THE Andrea

So, I just realized I totally screwed up on the alphabetical order thing. Whatever. This update won't be filled with quite as much as hatred.

There are only two new shows from the CW that I'm watching. Sarah Michelle Gellar's return to television in Ringer is odd. I want to love it. I do. See, SMG is playing twins. One is a ex-addict, ne'er-do-well, that is on the run from some bad guys who she doesn't want to testify against. The other is all fancy and girly and has everything a girl could want. Except maybe not! She "kills" herself, the other SMG slides into her fancy life and tries to live the great life. Gets a little complicated, natch. The first episode had me quite a bit turned off in the first 15 minutes. The twin thing was not the best filmed trick I've ever seen. Also, they used a lot of fake backgrounds and that wasn't done very well either. Then... in walks Ioan Gruffud (pronounced "Yo-wahn Griffith"). Oh, he's a beauty. Funny thing is, I didn't even realize that he was in the show. Bonus! Anyhoo... the episode did get better overall. Enough to have me tuning in the 2nd week, and the 3rd. However, it is kinda losing my interest. SMG is always in some super-panicy mode, and it just gets a little exhausting. At this point, I will do Ioan a favor and keep tuning in. *eyebrows wigglin'*

The other show on the CW that I'm watching, and really by accident, is The Secret Circle. I didn't do a lot of research on what all was new this year, so I didn't even know this was on. This show is on cuz The Vampire Diaries has been so successful. So, I'm guessing the CW thought, hey, let's take another book series from LJ Smith and make a show out of it. Total side note: LJ Smith is a crap writer. After watching The Vampire Diaries, I went and made the mistake of reading the first two books in that series. It was painful to read. I liked NONE of the characters. It truly amazes me that they made the show from this. I like the show, I hate the books. So, no way in hell will I try to read the The Secret Circle books. Yech. Anyway... short summary... bunch of teenagers are witches in a town that pretty much frowns on that sort of thing. It's your basic teenage-soapy mess with some SFX thrown in. Your average person will not like this, however, if you're like me and read Young Adult books like this anyway... you'll dig it. Not as rockin' as The Vampire Diaries, but it'll do.

Let's move over to Fox, and I'll try to be quicker about these. What can I say, I'm verbose :P

We got New Girl with Zooey Deschanel. It's not an awesome show, but I like it. Zooey D is just impossible to not like. She's quirky, she's goofy, and she sings her own theme song. So, our New Girl here has just been recently cheated on, and needs a place to live. She finds these 3 guys looking for a roomie on Craigslist *shudder*, and hijinks ensue. They replaced Damon Wayans, Jr. after the first episode. I guess that's cuz his other show got picked up. I liked him better than his replacement. But I'll deal.

Let's face it. I love me some sci-fi television. Which is kinda strange that I don't read much sci-fi. When I first saw the previews for Terra Nova months ago, I literally laughed. A show with dinosaurs? Puh-lease. But, of course, I had to at least try it, no? Well, I was hooked pretty quickly. The show starts in 2149 and the planet is completely wrecked. The atmosphere has gotten so bad that everyone has to wear re-breathers when not indoors. There is a bit of hope. Scientists have discovered a rip in time or something to 85 Million BC. They have been sending groups of people back in time to establish a colony. It's supposedly in a different time stream than current time, but I'm betting that's not the case. It's also a one-way trip. It has a bit of a Lost feel to it. There is a whole group of "others" called Sixers that are like rebels.

I also watched the first two episodes of The X Factor. I think I just might be done with all reality shows ('cept Surivor), cuz I can't really get into this to watch it again. I thought I would like it cuz Simon is back being Simon. Except he doesn't seem as harsh. Then again, The X Factor is much more of a building of a talent. So, maybe there is just no need to be super rude at this point. Maybe that will come :D Also, I lurv the hootchified music that Nicole Sherzinger puts out and she has some great ta-tas, but damn, she's a horrible judge. The original british chic was better. Also, the host? Yah, I've already forgot him.

Now that I've started writing up my feelings on these shows, I have started to see that I don't seem to like very many overall. I didn't really feel that way beforehand. But I guess when you actually put your thoughts to "paper", you can see them more clearly. This particular trend continues with NBC's new offerings.

First up is the oh-so-laughable The Playboy Club. This was the first show I broke my rule on, and just immediately stopped watching. OMG. This was just painful. My mom actually seemed to like it. Of the people I talked to about the new shows, she was the only one that seemed to show interest in this show. Probably why it was cancelled after only 2 episodes. Woohoo!

Next up are two 30-minute shows I actually talked myself into attempting. We have Up All Night with Will Arnett and Christina Applegate. They are basically some hipster folks who have recently had a baby that had not planned on. Maya Rudolph plays an Oprah-esque talk show host that is Christina Applegate's boss and best friend. She is so clueless to the real world that this is where most of the comedy comes from. I'm on the fence on this one. I am still watching it. But what investment is it really for me to watch a 30-minute comedy out of the corner of my eye on Hulu? None. I'm very indifferent about this one. I will probably continue to watch it out of the corner of my eye while I'm working or something. And I wouldn't be heartbroken if it were canned.

Free Agents... just found out it was cancelled. I thought it was OK. Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn were actually quite good together. And I really loved Hank Azaria's secretary. Her mad-awesome indifference and honesty was hella awesome for some laughs. But, whatever. It's gone.

Maria Bello's butch-ass cop character in Prime Suspect is just typical cop fare to me. This is based on a British show that starred Helen Mirren. I'm betting this is no where close to the original. Well, that's just been the case in most UK to US converted shows. It's not awful. I like Maria Bello, but sometimes I think she is pushing the butch-cop thing a bit much. The hat? Hmmm. The gum? Annoying. And what's up with her orange-glow? She's a cop in NYC. I'm betting those don't typically get a lot of sun action. But if you were to take it from this gal, they spend all day in the damn open air. Maria sweetie, it makes you look older. Doing you no favors.

Very interested in the upcoming Grimm show. Has a very interesting cast, and a very different type of storyline. I need something original, people. Let's do better.

First, let me talk briefly about CBS' logo. It's weak. I didn't realize this until I went searching for one. Really, CBS, let's update this ancient look. Anyhoo...

First up... Unforgettable, is well, kinda forgettable. It does star cutie-patootie Poppy Montgomery from Without a Trace. She still has an awful American accent. Why won't anyone just let her be her Australian-self? I like the red hair on her though. It also has Nip/Tuck alum Dylan Walsh. This is about a lady that can't forget anything. However, she is plagued by one thing she cannot remember... who killer her sister? Bah. How played out does this sound? I know I watch a lot of television, so I'm gonna be a bit jaded when it comes to this stuff, but I just feel like.. whatever. Besides the memory shtuff, it's a pretty straightforward cop show. The really irritating part of the show is how they show her remembering something that she saw earlier in the show that now solves the case. Think House's stunned looks right before he diagnoses a patient, but far more irritating and in slow-mo, and just not done well. I watched 2 episodes I think. Maybe I'll watch 1 more. I'd really like to give shows 3 episodes before I completely axe 'em. But 3 has seemed hard this season. Is 2 enough? I mean, it is an arbitrary rule I have imposed upon myself. Surely I can change it, no? Yah, I'm sure the OCD will not let me.

Something I could not give 3 episodes to was Person of Interest. I did watch 2. Well, I checked out really early on the 2nd episode. The 1st episode was a bit chaotic and gave me no incentive to care about any of the characters. You learn that Jim Caviezel's character is this awful looking homeless dude, and 2 minutes later he's all cleaned up and working for Michael Emerson's (of Lost fame) character. What is he doing? Ummm... I think they have some surveillance system that can anticipate all kinds of crime. The US government takes care of the big terrorist type things and now these two take care of the mundane.. like potential murders. I usually adore Michael Emerson's weirdness, and thought this could carry my interest. But Caviezel is so boring and void of any character, even with his supposed emotional back story, that it hurts to watch this show. Done. No more.

Poor CBS. Batting 0 here. However, CSI has a new character in house. Ted Danson has joined the cast after Laurence Fishburne departure. I actually kinda dig him. I never would have even wanted to watch something with Ted Danson in it, but Damages and Bored to Death have completely changed my attitude towards me some Danson.

I thought I would drop some notes on the current lineup of new Fall television shows. Last year I did not really go out of my way to watch many new shows. I watch an insane amount of television and I guess I was just feeling a little overwhelmed. So, I didn't want to add to that mountain at the time. This year, I suppose I felt I had the room in my schedule and I dove right in. Here is a very quick rundown of what I thought of some of the shows. I shall go alphabetical by network.

ABC

Let us start with one of the worst shows I have seen in a really long time—Charles's Angels. I cannot even believe this crap is still on. I think one of my friends said it best. The only reason that this is still on the air is cuz Drew Barrymore is an executive producer on the show.

I actually managed to watch the entire first episode. And if you've seen it, you'll understand what a feat that was. Three very vapid, but beautiful, women. That part is a given. Then there is Bosley. He's supposed to be some young, hunky, cybergeek. Whatevs. I've already wasted too many words on this mess.

Next up is ABC's attempt to get on the Mad Men band wagon—Pan Am. This show confuses me. I have now watched 3 episodes of this show, and I'm still truly baffled. Is this show supposed to be about Pan Am stewardesses or CIA show? So, basically, the airplanes and ladies are just a vehicle to have a show about covert operations for the CIA. Bah. Lame. But I think I might still watch it, if I have spare time. It'll be one of those shows I leave unwatched until I am so bored and have nothing else to watch.

I saved the best of ABC's new stuff for last. Revenge is uhhhh-mazing. I've seen 3 episodes so far, and each one has not disappointed. It's the story of a girl come back to where she grew up as a child, and where her father was betrayed by all those around him. I'm super curious as to how this is going to last for more than a season. It seems like it might have been better as one of those one-shot summer shows or something. However, if they figure out how to make this show last more than a season, more power to them. Just don't make it suck. If you only pick up a limited number of shows this season... this needs to be one. Good stuff.

Last of ABC's shows that I watched was a complete and utter mistake. I accidentally set Suburgatory to record, and since I had time for it, I figured I would give it a try. SO glad I did. Really funny stuff. I normally hate 30-minute shows. Mainly cuz the majority of 30-minute stuff is sitcoms. And I do not under any circumstances watch sitcoms. I cannot stand the canned laughter or "filmed in front of a live studio audience" BS. I do not need to know when to laugh. I think I'm intelligent enough to know when I find something funny. I've digressed... back to Suburgatory. It's not filmed in front of a live studio audience. Booyah.

It's the story of a girl who has been ripped out of her known world of Manhattan and been placed into the gawdforsaken world of the suburbs. I like this girl. I like her a lot. She's witty, she's rebellious, she's insecure but strong. The relationship she has with her single-father is very nice to see. Their relationship reminds me a bit of Castle and his daughter, but with even more intentional hilarity. Definitely one of my fave new shows.

I did not mean for this to be this long. And I've only covered one network. Well, let's make this a series about series. Tomorrow's entry will be all about CBS' lineup.