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*

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!