The remnants of fall TV
Last fall, the TV networks introduced about two dozens new prime-time shows. I sampled the first episodes of nearly all of them, to see if any were worth adding to my roster. Of those that survived, here are the ones I’m still watching:
“30 Rock”
“Heroes”
“Friday Night Lights”
That’s it. Two dozen shows, and I only stuck with three. (There would be a fourth, “Help Me Help You,” but ABC canceled it.) It’s worth noting that all three are on NBC, which is currently suffering from some of its lowest ratings in history. Maybe being in last place has helped the network regain its will to live by seeking out quality programs? Or maybe it’s a coincidence.
I watched “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” ravenously at first, and then increasingly halfheartedly. When it returned from its winter hiatus, I did not return with it. I realized I was only interested in the behind-the-scenes-at-a-TV-show aspect, and not the slightest bit in the characters’ personal lives, which was becoming the central focus.
I watched the first few episodes of “Jericho” and found it mildly compelling but not enough to keep going.
I couldn’t make it through even the entire pilot episode of “Ugly Betty.” So ham-fistedly whimsical! So over-the-top cheesy! So unbearably cutesy! I wanted to grab the show by the shoulders and smack it repeatedly in the face.
Nothing else really grabbed me this year. What about you?
April 26th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Heroes. That’s all for me. But there are only a few shows on TV that grab me at all, let alone new shows. I watched maybe two episodes of 30 Rock and didn’t even give the others a chance.
April 26th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
The Riches on FX is excellent. Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard star. It is a family of travelers or gypsies who live in the South. They take the identity of a rich couple that died on the way to their new home, which was bought off the internet. Its a fun show. I watch it every Monday night. Its the only show I’ve watched religiously since Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4.
April 26th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Heroes is about the only thing keeping me going back to television. The rumor on the streets is that they hadn’t ever planned on a second season. Given the popularity of the show, they’re probably going to figure out how to write one anyway and it’s anyone’s guess as to if they’ll “jump the shark” or not.
April 26th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
“So ham-fistedly whimsical! So over-the-top cheesy! So unbearably cutesy! I wanted to grab the show by the shoulders and smack it repeatedly in the face.”
I resemble that remark.
April 26th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I watch “House.” I will watch “Heroes” again when they buy some more lightbulbs. What the heck is the point of all the dramatic pauses and camera angles when I can’t see what they’re trying to show me?
If you can get your hands on “Little Mosque on the Prairie” from CBC it’s worth seeing — it’s so good at “minority religion in small town midwest” I swear you could replace the Muslims with Mormons and have essentially the same show. This is good, imo, because it helps people identify with Muslims. They struggle with getting their children to accept the faith and follow the rules, they struggle with each other’s different interpretations… I was watching it to learn about the Muslim faith (granted, with a bit of salt thrown in, as I know TV is not the best place to learn about faith) and I was surprised at how much I found I could relate to.
April 26th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
The new addition to my TV schedule this year was “Lost,” which started three years ago, and “Dancing with the Stars,” because one of the “stars” shares his name with my newborn son. So ABC scored big with me this year by renewing old shows.
I do wish I could negative vote on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
April 26th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Heroes, yes, and I’ve been late coming to 30 Rock. Oh, man — “I got us reservations at this Canadian restaurant downtown…” It made me laugh muchly.
I’m not going back for a 3rd season of Prison Break, though. I had enough of that contrived mess.
Lost still has me, but it’s an increasingly tenuous grip. I’m not getting suckered into seven seasons of X-Files here. (X-Files had more seasons, but I jumped ship after the movie came out.)
Battlestar Galactica has me, insofar as I’ll be renting season 3 once it’s out.
April 26th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I do love my Heroes, and I’ve recently started watching 30 Rock, since it’s so conveniently located after The Office (one of my favorites). I can’t think of any other new shows that I watch. Or any other shows that I’m not ashamed of watching. (I’m looking at you America’s Next Top Model.)
April 26th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Don’t watch TV much and didn’t watch any of those shows you’ve mentioned. I just watched the first three episodes of Drive, and was pretty impressed with it, but word on the street is that it’s been canceled already. Is Fox actually allergic to well-written and well-acted shows?
April 26th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I never found “Heroes” as compelling as many other people did. I watched until the “Six Months Ago” show (right after they saved the cheerleader), then stopped. (I was REALLY ticked when they killed off the waitress character.)
The only show I watch regularly (meaning, when it airs) is “Lost.” But I watch “Battlestar Galactica,” “Scrubs,” and “24″ by… other means.
April 26th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Lost and Heroes is it for me. I continue to be dumfounded why Ugly Betty is doing so well as I too barely made it through the first episode. I agree also about Studio 60…the behind-the-scenes stuff was fascinating b
April 26th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I stumbled across Heroes on the internet a few days ago, downloaded and watched most of the episodes. The scientist in me dies a little each time they bring up jargon, or any philosophizing about evolution. Also, it’s starting to get a bit frustrating how most of the the main characters have deadly powers, mortal strife, and nuggets of information fellow characters (and the audience) would love to have, yet each episode ends with various stalemates and inexcusable evasions. The writers have concocted an intriguing situation, but seem unwiling to let it unfold.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I’m with you all the way, Eric. I was very busy at the beginning of the Fall TV-watching season, but I thought a lot of the new shows were so dumb. I watched Studio 60 for a while, but I realized that I liked griping about it way more than I actually liked watching it. The last thing I remember seeing was that boring blond Christian chick almost kissing boring Matthew Perry. UGH! Okay. I thought some other show was kinda cute at the beginning, but since I can’t even remember what that show was, I obviously started hating it and stopped watching it. The only rookie shows that I still watch are 30 Rock (I’m so in love with that show), Friday Night Lights (If there is something better than being so in love, then that is what I am with this show), and Heroes. I really hope Friday Night Lights picks up an entire second season. I love the Taylors; Coach and Tami have the greatest chemistry I can remember ever seeing in any TV show. And it’s a great feel-good show. It’s definitely my new favorite pick-up.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
My mom LOVES Ugly Betty. I think it’s so stupid, but I think Eric Mabius is SUCH a cutie! He needs to be on another good show.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I watch a lot of other shows, too, like, 24, Veronica Mars (maybe? Is that supposed to come back on anytime soon?), American Idol, The Office, My Name Is Earl (sometimes), Grey’s Anatomy, and SNL. I also just started watching BSG. I have one more episode left to watch of the first season, and I have the second season at my disposal. I never sleep because I work all day and stay up late at night to watch my stuff.
April 27th, 2007 at 6:51 am
I’m hooked on Deadliest Catch and Dirty Jobs, both on the Discovery Channel. I haven’t watched network TV for at least three months, there’s nothing that has interested me enough to tune in.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:21 am
I watch Heroes and 30 Rock. Also new to my viewing pleasure this year is 24. I borrowed the first season dvd back in May. I have made it through the first 4 seasons so far. I couldn’t imagine having to wait a week between episodes. I usually watch 2-3 at a time.
I don’t know if I can stand watching Lost anymore. There doesn’t seem to be any point to it.
April 27th, 2007 at 9:53 am
I am about 5 episodes behind in “Heroes,” but Tivo is saving them for me. I think that’s the only rookie show I’m still watching. I watched my first episode of “30 Rock” last night (mainly because it was on after “The Office”) and it was funnier than I expected. I might start making more of an effort, but since I don’t think there are any shows that I watch live anymore, that’s more difficult than it sounds. Maybe I’ll throw it a season pass just to give it a chance at making my rotation
I really wanted to get into “Friday Night Lights” but I missed a bunch and then I was so far behind I figured it might just be better to wait for the DVD.
And to answer Carrie, “Veronica Mars” is supposed to come back this Tuesday (May 1) for a 5 week run to end the season. At least that’s what I thought I saw, but I’m too lazy to actually look it up right now.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:57 am
If it weren’t for NBC putting their shows online, like “Heroes” I wouldn’t be able to watch TV. Poor college student that I am, I can’t afford a Tivo. Knowing my roomates, it would be filled with episodes of “Law and Order” and anything on the History Channel. Kudoes to both NBC and ABC for putting shows online. Now please, NBC, put The Office online!
Shows I currently love: Heroes, Lost, The Office, Law and Order: SVU, and Utah Jazz games.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:59 am
I’ve been enjoying Shark very much. But that might be just because I’m so gay for James Woods that I don’t really care if the writers use the exact same story structure for every single show. And Sarah Carter is hot.
April 27th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Heroes is turning into my favorite show on TV - very compelling to watch. That’s it for new shows. As far as other shows I watch, House is amazing, 24, Shark, The Office, and Idol - to laugh at the contestants. Oh, and The Colbert Report. That’s it.
April 27th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I’ve been watching Heroes, Lost, 30 Rock, Battlestar Gallactica and American Idol, though no one on Idol captures my attention like Katharine McPhee did last year (sigh.)
BTW - Knowing what a BIG football fan you are (not), I was surprised to see you are watching “Friday Night Lights.” I wondered if you watch that show in reverse of how most men watch porno - fast forward through the football to get to the dialogue.
Still love your work, E.
April 27th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
A lot of people I know say they don’t watch FNL because they don’t like football. That’s when I tell them that the show isn’t ABOUT football; this great drama just happens to be set around high school football. Hardly anything in the show is actually about football. The setting could just as well be a mayonnaise factory, and the same storylines could take place. The very idea of mayonnaise makes me dry-heave, but the stories wouldn’t have anything to do with mayonnaise, therefore, I could still enjoy the show.
April 28th, 2007 at 8:55 am
I will preface my list of favorite TV shows with this disclaimer: I am a chick, and a major sap…bear this in mind.
I absolutely love Grey’s Anatomy…COMPLETELY addicted
I also very much like Brothers & Sisters…I love Sally Field, and actually quite enjoy Callista Flockhart (I was a huge Ally McBeal fan for the first season or so, also).
Heroes is great. Very compelling, but I have to agree with a previous poster that sometimes they seem to be dragging things out unnecessarily…and they always do that TV thing where they promise some huge “revelation” every episode, which turns out to not be such a big revelation after all, and usually leads to more questions.
I really loved Studio 60 and will be very sad to see it die. I really liked the characters, and I personally felt that the dialogue on the whole was really sharp, which is unusual for TV…too much of TV is pandering to the less intelligent members of the populace. (Obviously there will be a bunch of people responding to this saying that I must be one of the less intelligent ones if I liked this show.)
I also think Ugly Betty is really cute, but I don’t watch it regularly. I only see it when I turn the TV on early for Grey’s. Any lastly, a show I’ve recently picked up Notes from the Underbelly…even though I generally can’t stand half hour sitcoms, I have thus far found Notes to be pretty entertaining.
…that is all.
April 28th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Is the “intelligent” populace also boring, then?
April 29th, 2007 at 7:54 am
Well, whether or not you liked it depends on you. My point is just that at least its not reality TV or something similarly brainless.
April 29th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Ah. I see now. I wasn’t getting that at all at first because very few people had mentioned watching any reality TV, and I don’t consider reality TV to be real TV. In fact, when I make a mental list of the TV shows I watch, as I’ve done for commenting purposes here, any reality show that I might watch (and I don’t currently watch any because networks have really blown that out of proportion, and I don’t consider American Idol reality because it’s just a talent show) doesn’t even come to mind because I don’t consider it to be a real TV show. Reality TV wasn’t anywhere on my radar when you said that thing, and I just thought you were a super, uberstuffy Sorkin fan.
April 30th, 2007 at 5:30 am
I enjoy Heroes and Jericho. Other than that, I just ask TiVo to record somethings like Scrubs, Simpsons, the Office, Earl or South Park. I also like The Black Donnelys, which only had two or three episodes on TV, and is now only on NBC.com. Its also a good show, I highly recommend it, if you don’t mind the violence.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 am
Kevith–ABC has Friday Night Lights episodes online. Get to it man!
I swear 30 Rock makes me do a spittake every week. Of course I watch the show with a mouthful of chocolate milk.
Battlestar Galactica: because I am a nerd.