teevee grade card: this season so far

A connoisseur of television I am not. Until recently, I barely watched anything that wasn’t professional football or “Lost.” But during the summer I began watching a few things in re-runs, and have picked them up for the new season.

Yet, I’ve never let a lack of experience stop me from spouting my, admittedly persnickety, opinions to anyone who will listen and the six or so people who read this blog. So, here’s my assessment of how ‘my’ shows are doing so far.

“How I Met Your Mother” – Monday, 8:00 PM, CBS

Let’s face it: Most people probably tune in to this show to watch Barney. He’s the Kramer character, obligatory in any post-Seinfeld sitcom, capable of anything and completely unpredictable.⁽¹⁾ The character is taken a step further by being the lovable womanizer, which probably wouldn’t work if the character weren’t in the capable hands of Neil Patrick Harris.

The producers are taking quite a risk in hooking him up with Robin, obviously. Initially, the offset of his personality and his sudden relationship will be entertaining, as it has been so far (especially in Robin 101), but in time it’ll get old. Want proof? See “Friends” season 6, when Chandler becomes Monica’s bitch.⁽²⁾ I’m watching on faith that they’re keep it interesting.

We’ve been all-but-promised that we would meet the titular mother this season, and that damn well better pay off without any chicanery. One bait and switch and I’m done.

Finally, Lily and Marshall are just filler characters at this point. I hope they were interesting at one point, otherwise I feel pretty bad for Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan for basically playing mashed potatoes for the last five years.

Overall: B
Recommendation: De-Friend the show ASAP.

“Two-and-a-Half Men” – Monday, 8:30 PM, CBS

This show gets its charm from moving the Kramer character – this time named Charlie – from a supporting to a central role. But honestly, I could care less about this show. I mostly watch it because Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer are hilarious together.⁽³⁾ Ashley says the kid used to be cute, but now he’s just a source of dick-and-fart jokes better left in more capable hands.

Overall: C-
Recommendation: Shut it down soon.

“The Big Bang Theory” – Monday, 9:30 PM, CBS

Oh, Sheldon. You’re the best Kramer since Kramer. Whereas Kramer knew but disregarded social norms, you just don’t even know. And when you’re brought into the fold, you don’t care. Humans are just animals to you, and nothing stops you from treating them that way. I love it.

The real draw of this show, for me, is the nerdy jokes that I get. A few weeks ago, they busted out the work homunculus three times inside of a minute, and my word-nerd heart swooned with delight. It’s like a 24-minute inside joke sometimes. And everyone likes to be in on the joke.

Leonard and Penny? Hmm…I don’t know how much I care, other than the impact their relationship has on Sheldon. Penny is played well and with tons of cuteness by Kaley Cuoco, but I fail to see why she finds any of these guys interesting. Perhaps watching the earlier seasons will help explain this.

Overall: A-
Recommendation: The Sheldon thing will get old after a while. Be careful there.

“Glee” – Wednesday, 9:00 PM, FOX

This is the best show on television right now. It’s consistently hilarious, intriguing, and heartfelt. There are hundreds of thousands of ‘loser’ flicks, but few capture the home-base feeling of a loser group collective like the eponymous Glee Club. Even the football stars and Cheerios are welcomed into the group, no questions asked – they just have to able and willing to sing and dance.

Borrowing a production page from “Gilmore Girls,” “Glee” is careful that its supporting characters are real. They have problems and concerns and quirks just the same as the lead characters. Kurt is easily my favorite of these supporting characters. He’s never too much, never too little, and always makes me laugh.

And there’s a lot of heart in the show, too. Most of us can relate to Will is trying to recapture a little of his old glory, but trying to do it to help others, too. We can also relate to Sue Sylvester – wonderfully played by the nonpareil Jane Lynch – in how something can bother us so much we’ll go to any lengths to end it. In each of Glee’s losers, we see ourselves.

Sometimes the show is a little over-the-top. Sometimes the characters are a little unbelievable. Sometimes their actions a little too incredible. But they’re always dysfunctionally lovable.

Overall: A
Recommendation: Don’t stretch my suspension of disbelief. Glee Club should never sing a song perfectly three seconds after getting the sheet music, and, since there’s an outlet for music in the show, the characters should never randomly break into song and dance. Also: Research how people actually sound when they stutter. She doesn’t have it right at all.

“FlashForward” – Thursday, 8:00 PM, ABC

Hmm…the comparisons to “Lost” are obvious (especially with, so far, three former recurring actors from “Lost” showing up), but that’s what makes this show feel like a let-down. A better comparison is, perhaps, to “Heroes.” Both shows started slowly but with a defining event, and progressed down a storyline that was clearly premeditated from the start.

I’m hoping that, unlike “Heroes,” the producers here have an idea of where the show will go beyond the first season. Because right now, all their eggs are in that basket.

Overall: B
Recommendation: Don’t overuse that exclamation point at the end of each episode.

Shows I’m waiting for: “V” and “Lost.”

_{1. cf. “Two-and-a-Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory”}

_{2. Though I’m not one to read up on shows on the internet, I’m quite certain I’m not the only person comparing HIMYM to Friends. It’s obvious, so much so that I’m already a little uncomfortable admitting I watch it.}

_{3. It was only about two weeks ago that I figured out that Jon Cryer played Duckie in Pretty in Pink. Sometimes I’m completely embarrassed by my obliviousness.}