Finding Something to Watch During the Dog Days of Summer
Working full-time for the past two years has been an adjustment for both Jenn and I. We are both extremely grateful for having a job but there is no denying most days we come home and just want to veg. During most of the year we have a DVR full of shows to catch up on and usually that will help give us something to relax to during the week. Well during the dog days of summer our DVR is literally empty outside of the two hours of The Bachelorette and Friday Night Lights.
So this summer we have decided to give a few series that have been highly praised by critics and honestly looked pretty interesting and those are Mad Men and Breaking Bad both amazing series on AMC. Using Amazon Prime's two day shipping I have been buying these seasons as we go through them and I have to admit we are loving it. Both shows are extremely well acted and both super entertaining. So even though there may be nothing on TV during the summer at least there are two great shows available on blu-ray!
It’s True We Do Need Time to Slow Down
As I was rushing around getting as much as I could done before the work week I walked upstairs to our family room to find our TV still on CBS after The Masters, it was 60 minutes. I have never been a big fan of 60 Minutes, in fact I can't remember the last time I watched it. However last night I caught the last few minutes and saw Andy Rooney talking about how fast life goes by. It was was a subtle yet effective reminder that time goes by far to quick. To me its great to have things to look forward to, but don't loose sight to our great today is.
Apple Possibly Coming Out With Subscription Based TV Service
Earlier today while surfing around the net I came across an article at Apple Insider discussing a rumor going around that Apple is pushing around the idea of releasing a $30 based TV subscription program. There obviously aren't all that many details floating around, but it got me thinking, would I give up some of my cable bill to go to an Apple based subscription service?
Currently I get my Cable, Phone, and Internet through Cox. There internet service is up and down like many other cable providers and there cable setup is rather archaic. The menu's on are DVR are downright pathetic, and of course the quality of the HD programming isn't all that red hot. We currently spend $30 extra a month for our DVR service, if I could continue getting basic HD content from Cox for sports, and then get all my TV shows for $30 from Apple I for one would probably quickly make the switch even if that meant a $200-$300 up front cost to buy a piece of hardware to run it.
I think it is a really interesting proposition if Apple really does go forward with it, obviously the big question still remaining to be answered would be how much TV content would be available. Would Apple be able to get CBS, NBC, ABC, & Fox to jump on board? Not to mention some of the other cable channels? It's an interesting proposition and one that I look forward to see how it plays out.
This is what makes The Office, Special.
It's not very often that I get fully engrossed in a TV show, but since the first episode of The Office I have been hooked. I have watched one of my favorite TV relationships start as friends and work their way up to this episode where they finally tie the knot. Once again The Office shows why it is the best comedy on TV right now because it once again mixed comedy with reality and it was just a fantastic episode. If you haven't watched the entire episode, go back and watch it. If you have obviously one of the best scenes is when they re-create the famous wedding youtube video with the dancing entrances. Here are both The Office and the Youtube versions. Enjoy!
My Top 5 Favorite TV Shows of the 2008-2009 Season
Well the TV season is officially winding down, and I found myself really changing my viewing habits this year. No longer running any TV blogs like I had in the past, and having a more steady schedule has made it easier to watch shows that I wanted to watch. Once again I saw shows I enjoy get cancelled (Life on Mars), and other shows continue to thrive that I have very little interest in watching (American Idol). Regardless here are my Top 5 TV series of the 2008-2009 season.
#5: Friday Night Lights
#4: The Big Bang Theory
#3: The Mentalist
#2: Chuck
#1: The Office
Honorable Mention: The Amazing Race, Hell's Kitchen, How I Met Your Mother, Two and Half Men, Gary Unmarried, Life on Mars.
Possibly the Funniest Office Moment Ever
As many of you know I am a huge fan of The Office. I have been watching it since it got picked up for its first full season on NBC and I don't think any show has made me laugh as hard since Seinfeld left the airwaves. This past week the show we all have come to love and adore gave us yet another classic Jim vs. Dwight encounter. If your not familiar at all with The Office, Jim has been playing pranks on Dwight in the office since the first episode and the writers have done such an amazing job of being creative and truly ingenious. So if you have never watched The Office or really just want to relive one of the best Office moments of the season here it is.
Chuck Meets Boy Meets World
I used to be a huge Boy Meets World fan. Heck I think I liked the good old TGIF ABC nights a little to much. I even continued watching reruns of Boy Meets World years after it had ended. So one of my new favorite characters Chuck, on the show of the same name on NBC had a guest star Ben Savage who used to play Cory on Boy Meets World. This was like the ultimate Chuck episode for me. It was a great episode regardless of the guest star, but it was great to see good old Ben Savage back on the TV set. I don't even know if they still do play Boy Meets World reruns. Now that was a great show.
Anyways if you missed this weeks episode of Chuck, go over to Hulu or buy it on iTunes it was a classic episode that if you were a fan of Boy Meets World its great to see Cory back on screen.
TV Show’s I Am Watching this Season
Last year many of you may remember that I created a slew of TV Blogs which I ended up selling during the writers strike. Selling them was a tough but necessary decision at the time and since then my TV watching has actually become enjoyable again. When you are doing something for work like reviewing TV shows, it does take some of the fun away from it, so now that I am not working on any TV Blogs it kind of feels like everything is back to normal.
So then the question arrises, what am I watching this year? Well let's go day by day shall we?
Mondays: I watch way to many shows on Monday nights. First off there is Monday Night Football of course. But then there is Chuck and Heroes on NBC. The Big Bang Theory and How I Might Your Mother on CBS, and Jenn and I watch Gossip Girl together. And this is all in one night? You may ask how do I watch all of that in one night? Just wait and you'll see.
Tuesday: The only show I watch on Tuesdays is brand new and its The Mentalist, which Jenn and I are both huge fans of. Outside of that there is plenty of time to catch up on shows from Monday.
Wednesday: Same sort of deal as Tuesday, not really a big fan of any shows on Wednesday. The only one I watch is the new Jay Mohr comedy Gary Unmarried which I do enjoy a bit. Once again a great night to get caught up on Monday night television.
Thursday: There are two shows that I watch on Thursdays, The Office (my favorite show) and Grey's Anatomy. Does anyone really like 30 Rock? I really don't get how it keeps winning Emmy's.
Friday's & Saturdays: Nothing, nada, zip.
Sunday's: FOOTBALL!!!! And of course The Amazing Race on CBS!
Three SNL Skits Worth Watching
There is no doubt that Saturday Night Live has seen better days, it has been a long time since I sat down and watched anything to do with SNL. However I remembered that Steve Carell was going to be on this week so I caught some of the skits on Hulu. If you don't know Hulu is a great video service that plays full episodes for a lot of the shows on NBC and a few other networks. The three skits are in the following order. The Office in Japan, Obama vs. Clinton, and Graduation Commencement Speech. All three I found to be a real pleasure to watch and some good laughs. I especially love the names in the last video of the Commencement Speech, pretty clever. Enjoy them!
1) The Office in Japan
[hulu:http://www.hulu.com/embed/5Xue-d6aY1WzOs__zjVFJA]
2) Obama vs. Clinton (NBA Playoffs Style)
[hulu:http://www.hulu.com/embed/kBG5jqo6pI86R-o9dhRcNQ]
3) Graduation Commencement Speech
[hulu:http://www.hulu.com/embed/VBcI9MPbxNfq-xjkKUtEXg]
TV Season Coming to a Close. Quick Recap
So I started this year's TV Season with high hopes. I had about 8-10 TV Blogs I was producing, a few returning shows I was excited to get back into. The blogs went really well, I did sell them in hopes of making profit which I did, and things worked out. I am starting some new blogs which I will get into later, but for now as the finale's begin to roll and we see the effects of the writers strike with the shortened seasons, we look back on what I watched in 2007-2008.
Shows I Watched:
Amazing Race
Bionic Woman
Carpoolers
Chuck
Friday Night Lights
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
Jericho
Journeyman
The Big Bang Theory
The Office
Favorite New Show of 2007-2008 Season: The Big Bang Theory on CBS
Most Dissapointed About Cancellation: Journeyman on NBC (followed by a close second in Jericho)
Most Disappointing Series of 2007-2008 Season: Heroes on NBC
Favorite Show Overall: The Office