Tuned In

TV's Winter of Content

By James Poniewozik | @poniewozik | December 18, 2008 | +

 

HBO
HBO

As I was watching the first three new episodes of Big Love—I just thought I’d throw that out there—I was seized by a welcome feeling. Not pleasure so much, though the episodes have the series in the same fine form as season 2. More like relief. As in: Ah, television, my old friend. I remember you! Good to have you back again!

 

It’s not as if there was nothing worth watching in 2008, but there was a relatively weak crop of new shows, a problem exacerbated by delays in production and development from the strike. But look at the calendar we’ve got coming up in January. Here’s some of what I have on my list, and I’m sure I’m missing things: 

Jan. 6         Nip/Tuck (FX), Scrubs (ABC)

Jan. 7         Damages (FX)

Jan. 11         24 (Fox)

Jan. 13         American Idol (Fox)

Jan. 16         Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)

Jan. 18         Big Love, Flight of the Conchords (HBO)

Jan. 21          Lost (ABC)

 

Add in Dollhouse coming up in February, Friday Night Lights for those of us without DirecTV, new series I haven’t yet watched like TNT’s Trust Me and midseason shows like Kings and The Goode Family. It’s enough to give one a foreign feeling. What do they call it—excitement? Ah, excitement, my old friend. I remember you! Good to have you back again.

Related Topics: hbo

  • Latest on Entertainment

    Matt Stroshane / Disney Parks / Getty Images
    Looking Around June 1, 2012

    Disney's Fantastic Voyage

    The kids are the go-to demographic on the Fantasy, the newest vessel in Disney’s fleet of floating theme parks

    From our Partners

    14 Revelations From A New Tell-All Book On Christian BaleHuffington Post

    Bambi; Photo: Ruth Corney
    Arts June 1, 2012

    Grafitti Artist Bambi Paints Jubilee Tribute to the Queen

    TIME meets the female Banksy bringing royalty to London’s streets

  • Kemper

    I think that Burn Notice also returns with new episodes in January. I’m hoping for severe winter storms so I have an excuse not to leave the couch until spring.

  • Chaddogg

    Wow — 6 shows I watch/plan to watch all returning (24, Battlestar Galactica, Flight of the Conchords, Lost, Friday Night Lights, and Dollhouse)….Christmas is coming a little bit late this year.
    .
    @James — did you, Tuned In Jr., and Tuned In Jr. Jr. happen to catch “Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” last night? I’m curious to hear your thoughts….I loved it, but I’m admittedly biased since my best friend from high school (Andrew Samson) co-wrote it.

  • chelsea15jk

    Well House comes back in January, but it’s just taking a break. I am so excited for LOST! We got two sneak peeks . . .

    Jack and Ben – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmYHHdPq6EQ

    Kate and Aaron – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2kjlOG1yRo

    Monk comes back in January! Only a season and a half to go until we find out what happened to Trudy.

  • http://ivi.tv Abigail Hamilton

    You characterize that feeling very well (“Ah, television, my old friend. I remember you! Good to have you back again!”), and it’s so powerful.

    For me it’s not dramas, but Top Chef, Project Runway, Iron Chef*, and some news segments (though I don’t have a true home there. MSNBC comes closest, but I wish CNN would un-break itself and report straight news again)

    * OK, OK, I’ll be honest: the list includes comedically bad fare like Real Housewives, Hell;s Kitchen, the Hills, the Bachelor, and the Pickup Artist!!

  • http://survivingtheworld.wordpress.com danteshepherd

    And Reaper’s finally coming back! Reaper! Remember? The show that started off on a high note, sagged for a bit before coming back on a major upswing to end the season? Remember? Remember? No? Anyone?

    Bueller?

  • Ashman

    As much as I am looking forward, I fear the absence of Pushing Daisies will be to traumatic to overcome. The show has been consistently great and last night was legen, wait for it, dary.

  • rhys1882

    Burn Notice comes back January 22, woo! Reaper is not until March, I have to catch up on the end of the season, I did hear it got a lot better.

  • plukasiak

    as an aside….
    while I don’t actually watch Nip/Tuck, the promos for the new season have been simply stunning — so good they belong on some kind of “top ten list”!

  • tyrantking

    I’m glad to hear that the first three episodes of Big Love are good. I honestly felt like Big Love “moved the Island” so to speak at the end of season 2 *SPOILER ALERT* with Alby all of the sudden becoming a competent villan.

blog comments powered by Disqus