Thank you DVR

Now that we are a couple of weeks into the Fall TV season I feel the need to share a few thoughts on the season so far. But, first I really need to thank the makers of the Scientific Atlantic 8300 HD because mine has been working overdrive. Before adding the digital video recorder to my cable plan a couple of years ago I hardly watched any television at all. Mainly because the only show I could remember to watch was Smallville and even when I knew others were on it was hard for me to put aside other things to just sit down and watch TV all night. Since DVR however, I have become a full on junkie, to express this point I offer this example. Last week I spent 5 days in Louisiana and returned to a DVR full of shows to watch, since I have been working from home I was able to catch up on everything I had missed by Wednesday morning, by Wednesday night my DVR had 8 new recordings, in one day. So what exactly have I been watching this season? Here is the breakdown:

 

Sunday night:

Family Guy – Still funny, it’s not spectacular but enjoyable for it’s off the wall humor and seeming lack of direction.

 

Monday night:

Heroes – Through three episodes the show is teetering right around average. I forgave that in the opening episode as they have a lot of storylines to set up but I think this show would really benefit from having a story arc that comes to conclusion in about 6 or 8 episodes. Keeping up interest for a 24 part arc is very hard without the momentum from a good side story to push you along. So far its all build up and little action, I have faith though that it will get better. I also happen to hate the new characters of Alejandro and Maya, their powers suck and their little adventure to become illegals bores me to tears.

 

Chuck – So far I really like it. Even gift shop girl who plays Chuck’s sister is entertaining though I have hated her in most of her other appearances.

 

Tuesday night:

Bones – I never got into the CSI thing but I am guessing that this is kinda similar in that they are all medical mysteries. The storylines themselves though are not as big a draw as the characters and the actors that are playing them. Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz are great as the leads and the supporting cast all fits very well.

 

House – By now who doesn’t recognize House as one of the best shows on television. Count me as one of the people who really likes where they have gone with the search for a new team and finding a way, if not completely realistic, to keep the old cast still on the show. I wonder where Forman lands?

 

Wednesday night:

Pushing Daisies – Of all the new shows this is my favorite. Both of the episodes have been great. Visually it looks fantastic, sort of like the movie Big Fish in that in looks like a larger than life world. And the stories are great; right down to the voice over that kind of makes me feel as if we are watching a Dr. Seuss story.

Gossip Girl – I could go either way on this show. On one hand I can not relate to a single character, on the other I really need a fix for trashy television and Josh Schwartz does it well. So what if it is based on books for teenage girls, I can still find something to enjoy, right? Well, I have watched three episodes so far and the first two were pretty subpar, but the third one actually had me quite entertained. I still have to watch last nights but I could see myself either becoming hooked or just giving up before they hit the halfway mark.

 

Bionic Woman – Fading fast on my radar, the pilot was so-so and the second episode was a mash up that seemed disjointed. I hope last nights was better or this is getting dropped from the DVR before the 4^th episode.

 

Thursday night:

Smallville – I have watched every episode, own the first 5 seasons on DVD and can hardly believe I am now watching the 7^th. I like where they are going this season and you can totally see the show coming to a close as Clark Kent gets ever closer to being Superman.

 

The Office – I was so reluctant to watch this until I rented the DVDs over the summer. Now I love the show. I do not like the hour long episodes however. Still, I think we are in store for a good season and even though many people did not like Michael driving into a lake I found it funny.

 

Grey’s Anatomy – I think this show is going downhill. The spinoff siphoned away a good character and left a void that the new characters are not filling. Through two episodes I am the least excited about this show of all the returning shows. Shame really because that second season was great and it has not lived up to the hype since.

 

Friday night:

Friday Night Lights – My favorite new show from last season also came back with a great first episode. It could be my love of football or small town America but this show is great. I might even buy a “What Would Riggins Do?” Tshirt.

 

Moonlight – I have a soft spot for Vampires and even though this show is clearly a rehash of so many shows that have come before it. Whether you are thinking Angel or just about any other PI plus reporter solves crimes show you would be right. Still, its Friday night and you cant expect too much.

 

Las Vegas – Possibly the most ridiculous show on television and that includes those mentioned above. Repeating that point, the most ridiculous show I watch is about a Las Vegas casino and the people who work there, not the one about the Mutants, or the guy who had government secrets downloaded to his brain, not the guy who can bring people back to life by touching them or the girl with weird robotic parts. Nope, it is even more ridiculous than the show about the Alien who gets powers from the yellow sun and the Vampire PI. Still, the show is entertaining and the cast is hot. Again, it’s Friday night TV.

 

So there it is, my rundown. Where I realize I watch a ton of television and feel bad about it for a few seconds before coming to terms and realizing there are worse things I could be spending my time doing. And thanks to my DVR I get to watch it all on my own schedule without having to give up other more healthy pursuits like working out or spending with actual real live people.

Reasons I have not been posting

 

1. Florida Football

 

My weekends are generally consumed in a rage of drunkenness and screaming at a television set. This is usually followed by hangovers and trying to get ready for the week ahead by having a few beers watching Minnesota Viking football. However, the Vikings usually just make me vomit, not the beer, just the play calling. On top of giving at least my weekends to my alma mater I also have been spending a ridiculous amount of time reading articles and scouring message boards in excitement for upcoming games. I am actually already planning my Baton Rouge tailgate for Oct. 6.

 

2. Jewish Holidays

 

I should have so much to say about these but for the life of me can not put them down into words. Spending Rosh Hashana with my Mom and sisters was great as it was the first time my mother has ever made that particular meal. And who complains about apples and honey? No one. Plus the challah was fantastic. Yom Kippur this year was a pretty hard fast for me, normally I go my 24+ hours without anything crossing my lips with ease but this time I had hunger pangs by 9 pm and by late the next afternoon my headache was terrible. Of course as soon as I broke fast I felt sick from eating. Go figure.

 

3. Video Games

 

Most people already know I am a huge nerd. They already know I play way too many video games but what many do not know, is that over the summer during a crazy storm the power cord on my XBOX blew out. Microsoft sent me a free replacement; however that replacement took two weeks to get here. And in that time NCAA 08 came out, being a practical consumer not one known for making rash purchases I used the broken power cord excuse to buy an XBOX 360 with NCAA. I was not enamored with the game and actually have not even opened the case in weeks. Instead I have been playing Elder Scrolls Oblivion nearly non stop in my free time. I am addicted, I plan it into my day and I have actually gotten to the point where I am extending the game instead of pushing forward to beat it. Though, today may start something wholly different as it is Halo 3 day and my copy is waiting for me now. I did not call in Halo sick as some others so I will have to wait.

 

4. TV shows

 

The new seasons are back starting this week and to be prepared I spent my time not doing the other things on this list by catching up on shows DVDs so I would be ready. Particularly, I watched all three seasons of the Office. I had really doubted this show based on season 1 but it is an amazing show and I can not wait for Thursday night. As a matter of fact the take over of my DVR has already begun with Family, Chuck and Heroes. All shows looked pretty good in their openers which gives hope to a solid season to follow from shows like House, Smallville and Friday Night Lights.

 

So, there you have it, I could add a fifth item to this list but I really don’t want to talk about work. I will just say my new position has me busier than I have been in a while and I still have no idea what I am doing. Hopefully that will change or someone will notice, at this point I would take either but so far everyone seems to think I know exactly what I am talking about while I feel like I don’t have a clue. Oh well, better get back to work.

I’m gonna miss ya

For two years I scoffed, I made fun; I knocked what my friends were watching. I was wrong. I am a TV addict after all and I know a good thing when I see it, so when one of my best friends suggested I watch this show that he loved I told him that it doesn’t work that way. Actually, I told him I was the one who did the recommending of shows and that I would not watch his recommendations. But, he was not the only one recommending I watch this show on a channel that I honestly had little faith in. Finally, after years of mockery, I was broken down and I gave in. It was winter in Virginia, all the other shows I was watching were on hiatus and I had just gotten an assignment that had me working from home. After one particularly long day, well it might have been two, a lot of those days blurred together, I marched right into my friends room and requested copies of the DVDs he had of the OC. Why that was hard for me to do when I already watch such crappy shows like One Tree Hill is a mystery, but it is true none the less. Over that winter it took me approximately 5 days to watch two full seasons of the OC. I was hooked and could not wait for the third season to start. Even though that season was kind of disappointing the OC has become must see TV for me.

 

So, why exactly am I writing about this today? Two days from now will be the final episode ever. And while shows often come and go, I still get a little upset when they are over. It is not the same as watching the conclusion of a great movie, because you know you can go back to that at any time. The end of a television show is like saying goodbye to a good friend and knowing you are not going to get to know more about them. A friend you just are not ready to give up on, I think that is the worst part, you want more but you are not going to get any more. I lose interest in different shows all the time and new ones pop up to take their place but I like it to be my choice. In the end though, it isn’t up to me when a show gets cancelled, so I guess I just have to enjoy the final episode, say goodbye and thank my friends for annoying me until I had no choice to watch this show and love it.