TV recap

I do watch some shows regularly on the small screen but I'm way to lazy to write regularly about any single one (except for One Tree Hill, but lets be honest that show practically writes its own entries). Still since I feel like the world doesn't get enough of my meaningful opinions I figured I periodically post my thoughts about, wait for it, 'What I'm Watching" (TM). These will only covers show I watch as they're actually airing. Since I'm getting most of my television from DVD sets that means this list will actually be kept at a fairly manageable level.

The Office: For my money still the funniest show on television, granted not saying much since the biggest competition is Simpsons reruns but still. How the show has managed to keep walking that fine line between broad comedy and devastating parody without completely falling into former category is truly something to behold. Additionally its managed to make us care enough about the characters that it can give some well-earned emotional moments in the midst of all the beet farming jokes. Plus it's one of the most quotable shows on television, and the deleted scenes are often just as strong as anything that makes the air.

Chuck: This is an interesting show in that all the enjoyment I get from it (which is not insignificant) is purely from everything that surrounds the main plot points. The main story (generally some sort of spy mission) is usually forgettable, and the show's main romantic tension (Will they or won't they with Chuck and Sarah) needs to be resolved soon because it grinds the show to a halt whenever they look longingly at one another. That aside I think the show's writers realize the limitations as they put way more effort into coming up with clever uses of all the side characters, who seem to be getting increasingly weirder as time goes on. Really the two main characters (the aforementioned Chuck and Sarah) are the least interesting on the show, but they do provide something for all the more colorful characters to bounce off of. You know what the dynamic is like? That movie Independence Day. Remember how the central characters (the president and his family/staff) were really stiff and, while not necessarily unlikeable, you really didn't care what happened to them. However, they were surrounded by a bunch of live wires (Will Smith/Jeff Goldbloom/Judd Hirsch/Brent Spiner/Randy Quaid) who made the movie much more interesting and actually caused you to look back on the it fondly instead of being mildly annoyed at its generic nature. So Chuck's like that, except it features two characters who appeared in Firefly and Arrested development respectively (Jane and Buster to devotees) so it automatically gets an extra point.

Lost: By this point you've either decided if you buy into the show's premise or not. Given that up to this season the show has featured polar bears on a tropical island, a black smoke monster, having a paralyzed man the ability to walk, and possibly resurrection - I wasn't even phased by the addition of time travel this year. However if all these elements don't appeal to you then you'll unfortunately find all the machinations incomprehensible and at best completely arbitrary, and at worst ridiculous and laughable. If you do buy it, and I completely do, you find that is still one of the most interesting shows on television, and that it still manages to provide a "Holy Crap!" episodes every couple of weeks. It also has one of the more enjoyable, and growing, ensemble casts in recent memory, and the show runners have made it such an enjoyable ride to this point that I'm completely on board no matter implausible the plot gets (which is very to say the least). Plus the fact that the show has a definite end date means that we're going to get resolution to all the open questions, and that alone should keep me on board to the end.

Battlestar Galactica: I've had an interesting relationship with this show. When it first aired I had zero interest. In fact until a friend of my brother's gave us a copy of the first season DVD set I wouldn't have ever considered checking it out. On the balance I'm glad I did. In general I've enjoyed the plot and most of the characters, and I think the show runners have done a good job keeping the show moving and using it to reflect some of what's going on into society. That said of all the shows on this list this is the one that has the greatest tendency to throw out a bad episode or two, and too often the writing is awful. The fact that the universe they've created is rich enough to keep me involved is a testament to the underlying substance of the show, and it doesn't hurt that every time I've felt the show starting to lose me it comes back with an episode that I really enjoy to draw me back in for more.

Plus the Baltar character is tremendous, and almost offsets the fact that the President has completely overstayed her welcome and needs to die already.

Bonus plus: Any show that features a killer Bob Dylan song (all along the watchtower) as a plot driver gets bonus points.

Dollhouse: Its early but I'm cautiously optimistic just because its a Whedon show. Plus I read an interview with Eliza dushku who says it really picks up in the sixth episode so I'm willing to stick around until at least then. The two episodes I've seen have indicated that the show has the potential to be something interesting but so far I haven't been blown away. Still, given the pedigree I'm willing to ride it out.

Scrubs: I really can't say why I stick with this show. It keeps telling essentially the same jokes, the characters have all developed to a point where we aren't going to see anything new and, unlike most shows I like, its definitely been allowed to run its course (I wouldn't have been devastated if it got cancelled two seasons ago). But for some reason I keep watching. There's nothing particularly ground breaking or incisive about it, but I still enjoy the characters, cast chemistry, and the familiarity it provides. I guess what I'm saying is I'll probably ride it out until it gets cancelled (if it ever does) but I'm not real sure why.

In Memoriam

Pushing Daisies: Got Cancelled this season so I'm including it. Really in some ways its amazing that this show about a pie maker with the ability to wake the dead was able to last even one and a half seasons. The defining characteristic of the show was whimsy, and even given the dark premise it managed to stay completely light and quirky while existing in a kind of day glo reality that was truly unique. Plus this was one of the few shows I would make a point to watch when it aired just because I wanted to make sure to see it in HD. The sets and color design were inventive (and bright) and probably made it one of the all time great shows to watch while high (so I've heard). The show's dialogue also had its own unique cadence that added to the charm, and each episode had at least one or two lines that made me laugh out loud. Allegedly there are still three unaired episodes so I'm looking forward to whenever ABC decides to run them so I can least get a little more of this distinctive show.