Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Monday nights on TV version 2

Here is an update on TV shows on Mondays. Most of this has been posted before, but a lot of this will be new. I have added a brief section for each show regarding the reception of the show. Unknown means that I haven't bothered to look up what reception it might have. I will post which one of these reviews are new and hopefully you will like this post.

Mondays is actually a pretty uninteresting night on television. NBC doesn't normally show that interesting shows although that has probably changed now that the Blacklist is on the air. ABC airs Dancing with the Stars in the spring and fall, The Bachelor in the winter, and The Bachelorette during the summer. The Bachelor series was voted at www.tvseriesfinale.com at the number one popular series that should be cancelled. Castle ends the ABC schedule during the main year. CBS shows its main comedies and ends with a drama. CW shows Hart of Dixie. FOX has been known for showing their most popular dramas at this time, although this is also a bad night for the FOX timeslot depending on who you talk to. Of the few shows I've seen this night, I will give you my rating for them.


 

How I Met Your Mother: Status- Currently on at 8/7 Central on CBS on Mondays. It is also in syndication on various networks. This is the last season. Why I've seen it- My brother watches the show and sometimes I did too. I slowly got into it as it progressed. Description- A man tells the story of how he met his wife and the adventures his friends and he had during this time. Notable People- Alyson Hannigan, known for working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is Lily. Jason Segal, known for some movies, is Marshall. Neil Patrick Harris, known for his movies, hosting award shows, and Dr. Horrible Sing-Along Blog is Barney. Bob Saget, known mostly for his work on Full House, has an uncredited role of the narrator, but he is not the main character. Pros- It is an interesting show that has good plots and a recurring storyline. It has some better planning on what has happened and what will happen on the show, although it messes up sometimes like all shows. It is probably the most well thought out show. They constantly reference the past in case you didn't see it. Cons- Some of the sexual references are weird. If you aren't into the show, it can be hard to stay into it as the show has a recurring storyline which is easy to miss. It can be too drawn out with its story arcs. Recommendation- Watch it if you like it. Prediction- It is officially ending after this season. Reception: positive. Grade: B-.


 

Almost Human: Status- Currently on FOX on Mondays at 8/7 Central. Why I've seen it- I am generally into science fiction, even on a network notorious for screwing with shows like that (and yet, writers keep selling those shows to them and they keep making them). Description- In the future, cops have to work with robot in order to solve futuristic crimes. Notable People- Michael Irby, who used to work on the Unit (I think), is a character on the show (although I haven't found where he is exactly). Pros- This is a rather interesting drama that isn't just the usual cop show. Cons- The viewers would be confused by the futuristic aspects on the show that appear and make it more confusing considering how many of it has never happened yet. Recommendation- I'd say that you should probably watch it if you aren't doing anything else at that time. Prediction- I'd say that, ratings aside, this show's life on television will be short lived. Reception: unknown. Grade: B. New review


 

2 Broke Girls: Status- Currently on CBS at 8:30/7:30 Central on Mondays. Why I've seen it- The opportunity to watch it once to see if it was any good and my devotion to the CBS network. Description- This show is about, well, two broke girls. Pros- It has its moments of interest sometimes. Cons- The acting is crap. The characters are weak. The transition music is stupid. The show is otherwise pointless. Recommendation- There is no reason you should watch it. Prediction- It might last because most people who have seen this don't have my opinion of it. Reception: positive. Grade: F.


 

Hart of Dixie: Status- Currently on the CW on Mondays at 7 Central or 8 Eastern. Why I've seen it- Nothing to watch during the summer and wanting to see it for a while. Description- A female doctor moves to the south to continue her job and the show focuses on the people there in the town she works at. Notable People- Rachel Bilson, from the OC and probably other works as well, plays the main character. Pros- This show is humorous and keeps you interested in it whether you are a regular viewer or not. Cons- They don't focus on the medical aspect of this show as much as some people would want them to. Recommendation- If you have time to watch it, then you probably should tune in, even if it isn't as in focus on the medical aspect as other medical dramas. Prediction- It will probably last a long time, if the ratings don't fall. Reception: unknown. Grade: B. New review


 

Mike & Molly: Status- Currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Mondays. Why I've seen it- Curious about the show, plus my devotion to CBS. Description- An overweight couple finds romance with each other. Notable People- Chuck Lorre, creator of The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, is not the creator, but he is an executive producer and probably helps with a lot of the episodes. Pros- Finally a love story for fat people. The characters that you know are going to be together actually get together. A lot of it is Emmy material. Cons- The acting and writing could use some work. About half of it is complete crap. Recommendation- You can watch it if you want to. It's better than nothing. Prediction- I don't know how long it will last, but it could last a while. Reception: mixed. Grade: C-.


 

Sleepy Hollow: Status- Currently on FOX at 9/8 Central on Mondays. It has already been renewed for another season. Why I've seen it- Promise to watch a new FOX drama this season and general interest in the premise of the show, despite not likely the original story I'm not even sure that I've read. Description- A British man from the American Revolution era is brought back to life in the present day and teams up with modern day cops to fight against supernatural creatures like a headless horseman. It mixes police procedural with supernatural drama. Pros- This is a pretty good drama. It is much better than the original story (unless you liked it, in which case, it is still better). Cons- It might only exist because of the fairy tale dramas (or whatever kind of story it is) that have been common on TV lately. It is hard to tell what it is about yet and one wonders how they can come up with enough episodes. Some of it is a bit ridiculous. Recommendation- I'd have to say that most people would probably like it and want to watch it all the time. Prediction- It will stay for a long while. Reception: positive. Grade: A. New review


 

Mom: Status- Currently on CBS at 9:30/8:30 Central on CBS. This show replaces Partners and Rules of Engagement and it has a full season order. Why I've seen it- If you didn't know already, I like to watch every CBS TV show I like. Description- A woman deals with the issues of single motherhood and various family problems. Notable People- Alison Janey and Anna Farris, both known for movies, are two main characters on the show. Chuck Lorre, who created Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and helps with Mike and Molly, helps with this show, although I'm not sure if he created it, which he might have. Pros- People like it, based on comments I've seen online. Cons- All the show is about is a bunch of immoral people and I don't know why we should care about something like this. Recommendation- Don't watch it. The fact that people like it completely baffles me. Prediction- It will not last that long, unless the viewership gets higher. Reception: positive. Grade: F. New review


 

The Blacklist: Status- Currently on NBC at 10/9 Central on Mondays. Why I've seen it- I don't know why I started watching it, but it was probably because the promos made it look good or something like that. Description- Okay, I don't really understand what this show is about yet. It's intriguing enough that if you can't tell what it is, you still might want to watch it to figure it out. Apparently it is about some law enforcement agency going after very dangerous criminals that are on something called the blacklist. Notable People- James Spader, from movies and other things I'm not familiar with, is a main character on the show. Pros- This show is very interesting and keeps you coming back time and time again. Cons- The promos for it make it look dumb (there's no way they face the most dangerous criminal in the world every week). It can be hard to understand. I'm not sure what the plot is. Recommendation- I'd say that you should probably watch it. Prediction- I think that it will stay a long time since it's doing better than most NBC veteran shows. Reception: mixed. Grade: B. New review


 

Hostages: Status- Currently on CBS on Mondays at 10/9 Central. This show replaced Vegas. Why I've seen it- I thought that it might be good. Noteworthiness- It is based on an Israeli show. Description- This show is about a family being held hostage while the captors try to get the mother of the captive family who's a doctor to kill the president. Pros- The show is complex and interesting. The drama keeps you watching week after week. Cons- A problem I can tell you right now is that if you haven't started watching now, the longer you don't watch, the harder it will be to understand what has happened so far. It is hard to tell the motives of characters and it is uncertain as to who the good guys are, if there are any. It is confusing and probably not realistic. Recommendation- While some people don't like it, I think that it's a good show and think that you should watch it. Prediction- Since this is already called a limited run series (which means a limited number of episodes a season and never a full season of 22-24 episodes) and it is the lowest rated CBS show, it won't last that long and I'd be surprised if it gets a second season. Reception: negative. Grade: B+. New review


 

Castle: Status- Currently on ABC at 10/9 Central on Mondays. Why I've seen it- Recommended by my brother and not that great a devotion to any other show at the time. Noteworthiness- Tie-in novels under a character's name that are referenced on the show have been published in real life. Description- A writer of novels assists the police in solving murders and other crimes in New York City. It is also about the love of the two main characters who work together and will stop at nothing to solve any case. Notable People- Nathan Fillion, known for his work on Firefly, and other shows, is the title character, Richard Castle. Pros- It is a semi-unique drama with good comedy and recurring storylines. Cons- It can take a while for some plots to be returned to in the storyline. Basic plots get repeated constantly. Recommendation- Watch this show. It is very good. Prediction- The network would be a fool to ever get rid of this show so let's hope that they are not foolish. I see it lasting for a good time and think that another network would love the show on its network if ABC is, in fact, foolish enough to cancel it. Reception: positive. Grade: A.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Wednesdays on television version 2

I know that I've posted information about TV shows on Wednesdays before. I figure that I will post information about this and various other weeks again since there are new shows that I haven't reviewed yet and shows originally on other nights that I haven't reviewed yet. I think that most of this is relatively the same since when I first posted it a long time ago. So this might be a lot of the same shows mentioned over again. I have a mark next to the new reviews. Some of them might have changed a bit. But I am still updating this and hopefully I will talk about other new shows when a lot of them premiere and I'm already keeping track of the cancelled shows this season. Some are rumored to be cancelled but aren't yet. Some of them will probably get cancelled although we will have to wait until the official cancellation to know for sure (although some cancelled shows never have an official cancellation). I even joke about a probable cancellation in one of the show's reviews. So without further ado, here is a list of Wednesday TV show reviews.

Wednesdays can be a bit of a bore on television. There are some interesting shows but most of it is not worth your time. Yet it also has some of the best shows. ABC shows its comedies which are currently Modern Family, Super Fun Night, and The Middle. NBC shows Law and Order: SVU. The CW shows Arrow and The Tomorrow People. CBS shows Criminal Minds, CSI, and Survivor. I haven't seen much of them that aren't listed here, but I'll tell you about what I have seen. There are no winners or losers, merely competitors.


 

The Middle: Status- Currently on ABC at 8/7 Central on Wednesdays. Why I've seen it- Survivor reruns happened and I heard this was good. Noteworthiness- It is tied with Modern Family as longest running ABC comedy. Description- The comedy adventures of an ordinary family in Indiana. Notable People- Patricia Heaton, who was Debra from Everybody Loves Raymond, is the mother. Neil Flynn, from Scrubs, is the father of the show. Pros- Mothers would like this show. It is quite funny from time to time. The youngest kid's quirkiness is humorous. Cons- Some inappropriate stuff comes up sometimes. Recommendation- I say that you should watch this show if you can. You'll especially like it if you don't like Survivor. Prediction- It will last a long time. Grade: B+.


 

Survivor: Status- Currently on CBS at 8/7 Central on Wednesdays. It was on Thursday for a long time until it switched with the comedy blocks. It might have changed because March Madness would move it to this slot for that time and the network decided not to bother changing it for that time. Why I've seen it- I think that other people in my family liked it and I found it interesting as well and started watching. Noteworthiness- It shows two seasons a year; one in the fall and another in the spring. The current season they are on is their 27th. There has been something new that happens on this show that has never happened in previous seasons. While most reality shows don't have as good ratings as scripted shows, this has good ratings that show scripted shows could envy. It is also the adaptation of the Swedish reality show, Expedition Robertson. It is considered the first American reality show and is the longest running one on CBS if you don't count a news related show. Description- Contestants compete against each other to see who will survive 39 days and win a million dollars. Every week, a contestant is voted out and the last few people face a jury of previously voted out people who vote one of them the winner. Notable People- Jeff Probst is the host. Mark Burnett is the creator of this show. Pros- There is a different cast each season so if you don't like one season you can stop watching and watch the next season. The contestants are interesting sometimes. Drama is always pleasant. Due to the competition nature of the show, it can't legally be scripted like a lot of reality shows are. Something new always happens in each season. Cons- The people that you hate can make it far while the people that you like get eliminated first. The basic plots of some seasons can be similar to each other. They like to recycle ideas, locations, and challenges. It can be hard to find a normal season anymore. A lot of controversies have arisen on the show. This show has indirectly made every other reality show. They have a tendency to keep having returning players each season which can be off-putting to those that aren't already fans of the show. Lately, people have not liked most of the new seasons (beyond the twentieth season, at least). Recommendation- Take it or leave it. I like it and think that you should watch it, but not everyone has my opinion of this show. Prediction- It will last as long as it has the same host, enough viewers, and enough money. If the host changes, it might leave the airwaves shortly after although another network like the CW might still have faith in it which could lead to a dramatic retooling of the show plus a fight with any other networks that might want it (if any do). Besides, this is the type of show that can be off the air for an extended amount of time and suddenly return with new people. I even had a blog about it, if you didn't already know. Grade: A-. http://adamdeckersurvivor.blogspot.com/


 

Revolution: This NBC drama airs at 8/7 Central on Wednesdays. Why I've seen it- I thought that it looked good. Description- A world has existed for fifteen years where electricity (supposedly) no longer exists anymore. A band of survivors try to make their way in this new world with what remains of the old one. Pros- This is an interesting concept that I'm surprised no one has come up with yet (although I could be wrong about that). Cons- The show is strange, dark, and hard to comprehend. Recommendation- I think that it is worth your time. Prediction- Toss-up. I think that it is just as likely to stay as it is to be cancelled. Grade: B-. New review


 

Arrow: Status- Currently on the CW at 7 Central or 8 Eastern on Wednesdays. Why I've seen it- I wanted to watch a CW show that was new at the time. This show was new last season. Description- The CW drama is about the comic book character Green Arrow. I don't know if it is accurate or not to the source material. Pros- It seems interesting enough to keep potential viewers coming back and watching it again. Cons- It seems like every other superhero drama. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. If you have time to watch it, then you should. If you aren't interested, then you aren't missing out on anything. Prediction- It will stay around because this network needs another hit. Grade: B. New review


 

Modern Family: Status- Currently on ABC at 9/8 Central on Wednesdays. Why I've seen it- Free time at the time and general interest in the show. Noteworthiness- Like The Office, it is a fake documentary meaning it presents itself as a reality show, when it isn't (Although certain "reality" shows are that way). It has inspired ABC to look for families like the ones on the show. Whether anything will come of that besides 20/20 interviews is another question. It is a popular show winning awards as is the longest running comedy on this network along with The Middle. Description- A look at the people an extended family of "normal" ones and not so normal ones. Notable People- Ed O'Neil from Married with Children is present. Other people might be famous either before or after the show aired. Pros- This is a funny comedy that attracts all different people like the families that are like this. There are good episodes a lot of the time. Cons- The episodes do not always have enough material in them and move by too quickly. Inappropriate material shows up often. Recommendation- Watch this show if you like it. Prediction- Since it is the most successful comedy on ABC, it will last a long time. Grade: A.


 

Criminal Minds: Here I state my very brief review of this CBS drama that airs at 9/8 Central on Wednesdays. I saw it once and I didn't like it. It was too dark and I'll never watch it again. I'm not sure what else to post here except that even the first main character left over creative differences on this show and the thought that it was too dark. I don't know if I'll ever do a more in-depth review of it or not, but I will if people want more. I give it no grade. New review


 

Law and Order: Special Victims Units: Status- Currently on NBC at 9/8 Central on Wednesdays. Why I've seen it- I forget why I started watching. Noteworthiness- It is the longest running drama spin-off on television as well as the longest running NBC drama. It is also the only primetime drama to premiere last millennium and still be on the air producing new episodes. It is a spin-off of Law and Order. Description- A group of people known as the special victims unit (SVU) investigate sexual crimes and crimes that happen to children as well. Pros- They never show the crimes. The plots are interesting and different. There are always twists that keep you hooked on the show. They use real life cases as an inspiration, but not as what actually is shown. Cons- The show may never end. They regularly switch head writers because it has been on so long. The endings are normally not happy. It has a rather grim subject for a show. Recommendation- Give it a chance and you might like it. Prediction- It will last until people stop watching for some odd reason. Grade: A+. New review?


 

The Tomorrow People: Status- Currently on the CW at 8 Central and 9 Eastern on Wednesdays. Why I've seen it- Promise to watch a CW show since the others I watch aren't on a regular basis at the time this first appeared. Noteworthiness- It says in the opening credits that it is based off of something by the same name. I'm not certain what it was, but this could be a remake of some sort. Description- This show is a science fiction show about an advanced race of humans with special powers, the people that are against them by hunting them, and the main character who is a double agent trying to help his kind. Pros- The show is very interesting. You don't have to watch all the time to keep up with the storyline (although it does help to always watch it). Cons- This show seems like a lot like of the other shows and movies in this genre. Recommendation- If you have time or like the network then you might want to give it a chance. If you don't like science fiction, then don't watch it. Prediction- I could see it lasting a while, but I don't know what could happen on this network. Grade: B-. New review


 

Super Fun Night: Status- Currently on ABC at 9:30/8:30 Central on Wednesdays. Why I've seen it- Not sure if it was a mistake of some sort or I wanted to watch a new ABC comedy. Description- I think that this has the adventures of a woman and her friends with an enemy as well that complicates things. Although, I'm not really sure what the show is about and you probably wouldn't understand it either if you watched it. Notable People- Liza Lapira, who starred on NCIS as a recurring member and had roles both minor and major in various cancelled shows like Dollhouse, Traffic Light, Super Fun Night, and Don't Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23. Pros- The show is unique. Cons- This show is terrible. First of all, my main problem with comedies and why I don't like them are that they aren't funny when they are supposed to be. I'm not certain what the plot of the show is. Recommendation-Don't bother watching it. Prediction- I don't see it lasting that long. Grade: F. New review


 

CSI: Status- Currently on CBS at 10/9 Central on Wednesdays. Why I've seen it- I watch one of its spin-offs so I thought that I should watch this as well. Noteworthiness- This was once the most watched drama on television until it was replaced by NCIS. Its pilot was passed by three different networks, ABC, NBC, and FOX, before it was picked up by CBS. It is also the longest running drama on CBS and used to have two spin-offs (one indirectly), although it could have more in time. Description- A team of people solves cases using Crime Scene Investigation. Notable People- Ted Danson, known for various comedies, actually, is the main character of this drama, although he didn't used to be. Pros- This is a good crime drama which goes more in-depth into how they solve crimes and catches the person who committed them. Cons- Not enough women are represented. A lot of other shows are just like it. Probably isn't realistic. It has lost its main character, not once but twice. Main characters have been known to leave in the middle of a season. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. Prediction- Its end will come, I just don't know when. Grade: C.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tuesdays on TV

Here, at long last, in my reviews of various Tuesday TV shows. The reason that there are not many of them listed is because not much good is on. There are some shows that I haven't seen on Tuesdays and probably some I will never watch anyways. I'm still not sure if I want to include other days of the week again or just do one huge blog post full of various unposted reviews. We'll see. For now, this is the Tuesday night shows I want to review.

Tuesdays are a competitive night on television. Except for CBS and the CW, all networks have an hour of comedies at this time. It is also when some of television's most popular shows are on. The only problem is that the shows are so good, you won't be able to watch them all.


 

Dads: Status- Currently on FOX at 8/7 Central on Tuesdays. It has been given a full season order. Why I've seen it- I thought that I might like it, even if the vast majority of people don't. Description- Two male best friends have to endure their fathers moving in with them. Other friends are in the cast. Notable People- It has Seth Green (known for Robot Chicken, Family Guy, and various movies among other things) and Brenda Song (known for The Suite Life of Zack and Cody). Seth MacFarlene works on the show, but I'm not certain if he created it or not. If there are other famous people, then I'm not familiar with them. Pros- It is pretty humorous and mostly good. Cons- There are bad stuff that pop up, like the typical sex and jokes in poor taste in most TV shows, that might turn people off. Most places I've read don't like the show. Recommendation- If you keep an open mind when you watch it, you might like it. If not, then you probably won't want to watch it. Prediction- It probably won't last that long due to the somewhat bad viewership and bad reviews. Grade: C+.


 

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Status- Currently on ABC at 8/7 Central on ABC. It was given a full season order. Why I've seen it- Interest in the Marvel world after having seen various superhero movies based on their works. Description- A team of agents tries to help superheroes in both helping people and not harming people. Notable People- This show is done by Joss Whedon, who is known for creating science fiction shows that enjoy cult status and are typically not always enjoyed by everyone. Examples include Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, and Buffy the Vampire. Pros- It is considered a good show to some people. You don't have to be a fan of the Marvel world to understand this show. Cons- It felt like there could be more in it. It seems to be lacking the heroes and the action of the movies as well as the drama content. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. Watch it if you like it. Prediction- I don't know if it will last or not, but it's possible that it will even on a network that is known for screwing with its shows and cancelling more than any other network (I think). Grade: B+.


 

NCIS: Status- Currently on CBS at 8/7 Central on Tuesdays and syndication on networks like USA. It is the most watched drama on television and has a spin-off that is still on the air. Why I've seen it- My brother and the rest of my family liked the show and I thought it was good enough to watch all the time. Noteworthiness- It is a spin-off of the show JAG and is in its 11th season. At least at the beginning, the cases on the show were inspired by real cases. I don't know if they still are. It has a spin-off. Recently, it had its highest ratings possibly because it no longer has American Idol to compete with. Description- A team of federal agents solves murders of marines and navy members as well as other crimes. Set in Washington DC. Notable People- Donald Bellisario created this show. Although no longer the head writer, he is still an executive producer. Mark Harmon is Leroy Jethro Gibbs. David McCallum is Ducky. Michael Weatherly is Tony. Pauley Perette is Abby. I can't tell you how they are famous, but most of their current fame is with the show alone. Pros- It stays fresh despite its long time on the air. The humor is quite interesting and the cast doesn't change much. Cons- It is running out of steam. The creator of the show is no longer the head writer. Recommendation- It is one of my favorite shows. I say watch it if you have the chance too and aren't already. Prediction- It will last a while more and might have another spin-off when changes happen which they will in time. Grade: A+.


 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Status- This show is on FOX at 8:30/7:30 Central. It has received a full season order. Why I've seen it- The critics like it and I thought that it might be good. Description- It is a comedy-drama (mostly comedy) that has cops solving crimes in a humorous way. Notable people- This show has Andy Sandberg (formerly from Saturday Night Live), Terry Crews (known from Everybody Hates Chris), as well as other famous people I don't know that well or what they are from. Description- A group of cops investigate various crimes in a humorous way for a change. Pros- I'd have to say that it's pretty good how it takes stuff that could be put in a drama and has a funny spin on it. Cons- The usual bad morals are present and a lot of the humor is hit and miss. Recommendation- This show is pretty good and I recommend it. It's nice to see a cop comedy instead of the typical cop drama. Prediction- I don't know if this show will last or not. I hope that it does, but it might not. Grade: A-.


 

The New Girl: Status- Currently on FOX at 9/8 Central on Tuesdays. Why I've seen it- I thought that it might be good and I like the actress who plays the main character. Description- After breaking up with her live-in cheating boyfriend, Jess, the new girl, moves into a new place with three guys. Also in the cast is Jess's best friend. Notable People- Zooey Deschanel, known for being in various movies, is the main character. I'm not certain who else is noteworthy or not. Pros- The show is quite funny most of the time with the quirky characters that it has. Cons- As usual, bad morals are present like sex and stuff like that. Recommendation- I'd say that you should watch it if you have the time. Prediction- It will last 100 episodes and probably longer. Grade: B.


 

NCIS: Los Angeles: Status- It is currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Tuesdays. It has been sold into syndication. Why I've seen it- I watch NCIS so I figured that this would be good as well. Noteworthiness- It is a spin-off of the popular NCIS. The agency it is based off of (office of special projects) does not really exist in real life (although the information I have on that could be wrong). Description- The office of special projects of NCIS which is located in Los Angeles investigates different crimes. Notable People- Chris O'Donnell, known for different movies, is the lead agent G Callen. LL Cool J, a rapper and also known for different movies is Sam Hanna. Linda Hunt, known for different movies as well, is Hetty. There are probably others I'm forgetting about. Pros- This is different from NCIS, but still good enough to keep you watching. The undercover assignments are funny and interesting. Cons- It is not as good as NCIS and unrealistic at points. It still seems to be finding its place because the cast has already changed a lot for reasons mostly unknown. Recommendation- I say that you should watch this show if you like it, but not if you aren't already into NCIS or military dramas like that. Prediction- It will last a long while because of the syndication deal. It might get cancelled before NCIS ends, but it has really good ratings and will stay a long time. Grade: B.


 

The Mindy Project: Status- Currently on FOX at 9:30/8:30 Central on Tuesdays. Why I've seen it- There must have been nothing else good on at the time. Description- A doctor of some sort (I think) has some sort of adventures with her friends. Notable People- Mindy Kaling, from the Office, is the main character of this show. Pros- It has a good lead-in and can be funny at times. Cons- Not much good or interesting things happen on this show a lot. It can be quite a bore. Recommendation- I'd pass on this show and not watch it. Prediction- I don't see it lasting much longer. Grade: D.


 

Person of Interest: Status- Currently on CBS at 10/9 Central on Tuesdays. Why I've seen it- I thought that it looked good so I started watching it. Description- People work outside the law to stop crimes before they happen. Notable People- Jim Caviezel, notable for films like the Passion of the Christ, is the main character. Michael Emerson, from Lost, is another character. Amy Acker, from various TV shows like Drive, Dollhouse, and other shows and movies, is a main character as well. Pros- It lives up to the hype that people like the show. It is interesting and keeps you watching. Cons- The show can be ridiculous at points with its plots and a lot of it is unrealistic. Recommendation- I'd say that you should probably watch it since it is good. Prediction- It will last a while if it keeps the good ratings it has. Grade: B.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Thursday Nights on TV

Sorry this took so long to actually publish online. I worked on it like crazy and now you can finally see it. Tuesdays will hopefully come along soon and random other shows will get published at some point in the future that I haven't reviewed yet on the show. Here are all the reviews of the Thursday shows that I've seen and there sure are a lot of them.

Thursdays are the most competitive nights on television. All the networks put all their best shows on the same night. One might think that it stupid, considering all the other nights where there should be something good on, but there isn't. It is impossible to watch everything good at this time. NBC is mostly comedy. CBS also shows comedies and a drama. ABC shows all dramas. FOX has a constantly changing lineup. The CW shows the popular Vampire Diaries. There are no losers and every network seems to win in their own right. The reason this night is the most competitive is the high demand of advertisers that movies and other people want on TV. I can't believe that I didn't know that before, but know you do to, provided that I've finally posted this online and it isn't still on my laptop anymore. It has taken a long time for me to come up with this blog post and you'll never see a lot of the great stuff I had planned but haven't added yet before it became outdated and you never see on this blog of mine. I have seen a lot of these shows so here's my views on them:


 

The Big Bang Theory: Status- Currently on CBS at 8/7 Central on Thursdays. It has also been sold into syndication. Why I've seen it- General interest in the show from the moment it first aired and a bit before. Noteworthiness- It is one of the most popular shows on television. The cast has been expanded to include more female characters. Description- This show is about the adventures of nerds, a female neighbor, and other people in their lives. Reruns can be different than how the show is currently portrayed. Notable People- Chuck Lorre, who created Two and a Half Men, also created this show. He has created other shows as well, but I'm not sure they are worth mentioning. Kayley Cuoco from 8 Simple Rules and Charmed is Penny. Others are famous, some from being on the show. If they were famous before the show, then I don't know who they are unless I just mentioned them. Pros- This is a really funny comedy. Everyone loves Sheldon, the Obsessive-Compulsive roommate. Some people can watch reruns over and over again and still find it just as funny as they did the first time. Cons- Sex and other bad stuff can be present a lot. Recommendation- I say that you should watch it if you like it. If you don't laugh after watching an episode, then it isn't for you. It is one of my favorite shows. Prediction- This show will last a very long time. Grade: A-.


 

Parks and Recreation: Status- Currently on NBC at 8/7 Central on Thursdays. Why I've seen it- I thought that it looked interesting. Noteworthiness- It was originally supposed to be a spin-off of The Office, but the creators just made it a separate series. It is also a fake documentary like The Office. Description- I don't really know how to describe this show except that it is a show about people who work with parks and recreation and deal with local politics. I don't really know a better way to put it. Notable People- The main actress, Amy Poehler, is famous from Saturday Night Live and other works. Others might be present. Pros- Funny sometimes. Not the type of show that is similar to others. You might enjoy it if you had time to watch it. Cons- They deviate from the main plot (parks and recreation) so much that the writers make fun of it on the show (unless I never understood the main point of the show in the first place anyways). It can also be strange and hard to understand. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. You may like it, you may not. Prediction- It will last a while. Grade: B.


 

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: Status- This show is on ABC at 8/7 Central on Thursdays. It is new this season. Why I've seen it- I watched the original show so I figured that I should watch this as well. Plus, unlike some people, I like Alice in Wonderland. Noteworthiness- This drama is a spin-off of the popular Once Upon a Time; I don't know if they'll be characters from both shows crossing over or not. Description- Alice escapes from a mental institution to look for a love with characters from Wonderland and various other made-up stories. Pros- The show is interesting to those who may or may not be familiar with these stories or not. From what I understand so far, you don't have to watch both shows if you don't like the other show. Cons- I'll admit, like most TV shows, the special effects aren't all that good. It has the same problem as the original as being too complicated for most people to understand. Recommendation- I suggest that you watch it, but not if you aren't into Once Upon a Time, although it is mostly separate so far so you don't have to watch both shows. Prediction- Since it lacks the ratings that a hit would have, it probably won't last that long on television. Grade: B-.


 

The Millers: Status- Currently on CBS at 8:30/7:30 Central on Thursdays. It has been given a full season order and is new this season. Why I've seen it- I normally watch most CBS shows and there isn't an alternative show for me to watch at this time. Description- I'm not quite sure how to describe this show that's about a man and his friends, family, and their crazy adventures that deal with parents getting divorced and moving in with their kids. It is a sitcom. Notable People- Greg Garcia, known for My Name is Earl and Raising Hope, is the creator of this show. Will Arnet, known for Arrested Development, Up All Night, and other works I'm not familiar with, is the main character of this show. JB Smoove, known for Till Death and various movies, is a main character on this show. Pros- The stories are pretty good so far. It can be interesting having family drama that turns out mostly humorous. Cons- This is very similar to every sitcom like it in terms of the basic plot of the series and basic premise of each episode. The promos for it make the show look lame. Recommendation- I think that you should watch it if you have the time to. Prediction- I would say that it could probably last for at least 100 episodes, but it might not be that good. Grade: B-.


 

The Vampire Diaries: Status- Currently on the CW at 7 Central, 8 Eastern on Thursdays. Why I've seen it- Void in life after the cancellation of Moonlight and I didn't watch anything else at the time it was first on my schedule. Noteworthiness- It was inspired by a book series that existed before Twilight. The show is comparable to Twilight, in a way. Description- A teenage girl learns of the existence of vampires and other supernatural creatures. The story has progress into something much more complicated that would take too long to get into. If you really care, look it up somewhere or watch an episode. Pros- Although it is a teen drama like everything else on the CW, this has a twist that draws in other fans. The storyline is gripping to the audience. Cons- Inappropriate stuff is present as usual. There may be no human characters in the end of the series. The same stuff tends to happen in different ways. It follows a soap opera format and thus never really seems to end. You've seen one episode, you've seen them all. The show drags itself on and on with new storylines all the time. Recommendation- While I used to enjoy this show, I don't want to see it anymore. Whether you feel the same way or not is your decision. Prediction- Since it is the most popular show on the CW, it will last a long time. Grade: C-.


 

The Crazy Ones: Status- Currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Thursdays. This and The Millers replaced Golden Boy, The Job, and CSI: New York. This has been given a full season order. Why I've seen it- I like the main actor and the comedy he's normally in. Description- A man, his daughter, and other workers are part of an advertising agency and humorous antics ensue. Notable People- Comedian Robin Williams, known for comedy specials, movies, and the TV show Mork and Mindy, is the main character. Sarah Michelle Geller from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is also in it. If there are other famous people, I don't know who they are. Pros- The actors are allowed to improvise and that typically adds humor to the show that we otherwise wouldn't see. Robin Williams proves that he is still good at comedy and the other actors are good as well. Cons- The plots for the episodes aren't always good. Recommendation- I think that this show is worth your time. Prediction- If the network isn't lying about its ratings, then it should probably last to potentially see syndication if nothing bad happens to a cast member. Grade: B-.


 

Sean Saves the World: Status- Currently on NBC on Thursdays at 9/8 Central. Why I've seen it- I forget why I watched it the one time but it could have been problems with watching one of the shows that I actually did want to watch so I decided to watch this instead. Description- I'm not sure how to describe it except for a work place comedy mixed with family comedy about a single dad who is gay, but apparently wasn't when he became a dad. I won't get into a touchy subject like that here. Notable People- Sean Hayes, from Will and Grace and possibly other shows or movies, is the main character of the show. Pros- It follows a similar format to most other TV shows. Cons- It isn't very good due to bad writing and overall poor quality. Recommendation- I'd say you should skip this show. Prediction- I don't see it lasting very long, but I could be wrong. Grade: D.


 

Grey's Anatomy: Status- Currently on Thursdays at 9/8 Central on ABC. Why I've seen it-Desire to find a medical drama to watch all the time on a regular basis. Noteworthiness- It is the longest running drama on ABC. Description- A medical drama featuring a large cast of doctors of both genders solves medical problems that sometimes relates to their own team. I'm not really sure how to describe it that well so you might understand it better if you watch an episode yourself. Notable People- The only notable person I can think of is Patrick Dempsey, who does various movies. Pros- This show is pretty interesting and humorous. Most of the large cast is focused upon most of the time. It isn't always about the same characters all the time. Cons- The show can be quite complicated and hard to understand and follow, especially if you don't watch every week. If you don't like soap operas, then this show probably isn't for you because of the format it uses. There's too much sex in the show as well and most people wouldn't like the morals present. There are too many characters to keep track of on a regular basis. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. If you don't like it now, you never will. Prediction- This could last a long amount of time, but I think that it could potentially end in the near future as well. Grade: C+.


 

Glee: Status- It is currently on FOX at 9/8 Central on Tuesdays. It has already been renewed for another season, but it is rumored to be the last one. Why I've seen it- Peer pressure, plain and simple. A lot of people talked about how good it was so I thought that I might like it as well and I watched it myself. Noteworthiness- It is both a comedy and a drama, although it is mostly a teen drama. It is also a musical show with a big cast, both current and former. Description- Even after seeing it, I don't really know what it's about. It seems like a teen drama in high school. One might wonder why it's not on the CW. Notable People- The entire cast is now famous because the show has aired. If they were famous before, I don't recognize them. Also, the cast has changed some. They might be famous after doing this show. Pros- Actually focuses on having kids following their dreams, the anti-bullying movement, and some real like morals (I said SOME). It is unique as there has never been a successful musical show before. In fact, it is the only musical show since Smash was short-lived. They had to include musical with comedy so that it could be nominated for awards and eventually win them. Cons- I have noticed a lack of continuity between episodes. If you haven't seen enough episodes, the show will not make sense. Sex is present, although downplayed. The songs don't always fit and tend to be about sex. It could also be called a rip-off of High School Musical. It can be pretty weird at some points and not in a good way. The big cast can be hard to keep track of as well as remembering everything that has happened. It doesn't have a theme song and almost no original songs. You'll probably hate as much on this show as you like it. I can name more cons about this than any other show (although many shows that are over now or I haven't seen should be included). All of the awards it won were under false pretenses because it is not a comedy. Recommendation- This is the most overrated show on television. I won't give it a grade on the normal scale, but it is stupid. Prediction- Its end might come soon. Grade: O for overrated.


 

Two and a Half Men: Status- It is currently on CBS at 9:30/8:30 Central on Mondays and syndication on various networks. Why I've seen it- Curious about what it was like. Noteworthiness- It killed off the former main character when the actor who portrayed him went crazy. It is currently the longest running comedy on CBS. It is on the third version of the show. Description- I honestly don't know what the point of the show is or the basic plot. It doesn't even have two and a half men anymore. Notable People- Ashton Kutcher, known for his movies and That 70's Show, is the main actor. Chuck Lorre, known for shows like Dharma and Greg as well as The Big Bang Theory, created the show. Pros- It is a popular comedy that can be funny at times. The show got better after Charlie Sheen left and it was finally worth watching for a change. Cons- There is too much sex and crap like that. The show has lost its main purpose and with a half woman instead of a half man, this show is once again bad. Recommendation- If you liked it better with Charlie Sheen, then you shouldn't watch anymore. If you're a fan of Ashton Kutcher and like the new show, you might like it, but most people don't. Prediction- Since this show is still doing well in ratings, this will stay on the air until people stop watching. Even if CBS passes on more episodes in the future, another network might give it a shot. I do wonder if they want enough Ashton Kutcher episodes to stop showing the Charlie Sheen ones, but that probably wouldn't end up happening, except in my mind. Grade: D+.


 

The Michael J Fox Show: Status- Currently on NBC at 9:30/8:30 Central on Thursdays. Why I've seen it- I like the actor and figure that a show he was on was probably good. Noteworthiness- In an unusual decision, the network that did this show forwent a pilot and ordered a full season. Description- A man with Parkinson's disease goes back to work as a newscaster and we see his adventures as well as his friends and family. Notable People- Michael J Fox, famous for various TV shows like Spin City, Family Ties, and possibly his recurring role on The Good Wife as well as Back to the Future, which is, in my opinion, the greatest movie trilogy of all time, is the main star of this sitcom. Pros- This comedy is pretty good with mostly interesting plots and humor that is clean. Cons- The format can be strange. The basic plots for each episode are unoriginal. Recommendation- I'd say this is probably something that you should watch if you find it interesting. Prediction- If the ratings stay good, I'd say that it would last a while and possibly get syndication. Grade: A-.


 

Elementary: Status- This CBS drama airs at 10/9 Central on Thursdays. It was new last season, replacing CSI: Miami and NYC: 22. Why I've seen it- I generally like mystery shows, even if I'm not that familiar with this famous detective. Noteworthiness- This is another look at the Sherlock Holmes franchise set in modern day New York City. Description- Sherlock Holmes helps the police solve crimes in the present time. Pros- It can appeal to those that aren't already fans of Sherlock Holmes. It is a bigger hit than most people would think. Cons- Not everyone would like the new interpretation of it such as Watson being female for some odd reason, it being set in the modern day, or it being in New York City instead of London. It can also be described as Americanizing a British hit (which almost never works out for anyone). Recommendation- Hopefully, it will work in the end and last a long time as I wouldn't mind watching it every week. Prediction- It will probably last a decent amount of time, but I don't know if it will be as long as people want it to. Grade: A.


 

Parenthood: Status- It is currently on NBC at 10:00/9:00 Central on Tuesdays. Why I've seen it- Commercial made it look good, so I decided to see if it was any good. Noteworthiness- This is based off of a movie and a short lived TV series, making this quite possibly the only remake of a failed show to be a success. Description- A family drama, in a sense, we see the trials, big and small, that an extended family goes through. Notable People- Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls is in it. Mae Whitman, who voices Tinkerbell among other roles, is also in the cast. Pros- It has an intriguing plot that keeps you coming back. The storytelling is pretty good. Cons- Basic plots tend to get repeated, including season long story arcs. Other good shows are on at the same time. You shouldn't watch it if you won't tune in every week or you'll easily get lost to the plot. Recommendation- Watch this show if you get a chance to. Prediction- Hopefully it will last and could stay with NBC's bad ratings of late. But it is a wildcard. Grade: A.