my on-my-bedside-table shelf:

God, this list is hilarious yet depressing.

Jack is about to peg it at the end of season 8 but we all know (seeing as the series has already been renewed for two more seasons) that Kim is going to save the day and he will be back at CTU next year.  I also heard that Freddie Prinze Jnr will be joining the cast as the head of CTU next year which has apparently had 24 forum dwellers’ collective knickers in a twist.  I personally am looking forward to seeing him on TV.  His show Freddie may have been appalling but I like the guy: a) He was in She’s All That, b) he was Sandy the Manny on Friends and c) he’s Buffy’s husband.

My oh my.  Where on earth to start with this.  I think this may have been my favourite season since season 1.  This show did lose its way a bit during season2 but I think it is as gripping and exciting as any TV show at the moment.  Sure, it’s completely confusing and there are more questions than answers but this is the home stretch now.  And ending the penultimate season with an a-bomb explosion was pure genius.  My mother-in-law thought that this was the final season and so when that happened she lost it for a bit thinking that is how they ended the entire show!!! HEE!  This is probably going to be one of the shows I am most excited about seeing come back.

I love this show.  It makes me so happy.  I can even forgive the relentless back-and-forth between Chuck and Sarah.  The season finale was just superb and Chuck’s kung-fu prowess at the end was brilliant and hilarious.  I was a little concerned when it wasn’t renewed straight away but it has now been confirmed and I am chuffed to bits.  Zachary Levi is a cute potato too.

I have already mentioned (several times I think!) how much I love this show.  It’s not on in the UK (at least not the latest seasons) and so I have had to acquire it through other means (although I do own season 1 and 2 on DVD and will be buying season 3 when it is out).  Everything from how it is shot, where it is set, the acting, the writing, the direction… it’s all quality.  It’s the little show that could – I fully expected it to be cancelled after NBC made some arrangement for it to be shown first time around on DirectTV.  But they have renewed it for another two seasons so I guess I know nothing.  I am unsure how season 4 will turn out – seaosn 3 saw the departure of a couple of major characters after their graduation and season 4 will no doubt have the same, including the loveable and incredibly lush Tim Riggins (played by Taylor Kitsch).  I will reserve judgement and since the parental figures are still around, there is no reason why fresh characters couldn’t make this show rock some more.

This show has really grown on me.  I obviously started watching it because of David Boreanaz a.k.a. Angel but I have managed to finally see him as Seeley Booth, the FBI agent who works with forensic anthropologist Temperence Brennan, played by Emily Deschanel, sister of Zooey (Elf, The Happening).  Their chemistry is electric and  I even forgive the fake-boinking in the season finale – the coupling of Booth and Brennan being either the coma-induced dream of Seeley or a figment of writer Brennan’s imagination as she writes to cope with her feelings following Booth’s operation.

The UK version lasted for two short seasons and a couple of Christmas specials and I could not see how the US version would have such long legs but five seasons on and this is right up there as one of my favourite shows.  The writing is superb.  The actors all bring it every episode.  I am in love with Jim, Andy and Dwight and I want to be Pam.  I even teared up at the end of the season finale when Jim and Pam got their unexpected but happy news.  Jambino here we come!  Let’s hope there is more Holly Flax in season 6 – I love that woman.  Michael and Holly, sitting in a tree…

American Idol

I’ll keep it short.  I enjoyed this season.  I had a soft spot for Danny Gokey but when it came down to the final two, the most important thing for me was that Adam didn’t win.  I think the guy is very talented but he has no soul.  When he sings, he is performing – there is no emotion or connection for me.  I wasn’t expecting to be rooting for Kris that much but I really do like him – his voice and his phrasing.

Next post:  New this year including Fringe, Dollhouse and Parks and Recreation

In future posts: the shows that are no more including ER, Prison Break, My Name is Earl, Samantha Who, Pushing Daisies, The Sarah Connor Chronicles;  shows that I still barely watch but wonder why including Smallville, The Hills, The City, One Tree Hill and NCIS; and shows that I need to catch up on urgently including Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill.

So 24 and Lost are both back and I could not be happier.  They both seem to be head and shoulders above the previous seaons.  I will be back with much more on both shows soon just as soon as I get my head around the many facets of Lost and Tony‘s goatee.

ABC

RENEWED

Pushing Daisies – superb! I love Anna Friel in this and her chemistry with Lee Pace is just lovely.
Desperate Housewives – cool!
Dirty Sexy Money – ACES!

Lost – of course.
Ugly Betty – still not seen the new season. Where has it gone, E4?
Scrubs (ooh moved from NBC) – Season 7 starts on Thursday! EEK!

CANCELED

Men in trees – was to be expected and frankly, I am not too disappointed. I am looking forward to watching the last of the last season when it finally shows over here but I think it had run its course.

October Road – again, not surprised but I am very disappointed. This show had loads more potential. Plus, I loved seeing Bryan Greenberg regularly.  According to IMDB and his blog, he is not going to be stuck for things to do though, which is cool.

CBS

RENEWED

NCIS – I am going to start watching the new series although, cute as Michael Weatherly is, his character, Tony, really got on my nerves. So did his girlfriend.

CANCELED

Moonlight – oh man. I liked this show. I am actually quite surprised – I thought the fans’ blood donation drive might have had an impact!

NBC

RENEWED

Chuck – Love this so, yay!
Heroes – still have to watch this from mid-season 1 onwards but glad it’s renewing. I just know I will love it when I finally get round to watching it.

The Office – do I need to say it? Oh ok. YAY!
ER – hanging on for the farewell season. I will be glad when it’s over because I have to watch it and sometimes it gets too much on a Thursday night!  

NEW

The Office [spinoff] – oooh, can’t wait to hear more news on this.
Kath & Kim – do not see how this will translate to the US. I know I said that for The Office, but it is even more specific, this time to Australian humour and context. I am prepared to see how it goes though…

FOX

RENEWED

Simpsons – of course
Family Guy – how superb that this show was cancelled, revived thanks to awesome DVD sales and now is being renewed again!
American Idol – of course
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Bones – superb!!!

CW

RENEWED

Gossip Girl – Love it. Glad it’s coming back.

One Tree Hill – am eager to see the current season (yet to be shown here) – this is the ultimate in guilty pleasure TV – so stupid but fantastic at the same time.
Smallville – how is this show still going? It has gone so weird. I love me some Tom Welling and all, but come on… Maybe I ought to give it another try. I am not even sure it E4 are still airing it. All I see are ITV2 repeats from ages ago.

I am assuming the 24 is coming back since they have started making the new season that got ditched due to writers’ strike/Keifer’s ‘holiday’.  In any case, there is a buttload of TV to watch. 

We are watching Dexter Season 2 at the moment and I am still gripped each episode. This show is so different to other things on with such interesting and intriguing characters, we can’t get enough.

I am hopelessly addicted to One Tree Hill. I managed to avoid it for so long but I have started watching it sporadically round about the end of season 3 and the beginning of season 4 and now it is series linked in Sky + both for the daily season 2 repeats (I have already got through season 1) and the weekly season 4. I love seeing Wilmington on TV having visited there briefly (it’s also Capeside!). I even dreamed about Chad Michael Murray which is very disturbing as I really don’t think he is all that. Anyway, I have yet to be compelled to own this on DVD so let’s hope this is just a phase. I fear it is not.

I watched Desperate Housewives avidly when it first started but dropped it for a season or so. I have now been drawn back into it with the daily repeats (this is what getting sick will do for you!) so I have been watching the second half of season 3 and have already diarised the start of season 4 later this month. I am hopeless.

I am also horrendously addicted to Home and Away but on YouTube so I am watching the episodes shortly after they air in Aus. I was rather thrilled to see that the guy who used to play Drazic in Heartbreak High was returning to H+A (I had missed his first turn). It is really a shame to see his scars (he was in a serious car crash) but he is ultra menacing as bad-guy Jonny.

American Idol is back and I am enjoying it as ever. It always takes me a while to decide on my favourites and I don’t like getting too attached before the Top 12 stage but so far this season has been pretty good with some strong girls (e.g. the Irish one) and some hot men ( e.g. the Aussie one).

Lost is back with a vengeance and I am LOVING season 4. I have not seen last week’s episode yet (but I will tomorrow so SHHH) but I really enjoyed the Kate-centric episode last week. Skate AND Jate action for those of the Lost community that have such leanings. Personally, I hope she never chooses!!

We have just started watching Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and whilst I fear it is a bit ridiculous, I LOVE IT! Sexy teenage fembot? CHECK! Cool kid playing John Connor? CHECK! Hard-ass Sarah Connor? CHECK!!

We are enjoying the US series of Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares. Watching Ramsey chew out stupid restaurateurs is class.

We also like the odd episode of Grand Designs. Some of the things that get built are Ker-AY-zee. Also, I do wish people who insist on building these ambitious projects could look up the phrase ‘contingency fund’. Sheesh.

However there are plenty of shows I am still waiting to watch:

Men in Trees is now over til the summer – hopefully it will be back with Jack not dead. If he dies, I will probably stop watching. Maybe.

Bones – hopefully season 3 will start up again in April.

24 – not going be back til 2009 – how will I cope with the Bauer until then?

Firefly – I have it on DVD but still haven’t watched passed the first couple of episodes. I fully intend to start watching this again soon.

Heroes – After aborting the first attempt to watch this (I had too much TV on my plate), I now want to start over again and watch it with Ricardo. It is downloaded so we just need to find the time.

Rescue Me – we caught up with this hard-hitting and near-to–the-knuckle series and now await Season 5.

Keep track of the developments over at United Hollywood.

• Angel Seasons 3 and 4
• That 70s Show Seasons 1 – 8
• Robin Hood Season 1
• Lost Seasons 1 – 3
• 24 Season 6
• Bones Seasons 1-3
• Dark Angel Season 1 and 2
• Friends Seasons 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10
• Men in Trees Season 1

I am sure there are more. Clearly, I cannot get all these. It would be obscene and I can’t afford it anyway. But how to choose? I may have to start with Angel because I bugs me not having the full set.

I am looking forward to a night in front of the TV with 100% of the control of the remote.  I intend to watch X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing, Robin Hood – the whole shebang.  I may even order pizza!

Looking forward to watching every week:

Still watching avidly:

Still enjoying very much indeed even though it’s been cancelled:

Still not 100% sure about:

Persevering with even though it is past it’s best mainly because Tom Welling is hot:

Given up on:

Watching for the gagillionth time:

Looking forward to contining to watch for the gazillionth time:

Going to try to watch the whole series this time:

Waiting for the DVDs back before starting the whole series again:

Waiting for the DVDs to be returned so I can watch the good seasons again:

Trying find time to watch Season 5 again as I have the DVDs:

Planning to watch very soon:

created by The Countess at www.fireflyfans.net

Wishing I had Seasons 4, 5, 6 and 7:

And finally, eagerly anticpating the return…: