regarding recording television

scribbled show notes

On the right side of this webpage I keep a list of the shows I’ve got the DVR programmed to record on a regular basis. I haven’t updated that list recently. I’ll try to get to it this week. In the meantime, here are a few comments about the shows listed there (sort of a pre-May sweeps recommend / don’t recommend list):

The OC
LOVE IT! (as evidenced by all the talk about the show every Thursday on my blog)

Gilmore Girls
New episodes returned last week. I feel like whenever GILMORE GIRLS takes a few weeks off, it loses steam. And then it takes me three weeks to get back into enjoying things. The dialogue is still there. It’s still funny and energetic, but Lorelai and Rory both need to grow up and get on with their lives. Especially Rory. The return to this whole Dean nonsense is ridiculous. Why aren’t we seeing more of Lane? Why don’t we get to see Rory at school? As much as I like Lorelai, I think she’s holding her daughter back. (The thing is, I’m talking about this mom and daughter pair as if they’re real people. That’s a sure sign that I’ll keep watching the show)

Smallville
Good, trashy fun. I’m glad the show is still on the air but I’m worried it’s taken such a sci-fi streak. I’ll be curious to see how it comes back around to Clark being more Superman like.

Everwood
START WATCHING NOW. If you’ve written off network television as being solely focused on reality television, this is the best-scripted antidote ever. The stories are complex and ambiguous and deal with issues both big and small. The dialogue is tremendously good. It manages to be warm, funny, intelligent and direct (without seeming preachy). The acting is superb. Can someone explain why this isn’t a more talked about show?

Angel
It’s going off the air soon.

Alias
Did I call SMALLVILLE good trashy fun? Alias is trashier and more fun. You know how when you were a kid and you’d go to the grocery store with your mom? She’d be at the produce aisle picking out fruits and vegetables that you wouldn't eat and you’d be at that giant Brach’s candy stand conveniently placed by the entrance. You’re eyes would be so big staring at those sugar coated gummy candies (if you were me, it was the orange slices, but maybe the liquorice ones, too). And then she’d catch you and you’d half smile and she’d let you pick out a few. Watching ALIAS is like eating three of those candies in a row as soon as you get out of the grocery store. Not so much that you’ve ruined your dinner, but just enough to make you the happiest person in the world.

Big Idea with Donny Deutsch
Mitch and I have been looking around to find this show and can’t find it on CNBC at all. Was it cancelled? Was it just a short-lived thing? My fingers are crossed that it will return.

Grounded for Life
I’ve watched half of Friday night’s episode. I’ll finish it soon. I think this is the only ½ hour sitcom I actually record and watch on a regular basis. I think what I like best about it is that I can watch it in twenty minutes and when it ends I’m always hoping there will be five more minutes.

Degrassi: The Next Generation
I can’t remember the last time a new episode aired.

Subterranean
This show is pretty awful, but it’s all I can seem to find as far as “alternative” or “indie rock” videos go. It’s perfect for watching between innings of baseball. If I’m lucky there’s at least one video per episode that I haven’t seen that I actually want to see.

The Simpsons
I’ve watched only one episode of THE SIMPSONS this year. The big lie of my life is that I don’t actually watch this show. I just list it on the side because I think people won’t think I’m cool if I don’t say I watch it.

King of the Hill
I only watch one in every five episodes of this show. Sunday night is busy! And I don’t have any patience for anything anymore.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
I’ll be taking this off the list soon. This show just makes me want stuff. Like a nicer apartment, new furniture and the money to maintain all the expensive tastes the show promotes. It’s not healthy.

Food Finds
Sujan watches this; I only see a few minutes of each episode.

Once and Again
I finally watched all the episodes. It’s been deprogrammed from the DVR.

Gardening by the Yard
The best thing about this HGTV show is looking at Paul James’s goofy outfits.

Track 2
Is this show on MTV? I have no idea. It’s rarely new and whenever it is, it conflicts with something else so I never record it. I have no idea what it’s about.

Unwrapped
See TRACK 2.

World Poker Tour
The Big Slick of poker shows.

Dinner for Five
Just started back up again. A coming episode features the cast of JERSEY GIRL. Bring Dave Eggers back, but make him talk this time.

Breakthrough Video
See UNWRAPPED.

Extreme Homes
I’ve given up on this show. I watched too many episodes and all those episodes convinced me that people are crazy.

Coupling
When is the fourth season going to air in the US of A?

A Cook's Tour
I think all the episodes are reruns. Sujan is the one who asked we record this show, but I really dig it. I’ll keep watching it even after she and Dan move.

Book Television
I swear there are only four episodes of this show in circulation. Trio has got to get its act together and bring us some “fresh” episodes.

MediaTelevision
See BOOK TELEVISION (then add two episodes).

Sonic Cinema
An October only thing.

Sonic Videos
An October only thing.

Coming soon, a list of the shows I’ve added to recorded on a regular basis list.