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THE HORROR OF THE NEW TELEVISION SEASON

It's embarrassing to admit this, but when I was a kid, I used to get all excited about the TV Guide Fall Preview issue. I'd go through it and circle the shows that sounded good. These days, nothing much is tempting me to give up my resolution to watch less TV.

The themes this season include: stealing stuff from England (Kitchen Nightmares, the leading actors from Bionic Woman and Life) pandering to nerds (Big Bang Theory, Bionic Woman, Reaper, Journeyman, Moonlight, Pushing Daisies) and women over 30 (Women's Murder Club, Big Shots, Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice). I'm a nerdy woman over 30, but I don't like it when they go so calculatedly for one of my demographics. For every David Lynch and Joss Whedon who genuinely are nerds, there's 50 drones trying to be just quirky-and-offbeat enough to generate a buzz without turning anyone off.

It's sad that TV people are so strapped for ideas that they are ripping off series that weren't even that successful, such as Angel and Forever Knight in the case of Moonlight (yes, I'm still bitter at Angel's cancellation). Ironically, I might have to give it a try, since the delightfully snarky Jason Dohring from the tragically cancelled Veronica Mars plays a supporting role. Big Bang Theory sounds like a rip-off of the failed 70's Adam Arkin vehicle Busting Loose. Did anyone else but me watch that?



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Now playing: Bo Peep - Step 1, 2
via FoxyTunes

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