I'm not sure how it works in other countries (I'm hoping it's similiar, for the sake of this topic) but it's this time of year in the U.S. when all the new series are given their debuts. With many, they need to be watched in a hurry since they're cancelled in a matter of weeks, but some others grab a fast audience, develop nicely and become weekly fare for many happy viewers for months. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has been watching the new shows as they come and, if so, which ones do you like and/or see as very promising -OR- which ones are [in your opinion] just minute after minute of dreary junk with commercials thrown in ? So far, I'm really liking "Kid Nation" (but it's being discussed on another thread, so I'll not comment here). Another one I saw and really, really liked is a time travel drama called "Journeyman". A little confusing, that first episode, but it laid the groundwork for some very intriguing possibilities (and I don't see it as much of a "Quantum Leap" clone at all, as has been reported - but, even if it were, that was a pretty good show back in the day ... or so I thought, anyway). "Journeyman" seems tight, intelligently scripted and nicely acted across-the-board. I look forward to seeing more of it.
So, then? Anybody got any recommendations of any other decent shows in the recent flood of new ones showing up? Speak up and share the tips, OK ?

You know Gats, my husband had Journeyman on the other night and he said the same thing about it reminding him of QL. I happened to love that show so I am sure I'll watch Journeyman. As for other new shows, I'm ambivalent as I hate to get hooked on a show and have it be yanked. I didn't really love "Reunion" but was sucked into it and wanted to see 'whodunit' but Fox unceremoniously pulled it halfway through the season - ARGH! NBC did the same thing with "Freaks & Geeks" which I still adore.... It's not as bad when it's a sitcom but it's still frustrating, as a result I have shied away from anything 'new'. I prefer to look ahead to my favorite shows returning (The Office, Lost, etc.)

I loved Chuck. It was pretty fun, made me laugh more than once.

I only got to see a few minutes of Journeyman, and even less of Reaper. I thought those looked interesting.
I have such a hard time keeping up with shows because of the kids, just not enough time to sit down and watch all the things I want to, and I have limited time to catch up watching them online (if they even show complete episodes of whatever shows I missed). I currently have a few I'm trying to get around to seeing before the next episode airs (like Heroes). Don't know if I'll make it. *sigh*.
I think that's one of the reasons I'm so addicted to reality shows--it's no big deal if I miss an episode, it's easy to catch up on and there aren't crucial plot points to miss. It's a lot easier to find out who got eliminated than to figure out, say, why that statue only has four toes.

So, anyone "Dancing With the Stars" this time?

Thanks for the reminder Taes, I also recorded Chuck and my husband did laugh out loud numerous times. Like you, I have to find time to sit and watch my shows; I just got around to sitting down and having a "Rescue Me" marathon this week and that season ended weeks ago! Thank goodness for my DVR!

Ok, so what happened to Wayne Newton's face?!?! Is this plastic surgery gone mad or something? He just looks so...different. I've been looking at that guy my whole life and I barely recognize him.

Lol, Marie sure can't dance, but I still like her. Brother Donny's pretty cool too. (Have you seen him in Weird Al's 'White & Nerdy' video? )I think they have great personalities.

I was discussing Wayne Newton Taesma with a friend. We couldn't figure out if the hair plugs came before or after all the face lifts. His face reminds me of a stretched piece of dough! It seems the stretching has put his eyes closer together!

And don't get me started on Mark Cuban. He tries hard, but whether is has $1 or $1 billion, a geek by any other name is still a geek.

Yay ! Caught two more new ones last night (I think this thread is going to motivate me to TRY harder to catch these newbies this year). Anyway ~ I saw (almost all of) "Bionic Woman" and "Life". The former looks excellent! I never saw a minute of the original, so I can't even try to compare the two, but I thought this new heroine was both fetching to watch AND complicated and realistically constructed. I love that "reluctant hero" stuff and they seem to be doing that angle really well. Special effects and all that jazz are in place but, I'd say, it's definitely a 'character-driven' program and (whew!) they've made that main character fascinating indeed. My bet is that fans of the original will find much fault with it (which makes sense) but I think it'll grab up a whole new fan base. Seems odd to say but I summed her up as a young female superhero who young women would like to BE and young men (despite that she could kick their butts from here to Seattle) would like to date . I thought "Life" was pretty bad, though. Too "House, M.D."-ish. Quirky, grumpy character, almost TOO wise while being slightly sociopathic about it. The thing about Dr. House, though, is that one can't really help but like him. He's scary, rude, blunt and foreboding in general terms but he's just so darned charming about each shortcoming! This cop who got a bad rap is everything BUT likable on "Life". And I like "House" so much, I [personally] don't need a bunch of little House wannabes running around loose on prime time TV . The thing about "Life", though, is that it sits in "prime real estate" in terms of time slot. Somehow or other, though, I don't think it'll grab up a loyal audience. I'd have to surmise that, given the character's overall attitude, most folks would rather see the dude GO BACK to prison. Guilty or not .

Um ... Lesson #1 about "Dancing With the Stars" (while we've been on the subject): keep in mind, kids, that being an adorable super model is a BAD, BAD thing. Write it down . Has-been "90210" actors or club-footed athletes who can't dance worth a faltering horse are one thing, but [nope] "lucky" young women that no one's heard of? Out on Week 1, thank you very much.
The show did the SAME thing last year, didn't it? Dolly Parton sure is holding up well, ain't she, though ? However, were she 40 years younger and in a bikini on Sports magazines? Sorry, Dolly. You'd be hittin' the road, too, I reckon....

Not much new in UK. Watching new series 'Torn' - quite topical in that it's to do with a 4 year old child being taken. (McCann Saga) but it seems rather over-acted and the 'new' (real) mother seems rather unrealistic in her expectations.

Also, new series coming up about Prostitute, 'Belle de Jour', based on real life person (well-read, educated and who does it for enjoyment) which looks as if it may be good viewing, if a little raunchy for some.

On a more serious note, I'm hoping to watch 'Meet the Natives' tonight, where five tribesmen from Vanatu, S. Pacific, travel 10,000 miles to live amongst our 'middle class' tribe in Norfolk (my home county) - staying in local farmhouse and going to the pub.

has anyone hear of the new show viva laughlin? i am a HUGE hugh jackman fan (i think hes a good actor and obviously extremely good looking) and he was one of the producers and has a recurring role in the series... Its a mystery/musical which sounds really interesting too...

I spent last evening toggling between "Life" and "Bionic Woman". I loved both. I think Life has more to offer me, however. I really enjoyed the character interaction, and I believe it will only get better!

There's less than 20 minutes remaining until the new season of "The Office (US)" begins! We're so excited!

I love "The Office" as well. I have a time conflict (and no TiVo) every Thursday, but I just heard that NBC posted the episode online! Guess what I'm doing when I get off of work...

I am rewatching (well actually listening to) the premiere episode again. I don't want to spoil it by discussing it now but would love to dish about it once you've had a chance to watch it. Feel free to comment when you have time...

Tonight is the season premier of Las Vegas. I've loved the show from the first season. I'm looking forward to seeing how they will work Tom Seleck into the Montecito!

I caught the season premiere Friday night of my "guilty pleasure" show Ghost Whisperer. That one is one of those programs that just ripples with potential ~ produced well, acted better than many (even though I'm no fan of Jennifer Love Hewitt, because I think [rather peevishly] that it's kind of a stupid name ) and the stories are right there. But the writing is, in my opinion, pretty bad. It seems to get lost in trying to choose a voice to use as it goes. But *sigh* I still look forward to it, and the premiere was pretty good/OK. I tell ya, though ... I'd NEVER live in that little town in the show. Yikes . Planes crash into it, underground mines blow up in it, etc. But, heck, it's TV after all.
Then I watched a new one called "Moonlight". Holy cow, the temperature in the TV room spiked about 100° in the first 15 minutes! That show is just hot, hot, hot! The characters are fascinating (nothing better than a charming vampire with a dry wit ) and the chemistry between the two leads is a sizzler indeed. They don't have to say a word on camera and that chemistry is still like enormous firecrackers. I got slightly confused in parts, though, as the relationship there seemed to have a somewhat father/daughter thing to it (I'm sure they'll clarify that later?). If they play that angle, well, that'll just be creepy and I'll lose interest pronto but, so far, the show looks slick and completely well done. And it's even very funny in spots - loved that interview at the beginning . A vampire who LIKES garlic on his pizza? Great stuff!

I was both impressed by and disappointed in "Moonlight":

Pros:

*These folks have obviously done some research. The remark that "you haven't seen rough times until you've been a vampire in the 1720s" really resonated with my research - these were indeed the peak times for peasant vampire hunts. The lines about a flamethrower being the best way to kill a vampire were spot-on, too: there are a lot of legends where the stake doesn't work, but cremation never fails.

*The male leads are very good. Alex O'Loughlin has a good handle on the main role, and Jason Dohring is appropriately snarky but not over the top - dangerous, but not evil.

*The basic motifs of the show are very good. Mick's "connection" to get semi-legal blood reminds me a bit of "House", the conflict between antagonistic friends Mick and Jason (both very pragmatic in their own way) over Mick's blood-bank habits and Jason's willing live donors has real potential.

*Good use of music.

*The Anne Rice-inspired take on the vampire's abilities was very refreshing and effective.

That being said...

*Both Sophia Myles and her role have got to go. She's disingenuous (possibly because she's trying to act "too American") and the concept of a vampire devoting his life to looking after her (though it does have some analogues in folklore, actually) does NOT appeal to me. The paradox of a vampire loving a human cannot be sustained over the long term - trust me on this one. It does appear that the powers that be may be anticipating this; she has not figured in the marketing for the program at all, from what I have seen. I can see the Beth arc terminating with Mick realizing he cannot do to her what Coraline did to him and then being done with it - that might be the best way to go. (Also, bluntly speaking, the idea of a man watching over a girl from the age of five and then falling in love with her kind of creeps me out.)

*The writing, in general, is uninspired. I could see the endgame of episode one coming a mile away. In 2007, when you dangle a red herring like that, you've got to twist it. As a rule, the story proceeded in a very cliched manner, and if the writing is not changed - rather drastically - the show won't last the season.


In conclusion, I'd say "Moonlight" is a very good idea for a show, but in execution it is not a good show altogether. I'm going to keep watching for a bit and see if this thing survives.

Yay ! That'll work (I'd forgotten you were a knowledgeable sort on vampires, Stu)! Seeing as how I [for one] hope the show sticks around a while, it'll be good to have you watching. I'm probably as "Joe Average Viewer" as it can get and would miss these inaccuracies in details/lore, etc.

Heck, if they're going to do it, they might as well get it right, eh?

I loved "Big Bang Theory" watched it with my son and wife and we all cracked up. "Chuck" was a hit with us also. None of us liked "Bionic Woman"

Personnally I watch DWTS for the pros, most of the 'Stars' especially this season are far from the stars of DWTS. Love watching Julianne, Edyta and Max.

Yikes . One of my favorite new shows of LAST year had its season premiere THIS year on Sunday night - that'd be "Brothers and Sisters". Good heavens, could it have possibly been more depressing? I was feeling like throwing myself off the roof after 30 minutes of it . One son missing (possibly dead?) in Iraq. One son's lover moving away for a while (to Malaysia for a year ~ not exactly a vacation for a few days), one daughter's marriage ending with a thud, another son with a wife stuck in grief after losing a *egads* newborn baby??? Clearly, this all gave Sally Field, who plays the mother of this unfortunate lot, a chance to emote like crazy (which she does so well). Goody. She may win that Emmy again after all that hysteria last night ... but I'm afraid we viewers may have to start drinking lots of hard liquor to get through such parades of crises .

Did I mention that they were all gathered to celebrate a birthday? Never mind that the celebration coincided, to the day, with the sudden death-by-coronary of the family patriarch a year before.

I still like the show but could they maybe tone down the utter cheerlessness next week? Just a little?

That episode really was depressing! I stopped watching at the end of last season, but decided to give it another try on Sunday...I won't be able to stand it if there are are many more like that! I did like the Rebecca character very much.

Oh ... I guess I should add here, too, especially after my my slightly snippy remark last week ~ Marie Osmond certainly redeemed herself Monday night on "Dancing With The Stars". She was fantastic! And who the heck IS that race car guy (I don't follow the sport much, and had never heard of him before)? Good Lord, he dances like a seasoned professional ! However, I stand by last week's 'snippy' remarks re: Wayne Newton . That guy is just painful to watch. Can a fellow have THREE left feet?

Note: I JUST heard on the TV that Jane Seymour's mother passed away today . As much as I'd understand if she drops out, I really hope they work it so she can take some time off, be with her family, grieve in private ... and come back. She's a pleasure to watch on that dance floor.

I wanted to like "Life" because I like the actor in the lead role, but it was not my favorite. We do watch Kid Nation, but my children watch it closer than I do, it is quite interesting, from what I have seen.

DWTS--my favorite is Marie, she makes me laugh.

Anyone see Pushing Daisies? That is a different sort of show, not sure if I will keep watching.

Our family has been waiting all summer for Heroes to return, looks like it will be a good season for them. I missed Monday's episode, but will see it later when I have time to really watch closely.

I flipped back-and-forth last night between "Kid Nation" and "Pushing Daisies", 22busy. I have to say that your adjective of different certainly fits the latter. Fascinating, smart and really quirky would work, too (and the critics seem to love it). My gut feeling is that, for ALL of the above descriptions, the show might not make it. It seems like the kind of 'thing' it might take too much work/attention to get a grasp on. I (for one) really liked it, though ... and, truth be told, my liking a show (especially because of its "oddness/originality") means it'll get cancelled in a matter of weeks . I hope it doesn't, however. Seeing Swoosie Kurtz back on the TV set was enough to keep me happy. Comedic corpses, though, might be a (ahem) "harder sell" to some, I reckon.

One comment about "Kid Nation". Adult intervention is getting more and more obvious. That episode last night was clearly edited to enhance this thing or that problem. More than I expected it to be, even. That storm was a brutal mess, wasn't it? No comment on the toppled outhouses . Those tykes certainly earned their merit badges throughout that duet of crises (but, of course, were presented as curfew-breaking, law-busting thugs at every other opportunity). I'm not too sure if I'll end up liking that program as much as I hoped I would.

I opted for "Law and Order: SVU" instead of "Life". How was last night's episode? I'm curious about that one...