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The New TV Season

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 02:50:40 PM EST
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Last week I was optimistic on Studio 60 and looking forward to the season premieres of Gray's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives.

What happened? Desperate Housewives was terrible -- over-playing the cliches by miles until it seemed like slapstick comedy. Studio 60 didn't move me last night, I didn't care for the musical number and I don't get what's so great about Harriet. She and Matt don't even have good chemistry. Brothers and Sisters was barely watchable despite Calista Flockhart, whom I really liked as Ally McBeal. It was excruciating watching Sally Field, a woman of tremendous talent, denigrated to the role of hapless, helpless aging, cheated-on mother.

What's left? Grey's Anatomy, my favorite show of last season, had a lackluster opener. Meredith and the doctor need to get it on quick, the suspense has turned to irritation, at least with me.

Even the Biggest Loser was boring -- and for the first time depressing. They should have kept the contestants at a manageable number so we could get a sense of each of them. Watching 50 truly obese people at a time is not entertainment. The new trainer is beyond bland and comes across as a real Pollyanna without substance. Plus, now there are commercials for products inside the show. What a sell-out.

Don't even talk to me about James Woods as a prosecutor in Shark who thinks he's doing G-d's work, Dick-Wolf style, while those who represent defendants are doing the work of the devil. I wouldn't watch such trash and hope you don't either.

So far there is not a single show I would set my tivo to record weekly. What's up with Hollywood? Is it the writers or the networks?

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    The New TV Season | 32 comments (32 topical)
    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 03:12:46 PM EST
    Unless you're restricting yourself to basic channels, you might want to try The Wire on HBO. And while I'd argue that some of its fans are a bit hyperbolic ("best TV program ever", etc.), it is pretty damn good. And, to top it off, the show thoughtfully addresses important topical issues (e.g. drugs, education, single parenting) which directly imapact many Americans. Tony C.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#3)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 03:37:39 PM EST
    TL - Hate to tell you this, but as you grow older, TV will continue to become worse and worse. Of course the alternative is sooooo terrible. ;-)

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 03:57:50 PM EST
    Don't forget about The Office...

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#4)
    by SteveSmith on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 03:57:50 PM EST
    Never, ever judge a show by its first episode. Both Brothers and Sisters and Shark looked to me like they have the potential to be really good, in spite of the spottiness of their pilots. I remember how mediocre The Office was in its debut, and both 24 and The Sopranos overcame weak openers. Also, among the new show, Kidnapped and The Class were good in their own way. As always, patience....

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#5)
    by Patrick on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 03:57:50 PM EST
    I get a kick out of weeds on SHO

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#8)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 04:07:06 PM EST
    Patrick, you funny!

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 04:45:53 PM EST
    Heroes started off promisingly. We'll keep watching that, unless it becomes another X-Files or Lost - pointless mystification that doesn't go anywhere. Desperate Housewives wasn't that bad. It's problem was that it needed to be really good again, and instead if was much like another Season 2 episode. Still, I'll be sorry if it ends this season. At its best, it was a great show.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 04:46:59 PM EST
    Aargh. Didn't close the italics tag properly in the first paragraph. Sorry about that.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 07:43:35 PM EST
    What Tony C and Patrivk said. The Wire is the bst thing on TV IMHO.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#18)
    by Che's Lounge on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 07:56:05 PM EST
    During Labor Day I got hooked on HBO's "Rome" via DVD.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    The only network TV program I watch regularly is House. That show rocks.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    Books are way cool! Oh, and try Eureka for some silly fun. If you get SciFi channel.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    Way to lend support to the misconception held by "values" voters that us lefties don't care about the sanctity of marriage. The doctor should stay with his wife and Meredith should stay away from him.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    This season's The Office opener was also mediocre! Maybe it's something in the airwaves...

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    Unless you're restricting yourself to basic channels, you might want to try The Wire on HBO. And while I'd argue that some of its fans are a bit hyperbolic ("best TV program ever", etc.), it is pretty damn good. And, to top it off, the show thoughtfully addresses important topical issues (e.g. drugs, education, single parenting) which directly imapact many Americans. Tony C.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#14)
    by Slado on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    The Office was solid. Law&Order can't ever be broken. I am now hooked on the Amazing Race. Best reality show ever. People embarassed doing hard tasks not humiliated like on other shows. Good stuff. Grey's wasn't mind blowing but it was good and it won't dissapoint. Agree on Studio 60. I used to watch the West Wing. I don't need the same thing but instead about a TV show. I mean do they ever stop running around and just sit still?

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    You guys expect too much from TV In any event, Studio 60 is pretty good, Desperate is still fun (give it a chance) Grey's will gather steam (just like it did last season), and last but not least, The Wire is probably the best show on TV (it has incredible power to move you and slap you silly with the current state of affairs inside the inner city (reminds about when I was a student teaching assistant in high school before I became a lawyer. For those who have not watched The Wire, I recommend you go rent the first three seasons and then dive in to the fourth (playing now), it is not only incredible entertaining, but incredibly sobering

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#16)
    by Kitt on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    Posted by Patrick September 26, 2006 04:43 PM I get a kick out of weeds on SHO
    I can only afford one premium channel at a time. Right now it's HBO for Bill Maher. Waiting for Mr. Conservative - the piece on Barry Goldwater. I voted for him in the 5th grade - or was it the 4th grade?

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#19)
    by Liberal Heart on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    I agree with those above who admire The Wire. I don't get premium channels, but buy The Wire on DVD (only the first three seasons have been released). I don't know if I'd be such a fan if I were seeing the episodes spaced out to one a week. But when the DVD sets arrive, I sit down and watch non-stop all the way thru the season. The impact is wallop. Have to admit, though, that season three didn't -- for me -- live up to the first two. I'm not thrilled with Studio 60. Maybe I expect too much from Sorkin. Boston Legal is the only thing I feel I must tape.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 11:20:07 PM EST
    Posted by Patrick September 26, 2006 04:43 PM I get a kick out of weeds on SHO
    I LOVE Weeds. The only thing close to a comedy I watch these days. Can't say enough about this show. The writing, the cast, the twist and turns, the quirky characters, even the music, it's all good. I'm going to give Studio 60 a little time to settle in. I like the way Sorkin writes and even with The West Wing, it took a few weeks for the characters to be fleshed out and for the story threads to start connecting. I thought Brothers and Sisters was awful. I was disappointed that Tom Skerrit's character was killed off. I read, somewhere, that Sally Fields wasn't the first actress hired for the role of mom. Betty Buckley originally had the role, but she either left or was fired. I'm not sure this show will it to mid-season. I liked Heroes. You had to pay attention to it. Of course, I watch alot of the SciFi channel (Heroes is replayed Fridays at 8 PM on SciFi). So, I'm anticipating the return of Dr. Who and Battlestar Galactica. My guilty little pleasure? Don't laugh. Dancing with the Stars. It'a a true escape for me. I don't bother to vote, I just like watching it.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 11:20:07 PM EST
    Opps. That was me who posted above and quoted Patrick. Sorry.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#23)
    by roger on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 04:45:38 AM EST
    Check out Justice. Unlike the Law and Order franchise, the defense is not evil, and they also show what really happened at the end, as opposed to the theories of both sides. Other than that, Weeds and Eureka are great

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 07:09:48 AM EST
    Rome was wonderful. Unfortunately, there's only going to be one more season of it. I read that the BBC killed it because it's so expensive to produce.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 07:43:12 AM EST
    Grey's was competent. It's trying to fix all the loose ends that happened in the aftermath emotional tsunami that happened with Izzy's crazy-ass breakdown, Burke's shooting, Denny's death and the lost panties. I happened to get ahold of the leaked 2nd ep and I think it's gathering steam well. The Office was hilarious. Being a PA for a live show befoer, I like the almost-reality of Studio 60. Desperate Housewives hopefully corrects itself...and I miss Andrew Van De Kamp.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#24)
    by MarkAtl on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 07:43:12 AM EST
    I thought Brothers and Sisters was great.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#27)
    by Patrick on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 09:39:59 AM EST
    Unlike the Law and Order franchise, the defense is not evil.....
    Roger, They are too!!!!!!!!! ;-) BTW, it's good to see some of the old posters coming back... Even you Roger,

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 09:42:41 AM EST
    Bread and circuses. Did I say bread?

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 09:49:18 AM EST
    Eureka is a blast, although it is finishing its first season next week and I hope it returns. On the other hand, Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who start their new seasons this Friday. Doctor Who has proved to be an immense hit in England, where it regularly gets about 8M views and a 47 share.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#29)
    by Patrick on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 10:12:27 AM EST
    Anon y mouse, Perhaps the point being, you can only ingest so much of one thing before you look for something else. Or more to the point...if it's a topic about the politics, we already know who will agree and disagree, so why talk about it. Perhaps these "off topic" threads will foster some common ground between hardliners and make them more open to hearing the other's perspective.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 10:43:37 AM EST
    We could maybe reread Ann Frank's diary.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#31)
    by chris on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 08:50:18 PM EST
    I don't think Justice is an option anymore. It's been put on hiatus after only five episodes because of its low ratings.

    Re: The New TV Season (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 08:50:18 PM EST
    Had to add one more.
    Men in Trees
    is another show I liked alot.

    The New TV Season | 32 comments (32 topical)