Monday, October 01, 2007

You Are What You Watch

Last week was a very eventful week out in the world. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (that's pronounced "I'm in a dinner jacket," thanks Katie Couric!) visited Columbia University. Bill O'Reilly made an even bigger ass of himself than usual. Some truly awful stuff went down in Myanmar/Burma.

And, oh yeah, Tyra Banks demonstrated the proper position to assume whilst receiving a bikini wax on national television--thus heralding the beginning of another Fall TV season.

I was a little bummed when it occurred to me that I wasn't particularly excited about any returning show. My beloved Veronica Mars is gone, off to solve the mystery of why we should care that The CW even exists. I've declared this season of Grey's Anatomy Dead On Arrival, and Battlestar Galactica doesn't come back until the winter. For the first September in a long time, I was sans appointment television.

Then, I realized that this is really an opportunity for a fresh start. My Season Pass function is a blank canvas waiting to be filled. So I decided to treat the new television season as if it were all-you-can-eat night at the Schezwan Palace--that is to say, stuff myself with little bit of everything and then see what brings me back for seconds.

So here for your viewing pleasure is a quick run-down of the hits, misses and first impressions from the past week:

Heroes: Unlike the rest of America, I didn't really fall in love with Heroes last season. I'm giving it a second shot to suck me in, mainly because Kristen Bell is joining the cast. The real battle this season will be to see who emerges as the most adorable, blond super-girl on the show. (My money says Veronica Mars kicks the cheerleader's ass).

Gossip Girl: I figured that if it was even half as fun as the first season of The OC it would be worthwhile. So far it seems trite and over-the-top soapy...yet still better than seasons 2-4 of The OC. I doubt I'll stick with it. Could it be that I've just gotten too old for teen dramas? (Nah....)

Chuck: The nerds have indeed inherited the earth. Or at least a bunch of national security secrets. The pilot was fun, we'll see how it goes.

30 Rock: The new season hasn't started yet, but I'm planning on bumping this up to Season Pass status. I adore Tina Fey. I kind of want to be her.

Dirty Sexy Money: I decided to check this one out because it starred Nate from Six Feet Under. The money part is accurate, but I'm not really sold on the dirty and the sexy. (On a side note, Dakota Fanning's little sister is on the show. She looks so much like her older sibling that I'm really starting to think there's a factory somewhere in Hollywood that mass produces Fanning children.)

Moonlight:
Watched this one because V.M. alum Jason Dohring is in the cast. Instead of playing the bad-boy high school love interest, he now plays a bad-boy immortal vampire, which is like three steps up the bad-boy ladder. But still, a show about a vampire who fights crime in Los Angeles? It's already been done--and byJoss Whedon, which automatically means it's been done better.

How I Met Your Mother: I recently watched the first season on DVD after hearing some good things about it, and I was totally charmed. The show is sort of like Friends' cooler, more down-to-earth cousin. And if his appearance in "Harold and Kumar" wasn't enough to renew your all-encompassing love of Neil Patrick Harris, his performance on HIMYM will. It might even be leg-en-dary.

That's all for now. If you have any suggestions or recommendations feel free to pass them along, although it looks like my plate is going to be pretty full. Also, sometimes I like to, you know, read stuff.

8 comments:

Noelle said...

I plan on finding a way to watch "Pushing Daisies" even though I am cablely challenged. It's supposed to be great, and it's narrated by Jim Dale, the man who turned Harry Potter on tape into a magical experience.

Anonymous said...

You simply MUST watch "It's always sunny in philadelphia." It picks up where arrested development left off, and is just really fabulous.

And, I too enjoy 30 rock and "How I met your mother." The last one is rather inexplicable because I've given up sitcoms with a laugh track (one more fake, empty laugh and I thought I was going to go crazy), but that show does have a weird charm. I call that charm Neil Patrick Harris. :)

Anonymous said...

I refuse to watch any more TV until Dick Casablancas gets his own show. It can just be him reading the newspaper. I don't care.

Unknown said...

kyle and i watched the pilot of bionic woman. it could be good. sort of a buffy show. girl power. also, kyle is really liking reaper. but i see it as basicly Chuck but with a supernatural twist. also, don't know if you have ever watched it but House, Bones and Boston Leagal are all awesome and all in a row on Tuesday nights on ABC.

Kyle Garret said...

You know, part of me feels as if I should be insulted for not getting even a MENTION for introducing you to two of the fabled shows you are missing this fall.

I think we have just enough time to get Matt caught up on BSG before the new season.

REAPER! You should try Reaper. It's similar to Chuck in a lot of ways, but I laughed more during the Reaper pilot than the Chuck one. I did enjoy the second episode of Chuck, though.

I can't believe that you two don't watch Boston Legal. You should Netflix the first season. I think it would be right up your alley.

My dad loved Moonlight. He thought it was supposed to be funny and found it hilarious. That's perhaps the best thing I could say about the show.

No Bionic Woman? I suppose Matt wouldn't get the appeal, not knowing who Starbuck is.

Unknown said...

kyle has now informed me that Bones and House are on Fox and Boston Legal is on ABC. If he ever let me have the remotes i would know this...

Anonymous said...

Battlestar Galactica? Wasn't that that movie starring John Travolta? Must be. Would I get the show even if I'm NOT a Scientologist?

Kyle Garret said...

Matt, that's the point. You're not supposed to be a Scientologist when you watch it -- that happens AFTER you watch it.

It's less entertainment and more programming.