How in the world did I live with just a single TV and a VCR for recording?) (Actually I know how, I would enlist friends and we would each individually record a certain show and then meet up afterwards and watch them together.)

Without further ado, I present you the shows I will be watching/dvring/am intrigued by this tv season. This will be what I use to program my DVR for the first few weeks of programming. Not even I can sustain this level of TV watching so it'll probably drop off pretty significantly in October. But you never know, both Vampire Diaries and Nikita were dark horses originally. I thought I would like them, didn't, and then was re-hooked a month or two later.

Away we go:

Monday

8:00 PM - How I Met Your Mother
Network: CBS
Season starts 9/19
Because at this point I feel invested. But I'll probably just DVR it and catch up if I'm bored.

8:00 PM - Gossip Girl
Network: CW
Season starts 9/26
Meh, I'm falling out of love with this show. But Mondays are usually pretty slow so I'll probably keep watching.

9:00 PM - Hart of Dixie
Network: CW
Series starts 9/26
I adore Rachel Bilson and Scott Porter and I love what Josh Schwartz did with The OC (at least for the first season or two) so I will definitely give this show a few episodes. It is basically like Doc Hollywood but with a female doctor. It worked for Michael J. Fox, and I think it could work for Rachel Bilson.


10:00 PM - Playboy Club
Network: NBC
Series starts 9/19
I don't know why, but I've always been fascinated by the playboy clubs in the 60's and a show about the women who worked there seems like it would be pretty cool. But they seem to be playing up some kind of murder mystery in the previews and I don't think it needs that. And then there is Eddie Cibrian who I just can't look at anymore without picturing Lean Rhimes and her super skinny bikini clad body being shocked that the press found them in a some super obvious Hollywood location.

Tuesday

8:00 PM - Biggest Loser

Network: NBC

Season starts 9/20

I can't afford to give 2 hours of prime DVR real estate to this show so I will probably end up forgetting it is on and watching Cupcake Wars or Chopped and then remember just in time for the weigh in and then catch up OnDemand.

9:00 PM - Ringer

Network: CW

Series starts 9/13

Sarah Michelle Geller. Playing twins. On the CW. This one screams my name. Plus it premiers really early so I should get a few episodes in before any of the real DVR conflicts begin

9:00 PM - New Girl

Network: Fox

Series starts 9/20

I get a kick out of Zoeey Deschanel.  She had me from "You are just in time for Champagne Thursdays" "But it is Friday" "Ah, Champagne Thursday decided to come twice this week" in that awful movie Failure to Launch. That alone is enough to buy this 30 minute sitcom on a slow night a few episodes.

10:00 PM - The Rachel Zoe Project

Network: Bravo

Season start(ed) 9/6

You know Bravo has me by the balls. I can't NOT watch.

10:00PM - Parenthood

Network NBC

Season starts 9/13

This show is surprisingly good.  I came for Lorelei Gilmore, I stayed for the quirky family drama from this group of siblings who are maybe just a little too co-dependent.  It can get a little tedious at times so it tends to build up on my DVR until the weekend.   

Wednesday

8:30 PM - Suburgatory

Network: ABC

Series starts 9/28

Basically Mean Girls in sitcom form. And I'll be watching the hell out of it.

9:00 PM - Modern Family

Network: ABC

Season starts 9/21

I love this show. And since it is one of the few shows I watch that Hubby enjoys as well, we'll probably watch it live.

9:30 PM - Happy Endings

Network: ABC

Season starts 9/21

Ok fine! I've been hooked by the reruns this summer! And its on right after Modern Family so I'll most likely stick around to watch it. But I won't like it and I'm still mourning the loss of Better With You and the lack of Kitty from That 70's Show and Joanna Garcia Swisher on my TV.

10:00 PM - Up All Night

Network: NBC

Series starts 9/14

I do love Christina Applegate. But I'm guessing this won't be any amazing comedy. I'll still give Kelly Bundy a shot though.

10PM - Revenge

Network: ABC

Series starts 9/21

Looks like Wednesdays are shaping up to be ABC nights. I've been inundated with previews of this show and it looks pretty good about a woman who moves to the hamptons to get revenge for her father being used as a scapegoat.

Unknown Time - American Horror Story 

Network: FX

Series starts 10/5 

I'm not really into horror things but with Connie Britton I'm going to have to tune in for at least one episode. We'll see though. This might be something I just watch OnDemand.

Thursday

8:00 PM - Vampire Diaries

Network: CW 

Season starts 9/15

DUH! Will be watching (and squealing with excitement) live and on DVR.

8:00 PM - Community 

Network NBC 

Season starts 9/22 

After two seasons, this show has finally caught on with me. BUT Thursdays are a busy day so I can't promise it'll make the final cut.

8:00 PM - Charlies Angels 

Network: ABC 

Series starts 9/22 

Wow, ABC is going ballsy putting this up against Vampire Diaries and Community. I have a soft spot for Minka Kelly thanks to Friday Night Lights, but I just don't trust this remake. It will probably win vs. Community for a spot on the DVR for at least a few episodes. But its going to have to work hard to earn that spot full time.

9:00 PM - The Secret Circle 

Network: CW 

Series starts 9/15 

I'm crazy excited about this. It is based on a novel by the same author who wrote Vampire Diaries. Its about a girl who moves into town and meets a group of kids whose parents all grew up together and with New Girl's mother. Have I mentioned they are all witches? Now their circle is complete. Bless you CW for this!

9:00 PM - Grey's Anatomy

Network: ABC

Season starts 9/22

I've been there since the very beginning, I can't stop now.

9:00 PM - Project Runway

Network: Lifetime

Season has already started

Stupid Lifetime really doesn't re-air this enough for my taste but if I can afford the space on the DVR, I'll record it and watch it later. Or I'll watch it online some time.

10:00 PM - Prime Suspect

Network: NBC

Series starts 9/22

I really don't need another cop drama in my line-up. But I've loved Maria Bello ever since she was on ER and I've been waiting for her to be tough and sassy on TV again. And Peter Berg is an amazing producer/director. I loved Friday Night Lights, mostly because it was so beautifully made. So I will give this a shot.

Friday

8:00 PM - Nikita 

Network: CW 

Season starts 9/23 

This show hooked me at the end of last season. I blame Shane West and his hotty gravelly voice. I'll give it a whirl and definitely continue to DVR it but its not appointment TV.

9:00 PM - Grimm 

Network: NBC 

Series starts 10/21 

I loved Supernatural back when it was about exposing all those old horror stories and myths. This show seems like it would be along those same lines so I'm willing to give it a try. And it starts later in the season so I'll have weaned down by shows by then (hopefully.)

10:00 PM - Blue Bloods 

Network: CBS 

Season starts 9/23 

Seriously, if you aren't watching this - you should be. It is so good! Tom Selleck! Donny Wahlberg! Rabbit from U-571! Bridget Moynahan! Very very good. If you want to make it into a drinking game as your prep before you hit the bars on Friday night, try taking a drink every time Tom Selleck takes a deep sigh and/or sounds like your grandfather.  You'll be hammered by 11.

Saturday

Nothing! This is the day to clear out my DVR at last!

Sunday

8:00 PM - The Amazing Race

Network: CBS 

Season starts 9/25 

I love this show, but it gets annoying to watch during football season since you have to account for the game running long and pushing 60 minutes late and thus pushing the start of TAR late. Which means I either have to record 2 hours worth of CBS or I have to risk missing who gets eliminated each week. But I'll adapt. Maybe OnDemand or Online. 

9:00 PM - Boardwalk Empire 

Network: HBO 

Season starts 9/25

Damn! I have to make sure I still get HBO. I think we eliminated it from our cable line up. If you get HBO, watch this, it is great.  I'm really not a huge Steve Buschemi fan, but I still enjoy the show.  If you don't get HBO already I wouldn't go out of my way to add it.  You can get the episodes on Netflix in a few months.

10:00 PM - PanAm 

Network: ABC 

Series starts 9/25

Absolutely! I have been looking forward to this show for a while. It looks really fun and retro and I adore Christina Ricci.   I clearly watch a lot of ABC so I have been inundated with the previews.  It seems fun and sassy and like a nice light hearted view at a time period I never knew.  Hear that NBC? Light Hearted.  No need to go mucking things up with a murder mystery.  I never got into Mad Men and I've always regretted that.  This time I will be in from the ground floor.   

So there you have it.  Just a handful of shows that I will be avidly watching this September.  I hope I've been able to help you if you've been trying to wrap your head around what is out there and when they start.  I know this has definitely helped me.  I'll touch back on this list in mid/late October to see who has made the cut and who has succumbed to the ickiness of Leann Rhimes.