It might be aimed at teenagers and families, but ABC Family has some great television programmes. I'm a big fan of dramedies Greek and Pretty Little Liars and have recently discovered Melissa & Joey. It stars TV veterans Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Joey Lawrence (Blossom) as, well Melissa and Joey and is similar to a modern day Who's the Boss. Melissa's a successful career woman looking after her niece and nephew after a family scandal sends her sister to prison and her brother-in-law on the run. She hires Joe as her nanny, or 'manny' when he has nowhere to go after being scammed by her brother-in-law. Throw in Mel's crazy assistant, a Dancing with the Stars type dance off and teenage issues and hilarity ensues. Melissa and Joey makes me a little nostalgic for my favourite 90s sitcoms Full House and Step by Step, but it's still a lot of fun.
Catch up on Melissa & Joey at ABC Family
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
New shows update! Who has a full season pickup? Here’s the story so far…
After Fox lead the charge announcing that Raising Hope was getting a full season pickup, the rest of the networks have followed suit. I was very excited to see that the CW have ordered more scripts for one of my favourite new shows Hellcats and they also gave Nikita a full season pickup. CBS who have had the highest rated new shows have given full season pickups to Hawaii 5 0, Blue Bloods, Mike & Molly, The Defenders, and $#*! My Dad Says. But the best news came from ABC today, they have given a full season order to my new favourite show No Ordinary Family. And also to Detroit 1-8-7 and Better With You. Although I’m not that excited about the last one. In also not so exciting news, NBC has picked up Undercovers and Chase for the full season. Although the true test will be to see what's picked up for a second season... I hope Hellcats and No Ordinary Family can make the cut.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Why You Should Watch Grey's Anatomy Again
Yes, I know. Many people, including myself thought that Grey's Anatomy had jumped the shark. I had given up on the show a few years ago after Izzie was having sex with a ghost and Meredith died and came back to life. I was done. Well, so I thought. I somehow got sucked back in last season and I've gotten completely hooked again. The season six finale (which aired in May), where a crazed gunman ran free in the hospital, was not only one of the best episodes of Grey's ever, but one of the best episodes of television last season. Season seven is also interesting. Derek and Meredith are still going strong, McSteamy's actually in love, even if it is with the very annoying Lexie Grey and the fantastic Kim Raver is now a series regular. Best of all my favourite character, super surgeon Christina (Sandra Oh) is too traumatised to be a surgeon after she was almost killed last season and Sandra Oh is playing vulnerable Christina perfectly . There are also new not annoying doctors, like Calleigh's girlfriend Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) and super good looking Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) who, like Meredith, has a famous surgeon relative. It may have jumped the shark, but Grey's has managed to give itself a new life. Although no more killing Meredith. Please.
Fall in love with Grey's Anatomy again, Thursdays 9pm on ABC.
Fall in love with Grey's Anatomy again, Thursdays 9pm on ABC.
Monday, October 18, 2010
No Ordinary Family - My Favourite New Show?
I just starting watching No Ordinary Family over the weekend, I actually watched it online, which I hate to do, as I'd heard good things and wanted to check it out. But I had no room for it on my DVR as it's in the competitive Tuesdays at 8pm timeslot competing against Glee, One Tree Hill and for the rest of the America, NCIS. I am not an NCIS fan, but it is very popular.
Anyways, No Ordinary Family is the very realistic story about a disconnected family who are in a plane crash when they're on vacation. They survive, but when they get back to America they realise that something's different... they all have super powers! Dad has super strength, Mum can run like the wind, daughter Daphne can read minds and son JJ is now a genius. And their new found powers help bring them back together. It's kind of cheesy (nothing wrong with a little cheese!) but is also sweet and it stars Michael Chiklis (The Shield) and Julie Benz (the best show ever Buffy) who are both pretty awesome. And now I think I'm hooked, I can't wait to see what they do with their powers next.
If you have a Tuesday night DVR dilemma you can catch up on No Ordinary Family on ABC.com or catch the reruns at 8pm Fridays on ABC.
Anyways, No Ordinary Family is the very realistic story about a disconnected family who are in a plane crash when they're on vacation. They survive, but when they get back to America they realise that something's different... they all have super powers! Dad has super strength, Mum can run like the wind, daughter Daphne can read minds and son JJ is now a genius. And their new found powers help bring them back together. It's kind of cheesy (nothing wrong with a little cheese!) but is also sweet and it stars Michael Chiklis (The Shield) and Julie Benz (the best show ever Buffy) who are both pretty awesome. And now I think I'm hooked, I can't wait to see what they do with their powers next.
If you have a Tuesday night DVR dilemma you can catch up on No Ordinary Family on ABC.com or catch the reruns at 8pm Fridays on ABC.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Modern Family - Comedy Gold?
Modern Family was one of the breakout hits of the 2009-2010 TV season. Viewers and critics both loved it and it picked up the Emmy for Best Comedy over favourite Glee. Do I think it deserved it? That's another question for another blog post...
I did thoroughly enjoy season one of Modern Family though, it included one of my favourite episodes of a sitcom ever, the episode titled 'Airport'. In the episode the whole clan of three related, but very different, families are on their way to Hawaii. You'd think the actual vacation in Hawaii would be the story, but getting to and being at the airport was when the action takes place. High jinks ensue when Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) forgets his wallet, with his ID in it, so his brother-in-law Phil (the hilarious Ty Burrell) accompanies him back to his house to get it. Of course he doesn't have his keys either, but being a real estate agent Phil is able to help him break in. Meanwhile back at the airport young Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is being questioned by the TSA as he has the same name as someone on the No Fly List and his outspoken Colombian mother Gloria (Sofia Vergara) is furious. I've watched the episode at least five times and I can't face deleting it from my DVR.
I've been enjoying the first few episodes of season two, although it's been a little uneven so far and not nearly as funny as the first season. I was really looking forward to the earthquake episode, as I've been in enough earthquakes to see how they can be funny, and I was a little disappointed.
Modern Family is on ABC Wednesdays at 9pm. Stick around afterward to watch Cougar Town.
I did thoroughly enjoy season one of Modern Family though, it included one of my favourite episodes of a sitcom ever, the episode titled 'Airport'. In the episode the whole clan of three related, but very different, families are on their way to Hawaii. You'd think the actual vacation in Hawaii would be the story, but getting to and being at the airport was when the action takes place. High jinks ensue when Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) forgets his wallet, with his ID in it, so his brother-in-law Phil (the hilarious Ty Burrell) accompanies him back to his house to get it. Of course he doesn't have his keys either, but being a real estate agent Phil is able to help him break in. Meanwhile back at the airport young Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is being questioned by the TSA as he has the same name as someone on the No Fly List and his outspoken Colombian mother Gloria (Sofia Vergara) is furious. I've watched the episode at least five times and I can't face deleting it from my DVR.
I've been enjoying the first few episodes of season two, although it's been a little uneven so far and not nearly as funny as the first season. I was really looking forward to the earthquake episode, as I've been in enough earthquakes to see how they can be funny, and I was a little disappointed.
Modern Family is on ABC Wednesdays at 9pm. Stick around afterward to watch Cougar Town.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
What You Need to Know About Cougar Town
Cougar Town is an underrated awesome comedy on ABC and it makes me sad that it doesn't get the ratings it deserves.
Here's what you need to know about Cougar Town:
1. The title is not true to the content of the show. I missed the start of the show which was apparently about Courteney Cox’s Jules being a cougar in her Florida neighborhood and chasing after younger men
2. It’s actually a heartwarming hilarious sitcom about friendship and family.
3. It centers around Jules, her two best friends Ellie (Christa Miller) and Laurie (Busy Phillips), her cute neighbor Greyson, Ellie's husband and Jules' ex-husband and son.
4. They drink a lot. So much that there have been drinking games made up around it. My friend Leena and I have made up our own drinking game, please see below and play along.
5. It’s set in Florida (but films in LA's Culver City)
6. It's funny!
Gabe & Leena’s Cougar Town Drinking game
Drink when they are drinking an alcoholic beverage
Drink when they pour wine
Drink when the word wine is mentioned
Drink when the word drink is mentoned
Drink when they are at Gray’s Pub
Watch Cougar Town! Wednesdays at 9.30pm on ABC, after a little show called Modern Family.
Here's what you need to know about Cougar Town:
1. The title is not true to the content of the show. I missed the start of the show which was apparently about Courteney Cox’s Jules being a cougar in her Florida neighborhood and chasing after younger men
2. It’s actually a heartwarming hilarious sitcom about friendship and family.
3. It centers around Jules, her two best friends Ellie (Christa Miller) and Laurie (Busy Phillips), her cute neighbor Greyson, Ellie's husband and Jules' ex-husband and son.
4. They drink a lot. So much that there have been drinking games made up around it. My friend Leena and I have made up our own drinking game, please see below and play along.
5. It’s set in Florida (but films in LA's Culver City)
6. It's funny!
Gabe & Leena’s Cougar Town Drinking game
Drink when they are drinking an alcoholic beverage
Drink when they pour wine
Drink when the word wine is mentioned
Drink when the word drink is mentoned
Drink when they are at Gray’s Pub
Watch Cougar Town! Wednesdays at 9.30pm on ABC, after a little show called Modern Family.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Fall TV 2010 - Any New Hits?
I have been totally underwhelmed by the lineup of new fall shows this season. And I thought maybe it was just me, until I read this story by one of my favourite TV critics, Ken Tucker, on my favourite website EW.com
Infact most of the new season shows I haven't even been compelled to watch. Here's my take on what I have seen...
My favourite new season show by far is the CW's Hellcats. It's set in college and is about cheerleading and it may be cheesy but it is also awesome. It's centered around pre-law student Marti, who used to be a gymnast and tries out for the 'Hellcats' when she loses her scholarship, she makes the team and gains a cheerleading scholarship. The Hellcats are in danger of losing their funding so must work together to stay on top. In typical CW fashion there's lots of hookups, melt downs and drama.
I loved and lost Lone Star, about a con man living a double life and trying to go straight. I thought it was filled with many things that make a great show - deception, mystery, drama and hot people. But it only lasted two episodes on Fox, despite being the critical favourite of the season. RIP Lone Star.
I enjoyed the pilot of Hawaii 5 O on CBS, although it's not appointment viewing for me. On my new HD TV Hawaii looks lush and beautiful and that definitely adds to the show. It seems like another cop show though and it's not nearly as good as Castle or the CSI's. I think I'd go back to CSI over getting invested in Hawaii 5 O, but I'll watch a few more episodes before I decide.
I really wanted to love Fox's Running Wilde. It stars the awesome Keri Russell and Will Arnett and the creator is Mitch Hurwitz, the genius behind one of my all-time favourites Arrested Development. And Keri Russell's daughter, Stefania Owen, is from New Zealand! But the pilot, about a spoiled rich man trying to win over a down to earth humanitarian woman, didn't win me over. I'm hoping it can get better as the season progresses... and that Fox will give it a chance.
I also excited about ABC's Better With You, starring JoAnna Garcia from the cancelled too soon and under-appreciated show Privilaged. Trust me, it was fantastic. Better With You however is not. It's a sitcom about three related couples in different stages of their relationship - a newly engaged couple, a practically married couple and a married for decades couple. It's a traditional sitcom, but I found myself squirming a bit too much and not laughing enough. I'm hoping it can find it's way though as their cast is great.
Three shows have been cancelled already, less than a month into the new season, and only one show has received a full season pick up. That show is Fox's Raising Hope, about a 25 year old man raising his infant son with his loopy family. There are a couple of mid season shows I'm looking forward to - ABC's Mr Sunshine starring Matthew Perry and Love Bites on NBC. And if they both fail I'll always have American Idol.
Infact most of the new season shows I haven't even been compelled to watch. Here's my take on what I have seen...
My favourite new season show by far is the CW's Hellcats. It's set in college and is about cheerleading and it may be cheesy but it is also awesome. It's centered around pre-law student Marti, who used to be a gymnast and tries out for the 'Hellcats' when she loses her scholarship, she makes the team and gains a cheerleading scholarship. The Hellcats are in danger of losing their funding so must work together to stay on top. In typical CW fashion there's lots of hookups, melt downs and drama.
I loved and lost Lone Star, about a con man living a double life and trying to go straight. I thought it was filled with many things that make a great show - deception, mystery, drama and hot people. But it only lasted two episodes on Fox, despite being the critical favourite of the season. RIP Lone Star.
I enjoyed the pilot of Hawaii 5 O on CBS, although it's not appointment viewing for me. On my new HD TV Hawaii looks lush and beautiful and that definitely adds to the show. It seems like another cop show though and it's not nearly as good as Castle or the CSI's. I think I'd go back to CSI over getting invested in Hawaii 5 O, but I'll watch a few more episodes before I decide.
I really wanted to love Fox's Running Wilde. It stars the awesome Keri Russell and Will Arnett and the creator is Mitch Hurwitz, the genius behind one of my all-time favourites Arrested Development. And Keri Russell's daughter, Stefania Owen, is from New Zealand! But the pilot, about a spoiled rich man trying to win over a down to earth humanitarian woman, didn't win me over. I'm hoping it can get better as the season progresses... and that Fox will give it a chance.
I also excited about ABC's Better With You, starring JoAnna Garcia from the cancelled too soon and under-appreciated show Privilaged. Trust me, it was fantastic. Better With You however is not. It's a sitcom about three related couples in different stages of their relationship - a newly engaged couple, a practically married couple and a married for decades couple. It's a traditional sitcom, but I found myself squirming a bit too much and not laughing enough. I'm hoping it can find it's way though as their cast is great.
Three shows have been cancelled already, less than a month into the new season, and only one show has received a full season pick up. That show is Fox's Raising Hope, about a 25 year old man raising his infant son with his loopy family. There are a couple of mid season shows I'm looking forward to - ABC's Mr Sunshine starring Matthew Perry and Love Bites on NBC. And if they both fail I'll always have American Idol.
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