TV Mid-Season Report

Since so many TV shows started late, or are just getting ramped up, I'll consider this the midseason and report on all the shows I watch. I have the new episode of Lost waiting for me on tape, so this is a perfect time to talk about this. Beware, though, of spoilers, if you're going to watch these shows in summer reruns or on DVD.

Sunday

Cold Case - Generally reliable procedural; very little character development right now except Vera's relationship with his neighbor (Vera is a man). The most interesting thing I can say about it is that Lilly has the coolest coat in the world - black, tailored, with a red lining. I SO want that coat.

Without a Trace - Another generally reliable procedural with minimal character development. What's fun about this show is figuring out exactly where the cast is all from and how well they do their American accents when one is British and two are Australian. At least it's multi-cultural, which represents New York pretty well.

Desperate Housewives - This show is really back on its feet after a dodgy last season. Gabby and Carlos are starting to reach an understanding which is a relief after all the fighting they've been doing; Bree's new husband Orson didn't kill his ex-wife Alma, who is in league with Orson's mother (a positively chilling Dixie Carter) to get knocked up, which gives the fabulous Marcia Cross a chance to really sink her teeth into the script (at least until she goes on maternity leave); Mike and Susan are doing the dance again (which is getting tiresome) now that he's out of his coma and out of prison, but she's got a British boyfriend whose wife was in a coma too and just died (oh brother!); Lynette is dealing with her husband's bratty out-of-wedlock daughter (but it gives us a chance to see more Kathryn Joosten as she babysits the Scavo brats!); and Edie hasn't had a whole lot to do. Yet. Wow! Could we cram in more stories? And yet the show is easy to follow. I find it something of a guilty pleasure, although I find the characters repeat their mistakes a lot. I would like to hear more of Andrew's zingers though now that he's back. Sometimes he just gets the best lines.

Monday

Prison Break - This show is seriously getting better and better the last few weeks. I was a little skeptical after the break out, but now that Kellerman has joined the brothers and Sarah is with them (finally, she and Michael get some liplock action!) so that makes it a little more interesting. We still don't know where Kellerman will end up - if he'll try to get back in the President's good graces or stay with the brothers to screw her over. And I still expect Mahone to turn on his handlers at some point. William Fichtner is always good. He does worldweary yet slightly off center pretty damn well. And Bellick is now back out of prison and chasing them down as a junkyard dog. I've been reading Wade Williams' blog and he seems like a really cool guy, and he's doing a great job with Bellick's layers. And who can forget T-Bag? Why Robert Knepper has never been nominated for an Emmy I will never know. He takes creepy but charismatic to a whole new level.

24 - This season is still pretty new, but it's not as gripping as it has been in the past. We're just really getting into it but so far I've felt the show has been unrealistic. The show has always stretched the boundaries of plausability, but you always felt like these situations COULD happen and the reactions you see on screen would be the ones you would expect in real life. Now a nuclear bomb goes off in LA and everybody just goes about their business? Chloe is mild-mannered?? I'm not buying it. I DO like the chance to see Robin Wood on screen again as the President. Y'know, he's really cute.

CSI: Miami - Is this show still on?? The setting is gorgeous and the theme is arguably the best one on TV now (Cold Case is right up there on my list though) but the acting is subpar and the plots are ludicrous. I'm considering ditching this one next season.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - I am a raving lunatic fan for Aaron Sorkin's writing, but he's stumbled here. He got too preachy in a show that actually should be pretty good. It's only being held together right now by some fabulous acting. But I still look forward to it and still enjoy it, warts and all. Now if Danny would just stop stalking Jordan, and somebody would tell me how to do my hair like Harriet's (without a stylist's aid) I would be happy.

Tuesday

Veronica Mars - I love this show. I really do. WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH DOES IT NOT GET THE LOVE IT DESERVES?? It's well-written and witty, and Veronica has the greatest relationship with her father - a well-adjusted, humorous, close relationship, which you just don't see on TV often. Oh sure, the show slips from time to time (more Wallace! More Weevil! More Mac!) but overall this show is brilliant and wildly underrated. Rent Season One, if you're not watching the show already. Or you can borrow mine.

Wednesday

Lost - I'm just gearing up for the second half of the season, but I'm still deeply intrigued by this show and its mythology. Locke is one of my favorite characters, and his battles with Jack over leadership and faith versus reason are entirely compelling. And that friggin Benry creeps the CRAP out of me. Watching Jack take on the ballsy role while in the hands of the Others has really been an interesting transformation, especially as he used to be so ambivalent about himself. Now if only Kate would make up her mind about the guys and stop making that worried face. She'll get a wrinkle.
And more Hurley, dammit!

Bones - If you're not watching this one, why not??? It's got David Boreanaz, which should get all you Angel fans. It's occasionally gross but witty (I learned the words 'wanktard' and 'pornado' from this show) and the characters are endearing (watch Hodgins' wooing of Angela). This show got me reading all of Kathy Reichs' novels and they're pretty damn good. Plus you occasionally get to see Booth's funky socks and Bones' great earrings. That's just me, I guess. Anyway, although I miss the Chinese restaurant and its maitre'd Heavy D, I still adore this show passionately.

CSI:NY - I retain my odd TV crush on Gary Sinise. This show hasn't fallen into Miami's trap and good for it - it's still solid in the acting department, although I think New York is a bit of a crutch when it comes to setting shows. Still, the show is doing a better job of highlighting what makes NY unique and I still look forward to it. Worth your time if you like the original and are giving up on Miami.

Mythbusters - Seriously, shit blows up. You have to love a show where shit blows up. EVERY WEEK.

Ghost Hunters - Not coming back until JUNE!!!!! Argh! In the meantime, if you get a chance to catch a marathon, watch the Lighthouse episode. Freaky. Freaky. Freaky.

Thursday

CSI - This show continues to be a solid player every week. I'm interested in the characters but I'm not bombarded by their troubles. The mysteries are still good, although I wonder why Catherine gets away with wearing the stuff she wears to crime scenes. And I would so cast Paul Guilfoyle (Brass) as my dad in the movie of his life. I only wish the regulars got more screen time. Sara is still probably my favorite character on that show. I guess I relate sometimes to some of her layers. Except the 'sleeping with the boss' thing.
And you can't tell me you've never imagined being frisked by Warrick. I'm just sayin'.

Supernatural - Come 9:00 tonight I will be in my pajamas, in bed, in the dark, watching my favorite guilty pleasure show of the entire season. I not only have the Meal Plan hots for Jensen Ackles, but the show chases ghosts and ghoulies, which I love, and the Metallicar is a beauty all on its own (67 Impala, black). And the classic rock soundtrack, that's something. They recently used Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit beautifully and they've even used Rush twice so far. Then, I admit it, I get on TV Guide.com on Friday and blog with all the other obsessed fans out there. Seriously, we are so obsessed, we blog all week about the show (we're up to nearly 300 posts from last week's show). I've even started referencing the X-Files, which caused at least one blogger to admit she 'LMFAO' when she read my reference to the Magic Fingers. If this show doesn't get renewed for a third season, women (and some guys) all over the US are going to rebel. And it ain't gonna be pretty, because some of 'em ain't teens anymore.
Actually the show is really good. The two brothers treat each other like brothers would. They have a complicated relationship with their father and they still get to hunt down creepy things every week, including the Freaky Yellow-Eyed Demon that is after Sam. And the show is pretty good about its roots - one episode was an homage to the Shining, for example.
And did I mention the Metallicar?

Friday and Saturday

Nuthin'. Except for racing. That's another story, and another blog, altogether.