Sundays in Primetime Version 6

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. ABC and CBS show mostly the same thing in theory in terms of dramas. In fact, it’s creepy how similar they are. FOX shows comedies, a lot of them adult animated comedies. When NBC show shows after football season ends, it is normally just various limited run series. Here’s my view of the shows that I have seen, some of them, watch regularly. The CW has shows on as well, but not in the 6-7 slot like the other networks do.

America’s Funniest Home Videos: Status- Currently on ABC on Sundays at 7/6 Central. 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 submitted from viewers of it. Description- Viewer submitted home videos are viewed as the audience determines which one is the best. 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, which is not a good lesson. Recommendation- Do not watch this show. It is not worth your time. My Viewing Habits- I used to watch this show, if only because I didn’t like watching football at the time instead. I can’t stand this show anymore and refuse to tune into it as it isn’t any good. I did find football to be a better use of time in the end. 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-.

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. 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, they do a story in multiple segments. Pros- Unique news stories could keep you hooked until commercials. There is very little wrong with it. 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. If you have no interest in news shows, then this isn’t for you. My Viewing Habits- I tend to watch this most of the time this isn’t on delay. If it is on delay, I normally watch other shows instead. While I like it, it isn’t something that I always watch. As it is older than me, I started watching this much later than I could have otherwise. Prediction- This show will be on until the end of the world. Even then, it might continue. Reception: positive. Grade: A-.

The Simpsons: Status- Currently on FOX on Sundays at 8/7 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I typically watched reruns when I was a child. It’s probably not something that a young person should have been watching, although the newer episodes that air now are more adult themed than the older ones were that I mainly grew up with. Noteworthiness- It has lasted more seasons than any other scripted primetime show. It was originally a spin-off of The Tracy Ullman Show. Over 600 episodes have been made. It premiered in 1989. Description- This is an animated comedy on a strange family and others in their lives. They have different, unrelated stories in each episode. Notable People- Matt Groening is the creator of this show and he has 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 from time to time. Cons- Inappropriate humor is used a lot. 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. Religion is typically represented poorly in the show. The head writer has changed a lot. 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. My Viewing Habits- While I have waning interest in the show, I typically watch it when I can. There was a time I didn’t watch it. 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. It could end at some point, but it seems generally unlikely to most people. It doesn’t seem like it will end soon. Reception: generally positive then somewhat negative. Grade: B-.

Batwoman: Status- Currently on the CW at 8/7 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I watch all of the Arrowverse shows when I can as this is one of them. Noteworthiness- Part of Arrowverse, this is also adapted from a lesser known comic book character. Description- Following the disappearance of her cousin, a woman seeks to be the new hero that Gotham needs. Pros- The show is interesting as it has some complex characters and can be wonderful like a well made psychological thriller. Cons- It can be a bit too preachy with its message of acceptance that everyone either knows by now or hasn’t changed their mind about now. Note to Parents- The main character is gay as are some other people at some point in time. Recommendation- I would say that you should watch this and it isn’t as related to the rest of Arrowverse the way other shows are. My Viewing Habits- I have seen this since the first episode and hope to see every one. Prediction- This will last until at least 100 episodes, if not later. Reception: mixed or average. Grade: A. New review

God Friended Me: Status- Currently on CBS at 8/7 Central on Sundays unless delayed because of sports or other reasons. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it. Description- A man gets a friend request from God or someone calling himself that and his life changes with the lives of those around him and those he gets requests from. Notable People- Violett Beane, who has had recurring roles in The Resident and The Flash, is a character on this show. Greg Berlanti, who produces too many TV shows to name at once, helps with this show. Pros- The show has good characters who are willing to help others. Cons- Not much happens in it. I’m not sure where they are going with it. It can be sappy at times. The plots are often predictable. Note to Parents- There is a gay character. The show doesn’t take sides with religion, even if it seems to favor the Atheist side at times. Recommendation- I think that it is worth watching for those who care enough about it. My Viewing Habits- I have not seen every episode, but have seen this since the beginning. Prediction- It looks likely to last for now and should last until at least syndication. Reception: mixed to positive. Grade: B. New review

American Idol: Status- Currently on ABC at 8/7 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- My family liked it when it first came out. Noteworthiness- This is a reboot of the FOX show that aired for a long time. I do not know if this newer version is any different or not because I haven’t watched the newer version of it. Description- Various people compete in a singing competition. Notable People- The judges of this show are famous singers, although I haven’t looked up who they are. Ryan Seacrest, who also co-hosts the show Live and has done a radio show among other things, is the host of this show. Pros- You can see some good talent on here from time to time. Cons- The voting method where one can vote as often as possible is seriously flawed. A lot of the winners are never heard from again. Some of the episodes seen earlier in the season seem to focus on bad singers intentionally. Note to Parents- When it gets to the main live shows where people can vote, the show tends to be best for people to watch. The parts of the season that air sooner have more objectionable content. Recommendation- I’d pass on this. My Viewing Habits- I mainly watched the second and third season, but didn’t like the results and never really cared much for it again. Prediction- I have no idea if this will last or not, having been revived after it was over previously. I’d say that it might not last unless there is pressure to replace the host who was accused of sexual harassment. Whether or not he makes the show and people would watch it without him, would remain to be seen. Reception: mixed then positive. Grade: F.

Duncanville: Status- Currently on FOX at 8:30/7:30 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- It worked out well to see it once. Description- An animated show, a teenager and his friends and family have some sort of possibly interesting story. Notable People- Amy Poehler from Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation is the creator and does voices on the show. Ty Burrell from Modern Family is another voice on this show. Pros- One knows what to expect from shows like these. Cons- It seemed dumb and didn’t have much to offer. Note to Parents- There were some notable issues on this show that one would often expect from the animated FOX comedies. Recommendation- This isn’t worth anyone’s time. My Viewing Habits- I watched the first episode and won’t be back to see it again. Prediction- This won’t last at all. Reception: generally favorable. Grade: D. New review

Bob’s Burgers: Status- Currently on Sundays on FOX at 9/8 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I don’t remember why I started watching it. There might have been a gap in my schedule with nothing else to watch at the time. 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, although I don’t think that it has aired with a content advisory warning. Recommendation- It is pretty good so watch if you can. My Viewing Habits- Sometimes I watch and sometimes I don’t. It depends on when it airs, what else is airing at the same time, if that thing is on delay or not, and various other things like that. I am trying to stay more into this now than I had before when it aired at an earlier time. Prediction- This will last for a while, unless the network decides that they want something else instead. Reception: mixed then positive. Grade: B+.

Supergirl: Status- Currently on the CW at 9/8 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I thought that it looked good and I watch every show on CBS at least once, which is the network it used to air on before it switched. Noteworthiness- This is adapted from DC comics. It has links to the same world as The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Arrow, among other shows. It was on CBS for the first season before moving to the CW for the future where it is likely to stay until it ends. Description- Superman’s cousin, who is female, becomes a superhero herself fighting various alien outlaws and other supernatural creatures or whoever seeks to harm the earth. Pros- This show is quite good and interesting, seeing a previously unknown superhero (to me, at least) get her own story. Cons- There could be potential flaws with being politically correct. Some of the subplots can seem like a waste. 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. There is also a gay main character, if that affects anything in your mind. Recommendation- I think that this is a good show and worth watching. My Viewing Habits- I have seen this from the first episode, but have not seen every one. Prediction- It is renewed for another season, but it is possible that it could end soon. Reception: highly positive. Grade: A-.

NCIS: Los Angeles: Status- It is currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Sundays unless delayed due to sports. 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. 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 seems like some unethical methods are used at times to catch the perps. 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. Although, some people may like this without having to associate with the rest of the franchise as the shows are largely unrelated to each other most of the time. My Viewing Habits- While I have not seen every episode, I’ve been watching this since the very first episode. 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. It could end without warning. I would put this as more likely to end than the main NCIS or even the other spin-off of it at the moment. Reception: mixed. Grade: B.

Family Guy: Status- Currently on FOX at 9:30/8:30 Central on Sundays. 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 that I had for some reason. Noteworthiness- It was cancelled twice and brought back twice for a much longer time. Description- The animated adventures of a family including their dog and baby who can talk and behave like largely like normal people. Notable People- Seth MacFarlane, who has created other shows like The Orville and American Dad, does this show as well. 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 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. 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. My Viewing Habits- I got into this late and don’t always watch or care about it. But I am still into it despite its declining quality. There are times that I ignore it. Prediction- It will last a long time still. Reception: positive yet controversial. Grade: C.

The Rookie: Status- Currently on ABC at 10/9 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it enough to watch it. Noteworthiness- Supposedly, this is inspired by a true story. Description- After major life changing events, an older man winds up becoming a cop for the first time. There are other rookies on the show as well. Notable People- This stars Nathan Fillion who used to star in Firefly, Drive, and Castle. Pros- It seems interesting and different in a way from most other shows like it. Cons- I am worried about the typical relationship issues that you might see from time to time. Note to Parents- There are issues with it due to violence, sex, and other problems. Recommendation- I think that it is worth watching. My Viewing Habits- I was a fan of this since the first episode. I missed the first half of the second season in order to focus on Madam Secretary, but plan to be back to this long term in the future as long as it continues to last. Prediction- I think that this could go either way right now, although it is more likely to last than not. Reception: generally favorable. Grade: B. New review

NCIS: New Orleans: Status- Currently on CBS at 10/9 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I watch the original so I figured that I should watch this as well. Noteworthiness- It is a spin-off of NCIS. This show is actually filmed in New Orleans where it is set. Description- This is a show about an NCIS team set in New Orleans. Pros- There are plenty of good things about the show. It is as interesting and good as most dramas are. It keeps the charm of NCIS even with a different cast. The different filming location probably helped it. Cons- Some people have been annoyed by the fake accents of the characters. Plus, it may not be as interesting or good as the original NCIS is. Some of the choices made with the characters are bad decisions on the writers’ part. Note to Parents- This has the standard amount of stuff that you would find it shows. There is more violence in it that is negative for kids than anything else. Recommendation- I think that you should probably watch it. My Viewing Habits- I have watched it since the first episode, although I have not seen all of it. Prediction- I think that it will probably last a while, although it might be more in danger of ending now than it ever was before. Reception: mostly positive. Grade: A.