TV To-Watch Sept-Dec 2011

Summer term's out; two weeks grace and then back to the grind on Sept 5. Not that classes will stop me from watching copious amounts of television. It never does. I tried to abstain from TV for a week, but it was a complete failure. However, I did do some (unfortunately) surface-level thinking about dark comedy that I would like to revisit in the future.

WHAT HAPPENED IN AUGUST:

Wrapped up Grey's and Modern Family. Finished the first series of How Do You Want Me? but am currently having trouble finding the first episode of the second series. Didn't watch much Father Ted. Began Wilfred, which started slow and painful but got a LOT better. If the mythology expands, I'm in for the long run (well, probably even if it doesn't, I guess).

Shooting Stars on air again! I laughed more during each episode of Shooting Stars than I did at anything else during any given week. Top form.

Louie, Wilfred, and Childrens Hospital on Thursdays this month. Fucking phenomenal. I might even prefer this Thursday lineup to my NBC lovelies during the regular season. Blasphemy!? Louie in particular is the best thing on TV right now ("over Breaking Bad? Really? Depends on my mood. But right now, YES!" --inner monologue). I was nervous this season wouldn't live up to its first, but wow did it deliver. I honestly believe it's earned its right to be considered a classic show. Watch "Subway/Pamela." Watch "Joan," "Eddie," or, shit, "Ducklings." Do yourself a favor!

Terrific Unplanned August TV: Wilfred, Catterick re-watch
Disappointing Unplanned August TV: Re-watch of Whites

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SEPTEMBER:

Powering through The Wire. One and a half seasons down, box set ordered off Amazon (gold box deal, hell yeah). I was nervous about this show because of the hype, but I was absolutely blown away by the first season. It throws you into its world from the first minute and was often hard to follow in the beginning. But by episode 5 or 6 I found myself wondering how it was so good -- how, suddenly, were all the characters believable and fully fleshed out and relatable, the plot so engrossing and intricate? Flawless season. Perfect, subtle direction. Fabulous everything. I feel like I really know Baltimore. The last show I watched that was truly a love letter to a place in the same vein as this was when I fell in love with Dillon, Texas.

Anyway, so I guess if you didn't believe everyone in the world before: The Wire really is that fucking amazing.

So, besides that, only Father Ted and How Do You Want Me? on the side. Fall shows will be starting soon anyway (oh god).

Next Up: Ashes to Ashes, Daria, Lights Out (should really take a weekend and just bang this out...), The Street, State of Play (going to air on BBCA this season), The Comeback
Next Next Up: Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Shield, Deadwood, Six Feet Under, Delocated, The Night Shift (Iceland), Twenty Twelve

TV On-Air in September: Louie (finale), Wilfred (ending), Childrens Hospital (ending), Breaking Bad (half season left), Torchwood Miracle Day (ending), Doctor Who (Aug 27), Raising Hope (Aug 30), Glee (Sep 20), Modern Family (Sep 21), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Sep 15), Parks and Recreation (Sep 22), The Office (Sep 22), Community (Sep 22), Grey's Anatomy (Sep 22), Would I Lie To You? (Sep 9), QI (Sep 9), Fringe (Sep 23)

New Shows in September (only the ones I deemed worth trying): Ringer (Sep 13/CW), Unforgettable (Sep 20/CBS), Charlie's Angels (Sep 22/ABC), Person of Interest (Sep 22/CBS), A Gifted Man (Sep 23/CBS), Pan Am (Sep 25/ABC), Terra Nova (Sep 26/FOX), Hart of Dixie (Sep 26/FOX), Suburgatory (Sep 28/ABC)

Edit 9/8: Finished How Do You Want Me? and Ashes to Ashes. Currently watching Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle and Mad Dogs.

BBC Trailers Interlude

I get very emotional over BBC drama trailers. They are addictive when done well and I often watch them upwards of twenty times because I'm obsessed and insane. I made a list of my five favorites, mostly so I can come back to this post and watch them over and over again myself; otherwise they'd be lost in the black hole that is my YouTube favorites.

This isn't anything near comprehensive, as I've only been interested in BBC dramas since late last year. Any trailer prior to Spring 2010 I probably haven't seen.

These videos may also be indicative of a Romola Garai complete BBC takeover, which I'm totally okay with.

5. The Hour (BBC Two, Jul 2011)

Striking and beautifully done. Evocative of the era and aesthetically just glorious. (Mmmm Dominic West.)

4. The Crimson Petal and the White (BBC Two, Mar 2011)

Featuring "Intro" by The XX, which may sound familiar because you have heard it in every commercial ever. Music choice makes the promo. This was perfect.

3. BBC Drama Winter/Spring 2010

Featuring "The Cave" by Mumford & Sons. This would be higher but I didn't like the way the song was cut up during the end montage. I'm way too familiar with the song, and it was jarring. Great clip choices though.

2. BBC Two Original British Drama (Apr 2011)

Featuring "Bigger Than Us" by The White Lies. Suitably epic. Really fantastic voiceover choices too. It must be so fun to put these together because your source material is so gorgeous.

1. BBC Drama Autumn/Winter 2010

Featuring "Sway" by The Perishers. I won't say how many times I've watched this because I'm embarrassed. It's probably fewer than 70. Probably.

Grey's Anatomy - Song Beneath the Song, 7.08

In Defense of What Is Still the Highest-Rated Drama on Network TV, Thank You Very Much:

This should be one of the dumbest, corniest episodes of anything ever: surgeons Glee-ing it up to The Fray while performing surgery as the ghost/astral projection of the woman they're operating on watches from above. Those are some shark jumping shenanigans. But Grey's has always taken that route. It's never shied away from ferry boat near-drownings and bus crashes full of lovesick teenagers; Seattle Grace's high casualty rate is matched only by its high drama quotient.

My first thought about Song Beneath the Song was that it was ridiculous. But then, duh. Grey's heightens everything, that's why it's as popular as it is. It's exaggerated and emotional and that's how it gets to you.

My second thought, as Sara began to sing her second song, was that Grey's has truly earned this. Seven and a half seasons in, it may not be novel as it was, but it's still well-written and occasionally as evocative as its earlier seasons. It has some of the best actors on network television. Sandra and Kevin? They're some legit HBO material.

And there was Ellen's performance in the elevator this episode. Season 7's baby storyline kept her sidelined with Derek, who didn't seem to have much to do after he stepped down from Chief. But they're still the heart of the show. I don't want to do too many "remember when"s, but remember when she was dark and twisty and she drowned and then built a house in candles? That was excellent acting. That was fantastic television.

So this musical episode, then. Doing songs that are fun and also advance the story is tough. Buffy's the only show that's pulled that off successfully. Grey's didn't quite, but I think this episode was more of a mixtape than a vehicle for plot: Grey's has always been known for its use of licensed indie music. This episode was a tribute to that.

Hearing the cast in chorus singing The Fray's How to Save a Life was silly, but I was moved! That was the song. Grey's pretty much singlehandedly catapulted that record to immense popularity.

That was also true for Brandi Carlisle's The Story, one of my favorite songs to come out of Grey's. And Sara sang the hell out of it, dear god. She is so fantastic. She's so clearly a Broadway star. Out of all of Grey's leads, she's the one that really draws you in: her performances are unfailingly powerful and moving. Seeing her belt it out, crying, moving through the hospital halls is simultaneously ridiculous and ridiculously terrific.

Grey's earned its right to indulge both Shonda and its loyal audience. This episode wasn't perfect, but it was a great "remember when" that I thoroughly enjoyed.

TV To-Watch Aug-Dec 2011

It's 2:45am on a school Monday and I'm updating my dead TV blog. Such is life.

WHAT HAPPENED IN JULY:

Caught up on Chuck, Fringe, Glee, Luther, The Office, Raising Hope, Running Wilde, and Skins. That just leaves Grey's (7 eps to go), Modern Family (8 eps to go), and V, which I'm probably moving to the back-burner because I don't need to "catch up" on it in time for fall premieres.

Life on Mars UK was over quick. Adored it, as I thought I would. That scene in the finale -- you know the one -- was impeccable: Simm, cinematography, Bowie, everything.

Terrific Unplanned July TV: Big Train, The Thick of It series 3 re-watch

Disappointing Unplanned July TV: Grandma's House

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AUGUST:

So the plan for August is, while still clinging to comfort food television, Grey's and MF, to begin my TV 101 viewing. If I had a time machine I'd go back and tell my 14-year old self to WATCH MORE TELLY so I won't end up a 20-year old self-proclaimed TV enthusiast who hasn't seen Alias or Cracker. I'm a disaster.

Realistically, I won't get through full seasons of anything if I start too many at once. So I've decided on the first season of The Wire, which I hear is the toughest anyway. How Do You Want Me? and Father Ted are benchwarmers if I finish Grey's and MF soon, which is likely.

Of course, this is all going to shit once fall shows start premiering next month. Perfect.

Next Up: Ashes to Ashes, Daria, Lights Out (should really take a weekend and just bang this out...), The Street, State of Play

Next Next Up: Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Shield, Deadwood, Six Feet Under

TV Currently On-Air in August: Shooting Stars (Aug 8), Torchwood, The Hour, Breaking Bad, Childrens Hospital, Louie