Currently Watching:
I used to watch a lot of TV. Like a lot. Sure with 15-hour weeks in college, I had enough time to do anything; with 60-hour+ weeks in postgrad, I was judicious with my time and managed to squeeze a lot in.
It’s finally got to the point where I’ve decided to cut off a lot of stuff, just keep the very best.
No (seasons/series I started, but never finished – most of them quite recently)
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24 (FOX)
Got about a third of the way through the latest season, gave up. Some of the worst plotting the world has ever seen, blatant disregard for things like “laws”, ignoring everything that happened previous seasons, blatant disregard for realistic technology, I’d had enough.
30 Rock (NBC)
Oh, is that the episode where Liz is really awkward, Tracey (who is a legend) is crazy, Jenna is insecure, Kenneth is naive and Jack is all business? Shit, it is, because that describes every single episode ever made. Brian Williams though, some man.
CSI (CBS)
The Killing is how you do a show about a murder investigation – one investigation for an entire season. CSI is not (44 mins per murder – sometimes two or three in that time!).
Detriot 1-8-7 (ABC)
Generic cop show. Did quite like it, but there’s better things to be watching.
Family Guy (FOX)
It’s just lost its humour, as good a character as Brian is, it’s not funny.
Fringe (FOX)
Fuck it, I can’t do supernatural dramas.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
The medical side of this actually isn’t bad – it’s unpredictable enough to be interesting, the occasional crazy trauma/disaster keeps things entertaining. However, the relationship between patient and doctors is ridiculous at times (one of the last episodes I watched involved a drunk guy and his drunk friends – his drunk friends weren’t removed by security), the relationship between doctors is mental (I can only assume each episode writing process begins with the writers and two dart boards with characters names; darts are thrown at each board, whichever characters they hit, those two sleep together), anything involving Bailey’s personal life is cringing and near impossible to watch.
As an example of the ridiculous relationships, this is what happened in the last three episodes I watched:
Avery gives Lexi A LOOK. Lexi has slept with a collegue (Alex), slept with another colleague (George), been nearly engaged to a senior surgeon (Mark), slept with Alex again, all in the previous two years.
Fuck that, Lexi sleeps with Avery, I’m never watching this again.
Lexi sleeps with Avery two episodes later, in the final scene of the episode.
That’s me done!
Heroes (NBC)
Realised season four was rubbish. Never finished it.
House (FOX)
Someone’s sick. House knows what’s wrong. No, wait, he doesn’t, the patient nearly dies. House is a bastard. House has a revelation and the patient lives. Turns out House is actually lovely, but doesn’t let anyone see. Bastard.
Human Planet (BBC)
Alas, even though this is one of the UNREAL BBC nature series, the commentary just got to me – I don’t mind when things are actually dangerous, but don’t pretend like the people are going to die if they do it every single day.
Private Practice (ABC)
To be fair, I actually gave up on this a while ago. Got two-and-a-half seasons in before I decided it was just too girly. Shit.
The Cape (NBC)
Watched the first ten minutes of the pilot. Stopped watching the pilot.
The Event (NBC)
The plot itself is quite good (aliens and stuff), but jesus the acting is terrible.
V (ABC)
Watched first half of first season. Realised it was trash. Stopped watching.
Maybe-maybe not (dunno if I’ll keep them on)
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Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Good, but still pretty slow moving. While I don’t like my shows with too much drama, I do like at least one big exciting story arc to happen each season – didn’t seem to be one in the first season of Boardwalk.
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Good, with high production values, but the fantasy setting has me wary, though I’ve not yet watched past the pilot.
The Borgias (Showtime)
Quite good, but a bit slow moving, and I’m not the biggest fan of period dramas.
The Chicago Code (FOX)
This is actually okay, but I’ve been spoiled by The Greatest Show You’ll Ever Watch. It doesn’t have the uniqueness Southland has, and is quite unrealistic in parts (the Superintendent would rarely, if ever, be at a crime scene, and would always be buried in paperwork), but I’m curious to see how everything will work out.
The Mentalist (CBS)
They have to do something big with Red John this season, it’s becoming very predictable.
Yes (might let grow into backlog, but will clear it eventually)
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American Dad (FOX)
Still very funny, despite it presumably having the same creative direction as Family Guy.
Blue Bloods (CBS)
A better cop show than Chicago Code – not a Most Unreal Show You’ve Ever Seen, or a Southland, but very good for network tv (and is billed as Premium – Sky Atlantic – over here).
Modern Family (ABC)
Two seasons in (of 20+ episodes), and they’re still able to make incredibly funny episodes (“I’m not satisfied” – s02e19). Ledge.
The Killing (AMC)
Can’t help thinking the Danish original is the definitive version, but its £40, so I’ll have the AMC remake instead (and will buy the original when I need something to watch).
Very yes (watch the night they come out, or first if I have a backlog)
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Archer (FX)
You’d think two seasons essentially making the same joke (Archer is an alcoholic womanising superspy) wouldn’t work, but it most certainly does.
Justified (FX)
Quality, quality show. Is a bit silly in parts, and the car scenes are atrocious (nearly as bas as 24’s), but the characters and the script are great. Wants me a hat like Tim.
Lie to Me (FOX)
Out of season, but still unreal. A similar idea to Mentalist (someone who’s very good at reading people), but Tim Roth’s character, and the relationship he has with his daughter, easily make this a lot better. Fingers crossed it’ll be back for season four, though it did end season three well.
Southland (TNT)
Technically also out of season, but recent enough I can remember it’s some show. It’s not as good as The Best Show in The World, but it’s certainly the closest any cop show has come. Probably the most “realistic” script of all the shows I watch – very rarely do you think “that wouldn’t happen”. That, combined with both high adrenaline scripting and mundane scripting, means it’s unreal.
The Good Wife (CBS)
Easily the most mature/adult drama on TV at the moment. Great plotting, scripting, acting, characters.
Slow moving (box sets/backlog)
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Deadwood (HBO)
Great, really enjoy it (despite it being a period drama). Alas, there’s usually something more important to read/play/watch.
Mad Men (AMC)
It took three attempts at starting it (when it first came out, tried again recently, now have the box sets), but I’m finally into it. Makes me want to go into advertising the way The West Wing made me want to get into politics.
Treme (HBO)
It’s good, but it’s not killer.
Out of season
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Dexter (Showtime)
Whatshername was great in the last season, but they have to reign in their storytelling a little, it’s starting to get a bit mad.
Entourage (HBO)
Back for the final season in summer, looking forward to it!
Rescue Me (FX)
Also back for its last season, though I think I recall nearly giving up on it last year.
And there you have it – I still watch a lot, but have cut out nearly all the average-and-below ones.
All the ones in “Very Yes” are unreal, and definitely worth watching/starting.
