I don’t think I have ever been known to watch a lot of TV (apart from those awesome 80s kids shows I loved as a kid). However, I think this new fall season has some of the coolest shows. I have never been as excited about a TV season, so it’s kind of new to actually want to watch some TV.
- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is the new show in town. I watched the pilot episode that got “leaked” a few months ago and found it to be intellectually stimulating and a far reach above your average mindless TV sitcom. I never watched more than five minutes of The West Wing or Sports Night, but after watching the second episode that aired this past Monday, I think I would actually like to check it out in my lifetime.
- The Office, now in its third season, is just as awesome as ever. A neighbor of mine who is an attorney told me about this show one day and how much it reminded him of some of his fellow office dwellers. I didn’t immediately check it out, but am glad that I eventually did, because this is definitely my favorite show on TV. I bumped into it sometime in February when they were already well through the second season, so I had quite a bit of catching up to do. The first season is surprisingly not so good, but Season Two is orders of magnitude better and hands-down the funniest show I have ever seen.
- House and 24 were shows I was already familiar with, but still love. House is now in its third season and seems to be just as great as I have come to expect. It is indeed a bit formulaic, but every once in a while there is an episode that breaks the mold and is shockingly provocative and insightful. 24 doesn’t begin its sixth season until January, but as far as mindless action goes there is nothing finer. Season Two and Season Five stand out above the rest (apart from the first season, which is exempt from comparison), and I remain hopeful that Six sets a positive trend.
I don’t know why, but no other show really catches my interest. I detest reality TV and game shows and I am not aware of any great comedies coming out of the UK recently. Red Dwarf, what has become of you? 🙁