Fall TV so far …

• Posted in On TV

So television junkie that I am, I’ve been glued to the TV all week catching the premieres of all my favorite shows and trying out some new ones. Here’s what I think so far:

How I Met Your Mother: I’m really digging the Barney/Robin storyline, and I love Sarah Chalke as Stella. I hope she’s the mother. Looks like this comedy is still going strong. Neil Patrick Harris, you were so robbed of an Emmy this year. Because your performance is — wait for it — legendary. 😎

Heroes: It’s still entertaining, but we’ve seen the save-the-world storyline twice now. And honestly, all the time travel/shocking reveals in the season opener made my head hurt. Why doesn’t somebody just kill Sylar and Mama Petrelli already?

Also, what’s up with Nikki/Tracy/whoever she is these days? Last time we saw her, she was in a burning building in New Orleans. So how did she become a governor’s aide? And where’s her son Micah and his muscle mimic cousin (whose name I don’t remember)? And how did Niki/Tracy get a new power? I’m thinking she has to be able to astral project or something …

It seems like the writers are just ignoring where things left off. I understand that some storylines get scuttled, but they could at least give us a little bit of explanation. A throwaway line or two about Micah still being with his grandmother or something. Molly also disappeared, although Suresh said something about taking her somewhere.

Also, I have to say Suresh should know better than to inject himself with some wonky serum he cooked up in his lab. And that scene between him and Maya … that creeped me out a little bit.

I am digging Hiro and his new nemesis Daphne, though. And I’m jonesed about Weevil joining the cast. Now, if they could just use Kristen Bell and David Anders more … and maybe get Jason Dohring for a few episodes … then it could be Veronica Mars meets Heroes. I’d definitely watch that.

CSI: Miami: I used to really enjoy this one, but the plots have become ridiculous with leaps of logic/time/distance. I think I’ll be tuning out for good soon.

NCIS: I thought the premiere was very well done, giving a plausible explanation for the breakup of Gibbs’ team. And I loved the twist at the end. I hope we get to see more of the nefarious Agent Lee during the course of the season. Overall, a great start.

The Mentalist: This one sort of reminded me of House, if House was a detective instead of a doctor. I thought it was a good blend of light-hearted detecting by Simon Baker (loved that scene with the other detectives at the lobster restaurant), mixed with his anguish over the death of his family at the hands of Red John. I’ll keep watching.

Privileged: This one is kind of like Mary Poppins teaching rich girls, but Megan, the tutor and lead character, is charmingly played by JoAnna Garcia (I think that’s her name). I’m enjoying it so far.

Knight Rider: Yes, I watched the premiere. Seems like they’re going for a sort of spy show vibe. Wasn’t great, wasn’t bad. Pretty average, including the special effects. I’ll see what happens for a few more weeks.

My Name Is Earl: Loved the episode with Seth Green. The other one was kind of boring. Earl is sort of like Heroes in that I think we’ve seen a lot of this stuff before. But I’ll keep watching.

Grey’s Anatomy: I liked the fact that they didn’t break up Meredith and Derek for the umpteenth time. The overall tone seems to have gone back to more light-hearted and soapy, which is what this show does best. I’m interested to see the romance develop between Christina and the new Army doctor. But can someone please give Eric Dane a real storyline? Pretty please? I think pairing him up with Lexie or even Izzie would be better than the Lexie/George and Izzie/Alex hookups that look like they’re in the offing …

And that’s it for now. Next week brings the premieres of Chuck and CSI, both of which I’m looking forward to. What about you guys? What you loving/hating this year on TV so far?

7 Responses to “Fall TV so far …”

  1. Brian says:

    Charming is the right word for Privileged.

    My only problem with Heroes so far is that it seems like a lifetime ago since I watched it. I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I had been before, but maybe the love will come back because I was pleased with the story. But don’t you think that the Heroes story line is always going to be save the world in some form?

    Shows that I’m enjoying this fall include: The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, Skins, Entourage, and Mad Men.

    Shows yet to premiere I’m looking forward to: Pushing Daisies, Friday Night Lights, Valentine, and Desperate Housewives.

    Though Gossip Girl is the show I’m looking forward to most week to week.

  2. PurpleRanger says:

    One of my friends has a slightly different take on THE MENTALIST. I’ll just point you to his LJ, and you can read it for yourself:

    https://janusfiles.livejournal.com/

    Loved the NCIS premiere, especially how Abby was demanding that Gibbs bring back Ziva and Tony. And how the other people in the Cybercrime division were calling McGee “Boss.”

  3. Jody W. says:

    Favorite premiere so far: The Office

    Agree with Heroes that I feel like we’ve seen it before. Character goes to future, sees horribleness, must prevent. Peter is tortured, Nikki/Whatserface is explained poorly, Hiro engages in cute but forced wacky hijinx, Sylar and Ma P are creepy, rinse, repeat.

    Liked premiere of Sarah Connor but the eps that came after it palled a bit.

    Am turning off Smallville this season for the first time since it started, and somehow I am still hating it. Good Lord, what are they thinking??

    Haven’t watched SPN yet since I need kid-and-husband free time. They’d all get nightmares 🙂

    Watched 2 Fringes and didn’t connect to characters enough, plus too much shock value gruesome effects.

    Looking forward to: Chuck, Pushing Daisies

  4. Jennifer Estep says:

    Brian — I don’t think it always has to be saving the world. With all the escaped villains, it could just be about tracking them down. I just felt like the writers were really repeating themselves, like Jody mentioned above.

    Unfortunately, I don’t have Direct TV so I’m going to have to wait until next year for FNL. 😥

    Valentine could be cheesy, Xena-like fun — or just cheesy …

    PurpleRanger — One thing I like about NCIS is the writers aren’t afraid to poke gentle fun at themselves — like with McGee’s minions calling him “boss” or the new team, which was really an homage to the old team. It’s just a fun show, which I like.

    Jody — I totally agree with you about Heroes. I’ve watched Smallville on and off. I’ll probably watch some of the episodes with Green Arrow, just because I like his character. And maybe if they bring James Marsters back as Braniac …

    I’ve never really watched Supernatural, but I tuned into the season premiere. Dean’s savior was an interesting twist on the mythology, I thought.

  6. Dawn/ Froggy says:

    another TV junkie! :green: You are after my own heart!! I notice you don’t have Bones, House, Fringe and a few others listed…I have to watch those every week along with Greys (love MerDer)

    On grey’s I am thrilled they are working more on getting Meridith and Derek to a happy place instead of off again like with the Plant (Rose..yuk) There is so much more they can do with them now, things to work through like roommates, and engagement issues when he does pop the question again..then marriage issue..just because they are together doesn’t mean they have to be boring! :biggrin:

    I do like Hero’s but like you said its little things they do that don’t make sense..like Jessica was in the burning building..now she is someone else and an aide..
    I read her son and his cousin aren’t going to be on much this season. :rolleyes:

    I started watching Ghost Whisperer on DVD and the rumor is her hubby is going to die! The thing is, is he going to really die….die for a few minutes then come back to life with a new power like hers….die and become a ghost who helps her… :question:

    so much to watch..so little time! LOL! :mmachine:

  7. Jennifer Estep says:

    Oh, I’m definitely a TV junkie. 😎

    I don’t watch Bones or House. I didn’t get hooked on them when they started, and I hate jumping into a show after it’s been on a while.

    Yeah, I’m glad Mer and Der are finally together too. Let’s hope they don’t split up yet again! If they do, I seriously might throw something at my TV at that point. :rolleyes:

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