Which new shows have you watched? Which are you sticking with, and which have you dropped?
Checked out but not watching:
*Revolution *-- can’t stand the teenage girl, only made it 10 minutes into the 2nd ep.
*Vegas *-- Love Michael Chiklis, thought I liked Dennis Quaid but this potato-nosed-raspy-voiced shtick ain’t doing it for me. Was planning to not watch it last night, but I was working on something and had the TV on in the background, so gave it one more ep – nope, not very good.
Checked out and sticking with:
Nashville – the first episode was better than the second, but it was an unusually great first episode that successfully introduced a lot of characters and a lot of backstory. Other than Powers Booth, great cast well used; his story is stupid and cartoonish and I hope they let it drop. Liking the music, which surprises me a bit – I’m not a big country fan. All in all pretty damn good.
Elementary – I get why the fans of the BBC show are pissed off about this, but I don’t see it as trying to do a literal version of Sherlock Holmes, so I’m enjoying it as a fun twist on a standard procedural. I don’t think it’s the best damn show ever, but I find it immensely watchable.
Go On – I like Matthew Perry, and I think this is a good vehicle for him. Saw a preview airing in August and liked it; since then it’s been on against the DWTS results show, so last night was only the second ep I’ve seen. Seems like a perfectly pleasant sitcom and I did, in fact, laugh out loud a couple of times. That’s pretty much all I ask from a sitcom, so I’ll stick with it.
I watched the first two and part of the third episode of Last Resort. There’s been a showdown of sorts in every episode. I’m bailing. I get that every drama can’t be Breaking Bad-quality, but can’t they at least try?
Watched parts of two episodes of Nashville and decided it was too soapy for me.
New shows I’ve tried and dropped:[ul][li]Partners (I didn’t make it past the first 5 minutes of the pilot due to the unfunny jokes and obvious stereotypes)[/li][li]Revolution (halfway through the last episode I realized that not even Billy Burke is enough to make me give a crap about the story, plus both of the teenagers are annoying as hell)[/ul]New shows I really like so far:[ul][]Nashville[/li][li]Elementary[/li][li]Go On[/li][li]The New Normal (I thought Partners was going to be the better of the two “gay” shows, but I was completely wrong)[/li][li]Vegas[/ul]New shows I’m still watching but am on the fence about:[ul][]Last Resort(I mostly like this show, but there’s just something about it that makes it sit on my TiVo for a while)[/li][li]Arrow (kind of: I liked the pilot well enough, but since then my TiVo hasn’t been able to figure out how to record the CW)[/li][li]Chicago Fire (I adore the cast, so for now that’s what keeps me watching)[/ul][/li]
(Yes, I watch a lot of TV.)
Tried three “Elementary” episodes. Done. Made me wish “Law and Order” was still on.
Watched one “Nashville”. Done. Don’t need the soap.
There are just too many movies, older acclaimed TV series and anime series that I’ve never seen and have access to for me to waste time with programming that just seems to be filling air time without trying anything beyond satisfying the lowest common denominator audience.
I’m not in the US so our TV’s a few years behind, but Boardwalk Empire and Strike Back started showing here this month. Both are on subjects I’m interested in and both are good enough that I’m going to keep watching.
The biggest annoyance is that they started showing season two of Strike Back, and then last week started showing season one at the same time on a different channel. I can still watch them online, but did they really have to do that?
Revolution - Kate from LOST regenerated as a teenage girl. Don’t follow me (she follows). Don’t follow me again (she follows again). I actually watched the 3rd episode off my DVR by fast forwarding any scene where she speaks.
The New Normal - Oh my God this thing reeks. Don’t they have medicine to fix the way that little girl’s character acts? And what the hell happened to Ellen Barkin?
Partners - smoking hot female lead but the incredibly animated gay guy is just painful to watch. I would probably be a fan of this show if somebody would smack him once in a while to see if he’d get a clue about acting like a grownup.
Vegas - I’m still giving it a try.
Elementary - Like it
*Go On * - Ensemble cast is pretty good and Mathew Perry’s character is flawed but not critically annoying so it still makes the DVR.
Last Resort - haven’t seen it. I figured from the summer previews that it wouldn’t last. I’ll watch the re-runs if it sticks
*
666 Park Avenue* - The blonde building super lady continually wanders off into horror scenes even though each time she does it she never has a good outcome. Other than that annoyance I like the show. Not much mystery though. It’s evil people from hell.
The Neighbors - This is so stupid it might have a chance. I watch it but I think I watch it mainly because Toks Olagundoye is so smoking hot that I can’t take my eyes off of her.
Revolution, Nashville, Vegas, Elementary, Last Resort and Go On. My wife is still watching the last one. I consider Revolution to be the new low in TV. The writers/producers can’t even be arsed to do wiki research before coming up with things.
I was surprised to find *Ben and Kate *to be funny and entertaining, and I recommend it.
I find *Go On *to be pretty funny, and I like the characters. Not sure if it will stay on my DVR schedule or not at this point.
I agree with all the complaints about Revolution, but am sticking with it for now, because I want it to be good.
On Last Resort, once they actually fired on another American sub (even if it was set not to explode) I pretty much stopped watching. That, for me, was the point when they went from self-defense to treason, and I find it increasingly difficult to root for the crew, even if they were wronged.
Revolution – I tried, I really did, but it’s long stretches of boring cliches and dull action scenes that make no sense (why didn’t they just uncouple the engine from the rest of the train?), with an occasional interesting revelation. I watched the most recent episode and it will be my last.
Elementary – not actively bad, but it does need to improve if they want me to continue to watch, especially since it’s opposite Scandal, which is evolving to be the best show on network.
Go On. Another poor choice by Matthew Perry, a third-rate ripoff of Community.
After adding several shows last season (some of which did not themselves premiere last season but I only just started watching (e.g. Happy Endings)), this year I only added one new show: Revolution.
Yes, yes, I know exactly what is wrong with it but I find the premise interesting and I am liking the show despite the cliches and stupidity.
I tried Go On, The Mindy Project, the one about the brother and sister that is before The Mindy Project, and a couple of others but I either didn’t like them or they were already in crowded time slots and not worth the extra effort to watch.
New shows I’ve tried and dropped:
[ul]
[li]Last Resort I don’t actively dislike it. But, I found my mind wandering and checking email as I watched, so it’s not worth trying hard to see it.[/li][li]Guys With Kids I watched this show on accident, and it never convinced me that I should have watched. It’s the sort of bad you’ll see as a sitcom inside a sitcom to make fun of bad writing. Crazy bad. It’s too bad, because there is some great talent in the cast.[/li][/ul]
New shows I really like so far and make a special effort to make sure I watch:
[ul]
[li]Go On There’s been one bad episode and then a bunch of keepers. Excellent ensemble cast. Perry is as good as he’s ever been, and Bretty Gelman makes me laugh every single time. (The guy with the beard)[/li][li]Elementary I’m a sucker for Holmes. And, I have enjoyed this portrayal so far.[/li][li]Nashville Fun soap opera. As someone who does not care for modern country music I have been especially surprised by how much I have enjoyed some of the music. [/li][li]Ben and Kate Oh man. So funny. Again great cast. And, excellent writing. The little kid is very funny, too. Sadly, it looks like it is bound to be cancelled.[/li][li]Animal Practice It’s already gone. But, man I really laughed at it.[/li][/ul]
New shows I’m still watching but am on the fence about (or only watch with one eye while I am doing other things):
[ul]
[li]Vegas It’s a fun light show with that 60s feel. I don’t seek it out, but I enjoy it when I watch it.[/li][li]666 Park Avenue Kind of stupid and silly, but I do enjoy the characters, and I look forward to seeing where it goes.[/li][li]The New Normal God, the acting/characters in this show are delightful. I especially enjoy the quirky daughter, and the TV producer husband. But, the writing is atrocious. For every good line there is uninspired preaching and over the top evil characters reaction to it. It’s like a church written morality play coming from the other side. Yet, I still watch. That’s how much I like the acting and most of the jokes. [/li][li]The Mindy Project Pretty funny. I prefer her as Kelly Kapoor. But, each episode has a few laughs.[/li][li]Mob Doctor I know it is dumb. But, I really like the lead actress. Her charm gives the show a pass.[/li][li]Revolution The idea of the show is interesting and I have enjoyed the stories so far. Most of the complaints I read about the show don’t bother me at all. On the other hand, it hasn’t grabbed me enough where I care if I miss a week. [/li][/ul]
In a kind of order from worst to best but not 100%
The Neighbors - Made it through the pilot by looking at my husband and saying “WTF” over and over.
Revolution - I have a couple episodes queued up but I think this one is dead. It just annoys me too much to enjoy.
Last Resort - My husband likes this one so it’s still in the rotation but I encourage him to watch when I’m not available.
*
666 Park Avenue* - Meh. I expect it be cancelled and it won’t break my heart when it is but I’m still watching it.
Vegas - Still have hope but this is another I expect to be cancelled and not cry over.
Chicago Fire - It’s boring. I don’t have any connection to any of the chars but there is also nothing about it that I hate so it’s got that going for it.
The New Normal - I have no idea why I like this show. Everything about it screams that I should hate it but I keep watching and it keeps making me laugh and smile. I hate myself just a little for liking this.
Elementary - It’s okay so far but it’s biggest boon has been leading me to Sherlock which is a much better execution of the same idea.
Nashville - Now that I’ve figured out who is who this one is okay.
Arrow - Not bad, I’m less enraged at his being stranded and training himself to be a super hero now that I know there was someone else on the island. Oddly that helps me suspend my disbelief
Summary: There are lots of clear losers this year but no OMG I love it winners.
I agree. It’s nothing amazing, but it’s enjoyable. I can see reruns of it fitting in nicely on TNT in a few years with Law & Order, The Mentalist, Castle, and other decent procedurals.
I’ve watched the first two episodes and enjoyed them, but I’m afraid of being too invested and it getting canceled. I’ll probably keep watching though.
Ben and Kate is pretty funny. It sounded from descriptions like it would be more cliched- with the slacker brother and uptight sister, but it subverts the cliches. And Kate’s friend BJ is a scene-stealer.
I’ve also enjoyed The Mindy Project, especially the episode where they all went to a club.
I think Ben and Kate is pretty entertaining. The Mindy Project is not as funny as I would’ve expected, but it’s ok and I’m hangin in there for now.
I think Life After Top Chef (if you consider this part of the new TV season) is truly boring and I just deleted it from the ol’ DVR.
