Selleck, Smits, Smallville, Supernatch', and the Super Creepy Dateline Guy

All hail the DVR! No longer must we choose between going out on the town, and painting said town red, versus staying home for Friday night television, feeling like that kid in Can’t Buy Me Love (“the white-people re-make of Love Don’t Cost a Thing” according to “Community”). Speaking of Can’t Buy Me Love, do you think Patrick Dempsey, Neil Patrick Harris, Anthony Michael Hall, and Brian Austin Green all belong to some club of Men Who Look Better Now Then They Ever Did as Teen Idols??

Here’s what’s going to be on besides “The Soup”, Fridays this Fall:

Must-Schedule TV Thursday

In 1993, NBC introduced it's new ad campaign... Must See TV. Literally, their promos told you to "Get home early for must see TV Thursday". This was in NBC's #1 network heyday - they had rebounded from the loss of the Cosby show with younger-skewing shows like "Mad About You", "Seinfeld", and "Friends".

NBC hasn't been #1 in, literally, YEARS, and yet the concept remains. Thursday has become the most jam-packed evening of competitive popular television programming. Why, you ask, do they air all your favorite shows on the same night? Don't blame the networks - blame the movies. Revenue from movie advertisements - that traditionally open on Friday - is highest the evening before the movies open.

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...

What to Watch Wednesdays This Fall

I find jokes about how Wednesday is hump-day, or how we're "halfway there" irksome. So lets get right to it, shall we?

WEDNESDAY

The Middle ABC, premieres 9/22
Where we left: I won’t watch this show.

What’s Next: I will never watch this show. I love the janitor from “Scrubs” as much as the next guy, but I hate Patricia Heaton, and my rage is unwavering. I choose to simply assume this crappy show continues to suck as much as its crappy catering lead actress. Oh and BTW? I’m not the only one. Google Hate Patricia Heaton. You’ll see.