Are The TV Networks Actually Getting It?

Fresh off the news that my beloved Chuck has been renewed, albeit for a 13 episode pick up with possible cast cuts, I wonder if TV execs are finally taking things like DVRs and online viewing into account.  So many TV shows that were thought to be dead in the water are coming back and I’m thrilled.  I don’t know if it comes down to lack of anything better to air, actually recognizing quality, or considering the new media or a combination of all three, but I’m thankful.

Some of the shows that are returning, much to the surprise of TV media are Chuck, Dollhouse, my Friday Night Lights (for 2 years!), Better Off Ted, Scrubs…there are even reports that they’re thinking of bringing back Reaper.  In that case I’m sure it’s just the network having nothing better to air, it’s the CW after all.  But still, that’s the station that canceled my beloved Veronica Mars (no, I will never forgive them) that had more viewers than their current much hyped but not much watched Gossip Girl.

Friday Night Lights, recognized as a quality show with a small audience, gets to stay around thanks to a partnership with Direct TV.  They get to air new episodes first while us cable watchers wait impatiently til January to see the show, but you know what?  I don’t care as long as it keeps those beloved characters in my life.  When Zach appeared in the Grey’s finale, I kept watching him and saying, “My Matt” even though he was playing an army guy who wanted his leg cut off to return to Iraq.  So happy!

I think Dollhouse got another 13 episode order, which should give them time to either build a fan base or give us more of a wrap on the story.  I enjoyed this show and it got stronger toward the end.  I’m interested to see where they’ll take it and I’m glad Joss got a renewal.

Castle is another show being brought back, which thrills me.  Ratings had gone down but it’s a quality program with great cast and chemistry.  The show left on a pretty good “What’s he going to say?” moment and I’m glad we’ll get answers there as well.  That’s the problem, so many shows get cut dead without a proper ending, it just stinks.

I’m usually ready and willing to bash on TV execs for cutting off quality program before it’s time and there are some shows that got the axe this year undeservedly (farewell my Dirty Sexy Money) but more are coming back this year than expected.  For that I am grateful.  Now if they can only manage to start measuring things like DVR recordings and online viewing, maybe they’ll actually have a feel for what people are watching.  I just wanted to celebrate a couple wins this year, cause usually I don’t get em.  Thanks TV peeps, I won’t eviscerate you for a month or two at least!  🙂

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Doin the Douche!

Anyone who has read my NFL recaps knows that I have a special affinity for the word “douche”.  I dubbed my bad player of the week award the Sage Rosenfels Memorial Douchetard Of The Week Award for this very reason.  I think it’s a fabulous word and I use it often in my daily vocabulary.  Lately, though, I’ve been struck by the use of the word on some of my favorite TV shows.  Now, Supernatural has used it at least for the past year or so and I love that Dean’s favorite word often appears to be “douche” as well.  Yet more evidence that we should be married.  But SPN alone is not the only show that I’ve heard use my word lately.

How I Met Your Mother whipped it out a week or two ago.  LOST used it when Hurley was talking to Miles about his father.  Hilariously, I was IMing with Tripp, as we do through every Lost and Heroes episode, and I wrote, “Dude, your dad is a dick” but I wanted to write “douche”.  A second later, Hurley said, “Dude, your dad is a douche.”  I nearly died.  It was a triumphant moment for me and I should have stuck with my gut and said douche like I planned.  Still, awesome.

Reaper also used it a couple weeks ago.  All these shows that I watch and love are using my word and I’m partially thrilled but also a little bothered.  Is it too much of a good thing?  Will “douche” get overused and then not be special to me anymore?  I can’t decide.

It cracks me up just how far TV has changed since the days of George Carlin’s 7 words you can’t say on TV speech.  How many of those words are still on the list?  Fuck for sure, but what else?   I have heard piss said plenty, so that’s mainstream.  Shit you can say now.  The other 4 words are cocksucker, motherfucker, cunt and tits.  Can you not say tits?  I could swear I’ve heard that one.  So let’s assume that we’re down to 4 or 5 from that original list.  I think those will stay as unusable, but who knows?

This is kind of a silly little blog but I wanted to celebrate the arrival of douche to mainstream TV.  Long may it live and prosper!  Yep, I saw Star Trek this weekend, so this works doubly for me.  No douche in there though, at least not that I heard!

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TV Roundup

Due to my laptop cord breaking (for the second time in 3 months), I’ve been stuck doing all my writing from my work PC, which explains the lack of blogs for the past few days.  I whipped out a Heroes one but avoided doing FNL because of the computer and a lack of general interest.  So I thought I’d cover that one along with several other shows in another of my TV roundups. 

American Idol

I have barely watched this season, once the Tatiana show began I checked out.  Now she’s gone and I’ve checked back in but I’m not remotely invested.  The show has 3 clear title contenders; Danny, Adam and Lil Rounds (awesome name).  This appears to be the year of the hair color, as at least 4 of the top 13 have pink streaks or pink hair or a blue streak.  It’s also the year of the child, as several of the contestants have little kids waiting at home while they attempt to become the next American Idol.  Tonight Megan was sobbing about how she missed her kid.  Buy a clue, bitch, if you miss her so much, don’t leave her to try to become famous on a reality show.  Stay home and raise your kid.  Or stay there and perform, but don’t sob to me about it. 

The three I named had stellar first performances (well I only saw Lil and Danny’s recaps, didn’t see them live as I was watching Reaper) for Michael Jackson week.  I also enjoyed Matt and Allison quite a bit.  There is talent this year they just buried it behind the histrionics of Tatiana and Norman and Nathan.  Note to the producers: Do not throw 3 freaks at us in the final Hollywood weeks.  It’s a turnoff of major preportions.

Castle

A new show with Nathan Fillion.  Odds are it won’t last much longer than the attention span of a gnat, thanks to it airing on ABC, but I still enjoyed the show.  Nathan was charming as the wildly successful author with a self-possessed air.  I didn’t dislike the head cop that he’ll be working and flirting with for however long the show runs.  I liked the mystery, someone using his stories to recreate murders, but felt it would have been better served to have that be an overlying mystery throughout the first season instead of solved in one episode.  Loved his daughter and thought his mother was rather entertaining in small doses.  I will keep tuning in, it’s not bad.

Reaper

Reaper is back!  So far there have been two new episodes and they have been enjoyable.  Ray Wise continues to sizzle as the devil and Tyler Labine steals the show as Sock.  He’s currently obsessed with his stepsister, which is highly fun to watch if a bit unsavory in subject matter.  Sam found a guy who actually got out of hell and can stay out due to some deal with the devil so he’s working on tracking him down and trying to get away from his maybe father.  I’d like to see some follow up on what happened to his parents, I believe last we saw them mom was rescueing demon dad.  Hopefully we’ll get some clarification soon, but it has been fun.  I was happy to see King Charlie the rabbit survive this episode; I was wondering if my shows had severe bunny issues.  Maybe Anya from Buffy is writing Heroes and Reaper now? 

 Friday Night Lights

The last episode was all about Jason and Riggins heading to NY to land Jason a job.  It was sweet bonding for the boys but the whole landing a job at a sports agency when you’ve got nothing but a high school diploma really took me out of the episode.  I was glad that Jason got the player to sign with the agency but let’s face it, they would have thanked him and told him to give them a call when he completed business or law school.  So that bothered me some.   Loved Matt and Julie pushing Coach to let him play WR and he got some chances there, so that pleased me.  Here’s hoping he doesn’t get hurt.  I’ll do a full blog next week, looks like Tyra will be in some big trouble, which she is an idiot right now so maybe it’ll knock some sense into her.

Supernatural

It’s baaaaaack and looking badass!  I saw scenes during Reaper and Sam is bragging about what a powerful stud he is now and it appears that Dean is torturing someone!  And more Castiel!  I could not ask for more!  Well yes, I could, preferably shirtlessness for our boys but other than that, I’m happy!

Those were the highlights I wanted to hit for you.  I’ll be vigilant again on blogging as my shows are all picking up or returning from long hiatus.  I know I owe everyone a Days post and that’ll get done fairly soon, as will my next Twilight blog along with my regular Lost and Supernatural and Heroes and FNL of course.  See you soon!

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