Redemption

Week one of premiere month and all I have to say is the CW is bringing back some of the WB and redeeming itself in the process. After Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars were canceled I didn't know if I could watch any "new" shows on the CW. Then Gossip Girl came along last season and I realized one day a week I could tune in.

Fast forward a year and this Monday not only did Gossip Girl deliver a stellar opening to its sophomore season (minus the cougar storyline), but then One Tree Hill started with not only a Coldplay led soundtrack, but also the right girl was at the airport (I am looking over the creepy Dan storyline that I will have to fast forward through).

The "new" 90210 premiered Tuesday and I was surprised to find myself spending the first two days of premiere month glued to the CW. Familiar faces and even more familiar names, enough extravagance to make me want to date again (but only hot guys with their own jets and don't kiss on the first date), and new characters and story lines that keep close enough to the original not to alienate those of us die hards who not only watched every episode the first time, second time, and third time, but still tune in to SOAPnet for more. Plus a little mystery.... whose child is that blonde curly mopped child Kelly introduced as her son?

So, right not it looks like the CW is going to win 1/3rd of my viewing week. How did it happen? A departure from the reality shows and a return to hour long multi-generational dramadies. All three shows I watch have solid story lines for high schoolers and their parents. It seems that other networks have abandoned shows that will appeal to high school aged viewers and left that programming to the CW and MTV. Even Fox which made its name on the original 90210 has left that aspect of broadcasting behind. When they got big enough, they rid themselves of what set them apart... and the WB and eventually the CW stepped in. Let's hope the CW doesn't outgrow its fans too.

A Small Glimpse of Light

I need to apologize to March after my last post. It isn't March's fault it got the raw end of the deal between being typical rerun time stuck in between sweeps and the tv being off during Spring Break (except for those parents unable to head out on vacation trying desperately to entertain their kids of course) and the writer's strike leaving no episodes to be watched. There were a few glimpses of light this month.

First of all, the series premiere of Miss Guided proved to be a refreshing new comedy. A talented cast and perfect timing makes this a don't miss for me. Judy Greer has been stealing scenes as the supportive best friend for too long, she needed to step into the limelight and it is reflecting out light through the darkness of March. Ashton Kucher's appearance in the second episode didn't hurt much either.

The second ray of light in the darkness has been the return of Greek. Greek is possibly the only reason (outside of getting my Gilmore Girls rerun fix) to tune into ABC Family. At least they have had the good sense to order up another season. Greek allows us the guilty pleasure of reliving college without the tests and hangovers.

While I am still anxious for April to arrive, I feel better making peace with March.

Is April Here Yet?

March premieres have been a bit disappointing. I was so excited and The Return of Jezebel James because I am a huge fan of creator Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls) and actors Parker Posey (Indy Comic Queen), Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) and Scott Cohen (Gilmore Girls). It was a colossal disappoinment. Parker was so over the top, which is usually why I love her, but she failed to create an actual personality for her character. Obviously Fox agreed since they pulled the plug earlier today.

The Bachelor has become the worst representation of America since George Bush. For some reason the women on this season believe they are actually trying to impress the Brit. Piers Morgan from America's Got Talent not Matt Grant. Every other season there has been at least one girl accused of being on the show to further her career. This season the question is who isn't on the show to further her career? From tearing open a beer can with her teeth to not one, not two, not three, not four, but five "musical" performances in the first two episodes makes me think these "ladies" have accidentally shown up on the wrong show set. The saddest part of the musical performances is that the girl who claims to be a "professional singer/songwriter" was possibly the worst of all the performances.

The other thing that baffles me about this show is why there is always a girl who claims she doesn't understand how she got there and why she is there since normally she is the one receiving the roses, hundreds of them according to this seasons Shayne. If you have stooped to furthering your career in competition with 20+ other women for one guy who statistically has less chance of ending up with you (even if you are chosen in the end) than your getting hit by a car walking down the street then you have more to concern yourself with then the fact that you used to be the one getting "hundreds" of roses.

I can't wait for the return of the real shows.

A Surprisingly Good TV Night After All

I sat down with some work to do in front of the tv expecting reruns... most shows have already put out their finale and now we are in reruns, gag. I have a DVR so I don't have to watch reruns. Since my favorite Thursday shows are over I was not looking forward to turning on the tv. I am so glad I did.

I mistakenly thought that I had another week until So You Think You Can Dance came back. I was thrilled to see my favorite contest back on the small screen. Why do I like So You Think You Can Dance while I despise American Idol? Talent and training. While there are a few American Idol contestants that truly have some God given talent that isn't enough. There needs to be training for the person to have any chance at success. Otherwise the singer is going to get caught up in lip-synching because they don't have the ability to keep their vocals going for an entire show. Kelly Clarkson may put out a good album, but have you heard her sing live. She doesn't have the breath support or control. I am not going to pay to listen to that, and I am not going to waste my tv time watching it. I would pay to see someone with serious dancing chops move their hips though. I have been awed by some of the dancing in the past two seasons. The dance choreographed on the bench last year was one I rewound to watch over and over again. Thanks Mia! It couldn't have been done as well or with as much emotion with untrained dancers. This is truly a competition of talent not just marketability.

I also watched the second episode of On the Lot. While it is just another competition based on formula, we are again seeing some truly talented people come out of this show. It is great to see people in a competition be amazed at what others they are up against are able to do. It shows that the uneducated audience is actually seeing some talent in the group of individuals that have been selected. The gasps during the special effects movie "Time Out" (I believe) showed just how special the crafts he has are.

I was also thrilled to have Studio 60 return. I know this is all just a tease since it will be gone for good soon, but it is always enjoyable to watch that cast work together with Sorkin's words. The tie-ins to Allison Janney and West Wing were particularly enjoyable for a West Wing fan. There was a very purposeful CJ/Danny moment at the end that gave me that warm tingly feeling of seeing two old friends again. I guess if they are on the way out, why not give us those tie-ins. There is no longer a reason to try to define Studio 60 differently from West Wing (not like Sorkin tried that hard).

One last spoiler added to my television fulfillment this evening. It isn't really a spoiler, so I will share here. From SpoilerFix "Amy [Sherman-Palladino] explained why she couldn't divulge her long-ago-planned Gilmore ending. In the next year or two, she hopes to make -- wait for it -- a two-hour Gilmore Girls TV-movie that ties up all those loose threads! (BTW, lest you think Amy was pulling my leg, her partner in life and in showbiz, Dan Palladino, confirmed that a GG reunion pic is something they're interested in pursuing.) Source: Ask Ausiello @ TV Guide". Definitely good news for GG fans. Hopefully it will pan out. While the new writers did a decent job keeping up with the patter created by Amy and Dan... it wasn't the same as having the ending always planned.

Now if only Friday turned out to be a good tv night too... ha ha ha ha ha ha.

May Bittersweeps

I am redubbing "May Sweeps" "May Bittersweeps". I know I should enjoy May Sweeps since some of the absolute best writing on television comes during these two (give or take) weeks, but it is all bittersweet for me. Watching a series finale of a beloved show is like parting with an old friend knowing you will never talk again. I will never know if Rory Gilmore found someone she would be willing to factor into her future plans. I will never know if Lorelai and Luke ended up with a family of their own. The saga didn't continue... it came to a dead end tonight.

The sweet side, along with the finales which remind you exactly why you kept watching through some of the slow or inconsistent story lines, is as all of these shows are coming to an end either for the season or (sniffle) for good, the networks release The Fall Line-Up. Hope...

So, as I wipe away my tears (I've never been good at goodbyes) the next few days weeks, I will be bringing you some of my own insights into what I think will make it based solely on the pitch of the show for next year's premieres. I will also need some shows to fill up my time this summer during REPEAT HELL. I am compiling a list for you to vote on what I should watch that I didn't take the time to or didn't give a chance when it was first on tv.

P.S. While I stocked up on tissues prior to the Bittersweeps, if you live in the near vicinity I may need more supplies.