So how was The Good Wife?

It was good. Not great. Not terrible. Like I thought, not exactly my cup of tea. I'm not sure I'm demographic they're going for anyway, but it's something else to watch when I've burned through all my other shows and don't have any good books to read to occupy my time.

Also...

...Cougar Town was pretty decent - both funny and touching (that last part I was surprised about, though considering the balance Scrubs has always struck between the two, I guess I shouldn't have been) ... Courteney Cox was good. Christa Miller's lips annoyed. Dan Byrd is a Michael Cera waiting to happen. Ian Gomez will always be Javier from Felicity to me but is still welcome back on my tv. Josh Hopkins can dress up in footie pajamas for me any time. I will definitely be tuning in again.

Top Chef: Team Voltaggio Michael Division shines on

So, now Voltaggio wins tonight on Top Chef, though Michael was in the top 3 in the quickfire challenge and the top four for the elimination challenge. What I particularly enjoyed about this episode was both Voltaggio brothers, Jen, and Kevin all doing well, and while Bryan was the only one not to make the top four, it was nice to be able to say, before the judges even tasted their food, that I knew they had each nailed their dish. Why? Am I psychic? Only sometimes. But no, because they are talented chefs who take their craft seriously and are fairly drama-free, so you know they're on the show to cook and to cook well, not for the exposure and fame. Oh, I love seeing contestants I like kick the asses of those I want to strangle...anyway, this week Michael represents Team Voltaggio and congrats also go to Kevin for winning the elimination challenge. I like Kevin a lot, although I would like him better, I think, if his last name was Voltaggio.

Team Voltaggio FTW! :)

Must watch (eventually) shows: Castle

There are so many shows on television that even when you filter out all the crap, there are still too many to ever watch, even with DVRs and episodes posted on the Internet. The fact that most networks have jumped on the Internet-posting bandwagon is a great joy for me because even though it may take me weeks or even months, as opposed to hours or days, it allows me to watch series, and quality series at that, that I might otherwise be forced to completely miss.

This is my method for the shows that don't make the "must" list, for the shows that I don't watch week to week but which I use repeat season to catch up on. And it's not that they're not good shows. In fact, I enjoy them very much (again, thank you to the Internet gods!). But not every show can be an Arrested Development or a Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Into this category falls a show like Castle, and I'm going to highlight Castle because I really do enjoy it. It's easy television. You can watch an episode and not be (completely) lost. But it's also enjoyable television. It's not Emmy-caliber writing, but the stories also aren't boring and also don't insult your intelligence. The characters entertain me and are quite likeable. And then there is, of course, Nathan Fillion.

The first time I saw Fillion he was playing an oafish ogre of a boyfriend in Blast from the Past. But then Joss Whedon cast him as roguish rebel smuggler and ship captain Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly and I realized how wrong I had been to dismiss him. (Side note: If you've never seen Firefly, watch it! Go now. Go!)

In Castle, Fillion plays crime writer Rick Castle who because of his connections (everyone, even the mayor, is a fan) gets to tail Stana Katic's Detective Kate Beckett for inspiration for his next book. Castle is a bit like Mal Reynolds with the jokes and the always getting into trouble and the being smart and observant and the loyalty to the people he loves. Played by anyone else, Castle might have come off as annoying. But as played by Fillion, he is utterly endearing.

Castle, which had its second season premiere last night, is on ABC on Mondays at 10.

The Good Wife

Series premiere is tonight at 10 on CBS. Now, this show about a woman who's politico husband has an affair that goes public and is jailed for committing crimes, forcing her to return to a law career she gave up years ago, doesn't seem up my alley at all. It's been getting super positive reviews. I'm reluctant to watch it and reluctant to miss it.

I like Julianna Margulies, who plays the lead character.

I'm a fan of both Matt Czuchry and Josh Charles as well as Christine Baranski, who all have supporting roles. I've had a crush on Josh Charles since he was prepster Knox Overstreet in Dead Poets Society. (I beg you, please don't use that info to try to figure out how old I am!! People of all ages should watch Dead Poets Society!...)

I suppose 'tis the season of giving first and second chances to new tv shows, though...I guess I don't know yet what kind of tone this drama will set, and I guess I won't find out unless I give it a shot...plus, I don't currently have any shows on Tuesdays that I watch.

Fine! Ow ow ow...you've twisted my arm. Let's add The Good Wife to the list of new shows this season that I'm checking out. We'll see how it fares.

As a new television season begins...

...here are the new shows I have already checked out and will be planning to check out, not that you asked, but in case you care:

Community (Thursdays, NBC) - This Joel McHale/Chevy Chase vehicle premiered last week, though I had already watched the pilot ahead of time, as it was available online. So far, I have watched this episode three times. Joel McHale, always hilariously deadpan on The Soup, brings that same persona to his role as a charming/sleazy lawyer enrolled in a community college in this show, but it was Danny Pudi's movie-quoting/Aspergers-ish Abed who stole the show for me. Looks extremely promising.

Modern Family (Wednesdays, ABC) - premieres this week, but got a sneak peek at the pilot. About the now typical atypical modern family. Wasn't completely drawn in but there were two moments where I literally burst out laughing, so I'm willing to stick with it for awhile as it finds its stride.

Flashforward (ABC) - If you know me, you know that I try to stay away from dramas, but this show, about everyone in the world blacking out at the same time and flashing forward to a moment in their lives 6 months in the future, seems intriguing, though I don't know how this premise can be sustained as a series. Saw the first 15 minutes of the pilot and there are lots of explosions and action, which I do enjoy in most of my dramas, and you can't really go wrong with Joseph Fiennes in a lead role. In my humble opinion.

Cougartown (ABC) - now, I really really hate the term "cougar," meaning an older woman who goes after younger men - I think it's kinda demeaning and at this point, incredibly overused, but the preview I saw for this Courteney Cox vehicle looked pretty funny, and it's being brought to us by Bill Lawrence, who created one of my favorite comedies, Scrubs, so it definitely deserves a chance.

V (ABC) - I'm kinda eh about this show, which centers on aliens arriving on earth to "take care of us," and those who believe them and align with them and those who think we're being tricked and try to get to the truth. It looks a little too sci-fi for my taste, but it's getting a lot of hype, so the premiere is going on my list.

Day One (NBC) - now I don't know a lot about this show, which is about a group of survivors after an apocalyptic world event, but the premise (kinda like Jericho two seasons ago) sounds intriguing, if done right.

Vampire Diaries (Wednesdays, CW) - we already know my thoughts on this show, but as a new show that I am checking out, I'm including it on this list.

I actually thought this list was going to be longer. Once the midseason starts, it probably will. And of course, this is on top of all the other returning shows already on my tv viewing schedule.

The bottom line is, of course, that I will be very busy in the next few weeks/months whittling this list down to the deserving few shows I will actually get hooked on that won't get immediately cancelled. Expect updates. Do not expect to see me in person any time soon... :)

Premiere watch: Battle of the H's

How I Met Your Mother is on CBS at 8 pm. I've missed the gang and if these preview clips have me cracking up, I can't wait for this episode and this season to finally begin!









House also premieres tonight at 8 pm on Fox. Sometimes I need to take a break from this show but when it's on point, I am blown away. The first part of the season 4 finale is still one of my favorite episodes of any show, ever. The season 6 premiere promises to be one to watch. The preview gave me chills. This one isn't it, but it's still good anyway.





DVR one, watch the other. Doesn't matter which, but make sure you check out both, ya dig?