What's KRAIG Watching On TV?

[Our good friend KRAIG BAILEY, who watches a lot of quality television, reviews/discusses what he's watching -- informing us what we shouldn't be missing this TV season.]

Fall has arrived and each year I watch an impossible amount of TV for a few weeks to sample the new shows. Some are quickly cancelled and others turn out to be duds. So here's a look at what I've been watching recently and why. And, yes, I know I watch too much TV and need to get a "real" life. But if I'm happy and not bothering anyone I don't see the harm. As always I look forward to hearing about any gems you may have discovered-that I probably won't be able to watch.


SUNDAYS
EBERT & ROEPPER (SYNDICATED)
Even though I often see films weeks before they mention them on their show, they still sometimes manage to unearth a title I haven't heard of.

EXTRAS (HBO)
RICKY GERVAIS, creator of THE OFFICE, now tells the tale of those folks in the background on the movie screen who don't get any lines. The first two episodes were hysterical.

THE SIMPSONS (FOX)
The best sitcom. Ever. It's lost a step or two but it's still better than anything else out there.

THE WEST WING (NBC)
Thank God it wasn't an Emmy winner! With the addition of
ALAN ALDA and JIMMY SMITS as candidates vying to replace President Barlett, the show has gotten good again.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
I like the show but not enough to buy the DVDs of Season 1.
I've been in love with TERRI HATCHER since she was a recurring character on MACGYVER almost 20 years ago so I'm really happy to see her doing well again. The rest of the women are all pretty great. I was going to skip Season 2 but they had me hooked again in the first few minutes of the premiere.

GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
Two words -- ELLEN POMPEO. I've been in love with her since MOONLIGHT MILE -- which I highly recommend you rent!

CHARMED (WB)
I kid! I mention it only because I am in continual shock that unwatchable crap like this can stay on the air for EIGHT seasons! I also don't want you to think I'll watch a show just because there's a hot babe on it. Oh, I'll try a show because of someone but it actually has to be entertaining for me to continue -- this show has THREE smokin' hot babes on it and is still unbearable.

WEEDS, ENTOURAGE, WIRED, THE L WORD and DEADWOOD are some other shows I watch on Sundays when they're on SHOWTIME or HBO.


MONDAYS
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS)
I really wanted to like this sitcom which features ALYSON HANNIGAN (Willow from BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) and DOOGIE HOUSER. But it is really terrible. I just want to slap the lead actor because he's SO bad.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (FOX)
I've tried three seasons now to like this critic's darling of a sitcom. I find it physically painful to sit through an episode.
May I suggest SCRUBS instead?

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (FOX)
Created by the guy who brought us SEX AND THE CITY and stars BRADLEY COOPER (ALIAS) and NIC BRENDON (another BUFFY alum). So far so good. But I fear cancellation as ratings aren't so great.


TUESDAYS
NIP/TICK (FX)
Okay. I speed through and only watch when RHONA MITRA or KELLY CARLSON are on screen. Sue me.

THE SHIELD, RESCUE ME (FX)
Great stuff. But seasons only go 13 episodes!

GILMORE GIRLS (WB)
Great acting. Great writing. Had its best season last year so not expecting Season 6 to be as good.

BONES (FOX)
Stars another BUFFY alum, DAVID BOREANAZ [whose also an ITHACA COLLEGE ALUMNI]. I'm not into these procedurals but he's got great chemistry with the show's titular character so I'm hanging in.

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF (ABC)
Until we vote HILLARY into office in 2008 GEENA DAVIS will have to do. So far WEST WING-lite -- but we'll see.

SUPERNATURAL (WB)
The pilot was promising but subsequent eps have pretty much sucked. If it doesn't get better quick I'm gone.

MY NAME IS EARL (NBC)
Love lead JASON LEE. Too bad his show is laugh-free. God, how I HATE "stupid" humor.

BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
Two words -- DENNY CRANE.


WEDNESDAYS
LOST (ABC)
Season 1 rocked. Hope they can keep it up.

VERONICA MARS (UPN)
Tape LOST and watch VERONICA. Or vice versa. But watch, you should. GILMORE GIRLS has the best mother/daughter relationship on TV. This has the best father/daughter one. Veronica's a teen age private eye and she's smarter than me.


THURSDAYS
ALIAS (ABC)
The show has lost its way but I'm still hooked on Mrs. Affleck.

THE O.C. (FOX)
Summer. Seth. Sandy. Kirsten. I love these people. Ryan and Marissa I could live without.

SMALLVILLE (WB)
Super lad. A great cast keeps me tuned into a wildly uneven show quality-wise. Here's hoping Season 5 is better than Season 4.

The sharp-eyed amongst you may have noticed I am watching THREE shows airing at the same time! How is such a thing possible?

Two miracles of technology make it so -- the dual tuner DirecTiVo allows you to record two different channels simultaneously and watch a third, previously recorded, program. Also, I got a waiver to get ABC's East Coast feed. So I record ALIAS at 6 pm and watch that while THE O.C. and SMALLVILLE are recording. This from a box that you can get for free if you are a new DIRECTV or DISH NETWORK subscriber or for $99 at your nearest electronics super store.

NIGHT STALKER (ABC)
Affection for the original and GABRIELLE UNION in the cast got me to tune in. Good stories will keep me.

REUNION (FOX)
This show has the coolest premise of any new series -- it starts in 1986 with six friends and each episode is a new year in their lives. A lackluster cast and their characters' boring lives are not keeping me entertained.

CUTS (UPN)
SHANNON ELIZABETH couldn't even hold me for one episode of this sitcom.

LOVE, INC. (???)
BUSY PHILIPS (FREAKS AND GEEKS, DAWSON'S CREEK) couldn't even hold me for one episode of this sitcom.

EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS (UPN)
I love CHRIS ROCK. This show isn't funny with its stereotypical characters and plots.


FRIDAYS
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB)
I love JENNY GARTH and AMANDA BYNES is a cutie. I catch about three episodes a season.

THRESHOLD (CBS)
BRENT SPINER, PETER DINKLAGE, CHARLES DUTTON and CARLA GUGINO got me to tune it. Stupidity got me to tune out.

NUMB3RS (CBS)
How can a show about a math genius be so dumb? Ah, JERRY BRUCKHEIMER is the producer. Buh-bye.

HOT PROPERTIES (ABC)
GAIL O'GRADY and SOFIA VERGARA will get me to tune in. Only laughter or nudity will keep me.


SATURDAYS
Thankfully no one schedules anything on Saturday so that's catch up day. I sometimes speed through SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (SNL).


What's the best sitcom on TV?
Well that would be SCRUBS, which is allegedly a mid-season replacement for NBC. In the meantime, Season 1 is on DVD.

What's the best show on TV?
I've said it before I'll say it again -- BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (Fridays on SCIFI). The miniseries and Season 1 are on DVD. The first half of Season 2 starts in January. It's in repeats now. After you go see SERENITY at the movies I suggest you get cracking on it. I'm not kidding. And you'll be wanting to watch them in order.

There's also the interesting episode of NOVA or WALKING WITH DINOSAURS on DISCOVERY.

So if you're still with me -- What are YOU watching? And if it's so-called "REALITY TV" or A SPORTING EVENT I don't want to know about it. But I'm open to anything else.

Kraig Bailey, thanks for the post.