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with this blog post and you'll never see a lot of the great stuff I had planned but haven't added yet before it became outdated and you never see on this blog of mine.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.