Everybody Loves Saturday Night

Now you can watch more TV than ever before!

Consider this a public service announcement for all TV junkies.

Hulu.com is now out of beta testing and open to the public. What is Hulu.com, you ask?

It's pretty damn awesome, is what it is.

It's a compendium of TV shows and movies, available for absolutely stinking free. It's streaming content, not downloadable, and there are a smattering of commercials. So basically it's like watching TV on a given network's site, except for a few major differences:

1. It's all on one site (though clicking on "Gossip Girls" takes me to the CW site).

2. Old and new shows come together. Included in the always-updating content are entire seasons of WKRP in Cincinnati, St. Elsewhere, and The A-Team as well as the first couple seasons of Arrested Development, the first season of Bones, Life, The Riches . . . the list goes on, which brings me to

3. Buffy. Right now Hulu has all of seasons 1 and 2, and I can only assume that more are on the way.

(More are on the way, right, Hulu guys? As well as all of Angel? Seeing as how you have most of Firefly, it would be in your best interest to include the entire Joss Whedon oeuvre.)

4. There's a queue you can use. I loaded up a whole bunch of stuff so that it's all in one easy place when I'm ready to start watching.

5. You can subscribe to shows so that when new episodes appear, they get automatically added to your queue. Genius.

Now, I think this site is absolutely fantastic, and I am thisclose to stalking them until they hire me, but there are a couple things I think would improve it.

1. Better queue interface. Right now I have to click on individual episodes of a show in order to add them to my queue. It would be nice if it worked like Netflix, and I could add an entire season with one click if I so chose. Also, it would be cool if I could reorder my queue using click-and-drag. Because I added all of Buffy before adding Arrested Development, then chose to watch a few episodes of Arrested Development first, which is when I found out that Hulu.com will start the next episode of your queue automatically . . . but it will start at #1  if you're watching from the middle of your queue. So another thing that would be nice is if the auto-start feature worked in sequence--if I start with show #36 in my queue, the next should be show #37.

2. Also regarding the queue: if I want to order my queue alphabetically, I think show name should outrank episode name (this is the first principle of indexing).

3. More international shows. I know this is something they're working on, but it would be especially awesome if they could add shows from, say, England, when they are airing in England. Instead of us having to wait for months to see them here. I'm just sayin'.

For me, Hulu.com will not replace watching TV live, nor will it replace entirely watching TV on DVD. I am a sucker for DVD extras, and I love listening to commentaries, so the DVD will always be queen for me. But I'm trying to save money, and I can only have a certain number of Netflix DVDs out at one time, so when Michael and I are halfway through the second season of Battlestar Galactica, I can still be catching up on The Riches without having to wait. I can only see Hulu.com enhancing my TV viewing experience.

So, anyway, you're welcome.

A couch potato resurfaces

Howdy! Although I may be spending much less time online than I used to, I have still been watching lots of tv.  I just added two season passes this week, although they are for shows that might not have earned them in a more full season.  Anyone watching High School Confidential or Miss Guided?  (Wow, can you tell I teach at a high school now?)  Miss Guided is worth it primarily for Chris Parnell, whose departure from SNL I never understood.

I am also still faithfully watching Survivor (what is up with the quitters?), Smallville (very few redeeming qualities yet I still watch), Top Chef, Lost, and American Idol.  I am gearing up for the return of Battlestar.  Did anyone get into that while I've been away?

Michelle's Weekly Schedule

Dear Carolyn,

OK, I get it. You need to know my TV watching routine. It took a little longer for me to determine which shows I would stick with, and some shows are still on the line, but more or less my week looks like this:

Monday:
How I Met Your Mother. If you haven't figured out that this show is very funny and smartly written, I am sorry for you.

Heroes. After that fantastic episode a couple of weeks ago, this show has returned to its uneven and disconnected ways. A longer post will follow, but here I'll say this: I am still watching, because I still have faith, but I'm not happy with what I see as a lack of direction right now.

Saved up on DVR: A few weeks' worth of Journeyman. I fell asleep during one episode a few weeks ago and then deleted it without finishing it. But that's not enough to make me give up on the show, not yet. But there's not a lot that compels me to make it necessary viewing.

Gone for good: Chuck. I still feel bad, but then I watch the last 20 minutes or so before Heroes comes on and I don't feel as bad.

Tuesday:
Reaper. as you wrote earlier, a little less whiny conversation and a little more kicking ass action would make this show SO MUCH BETTER. I also fell asleep during last week's episode. Then I fell asleep trying to rewatch it. Granted, I have been tired and drinking hot toddies all week because my throat has been rough, but still. It took me three tries to get through the show. I will stick with it, though, at least for now. I got nothing else on Tuesdays. Man, I miss Veronica Mars.

Wednesday:
Pushing Daisies. I simply love everything about this show. Everything. And then I think I couldn't love this show more and the very next episode proves me wrong. ABC went ahead and ordered a full season, so all those who thought this show would go the way of Wonderfalls can relax and be merry.

Dirty Sexy Money. I actually can't put my finger on why I like this show. Because the people in it are so outrageous? Because the plot progresses smoothly, with few threads being carried beyond the point of "I don't care anymore?" Something like that, plus Donald Sutherland.

Wavering on Gossip Girl. Again, I fell asleep during last week's episode and then didn't care enough to finish it. I'll record it this week but I think I'm starting to not care so much about these crazy kids.

Starting November 14: Project Runway 4. Ladies, I expect everyone's inner catty bitch to be ready to go.

Thursday:
30 Rock. I'm kinda still waiting for this season's "Honky grandma be trippin'" but I can give this show as much time as it needs. Because it gave me "MILF Island: 50 super hot moms, 25 8th grade boys, no rules" at the beginning of the season and then last week offered up "That 227 movie: New Jackee City," so you and me, 30 Rock? We're still golden.

Ugly Betty. Ugly Betty: 2006-07 TV season::Pushing Daisies: 2007-08 TV season. Maybe not as huggable a show, but Ugly Betty Season 2 is coming along very nicely. I keep meaning to do a write up but...soon, maybe this week. Again, the show does very well with plot progression and not letting stories drag needlessly on. And now that Betty's going for it with Henry, and Marc (I love Marc!) has a love interest, I am a happy watcher.

CSI: Las Vegas. Old habits die hard, and Gary Dourdan is still on. Sometimes it's the simple pleasures.

Gone for good: Grey's Anatomy. It knows why. And Survivor, apparently. I haven't had the time to catch up online. I might still, but I don't miss the show.

Will be watching by next season: The Office. I'm halfway through the second season ("I feel God in this Chili's tonight") and completely hooked.

Friday:
Friday Night Lights. Because I have faith that, like Heroes, it will find its way back to greatness.

Saturday:
Torchwood. The spin-off of Doctor Who that's like X-Files only everyone believes, and the world is a darker and sexier place because of it.

Sunday:
The Amazing Race returns this week! People, remember to set your TiVos and DVRs to record an extra hour or so, because the football game will delay the show.

And when I am not watching current TV, I am watching back seasons of The Office: US edition and classic Who episodes. I'm on the Jon Pertwee years (the Doctor before Tom Baker) and digging it.

And there it is. I shall inform you of any further changes. Smooches!

Weekly Schedule Finally Shakes Out: Goodbye to a Few.

Dear Michelle,

So here we are, about three weeks in, and considering that I did watch at least one episode of almost 35 shows to start the season, I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that a few things have dropped off my list as the weeks have gone by.  I think I've finally settled on what I'll be watching this Fall.

Shall we start with the "see ya" s?

First Up: K-Ville Premiere

First impressions: OK, so it's a cop-buddy show (just cops, no lawyers!).  The filming is fast and chunky, like a music video.  How can I explain that?  They're chasing on foot, and then bam, in the car.  Wait, how'd they get in the car?  I like the choppiness.

Actors/Characters:  Anthony Anderson was great in The Departed.  His character here is an odd mix.  Holier-than-thou moral center when it comes to New Orleans and people ditching their town and other people having secrets...but not so holy when it comes to drinking on the job and breaking the cop rules.  Interesting.  And his partner?  Yummy!  I couldn't have told you Cole Hauser's name but I could have told you "hey it's the HOT one from Good Will Hunting."  Of the four-boy GWH band, it's not the muscle-y one (matt damon) or the sarcastic one (ben affleck) or the annoying one (casey affleck) but the hot mechanic one!

Story:  Kinda predictable, but I don't have an issue with that as it's usually the relationships and not the plots I'm more interested in (except when they totally lack sense and become distracting).  But I did NOT like at all the "twist" with Cole Hauser's character.  I mean, come on.  Thought it was a) ridiculous and b) not necessary considering AA already has trust issues anyway.  They should have had a twist that made more sense, like maybe he had gotten disciplined for excessive violence, or a race-related issue.  Plus, if you give up the twist in the first episode...

Other issues? Everyone's making a HUGE deal out of this being filmed in New Orleans, by FOX of all people.  Fox = Bush's biggest cheerleaders = creating jobs in New Orleans? Hypocritical much?  I agree with Meg:  it's about time people saw what it's STILL like in the 9th ward, several years post-Katrina.

Verdict?  Maureen Ryan says the second episode is better than the premiere so I'm definitely going to give it a couple more weeks, despite my above-stated storyline misgiving.  I liked the interplay between the main dudes, as well as between their boss and the other cops.  I liked AA's wife and daughter.  I'm willing to give this one time.  Let's hope FOX is.

And if you're interested in reading a more philosophical response, here you go.

Let's Talk Fall.

I will be back over the weekend with some final comments on summer seasons, but hey, let's talk fall.  What are you definitely watching?  What are you planning to try out? What are you NOT going to watch?  See below for my extensive thoughts.  What am I missing?

(Note, I start each day with what I'm DEFINITELY watching.  Then I list my "maybe"s.)

ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL - make it an hour later if you're in NYC...

Saving Grace: Yes, and No = Maybe?

Holly Hunter & Laura San Giacomo = great performances, good chemistry.

Holly Hunter's naked body = scary skinny.  Makes Nicole Richie look normal.

Party of Five Syndrome = OK, she's an alcoholic (1), nymphomaniac (2), crazy wack-o somewhat illegal-procedurally (3) cop.  OK.  But then... (4) her sister died in Oklahoma City and (5) it was her fault because she blew off babysitting for her nephew the day before.  I was fine with 1-3 but 4-5 kinda made it go over my personal PoF "too many problems given to one character" syndrome.

All the "God" stuff = I'm so not interested in any of it.  But I think I can deal as long as it's just the few minutes in each episode.  And I actually enjoyed the part with the dude in prison.

So far = OK.  Not great, but definitely better than Mad Men.  A little less God/Earl, a little less bony nudeness, those are my hopes.

Jericho, where were you all last seasonmy life?

I didn't watch this show when it was actually on TV, but then Meg posted about it, and I needed something to at least partially fill up the big black gaping hole Buffy/Angel have left in my life/heart/soul...  so yay when I found it on iTunes! 

Um dudes.  I have never liked Skeet Ulrich after I saw him in some HORRIBLE movie where he had stigmata bleeding and totally skeeved me out (I think it might have been this one???)  but on this show... oh holy crap I LOVE HIM.  Yes he is officially my new celebrity boyfriend...at least for the summer (I mean, he's no Tim Riggins...).  (And you should also read Meg's boyfriend write up on Skeet -- totally entertaining!)

I'm about halfway through the season (just got to ep 12) and there are so many things I like about it.  Jake (Skeet) and Emily, Jake and Heather, Jake and his Dad, Jake and his brother, Jake and Stanley...  It's sooooo good.  I also love the little storyline about Dale and the bitchy girl.  And the IRS agent falling for Stanley.  And the deaf sister about to make the moves on the skateboarder, hello! 

Oh and so apparently Jericho may get a "trial" second season after voracious viewers pounded CBS after its cancellation was announced.  So maybe I won't have to mourn it (Jericho, I hardly knew ye...) after all?

Summer Possibility: Mad Men

While I have yet to see a preview for this on actual TV, I have now seen it at the movie theater four times.  Bizarre, no?

It's "Mad Men" a series about Ad Men in the '60s on AMC, from a Sopranos writer/producer.

If I watch this, it'll be all about the Ladies rather than the Men, however, as it has Zoey from West Wing and Emily from Standoff and this chick who's been in lots o' stuff. 

Something to think about!

Non football to watch

Want to get rid of the bad taste that Veronica Mars or 24 might have left lately?  Watch Monk on USA today (a lot of episodes are being played).  The show is adorable.

Or there's always The Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl.