Please enjoy our updated guide to the best this Fall’s TV season has to offer! I must say, it’s been kind of a disappointing Fall season so far with only a few standouts…

The list will change over time, so keep an eye out for updates…and feel free to let us know your opinion!

Sunday

7-8 PM

To Watch: N/A


To DVR: N/A


To Consider: The Amazing Race (CBS), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC), Sunday Night Football (NBC), The Cleveland Show (FOX), Simpsons (FOX)
The Amazing Race I hear is good fun for a reality show, but we’ve yet to really watch it consistently, the rest of the lineup is rather blah. Simpsons still can be funny, but I think its past its expiration date.


8-9 PM

To Watch: Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
An absolutely fantastic premiere last week, and I hear it only gets better here on out. Steve Buscemi finally gets a lead role! And, I can’t wait to see what sort of role the incredible Michael Williams (Omar from The Wire) will play in the grand scheme of things. Count me in for the entire season!



To DVR: Dexter (SHO)
WARNING: Spoilers in trailer above. Do not watch if you didn’t see the end of last season.
Anyhoo, this season finally premieres this Sunday. I thought last season might have been their strongest yet, and with such a completely shocking  and unexpected ending, I’m curious to see what direction the show takes. I can’t wait! Again, count me in for the entire season.


To Consider: Desperate Housewives (ABC), Undercover Boss (CBS), Family Guy (FOX), Sarah Palin’s Alaska (TLC)
Desperate Housewives was at one point, my wife’s guilty pleasure, but there is only so much of the same thing week after week one can take. Undercover Boss is harmless enough I suppose. Let’s pass on Sarah Palin’s Alaska (I’m sure we will see clips on The Soup-which will be plenty), and Family Guy I continue to find wildly overrated (despite being made by a fellow RISD alum)


9-10 PM

To Watch: Mad Men/The Walking Dead (AMC) starting Oct 31
Mad Men continues to put other dramas to shame with arguably its strongest season yet. And, AMC looks to have another hit on its hands coming soon. Premiering on Halloween evening, is The Walking Dead. From director Frank Darabont (director of The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption), and based on the incredible graphic novel series of the same name from Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, no new show has me more hyped on its potential. Make sure to check it out! For both of these shows- we’re in for the entire season!



To DVR: Luther (BBC) starting Oct 24
The early hype on this BBC crime-drama import starring The Wire’s Idris Elba is very positive. Will for sure be checking it out to determine if it’s full season worthy watching.



To OnDemand: Eastbound & Down (HBO)
Though I found the first season of Eastbound & Down wildly uneven (though sporadically absolutely hysterical), I’ll be checking out the unexpected second season to see if it’s worth watching every week.

To Consider: Bored to Death (HBO), CSI: Miami (CBS), Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Bored to Death is promising, but I didn’t see enough of the first season to really bother with it this second year…perhaps when (and if I catch up). CSI: Miami is back, I am sure plentiful with David Caruso’s ridiculous overacting. Brother & Sisters I’ve never gotten into, but it has potential to be something I guiltily buy the complete series of and become addicted to years from now…but for now, I doubt it.


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Monday

7-8 PM

To Watch: N/A



To DVR if I catch up: 90210 (CW) *guilty pleasure*
If we ever catch up with the entire second season (which was very promising- and what we’ve seen improves on the rough 1st season), this will be in our DVR rotation. Admittedly though, I can’t, with a straight face, recommend the show to anyone. However, if you have a guilty pleasure craving for teen drama, please check it out.


To Consider: Chuck (NBC), House (FOX), Dancing with the Stars (ABC), How I Met Your Mother (CBS), Rules of Engagement (CBS)
Chuck is okay, the few episodes we’ve watched of it, but have been unconvinced to make it a regular watching. Dancing with the Stars, while wildly popular, holds little appeal for us (and this season’s cast seems the most boring that we’ve seen). How I Met Your Mother has not lived up to its extraordinary hype (to be fair we haven’t given it much of a chance), and absolutely nothing about Rules of Engagement seems watchable.


8-9 PM

To Watch: LoneStar (until it gets cancelled) (FOX)
We still have this sitting unwatched in our DVR. Though we have yet to watch it, it received some of the highest critical praise of any new show this fall season. Naturally, it’s likely to be the first to be cancelled (sadly, I’m not joking). So, we will, if it’s as good as advertised, watch the few remaining episodes that they show…and then wonder what could have been.



To DVR: The Event (though it better improve on an uninspiring premiere) (NBC)
Let’s be honest here. The premiere, much hyped, and much advertised, was a total mess. I’ll give it a few weeks before I downgrade it, but ouch…it better improve. This is NOT the next Lost.



To OnDemand: Gossip Girl (CW) *guilty pleasure*
We are very behind on our guilty pleasures. Though we are a full season behind on Gossip Girl, I hear from one of my favorite stylist’s around town that this season is not to be missed. Really, no show gets guilty pleasure so perfectly as this one. So take from that what you will.


To Consider: Two and a Half Men (CBS), Mike & Molly (CBS)
I will come out and say it, despite its high ratings, Two and a Half Men is easily one of the most obnoxious, horrendously awful and unlikeable shows I have EVER seen. And guess what, the creators of the show have a new companion show, sure to be hilarious. It’s about an overweight couple, which is always hi-lar-i-ous…right? If there is a hell, this “comedy” duo plays on TV every hour for eternity there. Enjoy if somehow you “get” what I am not “getting”. For everyone else, I beg of you, please skip.


9-10 PM

To Watch: Hawaii Five-O (CBS)
Of all the “To Watch” shows on this list, this one is the softest recommendation thus far. The pilot was fun, but incredibly, well, dumb. I can take some dumb fun every now and then though. But, I’m not sure if I can take a full season of the two leads shouting, angrily, each and every line they have with each other. That being said, it has potential, and the casting of Grace Kim (from the incredible Battlestar Galactica), and Daniel Dae Kim (from Lost) is, well, awesome! Will watch each week, but this could easily shift down.


To DVR: N/A


To Consider: Castle (ABC), Chase (NBC), Men of a Certain Age (TNT)
Castle has a charming lead in Firefly’s Nathan Fillion, but the show is a bit too light, fluffy, and forgettable to make our weekly viewing. You could do much much worse though. Chase, I’ve heard nothing but terrible things about. And, Men of a Certain Age, while starring the remarkable Andre Braugher, and receiving critical praise, has yet to catch on with us yet. It may be worth checking out though.


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Tuesday

7-8 PM

To Watch: Glee (FOX)
While I thought (though my wife disagrees) that Glee was very hit and miss the second half of last year, there is no denying its always a pretty enjoyable watch. Though I could do with a few less musical numbers, a few less preachy episodes, and much more of it’s very clever dialogue, the show is a definite full season watch. This week’s episode features songs from Britney Spears.



To DVR: No Ordinary Family (ABC)
Very likely to drop off our viewing schedule, but something we are giving a chance to, simply because of my recent addiction to The Shield on DVD, and my subsequent respect for the acting chops of Michael Chiklis, No Ordinary Family looks to be a live-action version of The Incredibles. We’ll see how this superhero show shakes out…


To Consider: NCIS (CBS), One Tree Hill (CW), The Biggest Loser (NBC)
NCIS, from what I hear, is the top rated show on television. Though I’ve never watched an episode, and can’t fully judge, nothing about it strikes me as interesting…but again, I can’t really judge. So if you are among it’s millions of fans…continue on! One Tree Hill, on the other hand, though I’ve only seen ridiculous clips on The Soup, I think it’s fair to say appears to be FAR too guilty of a pleasure for me to find remotely pleasurable (this coming from someone who loves the 90210 remake). The Biggest Loser looks to bring more of the same…I only really like watching the end when you see the before and afters.


8-9 PM

To Watch: N/A



To DVR: Raising Hope/Running Wilde (FOX)
We have both of these sitting on our DVR right now, so no assessment yet. The early hype was very mixed with these, with both supposedly having potential to go either way. With poor ratings (though not as awful as Lonestar or Terriers) they are unlikely to get that much of a chance to improve.


To Consider: Life Unexpected (CW), NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), Dancing with the Stars Results (ABC), Stargate Universe (SyFy)
Life Unexpected is a show (and I know this may sound strange) I can’t wait to watch once it’s all out on DVD, and then wonder why I didn’t watch it when it was on air. NCIS: Los Angeles looks to bring more of the same LL Cool J to the evening. If you are into Dancing with the Stars, enjoy this filler-filled evening where you find out what C-list celebrity leaves the show, and graduates to Entertainment Tonight correspondent. Stargate Universe returns, after a very uneven, but at times, very promising first season.

9-10 PM

To Watch: Sons of Anarchy (FX)
I am massively behind on Sons of Anarchy (only half way through the first season), but I can easily say, it’s one of the best shows on TV. A very high recommendation. Much like Friday Night Lights, don’t let its subject matter persuade you not to watch.


To DVR at some point: The Good Wife (CBS)
I’ve yet to watch an episode (the premise just didn’t strike me as must watch TV), but with some strong recommendations from people I trust, I might have to begin to give this critically acclaimed drama a chance.
To Consider: Parenthood (NBC), Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC), Sanctuary (SyFy)
I’ve heard Parenthood is light and enjoyable, but I’ve yet to remember to check it out…perhaps down the road. Detroit 1-8-7 was entirely reworked from the show originally conceived, which is often never a good sign. Sanctuary, I’ve yet to see but has a strong sci-fi cult following around it.

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Wednesday

7-8 PM

To Watch: Undercovers (NBC)
Sitting on our DVR pretty much only on the reputation of JJ Abrams, who is on a very hot streak lately, I am a bit skeptical if this spy-couple drama will maintain a “to watch” rating this entire year. We shall see.



To DVR: America’s Next Top Model (CW) *tyra-riffic guilty pleasure*
Yes, I know it’s the same thing every year. Yes, I know Tyra is…well Tyra. But, I can’t help myself. I find ANTM to be the guiltiest of pleasures and will watch it every year. To most people, I would recommend not watching.


To Consider: Lie to Me (FOX), Survivor: Nicaragua (CBS), The Middle (ABC), Better with You (ABC)
I hear Lie to Me improved after a rough start last year, but it’s yet to become part of our regular watching habits. Survivor, the grandpapa of all reality is back…take that with whatever level of excitement you wish. The Middle, I have heard is good, but have not watched yet, and Better with You stars the ever-likeable JoAnna Garcia. These two shows have potential, but I can’t really say much about them yet.


8-9 PM

To Watch: Modern Family (ABC)
Modern Family is back, consistently enjoyable (though not always as laugh-out-loud hysterical as people hype it up to always be). Nevertheless, it’s something for sure we’ll be checking out week to week.

To DVR: Hellcats (CW) *new guilty pleasure*
Embarrassingly, I’ve been actually quite enjoying this silly cheerleader, Bring it On-ish teen dramedy. A very light recommendation on this.


To Consider: Cougar Town (ABC), Criminal Minds (CBS), Law & Order: SVU (NBC), Hell’s Kitchen (FOX), Friday Night Lights (DirecTV)
We’ve yet to get into Cougar Town, but some people do love it. Same goes with Criminal Minds. Law & Order: SVU returns as easily the best Law & Order show, but we wore out on it a few years back. Friday Night Lights is criminally underwatched (this coming from someone who has absolutely no interest in watching a highschool football drama at all), and is now only on DirecTV and DVD season to season. If you have satellite, I highly recommend giving it a chance.


9-10 PM

To Watch: Terriers (FX)
Terriers was heavily hyped, but only partially delivered. I look forward to seeing if it improves week to week, but with tumbling ratings, it might not get the chance.



To DVR: Top Chef: Just Desserts (Bravo)
Though we don’t always watch every season of Top Chef, I will likely return back to the show once again for this special Desserts season. Yum!


To Consider: Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC), The Defenders (CBS), The Whole Truth (ABC), South Park (Comedy Central)
Law & Order looks to find out if Los Angeles will bring the show a new start. The Defenders has yet to strike our interest (mostly due to my extreme dislike of the two leads- Jerry O’Connell and Jim Belushi). The Whole Truth, despite Maura Tierney I hear being very good on it, looks entirely like every other law drama.


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Thursday

7-8 PM

To Watch: Community/30 Rock (NBC)
Easily my favorite hour of comedy on TV right now. Community got beyond an awkward flat start, to become one of the most interesting, smart, and promising comedies of last season. 30 Rock, continues to deliver fantastic acting and writing week after week.


To DVR: N/A


To Consider: The Big Bang Theory (CBS), S*** My Dad Says (CBS), My Generation (ABC), Bones (FOX), The Vampire Diaries (CW)
The Big Bang Theory, in theory, should be right up my geek alley. But, we’ve been utterly let down by it every chance we’ve given it however. S*** My Dad Says, based on a sometimes humorous twitter feed, and starring William Shatner is supposed to be terrible. Is anyone really shocked? My Generation had some downright awful early buzz, and unless we hear otherwise, aren’t even going to bother with it. Bones, is very very enjoyable for what it is (mostly cause of the likeable leads), but hasn’t become a week-to-week show for us; maybe one summer we’ll rent the seasons and marathon watch. The Vampire Diaries could easily become a fun guilty pleasure, if we ever catch up on it.


8-9 PM

To Watch: Fringe (FOX)
I am finally catching up to the new season of Fringe. After a rough start, that felt at times like a bad uninspired rip-off of the X-Files, it soon became one of my favorite shows on TV. With Lost gone, if you have a sci-fi appetite for a show with a rich and ever-growing mythology, definitely check it out. If only FOX would stop trying to kill the show, putting it up against every other network’s big guns.



To DVR: Nikita (CW)
What I thought would just be at best a guilty pleasure, has become one of our favorite new shows this Fall. What seems like the 8th remake of the still fabulous french film, La Femme Nikita, it’s thus far delivered all it has promised. We shall see if it can keep it up.


To Watch OnDemand: The Office (NBC)
Steve Carrell’s last season kicked off this past week. I don’t know if I am alone on this, but the show seems to be losing steam over the past year, year-and-a-half. While still enjoyable, I can’t help but wonder if this may be not only Carrell’s swan song, but the entire show’s as well.


To Consider: CSI (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Outsourced (FOX)
CSI is one of those shows, that, when I’ve watched, I’ve enjoyed, but I’ve never been compelled to watch it on a weekly basis. Grey’s Anatomy I just, well, don’t understand at all. Outsourced has gotten wildly mixed reviews, and has not offered up much in its previews to inspire us to give it a chance.


9-10 PM

To Watch: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
Perhaps the most hit or miss of all my “to watch” picks, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an extremely tough recommendation to give. Some (my wife included) will find the unlikeable characters doing awful, offensive, and terrible things to be extremely grating. And, it can be. But when it’s “on,” there is very little on television that can be as laugh-out-loud amazing.


To DVR: The Apprentice (NBC) *guilty pleasure*
This may soon leave my DVR. Though I may watch it on occasion, this season of one of my once favorite guilty pleasures has made me realize how kind of “over it” I am. We shall see…
To Consider: Private Practice (ABC), The Mentalist (CBS), The League (FX)
Private Practice, like Grey’s Anatomy, I just can’t watch. The Mentalist has never much engaged us as must watch TV. The League I gave a chance to last year, and it disappointed on all levels. I hear it has improved, but I’m not sure if it’s worth giving another chance to…

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Friday

7-8 PM

To Watch: N/A


To DVR: Human Target (FOX)
I only caught one episode of this action-packed show last season, so have never really given it a chance. Recently, multiple people have told us to check it out. So check it out, we shall.


To Consider: School Pride (NBC), Medium (CBS), Smallville (CW)


8-9 PM

To Watch: Supernatural (CW)
I am almost 4 seasons behind (I only just started watching Season One), but have really grown to love this show. I don’t know if the new season is best to start the show out with, but it’s completely enjoyable despite all my earlier reservations about it.


To DVR: Star Wars: Clone Wars (Cartoon Network)
What should have been an awful new way for Lucas to make more quick bucks off the Star Wars franchise has actually turned into one of the most fun spin-offs of the original franchise. Though very uneven, and still directed more at kids than adults, the computer animated series has proven to at times have the level of fun and whimsy that the newer chapters in the live-action series completely lacked.


To Consider: The Good Guys (FOX), CSI: NY (CBS), Body of Proof (ABC), Dateline NBC (NBC)
I will check out Dateline NBC every now and then, but the rest of these shows are rather, seen it a million times…snooze, dull. But each has their fans…and to be fair I haven’t given them much of a chance.

9-10 PM

To Watch: The Soup (E!)
Consistently funny, with all the clips you would want of all the shows you wouldn’t want to watch in their entirety, we make sure to catch Joel McHale and “man-kini” every week. This is easily the best iteration of Talk Soup since it’s premiere years ago.


To DVR: The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (IFC)
I must admit, all I know about this show is the small advertisement I saw of it showing David Cross and brief glowing review in a newspaper I picked up. I’ll be sure to check it out and report more soon.


To Consider: Blue Bloods (ABC), 20/20 (ABC), Outlaw (NBC), Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
We saw Outlaw. It’s easily one of the worst new shows (and downright laughably unrealistic) we’ve seen this Fall. Blue Bloods has gotten decent early reviews, so we may give it a chance. 20/20 like Dateline NBC is always worth watching should nothing else be on (and should you not be out and about). Real Time with Bill Maher is pretty entertaining, but it’s quality can depend considerably on the panel week to week.

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some shows that already started and are ending this fall are not included…let us know if we’ve missed any additional cable shows