I'm Still Around

Well, due to disaster after disaster in this torturous exercise we call life, I haven't been posting lately. I really had every intention of getting back to it regularly, but things like air conditioners dying and sinks falling out of walls (seriously) have taken up much of my time recently and not left me with much energy to devote towards this blog or the subjects in which I'm usually interested. I do have every intention of getting back to it, so, to those two people who give a damn, be strong until my triumphant return!

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Fall TV Schedule: Freaky Friday

It turns out that Friday actually isn't so freaky, with only one show that I'm moderately interested in watching. In case the picture hasn't given it away, it's The Starter Wife (Oct. 10) at 10/9 on USA, although it'll likely run a few more times because it's on USA. I enjoyed the miniseries last year, so I'm looking forward to see where they're going with it now. And Judy Davis is sublime. Other shows on the night are listed after the click. In case you're wondering, there won't be any post for Saturday, which is generally a barren wasteland for television. We should all be out partying anyway! Or working to catch up on stuff on which we got behind during the week because we were watching television. Whatever.

Returning Network Shows:

Wife Swap (Oct. 3) ABC 8/7
Supernanny (Oct. 3) ABC 9/8
20/20 (underway) ABC 10/9
Ghost Whisperer (Oct. 3) CBS 8/7
Numb3rs (Oct. 3) CBS 10/9
Life (Sept. 29) NBC 10/9
Everybody Hates Chris (Oct. 3) CW 8/7
The Game (Oct. 3) CW 8:30/7:30
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (underway) FOX 8/7
Don't Forget the Lyrics! (underway) FOX 9/8

New Network Shows:

The Ex List (Oct. 3) CBS 9/8 - Woman revisits exes after psychic tells her that she's met the one. [Does she ever consider that the psychic might be hitting on her?]
America's Toughest Jobs (underway) NBC 8/7 - Ordinary people attempt dangerous jobs.
Crusoe (Oct. 17) NBC 9/8 - Like Robinson Crusoe, as primitive as can be. Just like Robinson Crusoe.

Cable:

Crash (Oct. 17) Starz 10/9 - Based on the film that stole won the Oscar.

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Fall TV Schedule: Thursday

Yup, it's time to give Thursday a good going-over. This is the best-looking night on television (and I'm not talking about the programming), so I may not always be thinking coherently. To find out what I'm getting at (or would like to), click it. [As always, Eastern/Central time and (premiere date) are given.]

I should probably feel guilty for the way I feel about the programs on Thursday nights, but I figure that I should be allowed to be shallow for one night out of the week. For me, Thursday is all about the pretty. First up at 8/7 on the CW is Smallville (Sept. 18) starring Tom Welling, who is possibly the most beautiful man walking the Earth. As an added bonus, Justin Hartley (also very pretty) is supposed to be returning as a series regular in his role as Green Arrow. Now, this show has sagged somewhat in recent years, but I felt that it made something of a comeback last season. Hopefully, they can keep the momentum going. As much as I do enjoy the pretty, it's nice to enjoy the show for other qualities every now and then. After that, at 9/8 on the CW is Supernatural (Sept. 18) starring Jensen Ackles (pretty) and Jared Padalecki (more pretty). As much as I do enjoy the gorgeous boys, the show is actually worth watching for other reasons. The guys have excellent chemistry and, in an extreme rarity for a television show, it's actually managed to scare the hell out of me a time or two. If this type of show isn't your thing, however, there is always the scenery to enjoy. And if we're really lucky, the scenery will take off an article of clothing or two every now and then. Okay, NOW I feel guilty. By the way, if you didn't notice those premiere dates are TONIGHT! Anyway, the last hour of primetime is empty for me, which is good, because I can use it to pursue very serious issues as my penance for the previous few hours. Other Thursday shows are below.

Returning Network Shows:

Ugly Betty (Sept. 25) ABC 8/7
Grey's Anatomy (Sept. 25) ABC 9/8
Survivor: Gabon (Sept. 25) CBS 8/7
CSI (Oct. 9) CBS 9/8
My Name Is Earl (Sept. 25) NBC 8/7
The Office (Sept. 25) NBC 9/8
30 Rock (Oct. 30) NBC 9:30/8:30
ER (Sept. 25) NBC 10/9
Kitchen Nightmares (underway) Fox 9/8

New Network Shows:

Life on Mars (Oct. 9) ABC 10/9 - Modern cop finds himself in the 1970's.
Eleventh Hour (Oct. 9) CBS 10/9 - Biophysicist solves crimes like pretty much everyone else on TV.
Kath & Kim (Oct. 9) NBC 8:30/7:30 - A mother deals with her adult but immature daughter returning home.
Hole in the Wall (underway) Fox 8/7 - Game show where people fit through a hole in a wall. Seriously. [Hey, network guys, if you're THIS desperate for crappy show ideas, give me a ring. I'd be happy to give you crap in exchange for your money.]

Cable:

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Sept. 18) FX 10/9
The Sarah Silverman Program (Oct. 16) Comedy Central 10:30/9:30

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Fall TV Schedule: Wednesday

Judging from my inability to come up with a pop-culture referencing title, Wednesday may be the most boring day of the week. Although, Thursday is still in the running. I thought about making some questionable reference to "Hump Day," but I have far too much class for that. (You, in Illinois, stop snickering!) As for the schedule, it looks better than Tuesday, but not by much. The same rules still apply [East./Cent., (premiere date)]. Click on through to the other side!

Starting off Wednesday will be one of my most anticipated returns, Pushing Daisies (Oct. 1), at 8/7 on ABC. I've missed the pie maker, the pie-serving chanteuse, the surly detective, the one-eyed mermaid, the two-eyed mermaid, and the living-dead girl (and dog). Yes, it's just your typical collection of characters, but they somehow make it fresh and enjoyable. After that, there is an empty hour where nothing interests me. Then at 10/9, I have tentative plans to watch Dirty Sexy Money (Oct. 1) on ABC. I say "tentative" because I watched this show last year and I was just about ready to give it up when the writers' strike occurred. I'm going to give it another chance this season and see if they've managed to pep it up a bit. It wasn't bad, it just failed to hold my interest for an hour. There would be interesting parts and then parts to snooze through. I really hope they cut back heavily on Nick's wife, who manages to suck all of the energy out of every scene in which she appears. I'd like to see this show succeed because there is a lot of legitimate talent here (and because Peter Krause and Seth Gabel are nice to look at). If it doesn't do it for me, then there is always South Park (Oct. 8) on Comedy Central. Of course, I'll be watching it anyway at some point since Comedy Central is nice enough to rerun it frequently. As usual, other shows of the night can be found below.

Returning Network Shows:

Private Practice (Oct. 1) ABC 9/8
The New Adventures of Old Christine (Sept. 24) CBS 8/7
Criminal Minds (Sept. 24) CBS 9/8
CSI: NY (Sept. 24) CBS 10/9
Deal or No Deal (underway) NBC 9/8
Lipstick Jungle (Sept. 24) NBC 10/9
America's Next Top Model (underway) CW 8/7
Bones (underway) Fox 8/7
'Til Death (underway) Fox 9/8

New Network Shows:

Gary Unmarried (Sept. 24) CBS 8:30/7:30 - Divorced dad takes a swing at finding love while being a divorced dad.
Knight Rider (Sept. 24) NBC 8/7 - Retread Update of the 80's show.
Stylista (Oct. 22) CW 9/8 - A bunch of fame-hungry fools humiliate themselves to impress Elle editor who probably has no business judging anyone. [Can you tell that I am SO sick of this "reality" crap?]
Do Not Disturb (underway) Fox 9:30/8:30 - Follows the wacky antics at a Manhattan hotel.

Cable:

Sons of Anarchy (underway) FX 10/9 - Biker gang drama.
Chocolate News (Oct. 15) Comedy Central 10:30/9:30 - Sketch comedy.

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Fall TV Schedule: Ruby Tuesday

Yes, it's Tuesday, so I'll be taking a look at what is on Tuesdays this Fall. (As it turns out, not much.) Time is East./Cent. and (premiere date) is, yeah, like that.

Despite the title of this post, Tuesday doesn't look like a gem to me. That night seems pretty empty, which is good because I'm sure I can use those few hours to catch up on something important, like any shows I'm behind on viewing. The only thing I'll be watching Tuesday is Eli Stone (Oct. 14) at 10/9 on ABC. I've basically fallen in really-like with the charming Jonny Lee Miller as the title character who has prophetic visions. He will apparently still be having them after undergoing surgery for the aneurysm that was thought to cause them. I'm wondering if they'll continue the George Michael theme or move to something else. I could probably find the answer online, but I want to be surprised! Other Tuesday night shows follow below.

Returning Network Shows:

NCIS (Sept. 23) CBS 8/7
Without a Trace (Sept. 23) CBS 10/9
The Biggest Loser: Families (Sept. 16) NBC 8/7
Law & Order: SVU (Sept. 23) NBC 10/9
House (Sept. 16) Fox 8/7

New Network Shows:

Opportunity Knocks (Sept. 23) ABC 8/7 - Game show that tests family knowledge.
The Mentalist (Sept. 23) CBS 9/8 - A Psych ripoff with a guy who thinks that all gay men and/or only gay men get pedicures.
90210 (underway) CW 8/7 - A retread An update of Beverly Hills, 90210.
Privileged (underway) CW 9/8 - College grad tutors a pair of teenage heiresses.
Fringe (underway) Fox 9/8 - Follows investigators of "fringe" science cases. [Seems very X-Files-ish and I thought about giving it a shot, but Joshua Jackson annoys me for some reason that I can't explain.]

Cable:

The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Oct. 7) Bravo 9/8 - The latest in the Real Housewives franchise.
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Fall TV Schedule: Manic Monday

Today, I continue my look at the Fall TV schedule by going over what is playing on Mondays. As before, times are shown in Eastern/Central format with expected season-premiere dates in parentheses. After the click, you can see what I'll be watching.

My Monday night will be all about NBC. It actually could be a full night of viewing for me if the new show NBC is rolling out is any good. First, at 8/7, I'll be tuned to Chuck (Sept. 29) to see what spy shenanigans Chuck and the gang are into this season. Then, at 9/8, I'll stay on NBC for the return of Heroes (Sept. 22). I'm hoping the show can recapture the magic of the first season after seemingly going off track a bit last year and that they continue to exploit the wholesome goodness that is Milo Ventimiglia in some state of undress. Finally, I plan to check out the new show, My Own Worst Enemy (Oct. 13) starring Christian Slater, that is scheduled after Heroes. Slater stars as a man with two distinct personalities sharing his body, one of which is a spy. It's all a part of some secret government project. I'm looking forward to seeing what Slater can do in the role and whether the material is worthy of him. You can see what else is on Mondays below.

Returning Network Shows:

Dancing With the Stars (Sept. 22) ABC 8/7
Samantha Who? (Oct. 13) ABC 9:30/8:30
Boston Legal (Sept. 22) ABC 10/9
The Big Bang Theory (Sept. 22) CBS 8/7
How I Met Your Mother (Sept. 22) CBS 8:30/7:30
Two and a Half Men (Sept. 22) CBS 9/8
CSI: Miami (Sept. 22) CBS 10/9
Gossip Girl (underway) CW 8/7
One Tree Hill (underway) CW 9/8
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (underway) Fox 8/7
Prison Break (underway) Fox 9/8

New Network Shows:

Worst Week (Sept. 22) CBS 9:30/8:30 - Accident-prone schlub tries to impress future in-laws.

Cable:

Raising the Bar (underway) TNT 10/9 - Another lawyer show.

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Fall TV Schedule: Sunday Bloody Sunday

This week I'm going to be going over the Fall TV schedule day by day. Today, of course, is Sunday, so I'll be looking at what Sundays will have to offer. Mainly, I'll be telling you what shows I'm looking forward to watching with some information about the other shows, new and returning. All times will be listed as Eastern/Central with expected season premiere dates in parentheses. Click on through for the Sunday lowdown.

My viewing schedule won't change at all from the last few seasons on Sunday. At 8/7, I'll be watching The Simpsons (Sept. 28) on Fox. If I stick with last year's schedule, I'll probably be taking a shower during the next half hour, but, if I decide to stay in front of the TV, I'll be watching King of the Hill (Sept. 28) on Fox to burn time until Desperate Housewives (Sept. 28) comes on at 9/8 on ABC, where I'll stay to view my beloved Brothers and Sisters (Sept. 28) during the following hour. Desperate Housewives is taking a five-year leap forward this year, and I'm curious to see how that will be handled. Gale Harold, best known as Brian on Queer As Folk, and Lily Tomlin will be making appearances this season. I'm also looking forward to checking in on the Walker clan on Brothers and Sisters. Are Scotty and Kevin living in marital bliss? Who the hell is Ryan? And will I be able to stomach Justin and Rebecca, who used to think they were siblings, in a romantic relationship? We shall see. Other shows scheduled for the night are below.

Returning Network Shows:
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Sept. 28) ABC 8/7
The Amazing Race (Sept. 28) CBS 8/7
Cold Case (Sept. 28) CBS 9/8
The Unit (Sept. 28) CBS 10/9
Family Guy (Sept. 28) Fox 10/9 [I'll be watching on Adult Swim at some point.]
American Dad (Sept. 28) Fox 10:30/9:30 [Ditto.]
NBC will be showing Sunday Night Football all night. [Yawn.]

New Network Shows:

Valentine (Oct. 5) CW 8/7 - Greek gods come to L.A. and play matchmaker.
Easy Money (Oct. 5) CW 9/8 - Guy from wacky family works on discovering biological roots.

Cable:

Dexter (Sept. 28) Showtime 9/8
Californication (Sept. 28) Showtime 10/9
True Blood (underway) HBO 9/8 - Telepaths and vampires and synthetic blood, oh my!
Entourage (underway) HBO 10/9
Little Britain USA (Sept. 28) HBO 10:30/9:30

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The Dancing of Politics

I’ve been pretty quiet on the topic of politics on this blog and for good reason: I can get pretty passionate about my views, and I can piss people off. I’ve had a lot of things bouncing around in my head with conventions happening and elections looming. I’ve decided to just spit them all out in one post and be done with it (well, unless someone does something else incredibly stupid to expound upon). In the end, I’ve decided that it’s my blog and I can write whatever I want, so I might as well take advantage of it. And on the blog, people can only comment and not try to stab me through the heart with a campaign-sign stake. Don’t expect any deep political analysis as that, frankly, bores me to tears. These are just my opinions and observations. Where to begin? (Click through to find out.)

So Sarah Palin is McCain’s choice of a running mate. Of course, she is an obvious ploy to grab Clinton supporters, but most of us aren’t that stupid. It’s like trying to trade a match for a flashlight. With the match, you might be able to see for a bit, but you’re going to get burned and be back in the dark soon enough. She doesn’t even make sense in that context since there are definitely more qualified women that could have taken the spot. She also appeals to those Americans with backwards views (of which there are far too many) since she claims to hold many of them herself. No birth control, sex education, or abortion for her, and, thus, she has a 17 year-old daughter who is knocked up. You can burn me in effigy if you want, but the claim that her family isn’t relevant to the political debate is pure garbage. When policies that a person wants to forward on a national level don’t even work in her own household, how in the hell is that not relevant? She doesn't even think abortion should be allowed in the cases of rape and incest. As far as I'm concerned, someone who would force a woman to carry a child after a rapist has forced it inside of her is no better than the rapist, who is among the lowest scum on Earth. And then there’s also the fact that she is under investigation for unethical behavior in her gubernatorial role in Alaska. This is the woman that supposedly fights corruption. From what I can tell, with her personally motivated firings of officials, the only reason she fights corruption is to eliminate the competition. The truly corrupt like the field all to themselves. Yet, people are actually falling for her rubbish. Frankly, Obama’s choice wasn’t much better. In Biden, he chose someone who flies in the face of his message of change. Biden is about as old-school politics as you can get. Obama had a chance to impress with his first major decision and blew it with his selection.

By the way, can you tell that I didn’t drink the Obama Kool-Aid? Yes, I was a Clinton supporter despite the fact that I’m not a Democrat. I thought our country could use a real leader for a change, but the Democrats wanted Dr. Feelgood instead. Although I am not a racist, honestly, race does play into my opinion, because I find it extremely galling that a black man would endorse a separate but equal solution for anything, which is exactly what he has done for the gay marriage issue. Shame on you, Senator Obama. Shame on you. And shame on you for further explaining your stance as a product of your faith. Faith should never decide policy. That’s exactly why many of us want power out of the hands of the conservative nutjobs, so we don’t have to deal with that kind of garbage. That being said, I probably will vote for him only as a vote against McCain. I was hoping to actually cast a vote for someone that I wanted to be President for a change instead of casting a vote against someone, but that wasn’t to be. I’m beginning to think it never will be. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind sitting out this election, but there’s a gay-marriage amendment I have to vote against.

Yes, you read right in that last paragraph, I am not a Democrat. I am not a Republican either. I have no party affiliation. It is my opinion that it is the parties together that comprise the greatest single threat to America. In their efforts to preserve their power, they pervert our system for their own gain and fundamentally change that system so they can continue to rule. Yes, the Democrats may be the lesser of two evils, but make no mistake about it, they are evil and bear a large part of the responsibility for the decay of our government right along with the Republicans. We have a situation in this country now where people are more loyal to party than nation. It’s no longer about what’s right, it’s about what the party wants, and people think the party needs to win because they are members. In that sense, the system has become like a football game where people cheer for their team and are more concerned about winning than putting someone competent in power. This was never clearer than in 2000 when everyone just wanted their side to win and seemed totally unconcerned with having a fair and accurate election. Real Americans would have wanted the real story, but, unfortunately, there don’t seem to be many left. Lest you think that my opinion of the parties is revolutionary or outlandish, I leave you with the words of a guy named George Washington in his Farewell Address in 1796:

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.

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Returning to the Scene of the Crime

Boo! Yes, I've been absent for a while, and I apologize to the two of you who can't wait to see what I post next. I just needed a break. I would think, "I need to post something about that in my blog," and then I would think, "I'd rather take a sharp stick to the eye." I enjoy the blog overall, but it started to seem more of a chore than anything, so I stepped away for a bit. I think I'm feeling it again, so readers should be able to get their recommended dose of inanity once again. Enjoy!

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