Lost, Jericho and Heroes.

Two seasons ago we were introduced on ABC to the Lost television phenomenon in a wild new two-hour premeire that changed some of the perceptions we have while we watch a television drama. Lost combined tragedy and a well developed mythology into a show that was more about an island, than the people that crashed in the spectacular tail-falling-off crash that became its tell tale signature moment.

This season the other networks are playing catch-up, two new series try their hand at a serial television drama that after their premeire’s have many questions that have left unanswered.

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Sunday night … just isn’t Sunday night anymore…

Now that Grey’s Anatomy is on Thursday night (and what a messed up night that has become, one needs like seven DVRs just to make it through the night… its like there isn’t any other night on television, but Thursday. I blame Bill Cosby!

So we did watch the season (I think) premiere of the Sears Workshop Ty’s Roadtrips Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The tear ducts got a good cleansing a few times, irk! But wow, a 3000+ squarefoot house in 53 hours and change. I’m glad I don’t have to compare that to the building of my house… but I know some friends that are gritting their teeth, and trying to smile when they see that number. I do wonder if they’ll show the house in 6 weeks when settling starts in and the cracks start to show. Too cynical? Yep, that’s me… 🙂

Desparately trying to even get a care up for Desparate Housewives. Just not feeling the love. Bree gets married – whoop – de – do. To and axe murderer with a fetish for cleaning supplies *yawn*. Lynette and TOm fighting over the mother of Tom’s oldest daughter, urghle. Carlos and Gabby’s surrogate gives birth to another couples baby, go figger. Mike’s in a coma, leaving Susan to gain the attraction of another guy with his significant wife in a coma. *Strrreetttccchhh*

more blather after the fold…

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TV updater-a-thon…

Its been a while since I’ve gone over my shows… so I’ll do this off the top of me head.

House continues to rock, though the formula hasn’t changed much. I did like last night’s episode, especially when he realized (or DID he) that his young fan was attracted to him because of some kind of spore. Or maybe he made it up, because he knew that would be a ‘bad-thing’. Still think he has the hots for Cameron.

The Heroes pilot was good on Monday night. I like that this will be an ensemble show, and enjoy the different flavors of characters. The mystical scientist-now-taxi-driver will slowly put the peices together. The freaky cheerleader that can’t kill herself is an intriguing story-line, and nice to make the ‘wolverine’ character nice and cute. Scary mother/father pair for that one, though the mother didn’t act quite as horrid when she didn’t have the dog in her lap… maybe the dog has some kind of force-field it emits that causes brain malfunction. Ali Larder’s character is interesting, I think she’ll end up being Hulk-like where if you make her mad, you won’t like her so much, as the thugs found out. The Japanese teleporter… hilarious, with the Star-Trek references.. HA!

Jericho gets its second watching tonight (the a LOST review *woooooo*) and we’ll see if this ends up being just a drag or we start answering some questions and asking others. The story left quite a few loose ends, and if they want to keep their audience, they need to provide some answers along the path. That is the genius of Lost is the answer one or two and ask two or three more in their story line. Jericho needs to move along that path, or it won’t last the season, at least not on my DVR.

Brothers & Sisters wasn’t on my A-list, but I ended up watching it my last night in KC. Not bad, some very familar faces, and some great talent. Though I wouldn’t trust Slone with my money, though it is smart to put Tom Grace right there to keep an eye on him. Interesting casting of Flockhart as a conservative radio talk-show host, who has an even more conservative neanderthal husband who wants to keep his wimmin-folk barefoot and pregnant… *sigh* so much for stereotype busting. And the loyal husband that is sneaking around with a woman… predicatable, and someone has to see the Caleb Nichols line with the patriarch falling into the pool after a heart attack. This show will be the snarkfest, as it goes on.

Grey’s Anatomy best written show on television. Bar none. Doesn’t have the mystery of Lost, but the dialog and characters are top notch. Using dark and twisty to describe the title character of Meredith Grey, the relationships of all the young doctors in love, the tying the past (Meredith’s mom and the chief) to the present (Derek and Addison, and the problems the Chief has with his marriage…) just all together great stuff to watch, and laugh and morn. Steven Harris’s breakdown at the loss of his wife was terrific.

Six Degrees was a good pilot, there was a good thread that wound through the episode that came to a nice close, several questions asked, some kinda answered. A typical J.J. Abrams type of plot, that is a good mix of dialog and action. Interesting characters, and some predictable moments. The boyfriend that cheats for instance, at the end we get the confirmation we ALL knew was going to happen. The rest is all watching the train-hit-the-car. The mystery girl who is running from something, and the connection with the disillusioned assistant DA. The lost photographer that re-finds his eye. The little brother trying to the the right thing, while being drug down by his own problems. Lots of stuff to keep an eye on.

On the reality set, mild interest in Dancing with the Stars its gonna come down to Joey vs. Mario (who was EXCELLENT in his Nip/Tuck guest spot, which is another guilty pleasure show that is rocking this year… and by rocking I mean… well parental discretion is strongly advised.) So I’ll keep an eye on the standings, but won’t get drug in until the later weeks. Survivor is still strong on the DVR, though the same things happen year after year… I love the formula. The Biggest Loser is another family favorite, don’t we all wish we could do nothing but workout and eat veggies for a few weeks? TAR is a watcher too… mostly because all the cool kids watch it.
Gripe: Why do the telephone voting shows get so much TIME. We really don’t need a 30-60 minute wrap up show to discover the vote, that irritates me to no end. DwtS does it, and so does AI. I’d rather they have like a 3-minute lottery spot, and tell you what the result was, and see you next week. Then we don’t have to reserve 30 minutes of valuable DVR time for what boils down to a 2 minute payoff.

Okay, no tell me what I’m missing.

Fall Addiction…

With new shows starting to pop up onto the television screen, I’ve been perusing the fall schedule.

Just browsing, since it doesn’t really kick off for good until well into September, there are a couple of old-standby that kick off next week. House and nip/tuck.

Sunday looks like it will be less ‘must see’, but with The Amazing Race opposite Extreme Home Makeover, TAR might be in the 9 o’clock slot, since Grey’s Anatomy has moved to Thursday. I lost a bit of that ‘desparate’ feeling last season, but will give it another shot. But if it withers more, then it looks more like Sunday Night Football will be the place to be. 😀

Monday night is a bit open with the lack of Primetime Football (well at least not on ABC) we’ll have to go to the dramas. Missed the Vanished premiere last week, but *yawn* .. sorry.. lost my train of thought there. The two known qualities are vying for my attention at 9pm (What About Brian and CSI:Miami – I give the nod to WAB… but I still have a warm place in my heart for Horatio…) New shows that might crack my attention barrier, Heros on NBC at 9 (if for nothing else to not watch Bachelor: Rome, sorry.. but Jen shefted me on that franchise…) looks like it might be worth the time. Deal or No Deal is great pop-corn television (it keeps you busy, but isn’t very filling), and will get the early nod, if I can’t tune to ESPN.

Tuesday looks dry, but House starts next week at 8pm. After that we’ll have to search for distraction, ABC has some sitcoms, I always hear the Veronica Mars buzz… Boston Legal, I enjoy, but eh.. sometimes the whole liberal slant of the show (with Denny Crane filling the conservative buffoon role) just irritates me.

Wednesday. The DVR gets a workout early, since we don’t get back home from church until almost 8pm. Jericho looks cool, I mean nuclear explosions, whats not to like?? Lost starts conspiring at 8pm, with a whole bunch of new loose ends to start gathering up. The Biggest Loser will be on the backup DVR for that slot, I’m certain, and The Nine (post Lost show) might make the radar screen.

Thursday gets busy… (note to self, change men’s night…) Survivor on at 7pm. Grey’s Anatomy, CSI and The OC all at 8pm (counts fingers… one will have to be downloaded, I’m thinking either CSI or The OC, I need another DVR!!!) Six Degrees (the new Abrams drama) starts at 9pm, and will get my attention early.

Friday might give Men in Trees a gander, woman stuck in man-filled Alaska, sounds somewhat interesting. Saturday is DEAD to me. (Oh why can’t some dude realize that some Thursday shows could make it on a Friday night or a Saturday night…)