Finally, Fresh TV!

Thankfully, the winter of my discontent is over and new episodes of my favorite shows have returned. I am not sure if it is a matter of distance providing new enchantment, but it seems as if most shows are much better than before.

My vote for Most Improved (so far) goes to Two and a Half Men. Over the past couple of seasons, the show has become more and more predictable and crude. Charlie and Alan were close to, if not outright, cariactures. The first new episode centered upon Alan in the unfamiliar position of breaking up with a girlfriend, with the sub plot being Charlie and Jake, Alan's feckless teen son, trying not to get on each other's nerves while picking up females at a mall. Unexpected touches of wit and the physical comedy that so enhanced the show at its beginning seemed to return. The second episode was slightly less humorous, but satisfying. Due mainly to Charlie's lifestyle, when he catches the flu no one will take care of him-- until former neighbor/stalker Rose just happens by. It becomes apparent that she was waging her own form of biological warfare in an attempt to win Charlie back. While logic might ask why someone as educated as Rose (as described in previous seasons) would bother wasting her intellect on Charlie, it does have the sting of authenticity- though whether I want to go with the "heart wants what it wants" principle or "in real life smart women are often devoted to idiot men who don't appreciate them" is unclear. Aside from those unanswerable issues, it was piquant to see Charlie (again) suffering because of his own behavior. What takes it to another level is the fact that he is extremely unlikely to change anything as a result.

The issue of the unlikely pairing is my only complaint with one of my favorite shows, "The Big Bang Theory." This program gets better and better. Sheldon and Leonard's perplexity with regular social interactions is hilariously depicted. My only complaint, and it is a slight one, is that Leonard is so fixated on Penny, who seems in every way ordinary. I long for the episode where someone points out to him that he is falling for the stereotypical male fantasy figure and that his interest likely has little to do with her personality/unattainability than as much with her externals. The first episode back was a classic in which Leonard has agreed to present a paper he and Sheldon authored, without telling Sheldon, who does not want to be bothered with attending the lowly conference. A raucous and side splitting fist fight ensues. The sub plot had to do with the group of friends' delight at being able to remote control appliances using the internet, and from experience, I can say that this is exactly authentic behavior. The second episode had to do with Leonard lying to get out of seeing Penny sing at a local revue, and Sheldon feels that the lie is too easily seen through and he concocts his own "unravelable lie." Sheldon's belief in the superiority of his deception- with its many layers of complexity (including listings on eharmony and Facebook) is just inspired.

The last new show is Reaper, which has taken it up a speed in having the three main characters move into their own apartment, which provides interesting, mysterious neighbors and more adult background. In the first new one, Sam is at a point of near blase at catching escaped souls and expands his job descrption by trying to persuade a would-be rock star from selling his soul. The Devil is not very pleased, but tolerates it. I appreciated that they did not use every tired rock star cliche. Also encouraging was the departure (hopefully for awhile) of Cady, Sam's enigmatic girlfriend. She was more interesting than the Designated Love Interest, Andi, but it was getting tiresome knowing that wheels were just being spun. The second new episode had some neat surprises and special effects, and finally seemed to get Andi and Sam on the same page. Let's just get that over with and get to the other stuff. Sock is great- anyone would love to have him as a sidekick. The new neighbors, who are fallen demons but great guys- bring a new energy and level of mystery. I really hope the CW bring sit back next season.

Due to cable technological problems, I am not going to get to see the second season of The Tudors until it comes out on DVD, which has me quite bitter. Make Me A Supermodel is almost over. I feel like I know who will win and I won't agree with it. I really enjoyed the show. Having also watched America's Most Smartest Model, I have to say that shows with both male and female models are more interesting and realistic- seeming. I am not sure if the average age of the model has a factor, but there are fewer mind-numbing catfights.

I keep intending to do a long piece on my #1 Guilty Pleasure, America's Next Top Model, but never get around to it, so for now I will concentrate on this season. It has been awful. Now, I usually say that early on and then change my mind. But this season, the screeching fights between the women are allowed to go on for way too long and the shoot with the models posing with and in beef was just creepy. I kept thinking of a) the germs, the bacteria and b) how much food was being wasted while people are starving. And I am not sure how to say this politically correctly, but this might be the least attractive group yet. Yikes! One major improvement, though, is the addition of Paulina Porizkova, who is visually and verbally better than Twiggy.