November usually heralds the true start of the US television season with most shows airing their best episodes during this key month. Thanks to the miracle of fast track, or other less legal forms of viewing, we can now watch the best that television has to offer without being at the mercy of television programmers. Interesting side note, Channel 9 aired the final
Friends episode in 2004 a staggering eight months after it aired in the US. I’m surprised the series fanatics, known for their heavy-handed political activism, didn’t burn effigies of Mr. Packer in protest.
Every New Year is a potential minefield of television mediocrity. We heartily embrace television shows that look interesting and more often than not are punished severely and have our faith in humanity shaken. I thought Charlie Sheen and John Cryer were hilarious in
Hot Shots! and now believe they deserve the severest form of punishment for
Two and a Half Men .
In order to assist you, dear reader, to navigate successfully through the new season we have compiled a valuable list of the shows you should be watching. Some are brand new while others are returning after an extended hiatus due to the writers strike. All are worthy of your time and could soon become television classics.
30 Rock (Season 3)
Arrested Development fans have an obligation to watch this show and make sure it doesn’t follow a similar fate. The brilliance of Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin has made this show a modern television classic. The behind the scenes look at a
Saturday Night Live-esque show will launch its third season in a few weeks. It takes a couple of episodes to get into but is worth every minute of your time. Season 1 is already available on DVD.
Dollhouse (New Series)
Joss Whedon (
Buffy, Angel and
Firefly) returns to television with a new mysterious drama starring Eliza "Faith" Dushku. The series involves memory erasing, clones and strange investigations but for many, Mr. Whedon can do no wrong. Little else is known but given the quality of the man’s work this is one to look out for.
True Blood (New Series)
New series from Alan Ball (
Six Feet Under, American Beauty) focuses on the creepy lives of vampires and humans in the American South. The series starts off a little shaky but improves by the second episode. It seems to use a sledgehammer to get its social message across but it’s well written and could add new life to the vampire genre.
Breaking Bad (Season 2)
Second season of this excellent TV show starring Bryan Cranston from
Malcolm in the Middle fame is well worth your time. Although similar to
Weeds in general themes, creator Vince Gilligan, who was responsible for some of the most memorable
X-Files episodes, has crafted a highly entertaining series. Bryan Cranston is perfect as teacher turned drug dealer Walter H. White.
Mad Men (Season 2)
New series of this great show set in a 1950s ad agency is worthy of your time. I recommend going back to the first episode and experiencing the beauty of this series from the beginning.