Fall 2011 TV Season - Mondays

A few people have asked me, "Hey man, what's up with the new season? Anything worth watching?", "Hey man, what are your top picks for the new shows"

Well, here I sit on this somewhat grey and somewhat cloudy Sunday afternoon, with all sorts of papers scattered around my desk, a gazzilion tabs open on my browsers, note scribbled down. I don't actually get screeners as I just do this stuff for the fun of yet. I've just browsed all over the internet and watched every promo and clip I could get my hands on to base my opinions on.

So let's start with looking at Monday of which I might add, is crazy full already.


Terra Nova: 8:00 FOX

This year at Fan Expo Canada, I was lucky enough to watch the first hour of the two hour pilot. Turns out I was un-lucky because I hated this and I hated everything about it. I thought there was major plot holes and yet it was appearing to be VERY, VERY predictable. I've read that people think it should be on at 8 for some great family fair. But airing at 8:00 for families is another problem I have with it, airing at 10:00 would darken it up and make it a bit more realistic for me. I'm going to give this a pass. If what airs in September has been changed up from the original pilot. I might go back because I do like the premise of the show. I just don't like how it was executed.




2 Broke Girls: 8:30 CBS

First off, I love Kat Dennings, I think she's great in everything so this one caught my attention right away. The premise for these two girls meeting does seem a bit wonky, but they appear to have some really great chemistry together. I think this will flow nicely in CBS' Monday night comedy lineup. This also comes from the executive producer of Sex in the City, take that how-ever you like. But I think I'll be making room for this on my PVR.




Heart of Dixie: 9:00 The CW

I've watched the promo, read what I could and this one isn't for me. I'm sure Rachel Bilson will bring in some people who've missed her since the days of THE OC. But 9:00 on a Monday is crammed enough and my PVR will already be busy enough. I'm going to give this a pass as this looks incredibly predictable and doesn't appear to bring anything new to the table.




The Playboy Club: 10:00 NBC

Mad Men has certainly inspired the big networks to take a look at shows inspired by that era this season that is for sure. I'm just not sure if it's going to pay off. I've watched a few promos over and over and I can't seem to get too excited about this one for some reason. I just don't see where the story is going to go to keep people interested week to week. It doesn't help that 10:00 PM on Mondays is already jammed with Castle and Hawaii Five-0. I'll watch the first episode and go from there.




So that's it for the new shows coming Mondays. Let's see where we left off with our returning shows:

Dancing With the Stars:
Back for another season and it appears that they've run out of "stars" because this cast is even more awful than most years. David Arquette, Ron Artest, Chaz Bonon, Elisabetta Canalis, Kristin Cavallari, Rob Kardashian, Carson Kressley, Nancy Grace, Ricki Lake, JR Martinez, Chynna Phillips, Hope Solo.

How I Met your Mother:
In the aftermath of Ted and Zoey's break-up, Ted is having second thoughts. He is freaking out about an issue with the GNB headquarters, and historically when Ted freaks out about something, he turns to dating an old girlfriend if only for something comfortable and familiar, however bad returning to that relationship ended up being. When Barney and Robin find out that Ted is going to meet Zoey to get back together with her, they have to try and figure out where that meeting place is so that they can stop him. Beyond piecing together this puzzle, Barney and Robin's quest leads to them discussing their own relationship. Meanwhile, Lily has come down with a case of food poisoning from some soup. Marshall eats the soup three hours later, which means that his symptoms of excessive vomiting will start three hours later than Lily's did. Marshall has a job interview with a major environmental law firm in a few hours, and he is just hoping that he can make it through the interview without vomiting. Ted and Barney argue about which of them will have the pleasure of pushing the button when the Arcadian gets imploded. And one of these situation is the starting point for an imminent trip to the altar.

Gossip Girl:
Season four wraps up with an explosive finale, including the return of Georgina Sparks and Constance Billard mean girls Kati and Is, a cameo by "Gossip Girl" author Cecily von Ziegesar, a performance by Airborne Toxic Event and, oh yeah, a few very juicy cliffhangers.

Two and a Half Men:
This has to be the most talked about show during the offseason. Rose becomes wise to Alan's Ponzi scheme and threatens to tell his family--until Alan discovers the truth about Rose's "husband." Here's how this season starts: After the death of Charlie Harper, an Internet Billionaire purchases Charlie's beach house. How does Charlie die? Let's just say Rose might have had something to do with it.

Castle:
One of my favorite finales from last year. An assassin, with knowledge of the details behind Beckett's mother's murder, escapes from custody during his trial leaving Castle and Beckett to track him down. A secret is revealed about Captain Montgomery's past and the identity of the third cop. At the end of the episode Beckett is shot and Castle tells her that he loves her.

Hawaii Five-0:
I dropped this show half way through the season, but I did catch the finale and it was a doozy. As McGarrett and his team close in, criminal mastermind Wo Fat retaliates against Five-0. And without the Governor backing them up, McGarrett's showdown with Wo Fat could mean the end of Five-0.


My schedule will look like this:

8:00 - How I Met Your Mother
8:30 - 2 Broke Girls
9:00 - Two and a Half Men, House, Bored To Death
10:00 - Castle, Hawaii Five-0

What will your Mondays look like?