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*

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?

Miss Guided was still pretty cute last week. I’m not saying its my favorite show or anything, but each week I find myself remembering to DVR it.

Last Thursday there was an episode, “Rebel Yell,” where Becky decides she has to learn to live it up a little more, and so she joins with Lisa and Tim, to prank Bruce, the Vice Principal. They start out in the kitchen eating pizza and drinking beer, and when Bruce comes to investigate, they run. It turns into this whole Breakfast Club music video bit, where they dance, in sync, through doorways and other stuff like that. For me, at least, it was just pretty funny. Of course, Becky being the more socially awkward, ends up trashing Bruce’s office, all on her own, and gets caught on a surveillance camera video that Bruce has set up.

The other episode dealt with Becky and Lisa having to plan a retirement party for the meanest, nastiest, most hated teacher at the school, Mrs. Pool, who is secretly blackmailing almost everyone. Becky is the only one who gets up the nerve to tell her off, with fairly drastic results.

Miss Guided airs it’s last two first season episodes this Thursday, April 3, at 8 pm and 8:30 pm ET on ABC, and it has not yet been renewed for a second season. But I hope it sticks around, because its nice to see a comedy that’s more about being funny, and less about being rude.

Remember, if you’ve missed them, you can still watch the full episodes at the website, here.

I watched a couple eps of Miss Guided last Thursday. It was actually two episodes back to back which aired on ABC before Lost last week. They are doing the same thing this week, two back to back episodes, starting at 8:00 pm ET.

I don’t know what I thought this show would be like, but it was actually kinda cute. Becky Freeley (played by Judy Greer), was a gawky, insecure high school student (weren’t we all?). She has now returned to her alma mater as a guidance counselor hoping to have finally overcome her awkward, traumatic high school experiences.

Also on staff is Tim (played by Kristoffer Polaha), a school mechanic who has been recruited into a position as the substitute Spanish teacher. It’s clear that Becky is in love with Tim, but unfortunately, although he treats her as a friend, he seems unaware of her attraction to him. Also, unfortunately, the hot new English teacher, Lisa Germain (played by Brooke Burns), is her past high school nemesis, and it forces Becky to relive her high school neurosis, as well as giving her a rival for Tim’s affections. Miss Guided also stars Earl Billings as Principal Huffy and Chris Parnell as Vice Principal Bruce Terry.

One episode, “Hot Sub” was about a new substitute Spanish teacher (played by Ashton Kutcher, an Executive Producer of the show), that Becky is determined not to like, because it appears that he will be replacing Tim, forcing him back to his position as school auto shop teacher. Ashton’s character is universally liked at the school, because of his laid back, friendly persona, and his ability to connect so easily with both faculty and student. However, then he makes it clear that he prefers Becky to Lisa.

The other ep, “The List” was about their school’s gossip website and Becky’s crazy machinations to move up on the hottest teacher list.

You can see the the full eps at the ABC website. Also, you might want to check it out this Thursday.

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!