Yes, I am a TV addict. DVR has changed my life (for the better) and now that it’s Fall TV time, my DVR is working harder than it has in months.
The writer’s strike and summer line-up made it’s recording muscles atrophy last year. Time to get that b*tch back in shape!
Anyhow, with the help of my trusty Entertainment Weekly Fall TV issue, I’ve been trying out new shows and re-evaluating my old favorites.
So as a fun way to enter the weekend, let’s take a give a little report card to Fall TV now that I’ve already covered movies and DVDs.
Oh and the below grades are not binding, this is just from my current observations.
Melrose Place
Grade: B-
Yes, I used to watch the old Melrose Place so seeing this being rebooted caught my attention. And so far….I’m undecided. I LOVE Katie Cassidy and Michael Rady but Ashley Simpson-Wentz is awful. I mean, painfully awful. I know, I shouldn’t have been expecting Oscar-quality work here but she should go back to singing, like her sister. Anyhow, it’s nice to see old Melrose faces (yay Michael and Sydney!) and now that Heather Locklear is coming back, I’m sure I’ll be back to watching this regularly. I just need to find out who is this show’s Marcia Cross-like character. That’s when the fun really starts.
Glee
Grade: A
If you follow me on Twitter, this grade should not be a surprise. Let’s just say, they had me at Journey. I still listen to that song when I feel down and so far the show has been great every single week. Last week’s “Preggers” episode was the best of the fall episodes. I mean, Beyonce and high school football? Sleeping with someone because you were drunk on wine coolers and feeling fat? Been there. Mr. Schuster and Finn are my new crushes and the music selection is great. I have to say, Queen, not a good choice, but it’s not make or break.
Let’s just say, this show keeps getting better and makes me smile every Wednesday night. So yay for Glee!
Office
Grade: B
I do really love this show, mostly because I work in an office all day so I get so many of the little nuances and inside jokes. The only thing I’m missing is my hot Jim-like character. Seriously, I would be all over him like a cat in heat. Anyhow, so far this season, the show has been pretty good, getting back to it’s Season 2-like roots. Sure we have a way to go after a semi lackluster last few seasons but as long as there are still some good moments, it’ll come around.
Plus, the big Jim/Pam wedding is coming up next week and I might, literally explode with excitement. I will be running home from work to watch. And then probably watch it 15 more times too. Sad.
90210
Grade: B
Oh I’m having more flashbacks to the original 90210, which dominated most of my middle/high school existence. Yes, the first season was kind of a bust. Watching Jessica Walters play a bad, washed-down version of Lucille Bluth was painful enough, but this season the show has come around. New theme song and we’re getting into the saucy, scandalous, guilty-pleasure topics that made the original 90210 (the later years) must-watch TV. And now that Shenea Grimes taking on the bitchy Brenda Walsh role, that should make this enjoyable too. Meow!
Project Runway
Grade: B
Yeah, I was ridiculously excited when this came back. It was TOO long since I had my Tim Gunn/Heidi Klum make it work/runway show, but seriously, it’s been a little…slow. Maybe it’s the move to Lifetime or that the episodes have been on a shelf for so long, but I’m just not “wowed” by it. The contestants are kind of whiny (Johnny, talking to you) and the designs have been good but not great. I hope this show will just continue to grow on me as we narrow down the contestants. Come on Project Runway, make it work!
Oh and right now, I don’t even have a clear pick for a top three. Come on! What’s wrong with me?
Cougartown
Grade: B+
This is my favorite TV show name of the fall. I mean, seriously, it’s hilarious and cracks me up every time. Courtney Cox is funny and I love Busy Phillips (yay Dawson’s Creek) as her sidekick. Sure, some of the humor is a little too “gimme” but sadly, I can relate to trying to get back out there and date when you haven’t in a while. Whether it’s from being married or just focusing on career. So that’s enjoyable. I see a lot of Scrubs-related physical humor too (Bill Lawrence is a creator) but I think the real stand-out cast member is Dan Byrd as Courtney’s son, Travis. He’s sweet and endearing and funny, but that is the most unorthodox mother/son relationship I’ve ever seen.
Beautiful Life
Grade: B
Yeah this won’t officially count because the CW (a**hats) pulled this after two episodes but I wish they would have kept it around a little longer. Sure, like Melrose it wasn’t great, and yes, there were some issues with casting (Mischa Barton) but it wasn’t awful and before rushing to judgement, I wanted to see where else this could go. Minus some of the hammy language. Corbin Bleu wasn’t awful and it was nice NOT to see dancing and running around like High School Musical, so let’s hope we get some kind of DVD release to at least see the episodes shot pre-cancellation so I can enjoy some fashion-y goodness.
Also on my list to keep watching: Modern Family, Community and Good Wife. So far I really like all of them but need to spend more time on each. Oh and The Good Wife does get a few extra points for being set in Chicago. Can’t help that.
What shows are you really loving this fall so far?
Well, tomorrow is a big day in the city so fingers crossed that Oprah and Michelle Obama’s hard work brings home the Olympic gold to Chicago!
The directors of this show are so amazing. Every single episode is better then the last
Awww man…I am LOVING Melrose right now. I also love Glee, so I totally agree with the A grade.
I’ve been reading a lot lately – unusual for me when fall TV arrives, but it happens – and going to the gym, so I’ve missed a good bit of TV, but with 90210 and Melrose Place, I’m right there with you. Cougartown, too. Definitely a great new show. Unfortunately, I only saw the first episode, so I had better catch up!
I thought Cougartown was cute but it is on when i have 2 other shows recording. I also liked Beautiful Life. Not sure why they pulled the plug on it so fast. I wanted to find out why it was such a big deal for Mischa to hide the fact that she had a baby.
I’m into my junk as usual — The Hills and The City — but truthfully, Fringe has come in as my frontrunner. That show is awesome! Also, did you watch the series about the national parks on PBS? I DVRed all of them and so far the series is amazing.
I seriously bow down to your TV dedication. I watch ONE of all those shows, haha.
(Yes, it’s Glee. Duh.)
I’m all about The Office this season, I feel like some of the funny that was missing the past season or two is FINALLY coming back.
Like I said, FINALLY!
Also, How I Met Your Mother. I’ve been raving about this show to anyone who will listen & I won’t stop! I love it, it’s hilarious. It’s almost like a modern day version of Friends (which is good because I adored that show- and still do) I’d recommend checking it out!
Glee has basically made my LIFE this fall. I’ve gotten my mother and sister on the bandwagon, too, and that is a tough thing to do! Here’s to hoping the show continues to get better and better throughout the season! Whenever I’m done watching it, I want to dance around and sing.
I’m planning a TV post, myself!
GLEE. OMG. I could go on&on about my affection for that show. and Ryan Murphy needs to permanently add Kristin Chenoweth to the show – so amazing.
Melrose&90120, I can’t get into. They’re not the same and both are trying too hard.
Modern Family is actually really funny. I can’t wait to see how much this show progresses.
And, you must give Parks&Rec a shot. It’s really funny.
I can’t wait for the Jim/Pam wedding!!!! :)
I absolutely ADORE Glee! You didn’t like the Queen song on this week’s episode?! I thought it was awesome! And hello, how great was Kristin Chenoweth? LOVE her. And I loved her rendition of Heart’s “Alone”. I want the Soundtrack. I don’t have cable so I have to watch everything on Hulu, which actually has freed up a lot of time for me because I don’t really like watching shows on my computer screen. But I watch Glee every week and wait for everything else to come out on DVD and get it on Netflix.
Have you checked out Parks & Rec? funny, funny, funny!
Find Sons of Anarchy Season One. Watch. Then start Season Two. You’ll thank me later. (And biker dudes are totally hot in this show.)
I love Glee.
I want 30 Rock back (when is it coming back)?
I don’t currently have cable but I love Hulu.com. Fixes all my problems.
Try The Good Wife – Best new show on tv!
I’ve liked glee except for the beyonce ep, actually. It was just too far fetched for me.
And I think the office is way better this season than last, but you can’t top seasons 2 and 3 with their JAM flirting.
i LOVE cougar town – i think it is so funny and cleverly written! my other new favorites so far are modern family, and flash forward!!
I just about peed in my pants with the golf cart – fire extinguisher scene on Cougartown the other night. I hate to admit that I really like that show.
I decided after episode 2 that Cougar Town is my Surprise Fave. I laughed my ASS off this week. And I also love Dan Byrd, loved him on Aliens in America before. And he also played a high school student next to Hillary Duff a million years ago in Another Cinderella Story. My husband and I keep talking about how he’s the perpetual high school kid. I love him and he is one of my faves on the show. GREAT SHOW.
Oh my lord, what I wouldn’t give to be able to see any of those shows!!! I’m stuck with French cooking competitions and dubbed Da Vinci Code – not great!! It might be time to upgrade to sky….
I love The Office too, but last season was getting a little crazy with the Michael Scott Paper Company craziness. I miss the simple episodes, like Halloween and Take Your Daughter To Work Day. Hope it goes more that route. And the worst part about not having cable is having to wait a few days until Project Runway is on Lifetime’s website (but at least they put it online- ahem, Bravo and Top Chef).
I’m such a loser! I don’t watch any of those shows!
I’m lucky if my DVR remembers to record Snapped…I’m all about the psycho bitches!
i tried to watch Glee and failed.
I’ve never watched melrose place: new or old.
i use to watch the old 90210 religiously and i still do on the soap channel occasionally… but i just couldn’t stay tuned to the new one… couldn’t keep my attention.
the other ones you’ve mentioned: never seen em…
I’m addicted to: Army Wives, Private Practice, Flashfoward (new show) and Grey’s Anatomy.
And since I’ve been offwork on leave I’ve been re-addicted to The Young & The Restless, The Bold & The Beautiful and These Are The Days of Our Lives… I’m gonna have to find a way to keep watching these when I go back to work! lol
So I have 1 hr of sunday covered and all night of thursday… the rest of the week I flipp aimlessly through the HGTV and Food Network and TLC… Sometimes I watch John & Kate plus 8 on Mondays… lol i’m a lame tv person. And its not for a lack of a DVR or anything… I try to watch the other shows, I just can’t stay tuned…
I was going to try to make a concious effort to watch one or two of the new fall shows, but I failed miserably. I can’t remember what is on when and don’t have DVR. I am not dedicated enough.