Summer Thursdays 2017

Well, here is another summer schedule related post that also relates to when I most recently did the normal Thursday reviews of shows and it contained the review of a show that I should have realized was cancelled. This could affect when I do the main Thursday show reviews again or it might not. I haven’t decided yet what all could change or affect this blog. I have also decided to review a show that airs on the daytime throughout the week instead of primetime as I was wanting to update a review and could think of no better time to do it at. Sorry if this is old or otherwise outdated by the time it is posted. Also, this could be my last post for a bit as I have important things in life to worry about instead of working on this or other blogs. I'll explain more in the future what happened to cause a stop or delay in posting.

Live with Kelly and Ryan: Status- Currently syndicated on various network at 9 am Central time. Why I’ve seen it- I generally like most talk shows in this format and I liked the previous versions of this talk show. Noteworthiness- This is a long running talk show that was originally hosted by two different people until it became hosted by these two. Description- Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest host a talk show. Notable People- Kelly Ripa, who was on soap operas, hosts this show which she has shared with two long term hosts before now. Ryan Seacrest, who hosts a radio show and American Idol, is the other co-host. Pros- It is normally always entertaining at all points. Cons- The first segment can last too long and most of it doesn’t seem to have much of a point. Note to Parents- There are some concerning things, but not too much wrong with it outside of the fact that your kids will probably be in school on most days when this airs. Recommendation- If you liked the show before, than you’ll like the version now. You can check the archives for reviews of previous versions. I think that this show has always been good. My Viewing Habits- I watch this at times but don’t normally watch as I do other things when this is on. Prediction- This show will keep lasting regardless of the host changes unless they somehow lose both hosts at once. Reception: positive. Grade: B. New review

Penn and Teller: Fool Us: Status- It airs on the CW at 8/7 on Thursdays. Why I’ve seen it- It being a magic show interested me enough into watching it. Noteworthiness- Originally, this was a foreign series that had lasted a single season and was cancelled. It aired in Britain, but not in America for a while. After it aired in this country, the show was brought back for a second season. Description- Various magicians compete for a chance to be an opening act for Penn and Teller. They get to do a trick for them and get to be the opening act if Penn and Teller can’t explain how the trick was done. Notable People- Penn and Teller, famous magician duo are not the hosts of the show, but they are panelists of a sort who judge the trick and reveal whether or not they were fooled. Pros- With a standalone format, this is the type of show that you don’t have to watch every week. The tricks are entertaining, regardless of if Penn and Teller are fooled. You get to see them perform a trick at the end of the show to keep things interesting. Cons- Whether or not Penn and Teller are fooled, we don’t know what the secret is behind the trick. So, basically, if people don’t fool Penn and Teller, we still don’t know how they aren’t fooled. I will say this, though, the tricks that fool tend to be better. Note to Parents- Anything potentially offensive in this show is relatively minor compared to most other shows. Recommendation- If you can watch it, then you probably should. My Viewing Habits- I haven’t always watched this compared to other shows. I do watch it if there is nothing notable I feel competes with it, which it doesn’t at the time. Prediction- I think that this show will last a while, although it will obviously end if something happens to Penn and/or Teller. Reception: positive. Grade: B-.

Whose Line is it Anyways?: Status- Currently on the CW on Thursdays at 9/8 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I liked the original show and am a general fan of improvised comedy. Noteworthiness- It is the remake of an ABC show and retains much of the original cast. Description- A group of comedians make up stuff and make us laugh while competing for meaningless points. Notable People- There are guests from certain shows that are noteworthy, whether they are the fourth member of the group (which changes) or a different special member. Aisha Tyler, who used to co-host the Talk, is the current host of this show. Pros- This is more or less the same great show that we all knew and loved when it first aired. Most of the original cast is back. Even though everything is made up, it still manages to be really funny. Cons- There are normally guests on the show that tend to slow things down and take away from the talent of the true part of the show. There tends to be some sexual related things that come up often enough. Note to Parents- Some of the humor is not things you’d want your kids watching, but most of it is okay and shouldn’t cause any problems if they watch it. Recommendation- You should probably watch it. I don’t know why one wouldn’t like this. My Viewing Habits- I try to watch this as often as possible, although I know that I miss it a lot. I watched the original version when it was on too and plan to keep watching it until it ends. Prediction- This should last a very long time, provided that the cast can stay together throughout the run of this show. I’m pretty sure that the cast not being able to stay together is what killed it the first time, although low ratings didn’t help. Reception: positive. Grade: A+.

Big Brother: Status- This CBS show airs in three hours of primetime during the summer and on live internet feeds at www.cbs.com. The three primetime hours are basically split into the mostly live show where people are voted out, the show where people get nominated to get voted out, and the show where people compete to possibly change the nominations on the show. Basically, you’d have to watch the average week of shows to get the way it airs. The current airing schedule has it on Sundays at 8/7 Central, Wednesdays at 8/7 Central, and Thursdays at 9/8 Central. Why I’ve seen it- A parody of it on the Talk interested me in watching the real thing. Noteworthiness- There are many versions of it in other countries, most of which work very differently than ours. In case you were wondering, we were not the first country to do this show, although we were the first country to use the format that it has in almost no other country’s version of it. Description- A group of people, normally strangers, but sometimes not, are put into a house where they are recorded 24/7 and competing for a money prize. Notable People- Julie Chen, formally of CBS’s the Early Show and current co-host of the Talk, is the host of this show. She has hosted this show longer than any other host in any other country’s version of this show. Pros- While it may seem similar to other reality TV shows, it is very different to the usual. You can see whatever you want to online since CBS has live feeds of what goes on inside the house. Cons- The live internet feed gets cuts a lot making it seem like the people that air the show is hiding something. Tons of controversies have arisen on the show. Note to Parents- I’d say that teenagers can watch this. I wouldn’t go with much younger than that as the typical episode can have enough objectionable things in it. Recommendation- Despite the rather lengthy cons section that I just mentioned, this show is a pretty good show to watch. My viewing habits- I got into this late and for varying reasons don’t know yet if I’ll watch it again. I haven’t been watching much this season and don’t know if I’ll be back for future seasons or not. Prediction- It will probably last a long time, although it just as easily might not. Reception: mixed. Grade: B-.

Battle of the Network Stars: Status- Currently on ABC at 9/8 Central on Thursdays. Why I’ve seen it- I guess I just wanted to see if this was worthwhile and nothing else I cared about was on at the time I saw it. Noteworthiness- This is a reboot. Description- Different celebrities compete in weird games. Notable People- The people who are on this show have some varying degree of fame. Pros- It is simple and easy enough to follow. Cons- This didn’t seem to offer much of anything. It seemed about as lame as the average sport game. Note to Parents- I don’t know what to say here. It might be okay in most aspects. Recommendation- I’d pass on this. My Viewing Habits- I only watched this once and don’t plan on seeing it again. Prediction- I don’t think that this will stick around. It will likely disappear from the schedule like most ABC summer shows do. Reception: good. Grade: D-. New review

Zoo: Status- Currently on CBS at 10/9 Central on Thursdays. Why I’ve seen it- I always watch a new CBS show once whenever I can. Noteworthiness- This is based off of a book by James Patterson. Description- Animals seek to take over the world. Pros- This show is different by presenting a man versus beast story not typically seen on television. Cons- I didn’t think that there would be much to this show or anything about it that would make it good. Well, it turns out that I was right. This show is pretty terrible and boring. Note to Parents- From the promos and what I remember, I think that this show is pretty gruesome for kids so teens can maybe watch this, but not much younger than that. Recommendation- I’d pass. It isn’t a good show. My Viewing Habits- I watched the pilot and then never saw the show a second time. Prediction- This could last a while longer, but I’m honestly not sure yet if it will or not. I’d say that it’s just as likely to be cancelled as it is to stay around for future seasons. It’s hard to guess. Reception: good. Grade: D-.

The Gong Show: Status- Currently on ABC at 10/9 Central on Thursdays. Why I’ve seen it- I was wanting to see it once so I tuned in. Noteworthiness- This is a reboot of a popular former show. Description- People complete in a talent show where bad acts get the gong and are taken off stage. Notable People- There are recurring guest judges that are famous in some way. The current host is said to be a character done by former SNL star Mike Meyers. Pros- There are legitimate acts that are good every now and then. Cons- It can be dumb at times as a lot of the acts are hit and miss. Plus, only one person has to hit the gong to get someone to stop their performance, which doesn’t seem far when there are three judges. Note to Parents- It might be questionable at times, but you’d have to watch it for yourself to decide if you think your kids should watch it. Recommendation- I wouldn’t watch this again as it seems to be about the bad acts and not about any good talent. My Viewing Habits- I only watched once and then never saw it again. Prediction- I’d have to guess that this probably won’t last. It could last or get rebooted again if it fails. Reception: good. Grade: D. New review