Finally, the leaves are turning orange and brown in the US and the rest of the northern hemisphere which means only means my favourite American TV shows are back! Woohoo!
Since the dawn of affordable broadband internet, I’ve grown fond of downloading episodes of American TV series. Well, no offense to local shows because I am a fan of numerous Filipino television shows, but watching downloaded shows is much more convenient. I prefer the once-a-week format of these shows for I feel that the story arcs more efficiently written and produced this way.
So for this month’s column, I am going to pay a mini-homage to the TV series that I am most looking forward to. I am not saying that these are the best, for there are a number of other great shows that I don’t regularly watch for preferential (Supernatural, True Blood, Fringe are quality shows but watching them stresses me out, haha!) and scheduling reasons (Masyado na ako madami pinapanood!). These are the ones that are high on my priority list since I find myself immediately downloading the new episodes as soon as they are available.
So here you go, here are my personal favourites and I am going to tell you why so. Hopefully after, you will give them a try. I can borrow you my DVD-R collection if you’re interested, hehe!
BROTHERS & SISTERS
Status: Season 4 premieres on September 27
Download schedule: Mondays
Quick Gist: It’s the story of the Walkers – a family of 3 brothers (one of which is gay), 2 sisters, 1 half-brother and a former half-sister and of course, their widowed mother. It sure opens doors to a lot of interesting complications, right?
I watch it because: I’m sucker for family drama. It may be a family drama at its core but it ain’t a hardcore tearjerker at all. Its interesting and witty characters are a breath of fresh air. When it comes to the serious family moments though, it always manages to hit a chord. Okay, many chords. It has come to a point that I wanted to be a Walker myself.
You will watch it because: If you have brothers and sisters, you can definitely relate in almost all story arcs in the series. More so if you are actually close to your family. Well if you are not, you will wish that you were.
Important lesson/s one can learn: At the end of the day, family is really family. Whether you get along with them or not, they are what they are. You might as well improve or maintain your relationship with them.
If you like this show, you might also like: Desperate Housewives, because it also focuses on family relationships albeit in with a more comedic approach. In fact, B&S and DH are shown back-to-back in the US on Sunday nights. DH Season 5 premieres this September 27 as well.
UGLY BETTY
Status: Season 4 premieres on October 9
Download schedule: Fridays
Quick Gist: Betty Suarez may be low on looks but is high on leadership skills and talent. She wants to be a writer but instead works as an assistant (read: secretary, julalay, utusan, haha) to the EIC of a major NY fashion monthly. You know the drill too well – she’s a fish out of the water in the superficial world of glitz and glamour in the fashion world.
I watch it because: It’s funny and well-written and I “love” the villains in this show! I love the way they amusingly but nonchalantly ridicule Betty. Being a bitch or bully in real life is definitely not cool but they make it seem sooo fun, haha!
You will watch it because: In a way, we can all relate to someone like Betty because we all have insecurities and we’ve felt for numerous times in our lives that these very same insecurities have prevented us from achieving our goals or getting the social approval. And the antics of the villains are just fabulously wicked.
Important lesson/s one can learn: Know what is more important in life and what’s inside of you is what will make you truly beautiful. And also, we should not put too much premium on looks or image.
If you like this show, you might also like: Grey’s Anatomy, because it is also set in the workplace and there are a lot of hot characters, haha! Okay fine, GA is a medical drama unlike UB which is comedy drama. But both shows put a comic but realistic spin on one’s relationships outside the family circle – the one with love partners and loyal friends. Both shows feature an industry – fashion and medicine – that you are not part of, but you consider fascinating and interesting. GA Season 6 premieres on September 24.
THE BIG BANG THEORY
Status: Season 3 premieres on September 21
Download schedule: Tuesdays
Quick Gist: It’s a about a gang of four ultra-geeky scientific and engineering professionals and one cute blonde chick. Comedy arises as they try to behave cool and normal, but alas, their inner nerd tendencies get in the way all the time.
I watch it because: The characters’ various idiosyncrasies are simply hilarious. And to a certain degree, I could relate as well as I myself have numerous nerdy and obsessive-compulsive quirks.
You will watch it because: Even if you are not big on science, engineering and technology, you will still laugh out loud at the misadventures of the gang. Plus, if you consider yourself quite ‘normal’ based on prevailing social standards, it would still be a laugh as you witness how it feels to be a nerd.
Important lesson/s one can learn: That nerds and geeks are not as uncool and intimidating as you perceive them to be.
If you like this show, you might also like: How I Met Your Mother, because it’s also sitcom about a barkada of five. HIMYM and TBBT both focus on the dynamics of the long standing friendships of the characters, although the HIMYM’s lead characters are more on the ‘socially normal’ spectrum, haha! The character set is also pretty diverse (there’s a hopelessly romantic architect, no-nonsense TV journalist, a lovably quirky pre-school teacher, a passionate lawyer and a frivolously flirty business executive), so it’s a series more similar to the 90s sitcom giant and the best TV series ever, haha – FRIENDS! Season 5 premieres this September 21 as well.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
Status: Season 6 premiered last September 9
Download schedule: Thursdays and Fridays
Quick Gist: SYTYCD is to dancing the way American Idol is to singing. This show searches for America’s favourite (take note, “favourite” and not “best”) dancer.
I watch it because: It’s the little sister of American Idol, another show I am a huge fan of. Although I am not a dancer myself, I do enjoy watching great dancing on the stage. It’s also more educational because different genres of dance are featured every performance week. More so, the panel of judges are really constructive with their criticism and it really shows that they know what they are talking about – unlike in American Idol. Plus, the host, Cat Deeley, is as entertaining as Ryan Seacrest but is far more endearing with the way she relates to the contestants and handles the program mechanics.
You will watch it because: If you enjoy watching great and creative dancing, then this is definitely the show for you. Also, I must constructively say, this show is produced and handled way better than American Idol, haha!
Important lesson/s one can learn: Not much really, haha, because it’s a reality competition. But I guess there’s the underlying thought that you have to believe in yourself and never give up so that you can achieve your dreams. With every step you climb another mountain. With every breath it’s harder to believe. You make it through the pain, weather the hurricane, there are no boundaries. Haha!
OTHER TV SERIES WORTH WATCHING
30 Rock
Since the dawn of affordable broadband internet, I’ve grown fond of downloading episodes of American TV series. Well, no offense to local shows because I am a fan of numerous Filipino television shows, but watching downloaded shows is much more convenient. I prefer the once-a-week format of these shows for I feel that the story arcs more efficiently written and produced this way.So for this month’s column, I am going to pay a mini-homage to the TV series that I am most looking forward to. I am not saying that these are the best, for there are a number of other great shows that I don’t regularly watch for preferential (Supernatural, True Blood, Fringe are quality shows but watching them stresses me out, haha!) and scheduling reasons (Masyado na ako madami pinapanood!). These are the ones that are high on my priority list since I find myself immediately downloading the new episodes as soon as they are available.
So here you go, here are my personal favourites and I am going to tell you why so. Hopefully after, you will give them a try. I can borrow you my DVD-R collection if you’re interested, hehe!
BROTHERS & SISTERS
Status: Season 4 premieres on September 27
Download schedule: Mondays
Quick Gist: It’s the story of the Walkers – a family of 3 brothers (one of which is gay), 2 sisters, 1 half-brother and a former half-sister and of course, their widowed mother. It sure opens doors to a lot of interesting complications, right?
I watch it because: I’m sucker for family drama. It may be a family drama at its core but it ain’t a hardcore tearjerker at all. Its interesting and witty characters are a breath of fresh air. When it comes to the serious family moments though, it always manages to hit a chord. Okay, many chords. It has come to a point that I wanted to be a Walker myself.
You will watch it because: If you have brothers and sisters, you can definitely relate in almost all story arcs in the series. More so if you are actually close to your family. Well if you are not, you will wish that you were.
Important lesson/s one can learn: At the end of the day, family is really family. Whether you get along with them or not, they are what they are. You might as well improve or maintain your relationship with them.
If you like this show, you might also like: Desperate Housewives, because it also focuses on family relationships albeit in with a more comedic approach. In fact, B&S and DH are shown back-to-back in the US on Sunday nights. DH Season 5 premieres this September 27 as well.
UGLY BETTY
Status: Season 4 premieres on October 9
Download schedule: Fridays
Quick Gist: Betty Suarez may be low on looks but is high on leadership skills and talent. She wants to be a writer but instead works as an assistant (read: secretary, julalay, utusan, haha) to the EIC of a major NY fashion monthly. You know the drill too well – she’s a fish out of the water in the superficial world of glitz and glamour in the fashion world.
I watch it because: It’s funny and well-written and I “love” the villains in this show! I love the way they amusingly but nonchalantly ridicule Betty. Being a bitch or bully in real life is definitely not cool but they make it seem sooo fun, haha!
You will watch it because: In a way, we can all relate to someone like Betty because we all have insecurities and we’ve felt for numerous times in our lives that these very same insecurities have prevented us from achieving our goals or getting the social approval. And the antics of the villains are just fabulously wicked.
Important lesson/s one can learn: Know what is more important in life and what’s inside of you is what will make you truly beautiful. And also, we should not put too much premium on looks or image.
If you like this show, you might also like: Grey’s Anatomy, because it is also set in the workplace and there are a lot of hot characters, haha! Okay fine, GA is a medical drama unlike UB which is comedy drama. But both shows put a comic but realistic spin on one’s relationships outside the family circle – the one with love partners and loyal friends. Both shows feature an industry – fashion and medicine – that you are not part of, but you consider fascinating and interesting. GA Season 6 premieres on September 24.
THE BIG BANG THEORY
Status: Season 3 premieres on September 21
Download schedule: Tuesdays
Quick Gist: It’s a about a gang of four ultra-geeky scientific and engineering professionals and one cute blonde chick. Comedy arises as they try to behave cool and normal, but alas, their inner nerd tendencies get in the way all the time.
I watch it because: The characters’ various idiosyncrasies are simply hilarious. And to a certain degree, I could relate as well as I myself have numerous nerdy and obsessive-compulsive quirks.
You will watch it because: Even if you are not big on science, engineering and technology, you will still laugh out loud at the misadventures of the gang. Plus, if you consider yourself quite ‘normal’ based on prevailing social standards, it would still be a laugh as you witness how it feels to be a nerd.
Important lesson/s one can learn: That nerds and geeks are not as uncool and intimidating as you perceive them to be.
If you like this show, you might also like: How I Met Your Mother, because it’s also sitcom about a barkada of five. HIMYM and TBBT both focus on the dynamics of the long standing friendships of the characters, although the HIMYM’s lead characters are more on the ‘socially normal’ spectrum, haha! The character set is also pretty diverse (there’s a hopelessly romantic architect, no-nonsense TV journalist, a lovably quirky pre-school teacher, a passionate lawyer and a frivolously flirty business executive), so it’s a series more similar to the 90s sitcom giant and the best TV series ever, haha – FRIENDS! Season 5 premieres this September 21 as well.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
Status: Season 6 premiered last September 9
Download schedule: Thursdays and Fridays
Quick Gist: SYTYCD is to dancing the way American Idol is to singing. This show searches for America’s favourite (take note, “favourite” and not “best”) dancer.
I watch it because: It’s the little sister of American Idol, another show I am a huge fan of. Although I am not a dancer myself, I do enjoy watching great dancing on the stage. It’s also more educational because different genres of dance are featured every performance week. More so, the panel of judges are really constructive with their criticism and it really shows that they know what they are talking about – unlike in American Idol. Plus, the host, Cat Deeley, is as entertaining as Ryan Seacrest but is far more endearing with the way she relates to the contestants and handles the program mechanics.
You will watch it because: If you enjoy watching great and creative dancing, then this is definitely the show for you. Also, I must constructively say, this show is produced and handled way better than American Idol, haha!
Important lesson/s one can learn: Not much really, haha, because it’s a reality competition. But I guess there’s the underlying thought that you have to believe in yourself and never give up so that you can achieve your dreams. With every step you climb another mountain. With every breath it’s harder to believe. You make it through the pain, weather the hurricane, there are no boundaries. Haha!
OTHER TV SERIES WORTH WATCHING
30 Rock
As you can see, my list of must-watch shows is quite a long one, haha! In fact, I am not updated (meaning, I don’t watch them each new episode as they are aired in the US) with almost half the list. Sometimes I just get to watch the rest while my other top favourite shows are on a break.
I’ve influenced a number of AguPips with a number of these shows (and some of them influenced me with their own favourite shows, too). I just think it’s much more fun and meaningful to watch live action shows compared to animé cartoons. Haha! For now, excuse me as I try to dodge the tomatoes that will be hurled at me by animé fans out there. Til the next list!
No comments:
Post a Comment