What TV shows are you watching?

[stonemonkts]

So, what TV shows are you watching?

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

Why didn't you rent the Twin Peaks pilot before starting the show? It's pretty essential viewing, and helpful for background info. The movie (Fire Walk With Me) is a prequel, but not to be watched until you're done with the series.

I proudly continue to watch 'Survivor', and am enjoying it again this season. I try to watch 'South Park' but never remember. That, and sports, are all I watch as far as what's currently airing.

I've discovered a ton of shows on DVD that i never watched when they aired, from 'The Wire' (up to season 3 now) to 'West Wing' to the American 'Office'.

I'll watch Sopranos when the new season starts, and for mindless entertainment, i get something out of Entourage, Lost and 24.

Oh, and I bought the first season of 'The Shield', 'Weeds', 'My Name is Earl' and 'Sleeper Cell', but have not yet seen any of them.

[cookie]

Right now, my favorite teevee show is Dexter.

[Brian Olewnick]

I proudly continue to watch 'Survivor', and am enjoying it again this season.

Yes, it does indeed rule.

The Wire for another week.

Lost (when it's back)

That's it as far as new stuff.

[Jazzooo]

I'm having a pretty good time right now with TV. The regulars (all tivo'd, of course):

Survivor
The Wire
Heros
Studio 60 (when it's good, it's great--when it's bad, it's painful)
30 Rock (not too sold on it, but man, Alec Baldwin is amazingly funny to me)
Daily Show
Colbert Report
Bill Maher
Ebert and Roeper

We don't tape these, but when we come across them we often watch Boston Legal, Project Runway, SNL, and Charlie Rose depending on the guest. Glenda records poker tournaments and we watch them together sometimes.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I don't know where you all find the time!

I watch The Team of Destiny of The New Millennium religiously, dvr them when they play during a dance.

I was watching Law and Order reruns, original recipe only, but this has been replaced by reruns of Six Feet Under, typically one a day before falling asleep.

[stonemonkts]

Why didn't you rent the Twin Peaks pilot before starting the show? It's pretty essential viewing, and helpful for background info. The movie (Fire Walk With Me) is a prequel, but not to be watched until you're done with the series.

I can't find the pilot anywhere, aside from imports which have lousy reviews on amazon (due to dvd quality, not content).

I once downloaded the pilot from Mininova, but it was all in spanish!

[Gordon B]

The Wire
Top Chef

That's it for me now.

Next month, 24.

DVD's
Homicide: Life on the Street
The Time Tunnel

[stonemonkts]

Oh yeah, of course I'll watch 24 too. I think it is the funnniest unintentionally funny show ever...and I love the Logan and Chloe characters.

[patricia]

All three Law and Orders. CI is my favourite of the three, mostly because of D'Inofrio's quirky appeal.

Shark. Still embryonic. But, I'll watch James Woods in anything. One of the most under-rated actors working today. He needs strong supporting characters, which he is still waiting to show their stuff I think. I'm patient.

Criminal Minds. This is better than I thought it would be, particularly the "Reid" character.

My Name Is Earl. I wouldn't have bothered, except that my daughter's boyfriend is a devotee and he seems like a bright young man. Funny as the dickens.

The Passionate Eye. A documentary series on CBC Newsworld. Heavy on political themes, but excellent documentaries, from all over the world.

The Daily Show.

[Jason Bivins]

We still haven't dipped into season 4 of The Wire. Once the semester ends, we'll have a marathon.

Just read that season 2 of Twin Peaks should finally see a DVD release next year, possibly as early as April. Huzzah.

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

I can't find the pilot anywhere, aside from imports which have lousy reviews on amazon (due to dvd quality, not content).

I once downloaded the pilot from Mininova, but it was all in spanish!

I have a Chinese version of the DVD, from a company called 'Catalyst Logic'. It looks fine, not amazing like the season 1 box, but more than adequate, especially if you've never seen it. It's in English (obviously) and has optional English subtitles as well.

Checking on Ebay, i see a version from the same company with slightly different packaging, with a "buy it now" price of $12.49, plus $7 shipping. The same seller (100% positive rating) has an auction ending around midnight tonight Eastern, with a current price of $9.99 (plus $7 shipping).

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

Studio 60 (when it's good, it's great--when it's bad, it's painful)

I liked 'Sports Night' and 'West Wing' and gave this one so much more of a chance than it deserved. Highly recommended if you enjoy being condescendingly preached to by someone who's about 1/8th as smart as he thinks he is.

That line about 'Your brother is standing in the middle of a field in Afghanistan" might've been the funniest thing I've ever heard on television. Too bad none of their sub-SNL pseudoskits are that funny. Hey, I sound almost as bitter as Aaron Sorkin!

[Gordon B]

Weeds (adorable - can't wait to see Season 2 - loved the last moment of Season 1)

and

Entourage (not sure why this show feels like comfort food too but I do enjoy it - maybe it reminds me of my 20s in California - I think I liked Season 1 better than 2 though)

I love both of these shows but neither is currently in season. Tippy, season two of Weeds was better than season 1. I know you'll love it.

[Vince Kargatis]

In broadcast order:
Heroes - a fun superhero show
Studio 60 - I'm waiting on this to get from pretentious and mediocre to pretentious and decent, like better West Wing. We'll see. It kinda amazes that Sorkin's humor skits on the 'show' are so consistently unfunny.
Intelligence - best broadcast show I'm watching. Canadian (CBC). A wicked cool show about a western Canadian intelligence agency branch and its interfacing with the crime world.
Ugly Betty - no apologies, a well-written sweet show
30 Rock - this one just makes me laugh. Silly and fun. Alec Baldwin is great.
I occasionally catch My Name Is Earl and The Office on its west-coast-time broadcast at 11.

On DVD:
Battlestar Galactica - such a great show. Can't think of a single episode worse than good. I'm playing catch-up, and don't even know if Canada gets the current season, but dvd is widescreen at least too, so I don't mind.

[Vince Kargatis]

Twin Peaks - ...The scene with the midget in episode two was classic.

That ep I've often called "the best single hour of tv ever".

[stonemonkts]

On DVD:
Battlestar Galactica - such a great show. Can't think of a single episode worse than good. I'm playing catch-up, and don't even know if Canada gets the current season, but dvd is widescreen at least too, so I don't mind.

How could I forget Battlestar Galactica. I'm a total geek for Galactica. I have Stephen King to thank for it too, of all people. When I joined Emusic, they sent me a one year subscription to Entertainment Weekly, so wtf I read it. On the back page he has a piece called the Pop of King, and he devoted a page several months ago to his favorite shows. He raved about BG, saying it puts any incarnation of Star Trek to shame. So, sci-fi geek that I am, I rented the pilot, and ate it up. I have loved every episode since. I've watched them mutliple times. The show is just great.

[patricia]

In broadcast order:

Intelligence - best broadcast show I'm watching. Canadian (CBC). A wicked cool show about a western Canadian intelligence agency branch and its interfacing with the crime world.

Vince, I've seen the promos on this series, but have only caught part of a couple of episodes so far. It reminds me of Da Vinci's Inquest, probably because it has Ian Tracy in it. Not hard to see him as a bad guy.
On your rec I will make a point of watching it.
Thank you.

[stonemonkts]

I have a Chinese version of the DVD, from a company called 'Catalyst Logic'. It looks fine, not amazing like the season 1 box, but more than adequate, especially if you've never seen it. It's in English (obviously) and has optional English subtitles as well.

Checking on Ebay, i see a version from the same company with slightly different packaging, with a "buy it now" price of $12.49, plus $7 shipping. The same seller (100% positive rating) has an auction ending around midnight tonight Eastern, with a current price of $9.99 (plus $7 shipping).

Thanks, Borat.

I woke up too late to snatch his "buy it now" listing, but I have a bid in for it which ends tomorrow. I assume this guy is "hongkongposter". If not, he also has 100% positive ratings.

[moneyp]

Aside from sports:

Sci-Fi
Heroes
Dr. Who
Eureka

My wife likes Battlestar Galactica. I can't stand it. Lots of monotonous atmosphere masking a tissue-paper thin story. The Cylons have to be the dumbest (and whiniest) villains ever.

HBO
Deadwood (R.I.P.)
Rome

Will attempt to catch up on The Wire via Netflix.

Reality
Project: Runway
Top Chef

And a random assortment of cooking shows.

I don't think the pilot for Twin Peaks is required viewing. As I recall, it was basically an alternate re-telling of the first few episodes.

[Borat Pri Hagafen]

I don't think the pilot for Twin Peaks is required viewing. As I recall, it was basically an alternate re-telling of the first few episodes.

Whether or not it's required viewing is a matter of opinion, but it's not an alternate re-telling, it's an introduction to the town, the characters, and the Laura Palmer situation. There was a standalone version of the pilot where they tacked on a goofy ending, but the normal pilot is an introduction that leads right into episode #1, like for most shows.

[Sergio Zamora]

Studio 60 - I'm waiting on this to get from pretentious and mediocre to pretentious and decent, like better West Wing. We'll see. It kinda amazes that Sorkin's humor skits on the 'show' are so consistently unfunny.

Me too. I thought the first (or second?) episode was really good, but it hasn't been anywhere as good since then.

I agree that the 'show within the show' skits are awful. If they get renewed and get a decent budget, Sorkin should hire some real sketch comedy writers to work on that. They only need about one or two minutes every week, and that's about as much good material comes out of SNL every week, so it should be doable.

One thing I should give props to is NBC's decision to have the entire episode available for streaming from their website for a week after it has been broadcast. Without that, I probably wouldn't have become a fan. Yes, I realize I could dvr it, but that would require forethought. Plus not everybody has dvr.

Other first-run shows I'm watching:

The Office (US)
Entourage
Top Chef
Gilmore Girls. Yeah, that's right. so what?

Oh, and for some reason, I got hooked on 'America's Next Top Model', though I haven't seen it in a while.

[John P. Cooper]

Gilmore Girls. Yeah, that's right. so what?

Haha.....me, too. It has a 'secret' guy following.

This season is just really disappointing so far.

[patricia]

I forgot to mention La Femme Nikita which is a stylish spy series, re-run thank goodness. Although the original French film on which this was based was grittier, this is a stylish, beautifully filmed, plot-rich series. I like it.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I don't watch any serious tv. I watch trash tv exclusively. If a program is socially redeeming in any way I avoid it like the plague.

[Vince Kargatis]

(Intelligence) reminds me of Da Vinci's Inquest

Most likely because it was created by the same writer/producer Chris Haddock.

[shrugs]

Top Chef
Gilmore Girls
My Name Is Earl
Looking Back With Justin Wilson

I think Grey's Anatomy was a great show. Then they started creating artificial drama.

On DVD, I watch the first 3 seasons of Mash from time to time.
Some of the stuff with Col. Potter is good but nothing matches the esisodes with Henry Blake and Trapper.
I'd love to check out Quincy on DVD but haven't had a chance just yet.

Dirt looks like it's gonna have some redeeming qualities to it.

[Jazzooo]

"I don't know where you all find the time!"

Tivo, dude!

When is 24 starting? No fair listing shows you intend to watch someday, by the way.

[moneyp]

Whether or not it's required viewing is a matter of opinion, but it's not an alternate re-telling, it's an introduction to the town, the characters, and the Laura Palmer situation. There was a standalone version of the pilot where they tacked on a goofy ending, but the normal pilot is an introduction that leads right into episode #1, like for most shows.

I'll take your word for it. It's been an age since I've seen it. Glad to hear that Season 2 is coming out. I want to own everything up to the Laura Palmer murder being solved. The Windham Earl stuff I can leave.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

"I don't know where you all find the time!"

Tivo, dude!

Yeah, no I have Tivo, too. That's not what I meant.