Watching Sitcoms

Continuing on with my what’s new, sitcom-wise, for Fall, we come to ABC. (What does that stand for anyway? American Broadcasting Company?)

In any case, guess how many sitcoms, new and old, ABC has on their Fall schedule. One. Yes, that’s right, only one. It’s a returning sitcom, too, Samantha Who, which airs Monday nights at 9:30 pm. Apparently, they are so afraid of what happened last year that they aren’t even going to propose anything new this year. I’m guessing they feel that they have to make up for Carpoolers and Cavemen. As they should.

In reviewing ABC’s Fall schedule, though, I noticed something weird. There are big empty gaps in the 10 pm hour on both Wednesday and Thursday. Maybe they are saving those for something good. Its doubtful they would be sitcoms, though, since sitcoms are usually considered family fare and are on earlier in the night.

The only new show I saw on their schedule, at all, was called Opportunity Knocks. It’s another Ashton Kutcher thing (I believe he plans to complete take over TV) about a game show that comes to you. Really.

Honestly, I wonder if the strike has anything to do with why ABC has no new shows this year. Or maybe they were just having a banner year and feel like they already have a pretty tight schedule. I guess it could be one of those reasons, or maybe something completely different. Maybe they plan on putting new shows into those two blank hours, but they don’t want anyone to know about them. But that’s probably not true. I can say that I hardly ever, ever watch any of the shows on ABC myself, whatever that means.

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!

Here’s a link to Nielsens Top Numbers for last week and it’s not what I would have thought at all.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by anything anymore, but I was kinda, by the fact that Samantha Who, which I think is one of the least good new sitcoms this year, is on the Top 20 list, and none of the others are on there. I’m talking new sitcoms here, not old ones, cause there are a couple of those on the list. I suppose it has something to do with Samantha airing a new ep last week when most of the others (maybe all of the others) were repeats.

Another thing that surprised me was that I saw very few, if any, of the shows I watch listed in the Top 20. Granted, I was busy last week and maybe didn’t watch as much TV as normal, but overall, very few of the shows I like and watch are on that list.

I only saw House, Law and Order:SVU, Jeopardy (which I catch occasionally) and Judge Judy (which I watch religiously, cause I just love her!) The Top 15 Cable list had some movies on there which I’ve seen, but which I did not watch again last week, namely, Santa Clause 2, High School Musical 2 and Elf.

Call me crazy, but most of the stuff I saw in the Top 20 just didn’t appeal to me at all. So now I’m wondering, am I watching the wrong stuff or is everyone else?

Nielsens, Samantha Who, House, Law and Order:SVU, Jeopardy, Judge Judy, Santa Clause 2, High School Musical 2, Elf

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’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