Mindless mindlessness and stuff

Every year around this time networks clammor for you attention with million dollar campaigns promoting they're more than likely horribly lame new television shows. I'd daresay the success rate of new television shows are about 20%. But there are a few gems that come along and surprise you, a few that start strong and fizzle out, and few that just look horrible from the start. Here's a list of new shows that I'm interested in seeing, old shows that I can't wait to return (or new to me) and shows that you should avoid like the plague.

Sure, why not watch that?

• Modern Family — Wednesdays, 9pm ABC
  Sure its completely PC in having to hit so many demographics, but the first episode was rather funny and somewhat unpredictable. The show tells the stories of 3 different families; the traditional family, the old divorcé and his young bride and stepson, and the gay couple and their newly adopted Vietnamese baby. It all ties together with lots of humor and heart. Let's hope it can sustain it.
• Glee — Wednesdays, 9pm FOX
  I hate musicals. Hate them. You don't understand how great my disdain for them is. But this summer when the show premiered and the buzz was thicker than Zach Galifianakis's beard, I thought I'd give the show a try (despite my personal perferences). Singing "Don't Stop Believing" sold me. Granted I still squirm and cringe at any of the sining and dancing the show is smart and funny, about more than just a high school Glee club. And I hate musicals.
• Flash Forward — Thursdays, 8pm ABC
  I watched the 10 minute (or whatever) intro that has been airing on Hulu and ABC.com, just to see what the marketing hype was about. I'm intrigued. The premise is that the world stopped for 2 minutes and 17 seconds, but no one knows why or how; and from there the mysteries start. And obvious attempt to build on and hopefully esclipse LOST as it enters it's season finale. Will it succeed? How do I know; but it will only if it tries to be itself, and not a copycat of LOST.
  
  
• Community — Thursdays, 9:30 NBC
  The pilot isn't bad, though not great. The cast seems pretty good, if not completely unified. I'm hoping the show picks up some steam and continues on what I see as some pretty smart comedy (I've always loved Joel McHale's smartass-y-ness)
  

Why aren't you watching that?

• Mad Men — Sundays, 10pm AMC
  Sure it wins too many Emmy's; and if you're like me that almost demands that you dislike the show, because obviously it can never measure up to all the hype. And while that is most certainly true, if you like more gritty, stylized, period drama; than Mad Men will appeal to you. Its one of the most complex, smooth and fully realized shows on television. Hands down.


• Fringe — Thursdays, 9pm FOX
  I can't stress enough how great Fringe is. I know several people have "tried" to get into the show, but its a slow building and multilayered science fiction, series drama. These aren't one-off episodes, every thing has meaning and significance and ties together to something far more interesting than what it intiailly appears to be — the pay off for your patience in realizing those pieces is tremendous.
• True Blood — 10pm, HBO
  Season 2 just ended a few weeks ago and Sonya and I fully emerged ourselves in every episode of the show. Now, this is certainly not a show for everyone. Its at times vulgar, at times gross, at times over the top sexual; but its truly engrossing, exciting and enjoyable. It's vampires, what do you expect?
  
  
• Breaking Bad  — Sundays, 10pm AMC
  AMC is bringing some great series to television. Another masterpiece in the understated and complex; Breaking Bad is not just about meth dealers. Where Weeds has failed (by being too far-fetched to even suspend disbelief, and clown around with more characters and reality than soap operas) Breaking Bad succeeds.
  
  
• Southland — Fridays, 9pm NBC
  I thought for the longest time that there was no way yet another cop show could be any good. I reluctantly gave in and started to watch the show this summer; and wow, was I wrong. The writing is crisp, stark, honest and moving with a cast of great characters. Amazing show.
• Better Off Ted — Tuesdays, 9:30 NBC
  I feel this show is a worthy replacement to the void Arrested Development left 3 years ago. Its not as brilliant, but the humor, sarcasm and absurdity is firmly echoed in this great show. Instead of family dysfunction, we focus on global corporate family dysfunction. Plus there spoof commercials, for the fake coproration Veridian Dynaimcs, are amazing.
  
  
• Chuck — Mondays, 8pm NBC
  Chuck is just a fun spy show. Fun. How bad can mindless fun be? There's action, intrigue, romance. Just fun all around. Not bad at all when you consider its counterpart, Heroes, takes itself so seriously and attempts to out think the room as to becomes so stupid that even a hamster addicted to meth finds it stupid.
  

Why would anyone watch that?

• Heroes
  No it's not a new show, but for the love of God why is anyone still watching this show? Why is it stil on? Is there a great disappointment in a series than Heroes — from potential greatness to total what what what?
• Cougar Town
  I don't care what you say, this show looks so lame that I woudn't watch it drunk on a free Hawaiian vacation. Its about a cougars, a neuvo term for desparate, horny, self-esteemless older divorced women with skewed men issues and power complexes. And no its not against women but really stupid premises, and calling a show "Cougar Town". I'd rather watch reruns of Dinosaurs.
  
  
• NCSI: Los Angeles
  Might as well do NCSI for every city; get local actors to be in it, using the exact same script — no matter, more NCSI is a recipe for lame.
  
  
• Eastwick
  What better way to capture an audience than make a show based on a movie that is 22 years old. Guess again. Witch shows are more overdone than vampire shows, especially ones that 80% of the audience weren't alive or old enough to see originally. Smart move ABC.
  
  
• Mercy
  No more hospital shows. Please. I don't care if its good, I won't watch it; you know? Because its another hospital show, with a really lame name about doctors and their woe is me I make 6 figures and drive a Mercedes and health care today and I might be addicted to drugs and sometimes I'm gay and have affairs and punch patients; more more doctor shows.
• Brothers
  Former NFL stars shouldn't act (Dick Buckus, Alex Karas), no reason to think Strahan will be any better.
• Accidentally on Purpose
  When was Jenna Elfman ever funny? Why does she get some many chances to be quirky and unfunny? Why?

What shows are you looking forward too? What shows do you think look lame?