Midseason Replacements

I have been totally lacking on my blog updates this week. I have not really had much to write about, unless you want me to talk about my even higher regard for The Big Bang Theory (I have been re-watching season one, and find myself laughing all over again).

I did, however, get a nice load of DVDs that I am hoping to watch at least one this weekend - so perhaps I will have something nice to write about next week.

Anyway, this week also happened to be the return of - most - television shows from their holiday breaks. And the official start of the Spring television season.

As you may remember from previous posts, I have an abundant amount of television shows that I am currently following - so many that I have been limited by my wife on any new shows that are coming out. This season, I think I got three - Fringe, Raising the Bar and Dollhouse.

Speaking of Dollhouse, it fits into my reason for this particular post. It is one of many midseason replacements for television networks.

I am not really sure when this came into effect - but I am guessing the networks already knew that a handful of their fall television shows wouldn't make it the full year, so they needed these shows to fill the voids that were left when shows were either canceled or finished their run.

It is sort of humorous though, that there were so many great midseason replacements. Shouldn't they have just been running all year round?

The main returnee for me is Lost. The scribes on the show have devised a plan - and an ending - which only allows for around 15-17 episodes per season, so I understand why ABC waits to put it on the air until the Spring. I am very interested in the new season - and with so many people getting early views of the first episodes, and having only good things to say, I am even more intrigued.

Scrubs was rescued off of its deathbed at NBC and popped up on ABC last Tuesday for a pair of new episodes. It felt a little odd, though, I have to admit. There are brand new interns that, according to my reading, could be the future of the show if the show continues past its eighth season (I am not sure I would be happy with the show without the original cast). The first episode welcomed in Courtney Cox as the new chief of medicine, and introduced us to the new interns. The second episode - which was much better - showed the new side of Scrubs the less zanier side, as Turk and JD helped a dying patient live out his last moments.


A show that I watched this summer when nothing else was on Flashpoint was also given the greenlight as a midseason replacement on CBS. The show follows a special tactical team that helps diffuse certain situations, mostly having to do with hostages. It was a pretty good show that certainly kept me interested this summer - and I am happy to have it back on the air.

As Ghost Hunters takes a sabatical, Ghost Hunters International started its new season on Wednesday. It's basically the same setup, but with a different crew and they are visiting much older places in different countries. The first episode already had an incredible find, and I look forward to rest of the season. I am torn about which show I like more, but I think I like Robb (the team leader of GHI) more than I like Jason (team leader of the original GH).

The only new show that has grabbed my attention as a midseason replacement is Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. It has been placed on the ill-fated Friday night, however, that claimed his last television show, Firefly. I was never a fan of Buffy or Angel, but I did enjoy Firefly and the movie, Serenity.

Finally, this show doesn't really qualify as a show I watch on television, because for some stupid reason I do not get the CW. But, Reaper returns in March - a show that I am forced to follow as they add their episodes online. The show was surprisingly entertaining and funny last season, but was one of the shows on the fence about being canceled. Luckily, they gave it another chance and I am pretty excited about its return - despite the stupidity of not having the CW.

Fall Television

Each year when the Fall television schedule is finally announced I quickly go through the list of my returning to favorites to make sure there isn't too much of a drastic change in either time or airing date.

This happened a few years ago when Grey's Anatomy which started out on Sunday, was moved to Thursday nights at the same exact time as CSI. So, I was a bit peeved, but luckily my DVR (one of two in the home) records two shows at once, and I was out of my predicament.

So, with the release of the Fall television schedule, I make a list of shows on each channel. Then I start to plug them in to what shows my wife and I watch as to record on the DVR. Hopefully, if all works out, each of our favorite shows can fit into the schedule without any complications - and it worked out again this season (so far).

After the schedule is made there are also holes. These holes are where a show is not being recorded. So, it's here where we look at the newcomers - the new shows of the season. Unfortunately, if there is a new show we are interested in, but it doesn't fit, it sometimes goes unwatched. We have our favorites for a reason.

Last season, despite the writer's strike, we managed to pick up a handful of new shows that we watch regularly now. The all-too underrated comedy called The Big Bang Theory and the new Terminator series.

Despite not having the CW Network anymore, my wife has also grown pretty attached to Gossip Girl and I to Reaper. Our only way to watch these, however, is through the website - and it is usually a few days after they originally air.

And, thanks to the writer's strike I guess, we are also watching Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth. Shows that we started watching because there wasn't anything else on, and we became attached to them.

This season, the main show that sticks out to me is Fringe. It comes from the mind of J.J. Abrams, who also gave us the awesome show, Lost. Fringe also stars The Mighty Ducks and Dawson's Creek alum Joshua Jackson. So, I will checking that out as well.

Dollhouse from the mind of Joss Whedon (Firefly) has also struck my attention, but does not get going until the Spring schedule.

So, a few other shows that were not definite watches on our part have squeaked through for what I call a screening. If we like it after the first few episodes it can stick around - if not, it gets the axe. Life on Mars which appears to be a cop show about a man in modern day, who somehow gets knocked back into the '70s. He has all the knowledge of a modern day cop, solving crimes in the '70s.

My wife has also chosen The Ex List and Kath & Kim. The Ex List is a show about a woman who after going to a fortune teller learns she has already met her husband - so she starts going back through the men in her life to try and find him. Kath & Kim looks to be a comedy that stars Molly Shannon and the lovely Selma Blair.

I am looking forward to the upcoming season, especially the return of Heroes which is one of my top two favorite shows - it hasn't been on since last fall. Unfortunately, Lost, Reaper and Scrubs have all been saved until the spring.

Top 10: Canceled TV Shows

These Top 10 lists I have been making appear to be coming in pairs, so here is another one for you.

The television networks are, within the week, announcing their Fall lineups for the upcoming season. Each year there is always a few shows that are pretty amazing that get the boot thanks to either terrible promoting or bad airtime given to it by the network - either way a good shows cancellation is usually the fault of the network itself.

This season I have been waiting patiently for the announcement if a few of my favorite shows would be making it back next season, or becoming yet another show that I spent time watching only to get axed before a real ending was given.

Thankfully Reaper was announced to be coming back to the CW Network for a second season on Monday, and just today How I Met Your Mother was asked back for a fourth season. Unfortunately, one of my shows didn't make the cut - and it is actually listed below.

Below are a list of 10 recent (within the last 10-15 years) shows that have been booted that I had a very strong interest in. I didn't really include comedies, due to the fact that basically every show there is an ending to a particular problem - comedies have no real cliffhangers like dramas, etc. do. This is sometimes not the case, but I couldn't come up with any off the top of my head.

Also, there has been a large cry for some shows such as Firefly, Futurama, Jericho, Freaks & Geeks and My So Called Life. I was not lucky enough to watch Freaks & Geeks or Firefly during its original broadcast, so I did not include them - not saying they aren't worth a spot on the list, just that I can't include them due to my not seeing them.

So here is my top 10 (in reverse order as always):

10) Popular
Comments: A pair of girls, who go to the same high school, but despise each other, learn that they will now be step-sisters thanks to their parents getting married.

9) Undeclared
Comments: The second attempt by Judd Apatow (Superbad, Knocked Up) in the television world. The first of which was Freaks & Geeks. Like its predecessor, Undeclared has a few of the castoffs like Seth Rogen and and Jason Segal. The show is about the first year of college and basically starting to spread your wings on your own.

8) Joan of Arcadia
Comments: I didn't get into this show right away, but I did later on thanks to it's airings on the baron Friday night. The story is about a girl that speaks to God, and her struggle to live life - as well as her families difficulties as well.

7) Playmakers
Comments: This is probably the most well done television show, or anything really, depicting life in the National Football League. Which is why ESPN (who broadcasts NFL games) was pressured into canceling the show after just one season. It followed players from a fake team and everything that went a long with them - including drugs, violence, money, adultery and homosexuality.

6) Traveler
Comments: This show really excited me, not just for its premise, but because it was shown during the summer - when all other shows had gone away from original broadcasts (which I think should happen more often). It followed a trio of college buddies on one last trip before going out into the real world - except one of them wasn't who they thought he was, and blackmailed them for a museum bombing. The show was never concluded.

5) Early Edition
Comments: This is a pretty interesting concept. Gary Hobson, played by Kyle Chandler, receives a newspaper every morning, with tomorrow's news. What would you do? He takes things into his own hands, becoming the reluctant superhero, as he saves lives by stopping accidents that he knows is going to happen thanks to his trusty newspaper.

4) Saved
Comments: This was a show very much like ER, except it followed the lives of the EMT's instead of the doctors. It was pretty interesting, but unfortunately only lasted one season on TNT - even though other shows like The Closer and Saving Grace get to return, despite not being as entertaining.

3) Standoff
Comments: I was first drawn to this show thanks to its casting of Ron Livingston (Office Space) in the lead role. But, it was yet another crime drama that I fell for, with a little different premise. Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt are negotiating specialists, who are brought to hostage situations to try and talk the criminal out of hurting his hostages, and giving himself up.

2) Las Vegas
Comments: This show stings pretty hard. This is the show that was canceled from this season, with a huge cliffhanger in the balance. How can a network do that? Las Vegas has been on the air for five years, with very good followers of the show - and to just flat out cancel the series without at least wrapping up the loopholes is a slap in the face.

1) SeaQuest DSV
Comments: I have to admit that after the first two seasons of SeaQuest DSV it got a little too unbelievable. The third season, titled SeaQuest 2032, lost its captain and was transported even further into the future, and they lost a lot of their audience. However, the first two seasons of this show were terrific - and thankfully have been released on DVD. The show was a lot like Star Trek, but based on the ocean instead of space. The casting was great - especially Roy Scheider (Capt. Bridger) and Jonathan Brandis (Lucas Wolenczak), both who have since passed on in real life.

Top 10: Comedy Characters

I have to admit, the situation comedy of years past as all but been erased in today's television. With the limitless amount of reality television, and spin-off after spin-off of crime dramas - the comedy has sort of whithered away.

There are still a few gems out there if you look in the right place. Even had a difficult time coming up with a handful of comedies that I will watch on a regular basis. Comedy is probably my favorite type of movie to watch, but for some reason (and perhaps it's the lack of quality) my DVR is mostly queued for the crime dramas as well.

But, I have come up with 10 characters from comedies on television today that usually have me laughing each and every episode - and here they are in reverse order.

10) Josh Gates - Destination Truth

Though technically on a reality show (I told you it was hard to find good comedies in today's television), Josh displays a very good sense of humor. His humor is not unlike my own - and usually has a quip or two during each and every show.

9) Bert "Sock" Wysocki (Tyler Labine) - Reaper

Sock is also technically not on a comedy, more of a dramedy, but his character is hilarious. He is the buddy to the main character, Sam, who is forced to capture escaped souls from Hell due to his parents selling his soul to the devil before he was born. Sock, and other friend Ben, help Sam capture these souls - with Sock usually being the comic relief throughout. His comic style reminds me a lot of Jack Black.

8) Stewie Griffin - Family Guy

Family Guy is pretty well known nowadays, especially after being rescued from cancellation thanks to positive DVD sales. Now most people are Peter Griffin fans, but the true comedy on the show comes from Stewie. He is the devil-baby that is constantly trying to rid himself of his mother, making fun of his brother and sister, and making life hell for the family dog. Although years ahead of others his age in development, it's the times where he shows his true innocence that stick out the most.

7) Darnell "Crabman" Turner (Eddie Steeples) - My Name Is Earl

This was a pretty hard decision to make, the true brilliance of the show My Name Is Earl is its ensemble cast. Each member brings something to the table, and without even one of them the show might not be as funny. But, I twisted my own arm and in my opinion Crabman has probably made me laugh the most. He is definitely smarter than another other character on the show, and because of that his comments can totally throw you for a loop - and of course you can't forget his love for Mr. Turtle.

6) Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) - Big Bang Theory

This is a new comedy I found on CBS that leads into How I Met Your Mother. It's about a pair of geniuses who live across the hall from a gorgeous, normal girl. Howard is one of the pairs friends, who wears unbelievably dated clothing, is constantly pining after beautiful women he can't get, or throwing out hilarious one-liners. Shelden, one of the two main geniuses, also is very entertaining and I am amazed at his ability to keep a straight face - but I have to give the edge to Howard on the laugh-out-loud quality of his humor.

5/4) Johnny "Drama" Chase (Kevin Dillon)
& Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) - Entourage

This listing is a combination. You can't have one without the other, it's like Laurel without Hardy or Peanut Butter without Jelly. Turtle and Drama from Entourage are what make that show hilarious. I love it when they stick the two of them together for some silly reason, because you know you are getting good laughs. Turtle will be making fun of Drama for some various reason, and of course Drama will snap back at Turtle the only way he knows how. The pairing is magical together.

3) Homer J. Simpson - The Simpsons

To me it's amazing how The Simpsons was once focused around Bart. Although Bart is a great character - there is no other animated character like Homer, and that may never be matched. Homer is a simple minded man, who will do anything he can to help out his family - as long as it doesn't get in the way of eating, watching tv or drinking beer. Over the years Homer has developed into more and more of a simple man - but his thoughts are hilarious (when spoken, or when just inside his head).

2) Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) - How I Met Your Mother

It's pretty interesting that a gay man can play such a womanizer so well, but it might only be able to be done by the great Neil Patrick Harris. Barney is the glue that holds How I Met Your Mother together. His 'bible' of life is legend(wait for it)dary. He constantly suits up and ever since getting dumped by his one true love - has become a womanizing mad men, who makes up stories to either get in bed with a girl, or get out of seeing her again. But it isn't just comedy for this guy - he actually cares about his friends. Even though by showing it, he is in some way, shape or form setting up some hilarious line.

1) Janitor (Neil Flynn) - Scrubs

The top spot goes to the most hilarious person on television - on what has possibly been the most hilarious show on television for the past seven years. The Janitor, as he is only known, is one of the most original and comedic characters ever created - and he is played fantastically well by Neil Flynn. The Janitor has chosen Sacred Heart doctor J.D. to be his dart board - the person he is constantly picking on or doing things to. He is dedicated to making J.D.'s day at work (and sometimes beyond work) impossible. The dedication is what makes it so great - as he was put on this earth just to make J.D.'s life miserable.

Well, there you have it - My Top 10 comedic characters on television right now. Sure there were great one's in the past (although it's tough to crack the top 3 of this list). Comedy may be on it's way out in television, but these characters will always have you smiling.

Reaper

Last fall I was excited to see a new show on the CW Network called Reaper. I was very fortunate to see the first two episodes of this entertaining show, but for some reason we have lost the CW Network in the Rouses Point area.

So I can't really tell you to watch this show, because technically, I am not watching it either - at least not on television. I have, however, been able to catch all the episodes online at cwtv.com.

The show is based around Sam (Brett Harrison), who is a bit of a slacker that never went to college after high school, is still living with his parents (until recently) and works at the Work Bench (a Home Depot-type store). Well, on Sam's 21st birthday he finds out that his parents had sold his soul to the devil before he was born. The Devil (Sam Wise) has come to collect his bounty on the day of his birthday, but there is a catch, he doesn't want to take Sam to hell - he wants him to become a bounty hunter, and catch the souls who have escaped hell.

Each week offers a new escaped soul that Sam, and his two Work Bench buddies Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez), have to figure out how to track down and catch. There is also a 'vessel' that used to store the soul until it can be returned to hell. The 'vessel' changes for each episode, and the gang must figure out the best way to use it to capture the soul.

Sock is a pretty interesting character, and is used mostly for comic relief. Ben is a very noble friend, that puts his neck on the line to help Sam out, and most of the time ends up getting hurt. Another side story that occurs on Reaper is the story about Sam and Andi (Missy Peregrym). Sam and Andi have been friends forever, but Sam has other ideas about their relationship - and has desperately been in love with her forever. But, Andi (for most of the first season) has only wanted to stay friends - sort of even blowing Sam off, telling him nothing will happen.

I have never officially gotten into Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel or Charmed, but I am told that fans of those shows are also fans of this show. But, if you like a little bit of science fiction and a lot of laughs - and you are lucky enough to have CW - then check out Reaper. Even if you don't have CW - check it out online like me.

As of this moment, however, Reaper has not been picked up for next season - nor has it officially been axes - so if you can watch the last few episodes this season, perhaps that could help propel it onto next season's fall schedule.

Here's hoping.