What I Will Be Watching in Fall 2013 – ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW

The schedules are out, the promos are released – now it’s time for me to figure out what I want to watch, what I have time to watch, what I won’t miss, and which new shows I’ll give a chance to wow me. As always, shows that aren’t live-action and scripted are ignored by this site.

New shows are in bold.

 

SUNDAY

Watching: Once Upon a Time

Not watching: Revenge, Betrayal, The Good Wife, The Mentalist

Only one new show is debuting on Sundays, Betrayal, and while the promo was good, the subject matter is meh in my mind.

 

MONDAY

Watching: Castle, How I Met Your Mother, Bones, Almost Human, Beauty and the Beast

Checking out: We Are Men, Intelligence , Sleepy Hollow

Not watching: 2 Broke Girls, Mom, Hostages, Blacklist, Hart of Dixie

Almost Human’s promo was so excellent, it got bumped right to the watching list. Of course, if it stinks, it’ll get bumped right back down. While Hostages and Blacklist had good promos, they’re just not something I’m interested in watching. Mom looks awful. Sleepy Hollow looks far better than I expected, so I’ll probably watch the pilot out of curiosity’s sake, but I doubt I’ll keep watching due to time constraints. Other than HIMYM, the returning shows that are on Mondays are the ones I fell most behind on (thinking about it now, why Castle and Bones got the short end of the stick was because we usually had a friend over on Tuesdays to watch previous seasons of HIMYM, so I didn’t have time to catch up).

 

TUESDAY

Watching: Marvel’s Agents of Shield, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Person of Interest, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl, The Mindy Project

Checking out: The Originals

Not watching: The Goldbergs, The Trophy Wife, Lucky 7, Dads, Chicago Fire, Supernatural

The only reason Supernatural is on the not watching list is because I haven’t caught up yet, and since I’m still on season one, I doubt I’ll catch up this summer. I was going to watch Dads because of Seth Green, but the promo was so awful I don’t even plan to watch the pilot (besides, it’s in a horrible time slot so I doubt it will last). I’m behind on The Vampire Diaries, so my “checking out” of The Originals may only consist of watching the planted pilot (not a huge fan of the original siblings or Haley). Agents of Shield went on my to-watch list as soon as it was announced, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the promo for Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Unless the first few episodes strike a very different tone, it’ll probably stay on my watch list.

 

WEDNESDAY

Watching: Arrow

Checking out: The Tomorrow People

Not watching: The Middle, Back in the Game, Modern Family, Super Fun Night, Nashville, Criminal Minds, CSI, Revolution, Law & Order: SVU, Ironside

Wednesdays are once again my least-watched weekday. Aside from the Amell cousins’ projects, I’m passing on the entire night. Back in the Game and Super Fun Night look awful. Ironside looks excellent, but I watch so many other excellent crime dramas that new ones need a fun sci-fi twist (like Almost Human) or to cast one of my favorite actors.

 

THURSDAY

Watching: Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, The Big Bang Theory, The Crazy Ones, Elementary, The Vampire Diaries

Checking out: Reign

Not watching: Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, The Millers, Two and a Half Men, Glee, Parks and Recreation, Welcome to the Family, Sean Saves the World, The Michael J. Fox Show, Parenthood

It used to be that I mainly watched NBC comedies; now I’m just waiting for Community to come back. CBS’s The Crazy Ones pairs Mork and Buffy, which pushed it onto my short list, and the behind-the-scenes promo was as hilarious as most regular trailers. Wonderland’s preview is amazing, and Reign has an interesting premise and enough actors I know for me to give it a try.

 

FRIDAY

Watching: The Neighbors, Bones (once it moves), Enlisted, Grimm

Checking out: Dracula

Not watching: Last Man Standing, Hawaii Five-O, Blue Bloods, Raising Hope, The Carrie Diaries

Enlisted was one of my most anticipated series contenders thanks to a great cast, and the promo shows that it’ll be funny as well. I probably won’t watch Dracula, but I do want to see where they’re going with the story, so I should preview the pilot.

 

That gives me 22 shows that I plan to watch (8 comedies and 14 dramas for 18 hours total) and 7 that I want to check out (1 comedy and 6 dramas for 6.5 hours total).

What shows are you watching next fall? Vote below and spread the word!

What broadcast shows do you plan to watch during fall 2013?

  • Marvel's Agents of SHIELD (6%, 19 Votes)
  • NCIS (5%, 16 Votes)
  • Supernatural (4%, 15 Votes)
  • Arrow (4%, 15 Votes)
  • Castle (4%, 15 Votes)
  • The Big Bang Theory (4%, 14 Votes)
  • Elementary (4%, 13 Votes)
  • Grimm (4%, 13 Votes)
  • Once Upon a Time (4%, 13 Votes)
  • Bones (4%, 12 Votes)
  • NCIS: Los Angeles (3%, 10 Votes)
  • Criminal Minds (3%, 10 Votes)
  • How I Met Your Mother (3%, 9 Votes)
  • Person of Interest (2%, 8 Votes)
  • Dracula (2%, 8 Votes)
  • Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2%, 8 Votes)
  • Almost Human (2%, 8 Votes)
  • The Mentalist (2%, 7 Votes)
  • Sleepy Hollow (2%, 7 Votes)
  • The Vampire Diaries (2%, 6 Votes)
  • Hawaii Five-O (2%, 6 Votes)
  • New Girl (2%, 6 Votes)
  • The Tomorrow People (2%, 6 Votes)
  • Grey's Anatomy (2%, 6 Votes)
  • Blue Bloods (1%, 5 Votes)
  • Revolution (1%, 5 Votes)
  • Revenge (1%, 5 Votes)
  • The Good Wife (1%, 4 Votes)
  • Modern Family (1%, 4 Votes)
  • Scandal (1%, 4 Votes)
  • CSI (1%, 4 Votes)
  • Law & Order: SVU (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Ironside (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Two and a Half Men (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Enlisted (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Raising Hope (1%, 3 Votes)
  • The Michael J. Fox Show (1%, 3 Votes)
  • The Crazy Ones (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Glee (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Nashville (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Hart of Dixie (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine (1%, 3 Votes)
  • The Mindy Project (1%, 3 Votes)
  • The Originals (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Beauty and the Beast (1%, 3 Votes)
  • 2 Broke Girls (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Reign (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Dads (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Hostages (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Parks and Recreation (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Parenthood (0%, 1 Votes)
  • The Goldbergs (0%, 1 Votes)
  • Last Man Standing (0%, 1 Votes)
  • Blacklist (0%, 1 Votes)
  • Mom (0%, 1 Votes)
  • Chicago Fire (0%, 1 Votes)
  • Super Fun Night (0%, 1 Votes)
  • Back in the Game (0%, 1 Votes)
  • The Neighbors (0%, 1 Votes)
  • We Are Men (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Betrayal (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Sean Saves the World (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Welcome to the Family (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Trophy Wife (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Lucky 7 (0%, 0 Votes)
  • The Millers (0%, 0 Votes)
  • The Middle (0%, 0 Votes)
  • The Carrie Diaries (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 31

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2012 Black Friday Deals on TV Shows

Amazon has some amazing deals on TV shows this weekend, so I thought I’d share them with you here. Prices are accurate at the time of posting, and I expect they’ll remain the same through the weekend, but there’s no guarantee, so order now!

Prices are for DVD sets, unless otherwise noted

How I Met Your Mother, seasons 1-5: $7.99 each

Burn Notice, seasons 1-5

White Collar, seasons 1-3

Community, seasons 1-3

Happy Endings, seasons 1-2

Modern Family, seasons 1-2: $11.99 each

The Walking Dead, seasons 1-2

Firefly, complete series: $7.99

The Office, seasons 1-7

Downton Abbey, series 2: $13.00

Psych, seasons 1-4: $7.99

The Big Bang Theory, season 5: $19.49

House, seasons 2-7: $11.99 each

Breaking Bad, seasons 1-4

Supernatural, seasons 1-7: $9.99 each

Fringe, seasons 1-4: $9.99 each

The Tudors, complete series: $34.99

Mad Men, seasons 1-4

Blue Bloods, season 1: $10.96

Bones, seasons 1-5: $7.99 each

Friday Night Lights, complete series: $53.99

Lie To Me, seasons 1-3: $10.49 each

The West Wing, complete series: $89.99

Charmed, complete series: $49.96

True Blood, seasons 1-3: $16.99 each

Gilligan’s Island, complete series: $32.99

The Good Wife, season 1: $9.99

Justified, seasons 1-2: $9.99 each

Parks & Recreation, seasons 1-2

 

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Monday Madness: Favorite Characters Over 50

This week, Monday Madness returns with a look at those TV characters who buck the 18-49 demographic trend and prove that interesting characters make for great TV, no matter their age!

One important note: this poll does not include characters who have lived for many decades (or even centuries), but through supernatural means still look and act like 20somethings. So no vampires, Alphas who never age, or characters frozen in time for 28 years, unless they were 50+ beforehand. I tried to find actual ages for characters closer to the cut-off point, but when in doubt, I went by the portraying actor’s age when the show came out. And for long-running shows, some characters may have been under 50 at the beginning, but aren’t now.

This poll will be open for one week, and you can choose up to 10 of your favorite TV characters over 50. Be sure to spread the word so your favorites will make it into the top 10! Fans have used Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, forums, Reddit, blogs, and chatboxes to get the word out about past polls. Get creative!

Important: I know there are dozens of TV characters over 50 who are missing from this list. You can nominate characters I missed in the comments until Thursday night, and I may add them to the poll (characters from live-action scripted shows only, please, and the character must be a main cast member or appear in at least 10 episodes of the show).

Want more of a say in who makes it onto the poll each week? Be sure to follow me on Twitter or like TV Breakroom on Facebook, since I usually ask for nominations for the next Monday Madness the weekend before the new poll. Please help out with nominations! There are only so many shows I can watch personally, so I’m counting on you to fill me in!

Without further ado, here’s the poll for this week’s Monday Madness! Voting ends around 1AM October 23rd.

Who is your favorite TV character over 50? (Choose up to 10!)

  • Bobby Singer - Supernatural (20%, 183 Votes)
  • Gibbs - NCIS (11%, 98 Votes)
  • Ducky - NCIS (10%, 95 Votes)
  • Henry Spencer - Psych (6%, 53 Votes)
  • Rumpelstiltskin - Once Upon a Time (5%, 50 Votes)
  • Walter Bishop - Fringe (5%, 45 Votes)
  • Hetty Lange - NCIS: Los Angeles (5%, 43 Votes)
  • Martha - Castle (5%, 43 Votes)
  • Shepherd Book - Firefly (4%, 41 Votes)
  • Madeline Westen - Burn Notice (4%, 39 Votes)
  • Artie - Warehouse 13 (4%, 38 Votes)
  • Cliff Huxtable - The Cosby Show (4%, 34 Votes)
  • Clair Huxtable - The Cosby Show (3%, 30 Votes)
  • Jay Pritchett - Modern Family (3%, 24 Votes)
  • Dr. Lee Rosen - Alphas (2%, 21 Votes)
  • Gaius - Merlin (2%, 18 Votes)
  • Uther Pendragaon - Merlin (2%, 18 Votes)
  • Earl - 2 Broke Girls (2%, 14 Votes)
  • Frank Reagan - Blue Bloods (2%, 14 Votes)
  • Pierce Hawthorne - Community (1%, 13 Votes)
  • Creed - The Office (1%, 8 Votes)
  • Violet Crawley - Downton Abbey (1%, 8 Votes)
  • Sheriff of Nottingham - Robin Hood (0%, 3 Votes)
  • Jack McCoy - Law & Order (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 290

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Renew/Cancel News: More Suits, None of Them Made In Jersey, and No Next Caller

USA Network’s critically acclaimed legal drama Suits has been renewed for a 16-episode third season. The show, starring Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams, returns in January for the final 6 episodes of its second season.

CBS, however, canceled its new legal drama, Made In Jersey, after only two episodes. The Friday show was pulled from the schedule immediately, and both CSI:NY (now moved to 9PM) and Blue Bloods saw ratings upticks without the freshman drama.

With the first cancellation of the broadcast season out of the way, NBC unexpectedly canceled its midseason comedy Next Caller before a single episode aired. Apparently studio execs didn’t like the direction the Dane Cook-helmed comedy was headed, so they pulled the plug with no plans to air the 4 out of 6 episodes that were already filmed. Bad news if you were looking forward to the show, good news if you’re hoping another fall NBC comedy gets a full-season order.

 

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TV Olympics: Favorite Father/Son Duos

For this round of our TV Olympics (our final poll will launch Sunday), we’re looking at father/son duos! There are a few trios in this poll, since for several of these dads, the bond between both sons seemed equally strong. For others, one father/son relationship seemed more dynamic that the other (and hence more worthy of the term “duo”).

This poll is for actual fathers (biological and adoptive, but not simply father-figures), and since the relationship between dad and son is a key part of the poll, they need to have appeared in a number of episodes together, and infant sons are excluded. If you know of any duos you believe should be in the poll, leave their names and the show in a comment!

Poll will be open for one week, and you can choose up to 3 of your favorite dad/son duos. Remember to keep checking the main event page for all the current polls and results!

What's your favorite father/son duo? (Choose up to 3!)

  • John and Dean/Sam - Supernatural (27%, 269 Votes)
  • Henry and Shawn - Psych (27%, 264 Votes)
  • Walter and Peter - Fringe (15%, 144 Votes)
  • Alan and Don/Charlie - Numb3rs (9%, 92 Votes)
  • Jackson and Jethro - NCIS (6%, 61 Votes)
  • Jonathan and Clark - Smallville (3%, 34 Votes)
  • Uther and Arthur - Merlin (3%, 32 Votes)
  • Marvin and Marshall - How I Met Your Mother (3%, 28 Votes)
  • Nathan and Jamie - One Tree Hill (3%, 27 Votes)
  • Stephen and Chuck - Chuck (2%, 24 Votes)
  • Cliff and Theo - The Cosby Show (2%, 17 Votes)
  • Frank and Danny - Blue Bloods (1%, 9 Votes)
  • Vince and Trip - The Cape (0%, 3 Votes)

Total Voters: 582

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CBS Says Thanks with a Good-eBag Full of Free Downloads

CBS says thank you to fans for making it the most-watched network with a bountiful e-gift bag – downloads of 9 classic and current episodes (including NCIS: Los Angeles, The Good Wife, and Blue Bloods), a preview How I Met Your Mother ebook, digital magazine subscription, and desktop screensaver.

It looks like CBS chose some great episodes to give away, with many season premieres to hook viewers (The Good Wife’s season 1 pilot was a great choice to get viewers to try a lower-rated show that builds on previous episodes). You can download/stream the shows from iTunes, Amazon, and Vudu, and get the HIMYM sampler(“written” by Barney, so it has colorful language and questionable ethics) from iTunes and Amazon. The digital magazine is 3 full years of the bimonthly Watch! but it looks like you have to since up for an account and download a reader to view the issues (also, be sure to uncheck the email offers boxes when you subscribe!).

The screensaver requires you to download an .exe file and install the screensaver, but the slideshow of images is pretty fun. My favorite is the NCIS: Los Angeles retro one (reminds me of the Castle retro one) pictured above. Unfortunately, it’s set only for full screen displays, not wide screen, and you can’t customize it in other ways (i.e. the shows you love will be mixed in with the ones you don’t). Also, it seems to expire at the end of the year.

Good eBag – CBS.com.

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CBS Renewals for 2012-13 TV Season – Blue Bloods

CBS is starting the renewal season off with a bang, announcing the renewal of 15 more shows (in addition to 3 which had already been renewed, including The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother).

Freshmen shows that got the early pickup were 2 Broke Girls and Person of Interest. The low-rated but critically acclaimed The Good Wife also was renewed.

As for the shows not renewed thus far, it doesn’t mean they’re canceled, just that CBS is waiting on cast confirmations and pilot viewing before deciding the rest of their schedule, but I wouldn’t care if all of them ended up not being renewed. NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Blue Bloods, in addition to the shows mentioned above, are the only ones I care about.

For a full list of the renewed shows, visit the link below.

CBS Renewals for 2012-13 TV Season – Blue Bloods.

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March Madness: Blue Bloods vs. The Finder

Blue Bloods is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Family patriarch Henry used to be the police commissioner, his son Frank is the current commissioner, and his three children are a police detective, an assistant district attorney, and a rookie cop.

The Finder – Walter Sherman is an Iraq War vet who suffered brain damage in an IED explosion, which triggered the ability to “find” things: he sees connections between seemingly unrelated events, objects or people that other investigators would miss. Walter is assisted by his “legal adviser” and bar owner Leo Knox, US Deputy Marshal Isabel Zambada, and teen parolee and thief Willa Monday, who is serving her probation with the team.

Which of these shows is your favorite? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

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March Madness Comes to TV Breakroom

TV Breakroom is doing its own version of March Madness! And there’s a prize!

You will vote between two shows by leaving a comment with your choice on a bracket post (not on this post – though feel free to predict the winner here!). Every 6 days this month, I will close the comments, add up the totals, and set things up for the next stage of the bracket. I’ll link to all of the bracket posts here.

Every comment you leave throughout the month, whether to vote in the bracket or normal comments on other posts, will count as one entry toward a $15 Amazon gift card. Only one comment per post will count as an entry, and comments flagged as spam will be ignored. Contest begins on March 1, 2012 at 12:01 EST and ends March 31, 2012 at 11:59 EDT. Winner must provide email address and respond to winning notification within 3 days.

For a show to qualify, it had to air at least 5 new episodes between June 1, 2011 and February 29, 2012. It also has to be a US show (airing originally on a US broadcast or cable network, no matter where it was filmed), and I have to have seen at least 5 episodes of the show.

Here is the final match-up! The order in which shows would face each other was created by Random.org. Click the match-up to go to its bracket post and vote! Voting for this round ends around 1AM on March 31st, so get your votes in now!

 

Psych vs. Castle

Update – go here to see the winner!

 

Here are the 32 shows:

  1. Leverage
  2. Supernatural
  3. New Girl
  4. Rizzoli & Isles
  5. White Collar
  6. Chuck
  7. Grimm
  8. Psych
  9. Nikita
  10. Community
  11. The Big Bang Theory
  12. Ringer
  13. NCIS
  14. Being Human (SyFy)
  15. Eureka
  16. Once Upon a Time
  17. Suburgatory
  18. House
  19. The Office
  20. Burn Notice
  21. Bones
  22. NCIS: Los Angeles
  23. Warehouse 13
  24. Alphas
  25. Blue Bloods
  26. The Finder
  27. 2 Broke Girls
  28. How I Met Your Mother
  29. Suits
  30. Person of Interest
  31. Castle
  32. Covert Affairs
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What TV Shows Are Like NCIS?

Of course it’s easy to say, there are no shows quite like NCIS – that’s why it’s so popular! (NCIS is currently the most-watched drama on TV in the US.) But that’s not helpful to you at all. What you really want to know is: If I like NCIS, what other shows will I like?

At its core, NCIS is a procedural drama with a strongly characterized team who solve interesting crimes. The same could be said for most of the shows listed under “Crime Drama” in the top navigation. Shows that come close to matching NCIS’s particular blend of humor, teamwork, and under-the-surface romance would be Castle and Bones. I consider these three shows to be my favorite crime dramas.

Looking for a little more than just TV’s best crime shows? Then answer me this: Who is your favorite character on NCIS?

If it’s Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), try Warehouse 13. Secret Service Agent Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) could be Tony’s long-lost brother. Instead of solving murders, you’ll be recovering artifacts with supernatural capabilities, but don’t worry, there’ll be a few corpses and plenty of humor along the way.

If it’s Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), try Nikita. Maggie Q as Nikita may be even more deadly an assassin than Ziva. She’s trying to make up for her past wrongs, even if she has to take out some bad guys and cut some past ties to do it.

If it’s Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), try Chuck. McGee might not have government secrets and skills locked in his brain like Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) does, but both are amazing with computers, not always super-smooth with the ladies, and share a love of geekdom.

If it’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), try Blue Bloods. Police Commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) hates the political games as much as Gibbs, and always knows just the right thing to say to his daughter. His son, Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) is stubborn to a fault and follows his gut.

If it’s Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), try Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s the only show I can think of that has as many facets as she does, plus her love of everything goth fits in perfectly. It’s hilarious with a dark edge, and full of unique characters. Abby has Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) father-daughter relationship, Willow’s (Alyson Hannigan) mad skills, and Anya’s (Emma Caulfield) cheerful and quirky mindset.

If it’s Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum), try Merlin. Not only does this British show match Ducky’s heritage, but Gaius (Richard Wilson) shares many characteristics with him: medical background, longwindedness, and a fierce loyalty. They both also become a mentor to the young men they teach.

If it’s Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), try The Big Bang Theory. Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) has the same awkward, self-depreciating manner as Palmer, yet still manages to win over (at least eventually) the ladies. Though the science tends to be more theoretical than you’d find in autopsy, this week’s episode did include brain dissection.

If it’s Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll), try Covert Affairs. The agents doing field work hint at Vance’s past, while the political maneuverings touch on his present office. Like Arthur (Peter Gallagher) and Joan (Kari Matchett) Campbell, he’s an expert at negotiating and dealing with foreign agencies.

Who’s your favorite character? Do you agree with my choices of shows? Which shows would you match up with the cast of NCIS?

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Nikita – Game Change

My favorite new show from the 2010-2011 season has returned! Yes, Nikita beat out the renewed Blue Bloods and the North American version of Being Human, plus the cancelled Detroit 1-8-7, No Ordinary Family, Outsourced, and The Cape as my most exciting discovery of the regular season. The CW kept me on pins and needles, finally renewing Nikita in mid-May, well after I’d learned the fate of the other shows I watched.

Spoilers ahead!

Last season ended with a huge blow-out episode. Percy (Xander Berkeley) found out Michael was working with Nikita (Maggie Q). Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca) was reeling after finding out Nikita killed her parents. Amanda took over Division from Percy with the help of Oversight. Birkhoff helped Michael escape with a decrypted black box.

As this season opens, Nikita and Michael are on the run and trying to set right the wrongs listed on the black box – without “starting World War III.” They’re unaware that Amanda is now in charge of Division, Percy is locked up, and Alex is working with Amanda as an independent contractor. But they know they have to now bring down Oversight (a group of six highly-connected individuals who are responsible for Division) as well as Division.

Oversight sends in a liaison to keep tabs on Division, Sean, played by Dillon Casey (I’m only familiar with the actor from his appearance on the Warehouse 13 pilot). He butts heads with Alex immediately, but you can tell that the sparks between them aren’t just angry ones. With Thom and Jaden dead, Nathan out of the picture, and recruitment on hold, the show really needed someone else for Alex to interact with her own age, and Sean fits that slot. Whether he’ll end up being a good guy or a bad guy remains to be seen.

At the beginning of the episode, Alex doesn’t really seem out to get Nikita. At least intellectually, she understands that Nikita was only following orders, and the real villain is the man who ordered her parents’ deaths. But to get to him, she has to help out Division, so she’s out to retrieve the black box.

Nikita and Michael both get a chance to show off their fighting skills in this episode – Nikita with taking out Russians who laundered money for Division (her tease about breaking up with her boyfriend was so mean – but it made it all that much cooler when Shane West came barging in on his motorcycle), and Michael with helping a prisoner unwillingly escape from jail.

The prisoner had been investigating a Division money heist, so Percy had him framed and then threatened his son if he ever spoke up. Nikita and Michael are about to go get the son when Alex calls Nikita, claiming to be in trouble and back on drugs. But Alex’s ploy to get Nikita out of the way fails when a Division team zooms in. Badly outgunned, all looks lost for Michael and Nikita when fighter drones fly in, take out the Division team, and knock out the two and the prisoner. They wake up in a lavish house to discover the brains behind their rescue – Birkhoff!

I absolutely love that they brought Birkhoff back for season two. And apparently, this season is going to have more humor than the previous one (that and some awesome guest stars were really the only things that were lacking in season one), and Birkhoff (Aaron Stanford) will be a huge part of that. It was hilarious when, after instructing Michael to tell Division they’re not working together (and thus get Division off his back), he steps in front of Michael during a video chat with Division to taunt their techs. Afterwards, Michael deadpans, “By the way, Birkhoff is not working with us.”

I mentioned in my first post about this show, that despite many similarities to Dollhouse, the only significant (meaning more than Shane West’s few lines in one Buffy episode) Whedonverse connection was Melinda Clarke (Amanda), but I’ve found another since then. Marc David Alpert worked on many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, even getting his name in several cemetery scenes, and he also produces Nikita.

The climax of the episode is the big fight scene between Nikita and Alex. Nikita tried to talk Alex out of fighting her several times, even dropping her weapon while Alex still has her gun pointed at her, but Alex stubbornly keeps attacking. In the end, Nikita breaks her arm and shoots her in the leg, saying. “I’m doing this because I care” and “Get out while you’re still alive.”

I’d be more worried about this making them mortal enemies forever if Nikita hadn’t shot Michael in the shoulder last season – look where he is now. But its certain to fuel Alex’s anger in the short-term, at least. Looking forward to the next episode!

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Fall 2011 TV Shows Anticipations

Fall TV is about to start for 2011! Here are some things I’m anticipating about the shows I plan to watch, in the order of their season premiere dates.

September 13

“Ringer”

I’m hoping this show will be as in-depth and multi-layered as Veronica Mars. I don’t think  the show will make me laugh, but as skilled as many of the cast are with dramatic moments, it may make me cry. Previews gave away maybe a little too much of the pilot, but with 3 seasons planned of twists and turns, I expect to be surprised quite often. It has stiff competition in its Tuesday 9PM slot, but I foresee an early renewal.

September 14

“Free Agents”

Previews show this to lean toward the bawdy type of workplace comedy I usually avoid, but I love Anthony Stewart Head’s acting, so I’ll probably give this show at least two episodes to prove itself to me. And since The Office has flourished with its UK to US transfer, I’d say the odds for renewal are slightly greater than 50/50.

September 19

“How I Met Your Mother”

A great cast and hilarious hijinks make a few off episodes bearable, and I’m pretty content with not having met the mother yet, since that means the show can continue longer. The twist of another wedding should add interest for long-time viewers and keep them watching.

“2 Broke Girls”

As the only half hour show in its time slot, and paired with the popular “HIMYM,” this show should do well by default. I’m not expecting much from it, just a few laughs, but I would love to be pleasantly surprised.

“Castle”

I’m positive Beckett’s not dead, as the premise of this show would fall apart without her, but I hope the events of the final moments of last season will have far-reaching effects on this one. I am not looking forward to the new chief. The absence of station politics is one thing I enjoyed about the show, so rumors I’ve heard worry me. But it would take a lot more than that to make me stop watching this show. Hoping for some more Whedonverse guest stars and Firefly references this season.

September 20

“NCIS”

Can’t wait to hang out with the gang again. With the start of season nine, this show is the longest-running one I watch, and it’s stronger than ever. Starting out with emotional turmoil for DiNozzo sounds like a great way to begin the season.

“NCIS: Los Angeles”

Unlike its sister show, NCIS: LA is picking up right when the last season ended. The only thing I ask for season 3? Don’t get rid of Hetty. If I had one other wish, I’d love to see Nate back as a regular part of the team.

“The New Girl”

With two shows already competing for my Tuesday 9PM viewing, I wasn’t even going to look at this show, but with the other Deschanel sister not coming back until November, I probably will check out at least the pilot online. But with strong competition on every other broadcast channel, the ratings will probably be terrible enough to make a renewal unlikely. It’s one saving grace is that it’s the only comedy in its timeslot.

September 22

“The Big Bang Theory”

This show makes me laugh more than any other. And it’s one of those shows that while you know the two of the characters belong together, you don’t really care how many detours they take along the way, because it adds new dimensions to the show.

“Community”

I’m still mad at the networks for making this and the previous show compete. It’s a little sad to think that cast will be juniors this year, so the show is most likely halfway over. It was left up in the air whether Chevy Chase would return to the group, but if any of the main 7 characters had to go, I’d prefer him.

“The Office”

The show proved it could survive without Michael Scott at the end of last season, so I plan to keep watching. While not every episode tickles my funny bone, I love (some of) the characters enough to tuning into their workdays for as long as they’ll let me.

“Person of Interest”

An intriguing premise and Jim Caviezel are enough to put this show on my to-watch list for at least the first several episodes. With Bones starting late, this show has the potential to grab a few extra viewers. Most of my action shows tend to be summer ones, so I’m hoping this will be good. Need to know more before predicting renewal, though.

September 23

“Nikita”

The new season brings a twist to the dynamics of this show, with characters switching sides, but I’m confident Nikita will make it work. My one fear is Lyndsy Fonseca looking like a powder-puff villain next to Melinda Clarke. And the show has a month to establish some viewers before Chuck comes in to try and woo them away.

“Blue Bloods”

This show has a great cast and interesting episodes, but doesn’t have the compulsive watching quality many other crime dramas do. I hope the second season starts off with a bang and adds a layer of intrigue.

September 28

“Suburgatory”

Alan Tudyk is the only reason I’m checking this show out. The fact that it’s unlike most of the other shows I watch may help it stay on my list. But it’s kind of funny that the only Wednesday night shows I’m interested in air at the same time and pit Whedonverse actors against each other.

September 29

“How to Be a Gentleman”

I hated the first preview for this show, but the second was a little better, so I’ll still watch the pilot. I have my doubts about this one being a keeper, though.

October 2

“Homeland”

This will be the first Showtime TV show I’ve ever tried out. But with Damian Lewis (Life), Claire Danes, and Morena Baccarin (Firefly), how could I resist?

October 3

“House”

I’m curious who the show will bring in to replace Cuddy, and how House will get his job back. I almost feel like the show’s starting to wind down, which is a shame, but it’s had a good run. Of course, this next season could surprise me and pick up momentum again.

October 12

“Psych”

It’s been way too long of a hiatus for Shawn and Gus, so I’m really looking forward to the return of my favorite fake psychic, and the boatload of special episodes he brings with him.

October 21

“Chuck”

Back for a truncated 5th season, it’s nice that the show will have the chance to say goodbye. I’m looking forward to a hilarious season with Morgan’s new role.

“Grimm”

I love the idea of this show. But with cult favorites Supernatual and Fringe vying for the same slot with a month-long lead, the ratings will likely be terrible. (Whose bright idea was it to stack three speculative shows against each other?) The reviews for the pilot haven’t been great. No big-name actors or even geek favorites. And Friday nights are usually the death slot. The plus side is that it’s created by some guys responsible for much of Angel, and has a great lead-in show with Chuck. Since I didn’t catch up on Supernatural and Fringe this summer like I wanted to, I’ll definitely be watching this. I just hope the studio will focus on day+7 and online views when deciding how long to let it run.

October 23

“Once Upon a Time”

I’ve watched the preview for this show more than any other. I just hope it lives up to the beauty and intrigue that glimpse conveyed, and there are enough twists and turns to spawn multiple seasons.

November 3

“Bones”

Having caught up on this show, I’m excited to be finally watching it in “real” time, without spoilers to mess up my expectations. I’m hoping the baby mania won’t overtake the show, but I trust that it will be an awesome season.

 

November also brings the return of split season shows like Covert Affairs, Burn Notice, and Leverage.

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Rizzoli & Isles – High Heels and Handcuffs

I watch too much crime drama, so last summer I was reluctant to jump into Rizzoli & Isles. But since there were few shows airing new episodes during the summer, and since Sasha Alexander (Kate from the early seasons of NCIS) was one of the co-stars, I decided to give it a try.

The 10-episode first season was great. Pairing two very different characters together to solve crimes has been done way too many times, but when it’s done well, it works. Rizzoli & Isles has the unique twist of having the duo be two females, instead the usual man and woman (Bones, Castle, etc.) or two guys (Psych, White Collar). Boston was also a fresh setting, for me at least.

The first season had a great mix of conflicts – Rizzoli dealing with both her past and present with the murderous Hoyt, crazy fun Italian family issues, and breaking in a new partner while still working with her old one; Isles with uncovering secrets about her past and naivety about certain situations. The show had some great guest stars too – in fact, Donnie Wahlberg’s character in a few episodes directly influenced me trying out Blue Bloods that fall.

But so far, the second season has bored me. The drama has felt overwrought, and none of the episodes that have aired so far has gripped me. It must be still doing well as far as viewers go, since TNT just ordered a 13-episode third season, but I’m not sure I’ll keep watching. I’ll probably finish out this season at least, especially since late August and early September will be a bit empty as far as new episodes go. I’m still hoping the show will pick back up, since it has a good cast and did so well in season one.

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What I Will Watch in Fall 2011

Now that CBS has finally posted its fall 2011 schedule, I have a good idea what I’ll be watching come September. Most of the time, of course, I will watch shows online the day after they air, but if I get a chance to watch them live, this will be my schedule.

 

Sunday

8PM – Once Upon a Time – ABC

This fairy tale meets modern life sounds like it has promise, and I love the promos.

 

Monday

8PM – How I Met Your Mother – CBS

8:30PM – Two Broke Girls – CBS

9PM – House – Fox

10PM – Castle – ABC

Chuck’s move to Fridays and House’s move to 9 finally makes my Mondays conflict-free (though I imagine Chuck’s ratings would have greatly improved with House’s move – seriously, is it any wonder the show wasn’t doing well against BOTH House and HIMYM?). Two Broke Girls sounds interesting, and will nicely fit in my half-hour gap.

 

Tuesday

8PM – NCIS – CBS

9PM – NCIS: Los Angeles – CBS

9PM – Ringer – The CW

CBS was smart not to mess with its Tuesday domination. Both shows had awesome finales Tuesday night, and NCIS: LA was finally renewed yesterday. I was a bit worried that they were going to off Jimmy Palmer in the NCIS finale, but Los Angeles ended with the more dramatic cliffhanger, making me anxious for season 3. I will have a hard time deciding what to watch at 9, but the CW’s terrible online viewing experience may tip the scale toward Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Ringer.

 

Wednesday

8:30PM – Suburgatory – ABC

8:30PM – Free Agents – NBC

I will be checking out these two shows solely for their Whedonverse alums: Suburgatory features Alan Tudyk (Firefly and Dollhouse), while Free Agents stars Anthony Stewart Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Merlin).

 

Thursday

8PM – The Big Bang Theory – CBS

8PM – Community – NBC

8:30PM – How to Be a Gentleman – CBS

9PM – The Office – NBC

9PM – Bones – Fox

9PM – Person of Interest – CBS

Thursdays are still full of conflict. As usual, I probably will watch The Big Bang Theory live and Community on Hulu when both are airing new episodes. How to Be a Gentleman sounds promising, and I probably would have checked the show out anyway even if it didn’t perfectly fill a half-hour gap (the promo, however leaves a bit to be desired). Watching Bones will depend on if I catch up on back seasons of the show over the summer. The Office’s penultimate episode of season 7 proved that the show can still be hilarious without Michael Scott, so I plan to keep watching. Jim Caviezel (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Passion of the Christ) stars in Person of Interest, and the sneak peek was excellent.

 

Friday

8PM – Nikita – The CW

8PM – Chuck – NBC

9PM – Grimm – NBC

10PM – Blue Bloods – CBS

It seems a bit odd, having such a solid line-up of shows for a Friday night. Blue Bloods has proved it can hold its own on the evening, but its family vibe makes it a more likely choice for those who stay in Friday nights. I suspect the young-adult-aimed Chuck won’t do as well, but since it’s the final season of the show the numbers aren’t as important. And it’s pitted against fellow action show Nikita, which also doesn’t seem like a good Friday night fit. Grimm has a tough shot against both a cop show and TWO speculative fan favorites, Fringe and Supernatural (which even I may be watching instead if I have time to check them out this summer).

 

USA’s Psych typically counts as a summer show, it doesn’t sound like it will be starting until August or September this year (since it’s cable, I won’t be watching it live, though). There are a few other shows on the major networks and some mid-season pickups I also plan to check out if I have time.

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