New Fall TV Must Sees

Hey everyone! This is long overdue, but now that the fall tv season has come to a close, it's time for my fav new shows. First off, as an avid tv watcher who heartily agrees with Bright Abbot's quote, "There's always something good on tv. That's been my motto since I was a kid and I'm sticking to it.", I have to say we are firmly in the midst of the golden age of tv. There have been times when a few good shows have been out at once, but never the plethora that are available now. I am firmly convinced that many of the tv shows that are on right now are hands down better than the typical movies shown at your local cineplex (I feel confident making this statement as I also happen to be an avid moviegoer;). What does this mean for you if you're not much of a tv watcher? Reorder your netflix queue and take a gander for yourself. Try Season 1 of Lost and House to start and see if they don't keep your attention for longer than the average movie. Plus they're in handy 40 minute segments so you can get on with your life.

Now, the best new shows in no particular order:

Heroes - Save the cheerleader. Save the world. If you haven't heard this catchphrase by now, you must be living under a rock. Heroes has it all. A subtle sci-fi theme, a killer mystery, an excellent cast, and some of my favorite characters around. The premise is that humans have finally evolved to the point where a select few have developed genetic anomalies that translate into super powers. Each week, we see a part of the characters' stories and watch as they gravitate towards each other to play a part in preventing the world - or at least NYC - from getting nuked. There are no silly costumes, it's done as realistically as possible. My favorite characters? Hiro, the Japanese guy (who actually speaks Japanese - subtitles provided) whose enthusiasm at his ability to bend time and space is beyond adorable, and Claire, the cheerleader who can heal herself after virtually any wound. Only letdown? Ali Larter. I keep hoping her character will die.
Friday Night Lights - Yep, I'm as surprised to be typing this as you should be reading it. Why? Because I can't remember the last time I watched more than five minutes of a football game and that's what I thought this drama was all about. Boy was I wrong. Instead, this is the most realistically written, heartbreaking show on tv. It focuses on the football-obsessed town of Dillon, TX, the town coach and his family, and several of the students. This is the story of people who use football as an escape. The players are using it as their possible golden ticket out of town, and the fans use it as a trip down memory lane or an escape from the banality of their own lives. FNL has made some brutal moves with its characters - in episode 1, the star quarterback suffered an injury that paralized him. Rather than drop this character, his recovery and struggles continue to be shown. But it's not all grim. The show also has the best romantic triangle on tv right now between the paralyzed player, his cheerleader girlfriend and his best friend. It's so nuanced you don't know who to root for. The cast is spectacular, particularly Kyle Chander as the coach, Connie Britton as his wife, and Taylor Kitsch as troubled player Tim Riggins. And the football? Sometimes play is never even shown. If it is, it accounts for no more than 10% of a show. So don't let that be the reason you do or don't watch this show. It's all about the writing and acting.
Men in Trees - This show is tailor-made for me. It's a combination between Sex and the City and Northern Exposure, two of my all-time favorite shows. To be honest, it's not as good as either of these shows, but it's pretty darn great. Men in Trees stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, a self-help author who decides to stay in the small Alaskan town of Elmo when her fiance dumps her and her book contract gets cancelled. There she interacts with the mostly quirky locals and finds some peace for herself. She also falls for this year's newest tv hunk (forget McDreamy - check this guy out), James Tupper as Jack. Good news is that he can actually act. He's Paul Newman for the 21st century. The show doesn't rely solely on the chemistry between the two leads. It's got a great cast of secondary characters as well. ABC has shown its confidence in it by moving it to Thursdays at 9 after Grey's Anatomy.

Tune in and enjoy!

Boulder Bumpersticker of the Day: I think, therefore I'm dangerous.

-sunday