Television Premieres and Notables: November 18-24

Esquire finally launches a ton of new shows this week. Too many to list here, and none that tell me what its identity is yet. Check it out online or on your DVR scheduler. if there's anything that I think sounds cool, I'll list it.

But what is cool this week is BBC America is giving us lots of Doctor Who goodness for its 50th Anniversary. Episode of the series, reruns of the The Doctors Revisited, and some original programming later in the week.


Tusday,11/19

Futurescape With James Woods; Science. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
James Woods hosts this show that looks at future technology.


Wednesday, 11/20

The League (FXX; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Well, I missed this season because Charter Communications kept FXX in the sports tier, and I don't watch enough sports to make it worth paying for.
So: big middle finger salute to the dipshits at my cable company.
Sunday
F-you Charter.


Friday, 11/22

Nikita; CW. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I'm too lazy to look it up, but I've heard rumors this is the last season. That's too bad as this show has really hit a groove the last few seasons and was completely unpredictable from episode to episode.
I mean: in this very episode, we deal with the fact that Nikita was framed for assassinating the president. That's kind of a big deal.

An Adventure in Time; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Special.
An original movie about the creation of Doctor Who.


Saturday, 11/23

Saturday is The Day of The Doctor. The long-awaited fiftieth anniversary special airs at 2:50 pm CST on BBC America in the US and on Who mother stations all over the globe-- and it's even going to be shown in select (meaning nowhere near me) movie theatres.

So: as the show has done for past milestone anniversaries, multiple Doctors join forces to handle whatever threat has developed. This is the NuWho era, so current (but soon to be leaving) Doctor Matt Smith and the dynamic Clara (Jenna Coleman) find themselves alongside Tenth Doctor (and fan favorite) David Tennant and first NuWho companion Rose (Billie Piper).

As we saw at the end of last season, there was a regeneration we previously didn't know about; one where the character didn't live up to/rejected/we don't know the name of The Doctor, so he was never spoken of again. Rumor has it, this Doctor landed between the Eighth and Ninth (the break between "Classic" and "New" eras) and played a pivotal role in the Time War that saw the destruction of the Daleks and the Time Lords.

Okay, all that sounds crazy and confusing. Here's what you need to know: the Doctor who cannot be named as such is played by John Hurt. What more do you need?

Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston supposedly was asked to participate and declined. No word on any "Classic" Doctor Who appearances or references, but this show likes to surprise (and they did a nice tribute to the past in the last season's "Name of The Doctor" episode).

Bill Cosby: Far From Finished; Comedy Central. 7 pm CST. Special.
The Cos performs in his first televised concert in thirty years.
I'm not sure if this will be even a fraction as great as his legendary "Himself" concert, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

Atlantis; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A young man looks for his father, and finds himself in a mysterious land.


Sunday, 11/24

Boardwalk Empire (HBO; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.

Getting On; HBO. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Laurie Metcalf, Alex Bornstein, and Niecy Nash star as nurses in a geriatric wing of a hospital.
I'm guessing it's a comedy...

Ja'mie: Private School Girl; HBO. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Chris Lilley brings his Summer Heights High standout character to her own show.
Fantastic!

Television Premieres and Notables: November 11-17, 2013

Monday, 11/11

Brain Games; Nat Geo. 8:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Church Rescue; Nat Geo. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Churches get into the whole makeover fad...


Thursday, 11/14

Ground Floor; TBS. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.


Friday, 11/15

America's Next Top Model (CW; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.

Raising Hope; Fox. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.


Saturday, 11/16

Pit Bulls and Parolees; Animal Planet. 9 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.


Sunday, 11/17

Almost Human; Fox. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Karl Urban stars as an injured police officer in 2048, and Michael Ealy plays his android partner.
Even if sci-fi isn't your thing, that duo alone deserves a try. I mean Karl freakin' Urban; that dude is on fire lately.

Eastbound & Down; HBO. 9 pm CST. Series Finale.
Sure, they said Season Three was the last one-- but I'm pretty sure they mean it this time.

Television Premieres and Notables: November 4-10, 2013

Monday, 11/4

Mike & Molly; CBS. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.


Tuesday, 11/5

The Chase; GSN. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

On New Girl (Fox; 8 pm CST),  Damon Wayans returns for an ep or two as Coach, the character that he played in the pilot, but had to bow out of due to his Happy Endings commitment.


Wednesday, 11/6

Beverly Hills Pawn; Reelz. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.


Thursday, 11/7

Inside the Actor's Studio; Bravo. 7 pm CST. 19th Season Premiere.


Friday, 11/8

Storage Wars New York; A&E. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.


Sunday, 11/10

Ax Men; History. 8 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.

Superman vs Batman -- Pete Holmes Show

Awesome Costume

Henri Pt 4: L'Haunting

The Snowman and the Snowdog DVD review

Hey-- look at that: a review!

I was sent a copy of the new DVD The Snowman and the Snowdog, so, yeah, I'll review it.

The long-awaited sequel to the 1982 short animated film based on Raymond Briggs' children's book  is told in much the same style as the original. Hand-drawn, hand-colored, and without dialogue, this short (about 30 minutes) film has a timeless, magical quality about it.

A young boy finds a hidden box in his bedroom and uses the contents to make a snowman and a snowdog companion. One night, the snowman and snowdog come alive and take the boy on an adventure.

So, as I mentioned above, there is no dialogue and no words at all aside from a song, but the storytelling and music are so wonderful, that none are needed. We feel the boy's pain at being lonely, and we feel his excitement at going on this magical trip.

It also can't be dismissed that this film is hand-drawn. No insult intended to computer animation, but this film had a certain soul about it because hands touched each frame. The animators lovingly recreated Briggs' style with colored-pencils filling in the lines that computer-rendered animation just wouldn't be able to capture.

Along with the film is a 40 minute documentary about making it interspersed with details about Briggs' sometimes difficult life. This was actually a fantastic extra as it really gave viewers a look into what goes into making even a 30 minute animated feature. It probably wouldn't surprise an animation enthusiast, but I hope people who don't know the process-- such as kids-- will gain an appreciation for what goes into it.  I think Briggs also has an interesting story, and it really informs us of why much of his work is tinged with sadness.

So is it worth the $10 it retails for?  Well, I'm pretty cheap, and I think it's a bit much for just over an hour of content.  BUT-- I remember how many times a young child will ask to watch the same thing over and over, and even if a parent only pulls it out every few months, that $10 is a good return on investment because I don't see kids or parents getting tired of it. This is a story that I think offers more with repeat viewings.

If you have young children-- or remember the original fondly-- this is a good pick-up to add to your collection.

Television Premieres and Notables: October 28- November 3, 2013

Monday, 10/28

Wild Grinders; Nicktoons. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Independent Lens; PBS. 9 pm CST (check local listings). 15th Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 10/30

Hoarding: Buried Alive; TLC. 9 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.


Thursday, 10/31

The Returned; Sundance. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A French series about a group of men, women, and children who do not realize they've been dead for a number of years.


Saturday, 11/2

Misfits; Logo. 12 am CST. 4th Season Premiere.

Littlest Pet Shop; Hub. 10 am CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Flipping Vegas; A&E. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

It Takes a Choir; USA. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.


Sunday, 11/3

Lego Friends; Disney. 8 am CST. Series Premiere.

Walking Dead Sing-along

This is pretty brilliant.
If you aren't into curb-stomping or zombie head mutilation, you may want to pass...

Day of The Doctor trailer

I really dig this one. The BBC really knows how to get us excited for the 50th...

Love all the Easter Eggs in it.

Television Premieres and Notables: October 21-27, 2013

Sooo, we're hip-deep in the new TV season.

My very brief thoughts:

Mom: great cast; lazy writing. Gave it three eps and dropped it.

The Blacklist: wanted to like it; Spader is great. But I barely even looked up when the second ep was on; couldn't tell you anything about it. Ain't no one got time for that. Done.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: You'd think a show "spun-off" from a billion dollar film would have a bigger budget... But Clark Gregg is holding the rapidly-gelling cast together so far, and he hits the moments he needs to in order to keep the plots going, so I'm sticking with it. I think it's just going to get better.

The Goldbergs: This is my favorite new show of the season. I find it tremendously entertaining.

The Crazy Ones: A quiet comedy. Not great, but solid.

Sean Saves the World: I couldn't get fifteen minutes into it. The laugh track was distracting-- and just enhanced the fact that the show is not funny.

The Michael J Fox Show : I like the small moments that keep this show going, and MJF still has that charisma that made him such a well-loved star.

Super Fun Night: I'm sticking with it for now, but don't find it all that funny or charming yet. But I see potential...

The Neighbors: Not a new show, but one that barely got a second season-- and grabbed the chance by the throat. Every episode is killing it. The ladies are getting more A-Plots, and that's been a good thing. This is my favorite comedy right now.


Anyway: what's new this week?


Monday, 10/21

At Midnight; Comedy Central. 11 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A new, nightly, game show hosted by The Nerdist himself: Chris Hardwick.
I know nothing beyond that...


Tuesday, 10/22

Ravenwood; ABC Family. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Pretty Little Liars gets a spin-off...

American Hoggers; A&E. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

House Hunters; HGTV. 9 pm CST. 79th Season Premiere.
HTF is this show on its 79th season? Do they count a season as four weeks?


Wednesday, 10/23

Duck Dynasty (A&E; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.

Restaurant Impossible; Food Network. 9 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.


Thursday, 10/24

Project Runway All Stars; Lifetime. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.


Friday, 10/25

Grimm; NBC. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Dracula; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as the titular vampire, who is posing as an American entrepreneur in 19th century London while trying to hunt-down the group who made him what he now is.


Sunday, 10/27

The Doctors Revisited; BBC America. 7 pm CST. Special.
Get acquainted (or reacquainted) with David Tennant's Tenth Doctor before next month's 50th Anniversary episode where he returns to team up with Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor and John Hurt's mysterious Doctor-Who-Can-Not-Be-Called-"Doctor".

Austin & Ally; Disney. 7:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Television Premieres and Notables: October 14-20, 2013

Tuesday, 10/15

Real Husbands of Hollywood; BET. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 10/16

Nature; PBS. 7 pm CST (check local listings). 31st Season Premiere.


Thursday, 10/17

Reign; CW. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
In 16th Century France as Mary, Queen of the Scots moves into the country for her arranged marriage to Prince Francis and all sorts of crazy adventures begin.

Big Bad Wood; Nat Geo. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Crews if tree choppers work the Greater Boston area.

White Collar; USA. 8 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Rehab Addict; DIY. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

Rampage: Redemption; Spike. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.


Friday, 10/18

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse; Disney. 8 am CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Access 360 World Heritage; Nat Geo.  5 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

The Birthday Boys; IFC. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A new sketch comedy brought to us by the UCB.


Saturday, 10/19

The Graham Norton Show; BBC America. 9 pm CST. 14th Season Premiere.
With Harrison Ford, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Jack Whitehall.

Dancing on the Edge; Starz. 9:05 pm CST. Mini-series Premiere.
Drama about a 1930s London jazz band.


Sunday, 10/20

Toy Hunter; Travel. 7 pm CST. Halloween Special.

Feel the GRAVITY

So, yeah, I'm woefully "behind" on reviewing the things I've watched/read, but once in a while I have the overwhelming need to write about something I recently witnessed.

This one is about the film GRAVITY. I saw it on a big screen; not IMAX big (and I have heard only good about seeing it in IMAX), but still larger than normal-- and in 3D. 

I saw it Friday and liked it so much I saw it again Saturday.

Fantastic! The acting was great, the direction was mesmerizing, and the effects were mind-blowing. I knew Clooney and Bullock could bring it, and I've been a fan of Alfonso Cuaron since I saw CHILDREN OF MEN (which resides as my #4 favorite movie on Flickchart), but I don't think my eyes have ever seen what I saw in this film done as well as it was here. My mind cannot even comprehend how they did those things (I hope the Blu-Ray release is decked out with making-of footage; I don't believe knowing the how will affect my enjoyment of it in the future).

It was absolutely amazing; just stunning on so many levels. And, yeah, some parts were scientifically inaccurate, but it didn't matter. The film was telling a nice, tight (90 minutes) story about survival, and it did it wonderfully. Just let it hit you.

And let it hit you on the big screen with speakers all around you. This is a huge-scale movie told from the point of view of a single character. The 3D isn't obnoxious, and it may not even be mandatory, but I found it really brought something to my enjoyment of the film. I'd recommend doing a gigantic screen and in 3D.

There are so many more things I'd like to say, but I hope anyone who watches it for the first time has the same sense of surprise I had (I really didn't know what it was about other than Bullock's character gets separated from her shuttle in space and is floating away at a high speed). This is a very realistic story, so don't think it's sci-fi. It just happened to be set in space (high-Earth orbit space).

Television Premieres and Notables: October 7-13, 2013

Monday, 10/7

Crash & Bernstein; Disney XD. 6:30 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Hart of Dixie; CW. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

At 7 pm CST, AMC gives everyone another chance to see The Walking Dead from beginning to end. The pilot airs at 7, and then for the next few hours and continues for the rest of the week.
This is your chance to catch every episode before Sunday...

Beauty and the Beast; CW. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Dream School; Sundance. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.


Tuesday, 10/8

The Biggest Loser; NBC. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Supernatural; CW. 8 pm CST.9th  Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 10/9

Arrow; CW. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
This series ended up hitting its stride in the back-half of its first season; I expect it to continue very nicely this year.

The Tomorrow People; CW. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A man thinks he's going crazy-- but he's really gaining super-powers.

Full Circle; DirecTV.  8 pm CST. Series Premiere.

American Pickers; History. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.


Thursday, 10/10

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland; ABC. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.


Saturday, 10/12

Vanilla Ice Goes Amish; DIY. 9 pm CST. Series premiere.
The title says it all...

Pearl Jam Twenty; VH1. 9 pm CST. Special.
Cameron Crowe's documentary about the band.


Sunday, 10/13

America's Funniest Home Videos; ABC. 6 pm CST. 24th Season Premiere.

The Walking Dead; AMC. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
The wait is over. After last season's finale, life is a bit different for our little family.
There's a lot of new cannon fodder to kill off, the walkers become a more dangerous threat, and there's a threat that has been held-over since last season that could strike at any time.
This is the show I have to watch every new episode of before I go to bed. It's my favorite one airing (even if I admit, it's not the best show I watch, it is the most unpredictable-- and that is a joy that I don't feel often anymore).
The Wire alert: Chad "Cutty" Coleman becomes a series regular and now Larry "D'angelo" Gilliard Jr joins up as well.

The Talking Dead; AMC. 9:01 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Comic Book Men; AMC. 11 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Television Premieres and Notables: September 30-October 6, 2013

Monday, 9/30

We Are Men; CBS. 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A guy who was left at the alter moves into an apartment building with three other men who are all about the ladies.

Ancient Aliens; History. 8 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.

RuPaul's Drag Race: The Lost Season Ru-Vealed; Logo. 8 pm CST. Season (Ru)Peat.
Logo is showing the first season again with special extras and pop-up info.


Tuesday, 10/1

Wolfblood; Disney Channel. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A teen girl has a secret: she is a wolfblood.
I don't know what that means, but it sounds serious.


Wednesday, 10/2

Ironside; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Blair Underwood stars as the wheelchair-bound cop who still knows how to dangle a man off a building and kick other types of ass.
I saw the pilot, and while Underwood was his usual good self, the plot was a lot of "seen it already". That'd be a procedural for you...

Top Chef; Bravo. 9 pm CST. 11th Season Premiere.


Thursday, 10/3

The Vampire Diaries; CW. 7 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Welcome to the Family; NBC. 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A girl who barely graduated high school tells her valedictorian boyfriend that she's pregnant.
The families meet, and they're not fond of each other.
The pilot was a little forced, but the cast should be able to hold it together until the writing catches up.
This one has potential.

The Millers; CBS. 7:31 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Will Arnett plays a TV reporter who inspires his parents to get a divorce after he got one himself.
Mom and pop (Margo Martindale and Beau Bridges) split up, and mom moves in with him.
Hilarity ensues.
Well, hopefully hilarity. I'm expecting mildly amusing at best.

Sean Saves the World; NBC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Sean Hayes stars as a divorced dad whose teenage daughter moves in.
Another one I don't have high hopes for.

The Originals; CW. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The Vampire Diaries gets a spin-off.

Scandal; ABC. 9 pm CST. 3nd Season Premiere.

North Woods Law; Animal Planet. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.


Saturday, 10/5

Jessie; Disney. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.


Sunday, 10/6

Alaska: The Last Frontier; Discovery. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Halloween Wars; Food Network. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Why's it always have to be "wars"? Can't these food shows have kerfuffles instead?

Witches of East End; Lifetime. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.

Television Premieres and Notables: September 23-29, 2013

Here it comes...


Monday, 9/23

The Pioneer Woman; Food Network. 4 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.

How I Met Your Mother; CBS. 7 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.
The final season begins. And we have seen The Mother.
Now we get to meet her.
The last couple of seasons have been weaker, but this season will take place during the weekend of Barney and Robin's wedding (with flashbacks and flashforwards), so I have some optimism the show can get back to its peak (I always was a sucker for their non-linear episodes).

The Voice; NBC. 7 pm CST. 5th Cycle Premiere.

2 Broke Girls; CBS. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Mom; CBS. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Anna Faris and Alison Janney star in this show about a recovering alcoholic who moves herself and her kids into her recovered addict mom's house.

Castle; ABC. 9 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.

Hostages; CBS. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Dylan McDermott stars as an FBI who is agent blackmailing a doctor played by Toni Collette into botching a surgery she is performing on the President. The storyline of this 15-episode series has been promised to end completely by the season finale, and if the show is renewed, it will "reset" and tell another story next year.

The Blacklist; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
James Spader plays an FBI Most Wanted criminal who turns himself in in order to catch the criminals that aren't even on the Fed's radar.


Tuesday, 9/24

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ABC. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Joss Whedon brings (and directs the pilot) us this series set in the cinematic Marvel Universe where Agent Coulston (he lives!) leads a group on non-powered (misfit) agents tasked with investigating odd things happening around the globe.
This is the series I'm most looking forward to this new season. Whedon can't run the day-to-day, but it sounds like his fingerprints are all over the series, and that's a good thing for me.
And Coulston is back. I've loved Clark Gregg since The New Adventures of Old Christine, and I think Agent Coulston is the part he was born to play: the extremely-capable everyman that the Marvel movies have utilized so well until his untimely demise in The Avengers (sorry, but if you haven't seen it by now, it's your own fault).

NCIS; CBS. 7 pm CST. 11th Season Premiere.

NCIS: Los Angeles; CBS. 5th Season Premiere.

The Goldbergs; ABC. 8:01 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Creator Adam F. Goldberg brings us this series based on his childhood in the '80s. I've liked the previews I've seen, and with Jeff Garlin and Wendi McLendon-Covey as the parents, I have faith this could turn out to be a good one.



Trophy Wife; ABC. 8:31 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Malin Akerman plays Bradley Whitford's third wife, and his first and second wives are still in the picture.

Lucky 7; ABC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Seven gas station employees win the jackpot, and their lives experience the ups and downs of being suddenly rich.
The Wire alert: one of the seven is played by Isiah Whitlock Jr. ("Sheeeeeeit.")

Person of Interest; CBS. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
This "procedural" keeps things progressing so well that there's always a thread that runs between episodes.
Case in point: Amy Acker (yes!) and Sarah Shahi (yes! yes!) are now series regulars.

Chicago Fire; NBC. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Fangasm; Syfy. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Seven fans move to L.A. to intern at Stan Lee's Comicaze Expo.


Wednesday, 9/25

The Middle; ABC. 7 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Revolution; NBC. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Back in the Game; ABC. 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Maggie Lawson plays a former softball star who moves herself and her no-so-athletic son back in with her former baseball-standout father (played by James Caan).

Modern Family; ABC. 8 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Criminal Minds; CBS. 8 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; 15th Season Premiere.

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

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; CBS. 9 pm CST. 14th Season Premiere.


Thursday, 9/26

Shark Tank; ABC. 7 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

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

Parks and Recreation; NBC. 7 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.

Grey's Anatomy; ABC. 8 pm CST. 10th Season Premiere.

Glee; Fox. 8 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.
I hope Blaine's a senior this year, so he can graduate, and I can stop watching...

The Crazy Ones; CBS. 8:01 pm CST. Series Premiere,
David E. Kelley created this show that stars Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar as father and daughter owners of an ad exec firm; he fears he's becoming irrelevant, she fears he's losing his mind.

The Michael J. Fox Show; NBC. 8:01 pm CST. Series Premiere.
MJF plays a news anchor who is returning to the job after he learns to manage his Parkinson's well enough to do so.
The Wire alert: Wendell "Bunk" Pierce is in the cast as Fox's boss.

Two and a Half Men; CBS. 8:31 pm CST. 11th Season Premiere.
Angus T. Jones talked some shit about his show, and now his character is off to college.
But how will the show replace the "half"? By having Charlie's illegitimate daughter show up.
She's a hard-drinkin' lesbian and loves chicks as much as Charlie did.
I doubt that even this show is crass enough to consider a lesbian half a man. I'm just sayin'...

Elementary; CBS. 9:01 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Parenthood; ABC. 9:01 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.
The little show that could already got renewed for a full season.


Friday, 9/27

Undercover Boss; CBS. 7 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Masterchef Junior; Fox. 7 pm CST.
I hope Ramsey doesn't take it easy on those kids.
They need to learn.

Hawaii Five-0; CBS. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

Blue Bloods; CBS. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.


Saturday, 9/28

Saturday Night Live; NBC. 10:35 pm CST. 39th Season Premiere.


Sunday, 9/29

Winx Club; Nickelodeon. 12 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.
 
Once Upon a Time; ABC. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

The Simpsons; Fox. 7 pm CST. 25th Season Premiere.
 
Making Monsters; Travel. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Bob's Burgers; Fox. 7:30 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

Revenge; ABC. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

The Good Wife; CBS. 8 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

Family Guy; Fox. 8 pm CST. 12th Season Premiere.

Homeland; Showtime. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

American Dad; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. 10th Season Premiere.

The Mentalist; CBS. 9 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.

Eastbound and Down; HBO. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

The Masters of Sex; Showtime. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan play sex research pioneers Masters and Johnson.
It's on Showtime, so expect to see some tit-tays...

Betrayal; ABC. 9:01 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A married man has an affair with a married woman. Hilarity ensues.
This is another case of a cable-sized (13 ep) season, so expect the thrills and WTFs to come fast and furious.

Hello Ladies; HBO. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Stephen Merchant, co-creator of The Office and Extras, co-created this series about a web designer who is trying to make his way through the dating scene.

Television Premieres and Notables: September 16-22, 2013

Since Fox loses much of October due to baseball, they are starting the Fall season a week early. Get ready-- here comes the new stuff!


Monday, 9/16

The Queen Latifah Show; Fox. 4 pm CST. Series Premiere.

Dancing With the Stars; ABC. 7 pm CST. 17th Cycle Premiere.

Bones; Fox. 7 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.

Sleepy Hollow; Fox. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Revolutionary War soldier Ichabod Crane is transported to modern times and has to team-up with a detective to battle the Headless Horseman.


Tuesday, 9/17

Dads; Fox. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi stars as the sons in this show from Seth MacFarlane which many critics are predicting will be the first show cancelled this season.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine; Fox. 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
If you've seen any episode of any program on Fox since May, you've seen the commercials. I'm not a fan of Andy Samberg-- but I do know Andre Braugher will bring it. Hopefully the writing will firm-up a little (the commercials were amusing, but not hilarious), and it'll find its feet sooner rather than later.

New Girl; Fox. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

The Mindy Project; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
If you gave up on this show early-on last year, it got better.
You may want to give it another shot.

Frontline; PBS. 9 pm CST (check local listings). 32nd Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 9/18

Survivor; CBS. 7 pm CST. 27th Cycle Season Premiere.

Big Brother (CBS; 8:30 pm CST). Season Finale.
After watching almost every episode of every previous season, I was able to skip or sleep through a number of episodes this season.
This show is losing its grip on my summer watching, finally,

Key & Peele; Comedy Central. 9:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.


Thursday, 9/19

The Million Second Quiz (NBC; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.


Friday, 9/20

Last Man Standing; ABC. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Dog With a Blog; Disney. 7:30 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

The Neighbors; ABC. 7:31 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
This show wasn't great-- but I did find it hilarious at least once or twice an episode.
The concept is an eye-roller, but the execution is fantastic. Give it a shot.

Shark Tank; ABC. 8 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

The Hollow Crown; PBS. 8 pm CST (check local listings). Mini-series Premiere.
Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, and Patrick Stewart are just three of the British actors you'll be seeing in this massive adaptation of Shakespeare's Richard II, Henry IV (pts I & II), and Henry V.


Sunday, 9/22

65th Primetime Emmy Awards; CBS. 7 pm CST. Special.
I've stopped watching awards shows because they get it wrong at least as many times as they get it right.
But host Neil Patrick Harris may get me to DVR it...

Dexter (Showtime; 8 pm CST). Series Finale.

Television Premieres and Notables: September 9-15, 2013

Monday, 9/9

The Million Second Quiz; NBC. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Ryan Seacrest hosts this game show I couldn't tell you anything about.

Mistresses (ABC; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.


Tuesday, 9/10

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.

Snake Salvation; Nat Geo. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.

Sons of Anarchy; FX. 9 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 9/11

Regular Show; Cartoon Network. 5 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.

The X Factor; Fox. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Royal Pains (USA; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.


Thursday, 9/12

Burn Notice (USA; 8 pm CST). Series Finale.


Friday, 9/13

Haven; Syfy. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.


Saturday, 9/14

Cops; Spike. 7 pm CST. 26th Season Premiere.

Raising McCain; Pivot. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.


Sunday, 9/15

Liv and Maddie; Disney. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.

Foyle's War; PBS. 8 pm CST (check local listings). Season Premiere.

The Newsroom (HBO; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.

The Great Santini Brothers; History, 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.

Alaska State Troopers; Nat Geo. 9 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.