Premieres and Notables: October 8-14, 2012

Monday, 10/8

90210; The CW. 7 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Titanic: Blood and Steel; Encore. 7 pm CST. Mini-series Premiere.
a 12-part look at the three years before the ship's fateful voyage.

Gossip Girl; The CW. 8 pm CST. Sixth-- and final-- Season Premiere.

The Mortified Sessions; Sundance Channel. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.


Tuesday, 10/9

The CW brings us Joss Whedon's TV writer's strike of 2007 project Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (8 pm CST) starring Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, who's in love with Felicia Day, who is in love herself with Nathan Filion's d-bag superhero Captain Hammer.  It was made on the cheap (but still looks better than its budget suggests) by a group of friends and debuted online and became a cult sensation. 

All this is pretty old hat by now (online distribution, low budget, can-do project, NPH rocking a role you don't expect him to), but it's still worth checking out.


Wednesday, 10/10

Arrow; the CW. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The CW takes another swing at a DC Comics property by bringing the basis of Green Arrow to TV.  A spoiled rich kid gets stranded on an island for five years, where he takes up archery to survive.  then he makes his way back to Starling City (not the comics' Star City) to clean it up, vigilante style.

Nashville; ABC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Connie Britton plays an aging country star who is asked to bring a younger talent (Hayden Panettiere) under her wing.  Lots of buzz about this one. Check it out.

Chicago Fire; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A show about Chicago fire fighters.  Really, that's pretty much all I know. 
It's on NBC, so you can guess what it "feels" like.


Thursday, 10/11

The Vampire Diaries; The CW. 7 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

Beauty and the Beast; the CW. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan star in this kinda-sorta reboot of the '80s cult hit.  But the Beast is not a furry creature like that one, but is actually a guy with some scars who was part of a military experiment.  It is The CW; gotta sell that beefcake...

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; FX. 9 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
My fingers are crossed that this season continues the brilliance of last season (this show tends to have a good season followed by a bad one followed by a good one).

The League; FX. 9:30 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
My fingers are crossed that this season will continue the pattern of better and better seasons every year.

The Greatest Event in Television History; adult swim (Cartoon Network). 11 pm CST. Special.
Adam Scott and Jon Hamm star in this project that no one seems to be talking about.


Sunday, 10/14

The Walking Dead; AMC. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
So after a slow start, the show ended the second season with the death of its moral center, a powderkeg goes off and gets killed-- twice. And then the Barnageddon where it all hit the fan,and (most of) the group barely gets out alive-- and Rick announces he's tired of asking opinions; he's taking the leadership role he was thrust into, and is beginning a Ricktatorship. Those who don't like it can leave.
So this season offers us some comic fan catnip in the form of the prison setting (and I've read that the premiere features a huge massacre as they clear-out the fortress) as well as the inclusion of Michonne, the katana-wielding badass who drags around two jawless and armless zombies as a form of walker repellent. 
And most fans are excited about the introduction of The Governor, the leader of a morally corrupt group.  It was a Jump the Shark (to use an overused term) moment for me for the comic (he was way over the top), but I'm hoping this is one of those things Robert Kirkman wants to make better for the series than he did for the comic.
Oh, and if you are still on the fence about it: this season will also feature the return of Daryl's racist-- and now one-handed-- brother Merle.

Oh-- and if you've missed the series, AMC is giving you the chance to catch up, by airing the series premiere at 9 am on Saturday and going all the way until the season premiere tonight.

The Talking Dead; AMC. 10 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Comic Book Men; AMC. 10:30 pm CST.  2nd Season Premiere.
There were strengths and there were weaknesses to the first season.
I hope it was the weak stuff they cut-out now that the show will be a half hour long...

I can't wait for Community to start up again...

Spanky rules.

Proof that cats are better than dogs

This pretty much sums up why I don't watch reality shows...

Of course, The Onion is a satirical paper/website first, but sometimes it finds a way to make us laugh while also trying to prove a point.

This is one such piece:  You Do, Of Course, Realize That This Is Going To End Very, Very Badly

Premieres and Notables: October 1-7, 2012

Monday, 10/1

Warehouse 13 (Syfy; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.


Tuesday, 10/2

Raising Hope; Fox. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Hart of Dixie; The CW. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 10/3

Supernatural; The CW. 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.


Thursday, 10/4

30 Rock; NBC. 7 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
The final (half-)season begins.

The Next (The CW; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.


Saturday, 10/6

Austin City Limits; PBS. 8 pm CST (check local listings). Season Premiere.
A Radiohead show kicks-off the 38th season.

Bedlam; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.

See Dad Run; Nick At Nite. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Scott Baio stars as a TV star who's now a stay at home dad.


Sunday, 10/7

America's Funniest Home Videos; ABC. 6 pm CST. Season Premiere.

The Cleveland Show; Fox. 6:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Curiosity; Discovery. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

The Doctor Vists Brian Williams

Gotta post this little bit of brilliance after watching last night's episode:






I've been reading some negative comments about the episode, but I have to admit, it was like having my heart ripped out-- especially seeing The Doctor's reaction to it all.

^^^But this picture is even harder to look at...

Premieres and Notables: September 24-30, 2012

Monday, 9/24

Dancing With the Stars; ABC. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.

How I Met Your Mother; CBS. 7 pm CST Season Premiere.

Bones; Fox. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Partners; CBS. 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.

Two Broke Girls; CBS. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

The L.A. Complex (The CW; 8 pm CST).  Season Finale.

Mike & Molly; CBS. 8:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Hawaii Five-O; CBS. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.


Tuesday, 9/25

The New Girl; Fox. 7 and 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
This one started slow, but became of the best of last season by the end.

Ben and Kate; Fox. 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
This comedy about a brother and sister raising her five-year-old daughter has been on many "must watch" lists for the new season.

The Mindy Project; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Mindy Kaling hopped off that sinking ship known as The Office and landed in this series where she plays an ob-gyn looking for love.

Private Practice; ABC. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Vegas; CBS. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Dennis Quaid stars as a rancher who becomes sheriff of Las Vegas of a few decades ago. And Michael Chiklis stars as the big-time mobster he runs across.
Yeah-- this should go without saying: must watch.

Tosh.0; Comedy Central. 9 pm CST. Mid-season Return.

Brickleberry; Comedy Central. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
An animated series about a national park that can't attract tourists.


Wednesday, 9/26

The Middle; ABC. 7 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
This underrated show is back for another season. Check it out.

Modern Family; ABC. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

Criminal Minds; CBS. 8 pm CST.8th Season Premiere.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; NBC. 8 pm CST. 14th Season Premiere.

The Neighbors; ABC. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Jami Gertz and Lenny Venito star as a couple who move into a gated community full of aliens.

Top Chef Masters (Bravo. 9 pm CST). Season Finale.

South Park; Comedy Central. 9 pm CST. Mid-season Return.

Bitchin' Kitchen; Cooking Channel. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Key & Peele; Comedy Central. 9:30 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Great show.  Glad it's back (Comedy Central likes to cancel great shows early).
[Of course, Comedy Central also doesn't know how to cancel a no-longer-great show. See: South Park above.]


Thursday, 9/27

The Big Bang Theory; CBS. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Last Resort; ABC. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Andre Braugher stars as a nuclear sub captain who doesn't follow orders to bomb Pakistan and goes rogue. 
Another new series I've been reading lots of "must see" buzz about...

Two and a Half Men; CBS. 7:30 pm CST. 10th Season Premiere.

Grey's Anatomy; ABC. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Person of Interest; CBS. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Highly recommended.

Scandal; ABC. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Elementary; CBS. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu star as modern-day Sherlock Holmes and Watson.
Lots of buzz about this one as well.

Louie (FX; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.


Friday, 9/28

CSI: NY; CBS. 7 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.

Made in Jersey; CBS. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Some show about a female lawyer from Joisey...

Fringe; Fox. 8 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.
The final season begins.

Blue Bloods; CBS. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.


Saturday, 9/29

Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Cartoon Network. 8:30 am CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series; Cartoon Network. 9 am CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Nickelodeon. 10 am CST. Series Premiere.

Doctor Who; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Mid-season Finale.
Highly notable because this episode features the last regular adventure the Ponds accompany The Doctor on.
Previous companion-endings (since the relaunch) have not yet been fatal-- but they've all been heartbreaking in their own ways.


Sunday, 9/30

60 Minutes; CBS. 6 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Once Upon a Time; ABC. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Amazing Race; CBS. 7 pm CST. 21st Season Premiere.

The Simpsons; Fox. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Bob's Burgers; Fox. 7:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Revenge; ABC. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.

The Good Wife; CBS. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Family Guy; Fox. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Dexter; Showtime. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.

American Dadl Fox. 8:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.

666 Park Avenue; ABC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams star as the building managers of a Manhattan high-rise which has some odd things going on.

The Mentalist; CBS. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Homeland; Showtime. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.