Welcome back to the column that has about as much form as silly putty. Again, I’m supposed to be writing something else, but I’m here, for you, the loyal reader.
Now as you long time readers know (and by long time readers I mean people who read last week’s debut) you know that I took some writing for tv course in college. We had regular textbooks, but we also had one kind of odd required reading; TV Guide’s Fall Preview issues.
For those of you who don’t read TV Guide regularly, the Fall Preview issues are issues that painstakingly detail what shows are going to be on in the upcoming season. There is usually a Fall Preview featuring all the new shows, and one featuring all the returning shows.
The reason why we had to pick up those issues was because when we were writing scripts for class, we had to have some idea about the shows. These issues provided an excellent breakdown for all the shows, and what the season held for them. It also provided the basic premise for the new shows, which was helpful when selecting what shows you wanted to write for the class.
I took those classes for a couple of years, thus picking up those issues became like a ritual; whenever I saw them at the checkout line, I’d pick them up.
When you have a roommate, you tend to do lots of things together (but having sex is not one of them, regardless of how many times that’s portrayed on television) and watching TV is one of them.
My roommate and I have had some influence on each other. I got her to watch Smallville and The Shield, and she got me hooked on Six Feet Under. It’s a cool give and take type relationship.
So now we have the tradition of flipping though the Fall Preview issue of TV Guide and figuring out which new shows we are going to give a chance. Our viewing time is precious. We both work and we only have two VCRs, so either the show performs or it gets cut. And we’re kind of picky. We really show a bias against sitcoms. It may have something to do with the stuff I detailed last week.
Thus I present to you the shows that are fortunate enough to get a chance to make it onto our viewing schedule.
SUNDAY
Jack & Bobby
This show has some pretty good buzz around it. I taped the first episode, but I have yet to watch it (I’ve been busy writing.) I definitely championed this show, my roommate wasn’t too enthused. But I made a persuasive case and hopefully the show will earn a slot.
Ben Morse from The Nexus reviewed the show for this site and really do trust his word.
Desperate Housewives
I’m not interested in this show, but my roommate has had her curiosity piqued. Maybe she’s going through Sex and the City withdrawal. I don’ know, but I really doubt I’m going to be watching this one with her.
Boston LegalPublic
We both enjoyed The Practice over the years, so watching this spin-off seems only logical. My roomie is kind of wary of Will Shatner’s involvement in the show, but I am really hoping for some T.J. Hooker type goodness. At the very least, this show will be well written.
MONDAY
Listen Up
I’m a huge fan of Pardon The Interruption and to hear Tony Kornheiser shill for this show has really gotten me interested. Sadly this show seems universally panned. Like I said, I have an anti sitcom bias, but I’m watching the show out of my devotion to P.T.I. I’m hoping for the best, but prepping for the worst.
TUESDAY
House
My roommate is a Black woman. As a result she loves Omar Epps. She was the one who really wanted to give this show a chance. I’m not too interested. But I did enjoy Omar Epps as a doctor on ER. That was like the last time that I really cared about that program. Damn you Carter, you weren’t a good friend.
Clubhouse
Again my roommate championed this show as well. Apparently Dean Cain is a close family friend and she supports all of his projects. It watching this show means that I have a shot at getting a script into Dean’s hands, I’ll by the first season on DVD.
Father of the Pride
Guess who picked this one? The things that I’ll watch to keep my roommate happy. I’ve heard nothing but bad things about this show. And it’s poor timing (post mauling) is really hurting it. It’s almost in bad taste to run the show. But she’s interested and I probably owe her for Birds of Prey.
Veronica Marrs
Neither of us is really interested in this show. I can’t explain how it’s on the list. I seriously can’t. I don’t know who championed this who, but it’s clearly on the list in my handwriting. Maybe it’ll be a pleasant surprise.
WEDNESDAY
C.S.I. New York
I’ll admit I pulled for this one. Despite both of us hating C.S.I. Miami will all of our hearts, I really think that this spin-off will be worth watching. She tried to make a case of Law & Order but I countered with the lack of Lenny and the fact that she will be able to catch reruns on TNT, TBS, and The Food Network.
Lost
We are always interested in a cool premise. I’m very interested in how they can explain how in this day and age of satellite photos and G.P.S. devices these folks can actually be Lost. It’ll be dope if they can get Bin Laden, the other guy no one can find, to guest star.
Kevin Hill
Like I said, my roommate is a Black woman. For some reason she’s keen on Taye Diggs, even though he’s a midget. I myself am watching for Michael Michelle. She’s a dime and a half. There may even be some interesting stories.
THURSDAY
Joey
I’ll admit it, I’m curious. I kind of watched the second episode. It’s not bad, but not “must see” either. The roomie was big on Friends so she’s already down with this show. I’m not going to ask her to tape it for me, but if I’m home it’ll probably be on.
FRIDAY
Medical Investigation
I’m really curious how they can make another one of these shows interesting, when they can’t even come up with a cool name. My roommate watched the debut and she dug it. I’m a fan of Neal McDonough (and wasn’t happy when Boomtown got the axe.) Hopefully this show will keep me watching. But at this point, I don’t think that it will stand out enough.
So there you have it. Of all the new shows those are the lucky 13 who stand a chance of me raving about them in future columns.
I promise next column will be better. It may even feature a rebuttal to list.
I’m going to mercifully end this column.
Laters.
