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).

National What?!?!

ABC is promoting its National Stay at Home, Sit Lazily on the Couch, Eat all the Snacks You Want, all as long as You Have the TV on and are Tuned to ABC Week.  Ok, that isn't the offical title, but I don't see how this week is any different than any other week for me since I seem to do all those things with or without premieres.  Hopefully, this week will provide more enjoyable viewing than June, July, August and for that matter with the strike most of last season.  

What this week really means is that I need to start making choices.  My DVR can only handle two shows at a time.  I have to figure out what I am watching while it happens, recording to watch in the future, going to have to go online for, and most importantly what gets cut.  

On the top of my cut list Do Not Disturb. While I found myself laughing a few times during the two shows I watched, I feel no connection to any character on the show.  Nor do I have any desire to tune in again.  A successful 30-minute comedy needs both funny and attachment or it is gone. 

How I Met You Mother has successful found that middle ground.  Both shows have a womanizing suited up male in the lead role, but Neil Patrick Harris has developed Barney Stinson into a perfect blend of crass and vulnerable.  Whereas Jerry O'Connell's Neil Danner is still a flat one-dimensional character.  I think the biggest difference is HIMYM is a relational comedy about friendships with a really great down to earth guy as the lead who is friends with Barney.  There must be a reason Ted would like Barney and that makes him intriguing.  They aren't exactly opposites, so what is it that makes them similar enough to be friends. Whereas DND is a situational comedy with no one to even out Neil.  Colleagues are not on the same level as friends.  Being paid to work with someone and choosing to be friends with someone place those relationships on different levels thus making the positives of the people they interact with at different weights with the viewer.  Besides the workplace there are no obvious common threads.  This doesn't mean that it is impossible to make a 30-minute situational comedy work.  The Office and 30-Rock have both proven it is more than possible.  It just means that it is more work on the writers, directors, and actors to create a reason to connect which is easier in a relational comedy. 

I definitely find myself drawn to relational comedies.  NewsRadio is the biggest exception to the rule for me.  

So, that leads to my newest set of questions - What have been your favorite 30-minute comedies, were they situational or relational, why did you like them?

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

Uninspired

These days there is so little that is new and unpredictable. Writers aren't expected to be completely originally, they are expected to be formulaic. If I find a show that is surprising, teaches me something new, that I can't predict- that is what gets me watching. That is why How I Met Your Mother, House, and West Wing all entered my viewing habits. I want some inspiration. I don't want to watch 3 different versions of CSI. I tried really hard with Miami and NY, but they couldn't compare to the original cast and didn't bring much new to the table. That is also why I don't watch a single version of Law and Order.

Ok, I admit there is complete formula to the list presented above, especially House, but at least I can't predict what rare illness the person is going to end up having... and the show isn't really about the case anyway (unless the case doesn't get solved)- and yes, it does teach me things. I will not wear a brand new pair of jeans without washing them after that episode this season.

So, what is the most inspired writing on a show that you have seen? I'm looking for the unpredictable, the truly funny (stupid funny or witty funny which ever way you lean), the writers that memorize through amazingly intricate ramblings called monologues (thanks Sorkin). I want to hear the shows that move you and why.

Why I Read Spoilers

There are people out there who are going to read my blog an wonder why I read spoilers. If I truly love tv as much as I say I do, why do I spoil it for myself? I have found that I actually enjoy the show a little more when I am on the inside. I wait for things to come up that I have had spoiled for me and I get a little smile knowing I knew it before everyone else watching. A great show is not spoiled by spoilers.

My spoiler of choice is SpoilerFix. You will note that I even have the RSS feed at the top right side of my site. I get no kickbacks from SpoilerFix, I have never even contacted them, but I think they run a great site for people like me who are, well, obsessed. Most of my favorite shows are covered, so that makes it even better.

Take How I Met Your Mother for an example on how reading a spoiler doesn't ruin the show for me. While the main plot points are often covered in the spoiler, there is no way to spoil the enjoyment of watching the pure acting and comedic genius of Neil Patrick Harris as Barney. Since I am not wait for the major plot points I can enjoy his "Awesomeness" to the fullest and truly appreciate what he puts into the character not just the plot. The episode with Robin's secret was one of the most original television episodes I have ever seen and the writing and acting that came from that show could not be spoiled by a few bits of information that prepared the plot for me ahead of time on a site. There was no way to spoil the effect of the music video at the end.

I guess maybe this is just another tell of my addiction. Anyone who spends 20 hours a week watching tv and then spends her time away from the tv looking up more information about the shows she watches obviously has a problem... but that has already been established.