Don’t Call Me During…: Midseason 2012 Edition

The fall television season of 2011 will be remembered for Homeland. It was easily one of the best first season of a show I’ve watched from start to finish. I debated doing a post about my top ten TV shows of 2011 but got lazy. I couldn’t decide whether Homeland or Breaking Bad would take the top spot. I thought nothing could top the fourth season of Breaking Bad but some of Homeland’s individual episodes (particularly “The Weekend” and “The Vest”) are up there with the best episodes of the year (another post I was too lazy to write).

Ultimately, my top ten TV shows of 2011 without any elaboration are:

  1. Breaking Bad
  2. Homeland
  3. Louie
  4. Parks and Recreation
  5. Justified
  6. Game of Thrones
  7. Community
  8. Boardwalk Empire
  9. Sons of Anarchy
  10. Parenthood
Now that I’ve gotten that out-of-the-way, let’s talk about what shows could contend for a spot on the best television shows of 2012.  Since I don’t watch these shows live, there’s no sense in listing it by time. New series are in bold.

Continue reading

Don’t Call Me During…: Fall 2011 Edition

Why can't I find a date?

Since I’ve moved to Los Angeles, the way I watch television has changed.  I no longer have cable and rely mainly on the Internet (some means more legal than others).  I’ve been fairly successful in keeping up with my shows without a DVR but the hassle of shows building up on my hard drive has made me quick to drop shows.

As I started contemplating this post, I bragged to myself that I could cut my viewing hours down to maybe 15 hours.  The new crop of shows are not that appealing and most of the shows I currently watch I’m not completely enamored with. I’ll also admit that shows that Cindy and I aren’t both into are less likely to be watched regularly.  Fall TV hours are 22.5 right now but by November, I think I can get to the 15 hours I so desire.

Since I don’t watch these shows when they air on TV, no point in listing times.  New shows in bold.

Continue reading

Don’t Call Me During…: Fall 2010 Edition

This is going to be a strange TV season for me.  No Lost for me to analyze.  No 24 or Jack Bauer for me to cheer.  Not even a Heroes for me to mock from afar.  There are few shows I truly love now so feel free to call me during these shows.  I may actually pick up.

Usually, I break this down in terms of what I’ll be watching live and DVRing then making a separate list for what I’ll be watching via other means (OnDemand, Hulu, other unsavory means).  For your benefit, I’ll list everything I plan to watch by their airdate and time.  Just know that, somehow, I’ll be watching all these shows at least once. Continue reading

TV Power Rankings: 1/10 – 1/16

When I started this little project, there weren’t that many shows on the air.  Now that the midseason schedule is in full swing, this has gotten a lot tougher.  I think I may have to quit my job to devote more time to my unread blog.

The Power Rankings: (may contain mild spoilers)

10. 30 Rock (Episode: “Klaus and Greta”) – James Franco is having quite an interesting year.

9. Fringe (Episode: “Johari Window”) – This could have easy been an unaired episode of The X-Files with the Fringe cast filling in.

8. Archer (Episode: “Mole Hunt”) – FX has another hilarious comedy on its hands.

Continue reading

TV Power Rankings: 1/3 – 1/9

It’s back (now that there’s finally enough TV on to rank it)

The Power Rankings: (may contain mild spoilers)

10. The Simpsons (Episode: “Thursdays with Abie”): It’s rare that a Simpsons episode stands out especially one that centers on Abe

9. Scrubs (Episode: “Our Couples”): This show is much better a) without J.D. and b) with Lucy being mentored by Elliot. I still could have done without it ever existing but it’s not a complete waste of time.

8. Ugly Betty (Episode: “The Passion of the Betty”): Another one of those everything-goes-back-to-normal-at-Mode episodes with both Hal and Matt taken care of and Wilhamina getting her spot back

7. Friday Night Lights (Episode: “The Toilet Bowl”): My least favorite episode of the season.  Even though the Lions finally won a game, it felt like nothing happened.

Continue reading

Don’t Call Me During…: Midseason 2010 Edition

This is going to be a mess. With a bunch of shows doing delayed returns (not coming back until March/April), it’s hard to discern what I’m going to be able to watch live and what I’ll be watching via the internet.  So I’m just going to list them all with their return date. Just know that some how, some way I will try to watch all these shows.

Sunday:

8:00 – 8:30 PM: The Simpsons (1/3): What will it take for me to stop watching this show.
8:00 – 9:00 PM: The Pacific (3/14): I own Band of Brothers and still haven’t watched it.  That’s a damn shame
9:00 – 9:30 PM: Family Guy (1/3)
9:30 – 10:00 PM: Sons of Tuscon (3/14): The only reason I’m giving this a chance is because it stars Tyler Labine, the main reason I watched Reaper
9:00 – 10:00 PM: Big Love (1/10)
10:00-11:00 PM: Breaking Bad (3/21)

Monday:

8:00 – 8:30 PM: How I Met Your Mother (1/11)
8:00 – 9:00 PM: Life Unexpected (1/11): It’s supposed to be good
8:00 – 9:00 PM: House (1/11)
8:00 – 9:00 PM: Chuck (1/10 premiere, regularly airs on Monday)
9:00 – 10:00 PM: Gossip Girl (3/8)
9:00 – 10:00 PM: 24 (1/17 premiere, regularly airs on Monday)
9:00 – 10:00 PM: Parenthood (3/1): It sucks that Maura Tierney had to drop out but Lauren Graham as a replacement is great
9:30 – 10:00 PM: The Big Bang Theory (1/11)
10:00 – 11:00 PM: Castle (1/11)
10:00 – 11:00 PM: Damages (1/25)
10:00 – 11:00 PM: Greek (1/25)

Continue reading

My 50 Favorite Television Shows of the 00s

Now, let me just say off the bat that I do not believe these are the 50 best shows of this decade (although some certainly are). These are just the 50 television shows that brought me the most entertainment, the ones that I am most fond of when I think back on the decade. I contemplated doing this in order of love/respect but then this post would never get done so I’ll do a Top 10.

I decided to leave off The Simpsons and South Park because they’ve been on for so long (and I needed any excuse to make room for other shows) but they both had great episodes in the 00′s and if I didn’t need the room, they’d make the cut.

I tried to stick with shows that had at least two full seasons under its belt unless the show had been canceled like Freaks and Geeks.

And, no, I’ve never watched The West Wing or ER and that’s why they aren’t on the list.

Continue reading

2008: 15 Favorite Television Shows

I tried to do a top 10 but there are just too many shows to choose from.

Sadly, a few of these shows won’t be back on the list again.

In alphabetical order

  1. 30 Rock (NBC)
  2. Battlestar Galactica (SCI-FI)
  3. Burn Notice (USA)
  4. Chuck (NBC)
  5. Generation Kill (HBO)
  6. Gossip Girl (CW)
  7. How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
  8. In Treatment (HBO)
  9. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
  10. Lost (ABC)
  11. Mad Men (AMC)
  12. The Office (NBC)
  13. Pushing Daisies (ABC)
  14. The Shield (FX)
  15. The Wire (HBO)