T.V-- Love it or Hate it and Everything in between

[Cindy]

"Fall" into the new season and list your favourites here....(please, give me something decent to watch:-)

[eagleoftruth]

I really got into "The Listener" during the summer on NBC, but it was quickly cancelled . . . I'm the death of shows I like, I swear!

[Cindy]

oh so it's gone is it? I forgot to watch on Thursday. Honestly, I'm not too surprised. It wasn't horrible but no way could it have kept up with the bigger budget shows. It was nice to see the landmarks in the show just as they were ie. Toronto as Toronto instead of NY but it still had that cheap Canadian production feel to it IMO so I'm not surprised it didn't last.

[forumfish]

NBC has the rest of The Listener episodes online, until September 20, if you're able to watch.

I hope everyone is well -- I've been really busy at work (we had to pack our offices for new carpet installation). And yes, I'm knee-deep in remodeling. Today: ripping out carpet!

[eagleoftruth]

yeah, I've already watched all the online episodes (YouTube ROCKS!). The problem is that the show left off with a major cliffhanger and I want answers! J/K I think that it was finally hitting its stride and didn't really get a chance to shine.

[gingerbird]

I've been thinking about what shows to recommend to Cindy, and cannot come up with a single one on network. I'm looking forward to Three Rivers on CBS, which will star Alex O'Loughlin. I crushed on him hard in Moonlight a year ago. Only problem is, with the digital tv "upgrade," I can no longer receive any CBS-affiliated stations, so will have to watch online.

Right now all I'm watching are reality shows. I'm fascinated by More To Love, with the women shown eating piles of food at the house and on their dates, being packed into low-cut dresses and spandex swimming suits, and each and every one of them confessing they have never had a date and all have low self-esteem and cry at the drop of a hat because they are overweight. It's a trainwreck I have to watch, it's so damaging to the feminine mystique. It's like Erica Jong never wrote Fear of Flying, and Helen Gurly Brown and Gloria Steinem were never born. I like Hell's Kitchen, but turn the channel when Gordon goes into his VERY predictable tirades every single week about what DONKEYS the chefs are. I also love the dancing shows, but again, turn the channel every time the judges are on with their inane comments. I recently discovered America's Next Top Model, thank you digital receiver, and that's my must-see of the week. Again, it's a trainwreck: I'm fascinated by the cattiness, hostility, MEANESS of the contestants and the judges. And Tyra, MEOW, remember those tabloid photos of you in your FAT bikini and you telling people they could "Kiss my fat @ss?" Remember that when you are ranking on your ANTM girls, their weight, their hair, their clothes, if how they appear at that minute doesn't measure up to your snobby standards. Yeah, I'm hooked on trainwrecks this summer.

I watched The Listener for a couple eps, then had to stop because the lead guy looked too much like a Michael J. Fox clone. It became distracting, and I wished they had someone else as lead. Anyone else. Plus the guy was wimpy looking. Sorry. I'm as fickle as Tyra in some aspects.

All of my favorite shows are now on cable. And since I'll never have cable, I've relied on DVDs and now this online source:

www.fastpasstv.com/tv-shows-a-z

(Click "Skip This Commercial" to get to the show listing.) I'm currently watching Rescue Me, my fav show ever, S5 (Yeah, Michael JF is on that!), then will catch S7 of The Shield and S3 of Dexter, then S2 of Damages and Saving Grace. I need to find S2 of Weeds, a show I FELL IN LOVE WITH, which surprised me. I had no idea it was so well-written and superbly acted, but it is. I then want to watch In Treatment and True Blood, plus others.

The only network show I'll be watching, it seems, is Lost, back soon for its last season. Peanut, I understand Juliet did not die in that nuclear blast. Go figure that!

Meanwhile, my tv is mainly set to PBS, where I love History Detectives, Time Team America, all the nature and travel programs and (nearly) all the cooking shows. I guess I'm hooked on shows that might improve my ability to win on Jeopardy.

In an associated note: Even though I am addicted to daytime Millionaire with Meredith Vieria, I couldn't stand the latest nighttime hour with Regis. I kept shouting "STFU REGIS!" And the celeb coming on to (fake) answer some question for charity? Yeah, right. Worst-gameshow-ever.

[Cindy]

I'm with you on the millionaire thing Ginger. God, Regis is annoying. I much prefer Meredith's quieter style. I wanted the smart people back on millionaire..this bunch seemed really dumb..lol

I'm glad you mentioned weeds..I'm going to have to get that on dvd, I don't get the channel either but I love the concept, and it gets rave reviews. I had yr one of Saving Grace and for some reason, never got around to watching it--can you tell me what it's about?

I'm totally addicted the the food network--I just finished watching "The next food network star" Lady that won it was so sweet and she was stay at home mom with 4 kids--not a pro chef. You could see she was a good fit right from week one but oddly, I still haven't seen her "new" show air. (She won her own series)

Ita on Hell's kitchen. I truly think they look for the dumbest people on earth and throw them in a kitchen, I'd be shocked if any were chefs. I mean really..you don't know how to take orders and cook meat? And Robert seems like a nice enough guy, but I worry that he is going to have a heart attack at any moment--just not healthy.

I've got true blood on hold at the library--again, another show with rave reviews.

The one I'm thinking of for fall is "The good wife" with Chris Noth. Not sure if he will be anything but Mr. "Big" for me, we'll see.

LOL at your top model assessment Ginger, it seems like such a superficial life. When they critique the photos I think they are full of $%%$ I mean really people, it's a picture for Pete sake--get a grip--it really doesn't have 10 layers too it:-P

LOL at More to love I saw 5 minutes of it and was at my wits end..kinda like biggest loser--stop crying already--you don't need a man, you need a self esteem course...sets us all back about 50 yrs IMO. But ITA with you Ginger, that trainwreck makes my life look great, so it's good for something!

At least you have HOPE for jeopardy--you can count me out of that one--not even CLOSE. LOL

[gingerbird]

I was so looking forward to the nighttime Millionaire. Back when the show first came on, it was the evening treat. My guy would make us flavored decaf topped with whipped cream, and we'd sit and watch every single show like that. So how disappointing this time around with Regis; he couldn't shut his mouth, almost making contestants go over time and be disqualified if they didn't interrupt to give their answers. Then all the blah, blah, blah between questions, just to kill time to fill out an hour without giving away too much money. Drove me crazy, and I had to quit watching.

I was totally taken off-guard with Weeds. I only got the DVD since it was cheap, I figured I could use it to just kill time. I had no interest in the concept, plus didn't like any of the actors. Man, was I wrong. It has the best writing, best storyline, best actors. I'm shocked to say it's one of the best shows on tv!

Saving Grace turned out to be one of my favs, too. To give a synopsis, it sounds stupid, and maybe some people think it is. But the writing and acting is top-notch, and Holly Hunter, gosh, she's the real deal. Holly plays Grace Anadarko, an Oklahoma City cop who is burning out her life with hard drinking and sleeping with any and everyone. Her life is nearly ruined for good when she runs across (almost literally) her "guardian angel." The series deals with why Grace is like she is, her relationships both good and bad, and how the angel affects her. It's not religious by any means, and it's actually very believable IMO. I highly recommend.

I haven't seen any promos for The Good Wife. Must be on CBS since I can't get any of those channels. Which will stink when Amazing Race starts up again. Good thing we didn't get on, Cindy, since I wouldn't be able to watch us.

I only think of Chris Noth as Big, too, and I wasn't all that fond of him on SATC. Aiden was MY kind of guy. Not Carrie's, but perfect for me. Big was so totally NOT my type. I would have married Aiden in a heartbeat.

I'm glad Robert got kicked off of Hell's Kitchen. I hated that they brought him back. Must have been for ratings since Chef made horrible fun of him last season. I remember when Blue Team won the challenge so got a helicopter ride to Catalena. They made Robert take a boat since he was too heavy to fly. By the time he got there, the trip was over and he had to turn right around and get back on the boat. Yeah, that was cruel. I can't see most of those contestants heading up a classy kitchen, especially the ones who talk "street" and swear 90 percent of the time. Eh, although with Gordon's mouth, that's pot calling kettle. I hate he can't express himself without turning the air blue, like that's cool or something. I turn the channel when he gets on a rant, it's so old.

I was in LA some time back with a friend who took the Jeopardy test. It is GRUESOMELY difficult. While the show gives a clue in each answer, making it so simple for me, the audition test is straight questions only, about every subject from trigonometry to French opera to medieval literature. So, ya'll can count me out of ever being on that show too. I did go to some tapings, though. Have to say, I also hate Alex Trebeck. He's a pompous a** on the show and in real life.

[gingerbird]

Hell's Kitchen is on tonight. I am amazed that every one of those chef contestants smoke up a storm once they are out of the kitchen. No wonder none of them could tell the difference between salmon and tuna in the taste test last week.

More To Love ... it's getting down to the last few gals, and I find it interesting that Luke is keeping the most shapely, slimmest, prettiest women and sending the biggest ones home.

[gingerbird]

I'm watching S2 of Burn Notice since S5 of Rescue Me was taken down online, right when I was up to ep 15. Anyway, while I love Denis Leary and think Rescue Me is the best show on tv, it might not be for everyone. The show that IS for everyone is Burn Notice. Try it and you will be rewarded with some of this:

zoknows.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/michealwesten.jpg

Best part of S2 so far was in ep 1, being rewarded with a tight-tank-top-wearing Jeffery Donovan. HOT!

[Cindy]

I've never even heard of Burn Notice...lol Is it on a major network? If not, I likely don't get it...I don't get a lot of extra channels.

That new glee show is weird. Still trying to decide what I think of it --60's meets today, meets fame, meets musicals, potential but need to figure out what they are trying to do --the wheelchair kid cracks me up--just roll him out of the picture when they don't want him around lol (yes, I can laugh at that since I own a wheelchair and I'm not offended --my Mom would roll me somewhere and leave me if she could lol)

I keep forgetting to keep up with hell's kitchen. It is on at 7pm on the channel I watch it on and I just plain forget that early but ITA on the smoking...considering more and more people are quitting..I'm shocked to see so many smokers on one show. ITA, on them not being able to taste anything..none of them seem very capable of cooking either---maybe they think that everything needs to be "smoked" lol. Seriously, bad yr for talent--there is none!

[gingerbird]

Cindy, Burn Notice is on USA. I don't even have basic cable; I purchased S1 on DVD after hearing good reviews. It's the only show I immediately started watching over again after finishing the disks, I enjoyed it that much. Now I am watching eps online. To check out "Michael Weston" in that tank top (and tight jeans accented by a climbing harness!), go here:

burnnotice.purplefreak3.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=13&page=45

Click on the far-right, center-row photo, then continue onto pages 46 and 47. Usually Jeffrey Donovan doesn't dress like that, he wears a suit jacket "on the job" or t-shirt at home. So, excuse me that my (drooling) jaw fell open for that break-in scene!

I've heard good reviews for "Glee," but I didn't watch it. I didn't like the previews, although I shouldn't judge by that. I did force myself to watch "Vampire Diaries" since I was a HUGE "Moonlight" fan of hot vamps. I thought VD (hee!) was pretty much aimed at girls much younger than myself. Not that there's anything wrong with that! I also found "Supernatural" tedious this last week, so maybe it's just me.

[gingerbird]

The new Biggest Loser is squaring off against the finale of More To Love tonight. I guess I'll watch to see who Luke proposes to since I have a feeling that show is doomed to obscurity while Biggest Loser will continue on. And on. BL is getting scary with its new focus on the severely obese, people ready to drop from a heart attack. Wish it would get away from the circus sideshow and concentrate more on healthy eating and living that those of us at home can use.

Entertainment Weekly gives a big thumbs-up to Vampire Diaries and Glee and Supernatural.

[Cindy]

I have to agree Ginger. I'm so over the crying on biggest loser. Most of them have alot more issues than just food. I've never found the show to be very real anyway. In the real world people can't work oout 24/7 and don't have trainers to scream at them. I'd bet the majority go back to their old lifestyle in a big hurry..what happens when all the support dries up? That's the show I want to see. Can they keep it off in "real" life?

I'm still on the fence about gllee. Not horrible but a weird concept. It probably will hang in there just because there isn't much else.

Looking forward to getting Grey's back. But lol at NBC..getting a new show called either trauma or mercy...they should just call it "ER's replacement" lol

[gingerbird]

Speaking of Grey's, Derek is slated to have more air time not connected with his Meredith love affair, since Ellen Pompeo will be off on maternity leave in real life. He's going to have an actual medical story line. Spoiler: George is dead. Izzy lives, but Katherine Heigel is leaving the show after all.

That new Chris Noth show is on CBS, so I won't get to see it since no tvs here receive that station since the digital switch. Too bad Dr. Oz's new show is on CBS as well; I like him when he's on Oprah.

I've seen follow-up shows on BL losers. Many have kept the weight off, or gained just a bit back so they aren't concentration-camp skeletons like some appear to be for that final $ weigh-in. Others gain it all back and more, including some of the final $ winners. Yeah, the overweight are that way because of emotional problems. Jillian has been addressing those more the last few seasons. Last season showed more of the medical supervision the contestants are under, and they even slipped in a scene of the players sitting around with their legs all iced down in between workouts!