Let’s start with returning shows:
The CSIs: When I can I watch all 3 of these. I think what is so great is that each show has firmly established its own style and watershed of cool characters. Everybody has their order of favorites and I am no different. For me it’s Miami, Vegas, and New York although I should say these are by a slim margin. I know I am in the minority for having Miami as the top one but I love the cheesy Michael Bayishness of that show, the overall preposterous nature of many of the plots. It is by far the most soapy of the three but I love that, and I think David Caruso is just so awesome as Horatio Caine. Vegas had a killer finale last year, and I am eagerly awaiting the fate of Sarah Sidle to be determined. I think this show will end up changing a lot this year as I know a lot of the leads have expressed notions of moving on which for me was when I stopped watching ER, so this may happen here too. New York is great because nearly every character is ridiculously likeable and Gary Sinise really shines in his role as Mac Taylor. I was dubious that it would be too much CSI when the show started but that hasn’t happened yet for me.
Smallville: A personal favorite. I honestly don’t personally know a ton of people who are addicted to this show as I am but seeing as I am a comic freak I am obliged to watch. This season will hopefully be the last as I believe the show is starting to suffer from too much of a good thing. They are adding Supergirl this season which is something they are going to have to convince me as to whether that was a good storytelling choice. I want more of the Justice League and they better bring on Bruce Wayne this season or I am gonna be choked. Last season was great, if not a little uneven. I AM looking forward to Clark throwing down with Bizarro in the premiere though, that’ll be cool.
Survivor: Not much to say here really other than the reason I am watching this is solely because of the locale and the way that will play into the style of the challenges. If it gets tires and doesn’t take advantage of the Chinese culture I will tuning out pretty quick.
Dexter: Saw the season opener and I will be sticking around for this one. The best drama on TV right now hands down.
Corner Gas: Well duh, I love this show with a ridiculous and uncomfortable man love that will not fade. Brent Butt is a freakin genius and Lacey is freakin hot. This show is consistently funny and has yet to outlive its comic potential. The other day I was watching Seinfeld and noticed how similar Corner Gas is in concept. It really is a show about nothing in particular, just normal life in a small town taken to an epic level. By far the best Canadian sitcom ever. The tabletop hockey episode from last season is a prime example of how great this show really can be.
Beauty and the Geek: Either you will love it or totally hate it but as far as reality TV goes I like that I can relate to the geeks, and laugh at the vacuous and self-involved beauties. Nuff’ said.
Heroes: Oh Heroes how I love you. Bought the first season in HD and am currently indoctrinating Brent into the show. If you are growing tired of shows that ask deep and mysterious questions and then wait entire seasons to answer them then check this show out. Here you get answers and amazing storytelling. Seldom have I seen any movie or TV show tell a story the way a comic book does and this show excels at it. You get real arcs with deep characterization. I really cant recommend this one enough. If you aren’t watching this show I feel sorry for you ;).
How I Met Your Mother: Seriously, in its own way it is as good as Friends ever was. In many ways it is the spiritual successor to that show, with great characters and running gags and storylines it is just very well done and consistently funny. I can’t wait for the next slap to come along, Barney had better watch his back man… too good.
House: America’s favorite crankpot doctor returns although I gotta say this one is starting to grate on me. What was once fresh and original has become very formulaic and downright hokey at times. I am gonna see how they shake things up at the beginning of the season but if I don’t like what I see then forget it.
Office: If you are watching this then you are crazy! That’s what she said… Great show and always entertaining. Exceeds the British version in almost every way by taking it is just a tad further left of reality. The show is worth watch for Dwight alone.
30 Rock: A good pick up from last year, very entertaining and Tina Fey has assembled a top notch cast that keeps the laughs coming.
Scrubs: JD is the one character on TV I really really relate to. He is a my hero and a little too close to home sometimes. My fears, my flights of fancy are all represented in that guy. I look forward to this show each week like spending time with old friends.
Numb3rs: How many crimes can you solve with Math? All of them! Well, not really but a good show that takes a limited concept and makes it consistently entertaining.
Now onto the new ones I want to try:
Sarah Connor Chronicles: A Terminator TV series. Saw the pilot and loved it. I will give it a try but I have no idea when it is coming out. Hopefully Fox treats this one right.
Bionic Woman: Enjoyed the pilot but was not blown away. Could easily fall into the stuff I have seen before category. The writers will be hard pressed to find new ground here and not turn it into super-powered alias.
K-Ville: Enjoyable show about New Orleans cops but it will not last as it is just way too much been there and done that. Has a unique filmic quality to it and strong leads but it just isn’t going to make it I’m afraid.
Pushing Up Daisies: Quirky and odd, we’ll see about this one. It plays like a Tim Burton TV show which I like but I just don’t know where they can take this one. I will give it a try for a bit but it better impress the heck out of me.
Big Bang Theory: Standard sitcom fare. The pilot did crack me up quite a few times and it does have original element so it may end up sticking around, but I have a feeling the concept of nerds with a hot neighbor will get old quick. Essentially this is Beauty and the Geek as a sitcom.
Journeyman: Haven’t seen this one but I am sure stoked for it. One of my fave all time shows is Quantum Leap and this is essentially that show with some more modern twists from what I can tell. I am hoping it will do well as viewers seem to be enjoying more fantasy type shows these days (yet another weird cultural similarity to the 80’s).
Reaper: Again, haven’t seen this one but it may end up being a worthy successor to Buffy. We’ll see. The pilot was directed by Kevin Smith so I am looking forward to seeing it, but who know what this one’ll be like.
Whew, as I read this I feel as though I may need to get a life. Not really though. As I look at the list of new shows I am dubious as to whether A: They will last and B: I will want to keep watching. I don’t have the desire to pick up anything new this year as I am into a lot of really good shows as it is but we’ll see.
What about you, any big returning shows for you that I haven’t mentioned here?
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