I can't keep up

It is Sunday once again and I find myself with too many shows and not enough time. Despite limiting my sleep schedule, I just can't fit in all the shows I want. I have 5 hours of backlogged shows on my DVR from just this week and those are the ones I can fit in the DVR schedule. There are still another 4 hours of shows that I would watch online if my schedule ever cleared up. Imagine where I would be if there weren't debates the last two weeks to put favorites into repeat mode or if I had movie channels.

So, here is the breakdown before My Own Worst Enemy and Crusoe premiere this week only adding to my dilemna.

Absolutely Can't Miss
Of course, Grey's Anatomy, Mad Men, Life, CSI Las Vegas (Last week's premiere was the best episode ever ), Brothers and Sisters, Greek, How I Met Your Mother (Sadly it is on as I DVR two other shows so I have to find an excuse to watch it upstairs (gulp) live. Good thing my hubby doesn't like to watch tv.) The Amazing Race and Survivor.

New favs.
Fringe. I am also really enjoying The Ex List. I didn't expect to but it is perfect Friday night fodder.

Sophomore Season Slump Eluded
Gossip Girl, Dirty Sexy Money, and Lipstick Jungle have managed to evade the sophomore slump. I would agree with the critics who say DSM has gotten better this season.

On the fence
Pushing Daisies and Chuck. I loved the first seasons of both these shows, but haven't seen anything new. The plot on both is getting repetitive (not surprising considering the premise on each).

Still Trying to Fit in the Premiere
Life on Mars, Eleventh Hour

Can't Find Time
ER (Will have to wait until repeats because I will watch the final season, I will.), Samantha Who, Privileged, Valentine, The Mentalist (I'm trying, but it's Psych without the funny), Kath and Kim, SNL Prime Time (though I really want to).

What I Am Watching

As Premiere Season comes to a close I decided it was time to go through my weekly line-up.

Monday- 8:00-8:30pm How I Met Your Mother CBS - Still far and away the best comedy on tv.
8:00-9:00pm Chuck NBC - As much as I have enjoyed the first few episodes, I think I am going to get tired of this. It may not make it beyond a season.
9:00-10:00pm Heroes NBC - I have picked this up this season after trying it out when it premiered last year and being bored by the slow movement of the plot. The pace is quicker now and I can't wait for Kristen Bell to finally appear.
9:30-10:00pm Samantha Who ABC- Premiere wasn't too bad.
10:00-11:00pm The Bachelor ABC
10:00-11:00pm Journeyman NBC- Yes, I am still trying to like this show.

Tuesday-
This is my let down day of the week. Since the CW cut Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars last year there is nothing great to fill the void, just some average (that may be pushing it) shows that are fairly forgettable. However, this last week I stumbled onto Carpoolers and I may have to change that statement (for at least half an hour) if the show continues to be as funny as last week's was.
8:30-9:00pm Carpoolers ABC
9:00 - 10:00pm House Fox

Wednesday
Wednesday fills the void left by Tuesday with two of the best new shows.
8:00-9:00pm Pushing Daisies ABC - Without a doubt the runaway winner of this year's premieres. If you haven't read my post on consistency yet, I hold by all statements made as I watched the second show. I was also thrilled to see the writers/ director are making full use of the talent they have in Kristin Chenowith. If Private Practice catches on to the talents of Audra McDonald this might just become "Broadway Wednesday".
9:00-10:00pm Private Practice ABC - I am still a bit disappointed in this show. I am hoping Dr. Pete's development pushes the show along. Addison is portrayed too often with juvenile inclinations towards social behavior and control of emotion. She is a beautiful, accomplished, intelligent woman who has to keep telling people this because her actions and words make her seem less than she is. Why can't she have those qualities and be portrayed as a strong woman?
9:00-10:00pm Gossip Girl CW - I have realized that part of the reason this show appeals to me is my favorite movie of all time is Pretty in Pink. This show is all about the haves and have nots of high school. What it is lacking is a good male cross-over character from haves to have-nots and the fact that Chuck Bass does not hold a finger to the James Spader Steff. I found myself fast forwarding past the "Party of Indulgence" this past week because I didn't want to watch Chuck buying women in the absence of being at all appealing to any unpaid member of the female population. The real find in this show is Penn Badgley who perfectly plays the have not Dan trying to impress a have girl without crossing into a world that he doesn't agree with.
9:00-10:00pm Bionic Woman NBC - OK, I cheated. I don't actually watch the NBC telecast of Bionic Woman. I hop over to SciFi and DVR it when it shows there so I can get all three shows in for this time slot. Since Bionic Woman is my least favorite of the three, this works out perfectly. The dialogue is sophomoric and even the fight scenes are getting to be so too. Yes, there needs to be a learning curve to Jaime's abilities, but she also has enough strength to be able to pummel whomever comes after her that doesn't have bionic abilities, right?!?
10:00 - 11:00pm Life NBC - A refreshing take on a man done wrong. I would tune in just to see the fruit of the week.
10:00-11:00pm Dirty Sexy Money ABC

Thursday
My must watch night of the week
8:00-9:00pm Ugly Betty ABC
8:00-9:00pm Survivor: China CBS
9:00-10:00pm Grey's Anatomy ABC
9:00-10:00pm CSI CBS
10:00-11:00pm Without a Trace CBS

Friday
9:00-10:00pm Women's Murder Club ABC Nowhere near as dark as the promos led me to believe. I enjoy seeing an empowering woman show.
10:00-11:00pm Men in Trees ABC

Saturday
Catch-up time. There is never anything good on Saturdays

Sunday
8:00-9:00pm Viva Laughlin CBS The premiere was interesting enough to give this one a shot for a few weeks. I hope that future shows will have the cast members singing the songs without the original vocals at the same time.
9:00-10:00pm Desperate Housewives ABC This show is finally making its way back.
9:00-10:00pm Cold Case CBS
10:00-11:00pm Brothers & Sisters ABC
10:00-11:00pm Shark CBS

True Entertainment- What a finale is all about

If I haven't been clear in my previous posts, I am disappointed in this seasons finale showing. At least I was, until last night. I finally saw a finale that lived up to my expectations- it entertained, brought about enough conclusion for me to be content for the summer months, brought enough new storylines to have me interested in what is going to happen when September comes, and truly created a bookend for the season. Brothers and Sisters started off this season doomed despite its fantastic cast and interesting premise. They revamped and turned themselves into a must be watched enjoyable family drama. The finale shows exactly why this is true:

1) Just enough silliness- The silliness that comes from the Walker family may not be paralleled by any previous television dramatic family. The food fight at the vineyard last week was only a amuse busche to the full seven-course meal of hilarity that ensued when the Walkers met the McCallisters to celebrate the engagement of Kitty and "The Senator". Grey's Anatomy definitely could have used a touch of silliness to lift our spirits from the depressing finale served-up last Thursday.

2) Just enough emotion- The emotions were strong but checked themselves before going too far- take for instance Justin learning of his early departure for Iraq. They could have thrown in last minute appeals from "The Senator", gone through lengthy speeches about what it meant for him to serve, had every family member at the gate as his plane departed, and the list goes on- instead he snuck away after telling his half-sister and only Nora and Kitty ran to the airport to say their goodbyes. There was a nice moment for "The Senator" to remind us that the goodbyes are not just for those being left, but for those that are leaving since life is unpredictable and you could just as easily die from say having a tent fall on you at an engagement party as being blown up in Iraq. I am going to throw in a big thank you to the writers here for not having the entire airport applaud Justin as he went through security... it was a bit beyond cheesy for the security guard to have her little moment there, but thank you for keeping everyone else in check. This is a lesson that Desperate Housewives could have used before stringing up Edie with a silk scarf last night. Seriously, is Carlos that good in bed?

3) Just enough passion- and yeah I mean the good kind. There were lovey-dovey moments between "The Senator" and Kitty, but the good stuff came between Kevin and Jason. Yeah, totally predictable, but enjoyable, especially in its moderation, all the same.

4) Just enough intrigue- Jason pulling out the Methodist stole, Uncle Saul having an illusive sexual history, Julia possible diving into post-partum depression, Rebecca's history of relationships with older men, it was all just enough to keep us interested in what will be coming in September without leaving us on the hook.

5) Just enough dysfunction- The writers found a balance here that definitely was lacking towards the beginning of the season and while it has gotten better was perfected in this episode. Bringing in the McCallisters as a wild and crazy version of dysfunction was exactly what was needed to show that the Walkers might just be somewhat normal. They only brought out a few storylines of dysfunction this week hitting on the relationship between Nora and Kitty, and sidelining (for the most part) Sarah's unraveling marriage was a sigh of relief. Again Grey's could have and should have taken a cue using the less is more theory since every single relationship unraveled in the season finale. Maybe they could leave one couple standing next season. (I feel the spiral effect coming on).

6) I am not going to follow my patter of "just enough" for this one. It is too important. A season finale should not depart from the rest of the season. Having a character act completely different from the last 4 episodes and asking the viewer to go along with it doesn't work- take McDreamy's speech to Meredith in the Grey's finale... she had every right to turn on her heal after how he had treated her the last 4-5 episodes. The part of the Brothers and Sisters finale that I enjoyed most was the fact that it bookended the season. The first episode "Patriarchy"had the "Patriarch" of the family falling into the pool during a heart attack. The final episode "Matriarchy" had the whole family jumping in the pool as a way of showing their unity through the season that they got through the hardest year of their lives together. It was a brilliant bookend well done without having to be spoken.

Now I have shared mine, what was your favorite finale and why?

Four Months?!?!?!

Here is my problem with cliffhangers. I would watch the next episode without the cliffhanger. I do not need to be left hanging in May for 4 months to return to the show in the Fall. Then, because there are shows that build in cliffhangers the shows that do not build in cliffhangers almost give the impression to viewers that they were sewing things up in case they weren't renewed. I don't want to wonder for four months if... ok I won't spoil anything for anyone who hasn't watched Grey's or CSI because they have it DVRed. I read spoilers, I don't spoil.

Now I get that there are some shows that are built solely on cliffhangers... the mystery is the show and I can go for that. I was very into Reunion and am frustrated they didn't get the chance to sew it all up for us. I think that if a network takes a chance on a show that revolves around a mystery it owes it to the viewers, however few there may be, to explain it through. I am fine with going online to watch the episodes through their completion. Those of us who do get swept into a plot line and invested in the characters want to know. I don't want to have to dig for some article that might have the creator give it away because the network won't give us the closure we need. Ok, I know right now you are thinking this girl is too obsessed... but then you need to look up at the header and remember that I already confessed to that.

My other gripe with cliffhangers is that if you are going to build them in there is no reason to write at the end of the episode "To Be Continued". It darn well better be continued if you want me to keep watching. CSI tonight, again giving nothing away, ended the episode with "To Be Continued". At least if you are going to close with that statement let the continuation happen within a reasonable amount of time. Four months to wait for it "to be continued" is too long in my book. I actually saw that and went through the online guide to make sure that I was correct in thinking tonight was the finale. Yes, I know tonight is the finale, and I know every season CSI makes some huge storyline finale where someone from the CSI is in trouble which is always resolved when the Fall Season returns, so why put "To Be Continued".

Tonight's questions- do you enjoy cliffhangers? Would you continue to watch a show if there were not cliffhangers built in, especially applying to would you pick up watching again in the Fall without the storyline needing to be resolved? How should a network resolve an ending for a mystery based show, or should they?

Private Practice (Please Please Please Change the Name)

Yes, the title today is my appeal to ABC to show some class, restraint, wisdom, fill in your own appropriate descriptor here, to Please change the title for the Grey's 2.0 from Private Practice to just about anything that isn't going to make me squirm each time I hear it. So, let's hear 'em, your ideas for the Grey's spin-off title. Maybe something based off the name of the clinic "Oceanside Wellness Group".

Why the appeal after I already slammed the first glimpse of the show? Because ABC gave the show the greenlight, as you might remember I did predict in that post. Next question, do I think it will make it? If Brothers and Sisters is any sort of example for what ABC can get their writers to do when the first few shows don't flow as well as they should, then absolutely. I watched Brothers and Sisters from the first show it aired. I was sooooooo disappointed with that cast and an interesting premise that the show wasn't better. They went on a short hiatus, came back revamped, and my husband said isn't that the show you said wasn't very good. Yup, but it got better. ABC did its job, gave the writers and cast a chance to pull together what should have been great from the beginning, and it has completely paid off for them. Can they do it again with (cringe) Private Practice? I for one hope so.

I have been very impressed with what Shonda Rhimes has done with Grey's. There are race and weight barriers that she is breaking down with this show and while it may not seem to be enlightening in anyway she is sneaking those ideas in just through the casting. To give this idea some merit compare ER which was a "groundbreaking medical drama" when it first came out. Dr. Benton (a resident at the time) was the only doctor of color and there were only two female doctors. There are now more female and African American doctors, but the only Hispanic doctor to ever be on the show was a completely out-of-control drug-addict adulterer. Grey's has a diverse cast that has minorities in many of the key power areas: Chief of Staff, Cardiotheracic Surgery, as residents leading the interns. In the running for chief resident - three women, one Caucasian, one African American, and one Hispanic, two are what defined by tv standards would be considered overweight. It almost sounds like a set-up for a bad joke, but instead it is the making of a great show. Shonda Rhimes said she wanted to cast to portray America, well one can argue that the actual cast make-up looks nothing like the proportions actually living in America or who have degrees in medicine, but it does look like the America I see when I walk through the mall and I give her props for that.

So, Shonda as you revamp, keep the talking elevator if you want, definitely keep some of the eye-candy, but PLEASE, PLEASE bring up some substance (you can sneak it in if you feel you have to) and almost as importantly please find a new name... yes, this is begging, I am on my knees.

Ok everyone, let's give her some ideas on that new name, my first is Oceanside Wellness.

The Truth About Grey's and Grey's 2.0

I was anticipating the 2-hour mega- Grey's/ Grey's 2.0 all week, cleared my whole Thursday evening for it. Rushed through Ugly Betty as quickly as possible, and even watched some of the commercials during the show so I could savor the whole experience. The Truth.... I was let down, disappointed, ready for some substance and there was none to be had. I should have rewatched Ugly Betty which really stole the show on Thursday.

Combining Grey's during sweeps and premiering a "possible" (yeah right like Shonda Rhime's isn't going to get a green light on anything she asks for right now) spin-off both took away from the building story lines of Grey's and the excitement around a premiere of a new show with beloved characters and a fantastic (and HOT) cast.

Grey's 2.0 (my own name since one hasn't been determined yet and the one being put out there, Private Practice, well it is a bit creepy) jumped in with both feet into a concrete pool. Seriously, substance, where was it? I didn't feel bad for Addison except for the two seconds they devoted to her not being able to reproduce. There were all sort of inconsistencies like how did she all the sudden have two eggs left when she was supposedly barren, is that supposed to leave an opening for her to finally get pregnant and show how wonderful her BFF really is? But, I was so excited to see some of my favorite actors from over the years return to TV in a show I know I will be glued to even if the premiere sucked on Thursday.


Taye Diggs- one of the hottest men on TV in America. Ok, so I didn't watch his last two attempts on the small screen Daybreak or Kevin Hill, but on Ally McBeal he was HOT!!! and still is. We need to coin a new Mc name for him, Mc2.0? His is the only character there was any mystery about really. What could possibly be wrong with him to dump Merrin Dungey?

Merrin Dungey- Loved her in Alias and I think she will be able to create a great character with whatever she is given, but how do they develop this character. What they have given her so far looks flat and like she will hang on to the hope of Taye for a while and while I can understand lusting after Taye Diggs, I don't want to see someone else doing it every week.

Chris Lowell- Coming over from Veronica Mars where he hasn't been given the shot he deserves (until this week). The best reason to tune back in is to see him shirtless again. Ok, so that whole surfboard scene was pretty flashback to the Desperate Housewives car washing scene, but at least since women are the ones who watch these shows we are finally getting some serious eye candy.

Amy Brenneman- I will confess that I became a closet Judging Amy its last season while I caught up on TBS drama in the daytime. Seeing as how I crammed 6 seasons into one, I kind of felt let down to have it end, and am glad to see her get another shot, even if it is as a cliched psychiatrist who can't solve her own problems.

Tim Daly- I was so excited about Tim Daly's return to TV. I desperately tried to watch The Nine. I am so glad he is going to be on a show that will last a full season. I am quite certain I have seen every Wings episode once, twice maybe even three times. That kiss was hot, even though it left me wondering would this be a better show if there was a better actress than Kate Walsh in the lead?

So this leads me to my final rant about this merged failure to make me enjoy either show in the 2 hour-"special". Kate Walsh as Addison on Grey's Anatomy fit a needed spot. She was just enough bitch, but had a softer side we were getting to know. She wasn't the main character or even one of the top 5, but she left us a bit intrigued. Can she carry a new show? I think the cast of actors I just described are going to carry her. That kiss. Seriously, she is a self-sufficient, successful, driven woman. Who swoons that much over a kiss they knew was coming because they were asked? Could it have been that much better than McDreamy or McSteamy, or Karev for that matter? Is the character that desperate to be swept off her feet or is Kate just a mediocre actress being put in a position over her head? I know this is harsh. But that scene ruined the chance of my enjoying any of the two hours. I don't want to think of them as actors, I want to think of them as the characters they are playing. Don't wake me from that dream world by over-acting! I go to TV to escape and become swept into a fictional world.

Ok... that is my version of the Truth about Grey's/Grey's 2.0. What are your thoughts? Did you love it, hate it, are you excited about any of the new actors coming on board? Will you be watching?