Buh-Bye, B Shows
Normally autumn, with its launch of the television season here in the US, is one of my favorite times of the year. I devour the Entertainment Weekly guide to fall TV, reading it to tatters, then carefully plot out what I’m going to watch, and how, since our Tivo can “only” record two shows at a time. This year, however, was different. Perhaps the quality of shows took too big of a hit with the writers strike earlier this year. Perhaps I’ve simply reached my allowable tolerance for only-OK television. In any case, my interest is failing fast.
I canceled the season pass for Dirty Sexy Money before the season even began. I’ve dropped Heroes and Sarah Connor: Terminator. I’m waiting to hear how the Mentalist is; the premiere was good, Simon Baker is very good, but I’m tired of watching shows that are only OK except for one thing: Life for Damian Lewis, Bones for the witty banter, the overcrowded House for what Hugh Laurie is going to do or say next. When I look at my Tivo to-do list, I find only a few shows that I consider A-list: Mad Men, Project Runway, the Office, and 30 Rock. I’d add How I Met Your Mother, only it’s wildly uneven, and last night’s was really lame.
I’m highly dependent on, and grateful for, the tv critiques of Alan Sepinwall. He likes the good stuff, and is intolerant of the mediocre and bad stuff. He’s about to give up on Heroes:
Like Peter, I think you really have to be able to turn your brain off to enjoy “Heroes” these days, and unfortunately, I don’t have that ability… er, power. (Gah!)
And he goggles that one of the two reasons he still watches Terminator is because of former 90210er Brian Austin Green:
He’s gone from squeaky-voiced “Beverly Hills 90210″ fifth wheel (did anyone at any point watch that show for David Silver?) to convincing bad-ass, and, along with Summer Glau, the reason I remain engaged by a show that’s otherwise just slightly better than mediocre.
Sepinwall is a reliable indicator to me of what to watch, and what to avoid. I’ve got about 110 pages of Crime and Punishment to go for my book group this week, and I’m giving the B shows the boot so I can finish it. Will I watch them again? Who knows. But I’m rather looking forward to the increase in free time. I’ve let TV become a chore, and that’s just wrong.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
You have channeled my very thoughts (and actions, oddly).
October 7th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Even if HIMYM can be uneven at times, to me, when it’s bringing its A game, it’s probably the funniest show currently on television (and yes, I do watch The Office). I agree, though, that the majority of new shows that have been offered up this season seem unremarkable, and won’t get much/any attention from me. My “must-watch” tv is pretty much identical to last year’s roster:
Sunday - Amazing Race, Dexter, Brothers & Sisters
Monday - How I Met Your Mother
Tuesday - Greek, House (although I’ve only seen the premiere for this season, and haven’t felt motivated to catch up on the rest yet)
Wednesday - Project Runway (& Top Chef when it starts up)
Thursday - The Office
I will probably watch 30 Rock when it goes back on air, and my boyfriend and I have been watching Mad Men S1, so we will probably get around to watching the current season episodes at some point in the future.
October 8th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I can see that our TV situations are similar. I also use the EW fall TV issue to program my DVR. This year, like you, I didn’t find any new shows that are must-see for me. All the shows I watch now are on at least their third season. Out of that list, the only one that I am anxiously waiting for week to week is Mad Men.
I know what you mean about free time. For the past several years, I couldn’t pull myself away from the TV long enough to read books. This week, I’ve already gone through two!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:47 am
I am loving the return of Pushing Daisies. LIFE has been stunningly uneven — Friday’s episode was one of the worst episodes of ANY TV show EVER but then Monday’s was great.