1) Rather odd so far: Watching a lot more television this season than I had thought
2) I haven't seen a show I have disliked yet

Sunday:
8 pm: Simpsons....................................................
8:30 pm: nothing (I keep recording King of the Hill, but haven't watched an episode yet)

9 pm: Family Guy ...............................................
9:30 pm: slight chance see American Dad (first episode did not air because Family Guy 1 hour; second episode cut off after 5 minutes because cable company decided to update my software - for the rest of the night; haven't seen an episode yet)

Monday:
8 pm: Chuck - Have actually rather enjoyed this show, though second episode wasn't as good as first.
How I Met Your Mother - still watching, still good
8:30 pm: The Big Bang Theory - second episode not as good as first, but still best on TV
9 pm: Heroes - Haven't seen second episode yet, but first was . . goodish - the "twins" are annoying so far.
10 pm: Journeyman - I rather like this show - really surprised. thought it would be annoying. And I was just going to give it a shot. glad I gave it a shot. expect it to be cancelled shortly, but still, glad I gave it a shot.

Tuesday: .....................................................
8 pm: NCIS - I've been recording it, but haven't seen it yet - haven't seen anything from Tuesday at 8pm yet
9 pm: Reaper - second episode slightly more interesting that first; will continue to watch
10 PM: Boston Legal missed first episode, haven't seen second but recorded . . someday see again.

Wednesday:
8 pm: Back to You - second episode better; will continue to watch
8:30 pm: 'Til Death - it has some rather funny moments, but it is just hard for me to get into it.
9 pm: Bionic Woman - I watched the first episode when the night the second one aired, then watched second episode. Actually rather like this one. Surprised.
10 pm: CSI: NY - still recording, will get around to watching someday.

Thursday: Really glad they reaired the pilot of Reaper on this night, otherwise . . .waiting for Scrubs. Will watch tonights 30 Rock because of Seinfeld.
9:30 pm: Scrubs - 10/25

Friday: 8 pm: nothing
9 pm: Moonlight - (haven't watched yet)
10 pm: Las Vegas - watched this show again for first time since first or second season. Like Tom Selleck. Show really was intro to Selleck and wrap up of last season, and why certain characters staying or going. I'll watch/record next episode and then make decision if will continue to watch.

Saturday - So far it has allowed me to record certain shows I had missed.

Chuck and Reaper, connected in many critics minds as similar shows, with greater praise going to Reaper.

I watched Chuck more because I was somewhat forced to do so. I was going to record it, and watch the comedies on CBS, but the "watching television" was showing Chuck, so I watched Chuck. There are shows from last year that I have recorded and have not yet watched. Earlier on TV.com, I had noted that I had rather liked Chuck and looked forward to the second episode. I had no expectations going into it, and almost didn't see it. The opposite of Reaper - I rather looked forward to it, the critics seemed to like it more than Chuck, and . . . I found it to be ok, but not great.

Reaper was supposed to be better because the humor in it was stronger and more obvious than in Chuck (or something along those lines). I think I laughed once. I didn't go into it for humor, though, but when the critics make that point, and when the show itself keeps laying out these "jokes" that are not that funny, it becomes notable. Both shows are interesting enough, I suppose, and I'll continue watching both, baring unforeseen circumstances.

Oh and so many writers have noticed the similarities between Chuck and Reaper (giant box-superstore workers, weak unexpected "heroes" fighting . . something, etc.) that I left out the similarities/differences section.

How I Met Your Mother - same standard level of comedy come to expect. Good enough episode. Lost interest a couple of times, but also laughed a couple of times. My Mandy Moore doesn't look good tatted up like that.

Back to You - very disappointed, expected more, bland

Big Bang Theory - didn't really expect anything, only recorded it as it was on after How I Met Your Mother, and only watched because it started after I saw How I Met . . .; Probably because I didn't expect anything, I thought it was very funny, many laugh out loud moments (loudly). lots of annoying techno babble, but that set the characters up. Hopefully the techno babble will be less annoying in the future.

I picked up and finished Heroes season 1, so I will now watch that Monday's at 9pm (or record to watch later, I recorded the first episode of season 2 last night - might be a series better seen in large batches, that "continued later" thingie is annoying if you can't see the next episode immediately ).

I had planned to watch the comedies on CBS last night, but was forced to record them on one TV and watch Chuck on another. I rather liked Chuck and look forward to the second episode. I'm sure that means that it will be canceled. So, Monday updated:
8pm: Watch/record: Chuck, How I Met Your Mother

8:30pm: Chuck continued, The Big Bang Theory (recorded, haven't seen first episode)

9pm: Heroes
9:30 pm: Heroes
10pm: Journeyman (recorded first episode, not yet seen, hope to see before end up recording next episode if I end up disliking it)

Sunday:
8 pm: Simpsons - 9/23/07
8:30 pm: nothing
9 pm: Family Guy - 9/23/07
9:30 pm: slight chance see American Dad - 9/30

Monday:
8 pm: Chuck 9/24 - I'll probably record the first episode and watch:
How I Meet Your Mother 9/24 - in another room.

Not really interested in Chuck, but I figure I should try something.

I'll only watch MNF when my team plays.

8:30 pm: I'll give "The Big Bang Theory" a shot when it starts 9/24
9 pm: 2 & 1/2 Men - 9/24
9:30 pm: Rules of Engagement - 9/24
10 pm: I'll give "Journeyman" a shot 9/24

Tuesday: 8 pm: Bones - 9/25; NCIS - 9/25
9 pm: Reaper - 9/25 - I'll look as I like some of the work of one of the actors on the show
10 PM: Boston Legal - 9/25 (1st ep starts at 9:30 . . .ack)

Wednesday: not my night, I see
8 pm: Back to You - 9/19
8:30 pm: huh . . . guess I'll see 'Til Death - 9/19
9 pm: um . .. not going to watch a spinoff of a show I never watched, tired of shows like Criminal Minds . .. ack, guess I'll watch the 1st ep of Bionic Woman 9/26
10 pm: CSI: NY - 9/26

Thursday: really not my night
8 pm: nothing
8:30 pm: nothing
9 pm: nothing
9:30 pm: Scrubs - 10/25
10 pm: nothing

Friday: really not my night part 2 (not likely to watch the shows selected below)
8 pm: nothing
9 pm: Moonlight - 9/28
10 pm: Numb3rs - 9/28 (I'd watch Stargate Atlantis if the DVD arrived in time and I watched it before whenever that season starts)

Saturday - right

I attempted to add the stars for the film Sweet Land. All submissions were rejected because of "gaming". Gaming? I was told to "condense all your submissions into one, or else you could be cited for gaming." How? How do you submit more than one credit at a time? I went to the page at the time and attempted to add the stars of the movie. Maybe the system has changed since I submitted the credits (I can't tell, because I can't get the system to work at the moment), but when I attempted to submit the credits originally, I was only given the option of submitting the credits one at a time. I don't care about "gaming the system." The point system isn't even working anyway, so what would I have gained out of it? All I wanted to do was add the cast to the "Sweet Land" page, and all I did was follow the form on that page. Thank-you for giving us yet another website devoted to Films. I believe I'll now return to the other websites until this one (FilmSpot) leaves Beta.

As the review didn't make it onto my page, and I wanted to ask question about the review anyway, I'll repost my Casino Royale review here, but first ask the question - do you think my review is too long for FilmSpot?:

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As the only James Bond film based on an Ian Fleming book made in my lifetime, I was extremely excited to see this film. Throw in the new Bond actor, and I actually skipped work to catch the first viewing I could get into.

A Problem
A major problem with the film is the simple fact that it is an origin story, told in the present modern world (as opposed to an origin story set in the past). There are 20 official Bond films that occurred before this one, are we to assume that they are now not "official"? Or are we to just overlook the fact that those 20 films occurred in the past, while the origin story occurred in the "present"? One of the interesting aspects of the original Casino Royale film was the use of other people being James Bond. Not the mission in the original film (the 1967 comedy, not the 1950s television episode) where many people pretended to be Bond, but the idea that James Bond, 007 was/is a name used by a MI6 agent, that is passed from one agent to another when the need arises (like previous agent dead; in the comedy film, Sir James Bond passes on the mantle of "James Bond" to a new agent, the multiple "James Bond's" is a later part of the movie). The point is that many actors have played the role, and the role seems expandable to include this type of action. Interesting idea, or not, this particular discussion can be carried on some other day. The movie:

The Book and the Movie
Casino Royale is the only Fleming Bond book that I've read twice, which I only point out to note that I've read the book, seen the 2006 movie, and have concluded that the movie and the book have some strong similarities (discounting the modernization done by the movie makers, and the addition of an origin story). I don't want to get too detailed in this section, as there are those who might wish to either read the book at some point, or see the movie (or both).

Unlike some previous Bond films that only used the title of a Fleming Bond book, this particular Bond film seems to have actually used the meat/plot of the original book.

Daniel Craig and James Bond
Before Daniel Craig was named the newest James Bond, there were some who noted that the actor Jason Statham (Transporter) might make for a good James Bond. Considering the movie roles Statham has played, I thought the idea somewhat strange. Then I saw the beginning of the new James Bond film Casino Royale, and I could quite easily see Statham playing James Bond. The problem, of course, is that Bond is more than action-star, and I've only seen Statham play an action star (I'm not saying that Statham can't act, I'm saying that I've only seen him in action star roles). Luckily for the audience (except for those who would prefer to continue to watch just action), the part was given to Daniel Craig, and the movie included more than action.

So, is Daniel Craig James Bond? I don't know.
1) Craig has a hard face, and I haven't figured out if that is good or bad;
2) this movie was something of an origin story, and the film-makers have not combined all elements of "James Bond" together yet (so need to wait and see);
3) the hair - just the idea that the hair might be wrong was distracting, not whether or not the hair was the wrong shade, but the simple fact that the hair can be thought of as wrong is distracting;
4) Bond women - Bond had a different relationship with the Bond women in this movie than he normally has: the first Bond woman encounter was flowing along like previous encounters, but Bond ran out of time; the second Bond woman went the Diana Rigg route (love interest), which is not the typical Bond-Bond woman interaction; (another wait and see)

Rating
Good solid movie, somewhat distracted by "new Bond, how's the new Bond doing" part, and the "based on Fleming book, what's the same, what's different" part, and the "what the heck is Judi Dench (as M) doing in a Bond origin film, oh it's set in modern times" part. Overall, I'd give the film a solid 4.28 out of 5 stars rating.

Sweet Land was an outstanding film. I almost didn't go see the film, because it didn't really look like my kind of film. But, on the last weekend the film was available to be seen at the local theaters, I went and saw the film. I am extremely glad that I was able to catch the film before it ended it's run. The film ended up being one of the first movie I've given a rating of 5 out of 5 in a long time.

I have created a summary for the film and submitted it here. Being a Beta site, and worried that the summary will go astray, I'll repost it here to remind myself to attempt to resubmit it later if I need to do so:

Sweet Land, based on Will Weaver’s short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat," tells the story of one man's grandparents. The film begins in 2004 with Lars Torvik. His grandmother Inge has just died, and Lars (Stephen Pelinski) is contemplating selling the family farm. He accepts a check for the farm, but he immediately starts thinking about what the family farm meant to his grandparents, and he starts to reconsider. The film then jumps back in time to 1920s Minnesota and Inge’s arrival in the area.* Inge (Elizabeth Reaser) has come over to marry a man she has never meet, Olaf (Tim Guinee), a Norwegian immigrant. Olaf is under the impression that his family has found a nice Norwegian girl for him to marry, but Inge is German. In 1920s Minnesota, being a German is the same as being the enemy. Without the correct papers, Inge and Olaf cannot marry. Without the marriage to connect them, and with the town already against Inge for being a German, Inge and Olaf try to figure out what to do next.

The multiple Inge's: young Inge is played by Elizabeth Reaser, old Inge is played by Lois Smith.

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* Note, the film actually jumps back to something like the 1980s with a younger Lars visiting the family farm, and with Inge. Shortly thereafter the film jumps back to the 1920s.

Hopefully this blog entry will post.  If it does, this will be my first blog entry post specifically to/on FilmSpot (and, like my other blog posts, appearing everywhere else on CNET). 

I just found this website by reading the blogs on TV.com (thanks RJ-viewer) and I am wandering around exploring.  I'm slightly confused as to why CNET felt the need to create this website when they already had MetaCritic, which includes the film reviews you might see if you visited one of the films on FilmSpot (which might be hard to do, judging my attempt to visit Shaolin Soccer, and having to go through Kung Fu Hustle (and then through Stephen Chow) to get to Shaolin Soccer)).  What they do not have yet, after creating or buying websites for television (MetaCritic and TV.com), games (GameSpot), film (metacritic, and FilmSpot), music (mp3), is a website specifically for books (MetaCritic and ?), and a website specifically for DVD's (which, I suppose, is covered by MetaCritic, TV.com, and FilmSpot). 

Well, I see that my review for Shaolin Soccer is not going to make it onto the system, so I'll repost it here to remind myself to try again later.

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Shaolin Soccer:

Shaolin Soccer stars Stephen Chow of the more widely known Kung Fu Hustle (Hustle was made and released later). You all remember Shaolin Soccer, right? Oh right, it was cut to pieces by its American distributor and then never widely released in the USA (if it was released at all on the screen in the States).

Shaolin Soccer is about this ex-soccer player (football to all you non-US Americans) that was very good, missed a goal, and was brutally beaten by a mob. That ex-player became a flunky to one of his former soccer teammates, until he leaves and eventually forms a soccer team with some bums he finds in the streets (not all bums). The team ends up entering a competition and the final game is against Team Evil, the team owned by that former teammate. There is something of a coherent plot in Shaolin Soccer (as long as you watch the uncut version), which is not always as easy to determine in foreign films (if you don't speak the language, and the best version is in that foreign language). If you get the chance, watch the uncut version, and if you can't find the uncut version, skip the cut version until you can find the non-butchered original film.

Overall, Shaolin Soccer was a funny, exciting little film, though as some have mentioned, it would probably be better to watch Shaolin Soccer before seeing Kung Fu Hustle.

Monday:
How I Met Your Mother (CBS): Second season is somewhat disappointing so far, though the overall second season rating (8.58 ) is just 0.06 points below the first season's score. Still my favorite comedy series on the air, though when Scrubs returns, Mother becomes the second favorite.

The Class (CBS): The first two episodes were disappointing and caused me to question whether or not any of the actors on the series knew how to act. Since the Huricane/3rd episode, though, I've found the series surprisingly funny and quite good. If I remove the first two episodes from the overall rating, the series ends up with the same rating as How I Met Your Mother (did not realize that until now). Roughly a 8.48 to 8.58 show (out of ten, rating system this website uses, though I normally rate on a five point scale). Heroes (NBC): Something keeps drawing me into this new series, and while I like it (8.58 ), I'm still waiting for the intro to end and the action to start (haven't seen last episode, though recorded it, so maybe the action has started; note: I'm aware that "action" has occurred, maybe I should say that I'm waiting for the action to move past the introduction to the characters and move more towards story advancement (while the story is progressing, we are taking more time learning about powers than story progression)). Right, that was probably confusing. Can't wait to see the recorded episode, and I have every intention of following this story until it's conclusion.

Two and a half men (CBS): Disappointing season, so far the ranks third best (8.44) of the four seasons. Will continue watching both 9pm series (this and Heroes).

Studio 60 (NBC): The pilot, which I watched early through Netflix, was good enough to really draw my interest to this series, but the two episodes after it started to erode my desire to see the series. I haven't seen the latest episode yet (recorded), but the last two episodes (eps 4 and 5) were very good and I'm likely to watch all the eps that make it on the air (what with low ratings and all, there is a risk). Of all the new series (and only counting new series), Studio 60 has received my highest rating (8.68 ) so far this year (a returning series is currently my favorite, but this is the first year I've seen that series, so it gets somewhat complicated in assessing best new series I've seen). Vanished (FOX): Saw part of first episode, decided to not continue watching episode or series. dropped

Tuesday:
Slightly confused as to what aired when on Tuesdays as the schedule has changed. Whenever I originally saw the series, I've seen Standoff, Friday Night Lights, and NCIS which now air at the 8pm hour. Veronica Mars at 9pm, and Boston Legal at 10pm. I know I also watched Kidnapped at some point, which, I think, was on at 10pm (or maybe 9pm). I also watched first episode of Smith. Friday Night Lights (NBC): Liked the film, didn't like first episode seen and with the very crowded night of shows, it needed to be better for me to give it another chance. dropped

Kidnapped (NBC): I really liked the series (8.6 rating out of 10), but then I skipped an episode to watch something else, heard that it was cancelled (actually, learned later, just moved to Saturdays to die), and stopped watching. Somewhat disappointed I lost touch with the series and that it ended up sent off to die. dropped

Standoff: Long time since they aired an episode, and the last episode I saw was the worst episode rated by me (for the series, not overall). Overall, a relatively well liked show by me, so I'll need to go back to some method of recording it and watching NCIS, or recording NCIS and watching Standoff. This television season has found me watching the most television series ever, and eventually I'll need to start pruning more than I have at this point. This show is currently on the bubble (rates the same as dropped Kidnapped - 8.6). NCIS: A little tired of the beginning "is Gibs gone, is Gibs staying" but otherwise like the season so far (second highest rated season of the 4 seasons; 8.56 ). Veronica Mars: Worst season so far, but still highly rated (8.58, while is everything turning out to be 8.58? I rate the episodes, and the overall rating is an average of the episodes, so how do so many shows end up 8.58 with the widely different individual episode ratings?). Also first season I watched as it aired instead of waiting for the DVD's, and that probably impacts the rating. Boston Legal: My favorite new series of the year, not new as in new on the air series, but new as in I hadn't watched the series until this year. I had caught a couple episodes from previous seasons as they aired, but for some reason I never really liked them until I tested the first season DVD through Netflix and like so much went out an bought it. Ended up rating the first season 8.68, the second season 7.88 (one episode), and this season 8.72. I like most of the actors on this series. I really liked Mark Valley in the series "Keen Eddie" and am somewhat disappointed in his limited use/role in this series. Smith: Many series like Smith have been on and off the air, and this was the worst of its kind, at least I thought so after the first episode. Dropped before it was cancelled, and now it is off the air.

The promo for 3lbs looks interesting, but it is harder to watch/record two episodes at 10pm. I'll see if I'm able to catch both Boston Legal and 3lbs on November 14 (and earlier I was talking about the need to prune series from my watch list).

Wednesday:
Wednesday's are somewhat annoying. At 8pm: Jericho, and Bones, and then 20 Good Years & 30 Rock. At 9pm: Justice, and Criminal Minds. At 10pm: CSI: NY.

Unfortunately, I suppose, I haven't been able to eliminate any of these competitors for my time, the networks have been trying to help me. They took Bones and Justice off the air for baseball, moved Justice to Monday (haven't caught an episode yet on Monday, as it is now the third most interesting series to watch on Monday nights, behind 2 1/2 men and Heroes, and I can't record/watch three series, only two), and are planning to move the comedy series off the night. While watching a recorded episode of Close to Home the other day, I came to the realization that I watch way to many legal/court/crime series and not enough of the other kind. Because of this I'm somewhat less said of the fact I'll not be able to continue watching Justice. Forced to prune a series by the networks actions. 20 Good Years: I'll start by noting that I like John Lithgow, and then add that I don't think I'm the target audience for these series. I just can't get myself to care about any of the characters on this series, and while there is the occasional chuckle, I haven't found much to laugh about. Considering that the series is supposed to be a comedy that is not a good thing. One last thought on the show: that daughter is way too thin to have just given birth to a baby.
View not view: Well, considering that the series appears to have an end date of 11/8/06 on Wednesday, and no new announced time slot, I'll watch the last 1 or 2 episodes and then probably drop it at the same time NBC drops it (in 1 or 2 episodes).

30 Rock: 30 Rock is a borderline show for me, I don't particularly care one way or another if I watch it. I'll watch the last couple of Wednesday episodes and see if I follow it to Thursday. I might actually watch a 2 hour block of comedy again, for the first time in a while on Thursday (CBS: Monday - I normally record the first hour block, and I don't watch the 9:30 show). If 'Til Death and Happy Hour actually return the first Thursday in November, and stay on the air until November 30th, then I could watch the first hour of comedy shows on FOX then switch over and watch Scrubs at 9pm and 30 Rock at 9:30pm. I have no problem, though, just recording/watching Scrubs and not watching any other show on Thursday's. Back to 30 Rock: I can't think of anything, distracted by the moving emoticon faces below the screen. As mentioned, I'll watch the last couple of Wednesday shows, then might follow it to Thursday (OOPS just realized, Bones will be returning on 11/1, so I've actually found myself forced to drop both NBC shows, might catch 30 Rock when it moves to Thursday, might not). Jericho: I fully expected one of two things to happen (if not both) for this series and for Heroes. I fully expected that I'd either dislike the series and move on, or that the series would get an early cancellation order. Oddly enough, though, the series picked up a full season order, and I've found myself recording each episode each week (first it was Bones which kept me from watching this series as it aired, then it is the NBC comedies). It is not my favorite new series by a long shot, but it is addictive (especially if you are like me and liked reading this type of fictional book, though none of the series (Stirling, Ringo, Flint) matches up with this type of situation, Stirlings comes closest, but still not very). Bones: Second season blues, eh? I've rated the second season 0.08 points below the first season, so far. 8.5 vs. 8.58. Criminal Minds: Odd, I've actually rated the second season 0.06 higher than the first, and I was thinking that I liked the series less. Good thing there is all these show movements, because now I can try to catch the first episode of Day Break (record/watch it, and record/watch Criminal Minds).

CSI: NY: Who know? I came to CSI:NY after liking and watching the first two CSI's and didn't watch the first season of NY until after it came out on DVD. Now? Now NY is the only CSI that I watch. I watched the first episode of CSI: Original Blend this season, and found it utterly unwatchable and have stopped watching CSI completely, and cancelled my order (actually, my intention to order) the earlier season (season 6) DVD (watched all of first 4 seasons, all but 2 episodes of season 5, and 9 episodes of season 6; 126 eps watched of CSI; 76 of CSI: Miami). I'm quite confident that I might be the only person to find themselves in this situation (might be others that only watch CSI:NY, but you would need to add in liking and watching all those CSI: Original Blend and CSI: Miami episodes and now dislike both Las Vegas and Miami). I'm also under the impression that CSI: NY is the least liked of the CSI's by CSI watchers. Will continue to record and watch this series.

Thursday:
Empty day recently, crowded in future?

Happy Hour and 'Til Death were ok comedies to watch with nothing else I want to watch on, and then they went off the air for baseball. Left me with just Shark at 10pm. I might watch Happy Hour and 'Til Death if and when the return, and will watch Scrubs when it returns at 9pm. If I actually make a comedy night, I'll throw in 30 Rock at 9:30 to round out the evening, and then record Shark (Boston Legal is the only 10pm show that I watch instead of record to watch later). Shark: Really liked first episode, second episode fell a little, and rest have been watch able. 8.64 current rating, though keeps falling with each new episode watched.

Friday:
Technically I don't regularly watch television on Friday and Saturday nights, but I will occasionally record Close to Home (because of the guy from JAG), and Numb3rs and later watch (something like 6 eps total for both series watched this year). To a certain extent I don't watch television regularly on Friday and Saturday because I: 1) have a lot of recorded shows to watch; 2) am tired of watching crime dramas.

Saturday:
I believe Kidnapped is now on this night, but never even tempted to watch it (though as earlier rating noted, I did like this series).

Sunday:
Night of comedy:

Simpsons: still like to watch it as it airs, less inclined to watch reruns in syndication, and DVD releases (not sure why).

Family Guy: still somewhat disappointed with Family Guy 2.0.

American Dad: sometimes watch, rather dislike, sometimes surprised by a good episode.

Monday: 8:00 pm: Might watch second episode of The Class but I didn't particularlly like the first episode. (recorded, watched at 9:30pm)

8:30 pm: No question I'll continue to watch How I Met Your Mother, though first episode of season 2 was somewhat disappointing. (watched as it aired, probably need to return to the "record, watch later" policy - I try to only watch shows I really like with comercials, but even then, I like them better without commercials).

9:00 pm: First episode of new season disappointing, will continue to watch Two and a Half Men. (watched as it aired). Heroes will air Sept. 25

9:30 pm: watched recording of "The Class", no intention of catching an episode of New Christine this season.

10pm: Can't watch Miami until see missed episodes (I believe I'm now three seasons behind, after the start of new season on Monday). Already watched the pilot of Studio 60, which I liked, so I had nothing to watch at 10pm.

Tuesday:
8pm: Recorded NCIS, have not watched yet. Friday Night Lights will air Oct. 3
9pm: recorded Standoff, not watched yet. VMars (Oct 3), Knights (Oct. 17)
10pm: Recorded Boston Legal, not yet watched. Watched as it aired Smith, somewhat the purpose of this blog entry. Smith, Heist, and Thief. I liked Heist, sorry to see it cancelled, though I didn't highly rate it. Heist was about 25 times better than Thief, and I only saw 1 episode of Thief. Thief was about 1000 times better than Smith, and remember, I didn't like Thief. I suppose I might have had a different opinion if I hadn't already seen Heist, Thief (quite a lot of vague similarities between Thief and Smith, if I recall correctly), and all those similar movies, and if Smith did not have that so-bad-I want to rip my ears off music.

Wednesday
8 pm: Record either Jericho or Bones, watch Jericho or Bones as it airs. (and later, Oct. 11, 30 Rock and 20 Good Years air, hopefully I actually get a DVR or something before then (or a VCR that works correctly; how many shows can you record at the same time on a DVR?).

9 pm: Record either Criminal Minds or Justice, watch either Criminal Minds or Justice.

10 pm: CSI: NY, already saw pilot of Kidnapped. Record or watch.

First time I've had three hours where every hour has a conflict. Good thing I had already seen the pilot of Kidnapped (I'll likely see second episode of Kidnapped, and still be watching CSI: NY, so next week will be tougher).

Thursday:
8pm: Nothing new (as in starting 9/21) I want to watch. Continue watching, or record 'Til Death.

8:30 pm: record or watch Happy Hour.

9pm: CSI, record or watch

10pm: Shark, record or watch.

Friday
I'm going to watch the first episode of a series I have no desire to see, Close to Home, because that guy from JAG has been added to the cast. Otherwise there isn't anything I want to watch on Fridays. Saturday - nothing
Sunday - everything I want to watch already on the air, for a while now.

The new fall season has not yet officially started, though FOX has already started showing some of their new and returning series. Only one of the new series that I’ve watched, though, aired on FOX. Last Monday, the TV show Vanished made its first appearance on the air. I recorded it. On Sunday (yesterday) I finally got around to watching that particular tape (which also included the most recent Monk and Psych, both series that I enjoy). The Vanished pilot started oddly, as if the show just started in the middle of the action. I was put off by that. Then I saw the actor from Invasion, then shortly thereafter the main actor on Prison Break, and I remembered that I had started to record 15 minutes before Vanished aired (don’t ask). Well, that’s not good. Starting off a show already with a bad feeling. So I tossed that feeling aside, and to make sure I didn’t underrate the episode I decide to add a rating cushion. The episode was slow, tedious, very dreary, and even mind-numbingly boring. Sorry to all those that liked the episode (and it already has a rating of 8.6, so there are some of you out there). I’ve only so much time in my life, so I’m not going to force myself to watch shows this year, unlike last year when I forced myself to watch two episodes of Surface. The fall season hasn’t even started yet, and I’ve already removed one series from my viewing scheduled. Thanks FOX for airing this series so early. So, how about the other two brand new series that I’ve already seen? I acquired the entire pilot to the new series Studio 60 . . . from Netflix, and with it came the entire pilot episode of Kidnapped. Good thing I had seen Kidnapped before I saw Vanished or I’d not even try to watch Kidnapped. Kidnapped drew me in and was oddly a lot more interesting than I expected. My only problem with the series, the same problem that kept me from ever sampling Prison Break, is the concept. How are they going to drag out a kidnaping for an entire season, much less an entire series run (how ever long that might be). Unless this is some kind of hostage situation, which can drag out for years, I’m not exactly sure how this kidnaping could stay interesting for an entire season. I’ll record the second episode, whenever it airs, and see if I’ll add this series.

Studio 60 is the one that I wanted to see, Kidnapped just came with the DVD. I liked Kidnapped enough to record its next episode, and I liked Studio 60 even more, enough to add to my list of shows to actively watch. I now understand the Judd Hirsch comment made earlier (not a regular cast member). Right, this isn’t a review as this show hasn’t even reached the airwaves yet (been broadcast on regular tv in its normal time slot and period), so I’ll end here (that and the fact that I watched both Studio 60 and Kidnapped about a month ago (well, it’s been at least 2 weeks) and don’t actually recall every little detail). Vanished - I didn’t actually watch the whole episode and what I remember, now, is intermixed with the few minutes of Prison Break I accidently watched. Both had scenes of cops barging in somewhere, Prison Break into a storage locker like thingee, and Kidnapped a house containing a boyfriend and a daughter. Oh, right, the returning series. A long time ago, before it even aired, I had penciled in Veronica Mars as a show to sample. I do not recall now what blocked my viewing of the series, but I have never seen an episode in normal broadcast. Somewhere along the line, I heard many good things about the series, and when I noticed that I could rent the first season, I sampled it using Netflix. Then, likely what I had seen, I bought the first season. This was after the second season had started, and this is not a series to causally start watching after the fact. This upcoming season, though, can be watched by me, as I acquired the second season on the 22nd and then watched the entire season (something like 4 eps a night until the weekend, then I finished it off on Sunday). Considering the method used to view and sample this series, I’m not certain that I’ll like watching episodes as they air. There have been at least five series that I sampled after they started on the air, and only two of them have I liked both in whatever means I had watched them (DVD or reruns) and then later watching the episodes as they aired. 24 & Alias were very enjoyable, but only as a DVD series. I watched the first three seasons of 24, then tried watching season 4 as it aired. It didn’t work. Eventually the DVD came out and I rewatched the eps I had seen, and then the ones I hadn’t - much more enjoyable without the commercials and without waiting a week for the next episode (waiting for fifth season to come out, haven’t seen an episode of it yet). Alias was another one that I watched on DVD and then later sampled the fourth season while it was broadcast. I’ve still not seen the entire fourth season, and haven’t watched the last season. I won’t mention the third series I watched by other means (this time through reruns), and then couldn’t stand the series as it was broadcast. The fourth series is Angel, which I watched some eps in reruns, but most on DVD before the fifth season started. I watched Angel both on DVD and as it aired (DVD’s of third and fourth seasons not yet out when fifth season started). Great fun. Fifth series was rerun only, and no DVD has yet been released - that is 2 ½ men - easier to get into after the fact as it isn’t the serial type of series, but a comedy. All other series that I’ve tried to watch through other means failed to be watch able during normal broadcast. Ah, now I remember my point, I was talking about Veronica Mars. The point is that I might record the first four episodes, then watch them in order, and so forth as the series airs. Huge amount of verbiage that even I do not want to reread. Sorry about all those words.

Just a quick update on the Tiger cam at the zoo - if you hurry, you might catch one of the cubs sleeping in front of the camera, and the momma tiger in the background also sleeping. I only bring it up because it is sometimes hard to catch them on camera.

Now one of the other cubs is playing with momma tiger's tail. Momma tiger annoyed.

Sorry for coming back to something already blogged about.

It's interesting to see a tiger cub play like a kitten.

Fall TV

A reminder to myself, what’s on and when starting.

Monday:
8pm: Watch DVD or The Class (Sept 18 )

No desire to see MNF unless my team is playing (sorry Tony), nor Desire (interesting concept, not show but idea of show every day of week but no interest in a Soap), 7th Heaven (11th season and I’ve yet to see an episode, why start now?), Wife Swap (I don’t watch reality programing unless it is sports, and by that I mean NFL/MLB, etc.), Deal or No Deal, or Prison Break (did not see first season).

So, I’m left with The Class, a sitcom with a concept I have no desire to explore, with actors I’m not particularly interested in (if I know them), but . . . .. Premieres September 18th.
I’ll give the first show a sample as I like the 8:30 series. I might end up doing what I did last year - watch DVD and record the 8:30 series (and if I’m able to start recorder in time, the 8pm series - King of Queens). I’ll watch the first couple of episodes to see if it is worth recording.
Cast: Heard of Jason Ritter, haven’t seen him in anything. I’ve only seen Andrea Anders in Joey, barely heard of Jason Ritter and haven’t heard of any of the rest of the actors.
Concept: I’m not sure, but I don’t think I can even remember 1 person from my 3rd grade class. Not exactly a concept for a TV series that I’m interested in.

8:30pm: watch DVD and record How I Met Your Mother, or watch How I Met Your Mother (Sept 18 )
I didn’t start watching How I Met Your Mother until the second or third episode (though I eventually watched the rerun(s) of the ep(s) missed). There was the Kitchen comedy (which I can’t remember the name of and never caught an episode of) and How I Met Your Mother on at the same time that I wanted to sample, but first I sampled some hour long 8 pm series (I can’t even remember what that was now I disliked it so much, Surface? Was Surface an 8pm series?). Out of 10, I gave the series an overall rating of 8.62 (which is based on individual episode ratings). One episode I really liked, none that I disliked and some that were just ok. Season starts Sept. 18th.

9pm: Watch 2 ½ men (and then DVD until 10pm?; Sept 18 ), Vanished (Aug 21), or Heroes (Sept 25)
Two and a half men - Last year was the first year that I watched this series from start to finish (watched it as it aired, previously seasons I’d catch eps in reruns, though not whole season). Third season (last year) was rated highest by me with a rating of 8.64 (overall 8.48 ). Unfortunately, I do not have the type of equipment that will allow me to watch 1 show while recording another, so I’ll have to play with the pilots of the other series to see what I’ll do at 9pm (have no desire to see the 9:30pm comedy series). Season starts Sept. 18th.

Vanished: Starts: August 21 (good thing I started this blog entry today, eh?). I’ll catch the pilot episode, and if the series continues, I’ll catch the episodes before the Sept. 18th premiere of the CBS series I want to watch. If like enough . . .
Cast: I know of and have liked Ming-Na’s work, though it has been a long time since I last saw her. I know of and have seen the episode that Rebecca Gayheart appeared on Sliders, otherwise I’m unaware of her acting ability or work. I saw the pilot of that Stan Hooper series, and Penelope Ann Miller was on that, but I cannot know recall her.Concept: missing wife, secrets, mysteries, eh
Start: August 21

Heroes:
I’ll see how much I like or dislike Vanished, which will let me know if I actually watch 2 ½ men (which I would prefer to watch), which would let me know if I even get to sample Heroes on September 25th. The only thing going for Heroes is that I’m vaguely interested, don’t think I’ll like Vanished, and need an hour long show to get to Studio 60.
Cast: Greg Grunberg - know him from Alias. Know of Larter, apparently in Varsity Blues, which I’ve seen. I don’t actually recall Santiago Cabrera other than the name’s familiar and I saw Empire.
Concept: superheroes - Vaguely interested, vaguely uninterested
Start: Sept. 25

Not interested in the other 9pm-10pm shows

10pm: Studio 60 (Sept 1)
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: So far the only new show that I’m actually interested in watching, and the third show overall that I’m interested in watching (it helps that I started on Monday).
Cast & Crew: Never saw West Wing, but liked Sports Night. I’ve seen Amanda Peet, Judd Hirsch, and probably have seen Sarah Paulson, since I watched 1 or 2 eps of Deadwood. I like Steven Weber and Matthew Perry.
concept: interesting concept.
Starts: Sept. 1 - might get to see pilot before then if it ever arrives from Netflix

No desire to see Brian or Weeds, will watch CSI:Miami (which I like) on DVD (even if I dislike Studio 60, I’ll probably still only watch CSI:Miami on DVD - can’t wait for last season to come out).

Tuesday:
8pm: NCIS (Sept 19) or Friday Night Lights (Oct 3)
NCIS - start of 4th season. Show has increased in overall rating each season (overall 8.42; season 3 - 8.6). Can’t wait for it to start.
Starts: Sept. 19

Friday Night Lights:
I saw the film, mildly interested in the series. I really like NCIS though, and it’s Oct. 3rd start date is off-putting.
Cast: none of the names look familiar to me
Concept: football
Starts: Oct. 3

Not interested in other 8pm shows

9pm: Vmars (Oct 3) or Knights (Oct 17) or nothing
The Unit became, how do I put it, too interested in the family situation. Stopped watching it. Some highly rated eps, but still, stopped watching (overall - 8.74).

Interesting, now that I look at the rest of the offerings. I was going to say that I’d leave VMars until the next DVD offering, but now that I see what it’s competitish is, maybe I’ll watch the third season as it happens. That does depend, though, on getting and watching season 2 before then (comes out sometime this month).

Oh, that’s what Knight’s of Prosperity is about - stupid changing the title show people.
Knights of Prosperity: not sure I’ll like it, but I liked Donal Logue in Grounded for Life (and a strange little movie)
Cast: see above
Concept: the drama versions flopped (Heist, Thief), interesting to see how the comedy version works with the public.
Starts: Oct. 17 - I guess it depends on whether or not I actually get the DVD and watch the entire 2nd season of Mars, since Mars starts Oct. 3 (and whether or not I like the 2nd season).

Not interested in any other series at 9pm (or that 9:30 sitcom).

10pm: I liked season 1 of Boston Legal on DVD, but this is season 3; Sample Smith on Sept. 19

Smith - Thief and Heist flopped, Knights on same night . . . not sure, probably just sleep.

Wednesday
8pm: Bones starts Aug 30 (rated 8.56), but John Lithgow back on TV on 20 Good Years (Oct 4) Watch Bones until Oct 4 where-upon it will probably be on hiatus anyway and thereafter watch 20 Good Years

8:30pm: watch 30 Rock maybe. Starts Oct. 11

9pm: Watch Criminal Minds (Sept 20; rated first season 8.4
Not interested in any of the other series

10pm: CSI:NY or The Nine
CSI:NY is the one I like best of the CSI’s

The Nine
Not sure, entire season is action during a bank robbery?
Cast: Billingsley’s in it, but I’ve never seen him act out of make-up. Didn’t particularly like Raver’s acting on 24. I’ve tended to like both McBride and Daly’s acting.
Concept: sounds tedious
Starts: Oct. 4

Thursday:
8pm: nothing
9pm: nothing
10pm: Shark? Starts 9/21/06

Friday:
8pm: nothing
9pm: nothing
10pm: nothing

Saturday: nothing

Sunday:
7pm: nothing
8pm: Simpsons (Sept. 10)
8:30pm: nothing
9-end: nothing

Saw some cows, a horse, donkey, goats, and, oh, some more exotic animals.
- National Zoo in Washington DC

- Cheetah

- Orangutan

- Fishing cat

And more, see Flickr set if interested.

It's kinda like tv, so I'll blog about it here. I've just noticed that I can view the animals at the local zoo through video feeds, and have been having some fun watching the tiger cubs running around, etc. Oh and giant momma tiger.

Cub just annoyed mother, mother walk away frustrated . . . oops, now I'm narrating.

If interested, look here. There are three Sumatran tiger cubs, and at least 1 adult tiger.

Oops, cub ran off screen, now just watching concrete. The concrete isn't doing anything, just lying there. Where's the animals? Whoa, that's a huge kitty that just strolled by. Wait, that almost looks like a white tiger. They had some white tiger cubs at the National zoo at some point, but these aren't white tigers, just a trick of the light. Ok, now all I can see is a tail and a back leg of giant mother tiger. The tail! The tail is moving! This is a little too exciting.

Sorry to keep going on about this particular topic.



I realize that the pictures get cut-off on the end on some browsers (if not all). There are three pictures above, click on them to see a larger pic (Monday-Tuesday, Wednesday-Thursday, Friday&Sunday).

Midseason:
ABC: In Case of Emergency, Just for Laughs, American Inventor, Day Break
CBS: King of Queens, Rules of Engagement, Three Pounds, Waterfront, Greg Behrendt's Wake-up call, Primetime, Traveler
FOX: Winner, On the Lot
NBC: Andy Barker, PI, Scrubs, Singles Table, Crossing Jordan

New Fox Series:
Vanished: Senator's wife is missing. FBI look for her, but first try to figure out the background on the woman (who apparently isn't what she appeared to be). She could be down the hallway, but before going down that hallway, the FBI must first try to figure out her background.
Cast: Gale Harold, John Allen Nelson, Joanne Kelly, Rebecca Gayheart, Margarita Levieva, John Patrick Amedori, Chris Egan, Robert Hoffman, Ming-Na as Lin Mei

Standoff: Matt and Emily are sleeping together, which is a secret until Matt let's the world know about their arangement. Unfortunately he revealed their secret to the world, during a hostage negotiation. For you see, Matt and Emily are FBI agents with the CNU (Crisis Negotiation Unit). Their boss and co-workers are both surprised and annoyed. Well, that sounds like an episode, where do they go from there?
Cast: Ron Livingston, Rosemarie DeWitt, Michael Cudlitz as Frank, Gina Torres, Raquel Alessi

Justice: A law firm series from Jerry Bruckheimer starring Kerr Smith, Victor Garber, Eamonn Walker, & Rebecca Mader.

The Wedding Album: A comedy series that follows a wedding photographer.
Cast: Bruno Campos, Tara Summers, Tony Lo Bianco, Ashlie Atkinson, Jayce Bartok, Eva Pigford, Ptolemy Slocum

CBS announced upfronts, updated 2006 Fall schedule:

Monday:
8: How I Met Your Mother comedy(CBS)
8: Wife Swap reality (ABC)
8: Deal/No Deal reality (NBC)

8:30 The Class comedy(CBS)
Note: I’ll be watching How I Met Your Mother at 8, so I’ll sample The Class, though nothing about the concept or the actors looks particularly interesting to me.

9: Two & a Half Men comedy(CBS)
9: Bachelor/Supernanny reality (ABC)
9: Heroes drama (NBC)
Note: I’ll be watching 2 ½ Men, but I also plan on sampling Heroes, and I will not be watching the CBS 9:30 show.

9:30 The New Adventures of Old Christine comedy(CBS)

10: CSI: Miami drama(CBS)
10: What About Brian drama(ABC)
10: Medium drama (NBC)
Note: Probably not watch any of these three as they air, but will probably record CSI: Miami. Depending on what I think of the new shows, somewhere around 3 hours of potential programming to watch on Monday (though need to watch and record to get all 3 hours).

Tuesday
8: NCIS Drama (CBS)
8: Dancing with Stars/Set for the Rest of Your Life reality (ABC)
8: Friday Night Lights drama (NBC)
Note: I’ll be watching NCIS, though the change in cast might be off-putting; I’ll probably catch the first episode of FNL, but not sure if I’ll watch the series. On the other hand, I have been thinking to myself that I would rather enjoy a good sports series, and we (USA) can’t seem to create one.

9: The Unit drama/military (CBS)
9: Let's Rob comedy (ABC)
9: Kidnapped drama (NBC)
Note: Will not be watching “The Unit” (liked the episodes that I had seen, but stopped watching as show was focusing too much on the wives and emotional baggage). I guess this means that I might actually give Let’s Rob a serious look.

9:30: Help Me Help You comedy (ABC)

10: Smith (CBS)
10: Boston Legal Dramedy & Legal (ABC)
10: Law & Order: SVU Drama & Legal (NBC)
Note: Um, didn’t they try and fail with the Smith concept already (though on NBC - Heist; and on FX, though not sure if that series is still on the air - Thief)? I’ll give Smith a look, but I liked Heist, and disliked that was yanked. Maybe 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours of programing to watch on Tuesday.

Wednesday:
8: Jericho (CBS)
8: Dancing with Stars reality / George Lopez comedy (ABC)
8: Biggest Loser reality (NBC)

9: Criminal Minds drama (CBS)
9: Lost drama (ABC)
9: 20 Good Years comedy (NBC)

9:30 30 Rock comedy (NBC)

10: CSI: NY drama (CBS)
10: The Nine drama (ABC)
10: Law & Order drama (NBC)
Note: I’ll probably watch Criminal Minds, though it was starting to annoy me, and while others rank CSI:NY 3rd on the CSI list, I rank it 1st. I’ll probably see the first episode of Jericho. It is the type of concept that I’d be interested in, but the concept never seems to work that well. 0 to 4 hours of programming to watch on Wednesday.

Thursday:
8: Survivor (CBS)
8: Big Day comedy (ABC)
8: My Name is Earl comedy (NBC)
8:30 Notes from the Underbelly comedy (ABC)
8:30 The Office comedy (NBC)
9: CSI: drama (CBS)
9: Grey's Anatomy drama (ABC)
9: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)
10: Shark (CBS)
10: Six Degrees drama (ABC)
10: ER drama (NBC)
Note: I like CSI, but I can never seem to watch it in its normal run (nor get myself to record it. Don’t watch reality shows. Might watch Shark, but I tend to shy away from lawyer shows, especially as the only one I really tried to get into was not renewed for a second season. I’ll give Studio 60 & Shark a shot, and if I don’t like them, I’ll end up with nothing to watch on Thursdays.

Friday:
8: Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
8: Betty the Ugly comedy (ABC)
8: Deal/No Deal (NBC)
9: Close to Home (CBS)
9: Men in Trees (ABC)
9: Las Vegas (NBC)
10: Numb3rs (CBS)
10: 20/20 (ABC)
10: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC)
Note: I liked the first season of Numb3rs, but could never get into the second season despite repeated attempts, and I don’t watch shows like GW, and am not interested in CtH, so I won’t be watching CBS on Friday. Ok, unless I see and like Betty, no hours of programming to watch on Friday.

Saturday
same

Sunday
7: 60 MINUTES (CBS)
7: America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC)
NFL Football (NBC)
8: The Amazing Race (CBS)
8: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
NFL Football (NBC)
9: Cold Case (CBS)
9: Desperate Housewives (ABC)
NFL Football (NBC)
10: Without a Trace (CBS)
10: Brothers & Sisters drama (ABC)
NFL Football (NBC)
Note: Will not be watching any of the CBS shows. Never could get into Cold Case, and never tried an episode of Without a Trace. Nothing to watch on Sunday.

New CBS Series:
The Class: (comedy) - From the people behind “Friends” and “Mad about You” (or at least from people that worked on both shows) comes this series about a group of people that knew each other in 3rd grade. They are now in their 20s and apparently are having a 20th anniversary for their first day in third grade.
Cast: Jason Ritter, Heather Goldenhersh , Lizzy Caplan, Jon Bernthal, Sean Maguire, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lucy Punch, & Andrea Anders
Director: James Burrows

Jericho (drama) - The citizens of a small Kansas town believe that they could possible be the last humans on earth after spotting a mushroom cloud in the distance and losing all communication with the outside world.
Cast: Skeet Ulrich, Gerald McRaney, Ashley Scott, Pamela Reed, Kenneth Mitchell, Lennie James, Sprague Grayden, Michael Gaston, & Erik Knudsen.

Shark (drama/legal) - James Woods is a brilliant defense lawyer who decides to cross over and become a prosecutor.
Cast: James Woods, Jeri Ryan, Sam Page, Alexis Cruz, Sarah Carter, Danielle Panabaker, Romy Rosemont, & Sophia Brown.
Director: Spike Lee.

Smith (drama) - Ray Liotta lives both as a master criminal and a 9-5 working stiff with a family. He leads a gang in some heists.
Cast: Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen, Jonny Lee Miller, Franky G., Simon Baker, Amy Smart

Subject to change.

Monday:
8: Wife Swap reality (ABC)
8: Deal/No Deal reality (NBC)

9: Bachelor/Supernanny reality (ABC)
9: Heroes drama (NBC)

10: What About Brian drama? (ABC)
10: Medium drama (NBC)

Tuesday:
8: Dancing with Stars/Set for the Rest of Your Life reality (ABC)
8: Friday Night Lights drama (NBC)

9: Let's Rob comedy (ABC)
9: Kidnapped drama (NBC)

9:30: Help Me Help You comedy (ABC)
9:30: Kidnapped continues (NBC)

10: Boston Legal Dramedy & Legal (ABC)
10: Law & Order: SVU Drama & Legal (NBC)

Wednesday:
8: Dancing with Stars reality / George Lopez comedy (ABC)
8: Biggest Loser reality(NBC)

8:30: Dancing with Stars reality continues/ According to Jim comedy (ABC)
8:30: Biggest Loser reality continues (NBC)

9: Lost drama (ABC)
9: 20 Good Years comedy (NBC)

9:30: Lost continues (ABC)
9:30: 30 Rock (NBC)

10: The Nine drama (ABC)
10: Law & Order Drama & Legal (NBC)

Thursday:
8: Big Day comedy (ABC)
8: My Name is Earl comedy (NBC)

8:30 Notes from the Underbelly comedy (ABC)
8:30 The Office comedy (NBC)

9: Grey's Anatomy drama (ABC)
9: Stuido 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)

10: Six Degrees drama (ABC)
10: ER drama (NBC)

Friday:
8: Betty the Ugly comedy (ABC)
8: Deal/No Deal reality (NBC)

9: Men in Trees drama
9: Las Vegas (NBC)

10: 20/20 (ABC)
10: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC)

Saturday:
ABC Saturday Night College Football

Sunday:
7: America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC)
NFL Football (NBC)
8: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
NFL Football (NBC)
9: Desperate Housewives (ABC)
NFL Football (NBC)

10: Brothers & Sisters drama (ABC)
NFL Football (NBC)

New Series:
Betty the Ugly (Friday: 8pm, ABC): An hour-long comedy. Not a hour-long dramedy, but an hour long comedy. Despite the fact that it involves the world of high fashion, the simple fact that it is an hour-long comedy might lead me to sample it. Right, the concept: Betty is ugly (apparently), and is hired to be the assistent to Daniel (new leader of a fashion magazine) by Daniel's father Bradford (who owns the fashion magazine) because Betty is the only woman in the world (maybe just New York City) that Daniel has not yet had the chance to sleep with.
Comedy.
Cast: America Ferrera, Eric Mabius, Ana Ortiz, Vanessa Williams, Tony Plana, Ashley Jensen, Becki Newton, Mark Indelicato, Alan Dale

Big Day (Thursday: 8pm, ABC): Series/sesaon follows the antics and activities of various people on a wedding day.
Comedy.
Cast: Marla Sokoloff, Josh Cooke, Wendie Malick, Kurt Fuller, Steve[br]Miriam Shor, Stephen Rannazzisi, Stephanie Weir

Brothers & Sisters (Sunday: 10pm, ABC): Calista Flockhart is Kitty Walker, NYC radio personalty with job offer to go to LA to become a TV pundit but NYC based boyfriend has just proposed.
drama
Cast: Calista Flockhart, Ron Rifkin, Balthazar Getty, Rachel Griffiths, Dave Annable, Patricia Wettig, John Pyper-Ferguson, Sarah Jane Morris, Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak

Friday Night Lights (Tuesday at 8pm, NBC): new football coach at a Texas high school, based on the movie. Drama, 13 episode order
Setting: Dillon, Texas
Cast: Kyle Chandler (coach), Connie Britton (wife of coach), Zach Gilford (QB, 3rd string), Scott Porter (starting QB), Lyla Garrity (cheerleader and girlfriend of Porter (Jason Street is the QB character's name), Gaius Charles (RB), Taylor Kitsch (RB)
Created/Developed by: Peter Berg
Produced by: Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, John Cameron, Brian Grazer, David Nevins

Help Me Help You (Tuesday: 9:30, ABC): Ted Danson is Dr. Phil (I mean Bill), a best-selling mind-doctor/self-help guru. Focus on group therapy.
Comedy.
Cast: Ted Danson, Charlie Finn, Jim Rash, Suzy Nakamura, Darlene Hunt, Jere Burns, Jane Kaczmarek

Heroes (Monday at 9pm, NBC): Certain people find that they have "superpowers". Drama, 13 episode order.
Setting: The world.
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia (brother of politician), Adrian Pasdar (politician), Hayden Panettiere (cheerleader), Ali Larter (stripper), Noah Gray-Cabey (child of stripper), Leonard Roberts (prisoner), Santiago Cabrera (painter), Tawny Cypress (girlfriend of painter), Greg Grunberg (as a cop, best known from "Alias"), Masi Oka (Japanese man), Sendhil Ramamurthy (professor).
Created by: Tim Kring
Produced by: Tim Kring, Dennis Hammer (both "Crossing Jordan") and David Semel ("House")

Kidnapped (Tuesday: 9pm, NBC): kid kidnapped
Cast: Jeremy Sisto, Delroy Lindo, Dana Delany (mother), Timothy Hutton (father), Mykelti Williamson, Linus Roache, Carmen Ejogo, Will Denton, Boris McGiver

Let's Rob (Tuesday: 9pm, ABC): Donal Logue get's a gang together to rob Mick Jagger's apartment.
Comedy.
Cast: Donal Logue, Mick Jagger (guest, not cast), Maz Jobrani, Sofia Vergara, Kevin Michael Richardson, Lenny Venito, Josh Grisetti

Men in Trees (Friday: 9pm, ABC): Marin Frist is a relationship coach.
drama
cast: Anne Heche, James Tupper, Suleka Mathews, Derek Richardson, Emily Bergl, Abraham Benrubi, Sarah Strange, Seana Kofoed, John Amos

The Nine (Wednesday: 10pm, ABC): "dramatic character study" - nine people caught in a bank robbery for 52 hours (I assume that there will not be 52 episodes).
Drama
Cast: Chi McBride, Jessica Collins, Tim Daly, Kim Raver, Scott Wolf, John Billingsley, Lourdes Benedicto, Camille Guaty, Owain Yeoman, Dana Davis

Notes from the Underbelly (Thursday: 8:30pm, ABC): Peter Cambor (Andrew) & Jennifer Westfeldt (Lauren) are having a "secret" baby, or at least they feel the need to keep the baby secret.
Comedy.
Cast: Peter Cambor, Jennifer Westfeldt, Melanie Paxson, Rachel Harris, Michael Weaver, Sunkrish Bala.

Six Degrees (Thursday: 10pm, ABC): Six strange New Yorkers (actually six New York strangers) go about their lives, and their actions impact upon the other five people (everyone's connected)
drama
Cast: Jay Hernandez, Hope Davis, Bridget Moynahan, Campbell Scott, Dorian Missick, Erika Christensen

Stuido 60 on the Sunset Strip (Thursday: 9 pm, NBC): see 30 Rock, but make it a drama starring Matthew Perry and written by/ex-produced by Aaron Sorkin.
Cast: Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Bradley Whitford, Sarah Paulson, D.L. Hughley, Nathan Corddry, Timothy Busfield, Steven Weber
Creator: Sorkin

20 Good Years (Wednesday: 9pm, NBC): John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambor are friends that believe that they have 20 good years left in them. So, live every day as if it is their last.
Comedy.
Cast: John Lithgow, Heather Burns (daughter of John), Jeffrey Tambor, Jake Sandvig (Jeffs son)
Created by: I dont know
Produced by: Tom Werner, Eric Gold, Jimmy Miller, and Marsh McCall

30 Rock (Wednesday: 9:30, NBC): Behind the scenes at a variety show with Tina Fey.
Comedy.
Cast: Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin (network president), Tracy Morgan, Rachel Dratch, Scott Adsit, Jack MacBrayer

Back-ups/midseason:
Andy Barker, P.I. (comedy, NBC): Andy Richter is PI Andy Barker (actually he is a accountant who works in the offices of a retired PI, and somewhere along the line someone mistakes Barker as the PI and off we go).
Comedy.
Cast: Andy Richter (Barker), Harve Presnell (PI), Amy Farrington (wife of Barker), Tony Hale, Marshall Manesh, Ion Overman

The Black Donnellys: (Thursday: 10 pm, Spring, NBC): The Black Donnellys are Irish brothers with a connection to crime.
Crime Drama.
Cast: Jonathan Tucker , Billy Lush, Thomas Guiry, Michael Stahl-David, Keith Nobbs, Olivia Wilde, and Kirk Acevedo

Day Break (drama): "Groundhog Day" with a police detective, and it is a drama.
Drama.
Cast: Taye Diggs, Meta Golding, Moon Bloodgood, Victoria Pratt, Ramon Rodriquez, Adam Baldwin

In Case of Emergency (comedy, ABC): "Let's check in with some people, that went to the same high school, several years after they have graduated from high school to see if they are like the people they were in high school." I think is the concept.
Comedy.
Cast: Jonathan Silverman, David Arquette, Greg Germann, Kelly Hu, Lori Loughlin, Nicholas Roget-King

Raines (Sunday, Spring, NBC): Police drama LAPD detective Raines has the ability to talk to dead people, and he uses this ability to solve crimes.
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Matt Craven, Dov Davidoff, Linda Park, Nicolle Sullivan, Luis Guzman

The Singles Table (NBC): Strangers meet at a wedding (sit at the same table), see the fun an excitment as complete strangers talk at a wedding reception (actually they meet and become friends, I don't think the series actually takes place during 1 very long wedding).
Cast: John Cho, Conor Dubin, Jarrad Paul, Rhea Seehorn
Writers: from Grounded for Life and 3rd Rock from the Sun (Bill Martin, Mike Schiff)

Traveler (drama, ABC): Jay and Tyler rollerblade through a museum right before it explodes, they become suspects number 1 and 2.
drama
Cast: Matthew Bomer, Logan Marshall-Green, Aaron Stanford, Viola Davis, Steven Culp

See here, and here.

I wasn't able to get new glasses immediately, and was forced to wear prescription sunglasses for 3 days (Monday: just afternoon/night; Wednesday: Most of day, new glasses night). I went to my glasses place after work on Wednesday (last night) and asked to have the lenses put into new frames. This is the same place where I've taken most of my "broken" glasses. Most of the time I take in glasses that need those miniature screws (for some reason they keep falling out and getting lost). Yesterday I actually needed to pick up, or order, new frames because the old ones broke in the middle. I realize that this is quite boring and thanks if you are still reading, I'm trying to set up the situation. The glasses people have always been nice in the past and have always quickly and efficiently fixed my glasses, and despite taking time away from doing something/anything else, have not charged me in the past for their labor or for the tiny little screws. Wednesday? The fellow worked on inserting the lenses into new frames, and did a great job. What do frames cost? Several hundred dollars, right (most of the time, unless you buy those cheap reading glasses at Wall-Mart or the like, or are getting some ½ half, or buy 1 get 1 free deal)? So, what did it cost me to get new glasses (new frames)? Zero dollars. I was quite surprised and happy. He told me that he would put down that the new frames were replacements for (a) defective glasses (frame). I believe that I had the broken glasses for at least 1 to 2 years (though not in a broken state), but I do not really recall when I acquired those particular glasses, so they might only have been 6 months old.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions posted on my last blog entry.

Update: Decided to include this comment from a comment on my previous blog entry
Thanks for the suggestion! Actually the eye-place that I normally go to are one of those franchise eyeglass places that are found in malls. I used to go to one of those very professional looking eye-doctor places in one of those doctor/professional villages. I started going to the franchise places about five years ago when I had broken my only pair of glasses. I needed a replacement immediately and couldn't get an immediate appointment at my old professional place so I decided to chance one of those mall eye-doctor/glasses seller places. I had no problem getting in, getting an eye test, getting a new updated prescription and picking up new glasses all within a short time at the mall eye-place. So, I now always go to those type of places.