Fall TV

I am not a big fan of new TV because most of the new shows in the past few years have been too raunchy for me to enjoy them. Also, "reality TV" isn't real at all, so what is the point in watching normal people who fit a particular stereotype put into an unreal situation and experience ups and downs for several weeks while all claiming to have achieved some big personal revelation that will forever change their lives (the celebrity that comes from the show alone probably changes the life more than anything else, but I am digressing). For these reasons, I have sworn off of watching fall TV the past few years and have instead waited until the shows come on syndication (House) or DVD (The Office) to watch them.

This year I am taking a different approach however. I got so caught up in the season of House last year when I realized that the episodes I was watching on USA on Friday nights were the same ones that were played on the Monday of the same week that I started watching on Mondays. I even watched an episode or two of The Office on TV last year. Therefore, this fall when the season premieres came on, I could not resist the temptation to watch the season premiere of House and The Office. Part of my reason for not wanting to get addicted to watching on a particular date and time is that I do not want my activities during a week to be governed by what is on TV that night. Should TV really trump relationship opportunities that may present themselves? Probably not. Of course my previous post mentions certain football games that usually do trump relationships but most of the people I am friends with know and understand!

I love to watch House. House even trumped the first hour of Peyton Manning on Monday Night Football, which is pretty huge for me. There is something about House that intrigues me despite his atheist talk and his attempts to be God. He is fascinating, and I cannot help but be fascinated by the show. House may have some of the best writers in TV, even if (I have been told) this week's episode seemed to mirror The Soloist.

The Office is starting out pretty funny this year. Last year started kind of funny, but at least the last half of the season was not funny, and things were looking grim. I am pleased to see that the humor has returned and it is looking more like seasons 2 and 3 than 4 and 5. I also discovered this week that I can watch full episodes on my iPhone at the NBC site (for FREE!), so I do not have to craft my schedule around watching this show. AWESOME! I knew I could from the computer, but since I don't have Internet at home other than on my iPhone, it was inconvenient to try to watch the episodes last year.

Upon the recommendation of a friend, I actually decided to give Community a chance. So far I have found it funny. It is funny in a clever way. It is funny in a way that is reminiscent of classic Saturday Night Live skits (and I am not saying that just because Chevy Chase is a cast member - SNL Thursday update and Parks and Recreations are missing the characteristics of classic SNL that make this show funny). It has the humor of The Office without being the mockumentary format. Plus, full episodes of it can be watched on my iPhone for free meaning I do not feel bad for missing an episode and can catch up pretty quickly.

It looks like these three shows are going to be the only shows to survive into spring. I have watched bits of other shows, and I have not been impressed. I do like the opening skit on the SNL Thursday Update, but the rest of the show was downhill. Parks and Recreations was too - well, I am having a hard time finding a word - offensive seems to capture it well enough. I do not need to add any medical shows since House is so perfect. I do not need mystery/crime shows because House has that covered too. Three shows that I am addicted to is not too bad. Now I have a fall line-up that is manageable - House, The Office, Community, and football.