Fall TV Preview - What's Tapeworthy on Thursdays

As always, Thursdays is jam packed with GREAT TV and even the lesser TV is nonetheless addictive. If Tuesdays in Canada and Wednesdays in the States is the best night for new series, Thursday is the best night for returning faves. In fact its so jammed back, I'm going to have to do a little Tetris game to manoeuvre the schedule so I can watch as much of my favorites on this night and it won't be possible to watch all the shows I want to watch live despite my best efforts. Seriously, this is quite horrendous in my world!


Here's the Fall TV Preview for Thursdays:

All times Eastern based on current scheduled times and all times pm. Green = New Show, Blue = Returning Show, Red = Must Watch Live

Everybody's a winner on Thursdays. Except Fox. Sorry, you may actually win some ratings with lameass reality gameshows but no one under 65 is going to be watching your network for once.

All night is going to be a toss up between what to watch, and what to tape for later, and the hour longs will probably win over the half hour comedies only for the sake of not breaking up the hour time slots. (ie. 30Rocks 4.5 Stars plus Earl's 3 stars averages to 3.75 Stars which Ugly Betty beats out with its 5 stars. So Ugly Betty wins.

8:00 - 9:00

Ugly Betty - ABC/City 8:00 - 9:00 - *****WATCH LIVE - IMO, I think Ugly Betty got to the perfect mixture of outrageous campy comedy, soapy drama and heartwarming fairytale. America Ferrera at this point has been hailed enough as carrying this show, all deservedly, because a lesser actress would not carry though the confidence and bumblings with equal weight, and Betty would have remained a character forever. Still, the supporting cast is just jammed full of AWESOME characters, that almost each one could take a spinoff on their own, including Vanessa Williams' Wilhelmina, Michael Urie's Marc, Becky Newton's Amanda, Christopher Gorham's Henry, Ashley Jensen's Christina (who really needs more lines this year! Did anybody see Ashley with Orlando Bloom in Extras? Hilarious!), and Judith Light as Claire Meade. This is not to lessen the excellent Eric Mabius, Rebecca Romijn or Anna Ortiz, and of course, Mark Indelicato's Justin, who doesn't deserve his own spinoff, he deserves his own variety series.

Survivor: China - CBS/Global 8:00 - 9:00 - *1/2 FLIP BY - Since last season sucked, that probably means this season will be awesome again and as much as I say I'm never going to watch again, I always flip by and do.



My Name is Earl - NBC 8:00 - 8:30 - ***TAPE - I don't think it went through the sophomore slump everyone said it did last year but I think the original set up limits the height this show can go. It's still pleasurable viewing, comfort television with a slight edge, and the wonderful Jaime Pressly (who was nicely awarded at the Emmy's this year, who would have thought THAT 4 years ago?) and Jason Lee and their quirky guest stars have a nice zing to it.


30 Rock - NBC 8:30 - 9:00 - ****1/2 WATCH LIVE (or TAPE for LATER IN THE NIGHT)- It won the Emmy! Woo! I actually think it was the 4th best comedy on TV still (after Ugly Betty and The Office and How I Met Your Mother) but I'm still happy about the win since it was improving so fast that if it weren't for the slow start in season 1, it would have been almost a perfect season. I hope Alec Baldwin doesn't threaten to back out again for personal troubles (and I hope Tracy Morgan doesn't get arrested or get in trouble again) because we need them in this hilarious comedy, not that Tina Fey and Jack McBrayer isn't enough, but put it all together and you have comic gold for the dozens of us that enjoy it!

9:00 - 10:00

The Office - NBC/Global 9:00 - 9:30 - ***** WATCH LIVE (or TAPE for LATER IN THE NIGHT)- I know Steve Carell is the star but even the background ensemble came into their own, from Creed to Angela to Kevin to Phyllis to Kelly to Toby to Oscar to Meredith. The fact that Pam and Jim's flirtation dance can still continue to feel real and ring true, while still being hilarious and heartbreaking is a testament to the show. Dwight can be a little much, and slightly overrated but that's peanuts to the excellency of this show in its entirety.









Grey's Anatomy - ABC/CTV 9:00 - 10:00 - *** WATCH - Season 3 dovetailed from its season 2 high, and it's THIS close to being put in the corner on the bad mat, but they got rid of Isaiah Washington and supposedly the set atmosphere has freed up so much which I will assume clogged up much of Shondra's thoughts last year. With mistakes being re-corrected (Gizzie, Isaiah), I'm hoping this can rebounce to the frothy melodrama it was so good at being at.

Supernatural - The CW/City 9:00 - 10:00 - ***1/2 TAPE - I know, it scores higher than Grey's Anatomy, because at this point, it's a better show, but I'll probably continue to tape it and catch up in large marathons because I'm just used to doing it that way (plus I'd rather be scared all at once instead of strung throughout weeks). Plus, everyone will be talking about Gizzie the day after. Which is not to say the Winchesters are not gossip worthy, especially with some girls added to the mix this year, but really, its more droolworthy on this show than anything else.

Scrubs - NBC 9:30 - 10:00 - *** TAPE - It's not as good as it used to be but still enjoyable and I'd like to complete it by watching this last season (or so they say).








My Name is Earl - IN CANADA ONLY Global 9:30 - 10:00 - ***TAPE - Crab man is great too! Randy still makes me laugh but I worry sometimes that Ethan Suplee isn't actually acting.








10:00 - 11:00

Big Shots - NBC/CTV 10:00 - 11:00 - **1/2 TAPE - I didn't love the pilot at all but it's Michael Vartan and Nia Long. I know, I'm too easy. I keep flipping back from being completely offended by this show and wanting to see more Vartan...







Shows I Like In Theory But Don't Watch Anymore: Without a Trace.

Shows I Just Gave Up On But Might Get Sucked Back In. Maybe: ER.

Shows I Just Gave Up On: Smallville, CSI.

Shows I Didn't Realise Still Existed: Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, Don't Forget The Lyrics.


For the Fall TV Preview for the rest of the week:
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Sundays

See Sidebar for Pilot Reviews

More After the Jump...

Rest of the Week

Survivor Panama: Exile Island
I’m not sure who is more stupid, the Crazy Casaya people or Terry for not using his two immunities to his advantage more. This one was the one week Casaya could have drew the hidden immunity out of Terry (or Sally, if they though she had it), but they totally wasted it for some burgers, fries and coke. Only Aras knew he had to fight for it… UGH…I hope Aras wins now.

American Inventor
I saw the last 10 minutes as they played Westlife’s version of Josh Grobin’s You Raise Me Up, over and over again as they gave the final word to the contestants if they made it to final 12. have to admit, its cheap but moving, and it works. No wonder it’s a hit. Simon Cowell is involved in Westlife though which explained the music choice (since this is his show).

The Loop – The Rusty Trombone
That had BETTER not have been the Series Finale because damn that show is funny. Great casting of Adam Brody as Phillip Baker Hall’s long discussed gay son (also, Bret Harrison’s real life roommate).

The New Adventures of Old Christine – The Other F Word
Wanda Sykes is finally not annoying and funny again. Love the homophobic black folks, then the racist homo’s that Christine tries to invite to the “White Bread” school.

How I Met Your Mother – Nothing Good Happens After 2 AM
Finally, great way to break up Ted and Robin for good, though not enough time for Neil Patrick Harris to give his one liners.

Without a Trace – Expectations
Another Finally: Finally Martin is “better” and we can move on. Though I did like the bonding between him and partner Danny Taylor.

Scrubs – My New Suit
The only good thing to come out of the demise of Love Monkey is that Tom Cavanaugh can return as J.D.’s useless brother. The almost threesome with Keith and Elliott was so quick yet hilarious.

Supernatural – Provenance
I am NEVER buying an antique EVER AGAIN.

Commander in Chief – State of the Unions
Time to undo everything Steven Bochco ”fixed”/screwed up. Hope this show survives, it’s the ultimate fantasy show, plus I love that it can combine Oscar winner Geena Davis, should be Oscar winner Donald Sutherland, underated Ever Carradine and Anthony Azizi, and Manhunt reality show contestant Matt Lanter. LOVE THAT. Manhunt. Just thinking about it makes me laugh. Also, Meg and Jake Kane together! (more Veronica Mars Alum people…)

Teachers. – Schoolympics
I should be ignoring this show by now but somehow it’s comforting to me. Kinda like a Growing Pains episode. Not great but somehow cozy to watch. Or maybe it’s because its Sarah Alexander. After UK Coupling, I will give her more than enough chances after she being in the brilliant Coupling.

Modern Men – Timmy Can You Hear Me
If only for Eric Lively, who gives a new meaning to naïve but lovable dimwit.

The OC – The Dawn Patrol
Totally hooked into the manipulative and silly plot that is Seth and Summer breaking up, because Seth is too proud to admit he didn’t get into Brown. If only to get Summer to jump on the coffee bar to profess her love, or getting her to pair up with Taylor Townsend to do some scheming. But PLEASE don’t bring back drinking Kiki.

More After the Jump...

Rest of the Week

Scrubs - J.D. and Dr. Cox finally become a "we" trying to deal with the dying Michael Learned, with the help of psycholigist Dave Foley (duly missed from Newsradio, why are you wasting your talents at Celebrity Poker?) and Elliot realises her booty call has become something more. I don't really have anything witty to say because I think the show already said all the hilarity for me.

The OC - Marissa is still alive? Good lord, kill her off already so the show might have a chance at being good again. Notice every storyline that sucked revolves around her? Oliver, Yard guy, Alex I-don't-buy-it-for-a-second Lesbian affair, the Trey-shooting, Johnny, and Kaitlin. Let's get back to the real show, Seth and Summer with pal Ryan and the best parents around, Sandy and Kirsten, with a bit of old style bitchiness from Julie Cooper. SANS Marissa.

Without a Trace - They cracked at least 2 jokes on this episode! AND Taylor and Jack Malone sang. AND Elena, Vivian and Samantha were referred as Charlie's Angels. When did WOT get a sense of humour? I like it, although I kept expecting a bomb to go off or something at the end in the bowling alley.

More After the Jump...