This is late. I know. I’ve even had a few people ask for it – which means I’m being a bad blogger, yikes! With no further adieu, here are the Top 10 shows you should most definitely be watching, anticipating, and freaking out over!
Some are newbies, and others are returning favorites. In no particular order:
1. FRINGE
If you haven’t started watching Fringe yet, you should most likely bump it to the #1 spot in your Netflix queue. Fringe follows a unique governmental agency that investigates the dealings of fringe science – weird diseases, psychic abilities, things that go bump in the night, etc. It’s X-Files meets Twilight Zone. A group of terrorists are utilizing these freaky-deaky findings against the world, and that’s where Dunham comes in: Agent Olivia Dunham, and Peter Bishop and his dad Walter are in charge (Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, respectively) of investigating these strange events to determine their source and stop The Pattern and those behind it. I’m not giving this show enough justice. It’s weird. It’s brilliant. It’s well-acted and well-written. And it’s confusing. Not ‘Lost’ confusing, though it’s way more intriguing.
Season 2 premiered on Sept. 17th and Season 1 DVDs are available now. New episodes can be seen Thursdays at 9pm on Fox.
2. Bored to Death
Jason Schwartzman + Zach Galifianakis + Ted Danson + HBO series. Need I say more? Schwartzman plays Jonathan Ames, a writer suffering from writer’s block who is moonlighting as a Private Detective – food for thought for his next book. The show is quirky, edgy (Thanks, HBO!), and full of Schwartzman’s Coconut Records tunes. Zach G is the friend/comic relief who hopefully gets wrapped into Ames’ scheming, and Danson plays the bossman. Potential like whoa.
Premiered last night. Check HBO listings for repeats of the pilot. Show airs Sunday nights at 9:30pm on HBO.
3. Dollhouse
Joss Whedon’s niche sci-fi drama was renewed for a second season! I will pause for celebratory cheers…
Eliza Dushku plays Echo, one of the elusive dolls in the dollhouse. Dolls are actives sent on missions to fulfill whatever purpose or need a client has. It’s Alias meets Dark Angel. Action, sex, and drama galore. Plus Dushku in skimpy outfits. Score! Last season, Agent Ballard and Echo started to unravel the secrets of the Dollhouse and…wait a minute. You haven’t seen it? DVDs are out and I’m keeping this spoiler free. Add it to that queue!
The writing and supporting cast makes this show well worth it. Plus it’s a Whedon show! What’s not to love. Trust meeeee.
New episodes: Sept. 25th, 9pm, Fox.
4. Dexter
Michael C. Hall is amazing. Michael C. Hall is one of the best actors on television. Michael C. Hall is…Dexter.
Dexter is a blood specialist for the Miami Metro Police Department, but he’s also a serial killer…with a code. He’ll only kill the guilty – people like him who deserve to die. He lives by ‘the code’, a set of rules given to him by his stepfather who taught him to control his evil ticks. While he’s at it, he has to keep his cover at work, with his sister, and with his new wifee, Rita and their 3 kids. No problem, right? Wrong.
Dexter’s fourth season premieres Sept. 27th on Showtime. Seasons 1-3 are available on DVD.
5. Curb Your Enthusiasm
Is the glass half full or half empty? Everything in life is relative, according to Larry David, co-creator of Seinfeld. Curb follows Larry as…actually, if you haven’t seen Curb yet just kill yourself. Or rent the DVDs (I guess that’s less extreme..)
THE LITTLEST WINSLOW BOLD STATEMENT in 3….2….1….
Curb Your Enthusiasm > Seinfeld. Stick that up your pipe and smoke it.
Season 7 of Curb premiered last night and will continue to air its 7th Season Sundays at 9, on HBO.
6. Californication
Are we beginning to see a theme here, guys? HBO and Showtime is where it’s at. And if True Blood was beginning a season as opposed to just ending one, that would also be on my list. For now, sit down and spend some time with Hank Moody, aka David Duchovny on Californication. Playboy Hank Moody fornicates. A lot. In California. He lives with his daughter, a pre-teen goth chick named Becca, and is still in love with her mother, Karen, who just moved back to NY. What’s a playboy to do in the big city of LA now?
This show is absolutely fucking hysterical. It’s Duchovny at his best and with a great supporting cast to boot. And even though the seemingly schmuck-ish Moody is growing as a character, you’ll still be surprised and keeled over by every decision he makes. A+ television.
Californication premieres Sept. 27th on Showtime at 10pm.
7. 30 Rock
I. fucking. love. this. show. It’s. perfect. Nothing. can. be. changed. about. it.
If you don’t watch it, punch yourself in the face. Kthx.
Premieres October 15th, 9:30pm, NBC.
8. How I Met Your Mother
I never thought I’d actually watch and like a CBS sitcom because A) I’m not 50, B) They’re usually not funny, and C) They’re usually crazy predictable. But HIMYM defies all CBS-sitcom expectations. Now I can sit here and rave about Neil Patrick Harris, but really the entire cast deserves to be commended. Alyson Hannigan, Jason Segal, Josh Radnor, and Cobie Smulders. Hell, even Saget. Four seasons later, the show remains light, witty, and absolutely hilarious. Quite the victory, CBS.
Premiered last night. Airs Mondays at 8pm on CBS.
9. Glee
There are pros and cons to Fox’s new breakout hit, Glee. Pro – The music is really good, and the cast, really talented. Con – It’s three episodes deep and I’m slightly losing interest. Pro – The storylines are fairly interesting with a good blend of life inside the high school and out. Con – It’s kind of cheesy that Fox is already selling music from the show. Pro – JANE LYNCH. See, I’m torn!
Either way, Glee is definitely one of the new shows to keep an eye on. And news just came in that Fox has already called for an entire season! So far, this show isn’t going anywhere, but after the Glee club wins Nationals, what the hell are they going to do for Season 2? And 3? 4? Beyond? I shudder to think.
Glee can be seen Wednesdays at 9pm on Fox.
10: TIE: Community / Parks and Recreation
So I was going to give this spot hands down to Community. Parks and Rec had a bumpy first season that was terribly slow, and kind of uninspiring. But then I saw the Season 2 premiere of Parks and holy shit! It was fantastic! Leslie Knope accidentally chose to defend gay marriage by having a mock wedding at the zoo for two male penguins. Whoops! She then proceeds to get slammed by anti-gay rights activists and hilarity ensued. Honestly, I might have to watch it again! Here’s to hoping Poehler and the gang can keep this ship afloat.
Community, on the other hand, stars Chevy Chase so how could I not have watched that? (WE MISSED YOU, CHEVY!) The Soup’s Joel McHale plays a lawyer who ends up having to go back to college because his undergrad degree was revoked somehow. I don’t really understand the how part, but he’s back in college, unhappy about it, and is kind of a douchebag. Sounds like a good premise for a show if you ask me! And the pilot? Two thumbs way up! Check it out on NBC.com.
Parks and Recreation airs Thursdays at 8:30, while Community airs at 9:30. Both on NBC (with Community’s time to change once 30 Rock returns)
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WORD HOLLA! I’ve got a few *Runner-Ups*, but I’m not sure if I can put these eggs in my basket. They are:
V and FlashForward.
V is a remake from an older show. Boo. But it stars Morena Baccarin and Juliet! Yay. And aliens come. And do something or other. I’ll keep you posted.
FlashForward stars Charlie and Penny from Lost, plus John Cho! It tells the story of a bunch of Americans who see into the future. For 2 minutes and 17 seconds, they see their lives from 6 months into the future! Drama, sadness, grief, action, etc, unfolds! Again – yay or nay? Check back later.
FlashForward starts this Thursday at 8pm on ABC. V begins November 3rd at 8pm, also on ABC.
Maybe I should’ve just made this a Top 12 list…
And don’t worry Survivor fans! That show gets it’s own special blog in due time..
SEINFELD FOREVER!!!!!