# The New TV Season -- What looks good to you?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [September 6, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922 "2003-09-06T12:51:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/1 "2003-09-06T12:51:05Z")

</div>

The Fall TV Preview issue of “Entertainment Weekly” came last night, and this couch potato is in spud heaven. As always, there’s a few shows I’m really looking forward to, and a few I hope are cancelled quickly, so I don’t have to watch the freakin’ promos anymore.

**Woo-hoo! The new season is upon us! I loves me some good TV!** (Shows I’m definitely looking forward to):

_Cold Case_ – set in Philly, and I always check out Philly shows at least once (though I don’t think I’ve ever made it through an entire episode of _Hack_, even though I like both David Morse and Andre Braugher – but I digress). I think the fact that the crimes are 20 years old could make the storytelling really interesting.

_Skin_ – “EW” makes it sound pretty good – and I like Ron Silver. This is the Romeo and Juliet, set in LA with the son of a DA and the daughter of a porn tycoon.

_Miss Match_ – hey, shut up, I’m a middle-aged woman. I _am_ the target audience, and I’m hoping they hit the bull’s-eye. I’m still bummed they cancelled _Cupid_. My only reservation – Ryan O’Neal.

**And anyway, there are still a couple of spots open in my personal line-up** (Shows I’ll check out, who knows, they might be decent):

_I’m with Her_ – Joe Schmoe hooks up with a movie star; the show was created by Brooke Shields’s husband. Hey, I’m a chick, I already told you that.

_Happy Family_ – I love John Laroquette and I love Christine Baranski – but it sounds like this show isn’t really about them. Bummer.

_The Brotherhood of Poland, NH_ – the new David E. Kelley, with Randy Quaid and the guy who played Drew Carey’s brother. Could be good – it’s supposed to be more like _Picket Fences_ than some of Kelley’s recent stuff. I liked _Picket Fences_.

_Joan of Arcadia_ – on against _Miss Match_, but I know how to operate a VCR. If it doesn’t go all _Touched by an Angel_ (a show I’ve never seen more than three minutes of), it could be good.

**Eff you, what kind of TV slut idiot do you think I am?** (Shows I hope die quickly):

_Whoopi_

_The Mullets_ – Loni, Loni, Loni.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/2 "2003-09-06T17:49:37Z")

</div>

I can’t wait for the new season of Angel.

That, and Monday Night Football.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/3 "2003-09-06T18:12:05Z")

</div>

None of the new shows hitting the networks this Fall look interesting to me. The only upcoming shows I’m looking forward to are Carnivale and Deadwood on HBO.

Indeed, with the exception of 24 and Alias, every show I’ve added to my regular viewing roster in the last few years has been a cable show - Six Feet Under, The Shield, Nip/Tuck. More and more, cable is rendering the networks irrelevent. It seems like as the networks increasingly become a wasteland of reality garbage, you’ve gotta look to cable for quality drama. I just wish the Sci-Fi Channel actually showed some good Sci-Fi. The channel was virtually unwatchable before they axed Farscape, not it’s _totally_ unwatchable.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/4 "2003-09-06T18:33:12Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by twickster \*  
> \*\*_Skin_ – “EW” makes it sound pretty good – and I like Ron Silver. This is the Romeo and Juliet, set in LA with the son of a DA and the daughter of a porn tycoon.

I still don’t understand the premise behind Skin. Porn is legal, why would the DA keep trying to “go after” Ron Silver? Or the ads are incredibly misleading, which is not all that unheard of for Fox. Damn you 24 ad guys!

As for new stuff I want to see. Ummmmm…

Tru Calling is can’t miss. I’m pissed there’s no Faith the Vampire Slayer, but I’ll give it a shot. But against Scrubs and Survivor. Damn you again Fox!

Las Vegas looks interesting.

“We can see you”  
“I know!”

And since Joe Pantoliano is the man I’ll probably check out The Handler at least once.

Joan of Arcadia could be cool, and it could be Touched By a Teen Angel.

Otherwise it’s all old shows for me. Angel, Alias, 24, The Shield, Survivor and Scrubs all have me hooked. And here I was trying to cull the number of shows I watched.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/5 "2003-09-06T18:39:52Z")

</div>

**Happy Family** and **Rock Me Baby** have great casts and premises; hope they have the scripts to back them up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/6 "2003-09-06T21:21:12Z")

</div>

twickster, I read your whole post in Faith’s voice (from BTVS). Your words and her voice just fit perfectly – it was Faith talking.

As for the OP, I’m looking forward to a new season of the HBO shows, esp. Carnivale.

That’s about it. Most of the sitcoms aren’t edgy or funny, and I can’t abide commercial interruptions in drama, so except for my guilty pleasures on HGTV, I’ll be watching HBO programs and movies.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/7 "2003-09-06T22:54:01Z")

</div>

I wish you folks with cable would quit rubbing it in.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/8 "2003-09-07T17:50:35Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by twickster \*  
> \*\*I wish you folks with cable would quit rubbing it in. \*\*

You don’t have cable?

Do you live in a cave?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/9 "2003-09-07T18:07:13Z")

</div>

No, I live on a budget.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/10 "2003-09-10T05:56:00Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> every show I’ve added to my regular viewing roster in the last few years has been a cable show - Six Feet Under, The Shield, Nip/Tuck.

Especially Nip/Tuck! Great show. I’m also looking forward to ‘Carnivale’, the new show on HBO. And of course the best reality show ever ‘Joe Schmo’ on Spike TV :D. Add that to good old standbys like ‘Monk’ and my TV is usually not on the networks.

Gotta love the new shows on cable.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/11 "2003-09-10T06:02:36Z")

</div>

I watched the first couple episodes of Nip/Tuck and liked them, but missed one and haven’t been able to get back to it. Should I bother? Is it still good? (missed the last three weeks, including tonight, assuming it is still on Tuesdays.)

If I should, could someone toss up a spoiler box with any info I’d need to get back into it? i.e: Major plot points of the last 3 eps that I would actually need to know. Nothing long.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/12 "2003-09-10T06:13:11Z")

</div>

Re the OP: Everything on TCM.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Moeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@Moeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moeman)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/13 "2003-09-10T14:59:32Z")

</div>

After this summers movies and some of the ads for the new shows I think I will be reading a lot more books than usual this winter.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Moeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@Moeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moeman)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/14 "2003-09-10T15:15:45Z")

</div>

After this summers movies and some of the ads for the new shows I think I will be reading a lot more books than usual this winter.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/15 "2003-09-10T16:03:03Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by twickster \*  
> **_Happy Family_ – I love John Laroquette and I love Christine Baranski – but it sounds like this show isn’t really about them. Bummer.**

She was so–this is a word I have NEVER imagined using to describe Christine Baranski–SUBDUED. I try not to judge sitcoms by their premiers, which exist to set up the “sit” at the expense of the “com” and don’t really get their sealegs for a few eps so I’ll remain hopeful, especially since there’s nothing else on at that time, but I fear this will be the next _According to Jim._  
\*\*

> [@](#):
>
> (Shows I hope die quickly):
> 
> _Whoopi_\*\*

Again, no snap judgements but I think you won’t be disappointed. She and the handyman both have potential if they get beyond the Ayatolah jokes because both are good comedy actors but I’d like to smother the brother and his girlfriend.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/16 "2003-09-10T16:09:30Z")

</div>

None of the fall line up looks appealing to me. I will stick to my regular programming:

Fear Factor  
Gillmore Girls  
Smalleville  
Survivor  
Friends  
Reba

I might be interested in seeing Joe Millionaire 2 (maybe)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/17 "2003-09-10T17:35:53Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by twickster \*  
> \*\*_Cold Case_
> 
> _The Brotherhood of Poland, NH_
> 
> _Joan of Arcadia_ \*\*

These three are about all that look good to me. I’ve pretty much given up on sitcoms, except for _Scrubs._ I’ll probably watch _Friends_ since it’s the last season, but none of them appeal to me at all.

I’m really looking forward to my old favorites; _Third Watch, ER, Survivor, CSI, Without A Trace_ and _24._

I’ve also gotten hooked on _MI-5_ on A&E and _Peacemakers_ on USA, but they’ll both be ending soon, as the new regular season starts.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/18 "2003-09-10T20:32:57Z")

</div>

**ALIAS!** - Questions start getting answered, things begin to make sense again, and we get a kickass fight scene in the first ten minutes! (Sorry, I’ve let myself read spoilers.)

Other than that, probably not a whole lot, since SportsCenter doesn’t really have a “Season Premiere” to speak of. Might try to pick up a couple of shows, but I doubt it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/19 "2003-09-10T21:18:09Z")

</div>

Oh, and _The Lyon’s Den_ looks good.  
I’ll missed Kyle Chandler since _Early Edition_ was cancelled, so I’ll be watching that one.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922/20 "2003-09-11T12:02:54Z")

</div>

Kyle Chandler is definitely a toothsome morsel – but Rob Lowe pisses me off, so I think I’m going to give that one a miss. He makes his post-scandal comeback, then bitches about not getting enough (to do, respect, money, whatever), from “West Wing,” which, by the way, became completely unwatchable two years ago.

Where was I?

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season-what-looks-good-to-you/199922.md?page=2)
