Friday, April 09, 2010

Has TV Been Good For You?

We're entering into May sweeps season, the Olympics are finished, and March Madness is finally over. Shows seem to be getting back on schedule, so I thought it a good time to talk TV. Here's what I have to say:

1. I'm a Gleek (Glee + geek, get it?). Set in a fictional high school, Glee centers around a "show choir" called New Directions. Led by enthusiastic young teacher Will Shuester, the glee club is filled with misfits and drama. It's delish. For those of you who go twitchy when characters burst spontaneously into song, because of the show's set-up, each time the characters sing its usually because they are practicing for a performance. And they dance! All of them not that perfectly (I read one of the kid characters was hired and on-the-job when he found out and he felt sick), but it's always fabulous. Some of the episodes are tongue-in-cheek and some are over-the-top, but I love love love the show. It's been off for a few weeks but starts again this Tuesday night

2. Is it the chic suits or Chris Noth? I'm a fan of The Good Wife too. Julianna Margulies plays the wife of a politician caught up in scandal (and possibly crime). While her husband is in jail, she returns to work as an attorney at the firm led by an old law school friend (who still has the hots for her). What's not to like about this show? There's an over-arching mystery about what her husband did and did not do, a law case that's solved every week, and strong women in great clothes. Oh, yeah, and did I mention Christopher Noth? In the first episodes he played a very minor role but I see that changing now. I love the teenage kids, the kick-ass investigator for the law firm, the sexual tension that surrounds several characters.

3. Be careful what you wish for. I adore the show Bones (I enjoy the Kathy Reichs books, too, but they are vastly different than the show). Brennan and Booth simmer with sexual tension and this season Booth has been holding back on expressing his feelings for Tempe. Frankly, I was getting a little impatient with the way the show was backing away from their relationship. I know, I know, you can mess things up when the principals get together (Moonlighting, Cheers), but c'mon people! Last night...aaah, last night. Finally, finally, there was some real movement. My heart's aching still.


How's your viewing going? A show you've let go or won't miss? ( And why, with all there is to watch, am I still tuning into Law & Order reruns?)

24 comments:

Keri Ford said...

Bones was so heartbreaking last night. I wanted to kick my screen. I have a feeling where this is going. He'll move on, she'll lose him and then decide she wants him, putting Booth in this awful position and leaving the poor woman he fell in love with just out. *hoping they don't go that way!*

I adore FlashForward. Husband HATES it, but I tune in every week. It's like that old play, Oedipus. Everything they saw is coming true becasue of their attempts to stop their future.

Christie Ridgway said...

Keri: I want and not want to re-watch that episode. I didn't see it coming, how he just came out with it. She responded just as he feared...and it was killing me.

Oh, man, I hope it doesn't go as you describe. I like the idea of him thinking he's going to move on but unable to and we get to enjoy incremental movement toward each other each week. Or something.

Michele Hauf said...

I'm a Gleek! I love Glee. Just don't have enough fun goofy shows like that on TV right now. I harks back to the days of the variety shows, almost.

And poor Booth! Ahhh! I wanted to shake Bones really hard. Fingers crossed this is jump a bump in the road for them. I just started watching this series this year, but think I've caught up on most of the back episodes. I never liked Boreanaz as Angel, but man, I love him in this show.

Burn Notice is another favorite of mine. Though you'd never know because I taped the season finale over a month ago and STILL haven't watched it. Maybe I'm saving it for when I'm desperate for some good TV. Michael and Fee have the best chemistry.

And of course, gotta give a shout out for my boyz, Sam and Dean!

Danny said...

Hi Christie,

I am in Germany and we just got The Good Wife, but after the first two episodes I have to say, that I really like the show. I am also a huge Law & Order fan! A few ago they started here with Vampire Diaries, which I absolutely loved, but than they stopped because can't get them synchronized as fast as they should. Now I have no idea when I will see the rest of the season. I am so angry.

Helen Brenna said...

I got the first season of Glee from Netflix and loved it. Can't convince my guys to watch, though, so may have to save the next season(s) for when they're gone on a camping trip or something.

When I see Bones, I always like it, but I just don't have any routine TV shows so I always forget when it's on. Except for 24. Still recording that one!

Castle is another one that I always love whenever I happen to find it. But who doesn't love Nathan Fillion?

House is like a train wreck for me. Love it, hate it, can't seem to turn the channel once I see it's on. lol

Keep wanting to check out Good Wife. See my Netflix queue expanding!

Christie Ridgway said...

Hi, Danny! Oh, that must be frustrating about Vamp. Diaries, but glad you have The Good Wife. And that's the great thing about L & O. There's always a show on.

Helen: I watch Castle when I catch it too, but haven't made it to a habit yet.

Michele: Fellow Gleek! I really hope they don't doom the Bones & Booth romance like this. I won't be able to take it. I watch for the relationship, not the mystery stuff. Must try Burn Notice. It's my kind of thing.

Unknown said...

Bones, The Good Wife and Castle are my favorite shows. I loved last nights Bones, but I hope it goes a little further. They need to get together!

Christie Ridgway said...

Virginia: I'm feeling hopeful that they wouldn't just tantalize us and then kill our hopes.

mslizalou said...

Another Gleek here too. I can't wait for it to come back on this month. I love Bones and last night's episode just about killed me. I knew it would happen that way, but it still killed me. Castle is one of my favorite shows on tv right now. I'm so glad it will be back for a 3rd season next year. Also hope Chuck gets picked up again, but never know with NBC.

I get the watching Law & Order re-runs, as I would watch re-runs of NCIS everyday myself.

Anonymous said...

My favorite, not to be missed show right now is Castle. My husband even likes it so we watch together. Castle, a writer that gets to shadow cops, and Becket, the ultra smart detective, have the best chemistry and are so funny. I read that they made a book based off a book that Castle wrote in the show- really want to find it.

We- the hubby and I- also watch The Tudors, True Blood, Modern Family and Cougar Town. It's nice that we both like the same shows right now.

He likes Burn Notice but I need to catch up and I like some show with Timothy Hutton but I need to catch up on that too!

Kathleen Eagle said...

I'm sure I'm missing good stuff, but I haven't gotten into any "regular" shows. I've kept up with "Project Runway." I watched "Breaking Bad" off and on--really well-written and terrific acting. "Big Love" has become quite a show--watched every episode of the season that just ended. Looking forward to the next "Mad Men" season.

Anybody watching "The Pacific"? It's amazing.

Christie Ridgway said...

Anna: I saw that book at Target! I thought it was a great idea.

Liza: I've been watching reruns of NCIS while I make dinner. I'm getting hooked on it too.

Kathleen: I've been wanting to watch Breaking Bad. I also enjoy Big Love and will catch up with it On Demand once I get this book in. I know I need to watch Mad Men, though a friend of mine finds it painful because she thinks the women have it so bad. Don't know The Pacific. Will ck.

catslady said...

Castle, the Mentalist, the Good Wife, NCIS, CSI and for reality shows - Survivor, DWTS and American Idol. Way too many shows lol.

Christie Ridgway said...

I don't know why I keep forgetting The Mentalist. I love Simon Baker. Lots to watch as soon as I get off deadline.

Danny said...

Christie,

L&O runs here on three different TV stations. One could say that you can catch a show nearly every day.

Anonymous said...

Finally convinced my husband that we needed HBO!! And all because I wanted to watch the Pacific and he got tired of hearing me whine that season 2 of True Blood wasn't on dvd yet! The Pacific is a great show. My brother is in the Honor Guard here in DC and he actually did the ceremony for the WWII vets that came to town for the premiere. My husband and son went to the airport to greet them when they all flew in which is something that the USO tries to organize for things like that. The vets really liked seeing my son in his flight jacket and Air Force hat. The whole experience was amazing.

Christie Ridgway said...

Anna, that sounds so cool. I'm thinking The Pacific would be something my in-laws (f-i-l retired Navy captain) would absolutely enjoy. I'll probably have to wait until it comes out on DVD for them.

Danny: I can think of 3 different station we get L&O here, too. NCIS is in a couple and I think plays for hours at a time on one of them.

Unknown said...

Another Gleek here! The Pool boy and I LOVE that show! Can't wait to see what happens this season!

And Castle-- those cameos by the fellow writers at the poker games. . . priceless!! And the sexual tension between Becket and Castle-- whew! And I adore their backup detectives and the banter. I LOVE that he lives with his mother and daughter. . . and that there are lessons to be learned along the way. I wish I had a successful writer son! ahem.

And The Mentalist! It took a little warming up to, but it has a fabulous cast. And though I love Simon Baker, I would watch it just to see the guy who plays "Cho." THE HOTTEST GUY I've seen in a supporting role in ages! And the strong, silent type who is worth a dozen of the other agents on the show.

Still, sci fi has its ups and downs. "Fringe" keeps taunting me with the "almost" of greatness.

24 has officially lost me now. Just seems like too much more of the same.

I do like Bones and am kicking myself that I didn't see this week's episode. Thank heaven for DVRs.

But one of my new favorites is Human Target. It's developing into quite a little stunner with good writing and fabulous, unique characters. At first I thought the main hero was a little too perfect looking but he's got a personality with those looks, and the two other characters who support him are wonderful.

Thanks, Christie for a good post and a great discussion!

Unknown said...

Oh, and I can't wait for True Blood to come back! Want to see more of Eric and to see those "weres" in action!

Danny said...

Christie,

CSI is also on several stations here, but the locations are different.

Oh I wish they would show True blood here, too.

Christie Ridgway said...

I can't wait for True Blood's return as well.

Betina: You can watch Bones online at fox.com. Really easy way to watch shows you've missed. Or rewatch shows.

Danny, can you watch shows online?

Danny said...

Unfortunately not,

somehow the US websites recognize that I am in Germany. I saw that the Vampire Diaries season is available on the website.

Kathleen O said...

Okay I am glad anything with CSI in it is back to normal, as well as the Good Wife and Castle these are really getting interestings. The heat between Castle and Becket is really starting to rise.. I feel some good things romantically are gonna happen..

Then I love Two and Half Men and was upset to here this may or not be the last season.. And I like Criminal Minds.
And Brothers and Sisters is going to be great tonight.. Two hour movie...

Christie Ridgway said...

Kathleen: I like Criminal Minds but I tend to find it late at night on reruns when I can't fall asleep and then I'm creeped out...

Have not watched Brothers and Sisters yet and keep meaning to!