It’s the most wonderful time of the year: TV Is back

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Acknowledgement: I am about to alienate everyone outside the US. I’m sorry. As a token of love, here’s an animated gif you’re going to have to decide your feelings on.

All the Magnums at the Magnum party. And maybe a Higgins on the right.

If I’ve seemed a little more chipper lately, it’s because it is an exciting time of year. It is the beginning of the 2011-12 television season. See, I have this Abed-like love for TV — always have. I will watch just about anything, and when I find a series I really like I’ll watch the whole thing obsessively. There is a painting of Thomas Magnum hanging on my studio wall. I may have made lists about repetitive happenings on The X-Files. My friends dressed up as characters from “my shows” once, and threw me a party with Teen Moms, several Magnums and Higginses, couples from COPS and characters from Lazytown.

Hands up: how many of you are looking forward to just getting home and watching TV tonight? There’s no shame in that! We are grown-ups and we do what we want, and sometimes that means going home and eating ice cream on the couch with the lights out, watching TV all. night. long.

It’s such a welcome retreat, the TV. Despite the community created by the internet, TV is still this central figure in our culture. The family in teen-book-wonder The Perks of Being a Wallflower shares a moving experience in the finale of M*A*S*H for a reason — it’s a sign of the times that we often only have time to connect over the shared stories of fictional characters. Storytelling has always been a part of human culture, and now that new stories are big and bright and coming to our homes every single hour of our lives, it’s worth finding and appreciating the good installments of those stories.

Today, I want to present you with my curated fall line up of often-overlooked shows I think Homies will dig — stuff you might want to add to your “I can’t wait to get home and veg out and watch TV” plans. Come, let us gather in the warm glow of our teeveeeeees.

Source: gallerynucleus.com via Cat on Pinterest

Adventure Time

If you like adventure, monsters, really nice drawings, Neil Patrick Harris, songs, vampires, or things-that-are-kawaii — just watch it. I mean, it’s bizarre. So be prepared. It’s definitely in the category of Invader Zim and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack of cartoons which LOOK like they’re for kids, but they’re sooo not.

Fringe

Image courtesy TVFanatic.com.

I’m sorry, I’ll stop talking about X-files soon, I promise. But not yet — because J.J. Abrahms’ Fringe definitely makes nods in that direction. (There’s even one episode where they reference the hearings in the “X division.” I squeed.)

FBI agent Olivia Dunham teams up with a damaged-goods “fringe scientist” and his hunky son, Joshua Jackson. Everyone’s a genius. It’s got science, science fiction, interdimensional travel, easter eggs, and Leonard Nimoy.

The 4th season is airing now on Fox, and you can catch the season premiere on Hulu right now.

Parks and Recreation

Amy Poehler’s show started off as a copy of The Office, circa-Jim-and-Pam-getting-engaged. And it suuuuuuucked at first. But after the first season I think NBC execs gave Poehler a longer leash, and now P&R has the most original characters on TV. And Amy’s character — Leslie Knope — is not just the best lady character on TV right now, she’s fascinating regardless of gender. She’s likeable, nerdy, funny, and has just decided to choose her very awesome career over her very awesome relationship.

Image courtesy knope2012.com.

You can start at the beginning of Parks and Recreation on Netflix, or jump right in to season four on Hulu.

SNL

It’s good again. It has been good for a while, but people mostly seem to like to watch Saturday Night Live for the hating on it.

And also? Bridesmaids was a legit hit this summer, so I’m excited to see Kristen Wiig take that power and run with it.

Louie

Image courtesy FXnetworks.com

OMG LOUIE. Louie is the most beautiful piece of art work ever wrought. It’s uncomfortable and horrible and really funny and weirdly-beautiful. Maybe it just rings a bell with me because my husband seems to have been cut from the same cloth as Louis CK, but just trust with me and go with it. It’s on Netflix and Hulu and I have NO IDEA when it’s on FX (no thanks to their awful website) but I’m fairly certain it’s a summer series, anyhow.

So. What’re you gonna go home and watch tonight?

Comments on It’s the most wonderful time of the year: TV Is back

  1. I was so excited to see that you included Adventure Time. I love the others you posted too, but this one has a special place in my heart. I loved the Fiona episode. Also, my new obsession is New Girl. It’s like 3 Men and a Baby, only the baby is an adorable quirky nerd in her 20s. J’adore.

  2. Hi my name is Katie, and I have a problem. I am addicted to television

    Sunday- Battle of the blades, Pan am

    Monday- Battle of the blades result show, Hawaii 5-0, How I met your Mother, Gossip Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Hart of Dixie

    Tuesday- Glee, NCIS, NCIS LA, The New girl, Flashpoint, Ringer

    Wednesday- Criminal MInds, CSI, Suburgatory

    Thursday- Big Bang Theory, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Charlies Angels

    Friday- Nikita, CSI NY

    Saturday- Saturday night live

    MISC- Bones, True blood, Rookie Blue

    And then occasionally I will go back and watch old Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Veronica Mars, my 2 favourite shows of all time

    Its a problem. I justify it by saying I am a poor university student, and isn’t staying home and watching TV better than going out and spending money?

  3. My staples are How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, and 30 Rock. I fell out of watching Glee last season, so I should probably catch up on that. I should definitely go through all these comments and make a list of highly recommended shows, though. Example: Parks and Recreation never looked very good to me, but after reading one of the above comments, I should give it a shot.

  4. I started with Parks and Rec via Netflix and became hooked. Same thing with Mad Men. I’m making my way through the episodes now.

    Project Runway
    Glee
    Modern Family
    Mike & Molly

    These are my current ones.

  5. Ack! I’m a total tv addict but about three years behind… or more….

    We can’t get Netflix in the UK yet and my internet connection is to rubbish for dodgy shit.

    I love SNL and manage to watch bits on you tube but wish I could watch it for real. I haven’t seen any of this series of the Office yet and i’ve still got a series to go of both Arrested Development and Mad Men.

    Love Big Bang Theory, I think i’m up to date with that. Up to date with Gossip Girl to, glad they screen that within a few days of it airing in the US so I don’t read any spoilers in the press.

    Excited to see these new shows your all talking about.
    I’m visiting Florida in 11 days (not like i’m counting or anything 😉 ) and its going to be hard to get me out the hotel in the evenings. haha.

    Ooh and for some proper trash Don’t Tell The Bride, Made In Chelsea (Jersey Shore but with posh London kids) and The Only Way Is Essex (Jersey Shore but with real life blow up dolls)

    We’ve just had The Great British Bake Off finish too which was just lovely if annoying because I just wanted cake every time I watched it.

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