If You Like…Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl is all about rich kids who live a life of glamour as they scheme their way through life.

If what you like about the show is all the teen drama, consider shows like:
CW’s 90210 reboot about a bunch of kids in Beverly Hills. They’re the west coast version of GG. Also from the CW is Hellcats about a girl named Marti who joins her college cheerleading squad in order to get a scholarship for school.

ABC Family has some particularly strong teen drama with Pretty Little Liars (four girls deal with the death of their friend while trying to figure out who killed her and dealing with threats by a mysterious texter known as “A”, Greek following fraternities and sororities in Cyprus Rhodes University, Make It Or Break It about girls who train as Elite Gymnastics with the goal of competing in the Olympics, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager which is technically about a girl who gets pregnant as a freshman in high school after having sex for the first time but is really a show where kids talk endlessly about sex.

Some other current shows involving teen drama are Fox’s Glee which follows a high school glee club as they try to improve as a club and gain acceptance in high school, Teen Nick’s Gigtantic which follows the children of celebrities in Hollywood, and MTV’s Skins about a bunch of wild teens who spend most of their time drinking, partying, and having sex without concern for the consequences.

If what you like best about Gossip Girl is all the scheming and backstabbing, in addition to a number of the shows listed above, you may want to check out CBS’s Survivor and MTV’s The Challenge which revolves around people being thrown into some remote location and battling through challenges in order to make it to the end without getting voted out by their peers to win some money. Both shows are reality shows, so they are different, but you have more tricks and sneaking around than just about anywhere else on television.

If you love the crazy wild behavior and out of control people, consider Jersey Shore from MTV about a bunch of Italians who go to the Jersey Shore and spend their time drinking and partying or Showtime’s Shameless about a poor family who do anything the can to survive with no adult supervision to really look out for them.

2010 Premieres and Returns

Here are the list of things premiering and returning in the next few months with my quick comments on the side. Get excited!

January 3
Brothers and Sisters (ABC), 9:00 PM/ET (I’ve heard good things about this and hope to try it)
Desperate Housewives (ABC), 10:00 PM/ET (tried the first episode and was turned off)
Giuliana & Bill (E!), 9:00 PM/ET (anyone know what this is?)

January 4
The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love (ABC), 8:00 PM/ET (not a fan of dating shows)
Heroes (NBC), 8:00 PM/ET (2 Hours)
The Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family), 8:00 PM/ET (hoping for less whining this time around)
Make It or Break It (ABC Family), 9:00 PM/ET (awesome!)
Cake Boss (TLC), 9:00 PM/ET
Conveyor Belt of Love (ABC), 9:00 PM/ET (sounds awful)
Men of a Certain Age (TNT), 10:00 PM/ET
Chef Academy (Bravo), 11:00 PM/ET

January 5
NCIS (CBS), 8:00 PM/ET (not a fan of standard procedurals)
The Biggest Loser (NBC), 8:00 PM/ET (my friend cries during this)
Last Restaurant Standing (BBC America), 9:00 PM/ET
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), 9:00 PM/ET (not a fan of standard procedurals)
The Good Wife (CBS), 10:00 PM/ET (want to try)

January 6
Friday Night Lights (DirectTV 101), 9:00 PM/ET (I’ll be caught up by then!)
Nip/Tuck (FX), 10:00 PM/ET (any good?)
The Goode Family (Comedy Central), 10:30 PM/ET (not interested)

January 8
Ghost Whisperer (CBS), 8:00 PM/ET (hoping it amps up)
Dollhouse (Fox), 9:00 PM/ET (!!!)
Medium (CBS), 9:00 PM/ET (never watched)
Numbers (CBS), 10:00 PM/ET (never watched)
Shark Tank (ABC), 9:00 PM/ET (couldn’t get into)

January 9
Legend of the Seeker (syndication) (excited)

January 10
The Simpsons (Fox), 8:00 PM/ET (450th Milestone Episode) (not such a fan)
The Simpsons (Fox), 8:30 PM/ET (20th Anniversary Special) (not such a fan)
Chuck (NBC), 9:00 PM/ET (2 Hour Season Premiere) (got into this late but love it!)
Border Wars (National Geopgraphic), 9:00 PM/ET (don’t know that I’ll watch but it sounds interesting)
Big Love (HBO), 10:00 PM/ET (haven’t seen but heard good things, will try soon maybe)

January 11
Chuck (NBC), 8:00 PM/ET (!!!)
Accidentally on Purpose returns (CBS), 8:30 PM/ET (maybe I’ll try catching up)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS), 8:00 PM/ET (love it!)
Heroes (NBC), 9:00 PM/ET (hoping for more action)
Two and a Half Men (CBS), 9:00 PM/ET (never watched)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS), 9:30 PM/ET (love it!)
CSI: Miami (CBS), 10:00 PM/ET (never enjoyed standard procedurals)

January 12
American Idol (Fox), 8:00 PM/ET (2 Hour Season Premiere) (I’ll at least start watching)
Southland (TNT), 10:00 PM/ET (never watched)

January 13
American Idol (Fox), 8:00 PM/ET (Season Premiere, Part 2) (see above)
Gary Unmarried (CBS), 8:30 PM/ET (not great but I watch it)
Criminal Minds (CBS), 9:00 PM/ET (never enjoyed standard procedurals but my stepmom loves it)
Our Little Genius (Fox), 9:00 PM/ET (Series Premiere) (probably not)
CSI: NY (CBS), 10:00 PM/ET (never enjoyed standard procedurals)
Leverage (TNT), 10:00 PM/ET (yes!)
High School Reunion (TVLand), 10:00 PM/ET (wasn’t this originally on the WB?)

January 14
Bones (Fox), 8:00 PM/ET (watching!)
Vampire Diaries (CW), 8:00 PM/ET (guilty pleasure, more dynamic main characters please?!)
Parks and Recreation (NBC), 8:30 PM/ET (like it)
CSI (CBS), 9:00 PM/ET (never enjoyed standard procedurals)
Fringe (Fox), 9:00 PM/ET (been meaning to try it)
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), 9:00 PM/ET (hoping for something good)
Archer (FX), 10:00 PM/ET (I don’t think so)
The Mentalist (CBS), 10:00 PM/ET (been meaning to try this)
Private Practice (ABC), 10:00 PM/ET (watching)
Project Runway (Lifetime), 10:00 PM/ET (NY Awesomeness)

January 17
Human Target (Fox), 8:00 PM/ET (Series Premiere) (I hope this is good!)
24 (Fox), 9:00 PM/ET (2 Hour Season Premiere) (great! caught up on all 7 seasons in like 3 weeks! that’s 170 hours)

January 18
One Tree Hill (The CW), 8:00 PM/ET (stopped after season 1)
Life Unexpected (The CW), 9:00 PM/ET (trying it, remember Shiri Appleby from Roswell?)

January 19
Our Little Genius (Fox), 9:00 PM/ET (no)
White Collar (USA), 10:00 PM/ET (yes)

January 21
The Deep End (ABC), 8:00 PM/ET (enough with the law shows!)
Supernatural (The CW), 9:00 PM/ET (stopped after season 1)
Burn Notice (USA), 10:00 PM/ET (yes!)

January 22
Smallville (The CW), 8:00 PM/ET (watching…I love superheroes)
Caprica (Syfy), 9:00 PM/ET (don’t know)
Spartacus (Starz), 10:00 PM/ET (what is this? starring Lucy Lawless so I’ll check it out)

January 25
House (Fox), 8:00 PM/ET (who isn’t?!)
Damages (FX), 10:00 PM/ET (nope, sick of law shows)
Greek (ABC Family), 10:00 PM/ET (oh sororities and fraternities, I will watch)
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Showtime), 10:00 PM/ET (tried a few episodes, meh)
La La Land (Showtime), 11PM/ET (what is this?)

January 26
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox), 9:00 PM/ET (sadly, yes. I miss Hell’s Kitchen)

January 27
Psych (USA), 10:00 PM/ET (can’t wait!)

January 28
Taking the Stage (MTV), 11:00 PM/ET

January 31
The Cleveland Show (FOX), 8:30 PM/ET (no interest)
Family Guy (FOX), 9:00 PM/ET (not my thing)
American Dad (Fox), 9:30 PM/ET (not my thing)

February 2
Lost (ABC), 9:00 PM/ET (2 Hour Season Premiere) (yes!!!)

February 4
The Office (NBC), 9:00 PM/ET (been meaning to try this one)
Important Things (Comedy Central), 10:00 PM/ET (don’t love watching comics)
The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy Central), 10:30 PM/ET (saw a couple episodes, not funny enough to watch consistently)

February 5
Smallville: Absolute Justice (CW), 8:00 PM/ET (2 Hour Movie) (putting two episodes together does not make it a movie!)

February 7
Undercover Boss (CBS), 10:00 PM/ET (I’ll try it but I don’t have high hopes)

February 11
Past Life (Fox), 8:00 PM/ET (2 Hour Series Premiere) (curious)
Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (CBS), 8:00 PM/ET (can’t wait–are these returning players?)

February 19
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO), 9:00 PM/ET (what is this?)
The Ricky Gervais Show (HBO), 10:00 PM/ET (meh)
The Life and Times of Tim (HBO), 10:30 PM/ET (not interested)

March 1
Parenthood (NBC), 9:00 PM/ET (lots of hype on this one)

March 4
FlashForward (ABC), 8:00 PM/ET (more action please!)

March 8
Gossip Girl (The CW), 9:00 PM/ET (of course my upper east siders)

March 9
90210 (The CW), 8:00 PM/ET (this depends on how the season progresses–less Annie anyone?)

March 14
The Marriage Ref (NBC), 8:00 PM/ET (prob not)
Sons of Tucson (Fox), 8:30 PM/ET (Series Premiere) (what is this?)
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC), 9:00 PM/ET (yeah, though I prefer the non-celebrity version)
The Pacific (HBO), 9:00 PM/ET (a mini-series, sounds interesting)

March 22
Nurse Jackie (Showtime), 10:00 PM/ET (couldn’t finish episode 1)
United States of Tara (Showtime), 10:30 PM/ET (couldn’t finish episode 1)

March 29
10 Things I Hate About You (ABC Family), ? PM/ET

March 30
V (ABC), 10:00 PM/ET (why so long?!)

March TBD
Breaking Bad (AMC) (apparently it’s been around for two years, how have I not heard of it?)
Justified (FX) (what is it?)
Day One (NBC) (will try)
100 Questions (doesn’t sound very good but I’ll prob check it out, knowing me)

April 2
Miami Medical (CBS), 10:00 PM/ET

April 9
Party Down (Starz), 10:30 PM/ET (can’t remember if I’ve seen this. If I did, I didn’t like it)

April 11
The Tudors (Showtime), 9:00 PM/ET (been meaning to try, my sister loves it)

April 13
American Idol (Fox), 8:00 PM/ET (is this another season?)
Glee (Fox), 9:00 PM/ET (why such a long wait!)

What are you most looking forward to?

Also, check out what will not be returning here.

The Canceled List

A lot of shows premiered this past summer and now that they are coming to a close, I thought it might help to look at what did and did not make the cut for another season;

Canceled:
Ruby and the Rockits
Defying Gravity
The Listener (though continuing in Canada)
The Philanthropist
The Superstars

Returning:
Make It Or Break It
10 Things
Royal Pains
HawthoRNe
Drop Dead Diva
Nurse Jackie
Dark Blue
Warehouse 13
The Middle
Cougar Town
Modern Family

Unannounced:
Miami Social
NYC Prep
Mental (rumored cancellation but couldn’t find any definitive answer)
Hung
I’m a Celebrity…
Merlin (though continuing in the UK)
Dance Your Ass Off
Hank

Anything I missed? What do you want to see back?

What I’m Watching…

SUNDAY:
Celebrity Apprentice
True Blood
Defying Gravity
Drop Dead Diva
Starmaker
Three Rivers

MONDAY:
Secret Life
Greek
The Rachel Zoe Project
Ultimate Cake Off
Make It Or Break It
Gossip Girl
Heroes
House
Trauma
Lie To Me
24
Weeds
How I Met Your Mother
The Big Bang Theory
Accidentally On Purpose
Cake Boss

TUESDAY:
America’s Got Talent
American Idol
90210
Glee
So You Think You Can Dance
Hell’s Kitchen
Blonde Charity Mafia
CNTM
BNTM
HawthoRNe
10 Things
Ruby and the Rockits
House of Jazmin
Better Off Ted

WEDNESDAY:
So You Think You Can Dance
Leverage
America’s Got Talent
Toddlers & Tiaras
Project Runway Australia
Top Chef
ANTM
Beautiful Life
Lost
Mercy
Make Me A Supermodel
RW/RR Challenge: The Ruins
Launch My Line
Merlin
Eastwick
American Idol
Old Christine
Gary Unmarried

THURSDAY:
Project Runway
Royal Pains
Burn Notice
Bones
Survivor
Flash Forward
Private Practice
Grey’s Anatomy
Making His Band
Ace of Cakes
30 Rock

FRIDAY:
Dollhouse
Smallville
Ugly Betty
Ghost Whisperer
Chuck
NZNTM
Psych
Eureka
Degrassi

SATURDAY:
Legend of the Seeker
ICarly

**Disney Channel Shows Wizards of Waverly Place, Hannah Montana, Suite Life on Deck, JONAS, and Sonny With A Chance seem to jump around in terms of which night they air on.

KEY:
Two Hours
One Hour
Half Hour
Current
Not Current

If You Like…Grey’s Anatomy

What’s not to love about Grey’s Anatomy? At least the earlier seasons. I still enjoy the show, though I understand why people are frustrated. (Honestly, my biggest complaint about the show is that Meredith is my least favorite character and she’s kind of important to the show…) But if you’re looking for another medical drama, there are so many out there for the watching. (The show has come back to itself with the shooting and its aftermath.)

Private Practice is the most obvious next choice, as it’s a spin off of Grey’s Anatomy (even having the occasional crossover episode which is always fun). The biggest complaint I’ve heard is that a lot of people don’t like Addison. I don’t particularly like her either and was surprised that they chose her as the character for a spin off, but I don’t really mind her either. I really like Amy Brenneman (sort of crazy psychologist whose plot line just became absolutely absurd but dramatic) and Chris Lowell (Dell, the young, male mid-wife in training) among some of the other cast members so I’m willing to forgive Kate Walsh. And actually, I like her more on Private Practice than Grey’s. Maybe she just needed time to develop as a character. (The show has hit its stride this season with their exploration of rape.)

For another more or less Shonda Rhimes creation, check out Off the Map, which follows a bunch of young, attractive doctors as they work in the jungle. It’s more or less the same show and while some people may not be digging it, I think it’s just as strong as the two shows above. We have the exotic cases solved by doing things like using coconut juice in place of blood and ziplining to meet a patient. It’s got an added action element that makes it fun and different while keeping some of the best elements of Grey’s.

If you are looking for a show you can just binge on, then ER is the obvious choice. Despite it’s ever changing cast, this show was full of drama and compelling characters with some particularly great story lines. It’s finally over, after 15 years, which is quite impressive for a drama show, but it certainly made its mark. It’s not so easy to find these online so you may have to rent or buy the dvds in order to watch, but you will certainly not be lacking in what to watch.

I cannot overemphasize how much I recommend House. I started this show relatively late because I was out of the country when it began, but my friend and I finally resolved to catch up and we basically had House marathons for a few weeks until we were finally up to date. Great decision. The characters are each unique and different (though Mental sort of rips off the model and it is clearly a poor copy with the occasional interesting episode), with a sort of humor and sarcasm that I haven’t really found in other shows. For one thing, it manages to take someone totally obnoxious and make them appealing (think Hannibal Lector, you hate him but you have to watch, but even better because you not only want to watch you cheer him on).

For another new medical show with a different flavor, check our Royal Pains, which features Hank Lawson, a once promising doctor who “made a mistake” when he saved a teenager’s life rather than babysit a stable but important patient who died of complications. When he loses everything his brother takes him to the Hamptons where he becomes a concierge doctor and slowly rebuilds his life. This show was surprisingly well done and only got better as the season went on. With Hank as a concierge doctor rather than a hospital doctor, a lot more liberty is given in the way of story lines and locations, which is nice to see as the creativity level is upped.

And then, on come the nurse centered shows, which are all the rage these days. With HawthoRNe, Nurse Jackie, and Mercy, you have more than your pick of nurse shows. I could not even sit through an episode of Nurse Jackie but other people thought Eddie Falco was brilliant and worth the time. HawthoRNe, though slow at the start, really picked up in the last few episodes and if it keeps up the momentum, could turn into a really strong series. Mercy, which hasn’t started yet is anyone’s guess but it sort of feels like a HawthoRNe rip off, complete with the young, new nurse who doesn’t really know what she’s doing and is still in training. (Vanessa Lenges or Michelle Trachtenberg, who do you prefer? Both do a good job playing pathetic and innocent.)

Finally, the EMT medical dramas. Third Watch, which I enjoyed for a time, lasted six years and would certainly give you something to spend your time on. If you’d prefer to start a new show, then beginning this fall is Trauma, which has been dubbed as the all explosions all the time tv show. It almost looks more like 24 than a medical drama from what I’ve seen of the previews.

Like these shows or think there’s something else that should be on the list?

Look at the other if you like lists, including 24, Full House, Buffy, Friends, Heroes, and Star Trek.

Interested in owning these shows? Check them out at Amazon:

• Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Seasons 1-5
• Private Practice: The Complete First Season and Private Practice: The Complete Second Season
• ER: The Complete Seasons 1-11
• House M.D. Complete Seasons 1-4 DVD Boxed Set and House, M.D. – Season Five
• Third Watch: The Complete Seasons 1 & 2

What I’m Catching Up On…

I’m always looking for shows to catch up, specifically, to watch from beginning to end while waiting for something else to watch. So, this is the list that I’m currently on, if you have any suggestions, please add them.

Catching Up On:
-Fringe
-Southland
-Rescue Me
-Mentalist
-Nip/Tuck
-Big Love

I wanted to include a list of all the shows I’ve already watched but quite frankly, there are just too many. So instead I will tell you what I do and don’t like:
-I don’t like dating shows or reality shows that follow people just talking (ie Real World, NYC Prep, Miami Social).
-I love most competitive reality shows. I like international shows (though I could not do Coupling so maybe it’s more the international reality and sci fi/fantasy stuff that I like).
-Not really a soap opera fan though I did a bit of Passions and Days of Our Lives once upon a time. (During finals time in high school we got home at 12 and I needed something to do.)
-Disney shows are just as fair game as NBC or ABC.

But I’m also willing to try new things,

All that being said, if there’s a show you think I should be watching, let me know!

24: Seasons 1-7

If You Like…24

Now, 24 has a lot of reasons to be liked, it’s jam packed with twists and surprises, some lovable characters, and great action scenes. (Plus the whole concept of following someone’s 24 hours is innovative and fun, though the effect is lost if you don’t sit and watch the show all at once.) If you like 24, there are a lot of other shows out there for you:

If what you like about 24 is the spy element, then maybe a show like Chuck is for you. Though not a serious, deadpan show like 24, Chuck is full of spy action and mystery as well as great characters and entertainment. Also on the funny but spy-filled list is Burn Notice, chronicling Michael Weston’s attempts to being reinstated as a spy after receiving and inexplicable burn notice. There’s a lot to enjoy about this series, particularly the “how to” of spying given in each episode. In this category I would also recommend Psych, though not quite aa spy show, the main character is a hyper-observant, amusing guy who pretends he’s psychic so he can play detective and help police solve cases. I have to also add Leverage to this list, though it doesn’t fall strictly into the spy genre. Leverage is about a band of thieves who band together to con the rich and evil in order to help the innocent and weak. It’s both funny, action-packed in its own way, and full of intriguing spy-like cons.

Newer spy shows include: the CW’s Nikita reboot about a woman who was taught to be a spy by the secret government branch called division. When they killed the man she loved she went awol and works to take them down with the help of a mole. USA Network’s Covert Affairs follows Annie Walker, a spy for the CIA who is graduated early in order to lure out her old boyfriend after he disappeared mysteriously (what she didn’t know what that he was a CIA spy too). This show is a lot like Alias without the crazy supernatural stuff. (There is also NBC’s Undercovers which followed a married couple that were lured back into working as spies. The show was cancelled pretty early.)

An old school spy option is Remington Steele, a show in which a woman in charge of a detective agency finds that people are reluctant to hire a woman, so she creates a false identity, Remington Steele, to be the “man” that the clients will be hiring. Things go awry when a man shows up claiming to be Remington Steele. Other old school hits include McGuyver (sort of like Burn Notice with the how to be a spy with anything around you type stuff) and Mission Impossible of course.

If the think you like most are the twists and turns, the attempts to solve the case and figuring out who’s behind everything, then shows like the CSI, NCIS, and Law And Order shows, along with Numb3rs, Cold Case, Veronica Mars, and The Shield are some good options for you. In truth there are tons of criminal shows you might try, like Dexter (on my list of shows that I plan to start once I finish Psych because I’ve heard it is excellent), Bones (which I particularly like because I find it is more character driven than the Law and Order and CSI ones), Crossing Jordan, The Closer, etc. Police shows are “the thing” for television so there is certainly no shortage of those shows to fill your days.

For a crime solving with a twist type show, you can try Tru Calling about someone who relives days into to solve murders and keep people from dying.

If the thing you are looking for is more of the action adventure, there isn’t much by way of non sci-fi shows. One good option is Prison Break. While many complain that the show went downhill as the series continued, it is still filled with some good fight scenes, intrigue, and surprises that make it a show worth watching. (I would certainly recommend Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles if you want hand to hand and gun combat and don’t mind the science fiction thrown in. Shows like Angel, Buffy, and Dark Angel also fit this category.) Alias, which didn’t always have the crazy sci-fi spin is another good spy, action choice. Though it did get a little weird from me as it got further in.

(There’s also shows like House and Lost which have a lot of mystery and plot points, with similar pacing to 24 but are really quite different.)

If I’ve forgotten anything, let me know!

For more “If You Likes…” check out these lists: Star Trek, Heroes, Friends, Full House, and Buffy.

If You Like…Full House

There’s something about shows that revolve around families that are particularly fun. Perhaps because they remind us of our own crazy life growing up, perhaps because even with the craziness they still remind us why family is so important. If family based comedies are for you, then there are tons of shows that you could be watching.

Full House, about a family who lost their mother and is doing their best to move on, is a great show. How many people didn’t watch Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Candace Cameron, and Jodie Sweet grow up? In the show you watch 3 girls being raised by 3 fathers in a loving family that only continues growing bigger with time.

To anyone who has not seen The Nanny, you are missing out on some classic TV. This is another show about a father raising his children after the death of their mother (a topic that tend to only be addressed on occasion and without much detail). The show follows a rich widower, Mr. Scheffield, and his three kids when he hires Fran, a cosmetics salesgirl to nanny his children. The show combines heart and laughs (and Fran’s super high-pitch) to make a show worth watching.

8 Simple Rules is also a good option for a show, revolving around a family where one daughter is popular and the other just wants to be. Although one of the cast members died mid-show, 8 Simple Rules does a good job of maintaining momentum and integrating the death into the story line.

Sort of a family drama, 3rd Rock From The Sun follows a group of aliens who must pose as a family while doing recon of Earth. As they live together and go deeper into their roles, they slowly learn what it means to be a family, and what is means to be human.

In the dysfunctional route of family comedy are two very different shows: Arrested Development (once rich family struggles to maintain the family company) and Everybody Loves Raymond (couple lives next to their nosy parents while trying to raise their children).

There is of course Family Guy and The Simpsons, if you prefer cartoons. I’ve never really liked these shows much. I find that they have funny moments but also get on my nerves after a little while. (This type of animated series is not for me, though obviously many disagree as both shows have done exceedingly well.)

But what seems to be the biggest trend of family comedies lately are the the divorced parents story, as seen in Reba, Gary Unmarried, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. The parents in all these shows are surprisingly close, best friends even despite their rocky marriages. With children from the marriage, they all try to get along while attempting to find a new partner and raise their kids. But for all of them, moving on isn’t as easy as they might think.

Anything else that should be on the list? Add them.

For more “If You Likes…” check out these lists: Star Trek, Heroes, Friends, 24, and Buffy.

Own These Shows now:
Full House – The Complete Series Collection
3rd Rock from the Sun – The Complete Seasons 1- 6
Arrested Development – The Complete Series (Seasons 1, 2, 3)

If You Like…Friends

There are so many things to love about the show Friends from its great cast to its funny scenes to its heartwarming stories, the show managed to blend comedy and sentiment to make something almost anyone could love (and relate to just about any moment of life). I know that I am always on the lookout for shows, like this one, that make me laugh at and still love the characters.

The first, and most obvious, choice as a replacement show for Friends is How I Met Your Mother. Anyone who has not seen this show is missing out. Every episode is laugh out loud funny. The cast is huge! Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segal, Allison Hannigan, even Bob Saget as narrator, to name a few. The characters (especially Neil Patrick Harris as Barney) are hilarious and you can’t help but cheer them on as they deal with lofe and love. They even have their own version of Central Perk, a bar below Ted’s apartment.

The Big Bang Theory is another friend-centered show, albeit with a twist: everyone is a genius except for the Penny (ok, her being a dumb blonde isn’t quite a twist, but the rest). Though not as funny as HIMYM, this show is also very clever and smart. Between Leonard being in love with Penny, Sheldon the neurotic but arrogant friend who seems uninterested in women, the girl-crazy Walowitz and the won’t talk to girls unless drunk Raj, there is no end of entertainment.

Now, Coupling, a British comedy, has been touted by some as the next Friends. I’ll be honest, I could not even get through the first episode.I didn’t find any of the jokes funny (maybe it’s the culture divide, but I don’t think so) and I was so uninterested in the characters. I have a friend who likes it though, so maybe it’s just not for me.

The truth is, Better Off Ted only fits into this group in so far as it’s a comedy, but I enjoy this show so much that I have to recommend it. It doesn’t have the same group of friends dynamics that Friends and HIMYM have, but it’s funny and refreshing and has been getting better and better as the season has continued.

30 Rock, also only fitting into this list because of it’s comedy status, is an obvious choice for a show to watch, as it swept the Emmy nominations with a total count of 22! Ridiculous. I like some of the other shows a little better, but this show is funny and full of quotable lines, which is oh-so-fun for viewers who love talking tv.

If you’re looking for something old school, 3rd Rock From The Sun or Newsradio are good choices. Both revolve around a tight cast (3rd Rock is about a group of aliens who are in human form to research the planet, Newsradio is about the running of a news station) filled with quirks and unusual relationships. Both are relatively easy to find online and have a number of episodes to fill your time with.

Dead Like Me, as I’ve mentioned in other posts, is a comedy worth looking into. It has the group dynamic for the cast, yet being that they are all undead reapers of different ages, backgrounds, and even decades, they have a strange relationship. This show isn’t as laugh out loud funny as the other shows on this list, but it’s certainly funny in it’s own way.

I’m sure there are plenty of other group-based comedies that I’ve missed. Add some if you think of them.

For more “If You Likes…” check out these lists: Star Trek, Full House, Heroes, 24, and Buffy.

If You Like…Heroes

Who doesn’t love superheroes? Who didn’t dream they had some special ability when they were younger? Well, I know I did, and since that’s obviously not happening, the next best thing is watching the people who do have the ability to fly, become invisible, etc.

Heroes is the X-men of television (and with this newest story line it has actually become a close copy) but before Heroes, there were other shows with non-magical superpowers.

No Ordinary Family is the newest show on tv about people with superpowers (not superheroes!). This one revolves around a family that has trouble connecting and suddenly discovers they have superpowers after a plane crash in the Amazon River. New show so hard to judge but so far, it’s has a lot going for it. It’s all about heart and has a great cast.

Mutant X is on the slightly corny, overdone sound effects versions of superhero shows, but it still has action packed scenes and a mystery here or there to keep you interested. Minus the fact that I find Emma to be an incredibly annoying character, the cast is fun and interesting.

Though this show fits into a slightly different category, Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles is a show full of fight scenes, done both by Terminator Summer Glau (who should always play someone slightly socially inept because she’s so good at it) and Human alike. John Connor has decided to fight back, seeking out the company that will eventually develop the terminators that will take over the world. Personally, I’m extremely disappointed that this show was just canceled, but I’m also not surprised.

Moving back to something a little older, Dark Angel, done by James Cameron is another fun show ended before its time. This one is about Max Guevera, a genetically engineered super soldier who escaped with her unit from the government’s boot camp and has been on the run ever since. When their identity is revealed to the public they must fight to protect themselves and avoid being recaptured. Jessica Alba is the star of this one and while her line delivery in Honey left something to be desired, she does a much better job here.

Firefly is similar to Dark Angel in the genetically engineered part of the story line, but it takes place in space, adding to the intrigue level as we learn that the government is hiding something that is in the mind of the telepath River (Summer Glau once again).

For Superman fans comes Smallville, a show about Clark Kent before he became the man in tights. (And we slowly but surely get to be the development of that costume, which is entertaining among other things.) While the later seasons are a little lacking (and lose some of the bigger cast members) it’s still interesting to watch the hero’s growth from the teenager who nearly burns down the barn as his heat vision kicks in to the butt-kicking hero we all know.

The 4400 is a little different than the other shows because its plotline includes aliens, but they are mostly just a detail and not the show. The show revolves around the people who were abducted by aliens and then returned with supernatural abilities that made everyone else afraid of them.

Dollhouse only sort of fits into this category, but it’s close enough. Echo (Eliza Dushku) is a doll, meaning she is a person whose entire memory has been wiped, allowing her to be imprinted with new personalities and skills to suit the clients of the company responsible. But there’s a hitch (well, a couple really)–a psychopathic doll has fixated on her and she is beginning to retain pieces of her memories from the wipes. Hopefully this show doesn’t go the way of Firefly and Terminator because it is so different and full of unexpected twists and turns.

For more “If You Likes…” check out these lists: Star Trek, Full House, Heroes, 24, and Buffy.

Own these shows now:
Heroes: Seasons 1-3
Dark Angel – The Complete Series