Well it’s fall, which means we’re all back to school. Time to crack the books, and prep those highlighters and post its right? Nah, maybe later. In the meantime why not watch some good old American TV. Oh, look at that! I just happen to have a short list of a few great shows that are starting up again. So with that, here is my guide to good TV watching this Fall. Now, after writing this I realized that besides LOST, Mad Men and Dexter, I only watch comedies… who doesn’t need a good laugh though, right? Check out the list.
The Office.
Easily one of the funniest shows on network television. This show needs very little introduction. See if Michael and Holly finally get back together to make some of the best awkward comedy you’ll ever see. Dwight is easily the best character on the show, although The Office has a very hilarious supporting cast. Oh yeah, and there’s the whole Jim and Pam getting pregnant thing.
“The Office” Season 6 premieres Thursday, 9/17 at 9pm ET on NBC.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Easily the best comedy nobody knows about. The tag-line says it all : “Seinfeld on crack.” A lovable cast, a pseudo-improv style shtick and an imaginative yet, borderline retarded plot. What more do you want? If you want to watch a show that will really make you laugh, you have to check this show out. If you don’t have FX, get the torrents, or watch it on surfthechannel. If you have no idea what I just said, get a smarter friend to explain it to you.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Season 5 premieres Thursday, 9/17 at 10pm on FX.
30 Rock
Even though the whole “bring on an extremely talented and famous actor” bit was funny with Selma Hayek, Jon Hamm and the ridiculous season finale guest list, we all just want to see Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey work their magic. Kenneth and Dr. Spaceman too. Leave the special guests for SNL. The show is already good on it’s own.
“30 Rock” Season 4 premieres Thursday, 10/15 at 10pm MT on NBC.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
If you’ve been anywhere around me this summer, you’ve definitely heard me utter in complete hysteria something about a quasi-Seinfeld reunion. It’s been almost 2 years without Curb, and bringing it back with the Seinfeld gang for a season-long story arc will throw any Neumaniac into a flop sweat dying for a sip of your root beer.
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” Season 7 premieres Sunday, 9/20 at 9pm on HBO.
Bored to Death
Jason Schwartzman, Zack Galifianakis, Ted Danson, HBO. Winning combo? We’ll see.
“Bored to Death” premieres Sunday, 9/20 at 9:30pm on HBO.
How I Met Your Mother
Even though it’s now a hit, and making me kinda miss those days when no one understood my HIMYM references, this is one of my favorite shows. With an awesome cast, and a unique story telling format narrated by Bob Saget, it’s a sitcom (albeit with a laugh track) that doesn’t disappoint. I’m actually happy it’s a hit. With a strong viewership, hopefully this show will be on for years to come.
“How I Met Your Mother” Season 5 premieres Monday, 9/21 at 10pm MT on CBS.
Dramas
I don’t watch that many dramas or Crime shows because Law and Order and CSI has covered EVERYTHING. I’ve also lost interest when their M.O became “Find a guy douchier than Horatio Caine and shit out a ‘new’ show in a different city!” (ugh, see NCIS : Los Angeles) but here’s a show that’s a bit different, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out.
Dexter
A serial killer who is a blood splatter analyst for the Miami PD. This is a great character development show and a really cool one where you’re rooting for the bad guy…kinda. He only kills criminals. Still killing people though. Anyways, This season Dexter is battling the duties of becoming a full fledged family man, with work and his primal urge to kill. John Lithgow joins the cast this season as the new big, bad serial killer. See what silly shenanigans go on this season.
“Dexter” Season 4 premieres Sunday, 9/27 at 9pm on Showtime.
OH YEAH. Definitely catch the leaked season premiere on surfthechannel or by torrent. Ask an adult before using the Internet!
Mad Men
Already 4 episodes deep into its 3rd season, Don Draper and company take you into the world of ad men on Madison Avenue of the 1960s. A fun drinking game I like to play by myself is grab a bottle of alcohol and take a swig every time someone says something sexist, whenever there’s a scene where somebody ISN’T smoking, or when Betty Draper says something really annoying but still looks really hot doing it.
“Mad Men” Season 3 airs Sundays at 10 pm on AMC.
LOST
It is way too early to say anything about LOST’s final season, seeing as how it starts late Jan/Early Feb. But I will say this, there are 18 episodes and too many questions. If you haven’t been following, I wouldn’t even bother. I watch the show and I’m always confused, so there is no way a n00b would understand what’s going on. Seeing as how it’s the last season however, maybe this is the season where they answer all the questions and tie up the million loose ends instead of making us guess what the fuck is going on. My prediction : I don’t have one. The story is so elaborate, you could say the smoke monster is the genie in a lamp and Ben Linus is Aladdin or you could say the entire story is allegorical to the Bible and time travel represents Easter, and both would be legitimate outcomes.
Reality TV
The Ultimate Fighter - Heavyweights
All you fight fans, get ready for the biggest ultimate fighter yet (damn it, that sounds like something Mike Goldberg would say.) Rampage and Evans are the coaches this time around. But most people will most likely tune into see Kimbo Slice get the shit kicked out of him by a better technical fighter. Word on the street is the Rampage/Evans fight for UFC 107 is delayed due to filming obligations by Rampage as he is portraying B.A Baracus in the new A Team remake. Wtf right?
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 premieres Wednesday, 9/16 at 9pm on Spike TV.
So You Think You Can Dance?
Believe it or not, if you look past the really cheesy between-performance-bits, and the crazy broad in the middle of the judging panel who screams like someone removed her anus, this show has some very entertaining dance numbers. If it’s not your thing, then whatever. To each their own. Don’t judge me. Okay, you can judge me. I like dance. Sue me, fuck.
“So You Think You Can Dance” Season 6 premieres Wednesday, 9/9 at 8pm ET on FOX.
Shaq Vs.
A cool concept. Shaq takes on A-list athletes in their own sport with his own handicap of course. Watch “Shaq-mu” Swim against Michael Phelps, “Shaqqie Robbinson” home-run derby against Pujols, and “Manny Shaqquiao” box against De La Hoya. Expect to get a ton of random acts of Shaqness.
“Shaq Vs.” airs Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on ABC
Shows to skip?
Heroes - It’s a show that’s easy to hate. This has always been a show for me that was trying to capitalize on the glory that is LOST and failed horribly. I don’t care who Sylar is. I don’t care if some faggy nurse can’t control his powers. If the obvious plot twists and trite dialogue aren’t enough for you, this season, watch as Hayden Panettierre’s character has a lesbian scene. Really. Give it up already.
24- This show is still huge in the U.S. America! Fuck Yeah! “My name is Jack Bauer. I’m a retired ex-Federal Agent gone into hiding, yet somehow, every couple of months, my old CTU buddies find me, and get me to fight some foreign terrorists backed by a *gasp!* American/My dad/Dick Cheney who want to bomb California/Washington/Air force one. What a surprise! Good thing I have done the same thing 8 times already and can solve the crime in exactly 24 hours (minus commercials).”
Glee - I dunno. Once again, I hate it when somebody tries to repackage something popular in another medium for a quick buck. This is a show that seems to me is trying to ride the High School Musical coattails. I hear good things; however, does it have any strength to last in the long run though? If you have large amounts of prepubescent estrogen coursing through your veins, you may like this.
The Vampire Diaries - Do you like Twilight? This show is JUST like Twilight, only on TV! Watch it before it gets cancelled!
Survivor Season 19…. really 19. That means they’ve given $18 000 000 to 18 Americans for doing obstacle courses in an exotic country for a fucking bag of chips while in the distance, an indigenous tribe is strangling a wild boar with their bare hands and eating it. Too much?
The Cleveland Show - In my opinion, the worst possible character to pick for a spin off of Family Guy. Where’s the Quagmire show?
South Park - The last season was pretty disappointing and I feel like it had a couple of really good seasons, and now has run out of steam. Wow, Simpsons did it! Comedy Central will probably milk this until it’s completely dry as well.
-Bao-hoa
