Back From Hiatus

With the new TV season heading towards the halfway mark, it seemed like an appropriate time to write my first entry on the new season. Why wade in when everything is new and confusing?

It turns out that we've picked up very few new shows, which isn't particularly surprising given the number of shows we're already struggling to watch in something resembling a timely fashion. Of all the new shows, we're watching Glee (based on the pilot preview in the spring, smart move there), FlashForward, V (technically we're not watching it yet, but we're taping episodes), and Community (which the wife has bailed on but I still watch).

I'm not addicted to any of them, but I do like each of them in their own way. I'm a little irritated that both Glee and FlashForward are going away until the spring, but that does give us some catch up time with the DVR.

We never sampled the ABC's new lineup of Wednesday sitcoms, probably to our detriment given how well they've been recieved (excepting Hank, of course). We've also never ventured into Jay Leno's new show, but we didn't watch his old one, either.

I am finding that my interest in three returning shows has waned considerably. I'm at the point where I'm not even recording Heroes, and while I plan to catch up through on demand or online viewing, I could see it not happening. I really don't like any of the directions the show is taking this season.  I'm feeling more obligated than interested in Desperate Housewives and America's Next Top Model, but still watch both. Model in particular is a sad case, in that it's gotten very tired but is unlikely to get a makeover of its own (or canceled, even). I miss the days where the models drank (though it's easy enough to relive them given the reruns that are cropping up on various channels).

The only other thing to note is that I did manage to watch the most recent season of Mad Men in roughly the same period in which it aired. I have to say it was pretty depressing until the last episode. Hearing Lane Pryce wish Saint John Powell a Happy Christmas after getting fired was a welcome laugh after a season of watching the Draper marriage crumble.

So that's where things more or less stand now. More later, hopefully before May.