I don't get it. I'm trying really, really hard not to start watching too many new shows this season, and there are shows that didn't come back, like Joan of Arcadia and such...
So why is my list still so darned long?
Sundays, I have The West Wing. I have too much invested in it to drop it now.
Mondays, I have Arrested Development, Medium and Close to Home.
With Arrested Development, it's sort of like a car crash... I'm not sure I actually enjoy it, but I can't look away, either.
Medium was one I actually enjoyed from last season, and Close to Home... well, I'm kind of hoping it stinks. I love Jennifer Finnegan, and Christian Kane was one of my favorite things about Angel, but it's a new show, and there are only 24 hours in a day.
Oh, and to make things even better, Medium and Close to Home are on at the same time. <grr...>
Tuesdays are insane. Commander in Chief and House are on at the same time, and so are Boston Legal and Nip/Tuck.
Commander in Chief... it might be good, and it might be wretched. But they have Donald Sutherland as the bad guy, and that's hard to resist. And I loved Geena Davis in just about everything I've seen her in. Buffalo Bill (is this her first TV series since that?), The Long Kiss Goodnight, Beetlejuice... I even went to see that horrible pirate movie she did.
House is a no-brainer. I love the show to death, and I've been told by far too many people that House and I share a personality. Though Vicodin knocks me out cold, so at least I'm not like that. Nip/Tuck is beyond amazing, if you can get past the too-much-sex thing. The gore doesn't bother me. I've assisted in surgery.
And Boston Legal... the only reason I went back to watching The Practice in its last season was Alan Shore. James Spader is a genius, and Denny Crane is so off-the-wall that it's a pleasure to watch.
Wednesdays. Lost and Veronica Mars. Two of the very best shows from last season, and they're on at the same time. Of course. <sigh>
Thursdays, Alias and Smallville at the same time, and then Everwood. I can't imagine what they were thinking, putting Alias in the first hour of prime time. Isn't it supposed to be lighter things the first hour, medium things in the second hour, and really heavy things in the third hour? Alias is light? Since when?
And Smallville... gawd. It's just so bad. I dropped Charmed a few seasons ago for less stupidity than this show has come up with. But it's like picking at a scab. Even more so than Arrested Development. I've been a Superman fan for too long to not want to see what they do. And Lex Luthor and Chloe Sullivan make the show worth watching. Almost.
Friday! I can't watch TV Friday night. The whole Orthodox Jewish thing, you know. But if God hadn't wanted us to watch shows on Friday nights, He wouldn't have invented the VCR. So.
Ghost Whisperer. As much as I hate CBS for killing Joan of Arcadia, and as much as I have doubts about Jennifer Love Hewitt's acting abilities now that she's over 20 (or whatever), and as much as this looks like a blatant rip-off of Medium... I like Medium. And Hewitt is cute. And I'm willing to give it a try. But I'm sort of hoping I don't like it.
And Numb3rs. If you haven't seen this show, find someone who has tapes of last season. I laughed when I heard about it. An action police procedural centered around a math geek? But it's amazingly good.
I really, really, really need to get a life.
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
I. Don't. Have. A. TV.
Edit: That said, I need a life too, and I'm working on it.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I don't either, Corwin! *high fives*
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Wow, Corwin and Raia. That's impressive. Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Hehe, the thing about the hours at the end of that reminded me of when last week, my friend Garth said that sleeping is a waste of time. He said "If I sleep 8 hours a night, then I'll be spending a third of my life sleeping! Who wants that??"
It was kind of funny, and somewhat irrelevant, but my mind somehow made the connection.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
Wow.
That's a staggering amount of television watching. My recommendation, just skip a couple of nights a week. You'll find you don't really miss it that much. The only thing that qualifies as 'Must see TV' for me is Scrubs. I still only saw 3 episodes last season. That's what DVDs are for.
I have digital cable, and honestly, if it wasn't bundled with my internet I'd lose it in a heartbeat. I've been saying if someone would offer a package featuring the Big 3 networks and ESPN I could easily do without everything else.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Wow. Christy and I Tivo two shows currently: The Daily Show and Mythbusters. And we generally wind up weeks behind in watching either.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
My daughter (who got me hooked on House) told me about some other new show that was on last night just before House (I was away from home last night and didn't get to see it). I don't remember the name of the show, but she loved it, even more than House.
FG
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
If I had a Tivo I'd tivo The Daily Show and BattleStar Galactica. Since I don't, I generally miss The Daily Show (lately, anyway), and go out of my way to see BSG.
starLisa, I've had periods in the past where I felt like I was watching way too much TV, and generally dealt with it by just sticking the TV in a closet for a few months. You'll be able to watch all of those shows on DVD eventaully, so it isn't like you'll have to miss out on what happened in them. Taking a break can be a very good thing.
Posted by SC Carver (Member # 8173) on :
I used to watch a ton of TV, but lately I have just had other things to do. I don't miss it at all. I find the less I watch the less want to watch.
Most of it is so bad I can't watch. It just seems there are better things to do.
I will admit I'm hooked on "House", which had it's season premier last night.
I used to watch Smallville, but it got so excruciatingly bad last year I was forced to give it up against my will. The 2nd half of season 3 was pretty good, I guess they lost the writers or something.
Posted by Parsimony (Member # 8140) on :
I usually try to watch the Daily Show, but sometimes I miss it. Other than that the only thing I have to see is Lost. I've been watching Over There the last few weeks, but it isn't something imperative.
Other than that, my general feeling is that tv shows suck right now. I liked Eyes, but it only lasted 4 shows, so I'll stick to not watching very much.
--ApostleRadio
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Wow, that is a huge list.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
FG, that other show is Bones. I missed it, though.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I'm working on watching the Daily Show every night, but I miss some nights because I don't get Comedy Central, so I have to go over to the dorms to watch it.
Other than that I watch Charmed, which is my horrible addiction. I don't have any illusions about the show being good. I just can't stop watching it.
[ September 14, 2005, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: blacwolve ]
Posted by Treason (Member # 7587) on :
The only shows I watch with any regularity are The Simpsons, Family Guy, Southpark and The Daily Show. Though I am watching BSG on dvd if that counts. I catch Mythbusters occasionaly and also things like Monster House and Malcom in the Middle. starLisa, too much TV! You need a tivo, then you wont feel so "gotta see this now!" When I got my tivo I stopped watching so much TV. I spend all my time on the internet now so I guess that's not much better. Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
I was just thinking how bad shows look this season. But I guess that is just different taste. Jennifer Love Hewitt replacing Joan of Arcadia is just a crime against nature. I still don't understand the need to put strong shows against strong shows. Especially when they have much of the same audience, the networks are just hurting themselves.
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
We just got rid of our cable, and I'm amazed by how much less tv I watch. I'm sure I'll watch Gilmore Girls regularly and maybe catch Veronica Mars and Arrested Development when I remember, but that's about it. If I had cable, I would watch Battlestar Galatica and Nip/Tuck regularly.
Most of the shows you listed are network, but even network channels are less appealing without cable. You really have to want to watch the show in order to endure the fuzziness of antennas. If I get desperate for tv, I think I'll just buy a DVD season or sign up for Blockbuster online again. No commercials and no waiting. No cable = more money and more time.
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
If I got WB, I would be committed to watching Gilmore Girls on Tuesday nights whenever possible. Since I don't, the only show I really care about is Arrested Development on Monday nights. I often turn on the TV and watch House or Prison Break or whatever, but not because I can't live without them.
My recommendation is pick three shows that you like the best (like, ditch Smallville and Arrested Development if you don't really enjoy them) and don't worry about needing to watch the rest.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I have a TV, but I'm not watching any of those shows. Actually, I haven't heard of most of them. There is one show that I know of that I like, but I hardly ever get to catch it on. Monk. But, alas, it is on Friday nights, my Shabbos. Are the schedulers anti-Semites? Or just anti-Shvester Esther? They repeat it at some amazingly inconvenient times -- like Saturday night, 1 AM.
Other than that, I like to catch movies on the TV -- those terrific old black and white ones.
My husband watches the ball game.
I don't have the time to commit to adding new shows to my schedule -- I'm too occupied with posting on Hatrack.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
We definitely have a TV, but there are just no TV shows I care about enough to arrange my schedule around.
I really like watching TV shows on DVD. I don't mind the fact that I just barely
**** SPOILERS FOR LOST ********
discovered that Locke was in a wheelchair before the crash. If the TV show was good a year ago, it will be good now.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Television should be entertainment, not work. If keeping up with all those shows is such a hassle, then drop a few. After a couple weeks, you won't even miss them.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
The last time that I put forth the effort to watch a TV show when it aired was when Firefly was on Fox.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
quote:**** SPOILERS FOR LOST ********
Damn you, mph! I saw that sentence and completely against my will, my eyes read what came after!
I'm not quite done with the first season. But don't worry, a spoiler here or there won't kill me.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I don't have a TV (well, technically I do, in the common room but no one really wants to watch stargate all the time).
I have DVDs of TV shows instead .
EDIT: I watched Numb3rs once and I agree it is very good.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Hey, Teshi, just so you know, I've been watching a fair amount of Stargate, and it's growing on me. It's a bit silly, but it's also a fair amount of fun.
One question--it isn't uncommon for there to be an unauthorized offworld activation of the stargate, right? Seems to happen all the time, actually, and every time it does we see shots of soldiers scrambling into place and aiming their guns at the gate. Is there ever any explanation given as to why they don't have barricades in place for the soldiers to hide behind? Or better yet have weapons mounted in the walls that could fire really big shells, or gouts of flaming jelly, or whatever, at whatever horrible thing is trying to come through and wreak havoc? Or have the chamber set up in such a way that it could be flooded with tear gas or whatever?
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
This season I am watching gilmore girls, that's it, nothing else, if the tv is on, I'll probably leave the room.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Cold Case is pretty good, and I used to watch CSI religiously but not so much anymore--it's still good, though.
My dearest loves nowdays are Gilmore Girls on Tuesday night and What not to wear on Friday Night/Saturday. And Mythbusters.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Valentine -- What I said was a spoiler for episode 4 of Lost. If you've watched the first disc, then you've seen what I've seen.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: Are the schedulers anti-Semites? Or just anti-Shvester Esther?
I was thinking the same thing about Joan of Arcadia. A very non denominational show about religion, and a major religion is basically excluded from watching it. A character was even Jewish with a Rabbi for a father.
Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :
This season, I'm watching more TV than I usually do-- Gilmore Girls, House, and Law & Order SVU.
But I think that it's funny that watching the same show on DVD is not TV. When it comes to what I'm watching on DVD, I'm doing an eighties marathon-- Magnum PI, MacGyver, Knight Rider, and the A-Team. I'm curious to re-experience things from my lost youth. So far MacGyver was a disappointment, but I'm enjoying the A-Team more.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
This thread sucks. It's actually making me want to watch MORE TV. The only show I thought about enough to try to watch last season was Lost, but since then I've watched all of Firefly on DVD, and heard great things about Gilmore Girls, Arrested Development, Veronica Mars, and House. Maybe I'll do Arrested on Monday, Gilmore on Tuesday and Lost on Wednesday and leave it at that.
Or maybe I'll just stick with Lost. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I watch SportCenter every morning. Well, not exactly watch it. My husband turns it on every morning after the alarm clock goes off, and so it kind of flows over me, too.
I don't give a hoot for sports, though.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
At the moment, I'm not watching tons. Big Brother has been on Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays, but that's gone with this week (this week is Tuesday/Friday and then next week is just Tuesday since it's the end). With the new season stuff, my schedule is still fairly bare. Wednesdays I have Lost, Thursdays I have Survivor and Smallville (probably have to tape one and watch it later), and then Sundays I have Simpsons/Family Guy. That's about it. I guess it's probably better I don't have tons to watch since it gives me more time to be studious.
Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
All I'm actually giving a chance this season is Prison Break, and I'm somewhat hooked. But there is indeed this season a lot of stuff I'd probably find myself watching if it wasn't for the whole college/work thing. But on a positive note, at least reality television seems to be on the wane and networks are focusing on dramas once again.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I do not like Arested Development, but find myself watching it anyway. The Shemale joke and the "They shoot Heroin Don't they?" Thing made me burst out laughing. I dislike all of these old sitcoms, but watch them anyway. Like I hate Seinfeld, dislike King of Queens, Yes, Dear, Dharma and Greg and Everybody Loves Raymond and STILL WATCH THEM! ARG! The shows I love are House, Bones is good. That woman is such a babe! I love Simpson's and Family guy. Hate King of the Hill but watch it anyway and get annoyed. I adore this dancing show they have because everyone on it is so sexy. But I hate how they must eliminate people.
Posted by Hamson (Member # 7808) on :
I don't watch too much TV, the only show I make an effort to catch weekly is The Simpsons. Other than that, If I remember at the time, I like to watch Whose Line, and Conan on Friday nights. When I watch TV besides those times, I'm normally watching either the Discovery or History channel, or the news.
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
If it's not NASCAR, Hockey, Baseball, MST3K, or the History Channel, it does not matter. Those are the only TV shows I watch. An' I barely watch those.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
We watch far more shows than anyone else has mentioned, but I'll plead the fifth when it comes to naming them. Excluding off-season shows, I count 21 weekly hours of shows we'll definitely be watching/recording once they start this season, plus a number of new shows we might give a shot. This of course doesn't include the off-season cable stuff. No DVR, but three VCRs usually covers it (I did have to give up one show last year because there were four on at the same time, and it was at the kids' bedtime so I couldn't watch it as it happened).
--Pop
[Edit -- typo]
[ September 14, 2005, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: Papa Moose ]
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
I use to not watch TV....
Now I record all the shows I want and watch them as I have time. Usually that goes all the way into when the seasons end and repeats start. So by the time they come out of repeats, I'm finishing all the shows I recorded last season.
NCIS, Stargate, 24, Lost, Veronica Mars, Law and Order, Desperate Housewives.
I've seen Numb3rs and it is good too. Crossing Jordan and Without a Trace are good too. But I don't exactly go out of my way to watch them.
I use to love Arrested Development and Smallville, AD lost its humor, and SV got stupid in a big way. I've thought of making a TV show graveyard, shows that I loved at one point but couldn't watch anymore, usually after a season break or when they replace actors/actresses: AD, SV, Andromeda, JAG, Martial Law, Early Edition.
I also started noticing alternating writers in Star Trek Enterprise and Voyager. Some shows were fun, but some I couldn't finish. And it changed from week to week.
I use to like JAG. Then I started noticing different writers. Then it just went all bad. I could tell a good eposide from a lame one by the music. The lame ones had cutesy music and tried to use the music to cover for whatever was lacking in the show (no interesting/convincing story most of the time).
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I do not have cable. I never have.
I used to be a slave to far too many shows. Now I am a slave to none. I watch whatever happens to be on when I am wanting to watch something -- or else I watch whatever I have from Netflix.
If it's really good, I'll get it from Netflix eventually. Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I refuse to get cable. The existence of a gameshow network is an offence. Old game shows! Who the heck wants to watch that? Cable is nothing but a place to put dumb old shows and it's bad enough to watch those on network television.
Posted by Brian J. Hill (Member # 5346) on :
Narnia--don't waste your time with watching House. I don't want to offend any fans of the show as there obviously are many, people whom I respect greatly among them, but as for me I'm not sure the last time I loathed a character as much as I loathed the protagonist on this show. His existence seems to be solely for the screenwriters to come up with more "witty"--i.e. mean and hurtful--things to say to everyone around him. Perhaps I'm being unfair in that I've only seen one full episode, but I have far too little time to waste it on watching a show I detested solely to look for redeeming qualities.
Posted by Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged (Member # 7476) on :
Noooooo! I've become addicted to Lost. I don't know how it happened. I blame summer and it's re-runs. I only started watching about a month ago and I'm already sucked in. I don't know all the back story...so Ill have to buy the series on DVD. That now makes Lost, 24, The Shield and Nip/Tuck the shows I buy. I've still managed to avoid Firefly so I have one saving grace...
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
We put our TV away about 6 months ago, and Life Went On. Now none of us is really interested in any shows, except maybe BYU games or MNF. Even if the TV is out, I rarely turn it on.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
quote:Originally posted by Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged: Noooooo! I've become addicted to Lost. I don't know how it happened. I blame summer and it's re-runs. I only started watching about a month ago and I'm already sucked in. I don't know all the back story...so Ill have to buy the series on DVD.
Sort of similar to me. An old high school teacher (whose TV viewing tastes corresponde fairly close to my own) recommended Lost to me last spring. I caught the last 2 episodes, and then I watched the reruns all summer and up till now. I haven't picked up the DVD set yet (although I've been considering it), but I'll definitely be watching the new season. Lost is just pilled onto the other shows I'm addicted to.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Just watch Firefly and be a true junkie. You know you want to.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by Brian J. Hill: Narnia--don't waste your time with watching House. I don't want to offend any fans of the show as there obviously are many, people whom I respect greatly among them, but as for me I'm not sure the last time I loathed a character as much as I loathed the protagonist on this show. His existence seems to be solely for the screenwriters to come up with more "witty"--i.e. mean and hurtful--things to say to everyone around him. Perhaps I'm being unfair in that I've only seen one full episode, but I have far too little time to waste it on watching a show I detested solely to look for redeeming qualities.
I adore House. But I get that a lot of people won't. I wouldn't want to be at the receiving end of his comments, but then, I don't imagine he'd much enjoy being at the receiving end of mine. <grin>
Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :
Yeah, House is kind of obnoxious, but he's smart enough (and in plenty of cases astute enough) that people end up having to put up with his being obnoxious. It's kind of amusing to watch. I like him even if I wouldn't want to hang out with him.
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
I just told my husband last night to remember that every Wed. night from 8-9 I will be unavailable, especially next Wed. when Lost premieres!
I agree with NUMB3RS. It really is good. That one my dh will watch with me. I look forward to Alias but I'm not happy they moved it to 7. Thats too early so I probably won't catch it as often.
I want to see Close to Home. I hoping its good. The blond gal was on a few episodes of Crossing Jordan (the one other show I regularly watch) and I really liked her but hated that comedy she was in last season. I'm hoping this next show is better.
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
I watch the Daily Show when I can, but other than that I'm not really beholden to anything. I prefer to wait until the season comes out on DVD and then rent them. Although, I'd probably watch the Sopranos if I could. I understand that some people can't get past the nudity, language, and violence, but it is beyond question some of, if not the, best television ever.
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