televisionary

Fall Shortlist

Having watched a whole bunch of pilot screeners (but not all of 'em), I have to say I'm not entirely excited about this year's new shows. But fun they are! Unlike last year's mixed bag of overly ambitious high concept serious dramas, this year is all about the light and fluffy. From the top of my head, here are some shows that might not be a masterpiece yet, but they're definitely worth a peek or two:-

Pushing Daisies (ABC)- Bryan Fuller is da man!

Reaper (CW)- Ray Wise is delicious as the devil.

Aliens in America (CW)- A Pakistani foreign exchange student and a geeky loser tries to defy stereotypes in the birthplace of most stereotypes - high school.

Chuck (NBC) - Alias turned geeky chic.

Dirty, Sexy, Money (ABC)- the new Dynasty?

Gossip Girl (CW)- I'll take Kristen Bell (she's the voiceover narrator)anyway I can.  BTW, old news now, but Kristen Bell will be in Heroes this fall, and that is flipping fantastic!

Bionic Woman (NBC)- If only for the first couple of episodes where Katee Sackhoff (otherwise known as Starbuck)kicks ass as the first Bionic Woman.

I'll have more on the new fall shows and returning favorites on another post. In the meantime, check out these newbies and see what's to your liking!

Summer Shows, Part Deux

I know it’s September already, but just to add a few surprisingly good dramas and one good but could be better comedy onto the summer show list (and are still on air):-

Mad Men (AMC, Thurs?)

Beautiful, beautiful show on the golden era of the 1960s-70s. That is, if you’re a Caucasian Male who’s not Jewish. Not so much for anyone else. There are loads and loads of inner conflict and confusion in each character as they sail through the social and sexual inequities and the small rumble of the change in the seventies. Entertaining and sometimes painful (but in a delicious way) to watch, but a surprisingly good show from an otherwise off the radar channel. For Angel fans out there, Angel’s son Connor does a mighty fine job here!

Damages (F/X, Tues?)

Another daring attempt by F/X, known for its other daring crazy dramas like Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me. Not your average Law and Order, it follows (in its flashbacks) a young brainy woman (The actress whose name I’ve forgotten – she looks a bit like Robin Tunney in Prison Break, but a better actress in a way better role)newly hired by a well-reputated law firm, headed by one very ruthless lawyer (Glenn Close). It’s all down to this one rather nasty case concerning a rich tycoon of sorts (Ted Danson), who was believed to have swindled the retirement fund out of thousands of his employees. Back in the present, the protégé is accused of murdering her fiancé, and each week we get a little more of how that’s all tied in with the tycoon case. It’s a very engaging show, and my only request is that they end this season with all the answers. Of course, I have no idea how they would have a second season given the structure, but I would be pissed if they don’t resolve the storyline by the end of this season. Oh, and Tate Donovan (yay!) is in it as well, as Glenn Close’s shady right hand man.

Californication (Showtime, Sun?)

David Duchovny on TV again is always a good thing. But I do have my reservations on this show. While it can be pretty funny at times, I’m not sure if some parts of the show are purely there for a ‘shock’ value with a kind of a ‘nudge nudge, we’re so edgy, sexy and cool’ sentiment to it. But hey, you’ve got Mulder, and that is enough for me (for now) to watch – at least for the summer. Mulder is Hank Moody, a one hit wonder in the world of literature, whose life has gone out of whack ever since his book was being made into a (crappy) movie. His ex (Natascha McElhone) is getting married to some other guy , and I guess the series follows him trying to either get the love of his life back, or at least rebuild a new relationship with her and their daughter. Basically, Hank is a good guy who does a lot of damaging and terrible things while he tries to get a footing on his life. If you like Duchovny’s sense of humor, you’ll probably enjoy his self deprecating type humor enormously. But as far as the storytelling is concerned, it’s a bit choppy at times and in some episodes, a bit aimless. Evan Handler (i.e. Charlotte’s hubby in Sex and the City) plays Duchovny’s agent as well in this uneven comedy.

For those of you who like watching mini-series, I would suggest The Kill Point and The Company. I have not watched either of them yet (because though I watch a lot of TV, I do need a break during the summer), I cannot say if they’re good or not, but they are getting more or less positive reviews, and they’re at most a 6 hour commitment anyway!

Hot, hot weather

Yep. Most series you've been following all year are on hiatus. It's that time of the year.

There's no way around it. Despite the numerous old and new TV shows being shown or about to show in the summer of 2007, I have yet to sink my teeth into anything substantial.

But there is a little gem - not a huge huge one, but an understated, little silly,little annoying yet kind of addictive one - Flight of the Conchords.(HBO, Sun, 10:30pm?) 

The two New Zealanders are a pretty established comedy/band duo - they've got gigs in comedy clubs under their belts, and I think they also did some sort of audio series in the U.K. as well as HBO's comedy One Night Stand - but I do like how the TV series are recycling their songs by giving them a really good looking video that fits in well with the tunes, as well as the story of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie (playing themselves), two comedy musicians trying to make it (and meet girls) in New York. Neither of them are traditionally good looking, to say the least, but they are adorable and strangely appealing. I'm kind of hooked after two episodes, and I look forward to seeing the rest of their songs appear on the show.

The other summer shows on my roster are:-

Entourage (HBO, Sun, 10pm?) - Duh. Mindless fun, even though it hasn't been all that entertaining since season 2.

Big Love (HBO, Mon, 9 or 10pm?) - It's kind of interesting sometimes. Too contrived of a theme/concept, but once you get over that you can really enjoy the characters, in particular the three wives and Bill's awesome mother at the compound. Bill himself? Eh, not so much. I'm just surprised we haven't seen his ass this season yet. 

So yup, watching everything HBO, which is a bit odd. Too bad after the huge ratings monster of the awesome (or so I'm told) Sopranos finale, HBO will need to find something big again. And it's not the much hyped show, John From Cincinnati.(HBO, Sun, 9pm?)

Honestly, I can't say anything about this David Milch vehicle that a ton of people (including the execs at HBO, no doubt) had really high expectations of. I've only watch five minutes of it, and it literally put me to sleep. So, no, I don't think I liked it very much. How ever did Milch get HBO to promote the heck out of a show that's really too weird to be a hit show? They'd been better off placing that money on the Conchords. Anyhoo.

Other shows that are on the summer roster:

Rescue Me - Everyone says it's awesome. I didn't watch it at first because I don't really like that David Denis Leary fellow, and now I can't watch it coz I'm way behind. Some day.

The 4400 - Presumably for Sci Fi/ Twilight Zone type fans. I've watched only a handful of episodes at the beginning, and while it was generally good, I found it diificult to be invested in the characters, given the structure of the show.

The Starter Wife - I'm sorry, I really don't like Debra Messing anymore after Will and Grace. Enough said.

The Closer - No. Thanks. I know it gets good ratings and all, but it's just yet another criminal procedural. Yuck.

Traveler - I was going to watch it til I heard it might be cut/end prematurely. I get a little sick of investing time in such shows.

Hidden Palms - Ew. Please, never ever never ever ever.

Kyle XY - I remember those ads:- it's about a boy who has no belly button (and is an alien or something?) According to ads this year, the second season brings in a female XX, who also has no belly button. I've never watched it myself, but I'm told it's not half bad.

There's also a ton of reality TV shows on now, but none that I'm recommending. Perhaps you would like them though:-

So You Think You Can Dance - I heard great things about this one. And it really is kind of entertaining at times. (at least the auditions were, which was the parts I've watched.) It's American Idol with dancing, and they dance much better than those C-list stars on that other dance show. I, however, am not much of a dancer watcher, nor an American Idol fan.

Pirate Master - Burnett again. Survivor meets Pirates (of the Caribbean). Eh. It's pretty stupid. Who wants to see grown men and women decked out in pirate gear and talking (in some cases) the highly annoying pirate talk?

The Age of Love - Bachelor style game with an age twist - half the gals are gorgeous twenty somethings, and half the gals are gorgeous forty somethings. Gross, gross, gross, a la Bachelor style. I couldn't even bring myself to sample the damn thing. I find all shows resembling the Bachelor to be vile and disgusting.*

*except for The Joe Shmoe Show 1 and 2, which was pretty funny.

Big Brother - you know the drill - a bunch of losers trapped in a house all summer and votes each other out to be the last person standing. I only watched last year's all stars because of the awesome Dr. Will of season 2.  (Yes. I've actually watched two - yes two! - seasons of Big Brother. Shame, my friends, that I still bear.) I am never watching this pile of crap again. And this paragraph does not exist at all.

Top Chef - I'm told that this one is the best out of the many competitive food shows at the moment. I'm yet to sample this season - who has a copy of this?

Hell's Kitchen - Watch a guy yell at a bunch of less than great cooks cooking once again green risottos and beef wellingtons. The contestants are a pretty annoying bunch, but you could learn a lot of ways to insult someone from that Ramsey.

The Next Food Network Star (or a title that resembles that) - This I I can't get a copy of, but the premise is this:- they're not looking for a chef, they're looking for a chef who can host a food show.

Canada's Next Top Model - You know the drill. For those who enjoy the intellectual pursuits of skinny (and in some cases, actually pretty!) girls that wanna be models, CNTM is no different than the parent show. Weirdly enough, it's hosted not by a model (like Tyra) but Jay Manual, that orange colored man from the parent show. One funny bit - the CNTM house is decked out in everything Jay, just like Tyra did with her ANTM house. It's pretty creepy.

Hey Paula - No, I haven't watched this one yet.I have absolutely no idea what it is. It's probably about Paula Abdul ... ... and that's all I got.

"I can't believe

that I'm sharing a kebab

with the most beautiful girl

I have ever seen with a kebab"

- flight of the conchords

The Ten

The Ten Commandments TV Shows of 2006

In no particular order:-

1.Battlestar Galactica

I'm a latecomer, but I’m frakkin loving it! Favorite best show of all. OK, so there is kind of an order. This is the show you should be watching. Yes, you there.

2.Dexter

Love! Favorite new show. Love the clever ways they’ve dealt with Dexter, who could’ve been one big cliché.

3.Veronica Mars

It’s still my darling, and I look forward to it like no other. Please get better!

4.Project Runway

I look forward to this over any other reality TV. Hence the spot.

5.Scrubs

Season 5 was a creative high for Scrubs. Have to give it props.

6.Arrested Development

Seems like a million years ago, but this aired til March, 2006, and I’m leaving it here. Love ya, Adios.

7.Grey’s Anatomy

hate to admit it, but my favorite guilty pleasure.

8.24

Season 5 was exceptionally good, and as long as Chloe’s alive, I’ll be watching.

9.Ugly Betty

It was a tossup between this and The Office, but hey, this one’s all new and Golden Globery.

10.Lost

Ok. I’m aware of the slump it’s in, but I have some faith (for now). I refuse to give up on Lost just because it’s a little muddled now. It’s unlike any other show on TV, and that earns Lost the spot, if only temporarily.

Honorary mention: Daily Show, Colbert Report, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, The Office, Survivor.

Favorite TV Boy/Girlfriends of 2006

21 awesome male and female characters I almost wish were real. Not all boyfriend/girlfriend material obviously, but compelling characters that gets my love (just like a boyfriend or a girlfriend). These are the ones (in alphabetical order) I root for every week:-

1.Addison Montgomery (Grey’s Anatomy) – OBGYN Surgeon

She’s very likeable despite all the crappy things she’s done. That’s a pretty big accomplishment. She’s also a top notch doctor, makes tons of money, is smart and beautiful, is sensible and dignified, and totally rocks.

2.Ari Gold (Entourage) - Agent

He’s abrasive, he’s ruthless, he’s obnoxious – but he knows what he’s doing. Certainly not someone you want to marry (witness Mrs. Ari), but on TV, he’s so entertaining and insane that he deserves to be on the list somewhere. Bonus points: this guy also comes with his own Robin a.k.a. Lloyd as well. Yay! Honorary mention: Drama! Hee hee hee.

3.Betty Suarez (Ugly Betty) –executive assistant at Mode/MYW

She really isn’t that ugly. If you’ve seen America Ferrera in normal shots, she’s kind of cute. It really is the braces, huh? But let’s hope Betty stays the way she is – smart, sweet, and so full of heart. She is the reason why the show can walk that fine line between campy and sappy.

4.Chloe O'Brien (24) – CTU agent

Jack’s the reason why I watch 24, but Chloe’s the reason why I LOVE 24. She’s a super computer gal, dorky, defiant, fiercely loyal to Jack. What’s not to love?

5.Christopher Turk (Scrubs) – Surgeon

This man would organize a drumline for his baby’s arrival. How cool is that? And I love his screams and yells - Donald Faison has a way with them. And who wouldn't love Brown Bear and his Mocha Cub?

6.Dexter Morgan (Dexter) – Forensics Specialist/Serial Killer

He’s the newcomer this year, and lookie here, he’s already at no. 3. Yes, he’s a serial killer. Yes, he thinks he has no feelings at all. But he’s that mysterious guy in the corner; you can’t help but think he’s really deep. Plus. Dexter is the most adorable vigilante there is, and you gotta love a guy who can chop up all those nasty people you think deserve to die. Like that guy who stole your parking space.

7.Gaius Baltar (Battlestar Galactica) – Ex-President/Scientist

Oh, Baltar. He’s a horrible person really, but I can’t help but love him for it. His abilities and inabilities make him one of the most evil but also the most vulnerable and weak person on this show. I can’t wait to see what the Cylons will do to him, and what the humans might do to him if or when they get their hands on them. He is after all, the reason why civilization was destroyed (twice! Who can claim that?) But what really gets my vote here, is the ability he has to make me laugh when the drama gets heavy. Which happens a lot in BSG. You know, coz they’re facing doom every day and all.

8.George Michael Bluth (Arrested Development) – High School senior

George Michael’s awkward adolescence makes him adorable and vulnerable, so much that I don’t feel weird at all rooting for him to nail his cousin. Last shout out to Arrested Development – the entire cast could be in this category, but GM is my fave.

9.Jack Bauer (24) – Ex-CTU agent

Well, I have to put him up here. He saved the world like five times already. There’s that problem of people around him dying though.

10.Jim Halbert (The Office) – Sales Rep, or the No. 2 guy in the office

Jim. Awwwwww. All he needs to do is move his brows a certain way or raise ever so slightly the corner of his lips and he’d make me laugh. He’s that adorable puppy dog who doesn’t know he’s hot. (But he totally is!)

11.Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Battlestar Galactica) – Pilot

Starbuck is abrasive as hell, but still remain the best (and hottest) pilot on the Galactica. After hearing rumors (Spoiler Alert!) that Starbuck might not make it to the finale this year, I shudder to think of a BSG without Starbuck. Just when I’m loving this show so much. It better be “just a rumor”…

12.Laura Roslin (Battlestar Galactica) – Ex-ex-president

Oh, I totally love her. She’s ying to Adama’s yang. She remains the moral compass of the show, despite some of the more questionable things she has done (like fix an election). She remains cool, calm, collected while making some of the hardest decisions of mankind. She’s hot too. In that Dances with Wolves older woman sort of way.

13.Logan Echolls (Veronica Mars) – College freshman

I hate using the term, but Logan is this generation’s Dylan McKay. One of those can’t help but love him bad boy. Ew. Even though he was totally whipped this season, perhaps the break up will shake things up a bit. Get a spine, Logan. After all, I love Logan and Veronica together, but I love Logan a little bit more when they’re not.

14.Maggie Jacobs (Extras) – Actress/extra.

She’s Andy’s best pal who always puts her foot in her mouth. Simple minded and kind hearted, she’s cute but definitely not the hot girl that gets any guy’s attention. Or so you think. Throughout the show, she’s attracted all sorts of attention from pirates to wizards. Bet you’ve never been kissed by Orlando Bloom, huh?

15.Seely Booth (Bones) – FBI agent

I bet no one watches this, but it’s my guilty pleasure when I have nothing else to watch. Something about the relationship between Booth and Bones that remind me of Mulder and Scully. Or the fact that Angel of Angel/Buffy is now human? Booth has both Mulder and Angel’s humor without the angst or teeth, which is why he’s my favorite FBI agent these days. He's also pretty hot.

16.Six (Battlestar Galactica) – Cylon

Come on, she’s super hot. She really is. Tricia Helfer is doing one hell of a job acting here, not to mention how super crazy hot she looks (which is weird considering her performance on Canada’s Next Top Model. She looks fugly there, and she can’t act if her life depended on it. Strange). She is very captivating in a very difficult role(s), and she can go from super sexy to deeply emotional in one beat. I’ve just got a question. How come all cylon females are hot (and their males not)?

17.Sharon “Boomer” Valerii/Sharon “Athena” Agathon/Eight (Battlestar Galactica) – Cylon/Pilot

Yes, another one from BSG. I love this character because she represents the Cylons – the good side of them. Her dedication and loyalty to Helo, Adama, and to Galactica despite being the enemy is tremendous. We’ll see how far that will go once she finds out more about Hera, and it is always fascinating to watch her as a cylon living amongst humans. Oh, and the fact that she’s the only known cylon to have a child (or be pregnant) makes her a big player in the world of BSG. Side question: Why didn’t the other Eights try and get pregnant during the occupation?

18.Tim Gunn (Project Runway) – Professor/Mentor

I can’t help but love this man. He makes this show one of the best reality show there is, and I can’t imagine a Project Runway without him as everyone’s favorite mentor (hear that, Heidi? NO PR’s without Tim Gunn). He’s brutally honest with each designer with his critiques but he never crosses the line to mean and hateful (except towards crazy ol’ Vincent). And as your gay boyfriend, not only can he critique your look, he can make your look.

19.Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars) – College freshman

Of course you’re here. Kristen Bell is one of the most compelling female stars on TV, and though she has no Emmy or Golden Globe to show for it, it doesn’t change the fact that she carries the show entirely. So what’s to love about Veronica? She’s righteous, smart as hell, loyal, knows her way around the computer and back, solves any crime thrown her way, and still manages to curl her golden locks and be best friends with her dad. Oh, and she’s totally hot as well.

20.William Adama (Battlestar Galactica) – Admiral

Well this was a tough one. If you’re talking about eye candy, Helo and maybe Apollo (sans the fat suit) should do the trick. Admiral Adama’s looks leaves much to be desired, but there is something about being the most powerful man on the military. You’d want him to be on your side if our world is suddenly attacked by frakkin’ Cylons. Hey, even the ex-ex-president of the twelve colonies has a crush on him. Talk about the power couple here.

21.Yul Kwon (Survivor) – Consultant/God

The other hottie from yet another island – but this one’s real (we think). He seems to have the total package – you name it, he’s got it – and still remains dorkishly adorable to a T. Wait, he’s Asian too? Get in line, people.

Honorary Mention: Jack (Lost), Cristina (Grey’s), Hiro (Heroes), Phil (Amazing Race), Lorelai (Gilmore Girls)

Santa, Jack Bauer Style (With token Chloe)

Just a little holiday cheer from FOX.

For 24 fans, a sneak peak before the season premiere on Jan 14th and 15th.

Woohoo!

The Nine: Yawnfest

Oh, I haven't watched The Nine since episode 4. Downgrading it to a C-. Interesting premise, possibly interesting characters, but real shitty execution. I hoped it would get better, but nope. Really really shitty. So bad that I don't even put it on for back ground noise. Me disappointed. I gues Bauer should be happy - Audrey will probably pop in 24. Hm, maybe it should be downgraded to EH. Anyway.

It's Arrested Development

If you don't know what that is, then please check this out. Arrested Development is a freaking fantastic comedy, and for those of you who have not seen it, this is your free chance to do so.

Damn, I really do miss this show.

"This must be a fun and sexy time for you!"

Nobody's Watching Friends

From the folks at Nobody's Watching, 10 years of Friends in 90 seconds.

Did they have the idea first, or was it inspired by My Name is Earl's theatre rendition of Friends at the Sunshine Collective?

Beaver and Butters

Random sightings of X-VMars people...

Kyle "Beaver" Gallner was in Bones (It's not just a poor man's CSI- the characters are loveable and funny, and who could resist Angel? Nobody, that's what) earlier last week, as the creepy brother of little miss pageant contestant (and accidental murderer of felow contestant). So much for not being stereotyped into certain roles...

...And Butters has graduated from Neptune High to Yale. He's one of the writers/editors/minions at the Yale Daily News in Gilmore Girls...along with Gia, who was an arty chick that befriended Rory in one episode.

Fall season 2006: New Shows

It's almost the end of October - a pretty good time to review all the new shows of this season, and a great time to sieve through the shows and see what's left. I have to be somewhat selective now, since I'm clocking in around 20 hrs of TV per week. At least. Probably more. (Further discussion of sad life in another post.) Anyhoo, on with the shows...

A-grade TV

This is a hard category. If you'd bother to read my profile, since I'm so darn interesting, those listed would belong in this A Grade category (btw, watch Veronica Mars!) These are shows I wouldn't miss for pretty much anything. They are my staples, and they are awesome.

DEXTER (Showtime, Sundays)

With merely four episodes in, the only new show to have made the cut, DEXTER takes the cake this year. It has everything I love - a quirky premise (in a nutshell, a forensics expert who's also a serial killer), great acting(especially Michael C Hall of Six Feet Under fame as the title role), good supporting cast and crew (always glad to see Julie Benz(of Buffy/Angel) on TV, as well as Jennifer Carpenter as Dexter's sis, Erik King, David Zayas, and more. Director Michael Cuesta's from Six Feet Under as well and the movie LIE. So he's used to creepy stuff here), witty dialogue (Dexter could go from talking about killing his prey and eating bananas all in one go), and an underlying mystery that you actually care about behind all this (Who's the Ice Truck Killer? It can't be Dexter himself, right?). It's great to see a sociopath on TV these days, especially one so loveable. He truly is a monster, yet you still like him. How good is that? Ooh, and beginning with 1X2, awesome credits. You're never think of your morning routine the same again. I love pilots that wow me, and subsequent episodes that wow me as well. Me love. Me hooked. So go watch it.

P.S. If you live in the states, HUGEASS campaign for it. I see them all over the subway.

P.P.S. The show is based on books by a Jeff Lindsay, of one which I am in possession of, and am resisting quite unsuccessfully to read the thing to find out what happens.

P.P.P.S. This entire post is really just a blatant attempt to promote Dexter. It's great. Go watch it.

B TV

They show promise, and I like them, but not to the point of obsession. Which probably is a plus for them.

Heroes (NBC, Mondays)

I hated the pilot. HATED. So frakking scattered, with really one dimensional characters, a la comic book characters. But I stuck through it because everyone's like oh, it's great, blah blah blah, and now after 6 episodes, it's not half bad. I still think the plot is uneven, and I don't have any one character who I could root for (or even like. They're a bit stereotyped. I have yet to find great personalities in them), but the story seems to be building towards something better and bigger, and I don't want to miss THAT payoff. Oh, btw, it's a show about a bunch of people realizing their superpowers(which are all different from person to person, and ranges from flying to teleporting/timetraveling to ones we have yet to find out exactly what) and coming together to defend the world and themselves from some ominious baddie group who (and who knows who the who is yet? Say it fast three times) are made up of possibly the cheerleader's dad, the creepy bald black guy and the really gorgeous pixie haired girl who hangs with that hot Indian guy whose dead dad studied the biology behind these superheroes. Or something. Heesh, what a long sentence. Comic book lovers would probably LOVE this. And that Japanese guy Hiro. People seem to really like him. Anyhoo, it does its job of being intense and interesting, and keeps me on my toes. Pretty darn good.

The Nine (ABC, Wednesdays)

Hostages (guess how many?) held up in a 48/52? hr bank robbery deal with the aftermath of it. Apparrantly some weird stuff happened during the robbery (which we only find out bit by bit each episode), and the nine people, who were strangers mostly prior to the holdup, become closer and bond because of it. Kinda 24-ish, and I say this only because you see Audrey Kim Raver here. (Don't worry, I'm pretty sure she's still Jack Bauer's girlfriend this coming season.) But it's an interesting premise with a good plot, and the characters are likeable with interesting progress - albeit some cheesy ones. I worry about it dragging too much of the mysterious holdup that we only see tidbits of each episode. It's only been 4 episodes, and I'm already a little tired of not knowing. The lack of funny tidbits/dialogue is a problem as well. I like my dramas with a bit of comedy.

Ugly Betty (ABC, Thursdays)

Ooh, campiest thing on primetime TV right now. It's silly and cheesy to the point of being ridiculous, but America Ferrera makes it all good with the heart she brings to Betty. She really is the star of the show, and I just want to see more and more of her in the show instead of the silly soap opear style mystery behind all the cheese.  Ben Silverman's (who also adapted the popular The Office from its British counterpart) adaptation of a Spanish soap opera from telemundo/univision (Please say it with a spanish accent) is about a girl "Ugly" Betty who takes the job as an assistant to the editor-in-chief of MODE (read: Vogue or the like) magazine. She's Latino, working class from Queens and hired because the boss wants to make sure his son(the editor-in-chief) would not sleep with his assistant. Hilarity ensues. And it really does. And you even feel a little warm inside. It's guilty pleasure.

C TV

They're OK, as the C suggests. Average.  Fun to watch, nothing fussy, nothing great. Don't think too much, and you'll be fine. 

Studio 60 on Sunset Strip  (NBC, Mondays - for now)

Oh what a let down. Such a mess. I had this pegged for an A grade show before it started, with Sorkin and big name cast and everything. But it tried way too hard to be a 'smart' show, and it ended up being a meh show. Not smart, and not in touch with television trends much anymore. I only watch it because the dialogue is still good (I'll give Sorkin that) and I love seeing Matthew Perry get work other than as Chandler, but give it up Sorkin - sometimes it's smart and funny, and sometimes it's downright boring, unfunny, and NOT smart. Also, this super expensive show is not getting the ratings it should, and I doubt it'll last more than a season, if they're lucky.

Men in Trees (CBS?, Fridays)

Chick TV. But it's pretty good. For those who liked Everwood, this show is also set in some dinky small town - here it's Elmo, Alaska, and lots of men work as loggers or something, get it? - where Anne Heche, a New York relationship guru (kinda like Carrie Bradshaw, only smarter), moves to in an accidental way when she found out her fiance was cheating on her. Of course, there's a guy in town who she's immediately attracted/connected to, and stuff happens. Anne Heche is the person to watch for here, but I like the supporting cast as well. It's cute, but nothing too special. I'll watch it, but it's ok if I don't see it.

Brothers and Sisters (ABC, Sundays)

Ally Mcbeal's in it. Along with a ton of famous actors. Sally Field, Rachel Griffiths? (six feet under), Ron Rifkin, etc, etc. The pilot sucked - way way too depressing - but the later episodes are a ton more light hearted. And that is what I like - dramas with a bit of humor in it. Anyway, huge huge family. 2 sisters, a gay son, a straight one, and a high(on drugs) one. They're picture perfect family. Dad passes away, family grieves then finds out Dad is not such a nice guy, what with his mistress of 15 years and taking tons of money out from the family business and all, and while they fight they get through it all together. Something like that. I think Justin (the high on drugs bro) is adorable. He's really cute, but I can't put my finger on where he's from. It's another OK show that's not half bad, but not great yet either. Could go either way.

EH TV

It's not that these are all hugely poor shows that never should have been made (at least not all of them). But they are shows that I either have given up entirely because I actually watched them, shows that I haven't gotten around to watching because the subject matter bores me, or shows that I really see no reason to add to my TV list.

Or they just suck.

30 Rock (NBC, Tuesdays)

Basically all the SNL people - Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Rachel Dretch(who got demoted by NBC and now does some random roles on it. I hope she gets a better show on another network.) - are in the show. Plus Alec Baldwin and Jane Kra-can't spell her name-sinski?. who took the role from Rachel Dretch. It's a 'show within a show' comedy about the behind the scenes of 'The Girlie Show'(? something like that). Sound familiar? It's Tina Fey's version of Studio 60, I guess. The show's just not too funny.

Six Degrees (ABC, Thursdays)

Watched it, given the whole JJAbrams thing. But man, suckfest. Too frakking contrived. Tons of famous actors in it though. The stories are a dime a dozen, and the six main characters are one-dimensional. I just don't care enough to watch on. Plus, I'm not sure if it'll survive even a season. LAME-O.

Shark (CBS, Thursdays)

James Woods. It's HOUSE with lawyers. Woods is great as the asshole Dr. House/district attorney guy, but his minions are way less interesting than Foreman, Cameron or Chase. Not to mention the cases are way less interesting than House's crazy convoluted tse tse fly malaria infected corpse cases. Eh. I'm dropping this for now.

Justice (ABC, Tuesdays?)

It's Spy Daddy from Alias. Hey, and Jack, the only gay dude from Dawson's Creek. Anyhoo, some law procedual. Yawn. Very stylized, but the episodes are always in the same freaking format. And that's just after 3 episodes. Double Yawn.

The Class (Dunno. Looks like CBS, probably Mondays)

Watched 4 mins of it. It's supposed to be the FRIENDS of this decade or something. Eh. Typical traditional style sitcom.  I don't know. Didn't like anyone on screen, didn't like the jokes. LAME! Please just go away.

Help Me Help You (Dunno. ABC? Tuesdays?)

I haven't watched this yet, and it's because it's Ted Danson aka Becker aka Sam Malone. I do like that Jane Kra-whatever (Macolm's mom in Macolm in the Middle) is in it though, and it's not in a single camera non traditional sitcom format. But anyhoo, haven't watched it, maybe later. I think it's about a psychiatrist or something. Hence the help me help you Jerry Maguire bit.

Friday Night Lights (NBS, Tuesdays - for now)

People say this is great. Very family TV. Like Everwood, and WAY WAY WAY better than 7th Heaven. Kyle Chandler's in it, and I've heard it's probably one of his greatest roles on TV yet. So please watch it if you're into the whole Everwood thing, this show would need the support to last. I can't watch it, because I just can't watch something with football as a theme. (But I have been told the theme isn't really football. We'll see. I just don't want to watch it.)

And there are more of course. If I can't even name them, they obviously do not matter at all. To me, that is. If I'm missing any cool shows, do tell.

And that's that!