Television program | bridgesburning

New TV Season Anxiety

I have always been rather pleased with myself that I do not watch much television (generally this is knitting time so I can claim to be creative whilst sitting and basically doing nothing) but somehow I have become attached to a few shows and found last season end with some pretty extreme cliff hangers.

I remember the days of Dynasty and the efforts made at the end of each season to outdo the last. Then the big tussle was between Alexis and Krystle and the best year was when they ended up in a chick fight in the fountain.

I resist new shows because frankly I don’t want to have to decide on getting rid of one show to make room for another. But there are a few I am looking forward to and hope they will not disappoint.

Two and a Half Men: * This doesn’t really count as I have NEVER watched this show in its entirety and include it only because of a lapse in judgment. Didn’t like the premise when it was Charlie Sheen and was always baffled by its appeal, but I found myself watching the season premiere tonight perhaps because of all the hype and Ashton Kutcher (even though I do not understand Demi’s attraction to him). Anyway I gave it a go but yuch!

Big Bang Theory: For years friends recommended The BBT and I went out of my way to avoid it and then last year I got hooked. I find it witty and entertaining although I must confess Leonard’s whining gets to be a bit much but come Thursday I will perched ready to chuckle and chortle at the naiveté and brilliance of it all.

NCIS: Los Angeles: I love the story lines and the characters in this series but I have to say that if Hetty in fact dies then I will dump the show as she was the primary reason for watching.

NCIS: It took a few years to get into watching this show but Mark Harmon has lastability.

The Mentalist: Now this one has me puzzled. Patrick Jane successfully kills Red John, but the show started because Jane was on a search for RJ who brutally murdered his wife and daughter. Now where could they possibly go? Does it matter if Jane spends the rest of his life in jail as long as he is satisfied that justice was obtained? He obtained his goal. I am not sure if I will continue with this series even though the lead character is a cutie that just makes you feel good looking at him.

House: This is another series I refused to watch in the beginning. A Doc who is rude, mean, and arrogant and a junkie – no thanks – as a nurse I saw enough of that, but well into the series I began to watch intrigued by the thought of his coming clean. Even though this completely upended the initial premise it was handled well with excellent scripts and dead solid characters – well the characters weren’t dead just the weekly guests sometimes. I almost deserted the House Island last year with the messing around with Cuddy (no chemistry between the two of them at all) and may well chuck it this year as it could be all played out. Apparently they are going to have him spend a year in jail which is pretty screwy since that is what happened to 13 when she had to leave the show to do some movies for a year.

Hawaii Five-0: This was probably the biggest cliff hanger of all. The whole Five 0 was disbanded at the end of last season. Take about upending initial premises! This one along with BBT may be the only two shows I continue to watch this year. The governor is dead – she was bad…Steve McGarrett is in jail for her murder. Obviously they have to get Five-0 back and how they do it should be interesting.

The Good Wife: I resisted this for the first season, got hooked the last season and may ditch it this season. I mean it appears Alicia has sincerely left Peter and will pick up with Will…blah blah blah. I watch for Christine Baranski who I think is brilliant.

Well considering the shows that I will probably drop I may have time in my schedule to at least take a peek at one or two others.

Well that Mama Kat hit it pretty good this week with her list of prompts which includes 10 TV shows you’d like to see back. I figure the list will reflect the age of each blogger and therein lays a lot of the fun!

My Wish List is:

1). Annie Oakley 1954-1957 and starred Gail Davis as a big sister to Tagg her brother who were orphaned and lived in Diablo Arizona with their uncle who was the sheriff. That girl could ride, shoot and each week captured some outlaws all the while wearing exactly the same fringed cowgirl outfit and being adored by the deputy Lofty. She was savvy, smart, and set a pretty good standard for young girls everywhere.

2). Father Knows Best 1954-1960 and starred Robert Young as the all wise Jim Anderson. Jim and his wife Margaret parented Bud, Princess and Kitten. Both parents and children made mistakes and learned from them and each show taught us something about values. It’s funny that I heard criticism in later years that this series created unrealistic expectations for those of us growing up. I guess it was better to have shows like Married ..with Children that taught kids and parents to be rude, crude and mouthy.

3). The Ed Sullivan Show ran for an incredible 23 years from 1948-1971. We watched it every Sunday night. Other than the jugglers and plate spinners it was the best entertainment anywhere. That’s where I first saw Elvis, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones. No chat just pure live performance.

4). I love Lucy in it’s original purest form ran from 1951-1957. What’s not to like…ditzy wife, good looking husband stirred together with the original BFFs Fred and Ethel.

5). Bonanza 1959-1973 starred Lorne Greene as Pa Cartwright with 3 adult sons; Adam, Hoss and Little Joe. Every teenage girl loved Little Joe but I never went for the obvious cute guys. It was Adam, Pernell Roberts dark and brooding in black that rang my chimes and covered my bedroom wall and ceiling.

6). The Andy Griffith Show 1960-1968 was just such a laid back wholesome break with Andy, Opie, Aunt Bee and Barney at the core. Barney as Andy’s deputy could not be trusted with a loaded weapon and was allowed to carry only one bullet – in his pocket.

7). Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In 1968-1973 was the best consistently comedic show of all time and truly was a laugh in. We got to meet Goldie Hawn for the first time and added new phrases to our every day language like, Sock it to me, Verrry interesting and Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls.

8). The Saint, The Avengers, The Man from U.N.C.L.E All classy spy and anti spy adventures! Whatever happened to class and finesse??