TV for One
Apr 11th 2008
Suzanne EnochMy Life As A Plebe
I have decided that there are two kinds of television shows. Not dramas and comedies, but those with mass appeal and those for a more…specialized audience. Or a more limited audience. The kind of audience which signals that the show won’t be on the air all that long – just long enough, in fact, for me to get hooked on it.
Yes, I enjoy The Office and Doctor Who and I was a big fan of Friends and Magnum, PI. They had (or are having) long, healthy runs with story lines that play out as they should.
But then there are those other shows that I just adore, and that I know can’t be long for this world. I loved Veronica Mars, which managed to survive for three seasons. I own the complete DVD set of The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., a brilliantly funny western with a sci-fi influence. Speaking of western/sci-fi shows, I still mourn the swift death of Firefly, from which we at least got a movie.
I’ve become hooked on Burn Notice, which I think is actually returning for a second season..sometime. I enjoyed The Dresden Files, though I’ve finally come to accept that it won’t be returning for a second season. And I’m afraid for Moonlight, today’s version of Beauty & the Beast, because it has such a lousy time slot and I like it so much.
What show have you or do you truly enjoy that other people just don’t seem to get? Is there a television program you watched that suffered an early demise you don’t think it deserved?
59 Comments »
JackieToo on 11 Apr 2008 at 2:57 am #
I’m like the death knell for new shows. If I like them, they don’t last very long. And I loved Brisco County, too!
Right now, it’s New Amsterdam so it’s probably not long for this world. :Þ
Jane on 11 Apr 2008 at 3:26 am #
I love “Burn Notice,” too. Sharon Gless is a riot. I’m also a fan of “Mad Men.” None of my friends watch these two shows. I was a fan of several sci-fi shows that didn’t last too long. They were “Threshold,” “Special Unit 2″ and “Prey.”
Margaret Garland on 11 Apr 2008 at 6:13 am #
I thought it was just me that killed tv shows. I hardly watch tv anymore for the episode type shows. My kids are hooked on shows like “Lost” & “Desperate Housewives”. I gave them an honest try but they didn’t grab me. Other shows, I’ve watched and enjoyed for awhile. Then, I would wander off and never return.
I didn’t even miss them during the writer’s strike. I figured something was wrong with me. It’s not that I don’t want to enjoy something. I have DVR for heaven’s sake! I’m just afraid to get too involved in the characters because I will miss them too much when the show is cancelled with no notice. Or not brought back for another season.
Other than DWTS, I don’t watch the “reality” shows. How real can they be with cameras following them around all the time? I liked “Men in Trees” but the writer’s strike cooled me of on it & I can’t get back in it.
Good thing I like books. They never get cancelled and I can read them over and over and over and…………….
Kim on 11 Apr 2008 at 6:29 am #
Oh, oh, oh, I LOVE Veronica Mars and I’m still so sad over it. Suzie–did you see the trailer for what would have been season 4?? WOW! That would have been so cool. And in a little tidbit of Kim trivia, I’m only 2 degrees away from Kristen Bell. Last Christmas I was having lunch with a friend, her boyfriend and his mother. The mother asked me if I knew Dax Shephard, the actor dating Kristen Bell. Of course, I do! Without a Paddle and Employee of the Month are two of our favorite movies. The mother says “That’s my grandson!” Now picture me in the middle of a sedate Amish restaurant screeching “SHUT UP! You’re freakin joking? YOU KNOW VERONICA MARS!” LOL Yes, it was very exciting *g*
This has been years ago, but there was a post WWII (? might have been WWI) show called Homefront. It was about families putting their lives back together after the war. It was so great but didn’t last long.
The show with Jeff Goldblum a couple years was good too but only lasted a couple episodes.
Emmiebee on 11 Apr 2008 at 6:47 am #
Suzanne,
Do you think if all of us with this special gift made a pact to watch a certain show every week, that we could “vibe” some popular but crappy shows off the air, leaving room for shows that we want? I mean, this would really be using our powers for the good of all, right? No more Dresden Files, sigh. And “Firefly” is still a sacred word in our house. Frelling networks better leave New Amsterdam alone.
Karen Rose on 11 Apr 2008 at 7:12 am #
Suzanne - DH and I loved a show called NOWHERE MAN. It was this show about a photographer who has taken a photo in Central America of these political prisoners being hanged. One night he goes out to dinner with his wife, hits the restroom, comes back and she’s gone.
The waiter doesn’t recognize him. And when he goes home, another man answers his door. His wife doesn’t recognize him and she has a whole other husband, other life. His money is gone, credit cards non-existent, and somebody’s trying to kill him.
It’s a FABULOUS series. Really makes you government paranoid!
I think it lasted one season, but was great programming. This was back in the late 90’s.
I also miss Dead Like Me - they only did 2 seasons of that on Showtime.
Karen Hawkins on 11 Apr 2008 at 7:15 am #
Suzie, everytime I fall in love with a series, they ax it so I’ve turned my back on series tv shows. However, you guys are making me rethink.
Which of these shows do you guys think a newbie should watch?
Hey, does anyone know anything about the new show starring Christina Applegate? I think she does comedy very well and I wonder what that show will be like.
Margaret Garland on 11 Apr 2008 at 7:33 am #
Karen H, the show you’re talking about is “Samantha Who”. It’s on Monday night right after DWTS. It’s cute but I’m confused. When the show first came on, I thought Todd was her husband. Apparently, he is her ex-boyfriend. One premise is that she was not a very nice person before she got amnesia.
ABC has a streaming web site where you can watch all of their shows on-line. If you want to see if you like any of them, here is the URL:
dynamic.abc.go.com/streaming/landing
SuzyQ on 11 Apr 2008 at 7:49 am #
OH, there have been many shows that have been cancelled on me, but I just can’t think of the names. I too, was disappointed in The Dresden Files being cancelled. I started watching Big Shots but I don’t know yet the fate of that show.
Freedom Writer on 11 Apr 2008 at 7:54 am #
I love Veronica Mars, and DWTS. I was not impressed, however, with Samantha Who. It’s a cute premise, but it can only go on so long before it gets old. My daughter turned me on to New Amsterdam. I hope that it gets a chance.
Suzanne, I too am afraid for Moonlight. I really like that show and will be disappointed if CBS takes it off the air. What I hate are shows that the networks mess up. I really like Joan of Arcadia in the first season, and the they screwed up the show so bad that no one watched it and it was canceled in the second or third season. They started to do the same thing with Ghost Whisperer, but I think that it has improved a bit from the episodes I have seen recently.
Gannon on 11 Apr 2008 at 7:58 am #
Suzanne, I love Moonlight, too, but they are not in a good time slot. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that CBS will keep it on and move it to a better time slot next season.
KariE on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:10 am #
I can’t think of any show right now that I enjoyed but got he axe. Maybe because I knew mourning them wont bring them back. Ohhh but there was that one time a group of people sent a bunch of letters and such to one network to bring back that one show. What was the name?!?! It was set in Canada and had a mounted policeman. (?)
Anyway, I’ve never been that passionate about a show. I agree with Margaret, a good book will always be there.
Right now I am really into Miss Guided. This show is a hoot and I hope it lasts. I’m also a huge Will and Grace fan and was super bummbed when it came to an end. I have season one and two and I’m working my way twords the rest.
I was never sad to see Sightings go from Fox. That show freaked me out.
Lisa H on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:17 am #
One of my favorite shows is not popular with the masses, but I just love it. Monk starring Tony Shaloub is sweet, funny and interesting.
Freedom Writer on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:24 am #
Kari E. I can relate about Sightings. There are also some pretty nasty shows out there, and it seems that some of those shows hang on forever while other good shows get canceled to quick.
The show Jericho was a real loser show and went on for a season and a half longer than it should have. And I am lost where the popularity of Lost comes from. Oh well, I have books, a DVR, DVD’s (you can never watch Pride and Prejudice too many times) and Cable Channels like History Channel and the Food Network to keep me entertained.
SuzyQ on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:30 am #
Lisa - I love Monk too!
elsiehogarth on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:41 am #
Suzanne, I too am a Bruce Campbell fan. I really loved him in the Hercules/Xena series.
Two shows I had really loved were “Square Pegs”, with Sarah Jessica Parker, and I was really upset with Catherine’s death in “Beauty & the Beast”. That lead to Linda Hamilton’s “Terminator” movie career but leat to the end of the series.
The “new shows” I like now that might not make it are: Moonlight, Reaper and Blood Ties(LIfetime only showed 10 episodes this season). I also like “New Amsterdam” and I’m hoping they will be alright, haven’t heard anything yet.
doglady on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:42 am #
I have to agree that I don’t get too attached to shows because they cancel all the good ones. I don’t get Desperate Housewives or Lost at all. I love Moonlight, which means it won’t last long. I liked Joan of Arcadia too and then they went bizarre on the last season and it got canned. I don’t like shows that are weird for the sake of being weird.
Freshechelle on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:56 am #
Kim, I too loved Homefront. It was so well done and that Kyle from Friday Night Lights was cuter back in those days (weren’t we all).
Other shows that didn’t last long enough for me:….can’t think of any others. Anyone remember Grapevine? it lasted a 1/2 a season and was sexy, clever and different in how they told a story.
Kathy/Cookiedough on 11 Apr 2008 at 9:14 am #
Homefront is a missed show, as are Veronica Mars, Buffy, Angel and Firefly that live on in my house as dvd sets.
Moonlight is a good show…did anyone see August Rush- a blink and you miss scenes with Mr Moonlight himself Alex O’Loughlin. He played the poor musician’s brother. An Aussie who can do American and Irish accents. and cute to boot! yum!
Claudia Dain on 11 Apr 2008 at 9:41 am #
I’ve recently discovered Bones with David B. from Angel; what a great show! I hope they don’t cancel it. The characters are so interesting.
Another show I love which may be on the edge of survival is that one where the guy touches the dead and they come back to life for 60 seconds: Pushing Daisies. I LOVE that show. My DH will even watch it and he doesn’t watch network television.
Sandy "Snik" White on 11 Apr 2008 at 9:46 am #
The only show that I was horribly disappointed with that went away was Twin Peaks. David Lynch is insane, but every week I was tuning in to find out what would happen next. Then the midget showed up and his genius was solidified. The show was working towards an inevitable conclusion, I just wish it would have taken longer to get there.
Freshechelle on 11 Apr 2008 at 9:56 am #
Snik, spend 30 minutes people watching in the Port Authority bus terminal in New York. It’s Twin Peaks on caffeine.
Meg on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:08 am #
Lots of years ago I was REALLY IN LOVE with “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” I thought it was a great show, but everyone else in the family just watched it because I made them. Anyway, it got cancelled right after the fourth season ended. And it was a clifhangfer, too!! I was so mad. Thank goodness for TV on DVD. All four seasons are now on my shelf, and I still love them.
amy1242 on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:19 am #
Claudia, I too, like Bones. Also NCIS. I used to like Gray’s Anatomy, but the whole switching partners/relationship thing is driving me nuts, so I don’t make a great effort to watch it anymore. I’m not a big tv person, and when my dh works nights, the tv almost never gets used. The kids tend to watch the Disney Channel and Animal Planet, unless Don’t Forget the Lyrics is on. We all love to sing in this house.
Sabrina Jeffries on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:28 am #
I loved Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. LOVED IT!! Of course, it got cancelled after one season. I was really annoyed. Still am, as a matter of fact.
cail on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:45 am #
i really don’t watch much TV and really only watch what the DH likes… I tend to like most shows enough to watch them when they’re on, but have a lot more fun netflixing an entire series at once. I loved Dead Like Me, and a few other short lived shows, but REALLY love M*A*S*H. I have that series on DVD.
Karen Hawkins on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:45 am #
Margaret, I’m off to that link to see what’s what! I didn’t know Samantha Who was already showing. Now I need to catch up! Sheesh, I’m ALREADY behind. Thank goodness for the internet and boxed sets.
I used to love Xena and Roar. They were fun, campy, and had a lot of unspoken humor. I adore those sets of grins!
But you know my REAL favorites? Colbert and The Daily Show. I watch those online every day.
Suzanne Enoch on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:59 am #
I’m glad there are other fans of Bruce Campbell out there! Maybe “Burn Notice” will have a chance if we all make that pact Emmiebee talked about and watch it. Why are WE the quirky ones? Sheesh.
Oh, Sabrina, I was such a fan of “Studio 60″.
And I’m glad there are other “Bones” fans out there. Who would have thought that a forensics show could be a romantic comedy?
Suzanne Enoch on 11 Apr 2008 at 11:24 am #
Does anybody besides me remember “When Things Were Rotten”? I posted a pic of it on the blog. It was a 70’s Mel Brooks show about Robin Hood, starring Dick Van Patten, Dick Gautier, & Bernie Kopel. As a 7 or 8 year old, I adored it. I have no idea what I would think of it now, but I was so angry when it stopped airing.
Sheridan LA on 11 Apr 2008 at 11:29 am #
I used to love Parker Lewis Can’t Lose. My friends has me put Battlestar Gallactica on my Netflix and I love that one.. and I also watched Boston Legal the same way.. other then that, I very rarely watch TV… so if it was in the last 8-9 years, I mostly don’t have a clue. :/
Megan on 11 Apr 2008 at 12:22 pm #
I love Moonlight!!
It comes back April 25 for four shows. *Crossing fingers* that CBS will pick it up again for next year. I’m a little worried though that while they are waiting to start the new shows they keep sticking The Price Is Right between Ghost Whisperer and Numbers. I wish they would just play Moonlight reruns so more people will get hooked on the show!
MarthaH on 11 Apr 2008 at 12:25 pm #
One of my recent favorites that I’ve lost (no longer available in Canada) was an original British production called “Hustle” it was a great series about some London based con artists that create intricate stings to swindle money from respectible but really despicable people. I think the show is now on AMC but only in the US (sigh).
The other show is called Cane and CBS hasn’t decided yet if they are going to renew for 2008/9 season. Here’s hoping.
In the meantime thank goodness for romance books!
colinfirthfan on 11 Apr 2008 at 12:29 pm #
I liked Studio 60 too. ABC had a show called Sports Center or something like that? I absolutely LOVED that show. It was great. But they didn’t renew it. Apparently the general public don’t get shows that don’t have a laugh track on them!
Freedom Writer on 11 Apr 2008 at 12:45 pm #
I have recently been watching an ABC show called October Road.
Sheridan, I used to watch the original series of Battlestar Gallactica with Lorne Green, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict in it. I loved that show. I watched the new BG episode in which Richard Hatch appeared.
Megan, I agree with you. Even Moonlight reruns would be better than the Price is Right Primetime. It would let more people get hooked.
I was sad to see West Wing leave the air just as Jimmy Smits became president.
I’m just rambling now, so I will stop typing and put my granddaughter in for her nap, but I will be back later.
Freedom Writer on 11 Apr 2008 at 12:56 pm #
I just thought of another show called Raines starring Jeff Goldblum that aired 7 episodes and then was killed. He was a police detective who had a great imagination, I think he did some writing as well. He used to see the victims of the crimes he was investigating. They were almost like ghosts, but they were the way he imagined the victims would be and they would change when he found new bits of information about the victim and the crime. I was sorry to see that show go.
Sheridan LA on 11 Apr 2008 at 12:57 pm #
Freedom.. I had SUCH the crush on Dirk *sigh* in the original.
and yeah.. it was pretty cool seeing Hatch in the new one.
Suzanne Enoch on 11 Apr 2008 at 12:59 pm #
KariE, I think the show you’re talking about was called “Due South”, starring Paul Gross. And yep, I liked that one, too. *g*
K-Hawk, I have the “Roar” series on DVD. And I love “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report”, too! Did you see that Colbert won a Peabody?
Freedom Writer on 11 Apr 2008 at 1:13 pm #
Sheridan, you are so right, Dirk was sooo cute. I loved watching him the A-Team too.
colinfirthfan on 11 Apr 2008 at 2:27 pm #
I don’t watch Colbert but I LOVE Jon Stewart! I get all my news from The Daily Show.
My favourite Daily Show reporters are Asav Mandvi and John soemthing (the British guy).
Does anyone watch Best Week Ever on VH1? Can’t do with out my weekly fix.
Ladytink_534 on 11 Apr 2008 at 2:34 pm #
I LOVED Veronica Mars and I actually cried when it got canceled. Moonlight isn’t in danger of being cancelled yet but fans are still giving blood for it:
http://myjaxon.blogspot.com/2008/04/fans-give-blood-to-save-vampire-show.html
I’m looking forward to wathcing Burn Notice too.
RachelG on 11 Apr 2008 at 3:04 pm #
I just discovered the Harry Dresden books and would have loved to see the The Dresden Files. Why am I always late to the party? Sheesh.
rachelg
Meg on 11 Apr 2008 at 3:32 pm #
Does anyone know what happend to Viva Laughlin? I thought the pilot was good. And I remember a lot of advertising about the pilot, but I didn’t see much afterwards. ????
Kathy/Cookiedough on 11 Apr 2008 at 3:33 pm #
Bones is a huge favourite of mine as well.
Someone a while back posted on Captain Jack Harkness, so I had to see who that was. Torchwood has become an instant fav. the CBC put on the first seasoin- so good!
Kathy/Cookiedough on 11 Apr 2008 at 3:43 pm #
okay, way to much time on my hands…just spent a good while looking back on comments to see how was the Jack Hackness fan on here..help goddesses, who was it???
Suzanne Enoch on 11 Apr 2008 at 3:45 pm #
Ah, Meg, I think “Viva Laughlin” went three episodes and was then canceled. I thought it had potential, but when you get stars who can sing and then have them drowned out by the soundtrack, somebody’s not thinking.
I’m glad you’ve joined the “Torchwood” ranks, Cookiedough. *g*
Karen Hawkins on 11 Apr 2008 at 3:52 pm #
Suzie, I didn’t know about the Peabody, but I’m not surprised. He’s brilliant! Makes me laugh every time.
Nicole Jordan on 11 Apr 2008 at 4:27 pm #
I loved Studio 6O! And I’m probably alone, but I loved Journeyman, too. And Life. I think/hope Life may be coming back for a few episodes, though.
Margaret Garland on 11 Apr 2008 at 5:26 pm #
I love “Bones” just like the rest of you. What’s not to love about David Boreanaz? Could we get him for and FROS, Karen? Adorable. And so is Bones herself, Emily Deschanel. I love their bickering. Reminds me a bit of “Moonlighting” but better. You can watch full episodes at the Fox website. What a cool idea the networks/cable channels had in doing this. Also the boxed sets. New episodes start next Monday night. Hooray!
One shows that was quietly heaved out the door was “Crossing Jordan”. I loved that show. So much for shows with strong women. I was watching “The Women’t Murder Club” pre-strike. I need to wait & see if that’s changed.
I liked “Ghost Whisperer” right up till they killed her partner in that plane crash. Now, the show just get weirder and weirder. Bummer. Is this what they mean by “jumping the shark”?
Margaret Garland on 11 Apr 2008 at 5:38 pm #
Suzanne, I’ll bet “When Things Were Rotten” is still funny. Mel Brooks wears well. I laughed myself silly over that show. Goodness. How many years ago was that?
Also, I thought the guy from “Southern Exposure” was a hottie. He just disappeared when that show went off the air. Or he’s on something I do’t watch.
Ditto for “Early Edition” about the guy who’s cat brought him the news a day early so he could change the bad stuff.
Oh well. Where’s the TV Guide? I’m clueless as to what’s on most nights. Other than the bull riders on the weekends and DWTS Mon/Tues. Oh yes. My dirty little secret is I like “Cops”. Now, it’s cousin “Jail” is funny in a painful sort of way. Horrible if your related to the prisoners. Interesting to see what goes on in the booking part of the jail. And how they handle the hard-to-handle. What a job!
Suzanne Enoch on 11 Apr 2008 at 5:49 pm #
Margaret! You actually remember the show! I was beginning to think I’d hallucinated it. I still remember the one line, when the Sheriff was going to kill Reinaldo, and he said, “Appeal for help to your Creator!” And Reinaldo looked straight at the camera and said, “Help, Mel!” How’s that for a 35-year-old memory? *g*
Judy F on 11 Apr 2008 at 6:27 pm #
I thought it was just me that killed tv shows. I love Moonlight and I hope it gets picked up. I try not to care to much about shows cause it will be the kiss of death for them. LOL
For some reason I can’t explain I love the show Dexter. I have yet to figure out why. LOL I also really like Pushing Daises.
I have only caught a few of the episodes of New Amsterdam and love it. I hope the rerun the show so I can catch up with it.
I was so mad when they just dumped Crossing Jordan.
PJane1031 on 11 Apr 2008 at 6:35 pm #
Oooh! So many good shows that folks have listed. . . “Veronica Mars” was one of my faves as well. . . . still need to get the Season 3 DVD. . . Also liked “Homefront”, and it’s more recent counterpart, “American Dreams”. And, I know it went seven seasons, but I’m still bitter that “Gilmore Girls” is no longer on!! For current shows, I’m really hoping that “Big Shots” comes back.
Karen Hawkins on 11 Apr 2008 at 6:53 pm #
Have any of you seen the HBO series Flight of the Conchords? It’s about New Zealand’s third most popular folk rock band trying to make it in the Big Apple. They make me laugh so hard! HBO just renewed it, so there is another season coming up.
My daughter turned me onto them and they’re hysterical!
Kim on 11 Apr 2008 at 7:12 pm #
Fresh and PJane–I’m so glad I’m not the only one who remembers Homefront! That show was so good.
I was just reading the new Star magazine and there was an ad for an ABC family series just starting called Princess (I think) It looks really cute but alas we don’t have that channel.
evlqn on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:01 pm #
It is truly amazing how many of us like the same shows. I love Burn Notice, Moonlight, Numbers, New Amsterdam, Raines, Due South, and the Dresden Files. I turned my son into the Dresden books.
RachelG you can get the entire season 1 of the Dresden Files from Netflix.
We never miss DWTS, isn’t Marlee Matlin amazing??
I try not to get too attached to shows that are too different because that is usually the death knell.
I really miss the Buffy/ Angel shows too. Bones is good but I don’t get to watch it often, so if that goes toes up IT IS NOT MY FAULT!!!
Jewelz on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:27 pm #
La Femme Nikita for sure….
evlqn on 11 Apr 2008 at 11:52 pm #
Absolutely, La Femme Nikita! There is something so great about a really strong but vulnerable woman.
Karen Hawkins on 12 Apr 2008 at 6:51 am #
Oh man, I LOVED La Femme Nikita! Hadn’t thought about that one in a while. What a complex and delightfully flawed character — who just got more flawed and complicated at the show went on because of the plot. You both rooted for her and cringed.
Jewelz on 16 Apr 2008 at 4:40 pm #
Haha, I actually love Michael, mission pants and a French accent never looked so good…his and Nikita’s love story tops my list of heartbreaking and hottest couples in history, literature, etc. *whips out all 5 season DVDs*