TV's Winter of Content
HBO
As I was watching the first three new episodes of Big Love—I just thought I'd throw that out there—I was seized by a welcome feeling. Not pleasure so much, though the episodes have the series in the same fine form as season 2. More like relief. As in: Ah, television, my old friend. I remember you! Good to have you back again!
It's not as if there was nothing worth watching in 2008, but there was a relatively weak crop of new shows, a problem exacerbated by delays in production and development from the strike. But look at the calendar we've got coming up in January. Here's some of what I have on my list, and I'm sure I'm missing things:
Jan. 6 Nip/Tuck (FX), Scrubs (ABC)
Jan. 7 Damages (FX)
Jan. 11 24 (Fox)
Jan. 13 American Idol (Fox)
Jan. 16 Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)
Jan. 18 Big Love, Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
Jan. 21 Lost (ABC)
Add in Dollhouse coming up in February, Friday Night Lights for those of us without DirecTV, new series I haven't yet watched like TNT's Trust Me and midseason shows like Kings and The Goode Family. It's enough to give one a foreign feeling. What do they call it—excitement? Ah, excitement, my old friend. I remember you! Good to have you back again.
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1
I think that Burn Notice also returns with new episodes in January. I'm hoping for severe winter storms so I have an excuse not to leave the couch until spring.
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2
Wow -- 6 shows I watch/plan to watch all returning (24, Battlestar Galactica, Flight of the Conchords, Lost, Friday Night Lights, and Dollhouse)....Christmas is coming a little bit late this year.
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@James -- did you, Tuned In Jr., and Tuned In Jr. Jr. happen to catch "Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" last night? I'm curious to hear your thoughts....I loved it, but I'm admittedly biased since my best friend from high school (Andrew Samson) co-wrote it. -
3
Well House comes back in January, but it's just taking a break. I am so excited for LOST! We got two sneak peeks . . .
Jack and Ben - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmYHHdPq6EQ
Kate and Aaron - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2kjlOG1yRo
Monk comes back in January! Only a season and a half to go until we find out what happened to Trudy.
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4
You characterize that feeling very well ("Ah, television, my old friend. I remember you! Good to have you back again!"), and it's so powerful.
For me it's not dramas, but Top Chef, Project Runway, Iron Chef*, and some news segments (though I don't have a true home there. MSNBC comes closest, but I wish CNN would un-break itself and report straight news again)
* OK, OK, I'll be honest: the list includes comedically bad fare like Real Housewives, Hell;s Kitchen, the Hills, the Bachelor, and the Pickup Artist!!
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5
And Reaper's finally coming back! Reaper! Remember? The show that started off on a high note, sagged for a bit before coming back on a major upswing to end the season? Remember? Remember? No? Anyone?
Bueller?
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6
As much as I am looking forward, I fear the absence of Pushing Daisies will be to traumatic to overcome. The show has been consistently great and last night was legen, wait for it, dary.
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7
Burn Notice comes back January 22, woo! Reaper is not until March, I have to catch up on the end of the season, I did hear it got a lot better.
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8
as an aside....
while I don't actually watch Nip/Tuck, the promos for the new season have been simply stunning -- so good they belong on some kind of "top ten list"! -
9
I'm glad to hear that the first three episodes of Big Love are good. I honestly felt like Big Love "moved the Island" so to speak at the end of season 2 *SPOILER ALERT* with Alby all of the sudden becoming a competent villan.
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