What to Watch or Avoid Fall TV Season 2012 Part 1

I'm back!!! So soon you ask?  Last year I said I was going to try to blog more, and when I make the time to sit and type, I really enjoy it. So, with that being said, I've started watching the new shows that have premiered for the fall season and this is what I think so far. I hope to continue watching new shows and blogging my opinions of them- maybe you'll read and find a new show that you will enjoy, or maybe I'll just be blogging to myself and you'll never know the great shows that you could be watching if only you'd read. 


The New Normal - From Ryan Murphy, the creator of gLee and American Horror Story this is the story of a gay couple who decides they want to have a baby.  Justin Bartha (Doug from The Hangover) plays David, a doctor who's in a relationship with Bryan who as far as i can tell is unemployed played by Andrew Rannells (Elijah the ex-bf from Girls).  NeNe Leakes (for all you RH fans!) is their assistant? of course she is sassy and no nonsense. Bryan and David go to an agency to find an egg donor and a surrogate which they end up finding in Goldie, a newly single mother with a very odd daughter.  Ellen Barkin is Goldie's overbearing bigot/racist/homophobic mother. The dialogue is wonderful and witty, the cast meshes so well I have no doubt that this show will definitely be a keeper on my DVR season pass.  Two episodes have already aired so if you missed them definitely check out NBC.com Here's a clip from hulu (sorry about the commercial... I hate commercials to watch a commercial... booo) The New Normal

GoOn - I honestly had NO expectations for this show to be good at all, since Matthew Perry hasn't been in any successful shows in the past few years despite his wonderful comedic ability.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by this show. Perry plays Ryan King, a recently widowed radio sportscaster who is having trouble dealing with the recent loss of his wife, he just doesn't realize it. All he wants to do is go on with his life which mainly includes working and since his house is now empty- he makes his assistant work late nights with him so he doesn't have to go home alone.   He has to go to therapy sessions as a condition of his being able to return to work, he reluctantly goes just to get his paper signed. The group of course all have their issues and some of them are cray-zay. I will definitely keep watching it, though I'm not sure if it will have a mass appeal- give it a try maybe you'll like it. Two episodes have already aired and can be found on NBC.com Another hulu clip Go On-First Day of Group Therapy

Animal Practice - I am unsure what I think of Animal Practice, but I am going to watch a couple more episodes before deciding if it's a keeper or not.  This show will definitely not be for everyone because it's quirky and silly- which I find enjoyable.  The show takes place at an animal hospital that is set up like a real hospital emergency room with multiple vets, a completely overcrowded waiting room... an animal ambulance- ridiculous. Obviously not based in any realistic vet's office but, if you can get past that the cast is a great one. Justin Kirk (from Weeds) plays Dr. Coleman, the main vet who is great with animals and not so great with people.  Joanna Garcia Swisher (from Reba) plays Dorothy- Dr. Coleman's ex-girlfriend who has been willed the animal hospital after her grandmother's passing, thus making her the boss.  Tyler Labine (Sock from Reaper)  is a wonderful addition to any comedic cast as far as I'm concerned. If this sounds even somewhat appealing- watch an episode. What do you have to lose other than 22 minutes? You may like it.  Again, the first episode can be found at NBC.com and here's an NBC clip Animal Practice

Guys With Kids- This show's premise seemed weak at best when I read about it. I attempted to watch the first episode and didn't finish.  First of all, aren't sit-coms filmed in front of a live studio audience a little dated?  It worked for the Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld and Friends but this is a new millennium and it just seems a little forced and fake.  I feel like if the comedy is really strong it doesn't need someone laughing in studio to let me know that the joke was funny and it's time for me to laugh, or maybe that's just me.  And upon further investigation I have come to realize that I don't like MOST new shows that use laughter, and like quite a few that have none, coincidence?  Laughter: Two and a Half Men, Mike and Molly, 2 Broke Girls, (and I have never watched but it doesn't appeal to me at all despite NUMEROUS people telling me I should watch) Big Bang Theory.  I never realized before that for the most part I just don't like laughter added to my tv! The only currently airing show I can think of that does have laughter that I enjoy watching is How I Met Your Mother.  NO-Laugh shows that I like: Arrested Development, Community, Parks and Recreation, Cougar Town, It's Always Sunny, Modern Family, Glee... I like being able to chose when to laugh and how funny something really is.  I just read a quote that sums it up perfectly: "Comedic shows without laugh tracks imply that the audience can decide what is and isn't funny."  And I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. SO back to Guys With Kids- I'm just not feelin' it. Three guys with kids, one married with 4 kids, one married with 2 kids and the third divorcing with 1 kid- bring on the not-so-funny one liners. Maybe the cast just hasn't formed good chemistry yet. Stacey thought one of the jokes was funny but overall it doesn't appeal to me. I will not be adding this to my DVR list. I thought that maybe having been produced by Jimmy Fallon that it could be good- but now I know better. Guys With Kids- not feelin' it

Revolution-  This show wasn't on my fall tv list because I had never heard of it before, NBC is not doing so great with their fall lineup advertising. The premiere episode airs Monday September 17th on NBC, but the full episode is available on NBC.com now if you want to check it out.  Quick rundown: for some yet unknown reason all electricity on earth shuts down- including batteries. Basically mankind is thrown back into the 1800's as far as technology is concerned. No more cars, flashlights, air conditioning, modern medicine... flash forward 15 years and the story begins. The first episode was good and I will watch a few more episodes to see if the story line and cast come together to make "must see tv". If you like post-apocalyptic shows this one may just be for you. Revolution

This concludes the first edition of "What to Watch or Avoid Fall TV Season 2012."

What to watch 2012!

It's that time of year again, obviously I have been ever the slacker blogger apparently only churning out one blog per year. I blame it on the fact that I have a husband, a child, a job, and I also like to read, sew and watch lots of tv in my spare time... so who has time for typing words into this silver box?  I really should try to blog more... and I mean it just as much today as I did last year when I said it. Anywhoodle... on to the stuff that we really care about FALL 2012 TV SEASON!!!!

Mondays

Partners (CBS Season 1 September 24 7:30)  A new comedy about two guys who are lifelong friends and their navigation of adult life, jobs and relationships. One is gay, the other straight so that could lead to some good humor or horrible jokes... we'll just have to wait and see. This show seems like it has some promise but you never really know until you see what type of chemistry the cast has with one another and of course how well the writers do their job.  Sofia Bush is cast as the girlfriend and I like her so that's a plus.  I will add it to my watch list for at least one episode and see how I feel afterward.

Grimm (NBC Season  2, already airing 9:00)  APPARENTLY I've been missing out on the second half of Grimm's second season because my stupid DirecTv box got struck by lightning in June, thus causing me to lose all of my season passes that I had programmed in to record. Grimm started the second half of this season 3 weeks ago. Thankfully NBC isn't as stingy with their tv shows online as FOX is so I will be able to catch up on them.   Grimm is described by NBC as a "fairytale crime procedural" and it really is that- it's CSI meets the Grimm brothers.  The main character is Nick who is a "grimm", a descendent of the real life Grimm brothers who could really see ghouls and goblins and they were kindof like the goblin police.  There are good goblins and bad ones and a seemingly endless variety of them to boot but they all look like normal humans to other normal people. Nick, the grimm is the only "person" who can see them for what they truly are.  It's a good show if you like a lot of fantasy with your crime procedural. Give it a try.

Catfish: the TV show (MTV Season 1 November 12 9:00)  Did you see the movie Catfish? Freaking freaky freak show... and now they're making a tv show out of it!!!  The original filmmakers of Catfish (the movie) will be traveling around the country doing mini-documentaries about couples who have met and fallen in love online but never met in person.  Whenever I hear stories like this it just freaks me out, I just can't fathom meeting someone online, getting to know them online/via phone, but not meeting them face to face before starting a for real relationship.  Lessons learned from "Catfish"(the movie) *SPOILER ALERT: don't read the following if you want to watch the movie that is already 2 years old and let's face it- you should have already seen it if you're going to watch it.* as I was saying... lessons learned from Catfish.... it might not be a hot young chick she could be an old-ish lonely lady!!!  I am 99% sure that this show will be a guilty pleasure of mine and I'll shout it from the rooftops!!!

Major Crimes (TNT Season 1 already airing 9:00)  If you are/were a fan of The Closer you'll probably also be a fan of Major Crimes as it picks up where The Closer left off- meaning The Closer has been canceled due to Kyra Sedgwick deciding to pass on an 8th season.  All of the cast remains for Major Crimes minus Sedgwick- Captain Raider has been promoted in her place which has caused a bit of a stir in major crimes division seeing as how nobody really likes her.  There has been a slight shift away from prosecuting for the death penalty in murder cases (which, let's face it- is a joke anyway in California where they don't kill death row inmates) but they attempt to plead out the cases to save the city money.  I watch it, I like the characters from The Closer and Captain Raider is growing on me.

 Perception (TNT Season 1 already airing 10:00) A new show starring Eric McCormack (from Will and Grace) about an ivy league professor in neuroscience who has neurological problems, namely auditory and visual hallucinations. One of his former students works for the FBI and has started consulting him on cases, it's really a typical procedural crime drama but the hallucinations make it interesting and the acting and writing are good. Is it the best show I've ever seen? No, but it is good enough to watch.


Tuesdays

Happy Endings (ABC Season 3 October 23 8:00) Ok, laugh and get it out of your system... yes, happy endings is a horrible name for a show but whatever.  I didn't start out watching this show but I caught bits of the endings when tuning in to whatever show followed during it's first season and I decided that I had to watch.  Hilarious. The show's first season starts with Alex (played by Elisha Cuthbert who I usually don't  like-thus part of the reason I didn't watch in the first place) leaving her fiance' Dave at the altar when some guy on roller blades skates into the church.  Most of the first season concentrates on the group of friends trying to remain friends while semi-separating the broken up couple.  Because everybody knows that it's hard to decide who gets to stay friends with whom in a divorce, especially when everybody likes both parties.  There are tons of hilarious pop culture references and it really is a must see for me, I have never made it through an episode and not laughed out loud at least once. My polling data shows that 4 out of 4 people watch it, love it and recommend it.

Don't Trust the B*tch in Apartment 23 (ABC Season 2 October 23 8:30)  The title to this show seemed totally stupid and obnoxious and I almost didn't watch last season because of it. I can only assume that Hollywood is running out of titles to give to tv shows?  I'm glad that I did watch because I think this show is funny. Krysten Ritter plays a very good self absorbed bitch roommate and  her bff James Van Der Beek plays himself as a totally over the top self absorbed actor- which is exactly how I imagine most teen heart throbs turned adult actor who are no longer on tv but still trying to "be" somebody.  From my completely unscientific poll... Chad doesn't like it and Jami Jo does so that's a 2 to 1 vote in favor of Don't Trust the B, with the ladies being more apt to like the show anyway.

Private Practice (ABC Season 6 September 25) If you like Grey's Anatomy you probably maybe like Private Practice too. That is if you can stand to look at the weird face that Kate Walsh makes... which I will admit gets on my nerves to no end.  Being that this is the 6th and possibly final season I do not suggest that you start watching now, I mean you can if you want to- whatever floats your boat.  That being said, I am somewhat apprehensive about this season because since it may be the final one they say they're "pulling out all the stops" and doing every show they ever dreamed of doing. I swear if they do a musical episode like the abomination they did on Grey's I will throw my remote and probably write an annoyed facebook rant! Nobody wants to see that mess unless it's on gLee!

Go On (NBC Season 1 premiered but not airing 8:00) It seems as if Matthew Perry post-Friends is cursed. His show (which I really enjoyed) Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was canceled after one season, his next show (which I watched 1 episode of) Mr. Sunshine was righfully canceled.  So here we are with his 3rd new show in the past few years and it has already premiered with little to no advertising as far as I can see.  One episode has aired almost a month ago and another has yet to be shown, that just doesn't seem to bode well for said show- however I will watch the first episode and see if it seems like it's worth watching and will wonder if they will air the remaining epsiodes.  It is about a grieving widower (Perry) sportscaster who has to go to grief counseling so that he can get back to his job, meh.

 The New Normal (NBC Season 1 September 11 8:30) Since this show was created by Ryan Murphy (of Glee and American Horror Story) I will obviously give this show a chance and see if it captures me.  Midwestern girl/single mother moves to L.A. to get away from it all becomes a surrogate for a gay couple.  I'm not too excited about it, we'll see.


Parenthood (NBC Season 4 September 11 9:00) I am so excited about the season premiere of Parenthood, it is a genuinely wonderful show about family and how we're all messed up but in the end family should, and usually does stick together.  Lauren Graham is one of my favorites of this star studded cast also including Craig T Nelson,  Monica Potter, Peter Krause and Dax Shepard. This show makes me want to have 4 kids, but once it's over I realize that I'm barely sane with one child and that the sibling rivalry and bickering would drive me to certifiable insanity.


Ben and Kate (FOX Season 1 September 25 7:30)  I don't know why but this show for whatever reason just doesn't seem like it's going to be my thing. I could be completely wrong but when I read the synopsis I just wasn't feelin' it.  Girl has kid in college and drops out to raise said child by working at a bar to scrape by.  Her brother Ben moves in and realizes that Kate needs to get out and enjoy her life and live it up so he helps with the daughter. I don't know, I'll definitely watch one episode but I can't guarantee anymore than that.


 

New Girl (FOX Season 2 September 25 8:00) I can not WAIT until the next season of New Girl. It is hands down my favorite new show from last season and I would (gun to my head) give up most of the other shows I watch regularly if I had to- just to keep watching New Girl... but I don't, so I won't.  Jess (Zooey Deschanel) is a quirky school music teacher who has a rough breakup with her longtime boyfriend and through craigslist finds 3 new guy roommates. All of the 4 main characters are hilarious and the writing is very witty and smart and I desperately want to know how to play "Real American Heroes". Watch this show or else, my highly unscientific poll suggests that all awesome people love it including but not limited to: myself, Stacey, Chad and Jami Jo thus proving that it isn't just a chick show.

The Mindy Project (FOX Season 1 September 25 8:30)  Again with the stupid show names?? Surely there was a better title than "The Mindy Project", has no one in the show naming business learned anything from Cougar Town??  The lead character is a doctor (played by the actress who plays Kelly on The Office) and she's quirky and awkward? I don't know, I'm guessing it could have potential to be a good show but it also seems like it could have the potential to be horrible. Only time, writing and chemistry will tell. I will give it a few tries before I make a season pass decision.

Wednesdays 

The Middle (ABC Season 4 September 26 7:00) I used to watch The Middle, but then I quit. It's a good show with well written characters who have good chemistry together but I found myself looking at the list of shows I had to watch and cared nothing about watching it anymore, it was time to move on, so I did.

 The Neighbors (ABC Season 1 September 26 7:30)  This show sounds absolutely stupid, I honestly feel like it will be a modernized version of the coneheads except instead of one conehead family there will be a whole subdivision of them.  The premise is that a family moves into a very exclusive gated community and they begin to realize that their neighbors are different, as they access nutrition through the words that they read and they cry green tears from their ears... it's just ridiculous and farfetched and I can't imagine this show actually being good, I really really can't.

Modern Family (ABC Season 4 September 26 8:00)  Love love love Modern Family, and while it doesn't in any way shape or form represent MY family it is a very all inclusive show comprised of different types of families. I realize that the previous sentence sounds so politically correct and boring but this show is hilarious. Show topics include adoptions, second marriages, children acting like adults, adults acting like children, dealing with teenagers and dating plus sibling rivalry both juvenile and adult. The cast is wonderfully funny and they have great chemistry together, however I was disappointed to see that last season they replaced the adorable actress who played Lilly with a "new Lilly" who is weeeeird looking, not a fan. I hope that this show lasts for another few seasons at least.

 Suburgatory (ABC Season 2 October 17 8:30)  I didn't think this fist season show was going to be good last year, the name (again) threw me off and didn't make me curious. But after catching a few bits and pieces of it I decided to watch and I'm glad I did. It is in no way a realistic show but it makes fun of suburban stereotypes and has all of the stereotypical characters while being funny and witty but not going anywhere near the whole Desperate Housewives genre. Tessa and her dad George started out living in New York City until he discovered condoms in Tessa's room causing him to go into dad panic mode and move them to the suburbs.  Tessa was devastated and miserable going from hip trendy New York to the stepford housewives community that they had moved into.  She has slowly gotten into the swing of things finding a couple (literally two) people who are down to earth like her and they are doing their best to not be plastic like everyone else.  Meanwhile George has found himself in high demand both as a contractor and a hot single dad that the local single and not so single women find them selves drooling over. I like it.

Nashville (ABC Season 1 October 10 9:00) Maybe it's just because I loathe country music that I have no desire to watch this show at all. Hayden Panettiere is an ok actress and I thoroughly enjoyed Connie Britton in American Horror Story last year so it must be that this show revolves around country music, right?  The premise is that Connie Britton's character is an aging country music legend and Hayden Panettiere is the up and coming star that is replacing her.  From the previews it appears as though they may be performing together or touring together, not really sure?  I'm sure Jami Jo will love it, we'll see how I feel after an episode.

Animal Practice (NBC Season 1 airing 7:00)  I am seriously confused by NBC and their starting new series before the fall tv season starts. I feel like they are setting these shows up for failure, as I have never even heard of this show and it has already begun showing on tv (1 episode).  Animal Practice is about a veterinarian (Andy from Weeds) who has a special way with all kinds of animals but has no people skills whatsoever, add in an ex who is taking over the business and I'm sure pandemonium will ensue.  I'll watch an episode and see how I feel about it but I think that if NBC has so little confidence in it's new fall lineup as to start showing episodes early it can't bode well for the series.

Guys With Kids (NBC Season 1 September 12 7:30) With Jimmy Fallon being the executive producer I feel like this show has to be funny right?  It's about 3 guys who are new dads and they are trying to be good dads but still be dudes too. It definitely has potential as long as the writing and the chemistry are there. I will certainly tune in and see what happens.

Chicago Fire (NBC Season 1 October 10 9:00)  I'm always uncertain about "real hero" type scripted dramas. More often than not they just come off as being cheesy, unrealistic or over the top and I find myself saying, "That would never really happen." Honestly, as many firemen as I know and have seen I have NEVER seen a whole department of Abercrombie Model/Firemen. Maybe Louisiana is the exception and Chicago's Bravest are all hunks in real life but let's be real here... I'm sure I will watch to see if Chad may be interested  but I would be surprised if this show ended up on my DVR season pass.

Duck Dynasty (A&E Season 2 October 10 9:00) This is just for Chad. "Hey." Well and to support some hometown reality tv that does not involve a psychotic 40 year old emo rocker weirdo (Billy the Exterminator).  Duck Dynasty is actually really funny and it seems 100% real seeing as I grew up around rednecks just like them.  This family built an outdoors empire with some duck calls and duck hunting videos. Just because someone is country doesn't mean they're stupid or maybe they are, but they're laughing all the way to the bank. "Hey."

 American Horror Story (FX Season 2 October 17 9:00)  Last year's series premiere episode of American Horror Story started with a very confusing series of creepy disappearances, murders and plain weird happenings.  I honestly asked myself WHAT had I just watched, I was confused but very intrigued.  It is a difficult show to try to describe but I'll do my best.  Set in a beautiful old mansion you come to realize that the house is wrong- the people in it are odd and there are gruesome flashbacks that will creep you out. Whatever you do, don't die on the property.  Season one stars Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton as a couple struggling with their marriage, they chose to move away from their former life to try to start things fresh. They moved into the mansion and it all just goes down hill from there.
 As I understand it the second season of AHS will take place with almost all new cast members in an asylum instead of a house. The following was in a press release regarding season two: "American Horror Story: Asylum." Set in 1964, American Horror Story: Asylum stars Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Zachary Quinto, James Cromwell, and Joseph Fiennes."  So there you have it. I'm excited to see what happens this season but Chad didn't really care for what he saw of the first season so I doubt he'll watch this one.

MTV: Battle Of The Seasons (MTV Season 1,000 September 19, 9:00)  I LOVE ALL OF THE CHALLENGE SEASONS THEY ARE SO TESTOSTERONE FILLED, THAT IS WHY I AM YELLING!! Plus Chet Cannon is my faves so yay! MTV: Battle Of The Seasons Preview

Thursdays

Last Resort (ABC Season 1 September 27 7:00) I have semi-paid attention to the commercials for this show, but after reading the synopsis it seems like a very interesting premise and I can't wait to watch. I think Chad is interested as well so that's a plus considering he dislikes about 80% of what I watch,  only 11% of it is tolerable which leaves 9% that he's on board to watch with me, so I find this promising.  There is a secret nuclear submarine that has orders to nuke Pakistan if America is ever wiped out.  They receive the order to do just that, but the commander of the submarine wants further confirmation before following through. The White House relieves the commander of his position and the next person in line is promoted and ordered to fire on Pakistan. He too refuses and subsequently the submarine is fired upon and hit but the crew goes escapes and goes rogue... sounds good to me!

Grey's Anatomy (ABC Season 9 September 27 8:00) I can't wait to see what happens after last year's crazy horrible crazy crazy season finale *SPOILER ALERT*  freakin' Lexie died and I hate hate hate it, she had become one of my favorite characters and now because she's gone McSteamy is leaving too- undoubtedly because he is heartbroken over the love of his life (thus the picture of Lexie and Mark aka my favorite Grey's couple ever).  On a positive note, for at least the first 5 seasons I couldn't stand Meredith- which I will agree is odd to despise the main character of a show. But nonetheless I did hate her and just wanted to slap her whiny face,  so I'm glad that they have made her less whiny and more likeable. I'm interested to see what happens this season after the plane wreck, who stays and who goes and I am crossing my fingers that there are no more musical episodes, because that was just ridiculous.

Scandal (ABC Season 2 September 27 9:00) This show was a mid season replacement from last year and only had a few episodes (less than 10) but it was a phenomenal show.  Kerry Washington plays PR guru Olivia who owns a firm that handles PR issues and scandals that need to be played down publicly or covered up entirely. She employs a variety of sketchy people from lawyers to ex-CIA type people who all help her in doing what they're hired to do all while just barely skirting the law and blurring the lines of what is right and wrong. Her clientele are the rich and sometimes famous including the president of the United States. The acting and chemistry of all cast members is great. Scandal is fast paced and exciting with twists and turns and all sorts of scandalous things- murder, pregnancy, kidnapping, presidential infidelity, more murder. I was truly sad when the season ended after just a few short episodes and I am very pleased to see that it's coming back for a second season.

 Elementary (ABC Season 1 September 27 10:00)  This show has the potential to be great and I hope that I'm not disappointed. Johnny Lee Miller- love him, Lucy Liu- love her. They are cast as the modern day Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. I am excited to see how the show comes together, since I like crime solving shows as long as there is some mystery and witty banter involved. The one crime show I loathe is Law and Order so I am hoping against hope that this will be NOTHING like that.  Putting it on my season pass without a second thought.

The Office (NBC Season 9 September 20 8:00) This will be The Office's final season, and as sad as that makes me it is probably time. Obviously the show isn't the same without Michael Scott- aka the worst "cool" boss in the world. I will miss Jim and to a lesser extent Pam and I will definitely miss Dwight and all of his crazy Dwight-isms.  Farewell old office friends. =(

Parks and Recreation (NBC Season 5 September 20 8:30)  If you like quirky mocumentary style scripted comedies and you haven't seen Parks and Rec- you really should.  It's one that Chad, Stacey and I thoroughly enjoy and gets 3 gold stars in my book.  How can you not like a show that introduces you to words like: food rake, pee cologne, and chicky chicky parm parm? And has fabulous quotable quotes such as: "I hope you brought a change of clothes because your eyes are about to piss tears." -- "Fishing relaxes me, it's like yoga except I get to kill something."  and " I'm sorry, are you eating Turkey Chili off of a frisbee?"  I stand by my assertion that you can't go wrong if you chose to watch Parks and Recreation- however I never ever want to go to Pawnee Indiana.

Glee (FOX Season 4 September 13 8:00)  First of all I am not happy about the move from Tuesday to Thursday. Thursdays have SO many shows on and I can't watch and record them all.  Boooooo FOX! I'm not sure what this season of Glee will be like since quite a few of the main characters graduated from high school last season to move on to college or on with life in general. I am under the assumption that they will still be somewhat involved in the show somehow or another so I guess we'll see how that works out. I am anxious to see what new characters are added this season and to see who the celebrity guests will be as well as what awesome songs they will do.  I can feel Chad groaning and rolling his eyes right now but I'm a gLeek and I don't care who knows it!

Vampire Diaries (CW Season 4 October 11 7:00)  Ummm, I'm just going to start off by saying that it should be illegal to be as attractive as both Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder are. Wowza, and that is why there are two pictures instead of one, I just couldn't decide.  I can't believe I have to wait until mid-October to watch the season premiere of Vampire Diaries. Booooo.  *GIGANTIC SPOILER ALERT* I've been on pins and needles waiting to see what happens to Elena with that total shocker ending last season!!! 1. That she had really met Damon first thus could have and should have totally fallen madly in love with him.  2. That she's going to be a vampire now!!! WHAAAAAAT????  I guess it was inevitable- it's hard for a human to stay a human or alive with so many vampires after you for one reason or another.  Of course I'm happy to get my weekly fill of eye candy with Ian Sommerhalder- all will be right with the world come October 11th.

  
Awkward (MTV Season 2 airing 9:30) For some reason even though I have this show set to record on my DVR it only recorded the first episode of this season which I do not like.  Unfortunately I haven't had the time to fix the problem and catch up on the latest episodes but this show is really good.  It is an original show from MTV, (I know a lot of people don't like... no music... blaah blaah.) Whatever. Jenna is in high school and she gets a letter from an "anonymous friend" basically trashing her and telling her how much she sucks as a person. Then she falls with a bottle of asprin, knocks herself out and breaks her arm thus making everybody think she tried to commit suicide. She already wasn't popular but at least (in her mind) she was somewhat invisible but the "suicide attempt" made her more of an outcast in high school causing everyone to know who she was- the girl who tried to kill herself.  She has to deal with that stigma with only her quirky two best friends to really be there for her. Her crush treats her like she's invisible even though they hooked up at camp and another guy likes her but she doesn't see it because she's hung up on the guy who ignores her in public.  There was a huge revelation at the end of the first season and I am anxious to see how it unfolds. I like it.

Fridays

Community (NBC Season 4 October 19 7:30)  I love Community- it is a hilarious yet underrated show that seems to be in constant jeopardy of being canceled. It makes me sad to see that Community has been moved to a Friday night spot which is almost always where shows go to die. Insert sad face here.  Joel McHale (from "the Soup on E!) is very very funny, the whole cast is great and I can honestly say that I have never seen Chevy Chase be funnier (gasp-yes I know... blasphemy and all that but I'm serious). The show is about a "lawyer" Jeff,  (McHale) who has been found to not actually be licensed to practice law.  He is going to Greendale Community College to get some courses so he can get back to practicing (flimsy premise? Sure, don't care).  In the first season a study group was formed because Jeff thought a girl in one of the classes was hot and wanted her number.... so he created a fake study group- now going on 4 years later they have all become friends and had fun crazy study group times.  There are countless pop culture references and some wonderful themed episodes in every season. I will truly be sad if this season is the last of Community, it is sure to be a cult classic that people wonder WHY it got canceled after it gets canceled.

Grimm - Apparently Grimm will be moving to Friday nights in September which indicates to me that it may be on it's last leg as well. I can't say I'm surprised as the "fairy tale crime procedural" genre is a little limited in it's audience reach, but I will watch til the end and hope they at least tie up the loose ends.

Fringe (FOX Season 5 September 28 8:00)  Surprisingly Fringe has been on Friday nights since it premiered and every year that it is not canceled and brought back for another season I am truly astonished. That being said, Fringe is a WONDERFUL show, definitely this generation's X-Files. Joshua Jackson plays a super smart guy and son to Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) who is a mentally unstable genius to say the very least. Neither of them are the main character but they are my favorites.  Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is an FBI agent that becomes involved in a secret "fringe" division of the bureau.  They deal with scientific anomalies and cases that shouldn't be possible. All of the fringe cases turn out to be related to the experiments of Dr. Walter Bishop who, years ago was hospitalized in a mental institution for his role in some deaths related to his scientific work.  Olivia enlists the reluctant help of Dr. Bishop's son Peter to help her get him out of the institution so that he may assist the FBI fringe division solve these baffling cases.  That was the first season and since then there have been shape shifting humans, invisible people, black hole vortexes, a parallel universe... so much I couldn't begin to make a complete list. It's all very complicated but very good to watch.  The show has had an uncertain future throughout it's run and I understand that this will be Fringe's final season but I'm just glad that FOX is finishing it and hopefully answering questions so as not to leave viewers hanging on a cliff... like they did with Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (which I will never get over- ask me in 20 years if I'm still aggravated about the way they ended Sarah Connor and my answer will be yes).

Sundays
Sorry about the following being double spaced, I have no idea why it is as I did not set it that way nor can I find the code in the html to fix it. Boooo, hisss technology.

Once Upon A Time (ABC Season 2 September 30 7:00)  This is an interesting show that combines a modern day side of all of the traditional fairy tales as well as the throwback stories that you grew up with.  There's the Evil Queen who is oh so evil, pitted against Snow White and Prince Charming, Rumplestiltskin tempting people with his tricky magic, The Mad Hatter- who is as mad as ever, Red Riding Hood, Granny and more.  All of the characters live in modern times in a town called Storybrook because of a curse that the Evil Queen put on them.  No one but she and Rumplestiltskin remember anything of the past and they are all cursed to live without the happiness of their former lives as well as no memory of where they came from or who they are.  The mayor (modern day Evil Queen) has a son who got a fairy tale book from his teacher at school and he alone believes that the stories are real and about Storybrook and has since been trying to prove to anyone who will listen that his mother is the Evil Queen. This is a very good show with wonderful story lines that bring the fairy tales to life.  I am looking forward to seeing what this season has in store.

 Revenge (ABC Season 2 September 30 8:00) It's  confession time... as much as I enjoyed the first season of Revenge, I didn't watch the last couple of episodes. I'm not really sure why, and I keep telling myself that I'll catch up and finish but... that has yet to happen.  Revenge is a nighttime soap opera style show with twists and turns, whodunnits and backstabbing galore. The main character has come back to her childhood town (the Hamptons) to exact revenge on the evil rich people her father considered to be friends- who framed him and had him sent to prison.  Nobody knows who the mysterious beautiful young woman is or that she is causing all of the drama and problems in their lives. Thus far she has set a house on fire, sent an insider trader to prison, caused someone to be pushed off of a roof and someone else to be shot. I'm sure the next season will be full of more underhanded plotting and revenge-getting.

 666 Park Avenue  (ABC Season 1 September 30 9:00) I haven't paid any attention to the previews for 666 Park Avenue... I'm not really sure if I even want to watch it.  While Terry O'Quinn (from Lost) is a great actor, I don't know if he is enough to make me stick around.  Let's check out the official trailer and see what I think afterward... 666 Park Avenue.  So, yeah I will definitely watch this show. I love my paranormal stuff, and the edge of your seat suspense and who wouldn't want to watch a show about walls that eat people?  I'm in.

 Breaking Bad (A&E Season 5 airing 9:00) Five seasons ago I randomly saw a commercial for a show with the dad from Malcolm in the Middle and since I liked him in that, why not record an episode and check it out.  I was hooked from the very first scene.  Walter, a high school chemistry teacher is diagnosed with lung cancer and is faced with the reality that his family will not be in a great financial situation when he dies. He decides after seeing a former student running from the DEA on a drug bust (conducted by Walter's brother-in-law) that it might be a good idea to start manufacturing meth. Since Walter is a brilliant chemist it should be easy to make a little meth and a lot of money. He seeks the help from said former student because of his obvious involvement in the drug world and the connections he has.  All of that is just in the first few episodes of the first season.  The fifth season which is currently airing and will wrap up next year will be the last and I am sad to see it go.  Breaking Bad has consistently been one of my favorites for the past few years and it will be missed in the BrandiSchmandi household.

 Weeds (SHO Season 8 airing 9:00)  This is the eighth and final season of Weeds and I'm sad to see this show go.  There have been numerous ups and downs with the Botwin family and I've been along for the crazy, humorous and sometimes scary ride.  Nancy has come a long way from her modest weed selling roots in Agrestic California where she first started out. The seventh season ended with someone being shot with a sniper rifle- but not knowing who was shot or who had done the shooting.  Season eight starts with Nancy having been shot in the head-thankfully she was able to come to an almost full recovery. She's now on to bigger, better and slightly more legal things by being a pharmaceutical rep selling.... marijuana pills!  Silas is looking into growing pot professionally for big tobacco and Shane has gone to the police academy and will be a cop, and Andy is still in love with Nancy.  I can't imagine where the season will end but I hope that ends well with the Botwin family.

 Dexter (SHO Season 7 September 30 8:00) I will start with a gigantic thanks to Lyman who suggested I watch Dexter after it first came out.  It has been solidly my most favorite show to watch since then period.  The best way to describe Dexter in a nutshell is that it's about a serial killer who only kills killers. And that really does sum it up pretty well but it is so much deeper than that.  Dexter Morgan is a true psychopath with no human emotions or a conscience. He works for Miami Metro Homicide in their blood analysis department.  Dexter's success as a serial killer is due to his understanding and protective dad Harry, a police officer who taught Dexter about fitting in with people and acting normal even though he is a murderer. Harry showed Dexter the right way to investigate someone to ensure that they deserve to die (because they kill people- and people who kill people deserve to die, right?) and how to kill someone without leaving evidence behind and getting caught.  If that doesn't sound like a good show to you... you're wrong.  I am so excited that the seventh season of Dexter is about to start and I am sad that season eight will be the last.  I can't wait to see what happens as there was a HUGE cliffhanger at the end of season six. 

Homeland (SHO Season 2 September 30 9:00)  Homeland was a show that I knew Chad and I would both like as soon as I saw a preview for it last year.  It definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea as it is somewhat political and revolves around terrorism, secret and sometimes illegal spying and tracking of U.S. citizens.  Carey (Claire Danes) is a committed CIA agent who is insistent that she has information vital to the security of the nation.  Carey received intelligence advising her that an American prisoner of war had been turned against America.   At the time there had not been an American POW during this war-until now. During a raid a soldier was found alive when he was though to be killed in action- and she knows that he must be "the one". Carey becomes fanatically determined to stop him from doing whatever he has been told to do by Al Qaeda.  However her superiors and all of America see this man as a war hero- so which is it? Enemy of the state or celebrated veteran hero?

The Walking Dead (AMC Season 3 October 14 8:00)  It has been brought to my attention by Cables and Mac that I overlooked mentioning the show The Walking Dead on AMC.  It is a great zombie show if you're into that kind of stuff.  The first season, which has only 6 episodes starts with a sheriff coming upon a wreck, he gets out of his car holding a gas can and starts walking.  There are abandoned cars everywhere and some of them have dead bodies in them but he doesn't seem bothered by that (weird).  When he comes upon a gas station it has a "NO GAS" sign but he sees a little girl walking so he calls out to her, she turns around to reveal that she is missing half of her face. She starts to walk towards him so obviously he shoots her in the head.... thus starting the series The Walking Dead.  Like I said, if you like zombie movies and you're not squeamish about guts and rotting corpses and you haven't seen this show... you should check it out.  The first season is available for streaming on Netflix.

 Episodes (SHO Season 2 completed 9:30)  Last season when Episodes first premiered I was unsure of whether or not I would like the show.  It did take a few episodes before I  decided whether or not I liked it, which I do.  I love Matt Leblanc from back in the day when Friends was everybody's favorite show and am glad that this show is better than the Friends spinoff -Joey.  In Episodes Matt plays Matt Leblanc getting a new show- which is an American remake of a wildly successful British show.  The original writers for the British version are brought to L.A.  to adapt it for American television, only to have the network completely change everything about the original so that it is no longer recognizable as the show it started out to be.  Matt is egotistical and completely unaware of the world and people around him, just as I imagine most stars are in real life.  The first season ends with Matt sleeping with his friend's wife- both of whom are the British head writers of the show.  The second season begins where that left off with a marriage on the brink of dissolution and Matt completely oblivious that what he did was really "that bad".  Episodes is a good show, it makes fun of the Hollywood elite and makes them all look as superficial as they surely are. As this season has already aired but I had to include it on my list because it is so funny, I can't wait til the third season starts next year.

Coming later rather than sooner to a TV near you.
 
Cougar Town (TBS Season 4 Date TBA) This is one of the most notable "poorly named shows" which is now in it's fourth season.  I didn't watch the first season when it came out strictly because of the name even though Courtney Cox was starring in it and- as you can clearly see, I love the former Friends cast!  Thankfully I caught the beginnings of each episode on my DVR with show overlap and realized that Cougar Town is a funny witty show.  Despite the name, Jules (Cox) isn't a cougar... well in the first few episodes she does dabble in cougar-ism before deciding that it is not for her.  Jules lives with her teenage son in a cul-de-sac with her best friend Ellie (who is played by renowned tv meanie Christa Phillips from Scrubs)  her husband Andy and their infant son Stan who is NEVER around.  Right around the corner lives her ex-husband Bobby Cobb, a golf pro who lives in a boat "docked" in a parking lot.  And Jules' assistant Laurie (Busie Philips) is a trashy young dumb blonde who doesn't do much assisting but does help Jules feel good about herself.  The group of friends drink copious amounts of wine, make fun of each other and have fun doing it.  I am SO glad that TBS decided to pick up the fourth season of Cougar Town which ABC had decided not to renew.  I hope it is around for many more seasons to come. 

The following are all great shows that I have been watching but I am so tired of typing that my fingers are sore and my brain needs a break and all of these will premiere sometime in 2013 so there's time for descriptions later.  If you're looking for something new to watch- consider checking out one or all of these but I honestly can't muster the "do it" to write about them just now.

Shameless (SHO Season 3 TBA)
 

 Girls (HBO Season 2 TBA)

Game of Thrones (HBO Season 3 March 31, 13) 

Justified  (FX Season 4 January 2013)
















Canceled Shows

Alcatraz

Are You There Chelsea?- As much as I like Chelsea Handler... this show was not good.

Awake

Breaking In

Chuck

The Closer =(

CSI: MIAMI- It's about time.

Desperate Housewives

Eureka

The Finder- Yet another horrible cancellation decision by FOX

The Firm

GCB

A Gifted Man

Harry's Law

House

How To Be A Gentleman

I Hate My Teenage Daughter

In Plain Sight

Man Up- This was actually a pretty funny show, but I'm not surprised that it was canceled.

One Tree Hill

Pan AM

The Playboy Club

Ringer

The River

Secret Circle

Terra Nova

 And THAT kiddos is a wrap. I know what you're thinking... Brandi- you watch entirely too much TV.  Why yes I do, thanks for the insight. I'll not take it into consideration.

Until next year, 
Couch Potato out!!