57 Channels and OMGWTF NOT ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY

[tzikeh]

The "official" network tv season is over (they really have to let that concept go at this point). Breaking Bad's season only has two episodes left. Leverage is back soon, but not soon enough. Neither White Collar nor Mad Men come back til July. Dexter isn't back til September (graar), and the list goes on and on and on. Though there are a million shows I'm "watching," it ultimately comes down to only three or four hours of tv a week at any given time, and of course, that Will Not Do.

Earlier this year, I marathoned both seasons of Life. I just this past week watched both seasons of Leverage (June 20th can get here any time now, thanks). And last month, I watched all four seasons of Friday Night Lights in an astoundingly short period of time.

(I know! How could I not have been watching FNL from the very start? It's *brimming over* with stereotypical subjects that stereotypical elitist snobby Birkenstock-wearing cappuccino-sipping liberals socialists like me adore, such as high-school football, born-again Christians, and Texas!)

(Be aware that I will probably be pushing FNL on all of you in the near future.)

But, to the purpose of this post.

At some point in the past few weeks, I must have fallen into a television-show fugue state. How do I know this? I know this because I've set up a Season Pass for a potentially-awesome show called Persons Unknown (this trailer frightens me). It was created by Christopher McQuarrie--you know, the guy who won the Oscar for writing The Usual Suspects. It premieres Monday on NBC. Here's the thing. No matter what I do to jog my memory, I don't remember hearing anything about this show. Ever. I swear to you: I didn't know that Persons Unknown *existed* until I looked at my Season Pass list today and found it there. That's not weird or anything, right?

o.O

There are eleventy-billion other shows airing or about to air or just aired. Apparently Bradley Whitford is now shooting guns at people, and sporting a porn-stache? I'm not sure that I need to see that. Still, I no longer trust myself to know the truth. So naturally, I turn to all of you with a poll.


Vote for as many as you think are worth it. We'll see how it all shakes out. Letting me know why you suggested the show(s) you suggested are, of course, extraordinarily helpful, though I ask that you err on the side of caution re: spoiling, since other people besides me might be reading the comments.

[Poll #1574036]

Comments

[papilio-luna.livejournal.com]

THE THICK OF IT
THE THICK OF IT
THE THICK OF IT

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

... have you anything to add to that, such as a description of the show? Or an explanation as to why you like it? Possibly a link?

Bueller?

[shezan.livejournal.com]

THE THICK OF IT!!!

...British politics. Nasty, funny, very. Incredibly close the bone. Watch it quick, before it recedes into the past (all based on New Labour figures, Tony Blair/Gordon Brown's spin doctor etc...)

You know Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, yes?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

You know Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, yes?

I "know" them in the sense that I know they were tv shows about British politics that aired on PBS when I was about 10, 11 years old. That's it.

Yes (Prime) Minister

[shezan.livejournal.com]

OMG RUN! Not walk! RUN! BEST political comedy EVER! Clever, sharp, so accurate half of it is still valid 25 years later, BEST acting, diamond-sharp writing, THIS! NOW! Next marathon!

[papilio-luna.livejournal.com]

Brilliant political satire done in a verite mockumentary style with Peter Capaldi somehow making the most abrasive, foul-mouthed, rude Scot on the planet be tremendously sympathetic. How's that?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

LOL! Now, that's something besides a title! Hm. Abrasive, foul-mouthed, rude person somehow also lovable.

Gee(ne Hunt), that sounds like something I could do....

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

agreed

[misspamela.livejournal.com]

I am reccing No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency solely based on the fact that the books are wonderful and I've heard that the show captures that, but I haven't seen it.

You. YOU would love Community.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Dude! You can't rec a show YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN WTF?!

I hear I would, indeed, like Community, which is why it's up there. Also thank you for the pics of the baby snow leopard because omgbabysnowleopard

[misspamela.livejournal.com]

Okay, consider it a rec for the books then, because they're lovely! :p

[sithdragn.livejournal.com]

I second No1 Ladies Detective Agency. It's completely a character show. It started pretty slow for me, but by the second ep I was completely hooked.

[nestra.livejournal.com]

The show is as wonderful as the books.

[sithdragn.livejournal.com]

The United States of Tara. It's the story of a woman with multiple personalities, though it's not told in a simpering, piteous light. The show goes on to include more of her family, equally as interesting all in their own ways.

For me, the appeal is the mix of Dexter-like Seriously Fucked Up and Dead Like Me's quirky look at life. All the acting on the show is brilliant, but Toni Collette in the lead role of Tara really is something to behold.

The official site: http://www.sho.com/site/tara/home.do

[carson-leigh.livejournal.com]

I went with Burn Notice, Fringe and Being Human.

Burn Notice is just a fun ride. I like all the main characters and love shot'em up type shows. Plus, I like the have a lot of seasons to catch up on when I marathon a show. The new season starts tonight.

I adore Fringe. Some people don't like it (to X-filey)but I love this show. The mythology is fun and interesting plus Joshua Jackson will always be my tv boyfriend.

Being Human I picked because this is the show I'm going to marathon this weekend. I've heard good things and want to give it a try.

I was going to pick True Blood but for me the only interesting part of this show is Eric. I've unfortunately read the books (which suck) but I'm a slave to Eric so I deal with the books and show.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Some people don't like it (to X-filey)

Well, I loved The X-Files, so that's not a down-side, IMO.

[aurora]

FRINGE!! \o/

[anoel.livejournal.com]

Modern Family is definitely one of the best comedies on the air right now and has the great humor I love on Arrested Development and The Office. I put in Community too because although it's not my cup of tea, if you like references and connect to the characters (Abed is easy for one), it could work for you.

I love Nurse Jackie and True Blood not because they're Great TV but they have awesome, awesome characters and Nurse Jackie in particular has great female relationships.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Treme! David Simon's new series about post-Katrina New Orleans, mostly focused on musicians living in the neighborhood Treme. Wendell Pierce and Clarke Peters and Melissa Leo and Khandi Alexander are in it and they are all fantastic.

I'd also recommend Psych, which is coming back in July, also. Dule Hill! James Roday! BFF who fight crime and are awesome at '80s trivia!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I already watch Psych, and I watched the first few episodes of Treme, but after this obscene BP disaster, I can't bear it any longer, knowing that no matter how hard they're working to recover, they're just going to be fucked all over again.

[sanj.livejournal.com]

I assume you have already tried Glee and turned away from it, as I can't imagine you've missed the fact that there's musical theater on TV now. But I'm honor-bound to pimp it to you anyway. If it's not your thing, I respect that, but I love it like a demented loon.

Fringe is wonderful, and you in particularshould see it just for John Noble's acting. Number One Ladies' Detective Agency is *fantastic*, and you should *definitely* see it. Plus it's only like eight episodes, so it's a short, intense little love affair.

I am also meant to watch Community this summer, and I hear that True Blood is really good. The rest of my summer viewing queue includes In Treatment, Being Erica, and catching up on Bones.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know it's blasphemy round these parts, but I tried Glee and... I loved the musical aspect, but I found the plots just... I had hoped for less stereotypical characters. In the beginning it looked to me like they'd nailed it. And I *love* Sue. But I guess it's just not for me.

I'm excited about Fringe, and I do love me some John Noble.

In Treatment is sort of awesome in a depressing but vital way.

[klia.livejournal.com]

I forgot -- are you watching Justified? If not, I highly recommend it.

[ramblinsuze.livejournal.com]

Fringe is a must-see. Very X-Filey. The lead actress is a tad wooden (she gets better, though), but the other actors, particularly John Noble, are superb.

Being Human was a must-see for me. It sounds like the start of a bad joke - a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost move into a house... It can be gory (if you're not into that) and the f-word gets thrown around liberally, but I absolutely loved it.

True Blood is just pure campy fun. I've only seen the 1st season (no HBO), but if you take it in that vein (no pun intended), you'll probably like it.

Burn Notice is pretty good. Not exactly any award winning performances here, but it's pretty light. Pretty much any scene with Sharon Gless or Bruce Campbell is gold (and the two together? Heh.).

[heresluck]

I will probably be pushing FNL on all of you in the near future.

Except of course those of us who have been watching and flailing for lo these many seasons. *g*

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Except of course those of us who have been watching and flailing for lo these many seasons. *g*

Well, yes. :D Though I'll still be pushing it at you! You just won't have any need for the pushing.

[tingler.livejournal.com]

Community can be very uneven, but when it is on, it is *on*. I also enjoy Modern Family a great deal. Being Human is wonderful, at least the three or four episodes I've seen. I tried to watch Saving Grace (rare to have something actually set in my state!), but either I did not "get" it, or the message was way too preachy for me (I really really like Holly Hunter, though!). I've seen exactly one episode of Burn Notice, so can't put a full-fledged rec on it, but I know tallulah_rasa and vickita both really like it. I wanted to get into Fringe but there's a high ick factor (and I actually found it a little too scary). I watch Parenthood, but I'm not sure I can actually recommend it. It's pretty?

And, if you like The Office, you'd probably like Parks and Recreation. It has Amy Poehler in it and some other bizarre and lovable characters and is often really funny.

[frakup.livejournal.com]

Fringe started a little uneven and a little too fond of the creepy-gross, but it's really only gotten better. Season two was stellar.

Human Target is good escapist comic book fun. Nothing too deep there, but entertaining.

Being Human sounded like the worst idea ever when I first heard about it, but I really enjoyed it.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Justified! Besides the ones I picked in your poll.

[zulu]

Zomg, you've watched FNL? NOW WE CAN BOND OVER OUR EPIC LOVE FOR FOOTBALL! ...Right? Right? Or, well, small town living and wonderful characters. Either way is good with me!

I picked Community, because although some eps are failtastic, others...you just cannot be fannish and miss. And No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency for so many, many reasons, not least and most immediate because it's filmed in Botswana and it is gorgeous. Then you have these amazing characters, full of so much life. Wonderful wonderful stuff.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

The Good Wife! Full of awesome women who pass the Bechdel Test regularly. Great characters in general, all of them seem like real people. The only snag might be the Law Plot of the Week; they're usually only mediocre and lawyers probably cringe from the inaccuracies. However, the character plot lines are great.

I also chose Burn Notice (somewhat Leverage-y) and Fringe (somewhat X-files-y). BN is just fun. Fringe... I will warn you that I started watching from the beginning and gave up on it after 2 or 3 episodes. I finally marathoned all of season 1 last summer after much convincing from ye olde friends list, and have been watching ever since. Since you'll be marathoning it, I'll just tell you to keep going; it should grab you eventually.

I did not choose either Human Nature or True Blood, because while I have enjoyed both, I can't actually recommend them. Both are enjoyable if in the right frame of mind, though (usually, turning off the critical portion of brain helps).

[azriona.livejournal.com]

I went with Big Love, because of the list above, that's the only one I've seen. And I'd add Dexter to the list, if you haven't seen it, because it's FRICKIN' AWESOME.

Both shows have fascinating characters leading very unusual lives. One hand, you've got an oddly sympathetic look at polygamy and how it could actually work in modern society, with all its pluses and minuses and power plays and squabbles and sisterhood and so on. On the other, you've got a guy who professes to not understand human emotion on account of his habit of killing people, but who maintains loving relationships with his sister, girlfriend, girlfriend's kids, co-workers, etc.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

And I'd add Dexter to the list, if you haven't seen it, because it's FRICKIN' AWESOME.

D00D note the bit up top where I bitch that Dexter isn't coming back til SEPTEMBER and that SUCKS.

I am curious about Big Love, but I think maybe it'll have to wait.

[azriona.livejournal.com]

D00D note the bit up top where I bitch that Dexter isn't coming back til SEPTEMBER and that SUCKS.

THHHHHHBBBBBBTTTTTT::::::::

No big whoop on waiting for Big Love - they're either airing the fourth season now, or they just wrapped up, so I'd wait until it comes out on DVD so you can whip through all four seasons at once. (Bill and I are stuck somewhere in the middle of season 3.)

[deaver.livejournal.com]

Too much good TV! My DVR is on the brink of rebellion due to all the over-time work!

[stevenglassman.livejournal.com]

I mentioned Persons Unknown to you about two or three weeks back, when we were in the thick of discussing upfronts and whatnot. You likely either got it from me or from the trailer that was on that spoilertv site you pointed me to.

My TiVo's to-do list yesterday had only four items on it. Two of them were Persons Unknown and one was the season finale of Glee. The other was In Plain Sight, which is quite a fun show at times. I only hate it when the lead character's mother and sister are on the screen- they suck the life out of the show in much the same way that JD sucked the funny out of the new Scrubs.

By the way, I tried another episode of Big Bang Theory, this one from a much more recent season- I couldn't get past the first ten minutes. I'm sorry, I tried, but BBT leaves a really really bad taste in my mouth. Like week-old rotten borscht bad.

[stevenglassman.livejournal.com]

Re: Being Human, I liked the actors in the pilot ep much better than their replacements for the rest of the series. Alas.

Also, have you seen/been watching Merlin? It's sort of like Arthurian-Legend-Goes-Smallville, but it's a lot of fun. Plus John Hurt as a giant dragon = win.