Fall Television 2009 Discussion
By BOP Staff
November 18, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Aside from that, I'm watching V, but it's only just started, so who knows if it'll remain a keeper. Any show that chooses to make Alan Tudyk play someone boring is a show whose sanity I question. White Collar has proven to be satisfying, mostly thanks to the smooth rapport of the stars, Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay. Usually, I'm not involved enough in the USA brand of TV show, but this one is still impressing me.
The only major disappointments I tuned into were Flash Forward and Cougar Town, both of which I wanted to like but didn't. The former program had problems in the pilot that only got exacerbated in the next episode, which lay flat until I got to see that Courtney B. Vance was in the bathroom during the flash forward, and saw himself...in the bathroom in the future. Fun times. Cougar Town is a show that I'd really like to like, except Courteney Cox seems to think she's playing a three-camera sitcom with a studio audience instead of a single-camera program. She's overplaying everything, and the same attitude I was hoping to see in the show as with Scrubs didn't show.
Among returning shows, I've not given up on any of them, but House, in particular, is starting to worry me. The premiere was great. However, since then, the non-House characters have gotten a lot of screen time, and none of them are as fascinating or charismatic as House is. Hugh Laurie will keep me watching through pretty much anything, but the program is far past its glory days. Mad Men just ended its third season on the highest of high notes, remaining the best show on TV when it's on the air. Now, I'll have to make do with The Office (sigh, David; just, sigh) and Parks and Recreation, which is very close to surpassing The Office as the funniest TV show. And, I'll continue counting the days until Lost premieres.
Mary Doskins: Unlike most of the staff here, I just couldn't take Modern Family. It's just not my cup of tea. I made it to about the first commercial break and that was it.
As far as TV stars in new roles, I've liked Courteney Cox in Cougar Town and Jenna Elfman in Accidentally on Purpose. I really think that Elfman (along with Christina Applegate) is another of those under-appreciated comedic actresses on television. However, Hank was really disappointing. I really like Kelsey Grammer, but this one just didn't work. It just seemed like he was the only one that had been displaced from his privileged lifestyle, but the rest of the family was coping fairly well. I've really liked The Middle. It kind of reminds me of Malcolm in the Middle, but not quite so over the top. The youngest son, Brick, played by Atticus Shaffer, has been quite a scene-stealer for me.
In the drama category, nothing has really stood out, but I continue to watch Flash Forward, Three Rivers, The Forgotten, and Vampire Diaries. None of them are very special, but decent enough to keep my attention. As of this writing, I haven't had a chance to watch V yet, but it doesn't sound that promising.
Jim Van Nest: I didn't plan to pick up many new shows this season as very few really caught my eye. One show I hoped to watch, Flash Forward, is in the middle of the crowded Thursday night lineup and with only one DVR in the house, I can't record everything, so Flash Forward got bumped from my schedule.
Also bumped this season was Heroes. I know, a little late, but after two episodes this season, I just couldn't take it anymore. I feel SO much better not having it on my DVR anymore.
For the new shows, LOVE Glee. Does it have some plot issues and acting issues? Sure. But it's too much fun. If they would just get rid of the fake pregnancy, it would become one of my favorites. I like Eastwick, but it's having a hard time getting to the point. Kinda seems like they were planning the series for the long haul but planned it out too long and it's bored enough viewers that it's now cancelled and we may or may not get the last six filmed episodes. I planned to watch Community, but dammit never did. Reviews I hear are hit and miss and I really just don't do sitcoms anymore, so I let it go. Despite the fact that I really had no intention of watching V, I tuned in for Elizabeth Mitchell and decided to stick with it. I liked the original mini-series and think it'll be interesting to see how they update the story for a series.
Returning shows: Lie to Me just keeps getting better and better. I love me some Tim Roth and his Cal Lightman is one of my favorite characters on TV right now. House and Bones are favorites that are still as good as ever. The Russell Seed has definitely been planted at Casa de Van Nest as he's been the only enjoyable part of this season of Survivor. And is it me, or is CSI: The original simply not as good without Grissom? I dig Fishburne and he's good on the show, but I can't seem to stay awake through even 1 episode anymore. Maybe it's because they're all the same now, I don't know.
Overall, I've reduced my number of shows from last season. Mainly, just don't spend as much time in front of the TV as I used to. I'm also getting to the point where I don't even want to try new shows anymore, because the networks are so quick to pull the plug that I hate to get vested in a show (Journeyman, Life, Carnivale, Rome, Deadwood...etc) only to have the network pull the rug out from under me. Screw you guys, I'll skip the show and if it makes it a full season, I'll Netflix the DVDs.
Kim Hollis: Now that we're a couple of months into the fall season, my favorite new show (by far) is Modern Family. Everything about it works for me. Ed O'Neill is wonderful, and his character is a lot more layered than you might think on a cursory glance. I always tend to like Julie Bowen, and her Claire is no exception. Ty Burrell cracks me up on a regular basis (Why the face?), and Rico Rodriguez, who plays young Manny is a terrific child actor who really sells his lines. The show really does belong to Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, though. I think they're in the running for best couple on television, and it's not just because they're funny as hell. Their relationship is really sweet and I love that the writing hints at their history without giving everything away and hitting the viewer over the head.
Cougar Town is the other show I'm really enjoying, though I think it's possible I'd like it less if I wasn't close to Courteney Cox's age. I also love that Busy Phillips (of Freaks and Geeks) has such a choice role. The secret star of the show, though, is Brian Van Holt, who plays the main character's ex-husband. He just charms me.
As for the other new shows I'm still watching, I'm liking White Collar, but that's probably largely a function of Matt Bomer being so nice to look at. His interplay with Tim DeKay is great, but the plots are a touch simplistic so far. They might just be getting their footing, though. Flash Forward is decent, but awfully talky. I always have trouble staying awake through an episode. I'm watching V, but it's on a super short leash. If it doesn't get significantly better after the next episodes, I'm breaking up with it. As for Glee, it's super up and down, but the last two episodes have been good enough that I'm still sticking with it for now.
I quit watching both Eastwick and The Vampire Diaries after a single episode apiece. Eastwick felt like a Desperate Housewives clone, and I gave up on that show last year. I was hoping for better things from The Vampire Diaries, but it was effectively a Twilight copycat, and a poorly acted one at that (more poorly acted than Twilight? It doesn't seem possible, and yet...).
Along with Desperate Housewives, I also quit on shows like Ugly Betty and Gossip Girl. I would still maintain that Friday Night Lights is the best thing on TV, and don't see that changing any time soon.
Updated score sheet showing what shows we've stuck with, ditched and picked up