Quality Television

It's going on three weeks since the new TV season began. Lizzie and I tape overlapping shows so we have a chance to evaluate the good, bad and the downright ugly. I'm always on the lookout for another Seinfeld or Cheers. I thought 'Whitney' might be the one. Wrongo, Mr. T. It's a dud. Anything with a laugh track is already in the dumpster. 'Two Broke Girls' fits into the same pattern; stupid jokes and worse writing. Do yourself a favor and take in 'Free Agents'. It stars Hank Azaria and Katherine Hahn. The ensemble is unique and there are some very funny situations. He's coming off a divorce and the girl lost her fiance' via death. They are both trying to find themselves as they confront different situations in the advertising agency in which they are employed. It's cute and refreshing and creative--and there isn't a laugh track.
Two very good drama shows are in this Fall's schedule and both are on Thursday evening; one at 9 PM and the other following it at 10. The first is, 'Persons of Interest' starring Jim Caviezel. He played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. In this show he is a former Army Ranger who, with the help of a brilliant computer wizard, seek out people who are in precarious situations by using futuristic methods of technology. Some of these people are good and some are not so good but our heroes seek and find a conflict resolution. I may be wrong(doubtful) but it's sort of like 'Justified' except it's situated in New York City. If you like to see the bad guys blown away without remorse by the guys in the white caps then view it. Finally, you must see 'Prime Suspect'. The main character is a female cop in NYC who has to overcome the prejudices of the established guys in her precinct. I forget her name, might be Maria Bello. I first saw her in the Mel Gibson film, 'Payback'. If you watched 'The Closer' and enjoyed it then you'll fall passionately for this show. It's a little more edgy and dark than the Kyra Sedgwick, Closer' but is quality written as are all the above mentioned shows.
The nice thing about missing a show you might enjoy is you can usually find it on cable by researching your channels. We have Time-Warner and by clicking Channel 1401 we can view shows from the past that we missed AND the commercials last about five seconds so the running time for each show is limited.
I don't want to brag too awfully much about my TV abilities but I am the king of this sort of thing. Don't ever doubt me on this. Still don't think so? I predicted Capt. Kangaroo and Tom Terrific with Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog would be a big hit.