Shows worth watching
I don’t really watch that much TV.
Don’t get me wrong, the TV is on almost every waking moment in my house, but I don’t really watch it that much. Usually, the little Johanns are watching Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, Handy Manny, and pretty much everything else on the Disney Channel. I can’t count the number of times my seven year old has watched High School Musical.
Ugh.
But I really don’t watch that much TV. I work 3pm-11pm, and other than SportsCenter, pretty much all daytime programming is shit, so I don’t watch it. Come to think of it, a grand majority of prime-time programming- at least that on the major and not-so-major networks- is shit too. The thing I hate is how, any more, if you don’t start at episode number one of a series, you’re completely lost if you attempt to drink the Kool-Aid mid-season and see what the hype is about. But most shows are just plain crap. The only network show I regularly watch (I love DVR, by the way) is C.S.I. (the original version in Vegas, not the ripoffs spinoffs that take place in New York, Miami, Butte, Oxnard, Frostbite Falls, and wherever else). Nothing else has really jumped out at me saying “watch me”. I try to catch Scrubs whenever possible, but I can’t ever find when it’s on (not syndication). Other than that, everything else is pretty much crap. Allow me to give “reviews” of the more (supposedly) popular shows on TV nowadays, which I have admittedly never seen, with all due respect and apologies to my bud Nick over at Unpainted Huffhines:
Lost- I can’t understand how a show supposedly set on a “desert island” after a plane crash can suddenly get a bunch of new characters. What, did the coach section land on the other side of the island?! Did another plane crash on the same island? Hell, even visitors to Gilligan’s island had reasonably plausible ways on and off the island. Hmmmm… how many times can I say “island”?!
Desperate Housewives- I actually did watch as much of an episode of this show as I could stomach (about 25 minutes total). I can’t tell whether it is trying to be Sex and the City but without the comedy (and also, unfortunately, without the nudity) or whether it is just a bad soap opera. Not that there is any such thing as a good soap opera, but you know what I mean. Bad even for soap operas.
Grey’s Anatomy- So this is ER with a better script, I guess. Super. Oh, and “Dr. McDreamy”?! How about “Dr. McFreakin’ Ghey-Ass Character Name”?! Next.
Prison Break- not real sure what there is left to achieve on this show. The whole first season was about them planning a prison break. They broke out. End of show.
24- there are so many parodies, YouTube knockoffs, and other assorted critiques and “homages” for this show that it would truly be redundant for me to talk about when good shows go bad. Each episode is done in “real time”? Interesting. I know people from LA. They’ve NEVER been able to cross the entire city in 60 minutes, let alone the comparably instantaneous 4 it takes good ol’ Jack Bauer every show.
(Nick, there’s a reason you’re paid to do reviews and I’m… well… not.)
I’m sure there is SOME network programming that is worth the time, but I haven’t found them yet. What I mainly watch is the Discovery Channel. I love Dirty Jobs and MythBusters. I also like Miami Ink on TLC, and now there is L.A. Ink which features the somewhat frightening but extremely hot (for a mega-painted Goth chick, anyway) Kat Von D, who has apparently left the Miami shop and opened up her own shop in SoCal and staffed it with a bunch of fellow hotties and one token (and extremely lucky) dude. Coming back to Discovery Channel, I like to watch Deadliest Catch as well. There’s just something about that show that compels me to watch. Beyond that, the only things I really watch are the occasional shows I discover by accident when channel-surfing. Things like Modern Marvels on the History Channel, for example. Oh, and the Food Network. Mrs. Johann bear-trapped me into watching Food Network a while back, and now, like a horrific car accident, I can’t NOT watch. My favorite is probably Iron Chef America. I also like the cake guy from Baltimore (Duff whatever his name is), Food Network Challenge, and also Good Eats with Alton Brown, but don’t tell Mrs. Johann about that one.
Don’t worry- she doesn’t read this crap.
Sadly, other than C.S.I., the only network shows I watch are Big Brother and Survivor. There are other things I’ll check out here and there, but I can’t make myself stomach most of what’s on TV. Guess I better pay closer attention to UH and see what else, if anything, is truly worth giving a chance.
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All due respect accepted, no due apologies necessary. I’ll tackle your post show-by-show.
“CSI”: Tried it a couple times and thought it was like “Scooby-Doo” with gore. Seriously, one episode I saw had some sort of ending where it was as if they pulled off the ghost’s rags and Old Man Withers was underneath. As for the spinoffs, I see David Caruso bend at the waist, cock his head and call it acting in commercials. And I don’t really understand what happened to Gary Sinise’s career. I like that guy.
“Scrubs”: Here’s what to do with your DVR and the reason why, as you say, it’s awesome. Set the Oct. 25 “Scrubs” on NBC to record with a “series recording.” Have it record new episodes only on NBC. That way, when NBC moves it 18 times in this, its last season, you’ll still see it. J.D. and Brown Bear are beloved in the U.H. household.
“Lost”: To quickly answer your questions, yes and yes. The tail section landed on another portion of the island, and, in a nutshell, the island has drawn other wrecks in the past. It’s definitely a peaks-and-valleys show, but the peaks are damn cool. I’ve got the first two seasons on DVD if you ever want to borrow them.
“Desperate Housewives”: I jumped aboard at the end of the first season, got two episodes into the second season and quit. Just didn’t see what the fuss was about. As for “Sex and the City,” that, for the most part, is a show that I and the soon-to-be-missus watch together on occasion.
“Grey’s Anatomy”: It’s not “ER” with a better script. It’s “ER” with dumber stuff. I’ve seen two episodes. “Doctors Making Out” is what I call it. Next.
“Prison Break”: I enjoy this show, but you’re right. Season one, escape. Season two, manhunt. Season three … uh, repeat? It’s a fun show, but I’d think they have to wrap it up this season.
“24″: The first season is the only one that plays fair with the real-time gimmick, but the show was mostly great until last season. Hiring Janeane Garofalo was NOT a good idea for this season. Again, I’ve got the first season if you’re interested. Travel quibbles aside, I think you’d like it.
“Dirty Jobs,” etc.: I like “DJ” and “Mythbusters” when I’ve seen them, which is rare. Not interested in the tattoo shows, no matter how hot the goth girls might be. “Deadliest Catch” is a show I’m sure I’d like but have never seen; I was enthralled by “Ice Road Truckers” all summer, though, on the History Channel. Food Network? Not while I’m around, usually. “Big Brother” isn’t on my radar, and “Survivor” used to be. Then I just stopped.
Of the shows I watch that I think you’d like: “Friday Night Lights” is fantastic, and “The Office” and “30 Rock” are, I think, up your humor alley. And no, I’m not a shill for NBC, even though they do have the best sitcoms on TV. “Rescue Me” on F/X is another I think you’d enjoy. You should pick up DVDs of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” too. It’s great. OK, I think I’ve now left the longest comment ever on your blog, so I’ll stop.
I watch even less TV than you, dude. Here’s my $0.02 on those shows:
“CSI”: Which franchise has more spinoffs, “CSI” or “Law and Order”?
“Scrubs”: Saw it once, thought it was funny. Fell asleep.
“Lost”: I can’t willingly suspend my disbelief with this show. Unless several crates of shampoo and shaving materials also washed ashore, the actors are far too pretty for being stranded on an island.
“Desperate Housewives”: Never saw it. Teri Hatcher’s a skank.
“Grey’s Anatomy”: Mrs. C records this shit. I can’t get past the fact that The Lawn Boy is a main character.
“Prison Break”: This is actually a show? I thought they only showed commercials for it during sporting events.
“24″: Janeane Garofalo, eh? Did she get plastic surgery? Cuz if so, she and I are through.
“Dirty Jobs”: One of the shows I record on the DVR. That Mike Rowe is a card.
I agree that most TV is drek. However, NCIS is excellent. It has good story lines, and of course, the easy-on-the-eyes Mark Harmon. Sometimes the stories are quite complex. You don’t go get a bag of chips until the commercial.
My other favorite is Boston Legal. It is serious and funny at the same time. When they are arguing their cases in court, they really make some good points about America, the legal system, human behavior, etc. The writing is excellent. James Spader and William Shatner are great in their roles.
I think the Food Channel is a big ho-hum, but then I don’t like to cook.
Holy crap, I set off an alarm with TV… who knew…
First, to UH: “Scooby Doo” with gore- that’s freakin’ hysterical, and now that I think about it, quite accurate. I still think it’s a damn good show. I may have to take you up on borrowing the DVDs some time though. Like I say, I’m willing to give things a try, but they had better live up to their hype!!
I’ve heard that that “Ice Road Truckers” is a really good show, but I don’t know when or where it’s on. But thanks for the tips on other shows. I’ll give them a shot.
AnonCom: So far, I think they’re tied. You’re right, nobody appears to have greasy hair. That she is. LOVED the “Can’t Buy Me Love” reference! They say it is. I didn’t know you and Janeane Garafalo were an item. I think he’s hysterical.
And to Marjorie: Have never watched “NCSI” or whatever it is yet. I’ll have to check it out. It’s got Lauren Holly, how bad can it be. But “Boston Legal”?! It’s got William freakin’ Shatner in it! He’s one of the worst actors ever- I think he was Tom Cruise’s inspiration. Besides, I don’t WANT to be preached to. I want to be allowed to sit on my couch like a lobotomized lump and not get some damn social message thrown at me. The world sucks- I get it. I watch TV and movies to temporarily ESCAPE the world’s suckness.
But then, you’re the same person that actually WATCHES the Weather Channel instead of simply CHECKING the Weather Channel. And don’t get me started on QVC…
Oh, and it’s the Food NETWORK, not the Food CHANNEL.
But thanks all for your input. I guess I need to just stick to TV shows to get people to leave feedback!
I don’t think “NCSI” exists, but I’m sure CBS would love that if it did.
“Ice Road Truckers” is done for this season, but they teased for a second season that they already had in the can. So I’m sure it will be back soon.
Any time on the DVDs, man. Just let me know.
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