'Tis the Season

It's that time again. The calendar is marked, the DVR is set, and my afternoons are filling up! That's right, folks. It's time for new episodes of my favorite shows! And, although I don't really have time to watch even more, I'm adding a few more. Here's the rundown on my faves:


The Office: If you're not watching this show yet, what is wrong with you? I know it's not everyone's type of humor, but if you've ever worked in an office, there are things that should strike you as at least a little funny. I know a few people who started Season One and couldn't finish because they felt so uncomfortable after watching Michael be Michael. If you can get through Season One you will be greatly rewarded. A few of my favorite episodes: "The Injury," the bat one, just because of Kevin running into the camera and Dwight falling off the counter, the one where Ray gets pepper spray to the face, and the one with the carnival. I can't remember the names of most of the episodes, but I've seen all of them. A lot of times, the first 5 minutes is the best part of the episode ("Future Dwight."). This is a show we actually buy when it comes out on DVD because it meets my requirement that I can watch it, knowing exactly what's going to happen, and it still makes me laugh my head off.

30 Rock: Every once in a while, magic happens with a TV show, and the cast and writing combines into something special. When you get Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and that chick that was on Ally McBeal, and give them intelligent dialogue and almost painfully real situations, you get that kind of magic. Granted, there are times that are a bit on the inappropriate side (Tracy Morgan's character, a lot of the time), but overall, it's just hilarious. I think Alec Baldwin was meant to do comedy. If all you've seen him in is the Hunt for Red October, you need to see him do funny. Because he is funny.

Reality-a-palooza: I am aware that when reality TV started getting big, I swore I would never get into it. I lied. I am addicted. My favorites: So You Think You Can Dance, America's Next Top Model, Dancing with the Stars, The Biggest Loser and Project Runway. As you know, I just added Project Runway, for reasons I listed in previous posts. There's an episode sitting on my DVR, screaming at me to watch, and I'm trying to be patient and wait until Jacob's at preschool so I can indulge. Dancing with the Stars has Donny Osmond on this season. Obviously, I'll be watching. The Biggest Loser inspires me to be healthier, so it's a good thing there's a new season next week. What I'm looking forward to more than any other reality show, though, is America's Next Top Model. It's always a train wreck waiting to happen, and Tyra is always totally bonkers, but this season, they have read my mind, and are having short models! Way to break the rules, Tyra. Everyone has to be under 5'7". You know I'd be on there if I weren't so dang old. Because I can smile with my eyes.

Glee: My friend recommended that I give this show a try. Now, I love all my friends, and I am willing to give their faves a try, but I always always always listen to Jenny. Always. She got me started on The Office. She recommended Freaks and Geeks. She and I share the same opinions about the Twilight books. So I know, when she says I'll like Glee, that I'll like Glee. I just watched the pilot yesterday, and I really don't know how I'll make it to next week. I am so excited. It's the perfect show for me. Combine music geeks, Journey, and high school into one show, and it's a winner. Plus, it has that lady that's in all those movies (A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, Best of Show). The one with the short, blond hair. She's hilarious. I think it has the potential to be both heart-warming and hilarious, and that is exactly what TV needs these days. (The heart-warming part.) There are so many crime dramas and hospital dramas and overall trashy dramas, that it's nice to have something that is a little on the more cheerful side. It's going to be a good one, I think.

So, as you can see, I'll be busy. For the benefit of my mother, if she is reading this post, you should know that while I watch TV I actually get a lot done. It's the perfect time to do laundry, do the dishes, clean the living room, and work on craft projects. Today, while I watch Project Runway, I'll be folding the loads of whites sitting in baskets in my room. I may also mop the kitchen. Of course, when it's time for the runway show, I'll be sitting at attention.