SNL Drinking Game

Well, for various reasons, I'm not able to do a different post of this blog at the moment. So I'm coming up with another drinking game as well. Also, my laptop is having loading issues and they might not get resolved at a good time. Until something is known for sure, you'll never know if these updates will continue as they would normally otherwise. I'm thinking of getting the issues checked out on Monday if I can. Anyways, this is a list of reasons to take a shot while otherwise watching Saturday Night Live (SNL). Remember that drinking games are always played at one's own risk. When would one drink while watching it?

Drink every time someone breaks character, drink at every cameo, drink every time the audience cheers, drink at every live goof, drink if the sketch involves all or nearly all of the black cast, drink if they do political commentary instead of actual jokes, drink during a one joke sketch every time that one joke is used, and drink if you didn't find a whole segment funny or good in any way.

How I Decide What Shows to Watch Live and Record for Later

You may know from reading the reviews I post in this blog and various other posts that I have a way of watching many different shows all at once. I once could do four shows at once with two VCRs that could record stuff, a TV tuner that could record something, and a show to watch live as it airs. The whole process can be complicated and I gave you a hint of this life in a post entitled a week in the life of a TV junkie. So how do I decide what gets watched or recorded on what format? Well, things are always subject to change, but I figured that I might as well mention all the various rules I have about it.

Before I go too far, I should say that things are subject to change in the format that I use as things go along. What I do some of the time, I don’t do all of the time. Each day and week is different than the next and that is why I never know for sure what is happening. Plus, I have to record things for someone else which can be bothersome at times.

Normally, what I watch live is considered a priority one show. What I record on my laptop is considered a priority two show. What I record on tape is considered a priority three show. Anything that conflicts with them that I like but decide not to watch sometimes due to that many good things being on at once is a priority four show. There has not yet been a priority five show. If there are good things on each network all at the same time, that is rare and doesn’t always happen. Even then, there is likely some show that I don’t care enough about to watch even if I do like it.

Starting out, the shows that I would watch would be whatever has been on longest is watched live, the second longest is on my laptop, the third longest or shortest amount of time would be on tape. This isn’t always the case going on. For one, I try to avoid reruns, but I can’t always do that every time. Also, I only avoid reruns if I have seen it because I can miss episodes a lot. I also want to give priority to special episodes which may only count as season finales.

There tends to be a gap between when I record something on tape and when I watch it as unless I am really far behind on them. That is why any show I have not seen most not be put on tape since I want to know then and there if I like it or not. This could affect the recording schedule. Also, if something is on instead of the usual programming, I tend to ignore it unless I have nothing else to watch.

It can be hard to keep track of some shows. If I know that one is ending or could end, I try to watch the last episode live instead of recording it. I do have to record some on tape at times and do this by choice at times. If I can’t see something live, I record what I can although I can’t record everything. Sometimes I can’t watch anything at all even if I am at home all day.

One of the things that I have changed in the rules is keeping up with the ratings of shows. This means that if I know a show could be ending, I can avoid putting it on tape if and when possible. Now new shows are more likely to get cancelled than most existing shows. This means that even shows that I like more or have been on longer can get put on tape instead. Another thing that I have to worry about is reception problems with channels where I live and I might have to avoid putting these shows on my laptop due to these problems.

Honestly, I don’t know what else there is to say regarding it. I could do a log about it for this blog, but I don’t think that it is worth anyone’s time, not even mine. I watch what I watch when I can watch it. I don’t watch what I can’t see whenever it is that I can’t see it. I watch too much TV. I don’t watch what doesn’t come in as that isn’t worth anyone’s time. I try to avoid watching things online whenever I can as a lot of network’s websites’ aren’t reliable. I hope that they can change that as I know that someone reads this blog, although it probably isn’t always the same person. At least I don’t do this for nothing. I’ll be back with new posts at some point in time and if I do wind up on an odd hiatus for any reason, then I hope to be back by the next month sometime.

Reviews of Shows that Began in 2004

Once again, I feel the urge to review shows that started before the start of this blog. Admittedly, this may contain reviews I’ve already mentioned before in a different way. I have my reasons for picking this year instead of other years. I don’t know if it is worth telling you why. I also don’t know if I should say why I’m doing this when I did the shows that ended in 2007 earlier this year. You might not see the next set next year, but you should at some point. I might as well get started with these reviews.

CSI: New York: Show history- It was the third installment of CSI franchise that ran for nine seasons, the shortest run of the franchise at the time. What’s it about- Basically, people solved crimes while using different investigative techniques. Why I’ve seen it- I slowly got into this when I realized that I might as well watch this since I watched CSI: Miami at the time. My viewing habits- I got into this late but stayed with it until the very end. Where it aired- It was on CBS its entire run. What I liked about it- It wasn’t as gruesome as other shows in the franchise. Things about it were straightforward and not confusing. What I didn’t like about it- The recurring storylines weren’t always that good. More thoughts on it- This is probably the best show in the CSI franchise (not counting anything connected by crossover). I felt that this probably had the best of the plots of all of the franchise. Current fate- It is probably in syndication on different cable networks, although I don’t know for sure. The show ended a while back after a move to Fridays brought lower ratings. DVD suggestion- I would get this and hope that I can in the future over time. Grade: B+.

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends: Show history- I don’t know much about its history. What’s it about- There is a house for imaginary friends which actually exist when a child creates them and we see the adventures of these creatures and the few humans in their life. Why I’ve seen it- It looked good to me and it was back when I still watched children’s shows which isn’t a surprise as I was still in grade school back in 2004. My viewing habits- I saw what I could of this, although it wasn’t as much as I would like as a lot of it aired on cable which I don’t get. Where it aired- I mostly watched it on Kids WB. It also aired on Cartoon Network. What I liked about it- The show was inventive and quirky. There wasn’t much bad to it. What I didn’t like about it- Not all of the plots worked well and it can seem dumb at points. More thoughts on it- I thought that it was pretty good for its genre, although it wasn’t as educational as it otherwise could have been. Current fate- I don’t know if this still airs in reruns or if it is on DVD either. DVD suggestion- If this is out, I might get it were I not wanting too many other things. Grade: B.

The Batman: Show history- It aired as part of Kids WB. What’s it about- This is another animated version of Batman, one seeming more serious than others. Why I’ve seen it- I was never that into it, but I did watch sometimes as I wasn’t interested in other shows at the time. My viewing habits- I saw random episodes of this here and there but never cared much about it. Where it aired- This was part of Kids WB for its whole run. What I liked about it- It had recurring plots to keep you interested. What I didn’t like about it- It seemed darker than it needed to be and was too strange at times. It didn’t keep my interest as much as I would have liked it to. More thoughts on it- This was probably good, but I wasn’t interested at the time in it to care that much about it. Current fate- I don’t know if this airs on any network now and would be surprised if it did. DVD suggestion- It would work for some people, but I don’t think that I personally would get it. Grade: C.

Maya & Miguel: Show history- It aired for a while on PBS Kids as part of their then new PBS Kids Go programming block. What’s it about- A Hispanic brother and sister have mostly normal adventures with their friends of different races. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested enough to give it a chance. My viewing habits- I saw what I could of this when it was on. Where it aired- It was on PBS kids for its run. What I liked about it- Most shows don’t focus on multiculturalism so it was cool to see this show. Maya always tried to help people even if it wasn’t always with good results. What I didn’t like about it- The episodes seemed too long all the time and some of it wasn’t as realistic as it should have been. More thoughts on it- I liked this show, but probably not more than most other shows that I saw on PBS kids. Current fate- It lasted a mostly short time and launched a spin-off called Word Girl. I don’t think that it airs anywhere anymore. DVD suggestion- If this is out, it might be good to get. Grade: C+.

House: Show history- It was once the longest running drama on the FOX network. I think that Gotham has replaced it, if we include only the shows that are still on. What’s it about- A very strange doctor does whatever he can to save his patients. Why I’ve seen it- I was trying to get into medical dramas at the time that I thought I should give a chance too. My viewing habits- I only watched various episodes in what became the final season, stopping before the show’s run ended. Where it aired- It was on FOX throughout its whole run. What I liked about it- The show worked and didn’t seem too complicated. What I didn’t like about it- The main character is such an asshole and the plots, at least towards the end, were pretty bad. More thoughts on it- I was never that into it and had only a brief time that I spent watching it. Current fate- It had ended after its long run and I don’t know what networks might still air reruns of it. DVD suggestion- I’d pass. Grade: D.

Phil of the Future: Show history- It aired maybe two seasons or a bit more. What’s it about- A family from the future winds up in the present day. Why I’ve seen it- It being a Saturday morning show that I still cared about back then, I watched it because I could. My viewing habits- I watched what I could of this, but didn’t see too much of it. Where it aired- It aired on ABC for me, originally on Disney Channel. What I liked about it- The show was interesting with good concepts to it. What I didn’t like about it- Parts of it were dumb and pointless. More thoughts on it- It was a pretty good show and I never saw that much about it since I only get broadcast television and different things that I liked aired at the same time as it. Current fate- I don’t think that it airs anywhere anymore. DVD suggestion- This might be good to own, although I’m not sure if it is out on DVD. Grade: B-.

Postcards from Buster: Show history- This had a strong first season and some random episodes after this that have aired at random times. What’s it about- This was a spin-off of Arthur featuring a travelling Buster and his adventures. Why I’ve seen it- I watched all new shows on the network at the time. My viewing habits- I might have seen every episode outside of what might have aired after its second season, if any aired at all. Where it aired- This was on PBS kids for most of its run, with a notable episode airing in primetime in some regions. What I liked about it- It showed a lot of different places and cultures in the country. What I didn’t like about it- It seemed to have errors in continuity with Arthur as this should be set entirely within Arthur’s second season, yet it mentioned various events from future seasons. Also, the format was weird and unrealistic. More thoughts on it- Its fate was sealed when it featured a lesbian couple and lost funding as a result. The show was pretty much doomed from that point forward, although some episodes were made. Current fate- It no longer airs in any places to my knowledge. DVD suggestion- I don’t think that all of this is on DVD as the first season was incorrectly labeled as the complete series. It might be worth it, even though it is odd. Grade: B.

Quintuplets: Show history- I think that this only lasted for a single season. What’s it about- A comedy, this show is about a group of quintuplets when they are teenagers. Why I’ve seen it- My family was interested in it at the time. I forget if this aired on Sundays or not. My viewing habits- I saw various episodes, but I don’t think that I saw all of it. Where it aired- This aired on FOX. What I liked about it- It worked generally as a good sitcom about a family. What I didn’t like about it- A lot of it was widely inappropriate, yet in a way that I don’t think ever got a viewer discretion is advised warning. More thoughts on it- It seemed pretty much average in terms of quality. Current fate- I doubt that it reruns given its short length of time on the air. DVD suggestion- I don’t think that this is out and while I liked the show to an extent, I don’t think that I would get it. Grade: C-.

Tavis Smiley: Show history- The first black person to host an NPR show makes the switch to TV (although his radio show might still exist as well). What’s it about- Tavis Smiley interviews various people. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it at the time. My viewing habits- I have seen a few episodes here and there, but not too much of it due to its weird airtimes. Where it aired- It airs on PBS. What I liked about it- The show is very informative and interesting. What I didn’t like about it- Not everyone on it is as notable as one would like. More thoughts on it- I probably have not seen as much of this as I would like, yet I’m also not sure what I’d get out of this that I wouldn’t get out of other shows. Current fate- This show is actually still on the air with new episodes on PBS. DVD suggestion- This isn’t on DVD so a suggestion is not needed. It might be good if it were. Grade: B.

Wonderfalls: Show history- It aired a season, but not every episode was televised. It has since turned into a cult classic. What’s it about- A woman gets strange signs from the universe in the form of voices from inanimate objects talking to her. Why I’ve seen it- It looked interesting to me. My viewing habits- I think that I might have seen all that aired on TV, although I’m not entirely sure. Where it aired- It was on the FOX network. What I liked about it- The show was different and that was good. What I didn’t like about it- Parts of it didn’t seem to go anywhere. The supporting cast seemed wasted on unimportant plot points and only the main character seemed to have anything interesting going on. More thoughts on it- It was the type of quirky show that I tend to like even if some parts of it were dumb and a waste. Current fate- It didn’t last long, but all the episodes, including those that didn’t air, are on DVD. DVD suggestion- If you liked it, then you should get it. I personally don’t know if I care enough about it to get it. Grade: B-.

Drake & Josh: Show history- It aired a good while on Nickelodeon. What’s it about- Two people with opposing personalities become step-brothers. It could be described as similar to The Odd Couple. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested enough in it to watch it when I could. My viewing habits- I saw made a few episodes of it here and there. Where it aired- It aired on Nickelodeon at the time. What I liked about it- The show seemed to work a lot of the time. What I didn’t like about it- It wasn’t as educational as a show like this should have been. More thoughts on it- At times, it was weirder than it should have been and didn’t have as good appeal towards it that it should have. Current fate- I don’t think that this airs anymore. DVD suggestion- I don’t know if this is out or worth the money. Grade: C.

Lost: Show history- It had a pretty good run. What’s it about- A group of people wind up stranded on an island that is mysterious with things happening. Why I’ve seen it- I was checking what was on different tapes and this was one of the things that I found. My viewing habits- I only saw one episode of it and am not even sure that I should be reviewing it. Where it aired- It was an ABC show. What I liked about it- It seemed different than most shows you’d see. What I didn’t like about it- It was far too confusing and strange. More thoughts on it- I don’t think that I can gather much from the one episode of it that I saw. I just know that tons of people liked it until an infamous final episode of it aired. Current fate- I don’t think that it airs anymore, although it could. DVD suggestion- I’m not giving one. Grade: C.

I’m going to switch here to reviews of seasons of shows that started in 2004. This will be similar to how they were in 2007’s ended shows reviews. I’m going to mention the same groups of shows as that time as I don’t really know what else to include at the moment. Maybe I can expand more as I catch up to future years.

Survivor: All-Stars: Show history- This was the eighth season of Survivor and the first to use all returning players. What’s it about- Eighteen contestants from each of the seven previous seasons compete for a new chance to win a million dollars. Why I’ve seen it- I always watch Survivor seasons. My viewing habits- I did not see the whole season when it aired, although I got nearly all of it. Where it aired- It was on CBS and the first episode of the season was a Super Bowl lead-out program. What makes it different than other seasons- Before this season, they had never had all returning players before or any returning players in any capacity. It was also the first season to have more than sixteen players. There were other things they did different than usual. What I liked about it- The three tribes format was nice to watch. It was also cool seeing old players again. What I didn’t like about it- They seemed to put way too many dumb twists in here. The cast was kind of weak. Some of what happened here was just messed up. More thoughts on it- Out of all the seasons with all returning players, this is probably the lowest ranked in my mind. The events leading to Sue’s quit were among the most disturbing things ever shown on television. Where it ranks among other seasons- This would be with the bad seasons or pretty close to it. Maybe it is more average than actually bad, but I don’t think highly of it and most fans really hate this season. DVD suggestion- I would get this if you get all the DVDs of Survivor or in some way want to catch up on it for whatever reason, but I’d pass on this as a lot of it is bad. Grade: D.

Survivor: Vanuatu: Show history- This is the ninth season of Survivor. What’s it about- This was a battle of the sexes season where it began with nine men facing off against nine women. Why I’ve seen it- As always, I watch each new Survivor season when I can. My viewing habits- I might have seen this whole season when it aired, although I’m not sure at the moment. Where it aired- It aired on CBS. What makes it different than other seasons- While it reused an opening twist from Amazon’s season, there were some different aspects to it such as evolving game play and the formal introduction of the double tribal council twist. What I liked about it- I liked it being different and better executed than the previous battle of the sexes season. I felt that the winner and story arc after the merge that lead to his win was great to watch. What I didn’t like about it- The game before the merge wasn’t as interesting or good as it could have been. More thoughts on it- This was a pretty good season and could be underrated among them. Where it ranks among other seasons- I’d rank this among the good seasons, although I don’t know if it cracks the top ten. DVD suggestion- This is a pretty good season and I think that one should get it even if one hasn’t seen Survivor but one is interested in watching it. Grade: B.

Power Rangers: Dino Thunder: Show history- This was the second of the Disney owned Power Rangers seasons that aired. It featured the return of fan favorite ranger Tommy. What’s it about- A monster wants to return the earth to the days of the dinosaurs while the rangers try to stop this from happening. Why I’ve seen it- I was still into Power Rangers at the time and still watched this because it was pretty good and interesting. My viewing habits- I saw what I could of this, although I know I didn’t see every episode of it this season. Where it aired- It aired on one of the Disney related channels and ABC where I watched it. What makes it different than other seasons- While the villain is probably indisputably bad, he wasn’t just trying to take over the earth like all the other villains were. Like the previous season, it started with only three rangers although it had five at the end. What I liked about it- The evil white ranger story arc was well done and fun to watch. There was a lot in here for classic ranger fans while it kept things interesting to the new people who watch it. What I didn’t like about it- Due to scheduling issues, Tommy was underused in the season. Parts of it seemed to be too random and not make as much sense as it should have. More thoughts on it- I liked the season and felt it was one of the better Disney era seasons. Where it ranks among other seasons- I’d rank this pretty high, although not as high as some other seasons. DVD suggestion- I might get this at some point, but I think that fans of the classic era would appreciate it and so would people who want to know more about Power Rangers history in general. Grade: B.

How Death Affects Shows

With TV shows, things don’t always go according to plan for people who work on different TV shows. One of the most notable ways that this happens is when death happens to someone who was still working on a TV show. It is more noteworthy when it happens to an actor than to anyone else on the show, but it can have numerous effects any way it happens.

One of the most notable recent deaths that affected a TV show was Miguel Ferrer’s death in NCIS: Los Angeles. I’ll have to see the new season to know for sure what will happen with his character and if they get a new assistant director on the show. His character was left in a mystery state and based on the info that I have, they were planning on writing off his character due to his declining health. Hopefully it won’t just be some weird state the character is in forever where we never know a definite state.

8 Simple Rules is a show that was forever changed after John Ritter, who played the main character, died during production of the show’s second season. They handled his death with class. They made a very good and very serious episode of the sitcom that address his death and continued on without the character. That’s how death is in reality. You are sad for a while and then life goes on.

The showrunner of NCIS and NCIS: New Orleans died during production of last season’s episodes. One can wonder how this show will be affected, but the death of a showrunner during a show they did isn’t something I’m familiar with. The only time I think that might have happened was with Frasier, but I’m not sure if the showrunner was the creator who had died or someone else at that point. We’ll see how or even if the shows are affected, but I’m not even sure that they got a new showrunner for NCIS: New Orleans the whole last season as it was already mapped out and wouldn’t need to be changed.

Sometimes, we never really know just how things would change in a show because of the death of someone who worked on it. It can be hard to keep track of it at times and we won’t always know at other times. For instance, when Bob Simon died while working on 60 Minutes, he still had stories to air that hadn’t finished production yet. This affected what reran that summer (I think) and the stories he would have been assigned which were now filled by random CBS news people.

There are tons of examples that I could say in this post, but I don’t think that I will. I hope that the few examples that I did were good enough for you, even if nearly all of them were recent ones that weren’t as notable as some earlier ones might have been.

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

The Tonight Show: Jimmy Fallon versus Jay Leno

I realized sometime after I updated my reviews with a new generation of late night talk show hosts that I should do a side by side comparison of the hosts that I’ve seen. I was too young to have seen Johnny Carson do the Tonight Show and I completely missed Conan O’Brian’s tenure on the show, although I might have cared then if I ever wanted an alternative to what I watched at the time. This leaves me with only two hosts to compare: Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno. Let’s start with the older host first.

What was Jay Leno like? He was simple and was more normal than what you typically see on a late night show. He seemed to do a lot of the same old bits and we didn’t get to see much else different from each night. His style seemed lacking.

How he was good: He seemed to play center of the political aisle instead of taking sides and might have been the most friendly late night talk show host for conservatives. He had a pretty basic style and was always easy to follow. The format was easy to get used to as it never really changed that much.

How he was bad: He was never really that funny most of the time. He seemed to lack the weirdness that we would want in a talk show host. At least one of his most notable bits (Headlines) seemed to just be stolen from David Letterman.

What is Jimmy Fallon like? He seems extremely laid back and always willing to have fun. He helps keeps viewers connected by creating hashtags to be featured on the show. He isn’t that political outside of the opening monologue.

How he is good: His simple form of humor is pretty nice. He is very engaging with the guests that he has and the games that he plays always seem entertaining to some degree. It can be good that he isn’t always political most of the time.

How he is bad: He can seem too goofy at times and come off as if he is not as serious as he should be or needs to be at times. He has been criticized for not talking more about important issues to the people who are there for more than just to promote a project of theirs.

Who do I like better? To me, Jimmy Fallon is always a good choice and I never really liked Jay Leno that much. It wasn’t even that Jay Leno was bad as much as he didn’t do anything interesting or notable. I thought that Jimmy Fallon was always entertaining and good like that.

Well, this is my first comparison and I hoped that you liked it. I will get to others in due time, providing that I’m still updating this blog of mine. I might not be able to keep doing it depending on what I wind up doing in the future with jobs and stuff like that. I hope to keep being able to watch TV, but there is no way that I’m choosing it over a job. I will post an update if this blog gets discontinued.

Summer Sundays 2017

Surprise! Here’s a post the likes of which you have never really seen before. You know that I review each weekday during the main season at random times. But I never give the summer versions of it their due until now. You see, it had kind of bothered me in a way that the last main set of reviews that I did on Sundays had a show on it that was cancelled more or less right after I had posted it. To make it for it, when I get enough posts away from that previous post, I will do another set of reviews, this one being a special set of the summer Sunday schedule. I will ignore shows in reruns when I do these special posts unless I haven’t reviewed them before and only include the summer shows airing new episodes. You should see more normal summer posts every year as usual, but be sure to look out for these.

Celebrity Family Feud: Status- Currently on ABC at 8/7 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I was able to catch a rerun. Description- This is basically the same as Family Feud, only the people competing are from famous families and competing for charities instead of themselves. Also, winning people wouldn’t be back on future shows like in the regular game show. Notable People- Steve Harvey, well known comedian and current talk show host who also currently hosts the regular version of Family Feud is the host of this show as well. Pros- Everything that you’d love about the regular Family Feud is in this show as well. Celebrities are competing for charity so it is all for a good cause. Cons- To make this an hour, they cram what are two half hour shows into one episode, which I find strange and unnecessary. A lot of the questions relate, intentionally or otherwise, to sex. Note to Parents- You might have some stuff to worry about for the really young ones, but other than that, it should be fine. Recommendation- I’d say that this is worth watching. My Viewing Habits- This is something that I plan to watch when I can although I haven’t always watched it in the past. Prediction- This show comes and goes already so even if it ends, it could come back. I’d imagine that it will probably stay as a long term summer show for a while. Reception: somewhat positive. Grade: B+.

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 have not been watching it this season. Prediction- It will probably last a long time, although it just as easily might not. Reception: mixed. Grade: B-.

Steve Harvey’s Funderdome: Status- Currently on ABC at 9/8 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- It looked interesting enough for me so I watched it. Description- Entrepreneurs with similar ideas compete against each other to fund their projects. Notable People- This is hosted by the talented Steve Harvey who also hosts Family Feud and a talk show. Pros- This is pretty entertaining. It is fun to see all of the ideas that people have. Cons- It seems like ABC has enough of these types of shows already. Plus, the idea that someone could wind up with nothing or someone could cash out and miss out on the prize they would have gotten seem pretty dumb. Note to Parents- I don’t think that there is much  wrong with this in terms of content for kids. Recommendation- I say that this is good enough to watch. My Viewing Habits- I have seen some episodes, but not all of them. I do watch at times. Prediction- I’d say that this has a good chance of lasting for now, but I don’t know how long it could stay around. Reception: good. Grade: B. New review

Candy Crush: Status- Currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I normally watch a CBS show at least once. Noteworthiness- This is based on the popular Candy Crush app. Description- Teams of players compete in different versions of this game in order to win money. Notable People- Mario Lopez, who also hosts Extra, hosts this show. Pros- The game is simple and fairly straightforward. It seemed crazy yet kind of good and interesting. Cons- The puzzles could use some work on. It doesn’t seem entirely fair in every way. Note to Parents- There is nothing wrong with this in terms of what kids can watch. Recommendation- This is probably good, provided that you like game shows and can follow this without multitasking. My Viewing Habits- I watch this sometimes, but not all the time. Prediction- I don’t think that this will last. Reception: bad. Grade: B-. New review

The $100,000 Pyramid: Status- Currently on ABC at 10/9 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it and didn’t really have anything else to watch at the time. Noteworthiness- This is a reboot of the pyramid game show. Description- People have to get various questions answered by the other contestant. The current format has a regular person paired with a celebrity and they compete against another team like them. Partway through the game, the regular person is then paired with the other celebrity. Notable People- Michael Strahan, who used to cohost the Live talk show and still helps with sports commentary, is the host of this show. There are famous guests who help each show. Pros- The show is fairly entertaining and funny to watch. Cons- It is weird that they always put together two halves of a show into one hour long show instead of just making this one half hour show while finding other things to air. Parts of the format are a bit strange and don’t entirely seem fair in a way. Note to Parents- This is mostly acceptable outside of potential sexual things said. Recommendation- I’d say that people would like and watch this. My Viewing Habits- I don’t always watch but do whenever I can see it. Normally I watch when I can. Prediction- This could last and it might not. Whether it does or it doesn’t, I’m not entirely sure of. If it doesn’t last, it will probably still be revived at some point anyways. Reception: good. Grade: B.