It’s been a tough week for television. Honestly, with the World Series running amuck, it’s been a sea of reruns and baseball. Plus, with traveling guest writers, the shows that were aired may have a delay in a review post. Whew! What a week.
But a week like this has gotten me to thinking about what I’m missing. What did I watch, and what do I miss? So here’s the question for this Thursday Open Thread:
What is your favorite show this fall?
This can be a veteran series or a freshman, but it must be on the air this fall. I’m a little surprised at my choices. Community is, of course, up there. And White Collar has really grabbed me (and no, not just because of Matt Bomer). But the one that I’m really surprised at is The Vampire Diaries. I might be addicted. After all, I even watched a rerun last night!
But then there are veteran series, which are harder to choose. Sure, I watch One Tree Hill every week, but can I call it a fave? New cast members. Different storylines. I don’t know. And I make sure to tune into The Office but it’s so hit or miss! Now, if Leverage were still on and not on a hiatus, I’d have an easy answer. And of course, I’d be remiss to not mention Dollhouse…but is it my favorite?
So what’s yours? Let me know–and discuss what you think of my thoughts and others’–in the comments.
image from blog.newsok.com
My favorite fall show would have to be Vampire Diaries. I was kind of coerced into watching and now I’m addicted. It’s definitely much better than I thought it would be. I originally thought it would be too similar to Twilight, which luckily it is not. In fact, I think the storyline is much better.
It really is much better than I thought it would be. I hesitantly started watching it. I chose to watch it out of dedication to L.J. Smith, who wrote the books, but I’ve actually grown addicted myself. I really am not a Twilight fan, and I’m glad this is nothing like it. Much darker. It’s great.
Grr. Arg. Just wrote a long comment and somehow deleted it.
Take Two.
This season has been slightly depressing in that a lot of my ol’ veteran favorites are washing up: SVU, Cold Case, 30 Rock, Dexter.
Dollhouse is proving to promise a fantastic season, but we’ll see how that momentum holds through a month hiatus.
I agree. Leverage: COME BACK.
My ‘first to the hulu queue’ show is probably Modern Family followed closely by Lie to Me and Sanctuary.
I have not yet seen V, The Vampire Diaries, or Supernatural – all bandwagons which I hope to catch as soon as I find a way to grubby hands on their first episodes (my TV addict license is suspended until I get my act together on that end).
Modern Family, I’ve watched a couple times and really enjoyed, but somehow I forget to watch it on Wednesdays. It is a great show.
Supernatural is one that has a really strong fanbase. I actually wanted to watch it last night when they were stuck in a TV. I hear it was a great one. But I’ve never watched it.
I can’t believe I forgot V. I know it’s early, though. I want to see how it pans out.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Glee yet!
I can’t believe I forgot Modern Family. I love that show! It’s hilarious.
And I have actually never watched Glee…it looks good though.
In all this, I forgot to mention Fringe. Twitter reminded me of it, now that it’s started a save Fringe campaign, but it is one of those shows that I watch–and enjoy–week to week. It’s in its sophomore year, but it’s still really good.
Fringe and Supernatural are two that I keep meaning to check out. I have friends who are big fans of each.
I have to say that four episodes into its first season, I would not have listed Dollhouse as a big favorite. Four episodes into its second season, I absolutely do. They are going places this season and I am super excited about it. Absolutely worth watching, even if this is all we get.
I feel about Glee the way I felt about Dollhouse early last spring. I like it, I want to love it, it has potential… but it just isn’t quite there yet. V’s in that zone, too.
Wait a minute: You’ve never seen Fringe?! Get on that NOW. Start from the first season. You’ll be addicted. Even if you’re not in love with Pacey like I am (though he’s really competing with Matt Bomer right now…this is tough).
Fringe! Another I also want to see. The first season DVD is $50. Gee Whiz. Why can’t I be addicted to something inexpensive like origami?
“I feel about Glee the way I felt about Dollhouse early last spring. I like it, I want to love it, it has potential… but it just isn’t quite there yet. V’s in that zone, too.”
Amen, KT. Glee’s flaws (pregnancy story especially) are holding it back from an enjoyable every week watch.
No Castle shout outs?
KT’s more familiar with Castle. I really haven’t been watching, despite what some tweeters tell me. I got frustrated early last season because I felt they had cliched characters and I just wanted better material for Nathan Fillion. I hear that’s gotten better, but since I haven’t seen it, I can’t put it on my list! I take it that it’s on yours?
I understand that you’d take issue with the s1 characters. Not only did they seem like classic crime fighting paper dolls but it lit a fire under my bum that the writers elevated Castle to this “witty, smart, crime fighterman by happenstance” at the lady detective’s expense.
By the second half of season 2 the characters stepped out of the dollhouse a bit and Castle and Beckett developed into watchable personalities. Actually, every character in the show gained some color.
Castle’s not a very unique show (I showed it to my roommate and she said “I like it but it didn’t really hold my attention”) but it’s fun. I like its tongue in cheek style. (And the subtle Firefly references).
Um. /answer overkill
That answer was awesome.
Hmmm… I really don’t feel like I have a “favorite” tv show this fall. I’ve been watching old favorites like Law and Order (the original has been better this year, possibly because it could be the last season), but it’s in a bad time slot. Grey’s and Private Practice are not as good as they have been in the past. And reality shows like Top Chef and Project Runway are still intertaining, but I don’t think they could be called “favorites”. I’ve actually been watching a lot of Showtime shows online lately and have really enjoyed Californication…
So now I am a little depressed not to have a favorite show. It was really clear when Buffy and ER were on that they were my two favorites in College, but now? No clear choice.
I had a similar epiphany before I posted this, going, “Oh, God. I think my favorite show is One Tree Hill.” It’s a show that I consistently watch week to week–and for the weeks that I record it, I try to watch it soon, instead of waiting until I have time. But One Tree Hill? The quality and content is not my usual favorite standards, like Buffy, Joan of Arcadia, Eli Stone. So that’s when I started to think of others, and I might not have one FAVORITE after all. Hence how I now have a list.
But they still don’t meet my standards exactly. I think when reality TV jumped on the primetime bandwagon, and the great shows ran their course, we’re left with fewer selections and not as great shows. But there are a few standouts. I hear Mad Men is great, though I’ve never seen it.
Mad Men is having another great season. It started a little slowly, but the last two episodes have more than made up for it. I think Community and Glee are my two new favorite shows of the season, but I agree that neither has reached its full potential yet.
I think as far as established shows (aside from Mad Men), my favorites are still True Blood and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Both are perpetually ridiculous, and yet keep me coming back every week.
[...] of my favorite new shows this season is USA’s White Collar, which is probably why I was so excited to take part in a conference [...]