Thursday, March 31, 2016

Fantasy Schedule for the 2016-2017 TV Season

Well, it comes time for me to once again speculate on what I think the TV season will be like next season. As the title of this post implies, it is a fantasy schedule of speculation. This is not something that is official by any means. There are probably some shows that I won’t mention for one reason or another. I do wonder what all I’ll get right. Will any of my predictions end up happening? We’ll see. Remember that these are predictions only and not what will actually happen, although a lot of these could wind up happening. It’s possible after all.

There are some shows that I probably won’t be mentioning because they haven’t premiered yet. Consider me wrong on any of those. Also, I will refer to the upcoming summer schedule on TV instead of the summer schedule for the next year since that is too far off into the future. I know I put summer shows with the previous TV season sometimes, but I won’t do that in my fantasy schedules again. Also, time is in Central Standard Time as that’s the way I roll. If you want Eastern Time, then add an hour. I’m tired of having to subtract an hour from my normal TV schedule.

What’s interesting is that what I think might have been wrong going into the new schedule with my predictions ended up being right after all. Like the Elementary move to Sundays at 10/9 Central ended up happening after all. And Brooklyn Nine-Nine ended up moving to the exact time slot on Tuesday that I had it at when it originally started the season on Sundays.

ABC

Sunday- 6:00- America’s Funniest Home Videos, 7:00- Once Upon a Time, 8:00- NEW DOOMED SHOW, 9:00- Quantico

Monday- 7:00- Dancing with the Stars, 9:00- NEW SHOW

Tuesday- 7:00- Fresh off the Boat, 7:30- The Real O’Neals, 8:00- NEW COMEDY, 8:30- NEW COMEDY, 9:00- Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Wednesday- 7:00- The Middle, 7:30- The Goldbergs, 8:00- Modern Family, 8:30- Black-ish, 9:00- NEW SHOW

Thursday- 7:00- Grey’s Anatomy, 8:00- Scandal, 9:00- How to Get Away with Murder

Friday- 7:00- Last Man Standing, 7:30- Dr. Ken, 8:00- Shark Tank, 9:00- 20/20

Midseason- The Great Christmas Light Fight, The Great Holiday Baking Show, The Bachelor, American Crime, Repeat after Me, Beyond the Tank, TERRIBLE COMEDY, MORE ACCEPTABLE COMEDY, MARVEL RELATED DRAMA, REALITY SHOW THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT, ANOTHER DRAMA

Summer- The Bachelorette, Mistresses, The $100,000 Pyramid, 500 Questions, BattleBots, Celebrity Family Feud, To Tell the Truth, REALITY SHOW, DRAMA, Secret and Lies, LAME BACHLOR SPIN-OFF, Primetime: What Would You Do?

Cancelled- Nashville, Marvel’s Agent Carter, Galavant, In an Instant, Boston EMS, Blood and Oil, Of Kings and Prophets, The Family, The Muppets, Uncle Buck, Rookie Blue, Castle, Save My Life: Boston Trauma, Bachelor in Paradise, Wicked City, The Whispers, Extreme Weight Loss

Explanations- ABC has too many comedies, possibly way more than they need. That is why you’ll see me predicting another hour of comedy for them with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. moving back an hour. I have no idea what to predict with their summer schedule as was surprised that as much was renewed as was. I could easily be wrong about a lot of the summer predictions, but they tend to not care about most of those shows and nearly everything they have is obscure and never comes back for future seasons. I don’t see them changing a lot of things so I’m going to say this is probably right, although I could also be wrong about any number of things.

CBS

Sunday: 6:00- 60 Minutes, 7:00- Madam Secretary, 8:00- NCIS: Los Angeles, 9:00- Elementary

Monday: 7:00- Mom, 7:30- NEW COMEDY, 8:00- Scorpion, 9:00- CSI: ST. LOUIS

Tuesday: 7:00- NCIS, 8:00- NCIS: New Orleans, 9:00- Limitless

Wednesday: 7:00- Survivor, 8:00- Criminal Minds, 9:00- Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders

Thursday: 7:00- The Big Bang Theory, 7:30- NEW COMEDY, 8:00- Life in Pieces, 8:30- The Odd Couple, 9:00- NEW SHOW

Friday: 7:00- The Amazing Race, 8:00- Supergirl, 9:00- Blue Bloods

Midseason- 2 Broke Girls, Undercover Boss, Hawaii Five-0, PROBABLE DRAMA FAILURE, ANOTHER DRAMA, NEW COMEDY

Summer- Zoo, Big Brother, BRAIN DEAD, AMERICAN GOTHIC

Cancelled- CSI: Cyber, The Good Wife, Mike and Molly, Code Black, Rush Hour, The Briefcase, Under the Dome, Extant, Person of Interest

Explanations- I have no idea what to say relating to Thursday Night Football as I’m not even sure they are doing it again this year. I also have no idea how to predict what they would do with it in the off chance that that it is back next season. A lot of CBS shows will get renewed and I think that most of them will stay at their current time slots. The comedies will be interesting especially considering how an existing one will probably be put on the midseason schedule. It will probably be 2 Broke Girls that is at midseason, like it almost was this season as The Big Bang Theory is too popular still to delay the premiere and the other comedies are too new for it to make sense. Of course, networks don’t always make moves that make sense. Last season’s missing comedy time slot lead to more comedies than they had room for this season so they might make more regular comedies this upcoming season. I might be wrong with the dramas, especially considering what could at midseason. There have been at least one drama at midseason in the past season and the current one. With Hawaii Five-0 constantly drawing lower than needed ratings, it will probably be delayed until midseason and it might be its last one. I don’t know what else it could be that gets delayed until midseason except for the usual Undercover Boss. This network is becoming harder to predict in newer seasons.

CW

Sunday- no primetime programming (although they might bring it back since they have more shows than time slots)

Monday- 7:00- NEW SHOW, 8:00- Jane the Virgin

Tuesday- 7:00- The Flash, 8:00- NEW SHOW

Wednesday- 7:00- Arrow, 8:00- Supernatural

Thursday- 7:00- Legends of Tomorrow, 8:00- NEW SHOW

Friday- 7:00- The Vampire Diaries, 8:00- The Originals

Midseason- iZombie, The 100, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, SHORT LIVED SHOW THAT PREMIERES TOO LATE

Summer- Beauty and the Beast (final season), VERY CRAPPY COMEDY, ALSO CRAPPY REALITY SHOW, Penn and Teller: Fool Us, Masters of Illusion, Whose Line is it Anyways?

Cancelled- Significant Mother, Cedric’s Barber Battle, A Wicked Offer, America’s Next Top Model (moved to VH1), Beauty and the Beast, Containment, Dates, most, of not all, of the new summer programming this year of 2016, Whose Line is it Anyways?

Explanations- I am probably overpredicting the amount of new stuff not airing during the summer on the CW. That could wind up being the only part of the season that ends up with cancellations in the future. Why do I say that? What they air on the CW during the summer that isn’t reruns tends to be mostly crap for as long as I remember it. I doubt that they would even make these cancellations official but I just don’t see A Wicked Offer, Cedric’s Barber Battle, or Significant Mother making a season two. I’m surprised they lasted as long as they did, especially the last one. It’s easy for me to see Containment as not lasting long as most shows are renewed on the CW and I don’t see there being any room for it on the schedule. I’m not sure what to point out about the CW, just that they must have too low of ratings in general that they can’t even afford to get rid of their lowest rated shows and don’t want to piss off what few fans they have.

FOX

Sundays- 6:00- The Last Man on Earth, 6:30- Bob’s Burgers, 7:00- The Simpsons, 7:30- NEW ANIMATED COMEDY, 8:00- Family Guy, 8:30- FAILURE FROM FAMILY GUY WRITERS

Mondays- 7:00- Gotham, 8:00- Lucifer

Tuesdays- 7:00- New Girl, 7:30- Grandfathered, 8:00- Brooklyn Nine-Nine, 8:30- NEW LIVE ACTION COMEDY

Wednesdays- 7:00- Rosewood, 8:00- Empire

Thursdays- 7:00- Scream Queens, 8:00- IRRELEVANT DRAMA

Fridays- 7:00- MasterChef Junior, 8:00- Bones (final season)

Midseason- World’s Funniest Fails, Hell’s Kitchen, SUPERNATURAL DRAMA, SOME TYPE OF COMEDY, MasterChef, MORE SHOWS THAN NECESSARY

Summer- Wayward Pines, MasterChef, Houdini and Doyle, Hotel Hell, Coupled, Prison Break, Home Free, 24, So You Think You Can Dance?, NEW SHIT, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Cancelled- Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life, Bordertown, Minority Report, Golan the Insatiable, American Grit, The Grinder, Sleepy Hollow, Second Chance, Bullseye, Knock Knock Live, Boom!

Explanations- I tend to be a pessimist person in life and tend to have most bubble shows listed as canceled. In fact, that’s something you will probably see about most network schedules of mine. Anyways, FOX is incredibly hard to predict now that they do scheduling similar to cable channels, something that actually lead to a ratings collapse for them. They tend to not care that much about their Friday schedules so that is where I see them putting the final season of Bones. There’s a number of things that I could be wrong about, although I think that most of the cancellations and renewals will be right. I can’t predict what new shows will be airing so I won’t make anything too bold. I just know that I probably don’t have nearly enough new shows for this network to be right and won’t even bother guessing what amount they might have.

NBC

Sunday- ignored until midseason

Monday- 7:00- The Voice, 9:00- Blindspot

Tuesday- 7:00- Superstore, 7:30- NEW COMEDY, 8:00- Chicago Med, 9:00- Chicago Fire

Wednesday- 7:00- NEW DRAMA, 8:00- Law and Order: SVU, 9:00- Chicago PD

Thursday- 7:00- DRAMA FAILURE, 8:00- The Blacklist, 9:00- Shades of Blue

Fridays- 7:00- CRAPPY REALITY SHOW, 8:00- Grimm, 9:00- Dateline

Midseason- CHICAGO LAW, Celebrity Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, Hollywood Game Night, Caught on Camera, The Carmichael Show, LAME COMEDY, POSSIBLY INTERESTING DRAMA

Summer- America Ninja Warrior, America’s Got Talent, Aquarius, I Can Do That, EMERALD CITY, The Night Shift, REALITY SHOWS, CRAPPY COMEDIES, DRAMA

Cancelled- The Island, You, Me, and the Apocalypse, The Player, Truth Be Told, Running Wild, Mr. Robinson, Get out Alive, Heroes Reborn, The Mysteries of Laura, Heartbeat, Telenovela, Undateable, The Night Shift, Crowded, Heartbeat, Emerald City

Explanations- While a lot of this article is jokes based on the past and network demographics, if my information is correct, there actually will be a Chicago Law in the future. In the meantime, a lot of what I’m writing will probably happen. It does seem weird that the network once known for having the most popular comedies now has almost no comedies at all. I don’t see them changing that any time soon. I could be wrong about when the Celebrity Apprentice appears. Since they weren’t able to have it this season, they might want it back sooner than usual so it could appear in the fall. However, I think that for now it will probably still be a midseason show as usual. We’ll see if it gets cancelled after next season or not. This network seems to be the strangest out of all of them, so I don’t really know what else there is to say about it.

What you think will stay: Madam Secretary, 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Rosewood, Grandfathered, Gotham, Lucifer, The 100, The Originals, Legends of Tomorrow, Jane the Virgin, 2 Broke Girls, Undercover Boss, Supergirl, Blue Bloods, The Big Bang Theory, Scandal, The Great Holiday Baking Show, The Great Christmas Light Fight, Shark Tank, Beyond the Tank, How to Get Away with Murder, Grey’s Anatomy, The Goldbergs, Black-ish, Modern Family, The Middle, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Real O’Neals, Dancing with the Stars, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Once Upon a Time, Quantico, Life in Pieces, The Odd Couple, Criminal Minds, Scorpion, Elementary, Madam Secretary, Family Guy, America’s Next Top Model (moved to VH1), The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, iZombie, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Reign, The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, The Flash, 20/20, Dateline, Big Brother, Hawaii Five-0, Grimm, Shades of Blue, The Blacklist, Arrow, The Originals, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, So You Think You Can Dance?, NCIS: New Orleans, Gotham, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, World’s Funniest Fails, Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, Limitless, The Last Man on Earth, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Empire, Scream Queens, Hollywood Game Night, The Carmichael Show, The Biggest Loser, Celebrity Apprentice, Superstore, The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Blindspot, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, Law and Order: SVU, Caught on Camera, Bones, New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Primetime: What Would You Do?

What you think will go: The Good Wife, CSI: Cyber, Bordertown, The Mysteries of Laura, Significant Mother, Golan the Insatiable, The Grinder, Bullseye, Knock Knock Live, Boom!, A Wicked Offer, Cedric’s Barber Battle, Code Black, Under the Dome, The Night Shift, Extant, The Player, Minority Report, Beauty and the Beast, The Muppets, Angel from Hell, Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life, Blood and Oil, Second Chance, American Grit, The Island, You, Me, and the Apocalypse, Truth Be Told, Running Wild, Mr. Robinson, Get out Alive, Heroes Reborn, Heartbeat, Telenovela, Undateable, Crowded, Emerald City, The Briefcase, The Astronaut’s Wives Club, Of Kings and Prophets, In an Instant, Boston EMS, The Family, Uncle Buck, Rookie Blue, Save My Life: Boston Trauma, Bachelor in Paradise, Wicked City, Extreme Weight Loss, Castle, Mike and Molly, Dates, Person of Interest, Galavant, The Whispers, Sleepy Hollow, Rush Hour, Containment, Whose Line is it Anyways?

No decision: Houdini and Doyle, The X-Files, Game of Silence, The Catch, any summer series not listed as cancelled, any other series not mentioned


Well, here we are at the end of this fantasy schedule of mine. I’m trying to make this as close to what I think will happen and not necessarily what I want to happen, otherwise different shows mentioned as cancelled and renewed would be different. I hope that I didn’t publish this too soon before the next season starts, but I didn’t know of a better time that it would work out. Now just wait until the next blog post to see just how long it takes to publish sometime next month. Better finish writing it! You will see it on April 21st at the absolute latest, but I’m not even sure yet when I’ll be back with my next post.

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Wednesdays in Primetime Version 3

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, Black-ish, The Goldbergs, and The Middle. NBC shows Law and Order: SVU. The CW shows Arrow. CBS shows Criminal Minds 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. However, the show is typically always PG so it’s not as bad as it could be. Note to Parents- This is probably more acceptable than other shows in terms of content, but I’d ultimately watch it for yourself to make a decision. 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. Reception: positive. 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). Note to Parents- I watched this as a child, but I’m not sure if your kids should. It is better than the typical show in terms of content that might be deemed inappropriate for kids. 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 have a blog about it. Reception: good, although seasons vary. Grade: A-. http://adamdeckersurvivor.blogspot.com/

Arrow: Status- Currently on the CW at 8/7 Central 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. Note to Parents- This can be a bit gruesome at times so preteens and younger shouldn’t watch. 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. Reception: positive. Grade: B.

The Goldbergs: Status- This ABC comedy airs at 8:30/7:30 Central on Wednesdays. Why I’ve seen it- The first time was because I was unable to stop recording a tape after a different program stopped airing which recorded a whole episode of the show. I watched more episodes because I thought that it might be good after watching that particular episode. Noteworthiness- It is somewhat based off of true events. Description- It is about a man’s life growing up in the eighties when he was a kid and is based on details that actually happened (although I’m not sure just how much). Pros- It can be pretty good and funny sometimes. Cons- It doesn’t make a lot of sense sometimes and can be a bit odd. Plus, there are normally always errors when setting things in the past. Note to Parents- This is borderline over what is and isn’t acceptable so I suggest you watch for yourself to make your own decision. Recommendation- It is a good show to watch. Prediction- It might last and probably will. I see a hundredth episode in its future. Reception: mostly mixed. Grade: B-.

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. Note to Parents- This is borderline like a bunch of other shows like it. Recommendation- Watch this show if you like it. You probably will. Prediction- Since it is the most successful comedy on ABC, it will last a long time. Reception: mostly positive. Grade: A.

Criminal Minds: Status- Currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Wednesdays. Why I’ve seen it- It was during summer reruns (I think) that I first saw this. I was interested in seeing it at least once. Noteworthiness- The first main character left over creative differences on this show and the thought that it was too dark. Description- A law enforcement agency solves crimes. Pros- It is similar to other dramas so you know what to expect. Cons- It is too dark. One wonders how it can be allowed on network television. Note to Parents- This show is quite gruesome and graphic with its violence and crime. Don’t let people under the age of 13 watch this. Recommendation- I don’t like it and don’t recommend it. Prediction- If it continues getting the good ratings that it has, then it will continue to be on television. I still see it lasting for a while more. Reception: negative. Grade: F.

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. Note to Parents- There’s a lot of dark stuff in here and every episode airs with a viewer discretion is advised warning. So keep that in mind when you don’t let your kids watch it. Recommendation- Give it a chance and you might like it. Prediction- It will last until people stop watching for some odd reason or it gets too expensive to keep making. Reception: great. Grade: A+.

Black-ish: Status- Currently on ABC at 9:30/8:30 Central on Wednesdays. Why I’ve seen it- What I normally watched wasn’t on. Noteworthiness- This is based on a true story. Description- This sitcom is about a black family. Pros- It is popular with critics. Cons- I thought that this show was terrible. I didn’t find any of it funny nor did I understand the purpose that it had. Note to Parents- Having only seen one episode, I don’t know what to put here. It might be okay for kids, but I really don’t know for sure what to tell people. Recommendation- I wouldn’t watch it, but that’s just me. Prediction- I say that this will probably last until at least syndication. Reception: positive. Grade: D. New review

Friday, March 4, 2016

Mondays in Primetime Version 3

Mondays is actually a pretty uninteresting night on television. NBC shows the Voice and Blindspot during the main year at least. 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 dramas at this time. FOX has been known for showing popular dramas at this time, although this is also a bad night some of those shows. Anyways, here are my reviews for Monday shows that are on the air right now.

Gotham: Status- Currently on FOX at 8/7 Central on Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it and it worked out well for me to watch it. Noteworthiness- The show can best be described as a Batman origins story, even though he’s not in it as much as he could be as Jim Gordon is the main character and Bruce Wayne is a child and supporting character who has not yet become Batman. Description- A story set in the world of Batman that largely focuses on Jim Gordon helping fight crime back when the characters were much younger. Notable People- Bruno Heller, the creator of the Mentalist, helped develop this show. Ben Mackenzie, who was in Southland and the OC, is the main character, Jim Gordon. Morena Baccarin, who was on Firefly, V, Homeland, and other shows and movies, is a character on the show. Pros- I like this show for the most part. It is pretty interesting. It can probably keep you interested even if you aren’t that big a Batman fan. Cons- It seems more police procedural than actually about the Batman characters we know and love. Some of those characters aren’t as recognizable as others. I’m sure that Batman not being as big as he probably should be in this show. Note to Parents- This show typically airs with a content advisory so it isn’t for younger viewers. Recommendation- I’d say that this show is good, even if Batman is more of a side character. Prediction- This will probably last a good long while. It probably will have two more seasons after this one. Reception: positive. Grade: A. New review

Supergirl: Status- Currently on CBS at 8/7 Central on Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- I thought that it looked good and I watch every show on CBS at least once. Noteworthiness- This is adapted from DC comics. It was said to be, or at least planned at one point to be set in the same world as The Flash and Arrow. I don’t know if that’s still the case or not. Meanwhile, this does make you wonder if there’s the possibility of this ending up on the CW if the ratings get low on CBS. Description- Superman’s cousin, a female, becomes a superhero herself fighting various alien outlaws and other supernatural creatures. Pros- This show is quite good and interesting, seeing a previously unknown superhero get her own story. Cons- There could be potential flaws with trying to appeal to feminists and being politically correct. Note to Parents- From what I’ve seen thus far, this show is pretty acceptable to a younger audience, although there still might be more violence than they would need. Recommendation- I think that this is a good show and worth watching. Prediction- It has good ratings so it would probably last a good while. Meanwhile, it could wind up on the CW if it doesn’t do well on CBS after all. Reception: highly positive. Grade: A-. New review

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Status- This show is on the CW at 8/7 Central on Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- My promise to watch a new fall show on each network a season and the fact that this was the only new show on the CW during the fall. Description- A woman randomly moves to where her ex-boyfriend lives in hopes of winning him back. There’s more to the show as needed. Pros- There are some good parts about it. It can be funny at times. Cons- While this wasn’t bad, I didn’t like it. It was strange and didn’t seem to have much of a point to it. Note to Parents- Having only seen the pilot, there is not much advice to offer here. I’d say this is probably good for teen and preteens but not younger than that. It may be safe for some ages, but I wouldn’t think that. Recommendation- I’d pass on this. Mostly it’s a toss-up between good and bad, so I’ll pass. Prediction- I don’t think that it will last, but it just as easily could. I’ve been wrong about things before. Reception: positive. Grade: D. New review

Lucifer: Status- This show is on FOX at 9/8 Central on Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- Promise to watch one midseason show from each network and the thought that it might be interesting. Noteworthiness- This is adapted from a comic book. Description- For some odd reason, the devil, known as Lucifer, decides to help people solve crimes. Pros- The show is different than the usual show. It can also be kind of interesting. Cons- It is hard to tell entirely what this show is about. It seems kind of dumb and lame. Note to Parents- This is probably safe for teenagers, but not much younger. I can’t give good advice to parents having not seen most episodes. Recommendation- I wouldn’t watch it. Prediction- I’d put it at a toss-up for now. It might last into a second season, but I’m not sure yet if it will or not. Reception: mixed to positive. Grade: D. New review

Jane the Virgin: Status- This show is on the CW at 9/8 Central on Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- A dream of mine implied that I should watch it. Description- Based off of a Spanish telenovela, a woman named Jane, who’s a virgin, is accidently artificially inseminated and becomes pregnant. There are others in the cast that make this interesting. Pros- If you actually watch the show, you’ll probably find something very interesting and worthwhile. Cons- It’s hard to tell what to make of this show. I mean, the premise itself seems kind of strange and the promos make it look more than weird. Also, the recurring storyline can drag on throughout the show. Note to Parents- This has some serious topics in it that could be useful discussing with teenagers. I’d say that young kids shouldn’t watch this, but preteens and teens can watch this. Recommendation- I would say that you should watch it, but only if you can see it all the time. Prediction- I think that it will be here for awhile. Reception: critically acclaimed. Grade: B-.

Scorpion: Status- It is currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- I thought that I might like it. Noteworthiness- This is inspired by the real life of Walter O’Brian. How much of it is fictionalized is unknown, but guessed to be a lot. Description- This show is about Walter O’Brian and a team of geniuses that he leads. Notable People- Robert Patrick from the Unit is on this show. Pros- It’s a pretty interesting drama and it not being the typical drama makes it better. Cons- The show has a predictable format. It can be overdramatized. Note to Parents- This probably isn’t full of objectionable material that you’d typically see in a primetime drama. Sex is usual not present and violence in it is typically at a minimum. Recommendation- I like it and suggest that other people watch it. Prediction- I think that this show will last a while. Reception: mixed. Grade: A. New review

Blindspot: Status- It is currently on NBC at 10/9 Central on Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in the idea of it. Description- For mysterious reasons, a woman has amnesia and tattoos all over her body and there are crimes solved based off of this. Pros- The show is intriguing and interesting. Cons- The show may seem a bit scatterbrained and it seems like they are trying to do a female version of Jason Bourne. The show can seem similar to other types of dramas in a way. It can also be more violent than it needs to be. Note to Parents- I’d say that this is something that teenagers can watch, but not any younger than that. I think that all the episodes I’ve seen thus far were TV14. Recommendation- I’d say that this is worth watching. Prediction- I’d say that it has a good chance of lasting right now. It will be around at least until next season. Reception: positive. Grade: B+. New review

NCIS: Los Angeles: Status- It is currently on CBS at 10/9 Central on Mondays. 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. Note to Parents- I’d say this has the usual amount of what you would expect from a primetime drama. I’d say that you could let high schoolers watch this, but probably not younger than that. 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 might get cancelled before NCIS ends. I’m not sure if it will. The ratings have been bad lately so it might not last that much longer. Reception: mixed. Grade: B.


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. Note to Parents- This has the same amount of what you’d expect from a primetime show. I’d say that teenagers can watch this, but not much younger. Recommendation- Watch this show. It is very good. Prediction- The ratings are not doing as well as they used to, so the show might be ending pretty soon, unfortunately. At least it has lasted as long as it has. Reception: positive. Grade: A.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Sundays in Primetime version 3

There are a lot of planned posts in the future. I decided that the best one to go with now is another version of primetime on Sundays. This is in a planned effort to update my blog with new versions of primetime for each day of the week. Here's version three of Sundays. you should see version three for the other three days of the week sometime soon in the future. I've also added a new section to the reviews that you'll probably see from now on in future blog posts. I'll be sure to add them. Anyways, here are the Sunday primetime shows for the third time.

Each network has a different style of shows on Sundays. Sunday is the only time you’ll see primetime from 6-7 Central. Except ABC, all of the major four networks show football for the first half of the season. This causes problems on CBS where most of the shows get delayed which is really annoying. FOX just preempts the first hour as needed which causes very rare delays sometimes. NBC doesn’t even show non-sports until midseason. In terms of consistency, this day of the week has the most, except for possibly Friday. The CW doesn’t show any primetime shows on Sundays anymore. ABC and CBS show mostly the same thing in theory. In fact, it’s creepy how similar they are. FOX shows animation domination, all of them half hour shows that are animated that you shouldn’t let your kids watch (unless, of course, your kids are teenagers, in which case, I’d be surprised if they weren’t watching it, if it is Family Guy at least). Well, there are sometimes like this current season when live action sitcoms slip into the line-up on FOX. When NBC show shows after football season ends, it is normally more Dateline and some dramas. Here’s my view of the shows that I have seen, some of them, watch regularly.

Bordertown: Status- It is currently on FOX on Sundays at 7:00/6:00 Central. Why I’ve seen it- It airs with a show that I normally watch. Description- This is an adult animated cartoon about people that live near the Mexican border and how a white family and Mexican family interact with each other. Notable People- The creator of this show has worked on Family Guy and still might. Also, Hank Azaria from The Simpsons is also on this show. Pros- The show is interesting and what you would expect from a FOX animated comedy. Cons- It can be dull and relies on stereotypes too much. Note to Parents- Like all FOX shows, a teenager can watch this, but any younger age is best avoided. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. You aren’t missing anything by missing it and you probably wouldn’t hate it if you watched it. Prediction- I don’t think that it would last very long. It probably won’t have a second season. Reception: mixed to negative. Grade: C. New review

60 Minutes: Status- Currently on Sunday nights on CBS at 7/6 Central unless delayed due to sports. Why I’ve seen it- Typically, there’s nothing good on other networks when I started, but a general interest in current events is why I typically watch as much as I do. Noteworthiness- Some consider it to be the longest show in primetime. That is probably correct. Description- It is an in-depth news show of current and interesting events. Could be like the PBS news hour with commercials. Normally three stories are shown with the first relating to current events and the last relating to culture. Normally, the last story is a profile on some notable celebrity. Sometimes, a segment is continued in a later segment. Pros- Unique news stories could keep you hooked until commercials. Cons- Nothing keeps you into it if you want to watch something else and the segment you were watching ends. Controversies have arisen more from this show than any other show on CBS. The segments tend to last a very long time which can irate you. Note to Parents- This is a news show and the news can be gruesome. While some segments may work for certain ages, most would not unless the kid is a teen. Recommendation- You should watch this if you have the chance. Maybe you’ll learn something interesting. Prediction- This show will be on until the end of the world. Even then, it might continue. Reception: positive. Grade: A-.

America’s Funniest Home Videos: Status- Currently on ABC on Sundays at 7/6 Central and in syndication on various networks. Why I’ve seen it- I can’t remember for sure, but back when it had its original host, I watched all the time with my family. I guess we just liked the concept. One of the few memories I have of my father (who is dead) relates to this show. Noteworthiness- It has been on a long time. I don’t know for how long and it did take a break in new episodes at one point. Everything that you see on the show is from viewers. Description- Viewer submitted home videos are viewed as the audience determines which one is the best. It is shown in Los Angeles. I used to watch it all the time with its original host, Bob Saget. He is no longer the host. Notable People- Tom Bergeron, who also hosts Dancing with the Stars, hosts this show. It is confirmed, however, that he will be leaving the show in the near future. I don’t know who the replacement will be, if they continue the show at all. Pros- If you like the Three Stooges, you’ll like this show. It can be funny sometimes. Cons- Most of the laughs comes from people getting hurt. It can get boring quickly. Some of what is shown is far from being funny. Note to Parents- I watched this a lot as a kid. I don’t know how much the show has changed over the years, but I’d have to say that this show is probably acceptable for kids, but it may teach them to laugh at other people’s pain. Recommendation- Do not watch this show. It is not worth your time. Prediction- This show will be on until people stop watching it, submitting videos to it, or the network finally realizes how bad it really is. A new host could spill its demise as a new host for virtually any show like this could. Plus, even if it ends for a while, it could return as it has in the past. Reception: mixed to positive. Grade: D-.

Bob’s Burgers: Status- Currently on Sundays on FOX at 7:30/6:30 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I guess I just typically like watching these types of shows for some odd reason. Plus, there might have been a gap in my schedule with nothing else to watch at the time. To put it simply, I don’t know why I started watching this. Description- Part of animation domination, we see the misadventures of a family who works in, owns, and (more or less) lives in a restaurant. Pros- It is funny, using a humor not typically seen on television. Cons- There may be worse things than this, but there are a lot of better things as well. It can be hard to stay into it and watch it all the time. It may take you a while to realize that it is good. Note to Parents- This is one that is probably best avoided among kids less than the teenage years. Recommendation- It is pretty good so watch if you can. Prediction- This will last for a while, considering how it is renewed already for future seasons. Reception: mixed then positive. Grade: B+.

The Simpsons: Status- Currently on FOX on Sundays at 8/7 Central and in syndication on various networks. Why I’ve seen it- I typically watched reruns when I was a child. It’s probably not something that a young person should be watching, depending on the episode. Not sure why we were into it, but we typically watched it during supper and right before bed. Noteworthiness- It has lasted more seasons than any other scripted primetime show. The original cast is still working on the show. There tends to be a famous guest voice in most episodes. It was originally a spin-off of The Tracy Ullman Show. Over 500 episodes have been made. FOX considered creating a channel for reruns of just this show. Description- This is an animated comedy on a strange family in Springfield. They have different, unrelated stories in each episode. Notable People- Anyone in the main cast because they are in the cast. Matt Groening, the creator who had done different comic book series as well as Futurama. Pros- Funny episodes are shown all the time. There is never any ongoing storylines so you don’t have to be devoted to the show. Despite the fact that it has been on a long time, they still manage to come up with great, new episodes and might be better than when the show originally started. Cons- Inappropriate humor is used a lot. Because of its length on the air, the head writer changes every so often. There is absolutely no continuity between episodes. The show jumped the shark a long time ago, yet remains on the air simply because of great ratings. One wonders why it is still on air when they don’t have good ideas anymore and even air show’s too short segments, which are probably as ridiculous as they sound to you. Religion is typically represented poorly in the show. Note to Parents- While I watched this a lot as a kid and it even won polls for favorite kids show, I don’t think that most young ones should watch this. A preteen or older can handle the show without asking any serious questions. Recommendation- You should watch it if you like it (and only if you like it) and have the time. It can be quite entertaining. Although, since they don’t have the best ideas anymore, then it may not be worth your time. Prediction- This show will last forever, unless the death of a cast member causes a retooling of the show or otherwise abrupt ending. One can wonder what the death of Matt Groening, who still supervises the show, would cause. Reception: generally positive then somewhat negative. Grade: B-.

Madam Secretary: Status- Currently on CBS at 8/7 Central on Sundays unless delayed due to sports. Why I’ve seen it- I almost always watch a CBS show at least once. Description- This show is about a woman who becomes secretary of state and all the drama that unfolds with it. Some think that this is made to get Hillary Clinton elected president. Those people are morons. Pros- This show is pretty good. The characters are interesting. It is an interesting drama with enough mystery going on to make people interested in it. The show is also pretty realistic, to an extent. Cons- I don’t know if it runs the risk of getting too political based on the undisclosed parties the people are part of. Plus, like other shows, it is in the strange situation of being in a reality that is both real and made up instead of a completely made up reality which would probably be better for it. Also, the number of crisis that the country faces each episode, even though they are relatively minor, can be a bit much, even if it’s needed for the plot of the show. Note to Parents- I’d have to say that this be a decision that goes either way with your views on what kids should watch. Preteens might be okay watching it, but I think that the really young kids should be avoiding this. Recommendation- I ultimately think that it is worth the watch. Prediction- This show being on Sunday may be a bit of a risk for this show. Plus, keeping it realistic might be hard as years pass, meaning that it might have to be short term to stay realistic in some way. But, I think that this show will probably last for a while. Or it could become a misnomer if it continues too long. Just remember that it has to have a Madam Secretary at some point to stay true to its name. While they could keep her in office for a while, I’ll probably let the writers do their magic instead of worrying about what they would probably have to do as time goes by. Reception: positive. Grade: B. I have a blog about the show Madam Secretary: http://adamdeckermadamsecretaryblog.blogspot.com/

Once Upon a Time: Status- Currently on ABC at 8/7 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- General interest in the whole fairy tale genre. Description- The world of fairy tales are trapped in our world (a world of “pure horror”). Well, the show has evolved since then, but that was the original purpose at least. Notable People- The creators of Lost also created this show. Pros- A captivating drama, it keeps you interested with the writers’ take on fairy tales. It is hard to stop watching. Cons- One can wonder if they’ll have enough material for a long series. One could wonder instead if the show moves fast enough. Due to the frequent use of flashbacks, one could wonder also if they can keep their stories straight and avoid continuity errors. Plus, it could be too much like a soap opera for those of you who don’t like that genre. Note to Parents- It’s borderline wondering whether or not younger people can watch this show. There’s enough in there that you might find objectionable, but most of it might be considered okay to watch with your family. Recommendation- It is a good show, if you don’t mind the other shows at the same time. You should watch it sometime. Prediction- This show is a hit and the network needs more of those so it will stay around for quite some time. Reception: positive. Grade: A.

Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life: Status- Currently on FOX at 8:30/7:30 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- It is paired with a show that I normally watch. Description- It’s hard to tell what this show is about. From what I understand, it is the misadventures of Cooper Barrett and his friends. Notable People- Liza Lapira, who was in NCIS, Dollhouse, Traffic Light, Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23, Super Fun Night, and Battle Creek, is a character in this show. Pros- It can be interesting and fun to watch. Small parts are funny. Cons- The show can be weird and not make sense. Note to Parents- Since this is a FOX comedy, it might be best to avoid letting your kids watch this. Teenagers should be okay, but not much younger than that. Recommendation- I’d say that you can watch it if you want to. It doesn’t really stand out as either good or bad. Prediction- I’d put it at a toss-up right now, although it is probably more likely to fail than anything else. Reception: average/mixed. Grade: B-. New review

Family Guy: Status- Currently on FOX at 9/8 Central on Sundays and in syndication on various affiliates. Why I’ve seen it- I’m not sure why I was interested in it, but it might have been my usual interest in animated comedies. Noteworthiness- To my knowledge, it is the only show in television history that has been cancelled twice yet still manages to produce new episodes. Actually, that might not be true, but few other shows have done that. Description- The animated adventures of a family including their dog and baby who can talk and behave like normal people. Notable People- Seth MacFarlane created the show as well as voices several characters. Seth Green, known for his work on Robot Chicken and some movies is Chris. Mila Kunis, who was in That 70’s Show and some notable movies like Black Swan, is Meg. Pros- The show manages to stay fresh while poking fun at somewhat recent events. Insides jokes come up all the time. Funny episodes are common. The themes that show up are less an approval of them but more a comment on them and how other people can sometimes think. Cons- Bad episodes pop up just as often as good ones. If it weren’t animated, it couldn’t be shown on network television due to sex, violence, and language. It can be too random at points leaving you with no clue as to what is going on. You’ll probably hate as much as you like. At least two episodes were controversial enough to not be aired (although they reversed the decision of one of them later). Note to Parents- This show has always aired with a content advisory warning so that alone should be enough for you to make a judgment on it. Your teens would probably love it, but don’t yet young ones watch it. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. It’s not for everyone, although I like it sometimes. Prediction- It will last a long time because the people who hate it are a minority and could always bring it back another time by buying all the seasons on DVD for themselves. Reception: positive yet controversial. Grade: C.

The Good Wife: Status- It is currently on CBS on Sundays at 9/8 Central unless delayed due to sports. Why I’ve seen it- It was mostly due to a dream implying that I should watch it. It fit with my schedule more following the cancellation of The Forgotten. Description- It originally started with an arrest of a public office holder in Chicago and revealed that he had an affair on his wife. The show, however, is about his wife and her journeys as a lawyer as well as other cast members. It is set in Chicago. Notable People- Juliana Margulies, from ER and other shows, is the lead character Alicia. Others might be present. Pros- It is an interesting show with a recurring storyline. It stays as best as possible with Democrats by neither downplaying them nor making them the best. It is a good courtroom drama. The editing is great. Cons- You’ll be confused watching it without knowing the recurring storyline. It is a weird blend of fiction and reality and can be hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. It can be very confusing with its plots. A whole episode can go by without you understanding what happened in the episode. Christianity has a weird representation which is seemingly from the views of non-Christians. It is very subtle and hard to catch some things in the show. If it weren’t set in Chicago, the courtroom aspect would be even more unrealistic than it already is. Note to Parents- I would steer clear of letting young people watch it. Maybe teens could, but not any younger than that. Recommendation- Watch this if you have a chance too. Prediction- It is officially ending in May with the last episodes of this season. It must have been on the bubble for too long. Reception: critically acclaimed. Grade: B-. I have a blog about this show: http://adamdeckergoodwifetvshow.blogspot.com/

The Last Man on Earth: Status- Currently on FOX on Sundays at 9:30/8:30 Central. Why I’ve seen it- It looked interesting and it fit in with my schedule. Description- After a virus decimates the human population, only a handful of people remain. Believe it or not, it’s a comedy. Notable People- Will Forte, who was once on Saturday Night Live, is the main character. Kristin Schaal, from Bob’s Burgers, is another character. January Jones, from Mad Men, is a character. Mary Steenburgen, from the Back to the Future trilogy, among other movies, is a character. SPOILER! Jason Sudeiks, from Saturday Night Live and movies, is a character. END SPOILER. Pros- I think that it is pretty good. It is unique and interesting. It actually works as a comedy. Cons- It is strange. It doesn’t always make sense. Some of it is dumb. Note to Parents- Sometimes it airs with a content adversary warning. I’d have to say that this probably is something that teens can watch, but not any younger than that. Recommendation- I’d say that you should watch it if it fits in with your schedule. Prediction- I do not expect this show to last very long given its high concept as a show. Also, its ratings aren’t all that good so it will probably end. Reception:  generally positive Grade: B. New review

Quantico: Status- Currently on ABC on Sundays at 10/9 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I thought that it looked good. Description- Basically, it is about new FBI recruits and the mystery is finding out which one of them is evil and planned a terrorist attack. It flips back and forth between two timelines that are separated a bit, one which explains the stories of the recruits and the other after the terrorist attack has happened with people looking for the suspect, mistakenly believed to be the main character. Pros- It is pretty interesting and worth watching. The show is quite gripping and intriguing. Cons- This show has too much sex in it. There might also be more violence than it needs. Note to Parents- Like most shows, I’d say that your teens can watch it, but not much younger than that. Recommendation- I’d say that you should watch it if you can. Prediction- I think that it might last. I’d say that it will for now, although it might not. Reception: positive. Grade: A. New review


CSI: Cyber: Status- Currently on CBS on Sundays at 10/9 Central unless delayed or preempted due to sports. Why I’ve seen it- I watched this for various reasons, among them being that this is part of the CSI franchise which I like, it originally airing at a time when nothing else good was on, and it airing on CBS. Noteworthiness- This is a spin-off of CSI, being promoted as the next generation of it. Description- This drama deals with cyber crimes. Notable People- It has Patricia Arquette who was on Medium. It also has Ted Denson from Cheers and the original CSI, playing the same character moved to this division. Pros- I like this show a lot. I think that it has a lot of potential and is living up to it. Cons- It may not be realistic, which is a common complaint about any CSI show. Note to Parents- I’d say that the tape delay alone may be enough to make sure that your kids don’t watch this. The show is violent a lot. I’d say that some teenagers could watch this, but not much younger than that. Recommendation- I like this show and think that others should watch it as well. Prediction- This will probably not last much longer than it already has. I see it getting cancelled pretty soon as it has terrible ratings. Reception: negative. Grade: B+. New review I have a blog about this show: http://adamdeckercsicyber.blogspot.com/