So as a general rule, I don't watch all that much TV. I am occasionally sucked into something when I walk past, and I consider myself a lifelong Saturday Night Live and Sesame Street and Colbert Report watcher even if miss an episode or a few years between viewings. But I do like to have a regular show or two. The Sopranos. Rome. Deadwood. Ed. The Cosby Show. Greatest American Hero. Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Whatever—just something I can look forward to every week. Between the end of Project Runway Season 5 and the return of Big Love, I didn't have anything on the weekly TV calendar in my brain. But suddenly and without warning, I am faced with an unusual dilemma: multiple shows I plan on watching. Like, too many, probably.
Big Love
Matt and I have been counting down the days until Big Love (HBO) returned for Season 3. We haven't missed an episode in the series yet, and it just gets better and better and better. Like most HBO series, this is not one you can just pick up in the middle—but that's what DVD collections at the public library are for.
Trust Me (a.k.a Will and Ed)
I don't know much about this one, except for the description I read in a positive review in the newspaper yesterday. The good review is irrelevant to me, though, because Tom Cavanagh is in it. And really, I need no further reason than that to donate my Monday nights at 9 for a while. I even watched Love Monkey for the month it was on TV a few years ago, because... well, Tom Cavanagh was the star. Interestingly, a number of the stars of Ed (perhaps in my top three favorite TV shows ever) have gone on to do things I love: the "I'm a Mac" guy from the Apple commercials, starring in Big Love... I even emailed Jennifer Weiner about six years to ask her to push for Lesley Boone to star as Cannie in Good in Bed should it ever be made for the screen. I'm sure Jennifer Weiner flagged my email as the one from the crazy lady in Cheyenne. But she would make a great Cannie.
Important Things With Demetri Martin
Demetri Martin is one of my most favorite comedians. I have Marie and BJ to thank for sharing him. His new show debuts in February on Comedy Central, and I know little to nothing about it but I do know that I give him full credit for me not having a heart attack in the middle of the Oakland Airport when I realized I had driven off for a flight to Salt Lake City with a 5 week old baby but without the fully-packed diaper bag, boarding pass, rental car confirmation, directions to and from every single possible place I would be traveling to and from...brilliant. Because I had listened to his album on the drive from Mountain House to Oakland, my blood pressure was at its all-time lowest—surely saving my life when I realized all of this, followed by the check-in lady hassling me about not having a birth certificate for Bridget (made up rule by a lady who felt like hassling me) in a state that doesn't even issue birth certificates until SIX WEEKS OLD.
That's a long, tangential story.
But I sure do love Demetri Martin : )
Electric Company
This debuted last week, and I've yet to see it. But I'm excited to give it a try. As a child of the 1970s, it might be tricky for me to appreciate the new version from what I've read, but Maddie and Gracie have no such Morgan Freeman/Rita Moreno/Bill Cosby memories clouding up their opinions about it.
Olivia
Olivia! On TV! I just found out about this a few days ago. She aired today on Nick Jr, but it will be a few days before we can catch it. The NY Times review I read said Ian Falconer was heavily involved in the show's development, and that it is a perfect spin-off from the books. I think Olivia books are just as much for parents as they are for children. : )
And the most anticipated of the upcoming shows?
The No. 1 Ladies Dective Agency! My sister-in-law sent me a link to this, and it was a great surprise. Jill Scott! As Precious Ramotswe! Oh, I'm so excited. I can't even imagine how HBO will translate this to the screen, but I have no doubt it will be fantastic.
I have turned into a raging TV-aholic. A surprising turn of events, but it does provide a nice distraction while we all wait for Project Runway to free itself from corporate litigation : )
