Watching Sitcoms

As this season is drawing to a close once again (didn’t this just happen a few weeks ago? No, wait, that was a strike) and most of the shows I watch are going into hibernation for the summer, I did a little sleuthing to see what was what. So here’s a really, really, really (and I mean, really) comprehensive list of all the shows on TV right now, what’s coming soon, and what’s never coming back, from the Futon Critic. I’m amazed at this list. It must have taken forever to put that together and I’m glad all I have to do it link to it.

Anyway, I’m pretty disappointed about a couple of things. First of all Moonlight. They promised me it would be back. Well, maybe not promised, maybe I just assumed it would be back. But it was cancelled. Also, Fox kept Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and cancelled New Amsterdam. It’s like no one even listens to me when I talk.

As for sitcoms, Back To You was cancelled, which is no surprise to me. It had been going downhill ever since it came back after the strike. Also cancelled, and no surprise, were Miss/Guided, Welcome to the Captain, Cavemen, Carpoolers, The Return of Jezebel James and Unhitched. I kinda liked Miss/Guided.

Of all those new sitcoms that came out way back last Fall, we did get to keep my fave, The Big Bang Theory. The last few weeks have seen me laughing out loud, not something I do often, and I’m looking forward to the show coming back even funnier next Fall.

So you’ll want to to check out the list to see if your fave shows are returning or if they are going the way of Moonlight. *sigh*

Look, I know I’m a geek. By no means am I anywhere near as super smart as the boys on The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Monday 8:00 pm ET), but still I’m a geek. I’m really exciting that Big Bang is back on, cause I totally remember what I loved about it. These guys think like I do. I’m not even certain I want to admit that.

One recent episode was about a paper that both Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) wrote together. They are asked to present their findings at a conference and Leonard wants to do it, but Sheldon doesn’t. They end up in a hilarious slap fest, rolling around on the floor, and the video of it ends up on youtube.

Last night, the episode centered around a physics competition where Sheldon tries to take over their team and answer every question. They kick him off the team, so he goes and find other random people (one’s a janitor) to make up his team. Unfortunately, because he is so stubborn, he refuses to take any help and at one point Leonard says to him, “Would you rather lose on your own than win as a team?” Yes, he would, cause he’s Sheldon. Funny stuff.

One thing that was really obvious to me last night, though, is that they eat all the time. Really. See, I’ve been on an eating plan (call it a diet at your own peril) for the past three weeks and its been working well. I’m rarely hungry and I’ve lost 10 pounds, so I feel good about it. But last night must have been one of those nights, cause I swear, they were eating in nearly every scene. Well, maybe not that much, but honestly go watch the ep for yourself and you’ll see. But eat first.

So, what am I watching now? I thought I’d make a list, cause I’m getting a little confused myself. Especially cause it seems like shows are ending and starting all randomly every week. Here’s my rundown (all times are ET):

Monday
The Big Bang Theory - CBS - 8:00 pm
New Amsterdam - FOX - 9:00 pm
The Bachelor: London Calling - ABC - 10 pm

Tuesday
American Idol - FOX - 8 pm
Beauty and the Geek - CW - 8 pm
Reaper - CW - 9 pm

Wednesday
America’s Next Top Model - CW - 8 pm
American Idol - FOX - 9 pm

Thursday
Miss Guided - ABC - 8 pm
Lost - ABC - 9 pm
Smallville - CW - 8 pm
Supernatural- CW - 9 pm

Saturday
Torchwood - BBC America - 9 pm

That’s about 12 1/2 hours per week. That’s not too bad, is it? But, wow, that’s a heck of a lot more reality TV than I realized. And this Tuesday night (April 1) is the start of Hell’s Kitchen on Fox at 9:00 pm ET, following American Idol. That will be at least 6 hours of reality TV a week. I say “at least” because both American Idol and The Bachelor are sometimes longer than an hour.

Of my TV watching time, only an hour and a half is devoted to sitcoms. But, at least its 5 hours is on the CW, and since I write the watchingcw.com blog, too, I feel reassured by that.

Also returning soon are some other shows I’ll be watching, like House, Bones and Law and Order: SVU. Which puts me at a total of 15 1/2 hours per week. That’s not too bad, only a little over 2 hours a day. Of course, that’s only prime time, and it doesn’t take into consideration my regular daily routine while making, eating and cleaning up dinner, from around 5 pm to 8 pm. Then I usually watch, in this order: Everybody Loves Raymond, Everybody Loves Raymond, Judge Judy, 30 Minute Meals, Judge Judy, and Jeopardy. So that’s another possible 3 hours per day. But who’s counting?

The Return of Jezebel James aired it’s first two episodes back to back on Friday, March 14 on Fox. I watched it, both eps.

Parker Posey is Sarah, a single woman who’s long-term relationship recently ended, and who is presently in a not serious relationship with a man named Marcus (Scott Cohen) that is just about “nice dinners, fancy drinks and sex.” Sarah wants to have a baby before it’s too late, so she decides to go for artificial insemination. However, she finds out that she cannot get pregnant so she contacts her sister, Coco. Sarah is a successful, upbeat editor of children’s books. Her sister Coco is basically a loser who is crashing on a friend’s couch. The two really have no relationship, so when Sarah asks Coco to move in with her and to carry her child, Coco is a little unreceptive.

Parker plays the part of Sarah a bit over the edge for me; she’s just kinda hyper. Coco, played by Lauren Ambrose, seems pretty angry. Their parents (Dianne Wiest and Ron McLarty) are very dysfunctional. I think I liked them better than the two leads. One thing I liked was Sarah’s assistant, Buddy (Michael Arden), because he somehow reminds me of Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) from Torchwood, and that’s a good, cause I love Ianto.

So where does Jezebel James come into this? She was Coco’s an imaginary friend when she was little and Sarah hired someone to write a series of books for her about Jezebel.

I’m not sure how this will all come together to spell funny, the first two eps really weren’t. But, you know, if I’m sitting around on Friday with nothing to do, I might watch it again. Honestly, I think the fact that Fox put this show in the Friday night spot of death (I can name off a list of shows that died in that very spot) means that they want to kill it off.

Oh, more importantly, don’t forget the return of The Big Bang Theory tonight on CBS at 8:00 pm ET.

It looks like lots of good stuff is coming our way for Spring, now that the strike is over, both new and returning. I’m still sifting through them trying to decide which, if any, of the new shows I want to add to my increasingly full TV schedule. And which of the returning shows I want to continue to watch.

Sitcom-wise, here’s what to expect and when to expect it:

Sunday, March 2
Unhitched on Fox - 9:30 pm

Friday, March 14
The Return of Jezebel James on Fox - 8:00 pm

Monday, March 17
The Big Bang Theory on CBS - 8:00 pm
How I Met Your Mother on CBS - 8:30 pm
Two and a Half Men on CBS - 9:00 pm

Monday, March 18
Miss Guided on ABC- 10:30 pm; regular time Thurs, 3/21 at 8:00 pm

Monday, April 2
Samantha Who? on ABC - 9:30 pm

Thursday, April 3
My Name is Earl on NBC - 8:00 pm

Thursday, April 10
30 Rock on NBC - 8:30 pm
The Office on NBC - 9:00 pm
Scrubs on NBC - 9:30 pm

Monday, April 14
The Rules of Engagement on CBS - 9:30 pm

Other shows, new and returning, starting tonight, Sunday March 2:
Oprah’s Big Give on ABC at 9:00 pm
Canterbury’s Law on Fox at 9:30 pm
Here Come the Newlyweds on ABC at 10:00 pm
Dirt on FX at 10:00 pm; Second season premiere

So have fun watching something new and, hopefully, interesting for a change!

Now that the absolute end of the strike is in sight (yay!!!), here’s some news about when shows are gonna be back on the air. I love Michael Ausiello, don’t you? He always has all the answers.

So I checked out his list for all the shows I’m watching, and I was interested to see that some shows still have pre-strike episodes that haven’t aired yet. Somehow, I thought everything that was out there had already aired, with the exception of those few shows that are presently airing new eps, like Lost, Smallville, Supernatural and whatever else there is . . . they know who they are. For instance, I didn’t realize that there are still eps of Back To You and Bones that haven’t aired. So that’s fun. Hopefully, those will air before Spring.

It was sad to see that both Chuck and Moonlight are not going to be back until Fall. I love those shows. Along with Big Bang Theory, they were my favorite new shows of the past season. At least Big Bang will be back by April or May. I guess it gives me something I can look forward to. I have some questions about those shows, though. When will the first season DVDs come out? And when they do, will it be just these few episodes? I mean, they won’t hold off on putting out the DVDs until after new episodes air next Fall, will they?

Well, the exciting news is some of the shows we’ve come to know and love will be back soon. And right now I’m busy pretty much every night of the week watching American Idol anyway.

Alright, I’m tired of this now. I just want my shows to come back on so I can watch them. The strike has gone on too long to be interesting anymore. And what’s more, I was trying to think about it, and I can’t even remember everything I was watching. Honestly. I’ll have to go look it all up just to make sure I don’t miss any of the shows when they do come back on. If ever.

Anyway, here’s what I’ve found out so far (all times are ET):

Tuesday, January 1
10 pm - Law and Order SVU - NBC

Tuesday, January 8
9:30 pm - Carpoolers - ABC

Friday, January 11
9 pm - Moonlight - CBS
9 pm - Monk - USA
10 pm - Psych - USA

Sunday, January 13
8 pm - Sarah Connor Chronicles - Fox

Tuesday, January 15
8 pm - American Idol - Fox

Saturday, January 26
Torchwood - BBC America

Wednesday, January 30
9 pm - Lost - ABC (I also saw somewhere that it wouldn’t start until Feb. Although, Jan 30 is pretty close to February, isn’t it?)

Friday, February 22
8 pm - Bones - Fox

I understand that The Big Bang Theory won’t be back until next season, since they have aired all the shows they had that were shot and they don’t have any new eps written, nor will they have until the strike ends. *sigh* I believe January 11 is also the last ep they have for Moonlight until next year as well.

I couldn’t find out anything about House, Supernatural, Reaper or Back To You.

So if anyone has any info I’m missing, please share.

Christmas has been keeping me really busy. I’m sorry I haven’t updated in a bit. In any case, I decided it was a good time to take a look into news on the strike - although, honestly, I’d rather not know.

One thing I uncovered that was kinda cute is this blog with the text of a letter from the writers of How I Met Your Mother. Clearly, they are just as unhappy as the rest of us.

Further investigation uncovered some exciting news for me. Apparently, on December 4, 2007, while I was shopping or baking or something, Les Moonves, President of CBS, announced that both The Big Bang Theory and Moonlight, possibly my two favorite new shows, will be renewed for a second season! Of course, that’s provided that the writers strike does eventually end and they can go on with the present season. I’m pretty happy, though, cause I really was worried. Not so much for Big Bang, cause that seemed like everyone liked it right away, but definitely for Moonlight, which definitely has a much smaller target demographic.

One of my other very fav new shows is Chuck, which was picked up for the rest of this season. (You know, the one that’s not really happening right now?) So that was more good news.

Checking out the other couple of sitcoms I’ve been watching, Back To You will be back to us in late March and finish out the season. There’s been no word on a second season. As for Carpoolers, it was greenlit for 13 eps and 6 aired. But there’s no word on whether or not we’ll ever seen any of the remaining 7 episodes. Or any others for that matter.

Well, at least I’ve still got my DVDs. (Except my DVD player has been starting to skip . . . but Christmas is coming, so you never know.)

How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Moonlight, Chuck, Carpoolers

Last week was kind of sad, with lots of reruns. I was pretty busy, so it wasn’t terrible, but still, I could have been happier. So I did a little research to check out the shows I’m watching and to see what’s happening over the next couple of weeks. Here’s what I found out:

For Mondays, NBC’s Chuck has new eps for at least the next two weeks. Yay!! And as I mentioned before, The Big Bang Theory on CBS is done for now. Sigh. Samantha Who is still on going with new eps at ABC, probably cause it started so much later, but I don’t care anymore. I didn’t even bother to watch last week.

On Tuesday, Bones and House (Fox), Reaper (the CW) and Law and Order: SVU (NBC) are all new eps this week; but only Reaper and SVU get new eps next week. So that’s both good and bad.
Carpoolers has fallen right of ABC’s schedule. It’s being replaced this week by Charlie Brown Christmas and next week by America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Back to You, Fox on Wednesday, is already into repeats, as we know. But I actually watched it again last week anyway, which even surprised me. America’s Next Top Model is, obviously, still showing new eps. But they’re down to the last few weeks as well.

On Thursday, both Smallville and Supernatural on the CW are repeats for the next two weeks. Boo!

And for Friday, my new fav, Moonlight isn’t even on, not even for repeats over the next two weeks. Other programming is just taking over the CBS Friday night lineup entirely.

Just for fun, here’s an Ausiello report of the 20 things He’s Thankful for this year. It’s worth it, just for the link to the Veronica Mars trailer, so check it out.

Chuck, The Big Bang Theory, Samantha Who, Bones, House, Reaper, Law and Order: SVU, Back To You, Smallville, Supernatural, Moonlight, Ausiello Report

Now that Big Bang Theory is down to repeats, I went to the library and took out lots of first season DVDs for old sitcoms that I used to know and love. Plus, I borrowed the first season of The Office from my nephew, as well. I’ve been pretty swamped for the last few days (I had 17 people at my house for dinner on Thanksgiving!!) but I still found time to watch a stray ep here and there.

One set of DVD’s that I got was the first season of Mad About You. My husband I used to love that show, which started around the time we got married and we always felt that Paul and Jamie were very much like we were. For one thing, they had the same bedspread as us, and the same bathroom items (like the toothbrush and soap holders). Also, they celebrated their anniversary in September (when we got married), Paul’s birthday in May and Jamie’s birthday in January, the same as us. Beyond which, my hubby also has a short common first name and I have a name that can be either girl or boy.

They always seemed to be doing or saying something that was just like something we’d just done or said. I’m not sure when we stopped watching, if we just ran out of time, or even of the show ended or something like that. I just don’t remember.

So we sat together and watched the first ep this week. I kinda remember it being funnier than it was, but maybe I was just distracted. The ep was about how Paul and Jamie never have any time together and Jamie’s being worried that they haven’t had sex in a week. (Obviously, they are newlyweds without kids or they’d know that married people never have sex!) Instead of the quiet evening they plan to spend together, Jamie’s sister, Paul’s best friend and another couple that they know all show up for dinner. On a side note, I don’t remember Paul’s “best friend” Shelby. I only remember his cousin, Ira. So perhaps that part was rewritten after the pilot ep.

Of course, this being sitcom land, everything works out and Paul and Jamie have sex in the kitchen while their guests are told to stay out of the room. It was actually funnier than I just made it sound. Just not as funny as I remember. If I get around to watching the rest, I’ll let you know.

The Big Bang Theory, Mad About You, Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt, The Office, Steve Carell

I watched all four of my chosen sitcoms this week and pretty much feel the same way as last week. I am ready to drop Samantha Who at this point, cause I’m just bored.

Its unfortunate that because of the strike, The Big Bang Theory and Back To You will be done after this week. At least for the time being.

I thought Big Bang Theory was great again. I loved that they centered on Rajesh and that we got to see him interact with Penny more. He’s nearly as funny to me as Sheldon, albeit in his own silent way. I’m confronted each and every week with something I know I would do or say, which makes me feel even more of a geek than I already do. And yet it’s a good thing. I think.

Carpoolers was pretty funny this week as well, and I loved the little bit at the end, with the video of them smashing into the cash machine. Especially when Gracen’s bat hit Dougie where it really hurts and you see him dancing around in the background. We had to rewind that and watch it a few times. I really liked that not one of them could keep the secret about the car fire. It makes them into people you know are really good at heart. I think I might actually miss this show when it’s gone.

Although Back To You had its moments, I didn’t think this ep was as good as some of the other eps so far. I was kinda sad, too, cause my husband has been wanting to watch it for a while and he picked this ep. It won’t leave a big hole in my life or anything, but I am a bit sad it won’t be on again for a while.

So, any ideas? What sitcoms out there should I try to catch the reruns of while the strike lasts?

Samantha Who, The Big Bang Theory, Back To You, Carpoolers

All is not lost. I might have been panicking too soon. Here’s today’s Ausiello Report. It has a pretty complete list (which is what I was looking for yesterday, actually, but couldn’t find anywhere) of how many episodes different shows still have in the pipe line. It appears that many shows still have anywhere from 4 to 8 more eps to air, which, by my count puts us to at least the end of the year. I mean, Christmas is only 6 weeks away. Not even, actually, as six weeks from today is December 26 and that’s the day after. Plus, as I already mentioned, many shows go on hiatus during the holidays anyway.

Of the shows I care about: Back To You has 3 more eps to air; Reaper has 2 to 4; Supernatural 4 to 6; Bones, Chuck and House each have 5; SVU has 7; Carpoolers, Samantha Who and Lost have 8. I don’t see anything here about Big Bang Theory or Moonlight, but I would imagine they are at around the same, maybe 4 more. Which, if you don’t count next week (cause its a holiday week and the networks will probably be showing stuff like Charlie Brown Christmas instead) means that most of the shows I like will be airing through at least mid-December and beyond. I’m actually OK with that. I get much busier as it gets closer to Christmas anyway and then I have all these tapes of shows I don’t have time to watch.

Also, I’ll probably get some full-season DVD sets for Christmas (they are on my list and Santa loves me cause I’m such a good girl) so I’ll probably be busy for a few weeks just with those. Actually, this whole thing isn’t really upsetting me as much as I thought it would. I’ll still try to keep you all updated though, cause I have to have something to blog about.

Ausiello Report, Writers Strike, Back To You, Reaper, Supernatural, Bones, Chuck, House, Law and Order:SVU, Carpoolers, Samantha Who, Lost, The Big Bang Theory, Moonlight

I’ve been trying to keep up with what’s happening with the Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) Strike. It’s only been a week, and already some sitcoms (just after the late night talk shows) are feeling the impact, which is sad.

One affected adversely is The Office, as Steve Carell is also a writer for the show. It makes me think I should go get the DVDs and start watching it. I know I’m weird. The show is off and now I wanna watch it.

I’m particularly unhappy about The Big Bang Theory, which I am really enjoying so much. I hadn’t realized that sitcoms were missing from my life until I started to watch it this year and now . . . I’m losing it so soon. Other stopped sitcoms include Back To You, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Rules of Engagement, Two and a Half Men and ‘Til Death. So what if I never watched them. Someone did, I’m sure of it.

Desperate Housewives is done and the premiere of 24 has been postponed. I believe I read somewhere that Lost was good, as all the eps had been written, which makes me a bit more happy knowing I have that to look forward to. Although some actors won’t cross the picket lines to shoot, so who knows.

The only up side I can see is that many shows go on a hiatus over the holidays for other programming anyway, so maybe we’ll all be too busy roasting turkey and making cookies to realize what’s gone until January. A girl can hope.

Writers Guild of America Strike, The Office, Back To You, Big Bang Theory, 24, Desperate Housewives, Lost

I’m just as happy with Big Bang Theory this week as I have been. It’s just funny. I love Sheldon as much as ever, too. He’s so wonderfully anal. I loved the Doctor Who reference, since I’m a huge fan, and I loved when he kept saying, “Every Saturday since we’ve moved into this apartment . . . .” His single-mindness is awesome. Plus, I really, really loved this exchange with Penny:

Sheldon: It’s Halo night.
Penny: Well for Penny, it’s dancing night.
Sheldon: Do you go dancing every Wednesday?
Penny: No.
Sheldon: Then it’s not dancing night.

Even though the ep was about sex, again, they did a good job because they still managed to keep it clean and funny, rather than crude. I like that. Another line I liked: Sheldon: Where do I begin? Leonard: It’s up to you, crazy person’s choice. *giggle* I’m gonna be so very sad when this thing has to go on hiatus because of the writer’s strike. I hear it will happen soon, too.

Carpoolers was also pretty good this week. I loved the whole Joanifer thing. Like when she appeared and the dark clouds followed her, and when Marmaduke backed away into the bushes to avoid her. I’m glad that Laird finally figured it out and din’t go back to her. They made it funny, but you see it happen all the time when people go back into abusive relationships and it’s not a joke. Besides, we like to see Laird as the swining single guy, right?

Back to You was OK. They did not take my advice and show more of Gary, so I’m a little mad at them anyway! The best part for me was when the named the kid “Xander” and his mother was Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel). I love when stuff like that happens. Meaning, Buffy stuff. I like to see anyone from Buffy in anything else, cause I love those guys! *sob* Plus, since my husband went to school in Pittsburgh, it was fun watching Montana not be able to say Monongahela. From what I’ve read, this show is gonna be another one to feel the pinch of the strike soon.

I’m less and less interested in Samantha Who? I want to like it, but I’m kinda bored.

The Big Bang Theory, Carpoolers, Back to You, Charisma Carpenter, Samantha Who?, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel

To carry on with this Men are Dolts theory, I was thinking about other sitcom men. Someone has already commented about the men in Seinfeld, which probably requires a completely separate blog, cause don’t even get me started about George. I was never really a big Seinfeld fan (even though I find Jerry Seinfield’s stand up comedy very funny), just because I can’t take George. I’m very easily embarrassed, even for and by other people, and George is all about embarrassment. Plus, I hate whiny men.

But, in any case, I was thinking about something more modern, like the men of The Big Bang Theory. Obviously, these men are not stupid. But do they lack commonsense? Will they ask for directions?

What have we seen so far? Well, I’ve already made mention of Sheldon asking Penny for advice about the tie on the doorknob, so clearly, they ask for information they don’t already have. However, when it comes to matters that they believe they know about, they do come across as pretty smug.

As far as commonsense goes, I’d have to say they probably don’t have any more than any other sitcom man. Maybe even less, because (and this is borne out in real life, as well) ultra smart people tend to be generally unconcerned about practical matters. Probably, they over think things, which doesn’t allow them to see that some situations could be more quickly and efficiently resolved than that realize.

Not that Penny comes across as being all that sensible. But neither is she the wise-mouthed, bossy, strong woman persona that many other leading sitcom women seem to portray. So I guess that’s another blog entirely as well. If the men generally aren’t too smart, are the women then too bossy? On Raymond, Debra was pretty bossy, and always considered herself much smarter than Ray. But not Penny, she comes across as sweet and friendly, but not too bright. Which I guess is the point of the show. So it doesn’t fit with the theory entirely. Any ideas out there? What shows fit and which don’t?

Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, George Costanza, Eveybody Loves Raymond, Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco