Clear Some Space on the DVR
Well, the long dry spell that is Summer television is now coming to an end, which means the Fall TV season is starting. I’m always interested to see what new shows the networks will come up with, so I tend to set a lot of new series recordings, of which I expect maybe one or two will last more than two episodes before I determine they’re completely lame. I care absolutely nothing about reality TV, which seems to be the dead horse of choice for the networks these days, so my options are even more limited, but based on what I’ve seen, these are the shows I think I’ll give a look:
New Shows: (Ordered by premier date)
- Fringe (Fox: Sep. 9): Supposedly more like a new X-Files than a new Lost, but it might have potential
- Knight Rider (NBC: Sep. 24): I’ve got to see at least one episode of this, because the TV movie they made to try to introduce it to the viewing audience was sooooo lame. They got the guy who made the Fast and the Furious to come in to help, but I don’t see how that’s going to fix really bad actors.
- Life on Mars (ABC: Oct 9): Don’t know much about it, but it’s drawn some big names.
- Kath & Kim (NBC: Oct. 9): Comedy imported from Australia. We’ll see if it translates.
- My Own Worst Enemy (NBC: Oct. 13): I like Christian Slater, so we’ll see if it’s as cool as Alias was when it first started.
- Eleventh Hour (CBS: Oct 9): The latest in CBS’s string of CSI type shows. I don’t know a whole lot about it yet.
- Crusoe (NBC: Oct. 17): Only just heard of it, but it sounds different than pretty much anything else on TV, and the production quality is supposed to be very high, reminiscent of Rome on HBO, so it could be cool.
- Kings (NBC: Winter): Another one I’d never heard of until just recently. I don’t know much about it, but it’s got a cool premise.
Other shows I’m watching that are coming back:
- Bones (Fox: Sep 3): This show cracks me up in how ridiculous it is, but it’s fun to watch.
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox: Sep. 8): I didn’t expect much from this show, but it’s actually quite good.
- Supernatural (CW: Sep. 18): This is my only CW show. It’s actually pretty entertaining.
- Heroes (NBC: Sep. 22): This show has almost lost me so many times. I’ll see if it improves.
- Chuck (NBC: Sep. 29): It’s very tongue-in-cheek, but it’s pretty funny.
- The Office (NBC: Sep 25): Funnier every season.
- Life (NBC: Sep 29): I really like this show. The premise is interesting, and the lead actor plays the part very well.
- Pushing Daisies (ABC: Oct 1): Some of the most clever script-writing on TV, I think. Very humorous, and Jim Dale’s narration (the guy from the Harry Potter audio books) is always awesome.
- CSI (CBS: Oct 9): The original is still good, but they really go for the gross-out factor these days.
- Lost (ABC: Winter): Of course.
So what are the rest of you interested in watching this fall?
September 9th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I’m not easily entertained when it comes to television, so most new shows don’t make it past the first week of air for me.
Life had me for a couple of weeks last fall, but ultimately I decided they weren’t going anywhere with it, so I gave it up.
I don’t have much hope for Fringe considering it has Joshua Jackson in it, but I’ll probably give it a look.
I’ll probably watch the opener of Knight Rider too, but mostly only to hear Val Kilmer voicing K.I.T.T.
Other than that, nothing’s really catching my attention this season.
September 10th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Wow. I already had my suspicions, but that list confirmed to me that there is absolutely no creativity in Hollywood anymore.
I watched Fringe last night and it was OK at best. I didn’t realize Joshua Jackson was in it until just before it started and I too was turned off by that, but he actually did a respectable job of acting in a less than impressive role. I was also going nuts through the whole show trying to remember who the guy was that played the crazy doctor. It was only this morning that it finally dawned on me that he was Denethor in LOTR:ROTK.
As for what else is on, I have kids which means we record alot of family friendly stuff which usually I can only classify as “tolerable”. This usually means gameshows. My kids already love Wipeout which I actually thought was a good idea but is executed very poorly. We will also be giving Opportunity Knocks a chance. I’m not sure what to expect there. One other from this category that I have been curious about but haven’t bothered to watch yet (I think it’s already started) is Hole in the Wall. I imagine it may get a few chuckles at first and then be forgotten.
Looks like we’re still feeling the effects of the writer’s strike.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:15 am
What really surprises me so far is that nobody has the new 90210 remake from the CW on their list. I mean, seriously.
And also: DENETHOR! I too was trying to figure out how I knew that guy. That does explain a lot, since I thought he was by far the highlight of the show and the best performer in the bunch. He played the part very well. Joshua Jackson didn’t bother me at all, and the girl was pretty good. Overall, I liked Fringe, even if it seemed like just a new face on the X-Files. It didn’t come across nearly as creepy or mystifying as I was hoping for, but I was entertained.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:16 am
My remarks are here.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I can’t believe you thought the Knight Rider TV movie was lame! I thought it was awesome! Especially the amazing acting, and the fact that they made the one chick a lesbian for no apparent reason other than shock value, and the cameo by the Hoff himself… well, let’s just say I am TOTALLY psyched for the show. (the preceding paragraph was chock full of sarcasm)
I do really like Pushing Daisies. It’s clever, and I find myself wanting to hug the characters. Lee Pace was in a fantastic movie (no sarcasm whatsoever) that donjuanica and I just watched called The Fall. I highly recommend it, despite the R-rating (some violence toward the end). Check it out.
We downloaded Fringe, but haven’t yet watched it. I also think I like Raising the Bar, the new law drama on TNT. It stars Zack from Saved by the Bell. His character is a really compassionate, over-zealous defense attorney. His lines feel a little TOO filled with passion and drama, (seriously, every.single.line.) but assuming his character calms down a bit, the show could be pretty interesting.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Ugh…kill me if I have to endure one more cop, hospital or courtroom drama.
The “you gonna hit a lawyer?!” moment from the commercial was pathetic enough to never let that show see the light of day for me.
But if it gets interesting, by all means sing it’s praises. I may just give it a chance to rise above its awful billing.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Yeah, that show lost me the second my wife said, “Hey, that’s Zach from Saved by the Bell!” Does anybody else get the impression that he’s really trying to hide his previous acting identity behind a mop of long brown hair?
September 11th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Me and the wife watch 90210.