The point is, for the past 10 years, Thursday night is easily the hardest night of television to navigate. Choices have to be made...and they aren't easy. Seriously, there have been years where there are 4 or 5 shows on AT THE SAME TIME on Thursday (ex: 2006, "OC" v. "Supernatural" v. "Greys" v. "The Office"). And while NBC's reign of must-see terror is over, the "Sophie's Choice" element of Thursday TV lives on...
THURSDAY
8PM
My Generation ABC, premieres 9/23
I am dumb, as I thought this was an actual documentary, and only recently learned it wasn’t. Anyway, much like the blink-and-you-missed-it “Reunion”, this show looks at a group of people 10 years after high school. Basically a documentary crew following a bunch of kids from a Texas high school class of 2000, and then catching up with them 10 years later. The pilot was well-received and I think the concept is interesting. I just would have liked it more if ABC had filmed an actual documentary of real people and then followed up with them, instead of pretending that Jaime King is just an average high school senior.
I don’t watch this show, I know I should, I know it’s good, and I don’t have an irrational hatred for it like I have had for certain other CBS comedies (“Two and a Half Men” I’m looking at you, and lets just say that not EVERYBODY loved Raymond. I am intrigued by Sheldon’s burgeoning relationship with Blossom, but Thursday is a very crowded night and I have priorities. Hot undead brother priorities.
Vampire Diaries CW, premieres 9/9
Where we left: Founders Day, in all of its ridiculous awesomeness. The town went up in flames, Alaric and Damon pretended they were in a buddy cop movie, and most importantly KATHERINE! Cannot wait to see how it all plays out!
What’s next: The Lockwood family has an ancient secret (I don’t know why you would need a hint because it was foreshadowed about a billion times, but in case you do, let’s just say we are in for a HOWL-ingly good season). Also, more love triangle shenanigans.
Bones FOX, premieres 9/23
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| DISLIKE the Deschanel |
What’s next: Everybody reunites after a year apart and Booth has a girlfriend in tow (suck on that Bones!). There’s going to be a new nemesis introduced that’s a sniper like Booth. Perfect. Another DC sniper. Cause I have no idea what THAT’s like.
Community NBC, premieres 9/23
Where we left: A totally amaze-balls WTF finale where Jeff ended up sucking face with Annie!
What’s next: Betty White is going to teach anthropology and Abed and Troy are continuing to compete for the award for TV’s best ambiguously gay interracial duo (they are just approaching Turk and JD levels of amazing and already lapped Shawn and Gus from “Psych”)
8:30
Shit my Dad Says CBS, premieres 9/23
I refuse to spell this like the network (“S#*! My Dad Says") because that’s lame and possibly lamer than calling it “Stuff My Dad Says” because at least then it would be sort of meta-funny, the way it is when they dub all those scenes from “Goodfellas” when they show it on TV. Adapted from a Twitter account (I wish I could be surprised at how quickly THAT happened), it stars William Shatner as the titular shit-talking dad. I find Shatner entertaining only in the smallest of increments (like a 20-second Priceline commercial) so I’ll be passing on this one.
30 Rock NBC, premieres 9/23
Where we left: Are Liz and airline pilot Carol gonna make it? Are Jack and Avery gonna be parents? What's going to become of Kenneth???
Whats Next: Hopefully some answers to those questions. Some people are saying this show is slipping a little. And to those people, I say...So what? Even on its worst day "30 Rock" is funnier than 90% of sitcoms out there. As long as its a slow slip, the show has a long way to fall.
9pm
Grey’s Anatomy ABC, premieres 9/23
What’s next: There’s a wedding. And Mandy Moore. And that guy from “Men in Trees” who broke up Anne Heche’s marriage. Hopefully also some juicy Meredith and Christina scenes, cause that’s pretty much the only reason I watch anymore. They’ve got a handle on being the kind of friends that you could call to help you move a dead body.
CSI CBS, premieres 9/23
Where we Left: Nate Haskell stabbed Langston! Dr. Jekyll was killed! I don’t like Sara Sidle’s teeth and Catherine’s face hasn’t moved in 3 years, but I am still watching this show!What’s next: BIEBER FEVER infects the crime lab. Also, some personnel changes.
Maggie Q (apparently of “Mission Impossible 3” which I never saw because of my late-in-life Tom Cruise allergy) is the title “Nikita”, an assassin who wants to bring down the secret government agency that ruined her life. Maggie Q seems appropriately badass, but keep in mind this is a remake of a remake of a remake (“La Femme Nikita” begat “Point of No Return” begat “La Femme Nikita: The Series” begat this latest incarnation).
Where we left: Apparently since I stopped watching halfway through the first season, they discovered there’s some universe that is an alternate reality of ours. And I guess Walter and Olivia are headed over to rescue Pacey (err, I mean Peter).
What’s next: They grab Peter, but apparently “NO-livia” switches places with her doppelganger (I think I prefer FauxLivia…) Frankly, I think this show sounds really good and one day I will rent the DVDS and my jaw literally drops everytime Fox renews the thing cause they are notorious for being dicks to cult shows without huge followings. Although if they were interested in getting more people to watch, perhaps they could consider not airing their niche show up against “CSI”, “GREYS”, and must-see TV (haha, just realized its been years since NBC Thursdays were considered Must See TV). Speaking of NBC
The Office NBC, premieres 9/23
Where we left off: Jo agreed to transfer Michael’s long lost love Holly back to Scranton. What’s next: Steve Carell’s last year at Dundler Mifflin, which will hopefully cause me to fully re-invest myself in this show after a couple sub-par seasons.
9:30
Outsourced NBC, premieres 9/23
An American moves to India to run a call center there. Fish out of water hijinx ensue. Ah yeah. Okay – and pay attention “Shit My Dad” says- racism and stereotypes only work as a comedy bit when they are actually funny (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, “The Office”). Otherwise its just sad and probably slightly offensive. You know what else is offensive? NBC putting “Parks and Recreation” on ice until mid-year for this crap.
10pm
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| DIRT NAPPING |
Where we left: Maya successfully gives birth, Dell kicks the bucket, Addison & Sam hooked up, Pete and what’s-her-face (the Amy who was being judged on “Judging Amy”) make up, and Charlotte and Cooper got engaged. Haha, doesn’t it sound like I still watch this show? Well I don’t. Thursday night is PACKED and I have priorities
What’s Next: I don’t really know, as I really don’t watch this show. I’m sure the uneven story-telling that’s come to define this program will continue (all the more-so since Shonda Rhimes’ “Off The Map” is coming soon and she will be stretched even thinner than before).
The Mentalist CBS, premieres 9/23
Where we left: Jane was captured by a Red John copycat! But the copycat was killed by the real Red John! And Simon Baker looked really hot in suits!
What’s next: Jane’s obsession with Red John gets worse, Eric Winter (Robert’s gay brother on “Brothers and Sisters”) is going to be Van Pelt’s new boy toy.
The Apprentice NBC, premieres 9/16This is a regular people, non-celebrity version, but as far as I’m concerned they are equally lame. The only cool thing to ever come from this show (and no, it is not “You’re fired) is the fact that Bill Rancic became famous enough to marry Guilliana from E!, thereby giving me hours of entertainment from their reality show. I guess the twist this year is that all the apprentices (apprentici?) have been affected by the shitty economy in one way or another. Because I totally watch TV so I can be reminded of how shitty the economy is.
OTHER:
It’s Always Sunny FX premieres 9/16
Last season is gonna be hard to top (KITTEN MITTONS!) But from what I’ve seen in promos, Season 6 looks AMAZING. Sweet Dee is preggers, there’s a Halloween episode, and I’m sure there’s a million other things the gang will do to further prove that they are the worst people alive.
The League FX, premieres 9/16
I only saw half of the six episode first season, but I didn’t hate what I saw. The fantasy football buddies feel oddly realistic, which probably reflects poorly on my male football fan friends.
FINAL CALLS:
8pm
Watch/DVR: Community, 30 Rock
DVR: Vampire Diaries
SKIP: Shit my Dad Says, Bones – Get the DVDs if you can handle the Deschanel
Online/On Demand: Big Bang Theory
9pm
Watch/DVR: Greys Anatomy
DVR: Nikita
SKIP: Fringe – wait for DVDS and have a marathon, Outsourced
Online/On Demand: CSI, The Office
10pm
Watch/DVR: The Mentalist
DVR: Its Always Sunny/The League
SKIP: The Apprentice
Online/OnDemand: Private Practice
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