Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
Okay, so NBC cancelled "The Playboy Club." Okay, I know it's not on the level of urgency of some of our other posts...but I am a TV writer after all. So I have a stake in that black box in most of our living rooms. As such, I was one of six people who saw the show and it thoroughly deserved the ax. It was embarrassingly bad.
Every year people say TV has gotten worse. It never gets worse. It stays generally mediocre all the time. You have to look for the gems. And those gems are usually more interesting, better written, better directed and acted than 90% of the films released every year. Some of the shows I consider gems are "Breaking Bad," "Empire Boardwalk," "Treme," and though not of the high-brow calibre of the last three, "Dexter." And the new show "Homeland" is extremely promising. I think "Modern Family" is a good comedy; at times "Raising Hope" can be a great comedy and I used to think "The Office" was brilliant. The obvious choice for excellence is "Mad Men." Although sometimes I find that show self indulgent.
And there's those cheesy guilty pleasures. I loved watching "Survivor" with my family when it first started. Same with "American Idol." I'm meth-head level addicted to "Storage Wars" on A&E. I'm fortunate to have a DVR and record EVERYTHING for playback. Some during dinner prep. Others are reserved for sitting down with my husband and really enjoying an hour of good drama and/or comedy.
So I know we're all big readers here at Ricochet and way too smart to watch TV. I know some of you don't even have TVs. But I'm curious, what are you guys watching, if anything? Is there anything in the new TV season of interest? Are we all cable viewers...if we can afford it. Are we watching on the net? Or waiting for shows to hit Netflix or DVDs?
Your thoughts...
- Comment (71)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (5)
Comments :
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
I love television, first off, and I'm unashamed to admit it. We tried watching a few new shoes but didn't do too well. Whitney is an abomination unto mankind, for instance. Truly reprehensible in the mores department. And, more unforgivably, completely unfunny. And then we tried the Up All Night. Not bad, I guess, but just not compelling. We also saw New Girl or whatever the Zooey Deschanel vehicle is. I wanted to bash my head against the nearest piece of furniture but my husband thought it would resonate with the kids these days.
We still enjoy Community, The Office (though less so, of course) and look forward to 30 Rock. I plan to start watching Modern Family this year, too, since my siblings love it. We'll be Netflixing Breaking Bad. We didn't have time to watch it when it first came out (newborn to care for) but now we do. I don't like Mad Men, making me the only person in America who doesn't, I guess.
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
My (tiny dorm room) TV only gets used on Sundays and Monday night for football. But I use Netflix Instant Play or whatever it's called to watch shows. I like just going through an entire season, or even an entire series, of a show as fast as I want to. I watched all eight seasons of Monk pretty quickly last year.
The downside is I have to wait for them to go onto Netflix before I watch the shows. The only exception is Mad Men- I watch Mad Men when it first appears. But I have a feeling I'll be waiting a while for the next season...
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
Thanks, Mollie. The first step is admitting you have a problem. I love TV, too. Always have. And thank you for your comments on Whitney, Up All Night and The New Girl. Agree, agree, agree. If you really want to get addicted, you may want to Netflix "The Wire" if they have it. One of the best shows ever made.
May '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
For me, most of the decent "television" of the last decade or so was on pay-tv. (Band of Brothers, Earth to the Moon, Deadwood, etc.) When Showtime cancelled Dead Like Me for Fat Actress, I finally decided I had too many working brain cells to be their target audience.
I watch sports and news, now...I have given up on television in America. I will still catch the occasional Brit effort (like Downton Abbey), but they have lost me. (still treasure old Simpsons episodes though...)
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
I too am an unabashed TV fan. Willing to brag about it. Best invention of humans yet (although Internet is making a run at the title).
I actually run through EVERY channel before I settle on one to watch.
American Idol has been for years one of the only shows I can sit down and watch with my kids and not be bombarded with sexual references. Wholesome family fun and great competition.
In my area we get MSG Varsity sports which covers High School Sports in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area. Love that channel.
Modern Family is the best entertainment on TV right now, though it can get a little spicey so I knock off a few points as far as watching with my kids.
Science stuff is fun, particularly cosmology.
News and sports, news and sports. Love it all.
Guilty pleasure: South Park. Just never cheer when they go after someone you aren't fond of, because they are coming after you next.
Jun '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
I really enjoy Blue Bloods. It's like a morality play, but that's what I like about it. It's more like the shows that I watched growing up. Maybe I'm just nostalgic.
Sep '11
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
I love TV and watch too much of it. I tend to avoid comedies, and stick to drama, mostly crime drama. Right now we're watching Sons of Anarchy, which we've enjoyed. A guilty favorite is Burn Notice. One of my professors in grad school was an actual spy, so I know the show is almost complete fantasy, but it is fun. I like NCIS most of the time, but hate that they film it as if eucalyptus trees grow in Virginia. I also enjoy The Closer. I used to enjoy CSI, but I don't like CSI Miami or NY. I'm hoping Ted Danson will help, but I'm not holding my breath.
For new shows this season, I've enjoyed Person of Interest. I like Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson and think they do a good job of making the show compelling.
So, while I'm watching all of these, I knit baby blankets and other gifts, so I don't feel like I am totally wasting my time.
Sep '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
We have massive screens in this house (63", 46", etc) and I am notorious for never watching them except when I put in a very rare movie (and like a true geek I spend most of the time watching the Director's commentaries). I don't have time for tv and it helps greatly the volume of reading that I have to do. There are series I would like to watch such as the Wire but simple math shows that I somehow have to find those hours and I'm still not sure how to do it.
I'm especially worried that I'll get hooked. Perhaps a future tablet purchase and download is the answer.
If writing a screenplay starring Rob Long is on my bucket list, I guess I better get on that. But, its no secret that the best writing is now happening on tv.
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
Agreed! I've seen all five seasons of "The Wire" and am about ready to do it again. Far and away the best show I've ever seen. Which reminds me .... I'm very excited about the rumors that Idris "Stringer Bell" Elba is in talks to be the new James Bond.
Aug '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
The wife and I love Pawn Stars on the history channel. It's great seeing some of the stuff brought in and the delusion of the people looking to sell it. Our guilty pleasure is Burn Notice on A&E - kind of fills that Miami Vice need from our youth. How can you resist a show with Bruce Campbell in it!
We also still watch the Office although it is very uneven these days. Aside from that it's pretty much just sports and the O'Reilly Factor.
Oh yeah, the hot show with our teens right now is a cartoon called Adventure Time, which is actually pretty funny in a quirky, silly sort of way.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 8:17amSep '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
For me, TNT and USA have the best shows on TV. The Closer is fabulous! Also love the new show Necessary Roughness. And, for a fun nighttime soap full of beautiful people and a gorgeous locale, Royal Pains fits the bill. On network TV I never miss Big Bang Theory and also like The Middle (at times; the daughter is hysterical) and Modern Family (though I think its beginning to be a bit repetitive). And, of course, any and every episode of Frasier, which I record from the Hallmark channel and watch whenever. ... I've often wondered if Rob Long could get Kelsey Grammar on a podcast to talk about being a conservative actor. And by the way, waaayyyy off topic: where's Pat Sajak these days?
Mar '11
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
I almost never get to see TV shows on live air. I download my shows via torrents and enjoy them when I have the time. I only watch about half dozen shows on a regular basis, so I don't feel I need any sort of DVR. Shows that I do watch have been for the most part, from the premium cable channels. AMC(Mad Men), HBO(Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire), FX (Sons of Anarchy).
But the show that I wait for every year is South Park. I find that South Park has grown from being mere potty-mouth college humour to a scathing, modern, up to the minute satire(see the process the fed uses to determine if you get a bailout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPEYycCRKXo&feature=related )
Other shows I have enjoyed of late include Archer, Community, and Big Bang Theory, and Boondocks.
As to the quality of you average show, I see no need for half of the niche channels let alone their programming.
Mar '11
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
The Wire is simply amazing. Watch it in order, though, or it is lost on you.
My wife and I watch DVDs in our theatre while exercising, so excitement is a "must" - even for formulaic (and dumb) shows on Netflix: Burn Notice and Castle both are lots of fun. I find it amazing how well sexual tension keeps one hooked. And shows *must* be escapist for me - cannot remind me of my day!
The Good Wife is so PC that it makes me cringe, but it is also a superb show.
Burning Bad is incredible, but it is too dark for my wife. So I watch it only when my wife is not around. As good as it is, it sometimes gives me nightmares.
I don't like shows that embarass people, and I am not comfortable with the gratuitous language on Deadwood.
When my wife is alone, she watches medical soaps - I actually find them every bit as distressing as she finds Breaking Bad. Maybe I just don't find sickness and death very escapist.
I will read this thread to look for new shows, so please post!
Mar '11
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
Oh, and one more: Slings and Arrows was only 3 short seasons, but it is the single best show on the theatre ever made. Wonderfully acted, extremely funny.... proof that even government funding occasionally goes to the right thing! If you have not seen it, do!
Jun '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
The guilty pleasure at our house had been 2.5 Men. My wife like Ashton Kutcher in other work of his, but hates the substitute for Charlie Sheen character. Too silly stupid for her.
We loved the two seasons of Merlin we saw on Netflix and my wife loves Legend of the Seeker. Our network favorites are Burn Notice, The Closer, Nikita, White Collar, and Person of Interest.
Reading my own post, I see I watch way too much TV.
May '11
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
I like Tv and I have to disagree, I do think it is getting generally worse, or at least much more reliant on crude humor.. USA is my favorite network. It is the one network I can watch with my young daughters and not worry about what they will see. I got hooked on USA when they did Monk. I love Psych and Burn Notice and White Collar. On network TV I love Castle (heck, I'd watch Nathan Fillon read a phone book. He'd make it funny.) The wife and I are enjoying Pan Am. She is a flight attendant so that may just be us. On AMC The Killing and Walking Dead are really well done. Can't wait for The new season of The Walking Dead to start this month. We've also enjoyed Hot in Cleveland.
Jun '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
At this point in my life (approaching 60 at ramming speed), I watch very little TV. I don't watch reality TV, though I have found myself watching parts of episodes of "The Amazing Race," and when I watch the occasional "Modern Family" I find myself laughing out loud.
Part of the problem is that the world has passed me by. I don't get a lot of it. So I tend to retire to my small "man cave" and read. [Note distinct tone of moral superiority].
With DVDs, however, I watch some shows long after they were on. I did this with "24," although I jumped ship somewhere in season 5 (why didn't his cell phone battery ever run down?). You don't have to wait from week to week and you don't have to FF the commercials.
I'm now seriously considering whether to watch "Lost." It was obviously compelling but I've heard that it didn't do a good job of wrapping up the loose ends. I need advice: is it worth my time? Any other suggestions?
Guilty pleasure: re-reruns of "The Andy Griffith Show." Don Knotts was a great comedian.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 8:31amAug '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
Wow. I seem to have missed most of the 00's.
Now we are experimenting with the Roku box and (if the experimentation is successful) about to banish satellite and the dvr.
Aug '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
I am addicted to the following shows, and subscribe to them on iTunes:
I am a longtime fan of the following shows, and watch them whenever possible when they're broadcast, but I do not subscribe to them on iTunes:
I've seen the following new show, and I don't hate it, but I ain't super excited about it either:
I'm curious about the following shows, but I haven't seen them yet:
The following are old shows that I often/sometimes rewatch on DVD/download:
Finally, I watch The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson via YouTube. He posts almost the entirety of each episode, but broken up into segments, so you can watch only the bits you find most interesting. It's a neat way to redistribute a show that is broadcast too late for many people to watch.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 9:39amAug '10
Re: Catch It Before-- Oops, It's Gone
tabula rasa: I'm now seriously considering whether to watch "Lost." It was obviously compelling but I've heard that it didn't do a good job of wrapping up the loose ends. I need advice: is it worth my time? Any other suggestions?
Edited on Oct 05 at 08:31 am
Didn't watch it, the reviews of the end have convinced me not to. It seems like the writers were more interested in twisting the plot threads than making a coherent story.
Best story arcs evah - Babylon 5, NYPD Blue.