Generic TV Thread

[Qballer]

honestly, i have issues about certain directions the plot has taken in HIMYM but it's still better than a lot of shows out there

[benji]

Last Resort's second episode was a bit of a downgrade, pacing issues, still good though. (Ratings are shit. Apparently the entire season will air no matter what because of the deal made for it.)

Elementary is still awesome.

The Mindy Project's second episode was good enough that I'll give it maybe two more before I decide.

Vegas second episode was much improved, really leaning towards going in on a full season order. I really really really hope they're using these "case of the weeks" to setup ongoing threads for later ala Justified/Terriers/etc. They're strongly suggesting so but I don't know if they truly mean it. (Then again, I didn't know they'd serialize at the start of those shows either.) Apparently The Good Wife did, so CBS allows it. Heard some stuff about Person of Interest as well.

[benji]

Good news for Community fans:

The Friday debuts of Community and Whitney are on hold indefinitely. Both were originally scheduled to premiere on Friday, October 19. No decision yet on when they will air

NBC sayz:

“Given the success we’ve had for the past four weeks – including winning the first week of the season in A18-49 — we’ve decided to continue to concentrate our promotional strength on our new NBC shows that are scheduled Monday through Wednesday and have therefore decided to hold Community and Whitney from their previously announced premieres of October 19th. Without having to launch these comedies on Friday at this time, we can keep our promotion focused on earlier in the week — plus we will have both comedies in our back pocket if we need to make any schedule changes on those nights. When we have a better idea of viewing patterns in the next few weeks, we will announce new season premieres of Whitney and Community.”

[Qballer]

this is still the last season for Community anyways, right?

[benji]

Technically no.

30 Rock and The Office are the only ones guaranteed to end this year.

[benji]

Arrow is pretty good folks.

I think that's the last new show I've had banked or interest in. Until mid-season anyway.

Will probably ramble about the returning stuff shortly...

[Justine.]

Yea, Arrow is good. I'm watching it too. Can't wait for January to come for the new season of Suits. Started watching Psych and I'm totally hooked.

[benji]

The fun part will be when Whitney Cummings gets two terrible shows yet again next season and New Girl is also on the air while this and Cougar Town are gone.

WRONG

Three: http://www.eonline.com/shows/love_you_mean_it

[benji]

How about some mid-season/post-summer-season grades, don't mind if I do...

Anything cancelled is underlined.

New Shows:
The Mindy Project (FOX) - F ... If you took 5% of this show you could maybe make a decent show out of it. First step is getting rid of the lead character and the actress portraying her.
Go On (NBC) - C ... Horribly inconsistent but decent enough overall.
Homeland (Showtime) - A ... A belated score for the first season since I watched it after the last scores and before the second season started. Not done with second yet...

Finished Returning Shows
Wilfred (FX - 2nd) - B ... Best finales in the sitcom business.
Louie (FX - 3rd) - B
The League (FX - 4th) - C ... Seemed lost at the start of the season, recovered solidly down the stretch but seems to be drifting slowly.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX - 8th) - A ... Should stand and bow.
Boss (Starz - 2nd) - A
Burn Notice (USA - 6th) - C ... Revitalized itself this season and was headed to A territory until that long dragging collapse at the end of the season there. And who wants Patton Oswalt involved in anything?
Covert Affairs (USA - 3rd) - A ... Completely re-invented itself into a darker and more intense serial and found the reason it exists in the process. Job well done, can't believe I'd ever be eagerly anticipating a new season.
Royal Pains (USA - 4th) - B
Bar Rescue (Spike - 2nd) - B
Project Runway (Lifetime - 10th) - F
Episodes (Showtime - 2nd) - B
South Park (Comedy Central - 16th) - C

Still Airing Returning Shows
Castle (ABC - 5th) - B
The Middle (ABC - 4th) - A ... Unstoppable in its consistency and execution.
Modern Family (ABC - 4th) - C ... Speaking of which, splitting your show amongst two showrunners who never speak to each other can derail what's a quite good series.
Suburgatory (ABC - 2nd) - B
Don't Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23 (ABC - 2nd) - A
30 Rock (NBC - 7th) - B
The Office (NBC - 9th) - C ... I almost gave this an A just because of the lack of Andy Bernard.
Parks and Recreation (NBC - 5th) - A
Suits (USA - 2nd) - A ... GOT. DAMN.
White Collar (USA - 4th) - B
Necessary Roughness (USA - 2nd) - B
The Cleveland Show (FOX - 4th) - F
The Simpsons (FOX - 24th) - D
Family Guy (FOX - 11th) - D
American Dad (FOX - 8th) - A
Bob's Burgers! (FOX - 3rd) - A
Childrens Hospital (Adult Swim - 4th) - A
NTSF:SD:SUV:: (Adult Swim - 2nd) - B ... Kate Mulgrew continues to make up for Captain Janeway's crimes.
Futurama (Comedy Central - 7th) - C

[Qballer]

why was B in Apt 23 cancelled?

[benji]

More people watch JaoSming's YouTube channel.

It's not officially cancelled yet, it just has zero chance of being renewed.

[Qballer]

i don't know, i kinda dig it. i love JVDB's character. it's great.

[benji]

Well, I like it more than "great" which is why I gave it an A. But I don't have a lot of say in the TV world what with this, Cougar Town, Boss, Terriers, Arrested Development, etc.

[JaoSming]

Watched the Thanksgiving episode of Shameless...I've never seen an episode before.


What. The. Fuck. Did I watch? By far one of the funniest, sad, weird, depressing, random, fucked up, happy, scary, warm, and just jaw dropping 50 minutes of a TV show I've ever seen.

[Qballer]

i love shameless. william h macy plays a great dead-beat dad and emmy rossum is smoking hot. season 3 starts in a week, so you have time to catch up!

[JaoSming]

I honestly do not think I could handle more of that show than 1 episode a week. Maybe its wife/baby/psychology knowledge/working with suicidal and depressed people/just being older, but fuck, my mind is still fucked.

[Qballer]

yeah it's a pretty fucked up show so i see what you mean but i would suggest watching it.

[el badman]

Yeah, Shameless is something else. And Emmy Rossum is certainly

[Leftos]

I don't mind a bit product placement, especially when it's done right (see 30 Rock), but The Office S09E11 is just unwatchable due to it. It takes up so much of the episode, the lines are forced, the acting is forced, everything is just ...bad. As if not having Steve Carrell wasn't bad enough. I guess they have to make some last money out of it before throwing it in the can. But if they were trying to make people give up on this last season early, they definitely got me to do so.

[benji]

I don't mind a bit product placement, especially when it's done right (see 30 Rock), but The Office S09E11 is just unwatchable due to it. It takes up so much of the episode, the lines are forced, the acting is forced, everything is just ...bad. As if not having Steve Carrell wasn't bad enough. I guess they have to make some last money out of it before throwing it in the can. But if they were trying to make people give up on this last season early, they definitely got me to do so.

What product placement? I don't even remember anything.

And you just happened to the pick the NINE / ELEVEN episode to complain about an AMERICAN sitcom...

[benji]

Another few ended for the season shows:
Cougar Town (TBS, 5th) - A ... I wavered between B and A, eventually deciding that they lost nothing in the transition to TBS, so they should keep it.
Car Lot Rescue (Spike, 1st) - D ... I'm assuming this is cancelled, they had an eight episode trial run fraught with problems before it ever aired. And it never expanded its scope.

Don't Trust The Bitch is "officially dead" I believe the last episodes might find there way out there ala Kitchen Confidential. (Online or DVD/BluRay) I was tempted to bump 30 Rock up but there were aspects of the final season so...maybe. Suits and White Collar keep their grades.

And another few that's returned:
Bar Rescue (Spike, 3rd) - B
Community (NBC, 4th) - C ... Ask me after each episode though...
Psych (USA, 7th) - A

I'm going to bump Family Guy up ever so slightly to a temporary C, let's see if they can keep it. Considered it for The Simpsons as well. Maybe I'm turning into a big softee. Modern Family has given some great episodes but also horrific ones. Gloria and Manny and Cam are insufferable. If Cam wasn't attached to the House Flip plot... So leave it at a C. Also to note because deliberations are ongoing. The Mindy Project might be bumped up to a D.

The Middle and Bob's Burgers have not only justified but doubly earned their A's.

[el badman]

I agree that Cam and Manny can be pretty fucking annoying. Still think the show has been consistently solid though.
Bob's Burgers is awesome, I didn't know wtf I was watching at first but it has quickly become the best animated show during that Sunday night slot (which is not always tough considering how hit or miss FG and the Simpsons have been).

[Qballer]

I really like watching bar rescue, but there's not many differences between each episode. they stick to the formula very closely (and probably for good reason... it works)

I have to say New Girl is easily one of my favorite shows that's been on this year so far... It's like a reverse Three's Company (which i also loved) and their character development has been very good. Most shows have one star and make the show revolve around them, but they've managed to keep the focus off Zooey Dechanel for the most part and highlight each character in the show. They've had a really good run with Nick this season who they seemed to neglect until the end of the first season. Plus, the storylines are seamless... a lot of sitcoms have the season premiere and finale and a bunch of filler episodes in the middle (ahem, HIMYM), but they've kept the story going and added some filler in there too

[el badman]

Agreed, New Girl is a badass show.

[benji]

I only ever watched the first episode of New Girl, and the horrific promotion of it FOX does did done turned me off, and the first episode sucked.

This goes against all my rules about watching new shows. As I even let Whitney have three episodes. And now I'm hearing everywhere New Girl evolved ala Cougar Town into an ensemble show that's good. (Happy Endings and, I think, The Neighbors are others getting similar evolution praise.) So maybe I should go back to a few of these when the spring/summer/etc. lulls hit.

I agree that Cam and Manny can be pretty fucking annoying. Still think the show has been consistently solid though.

Really? I think its inconsistency has been the most obvious aspect of the last two seasons. I started noticing it last season how episode to episode it was seeming disconnected with themes, style, ongoing plots and such. Then I read how it's basically being produced and written by two separate teams because its creators have been feuding since season one ended and I'm having like a 90% success rate figuring out which it is within the first few minutes of every episode. If the Dunphey's weren't so dominant no matter who writes them I might have bailed out if I wasn't routined into the show.

Bob's Burgers is awesome, I didn't know wtf I was watching at first but it has quickly become the best animated show during that Sunday night slot (which is not always tough considering how hit or miss FG and the Simpsons have been).

I've bumped it ahead of American Dad as top favorite just because it's not a Seth MacFarlane production. But I think it's actually even been better than American Dad this season and part of the last.

Everyone I've gotten to actually watch it has fallen in love, its sensibilities are so different from almost everything else. In some respects, it's a reworked KOTH. And it understands the importance of the essential nature of characters as that show did. And you could also theoretically film it live action.

I really like watching bar rescue, but there's not many differences between each episode. they stick to the formula very closely (and probably for good reason... it works)

I almost knocked it down to a C but they've done more "bar science" this season than last. I don't particularly care for the drama and fighting aspects of these shows unless it's done like on Tabitha's [Salon] Takeover. It's one reason I never took to Kitchen Nightmares US even though I love Hell's Kitchen US, Kitchen Nightmares UK was so much about the entire scope of the business that the US version seems like it's ignoring 2/3rds of the problems. (I won't discuss the production differences which makes the US version and many US shows of the same type seem over the top and entirely unserious.) This stuff is one of the reasons I've always considered the Salon Takeover iteration (less so the Takeover, but Tabitha is still one of the better hosts for this thing, like Ramsay and Jon and Robert Irvine (also talk about staged over the top) and Anthony Melchiorri are) to be almost the only non UK Kitchen Nightmares perfect executions of the format. Even if maybe the topic interests nobody including myself. Early early Bar Rescue seemed to be going down this path, but they've ramped up the drama factor, especially since Piratz. Jon's firing someone or making them quit every week. (And it seems like nobody of any importance, I seem to remember him firing a head chef in the first season.)

Bar Rescue has gotten back to some of this after skipping it a lot last season, even if a lot of it is mostly so Jon can promote the new show partners.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Modern Family has been dilly-dally this season. Especially episodes like "Heart Broken", "Bad Hair Day" were very annoying. Gave me a cheap sitcom feeling- the reason I don't watch Big Bang Theory and stopped watching HIMYM after 4 seasons. But when a show has got a character like Phil Dunphy, it don't need much.

Community season 3 was just horrible, unwatchable. But after such a shitty season, season 4 seems to okay. Good so far and mostly back to its roots like seasons 1 & 2.

New Girl season 1 was great. Season 2 has been random. With some good eps and most average. But still, watchable mainly because of Schimdt.

The Following is exciting but has too many flaws but entertaining nonetheless. Arrow is good TV. But Person of Interest went onto another whole level from "Relevance" to me. Great.

Game of Thrones season 3 premiere was a bit disappointing. Let's see how it goes...

Currently Archer & Psych are the funniest shows on TV. Sad to see the first one ending.

And lastly, Hannibal is the new show of the season. Great, kinda reminds of the good times of Dexter.

[Qballer]

personally, i like learning about the drinks and making the drinks and seeing how a bar is run so i can judge bars when i go to them

[benji]

CLEVELAND SHOW IS DEAD

OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER

[Qballer]

so does this mean Cleveland is going back to Quahog?

[benji]

ABC has set a return date for cancelled comedy series Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt 23 — though the comedy’s last unaired episodes will be put up online, not on TV. Beginning May 17, the remaining eight episodes of the Krysten Ritter-starring series will be available on ABC.com, Hulu and iTunes.

At least we get to see them.

[Cartar]

Anybody else followed the first season of Go on? Have to agree with Benji, that it was pretty inconsistent at first, but later on it started to pick up more and more (there were some lackluster episodes in the end, but for the most of the second half of the season it was pretty good, not great, but good).

[Leftos]

Yeah, it's one of those shows that I can just watch and enjoy, without being too excited or disappointed.

[SoF'nAwesome]

I was pretty excited as I liked Matthew Perry a lot. The show felt kinda like Chandler when he would be old and stuff.

[Leftos]

I just want to say that I fucking hated Courtney Cox's guest starring role.

[SoF'nAwesome]

haha...ya, and you may not be the only one. But I'm waiting for Matt Le Blanc to guest star one day. It will be fun though

[Leftos]

As much as I love LeBlanc, the comedic duo I still want to see on TV or film is Matthew Perry and Ryan Reynolds. They both have such comedic sync, that it could make for some amazing dialogues and back-and-forth. I'd absolutely love that.

[benji]

If you want Matt LeBlanc, watch Episodes.

If you don't, watch Episodes.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Leftos, that would certainly be interesting to see. Don't know how you thought of them as a duo though. I never did just til reading your post.

benji, well...I had heard of it. Only reason I didn't watch it was because I just didn't like how Matt LeBlanc acted lately. You could see it in the later seasons(especially 10th) of Friends & the show Joey. It was a bit too "Joey". Anyway, I will give it a go.

[Leftos]

I just like them both for the very same reason. Their humor, the way they deliver their lines, and how they sync that delivery with the other characters.

[el badman]

Episodes is fucking awesome, go watch it, like right now.

[benji]

Some rumors that Go On and Community might get renewed. Go On highly likely, Community 60/40.

You could see it in the later seasons(especially 10th) of Friends & the show Joey. It was a bit too "Joey".

You really don't have to worry about that.

Episodes is fucking awesome, go watch it, like right now.

We can call it "Pucks!"

Anybody else followed the first season of Go on? Have to agree with Benji, that it was pretty inconsistent at first, but later on it started to pick up more and more (there were some lackluster episodes in the end, but for the most of the second half of the season it was pretty good, not great, but good).

I think it really didn't know what to do outside Ryan early on. To copy everyone else in the world and compare it to Community, you saw that same focus on Jeff early on where everything had to revolve around him.

One thing that has hurt it in terms of consistency is the way the group changes. Characters will disappear for like four or five episodes and then suddenly get a B plot.

I can't deal with Piper Perabo* in other roles after Covert Affairs, especially after last season.

Call John Lithgow, tell him you're fucked!

*Does she dress herself on these shows? Maybe she just has terrible taste.

[Qballer]

a surprisingly long article analyzing last night's episode of New Girl. Spoiler alert if you have not seen it yet
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9229790/new-girl-sitcom-one-true-pairing-problem?ex_cid=grantland33

[benji]

Elementary, American Dad, Bob's Burgers, Raising Hope, Veep all renewed

Arrow renewed.

Person of Interest renewed.

The Mindy Project renewed.

New Girl renewed.

[SoF'nAwesome]

I don't quite get how Elementary is getting by. I just found it annoying after watching the first episode. And if anyone had seen the BBC show Sherlock, then I can't understand how they watch this. But I guess people have a thing for "extra-ordinary" minded shows. But I was happy enough with Mentalist and Sherlock every now and then.

[Qballer]

Some rumors that Go On and Community might get renewed. Community 60/40.

next week's episode is advertised as "graduation day". don't really know how they would continue on from there, but we will see what happens

[benji]

Harmon intended to continue the show well past Greendale. The show was slowly getting away from it, the new writers just need Jim Rash to help carry the show this season that's why they probably haven't transitioned away so much as Harmon intended.

I don't quite get how Elementary is getting by.

Great ratings and good team-up with Person of Interest and Big Bang Theory/Two Men to keep Thursdays on lock down for CBS. (Which also has drove NBC into the ground on their original triumphant night.)

And if anyone had seen the BBC show Sherlock, then I can't understand how they watch this.

Because they're different things. Just because they both deliberately adapt Sherlock Holmes doesn't mean they're exactly the same. Same for Sherlock-With-A-Twist shows like The Mentalist, Psych, Monk, Castle, etc.

For one thing, six 90 minute episodes over two years versus 24 40 minute episodes pumped out in 8 months. (And probably 26 next season, while Sherlock is going to do another 3 this year.)

I for one accept Elementary as a darker Monk more than anything specifically Sherlocky Holmes about it. Like a Bizzaro World Monk where after the first season instead of getting less serious and lighter in tone and bringing in Randy Newman it continued towards its dark and depressing aspects of the first season.

[SoF'nAwesome]

That crack at UK shows never gets old. I don't know why there has to only one or two eps in every "series". Same goes for Luther and the other so many great shows. Anyway, will probably get to see Sherlock again in early 2014.

benji, did you watch the show [ Endgame]? Similar genre and I liked that a lot. But it got canceled because of whatever chooses for shows to get canceled. And in my opinion, it was far more better than Elementary.

Another question, [Defiance] - go or no-go?

[benji]

That crack at UK shows never gets old. I don't know why there has to only one or two eps in every "series".

It's not really a crack, just something that changes the setup of a show. It's why The Wire and Justified and most other cable shows don't need to do stories of the week and can mostly tell one overarching plot, while broadcast or more casual fare (USA) has to do otherwise. The difference in season lengths alone almost require this. Padding out 22-26 episodes inherently causes more content drift and require more reset buttons than 3 or 6 or 10 or even 13.

Also helps with reruns, syndication and comfort level for viewers.

benji, did you watch the show [ Endgame]? Similar genre and I liked that a lot. But it got canceled because of whatever chooses for shows to get canceled. And in my opinion, it was far more better than Elementary.

No, I will look into it.

I can't tell you what decides Canadian or British shows ending or continuing, they operate by seemingly different metrics. At times they seem to simply forget to make new seasons. I think this literally happened to a BBC show recently but I can't recall which, after like 18 months the creators called up and the BBC (or whoever) was all "oh, we completely forgot about you, guess it's too late now, sorry ol chap."

[SoF'nAwesome]

At times they seem to simply forget to make new seasons. I think this literally happened to a BBC show recently but I can't recall which, after like 18 months the creators called up and the BBC (or whoever) was all "oh, we completely forgot about you, guess it's too late now, sorry ol chap."

That is just hilarious and painful at the same time.

So, watched Episodes. Great. First episode wasn't that great, but it built on. And the British/American mixture is the main factor of this show. Matt LeBlanc is on another level in my eyes now.

Now, I wish that other networks followed this unique blend.

[benji]

Parks renewed

Whitney cancelled