I have such a blog block right now. Maybe it's because the ONLY thing on my mind is BABYBABYBABY and I'm about as sick of writing about it as you probably are of reading about it. But in this babyless world of mine, I've been investing a lot of time in the Fall television lineup. With the way networks run new shows during the summer now, my DVR was never really lacking for fodder, but Fall has brought with it a veritable onslaught of entertainment options, and it's working overtime now.
Favorite New Shows
Terra Nova - Okay, sure, the family drama aspect of it can be a bit eye-rolly at times, but I LOVE the dinosaur part! And I think if they can realize that we care way less about whether a snotty teenager is going to be grounded this weekend and more about the mysteries of Terra Nova, it has the potential to be really great.
Whitney - Colby and I spend most of our time watching this show, looking at each other and going "OH MY GOD, WERE THEY WATCHING US?!?"
The Secret Circle - It's like Vampire Diaries, but with witches. What's not to love about that? Plus it kind of reminds me of my adolescent love for The Craft.
Honorable Mentions - Pan Am (I'm sure I'll love it, I just haven't gotten around to actually watching it yet!), Up All Night (mostly funny, but I think it's still trying to hit its stride), 2 Broke Girls (I hate laugh tracks so much).
Still Watching and Loving
The Office - Last season I was ready to delete the series from my DVR, now it's back and better than ever. I miss Michael Scott, but his character had run its course, and I'm loving the Andy Bernard, Manager storyline possibilities. And Robert California slays me!
Glee - This is another show that I was only watching out of duty and honor. I adored the first season, but the second was undeniably lackluster. This season? The bitch is BACK! I would go so far as to say it's better than ever. The episode Asian F was my favorite episode ever. Thank you, new writers! Thank you!
Community - So absurd, so funny.
Modern Family - Mitchell and Cam make this show for me. They're another couple that Colby and I feel might have been based on our relationship--I mean, other than the part where they're gay men who have adopted a Vietnamese baby.
Vampire Diaries - It just gets better and better. I love Ripper Stefan, and am totally Team Damon, so I'm very excited about the romantic possibilities for this season.
On Notice
Project Runway - Talk about watching a show out of a feeling of pure obligation. I'm this far in, I feel like I should see it out through the end, but I honestly couldn't care less which designer wins and they're all TERRIBLE. The producer intervention is painfully obvious, the talent level is mediocre at best, and the judges don't make a lick of sense anymore. Depressing.
How I Met Your Mother - The conceit of this show has worn terribly thin. It was such an original concept, and I'm still holding out to meet the damn mother, but I'm pretty much over every single storyline. Robin grates on my nerves to the point where I want to throw things on the tv whenever she's on screen. I'm so sick of the Ted-Robin-Barney triangle. And even my beloved Marshall and Lily have been driving me up the wall lately. Please make it end!
What are your new favorites? Which old favorites are you sticking with? Any old shows that you're discarding in favor of the freshman crop?
Whitney is the best thing to come to this fall lineup! So damn funny :) I love Modern Family also of course. And I agree, I'm over HIMYM. I can't stand it anymore and I don't know when that happened. Maybe it's the reruns that have sunk the show for me and it's overload, I don't know, but I don't watch anymore. I used to love Two and a Half Men, still love the reruns, but I don't like the new season with Ashton Kutcher. Just not working for me at all.
Posted by: Sara | October 06, 2011 at 05:43 PM
Your favorite shows are mine too (among many others) EXCEPT Pan Am. I only saw the first 2 episodes so far and it just hasn't hit it for me yet.
Posted by: steph anne | October 06, 2011 at 08:32 PM
Whitney is pretty hilarious. I feel the same about Up All Night, I want to laugh at it, but I kind of don't as much. My other new favorite is New Girl. SO funny. Modern Family is by far the funniest show we watch though. Loooove it. Then you've got all your teenage girl shows like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. Because I'm totally lame. The fact that I even watch as much TV as I do is lame in and of itself. (Oh, and also? Can't WAIT for Psych to start. That show is hilarious.)
The end!
Posted by: Chels | October 06, 2011 at 10:59 PM
I don't know... I'm really happy with How I Met Your Mother this season. I mean, I feel like it's back on track. Aside from last week's episode... but I was SO GLAD to see Victoria... I'm really excited for the Slutty Pumpkin and can't WAIT for Slapsgiving. I can totally see where you're coming from about the characters annoying you, don't get me wrong... but I still love them.
Posted by: Brittany | October 07, 2011 at 01:24 AM
Loving "New Girl" to pieces! I'm sure I am not the target demographic, but I just might start singing and doing the chicken dance in super-slo-mo.
I have "Terra Nova" recorded but haven't teed it up yet. I have wondered if it might be good to watch with the niece and nephew. I want to try "American Horror Story" as well, but I'm afraid I won't like it and that would totally suck.
Also, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, but let's keep that our little secret, um-kay?
Posted by: sophie | October 07, 2011 at 03:02 AM
In regards to HIMYM, I think it's kind of like Friends in the later years--the characters have all become caricatures and the story line just doesn't feel honest.
Posted by: Angela Noelle | October 07, 2011 at 03:15 AM
Oh, bummer about Pan Am! I'm planning to watch it this weekend, we'll see how it goes!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | October 07, 2011 at 03:16 AM
Oh, how I LOVE Pretty Little Liars. It's actually a surprisingly good little mystery!
Posted by: Angela Noelle | October 07, 2011 at 03:17 AM
Yeah, the Victoria sighting was cool... but again, went nowhere. I guess I'm just not even excited about who the mom might be anymore, which is a big part of the reason to watch! But I shan't give up... not this close to the end! Hopefully Slapsgiving will be funny :)
Posted by: Angela Noelle | October 07, 2011 at 03:18 AM
I can't believe I forgot "New Girl"! I adore that show :) The slo-mo chicken dance was so dang funny! I think the kids would love Terra Nova. As for that last sentence, what did you say? I can't even remember...
Posted by: Angela Noelle | October 07, 2011 at 03:20 AM
Agree with a lot of your list. I am also not loving Project Runway. Since it went to LIfetime, it's a total SNORE
Posted by: Jessica | October 07, 2011 at 04:12 AM
Not HIMYM!! I love that show! Though, I only recently got into it when I Netflixed my brains out to watch the past seasons.
I've heard not so great things about Whitney, but the commercials look so funny! Sadly, I miss out on NBC Thursdays because I'm still watching Grey's and Private Practice (I KNOW!).
Posted by: A Super Girl | October 07, 2011 at 05:59 PM
Although I love HIMYM, I have to admit that I am, too, am not finding the show as funny as it used to be. I just wanna meet the mom, too. I still want it to be the bakery girl from the 1st season. I know it's not, but still....
Posted by: Thoughts Appear | October 07, 2011 at 07:52 PM
The only 2 shows that I kept are Glee and Vampire Diaries...agree with you on your points for both of those shows! I dropped Grey's (abortion line...not having it) and Private Practice...I tried to stick it out with both of them, but the characters grate on my last nerve. I added Modern Family to the dvr after a visit with your folks and recommendation of a friend, but haven't watched it yet. 3 shows...that's about all I can handle!
Posted by: Kendra | October 07, 2011 at 08:35 PM
I'm over Project Runway. I was watching out of obligation last season and I had a friend who had just started watching it who absolutely GUSHED about it and all I could say is "go back and watch the first few seasons." I quit cold turkey.
I also quit watching Survivor and only watch The Amazing Race because my husband likes to watch. They've just run their course for me. I also haven't been watching my beloved Bravo shows as much, but that's purely because I don't have as much time.
Posted by: Jenn | October 10, 2011 at 01:53 AM
I second your "On Notice" list--and yes to the "New Girl" fans! Love that "Leo" from "Veronica Mars" is on it but haaate the time slot.
Posted by: Kate P | October 10, 2011 at 04:07 AM
Modern Family rocks!!!! Love Mitchell and Cam, and Gloria! We just got into that show about a month ago, and have caught up 2+ seasons of it yesterday! Love it!!!!
Posted by: Jass | October 11, 2011 at 07:25 PM