Most, if not all my TV shows have finished now for the season (some for good) so I wanted to reflect on the TV year that has passed.  Up first: the shows that survived.

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.