What I'm Watching on Tuesdays
Fall Sweepstacular / The TV Whore
November 14, 2006
OK, if you’re following along, I’m using this week to provide a breakdown of all the regular shows I’ve been watching this season. Yesterday, I covered all the daily, Sunday and Monday shows. And since today’s Tuesday, well, let’s see what I’ll be watching tonight.
“Standoff” (FOX, 8 p.m.). This is one of two places this week where I’m cheating just a little bit, because I actually pulled “Standoff” out of rotation about a week or two ago. But I had been watching it long enough that it seemed only fair to include it anyway. I originally stuck with the show because there appeared to be some underlying potential. But I eventually had to accept that it just wasn’t living up to that potential as I realized that I just didn’t care about the characters or the forced hostage situations. In fact, most of the time I think I was really just waiting for Ron Livingston to say something snarky. And a flat/boring show with an occasional one-liner does not a Season Pass make, so I finally killed it.
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC, 8 p.m.). Best new show of the season.
Seriously.
I don’t care if you couldn’t care less about football and despise all sports in general. Yes this show is about a high-school football team. But it’s not really about a high-school football team. At its core, it’s about how small-town folks get by and about how high-school teens deal with all the drama that comes with being a high-school teen. Sure, it all happens to be wrapped in the context of football. But to say this is just a jocky football show is like saying that “Deadwood” is just a stupid Western or that “Battlestar Galactica” is just about rocket ships and robots.
I don’t ask much of you, my fellow TV Whores. But in this instance, I’m imploring you to give this show a chance (although you may have to look around for it — NBC’s supposedly got a big schedule shuffle coming out this week, and “FNL” and “Studio 60” are two of the most likely movers). It’s well written, well directed and incredibly well cinematographed (if that ain’t a word, it should be). And it’s probably not going to be around much longer anyway. Although at least it got a full-season order, meaning the DVD set I eventually purchase will be that much richer.
“The Unit” (CBS, 9 p.m.). I just went back and re-read my original review of this show, written after last season’s premiere. At the time, I thought the show had lots of potential and hoped it would live up to that potential. And I said it would probably do that if it kept the storylines/missions diverse, and if it used the wives as more than mere keepers of their husbands’ secrets. Well, a year later, it’s largely succeeded on both these points, and I’m still enjoying “The Unit” immensely. With regard to the wives’ tales, they’re almost always secondary to the mission or whatever else is going on with the Unit, but they’re also, generally, interesting (particularly the current storyline about Commander Palmer’s wife working as a recruiter for a private contractor). And the actresses are also giving good performances, particularly Audrey Marie Anderson, who’s knocking it out of the park as Kim Brown (the wife of Scott Foley’s character) — she’s managed to give her character this great, subtle, Southern strength underneath what was at first just a flat, doe-eyed innocence.
But of course, this show is really about machismo more than anything else, so these wives’ tales necessarily take a firm backseat to the action of the Unit. And those “A-stories” have also lived up to my hopes. Unlike “Standoff,” where every situation just feels sorta rote and rehashed, “The Unit” manages to keep things fairly diverse and always interesting. The characters aren’t just bad-ass as all can-do, they’re generally well-rounded (although some of the secondary members could use a little more development and screen time). The dialogue is decent and the actors are great (I’m even enjoying Scott Foley much more than I thought I would and almost buy him as a hard military bad-ass). There’s a reason this show is still doing well for CBS and if you’re not watching it, you might want to give it a look see. …
“Veronica Mars” (CW, 9 p.m.). … but not if that means you’re going to be doing so at the expense of my girlfriend Veronica. I’ve professed my love for all things V. Mars many times over, so I’ll spare you this time. Suffice it to say that, while this season hasn’t been pitch-perfect, it’s still been quite strong, and Veronica’s still got her hooks in me. Here’s hoping the CW comes to its senses and gives the show the full-season order it deserves.
“Nip/Tuck” (FX, 10 p.m.). No doubt about it — last season sucked. The Carver was a bust, through and through. This season has been a marked improvement in every way but one — it’s still kinda boring. There’s no single element I can point to, like there was last season. The plot lines aren’t too ridiculous or over the top. The focus has successfully returned to Christian, Sean, and their extended family. The surgeries are still relatively interesting. And Larry Hagman is the man (“my balls are no longer proportionate to my wang” may be my single favorite quote of the season so far). But there’s just something missing, holding it back from the level it reached in its first two seasons. But the improvement from last season is still enough to hold me for now. It may not be for you — and I wouldn’t blame anyone who has or is going to give up on this show — but for some reason, I’m just a little more forgiving with “Nip/Tuck.” Although it used up several freebies by making me endure Rosie O’Donnell’s ass.
“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC, 10 p.m.). This is the only member of the “Law and Order” franchise that I’ve watched in years (excluding the occasional TNT rerun of the original). And while it’s partially because of the storylines, which are vastly more interesting than the “ripped from the headlines” stories of the mothership, it’s mostly because Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay simply rock my world. Their performances have simply been getting better and better. While they may have actually peaked in some fantastic episodes last season, this season has still been quite solid (and Connie Nielsen even subbed in well for the maternity-leaved Hargitay). Surely some of you watch this, right? ‘Cause that’s actually the weirdest thing about this show to me — I don’t know a single person other than myself who actually watches it, yet it consistently does quite well in the ratings. So someone out there is appreciating the same things as me. Just not anybody I know. Which is weird, ‘cause my peeps usually have good taste.
Anyway, thems are Tuesday nights. Don’t forget to check back all week as I add new installments to this wonderful little Fall Sweepstacular (I’ll throw down some links right here, too, as new pieces get published):
What I’m watching on Sundays and Mondays.
What I’m watching on Wednesdays.
What I’m watching on Thursdays.
What I’m watching on Fridays and Saturdays.
Seth Freilich is Pajiba’s television columnist. He vehemently denies that an additional reason he loves “Friday Night Lights” is because he sometimes wishes he’d played high school football instead of being a band geek and theater fag.
Pajiba Love 11/13/06 | | Pajiba Love 11/14/06 |
Comments
Finding it hard to pick a single fault with that list. I agree about SVU; I don't know a single other person who watches it but they must be out there.
Posted by: nevin at November 14, 2006 9:01 AM
No House M.D.?
Posted by: Mickey at November 14, 2006 9:20 AM
My theory on Law & Order is that every episode is so perfectly tuned that a viewer can drop in at any point and still be entertained. So while people don't make any of the three shows a destination anymore, we're more than willing to flip the channel to L&O and will stay from whatever point we've started to the end.
Posted by: Patrick at November 14, 2006 9:28 AM
Totally on with L&O, especially Hargitay. Her portrayal of Olivia has become so finely-tuned that there may not be a better dramatic actress in a network drama. Chris Meloni's work is equally brilliant and the storylines are always engrossing.
The Unit has been MUCH better than I had thought it would be and Dennis Haysbert is a very believable bad-assed Sergeant-Major.
Standoff has been a major disappointment and is off my list. Dammit.
Good work, Seth... I'm enjoying your daily checklists.
Posted by: Spender at November 14, 2006 9:48 AM
I'm so glad you have the FNL love! I don't really know anyone who is watching it -- but I think it's the best new show this season and one of the best on tv right now. And I'm not football fan.
I'm also another person that watches SVU every week. It's the only L&O I watch as well. It's partly the gruesomely sick stories and partly Benson and Stabler -- hot hot hot!
My third Tuesday show is Nip/Tuck. I hear ya on feeling that while it's better than the Carver days, there is just something missing. But I love it for the fluff and craziness and am sticking with it.
Posted by: Lauri at November 14, 2006 10:12 AM
Good point, Patrick. That's exactly why the show has become such a huge cable mainstay, despite myself being pretty sick of the whole formula, I'll still watch reruns occasionally of any of the L&O shows (would be nice to see more Homicide on the air, but I digress).
I gotta stay though - wow. I would NOT put Friday Night Lights anywhere NEAR Deadwood and Battlestar Galactica on the quality scale. Had a hard time sitting through even a single episode of FNL. I'm sorry, it's just not entertaining, and it's really hard for me to give a damn about any of those characters. It felt like more retched overwrought suburban drama. I guess it's... marginally better than Life as We Know It?
Tuesday is a pretty dead TV night to me anyway - if I bother to watch anything, it's the completely strings-unattached pleasure of Boston Legal. Is that show... "good"? Probably not, but Shatner and Spader are still amazingly entertaining.
Posted by: Anonoguy at November 14, 2006 10:15 AM
I gotta be honest, the only people I know that watch Law & Order all the way through are over 45. SVU is by far the best though.
Posted by: The Stew at November 14, 2006 11:24 AM
Friday Night Lights is flawless. Kyle Chandler is the most compelling actor on tv today. watch it. watch it. watch it.
Posted by: dm at November 14, 2006 12:07 PM
Wow, two Pajiba posts in as many days! New record!
Just had to say that I love SVU and watch it religiously. And I'm not quite 30 yet.
Also: have caught a few eps of FNL and enjoyed them. Will try to add it to my regular schedule, but only because I love you, Seth.
Posted by: Jelinas at November 14, 2006 1:19 PM
I've tried watching FNL but it just didn't hold me for the whole show. I got bored with it. Maybe I'll try again, if the TV Whore says so.
VM has got to be the best show on TV! Everyone please watch it so it gets a full season. I'm savoring every episode hoping it won't be the last.
Posted by: S at November 14, 2006 1:31 PM
I am barely 30, and I watch SVU just about every week. The plots and the writing are just too engrossing. As mentioned above, they have their franchise down to a science. I love Hargitay, but I think she's a little overrated and Meloni is a little underrated. Especially when he can pull off crazy-redneck-meth-addict-swinger-with-hot-wife so hilariously in Harold and Kumar. I have a soft spot for stoner comedies; lets just say I enjoyed my college years.
Posted by: MaiGirl at November 14, 2006 1:44 PM
SVU used to have a huge and freakishly dedicated following at Wellesley College. Whole gaggles of women would sit in the TV room on Tuesday nights to watch it.
Posted by: Alie at November 14, 2006 1:45 PM
I agree with Mickey...what about House???
Granted that it has only had a few episodes so far this season (damn you baseball!) but it's still better than most of the shit out there. It may be my complete weakness for those baby-blues and the fact that he's a complete sarcastic dick, but I love Greg House...tied with Hiro as my favorite tv character.
Posted by: KDM at November 14, 2006 2:21 PM
I second Patrick's theory, and SVU is the best of the L&O's. Now that I've got that out of the way, can anyone explain the connection between Law and Order (and SVU in particular) and Oz? Without much difficulty, I can name at least ten actors who had recurring or guest roles on both shows. Same producers? Writers? Priest? What? Help me before my brain explodes.
Posted by: mike at November 14, 2006 2:48 PM
I love FNL and The Unit as well. While shows like Studio 60 seem to be dragging on already these two always provide a new experience each week. I never really got into Nip/Tuck but I do find it interesting that most of the cases in SVU are about sexual assaults and predators and yet it still appealed to women at Wellesley.. interesting..
Posted by: Joel at November 14, 2006 2:52 PM
Author's Note: I believe the connection, which I agree is rather apparent, between the "L&O's" and "Oz" is simply that "SVU" creator (and "Law and Order" overlord) Dick Wolf is buddies with Tom Fantana ("Oz" creator). Hell, Belzer's character, Munch, was taken, in toto, from "Homicide," also a Fontana show.
Posted by: TV Whore at November 14, 2006 2:59 PM
Thanks TV Whore for going off topic to ease my mind. I can now sleep through the night.
Posted by: mike at November 14, 2006 3:28 PM
I love "Friday Night Lights" and I hate football and sports. But this show is so good, I am glad I checked it out!
Posted by: Lea at November 14, 2006 3:55 PM
Call me crazy, but I really like this season of NipTuck. Maybe I'm just so happy that the Crver thing is over and done with, but Sean being haunted by Escobar and Crazy Nanny, you have to admit, is hillarious. I can't give a rat's ass about Larry Hagman's wife, or Matt, however.
Posted by: Sally at November 14, 2006 4:29 PM
Last week's N/T, I thought, brought it back to S1&2 goodness. Escobar, Boboleck (sp?) and all of that coming back to haunt the Drs. was great great fun.
Plus, the hell Kimber is pregnant with Matt's baby? Bring. It. On.
Posted by: Lauri at November 14, 2006 4:54 PM
I'm a 20-year-old female, and I watch L&O reruns on Omni (I'm Canadian) every single day. They play Criminal Intent first, which is okay, then SVU, which I find much more engaging. Just thought I'd share.
As for other Tuesday night shows, I watch House and NCIS. Watched an episode of The Unit once, thought it was all right. Wasn't that interested though.
Posted by: Cuno at November 14, 2006 7:06 PM
I am also a under-30 L&O lover. And I do agree that SVU is usually the best (though I must confess, CI stole me away a few times).
I am happy to see The Unit get some love as well. As soon as I get my PVR fixed, I can stop being torn between it and VM. By the way, VM has won so far.
I also could not get into FNL. I can't take too much drama, there must be something else that can diffuse it enough to be digestible. VM and SVU have crime and detective stories, BG has sci-fi elements, and so on. My disinterest in sports keeps that aspect from appealing to me in FNL. And I really tried to like it, honest. BUt after the "You're sleeping with your best friend's girlfriend" line, I just cannot take it.
Posted by: Vermillion at November 14, 2006 7:27 PM
By the way, I wonder who woild win in a fight: Haysbert's character on the Unit, or Jack BAuer? COnsidering the psychologically advantage of looking like a dead ex-president and all ;).
Posted by: Vermillion at November 14, 2006 7:28 PM
Friday Night Lights is the best show period I can not stop watching it
Posted by: Dan at November 14, 2006 9:56 PM
Slightly over 30 (but nowhere near 45) and a huge SVU fan. I have to say, however, Criminal Intent is incredibly irritating (well, the epispodes with Chris Noth not so much, but I can't stand Vincent D'Onofrio).
Posted by: Alarmjaguar at November 14, 2006 11:14 PM
Side comment: Way to totally call 30 Rock moving to Thursday. That's NBCs only chance of having a solid comedy block. Earl, Office, 30 Rock. I will now not be changing the channel after Steve Carrell is finished with me.
Posted by: Noel at November 15, 2006 1:15 AM
I have to agree about FNL. It's so damn good. And Veronica Mars is still awesome.
Posted by: Ryan at November 15, 2006 1:21 AM
I am saddened b/c the ONLY show I watch on Tuesday nights is House.
Posted by: jmurae at November 15, 2006 2:50 AM
Regarding Law & Order...
As I'm a Dane and living in Denmark,
I still haven't seen the newest episodes of the original series.
But I catch SVU and CI every time I can.
Vincent D'onofrio and Chris Meloni are huge favorites of mine... as is Belzer from way back in "Homicide", which, in my opinion, is the best cop-drama ever.
Gotta say that D'Onofrio gets super-extra-special-cred-with-bells-on from me, for his portrayal of Robert E. Howard in "The Whole Wide World".
(I'm disappointed that I have to say it,
but the women on SVU and CI seem like non-entities to me. Well, Hargitay seems to be doing *something* at least. Not sure yet if it's the writers fault or the actresses').
Oh, and
P.S.
Is it only me
or does Chris Meloni bear a more than passing resemblance to Elias Koteas?
Posted by: HairlessMonkeyDK at November 15, 2006 6:54 AM
HairlessMonkey -
Wow, you just dinged it for me. It's no longer just you, if it ever was.
Posted by: ranylt at November 15, 2006 8:23 AM
why don't you watch House, M.D.?
Posted by: c.g. at November 15, 2006 2:53 PM
I agree with you about Nip/Tuck. I became a faithful viewer pretty quickly, and I actually liked the Carver storyline, except for how it ended. I thought it was very obvious.
But this season, I don't think it's necessarily bad, just not as sharp. The edginess and clever plots aren't there, and the guest stars haven't really offered anything to the show. Christian hasn't had any great moments since that sex tape scene on YouTube (hilarious) and Sean and Julia are the same. I think the writers need to go back to basics.
Although seeing Christian dressed like a pimp in his 60's was pretty funny.
Posted by: Brie at November 15, 2006 3:40 PM
RE Nip/Tuck: what's missing is humor. Enough about Sean and his flipper kid. Who cares? Bring the funny. That's the only reason to keep watching. Although I like the actor, the Sean character sucks all the life out of the show every time he appears.
And yeah, the future Christian was effing hilarious.
Posted by: LL at November 15, 2006 7:38 PM
House M.D all around!
Posted by: Greg at November 15, 2006 7:57 PM
Yes. The Unit is a very strong show. It's one that seems to be stronger this year over last. It's rediscovered the humor that existed in the pilot; it's fixed the major flaw of the commander sleeping with the sgt.s wife; it's given the 2 minor members of the team larger roles.
Ok.. so you watch The Unit and Veronica Mars, both on at the same time. Is that why House isn't on your list?
At 10 pm. I am lost. SVU is my least favorite L&O, and N/T is just losing it's charm. I may end up going to sleep early!
I hate that there are times when I need to choose between 3 shows, and an hour later? Nothing on.
Really curious about the rest of the week. (though I think I can safely guess about one show on Fridays).
Posted by: Debra Roby at November 15, 2006 9:41 PM
I'd like to hear about House, MD
Posted by: Charles Watson at November 15, 2006 11:41 PM
House is great, but it comes on the same time as VM. VM wins out over House.
Posted by: tssspp at November 16, 2006 12:27 PM
I agree, what the hell? House MD is the best show on Tuesday nights, hands down.
Posted by: AnnArrogance at November 16, 2006 7:10 PM
I have to chime in to say that I really love Friday Night Lights and it's not just because I'm from Texas. Kyle Chandler is great on this show. I'm so glad that NBC picked it up for a whole season.
I was a huge fan of L&O when Mike Logan was on. Those were great episodes. I'm not so into it anymore. Now, I pretty religiously watch SVU because I love, love, love Elliot! Chris Meloni is incredibly hot. I don't really like Criminal Intent very much, unless Mikey is on. Chris Noth is so sexy! I much prefer the tough, blue-collar Logan to the uptown, pampered Big. Amazing how different he makes those two characters.
Posted by: txgirl at November 17, 2006 12:31 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE Friday Night Lights. I am always so upset when it ends! Totally a L&O watcher, too.
But, wait, no House??
Posted by: Jen at November 17, 2006 6:24 PM
Agree with the House love.
Adding: What, no Boston Legal? The funniest drama out there!
Posted by: olucy at November 20, 2006 7:35 PM
You dont even know what the fuck you're talking about!!! YOu havent even watched every single episode to even have the nerve to post some shit like that about Nip/Tuck... YOu arent a fucking professional critic...! Youre right about one thing though: It does hold my goddamn attention! You dont have to watch the show..
The saying goes: If you have nothing nice to say, then say dont say anything at all.
My comment is an exception to that FABULOUS rule.
Thanks.
Posted by: Betty at January 3, 2007 3:11 AM
