Adam & Amber’s Blog

After writing yesterday about ‘Pushing Daisies’, I realized that I could probably write more on the other shows I have started watching this Fall. It is odd, but having the MythTV box makes me record and eventually watch more TV then I usually would (probably has something to do with having 6 tuners). So here is my “Top 10″ ranking of new Fall Shows I have watched, keep in mind these are the only 10 I have watched so it isn’t so much of a “Top 10″ as an “Only 10″:

10. Dirt Sexy Money (ABC)
Overly-simplified Description: Wealthy family has problem and the new family lawyer must fix them, while trying to figure who killed his father.
It very much has the feel of a Evening Soap Opera (ala Desperate House Wives), which means it probably will do ok, just isn’t my cup of tea. After watching an episode or two the characters just got annoying and I really didn’t care about the conflicts. I tried to get Amber started on it (seemed more up her ally) but she didn’t show much interest.

9. Moonlight (CBS)
Overly-simplified Description: Modern day Vampire Private Eye solves cases with young beautiful reporter.
I actually wanted to give this show a chance (I guess I figured TV really needed a vampire on it), but the acting is not great and the entire mood of the show doesn’t feel dark enough to fit the plot. That being said, it doesn’t take mush to be a Friday night hit, so maybe the show will stick around long enough to find itself.

8. K-Ville (FOX)
Overly-simplified Description: Cop show based in port Katrina New Orleans.
This show is actually better then I though it would be, but it also isn’t really all that original. The fact that it takes place in New Orleans adds some to the character development and alters the crimes a little, but at the end of the day crime is crime and a cop show is a cop show. Nothing against law enforcement and doctors, but you would think there could be other professions to base TV dramas around.

7. Reaper (CW)
Overly-simplified Description: Parents sold his soul to the devil, now he must collect lost souls.
There are two reasons I watched this show at all (and broke my “No CW” rule). First, the pilot was directed by Kevin Smith, with this concept and him at the helm it seemed like it would at least be worth a shot. Second, I really liked “Dead Like Me” and was hoping that this might in some way fill that void. I do have to say, that the pilot, directed by Smith, was good. A mix of supernatural, campy, and hilarious. Since then the show seems to be turning towards more generic CW Teen show, which I am sure will do them well (it has up to this point) but unless things get less teeny, I am not sure it will hold my attention.

6. Journeyman (NBC)
Overly-simplified Description: Man comes down with a case of the “Time Travels”. Think Quantum Leap, only more time traveling and less Bakula.
Another show that was better then I initially though it would be. The concept of random time traveling seemed to me not to have the legs to span multiple episodes (more of a movie concept, involving some vast government conspiracy). That being said, the episodic nature of the show allows them to split the main story of the what/why/how of the time traveling into small hints scattered throughout the shows, while at the same time giving you an interesting single episode story to follow. It is hard to believe this show will have a long life on NBC (maybe transfer to SciFi?), but hey Quantum Leap was on forever, so who knows

5. The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Overly-simplified Description: Geek attempts to hook-up with sexy neighbor, hilarity ensues.
It is strange to see a sitcom on TV anymore, they don’t really seem to have a place other then on CBS where they actually flourish. My initial impression of the show wasn’t that great, it seemed idiotic to base a show around a group of nerds and their hot neighbor. However, the jokes are funny and because I hang out with a sometimes geeky group, the characters are sometimes too easy to relate to. The show is good for a laugh and makes for good fluff TV.

4. Bionic Woman (NBC)
Overly-simplified Description: Woman gets implanted with bionics, and aboriginally calls herself the Bionic Woman.
The pilot ran like a movie, big explosions, special effects, fights. All of which was a bit misleading as the show has fallen into a spy show with a scifi twist (which can feel a bit familiar). I do have two gripes with the show. One, the transition from regular woman to bionic seemed rushed. It would have been fun to see her be independent for a while, discover what she can do on her own. Two, there is a sub-plot between her and her sister that feels more “After School Special” then “Primetime TV”. My guess is that it was an attempt to grab a broader audience, but it just feels awkward and contrived. All that being said, the show is still very watchable and at least worth a shot.

3. Life (NBC)
Overly-simplified Description: Cop turned inmate turned back to cop finds himself in a generic cop show.
Another cop show, with another twist. Most people would probably hold that against ‘Life’, but there is some originality here, and the characters are interesting enough to warrant watching. I imagine that down the line the originality will get lost and the show will become completely generic, but for now it is worth a few viewings.

2. Pushing Daisies (ABC)
See full review here.

1. Chuck (NBC)
Overly-simplified Description: Nerd turns spy after receiving trippy email
I think this is a genius show by NBC. You take a night that has “Heroes”, which is basically required Nerd TV, and put on a show were a Nerd gets to do something extraordinary, become a spy. It is just good psychology, give people someone to watch that is similar to them, give him a cool ability, a beautiful partner, and a life more interesting then their own, and you got yourself a hit. On top of that, the show has some quality action, good comedy, and interesting plot lines. It seems like the show will have to go through a couple of interesting plot twists to survive more then a season, but if it can survive those it could last a while.
I am not sure I have accomplished much more by writing this then proving I watch too much TV (which I do), but maybe someone out there will find something interesting to watch off this list. As a general comment, it seems like the networks are doing a better job with new shows this year. The quality seems higher then in years past, which probably has two sides. Quality generally means pricey, and that generally means a show has to be better then average to survive. It is hard to see a show like ‘Bionic Woman”, “Pushing Daisies”, or “Chuck” surviving multiple seasons without pulling in good ratings.