What To Watch On TV Now
2008-12-12
By Eric Easter
As intriguing as this post-election, pre-inauguration period might be, we would all have to admit that if you became a political news junkie during the campaign, the last few weeks and the new few until the inauguration have not been and will not be sufficient to satisfy your habit – Rod Blagojevich notwithstanding. And realistically, after that big ratings bump on January 20th, it’s probably all downhill as far as TV news watching goes.
So then, what to watch now? And what were you missing during those Hardball and Countdown with Keith Olbermann overdoses?
Though the ratio of number of cable channels to the number of quality television shows is still something like 50 to 1, if you move around the digital remote with a sense of adventure, you may find that you have been missing quite a bit.
But if you need a little help, here are our recommendations:
Californication (Showtime. Sundays)
Be mindful that if the word “fornication” is a problem for you, you probably don’t want to watch this show. If the act is an issue, you really don’t want to watch. There’s sex, there’s profanity, there’s unhealthy lifestyles, middle age angst, unbridled lust and unrequited love. In short, real life - but funnier. If you miss the finale this Sunday, catch the whole season via On Demand.
Dexter (Showtime. Sundays)
It’s a testament to great writing that the folks who create Dexter can make you sympathize with a serial killer, and this season has been it’s best and most complex. Season finale is this weekend, but don’t despair. Catch the whole season again via On Demand.
Rescue Me – (FX)
Denis Leary’s brand of humor is an acquired taste, but if it’s something I urge you to try. Rescue Me, for my money, has one of the best ensemble casts on television and has a brilliant way of dealing with touchy issues like race and homophobia in a way that is intelligent and hilarious. FX is the new HBO.
South Park
Sure it’s sick and twisted. Sure it’s offensive. And that’s a good thing. South Park remains the most consistently funny comedy show on television – period. The episodes spoofing the Mormon Church and the movie, 300, are new classics.
Mad Men (AMC)
The season’s over, but that’s the perfect time to catch up on the full run of episodes. It’s like an alternate universe version of Bewitched, where Darren is handsome, even more sexist and actually smart, Samantha has lost her powers and Larry Tate is a sex fiend. Brilliant.
Top Chef (Bravo)
The most intelligent reality shows on television are the ones featuring people with authentic talent. Even if you only watch to drool over Padma Lakshmi it’s still worth it.
TCM
The best way to watch Turner Classic Movies is via TIVO’s “Choose an Actor” feature and let TIVO do the work for you. Select Cary Grant, Edward G. Robinson, James Mason, John Garfield and James Cagney and you’ll be good to go for a while.
Keisha Cole – The Way it Is (BET)
Yes, it’s a mess, but Keisha Cole’s unflagging love and protection other family no matter how crazy they get or how badly they embarrass her provides one of the best role models for family leadership on television.
VH1-Soul
What? A video channel that actually shows videos.? What the hell are they thinking? As a whole VH-1 Soul elegantly mirrors the nostalgic hipster audience it wants to reach with humor and intelligence. But check out Nelson George’s new travel show, Soul Cities for a unique music-influenced look at the American urban travel experience
True Blood
For people who are too old for Twilight and like their vampires mixed with a dose of voodoo and sex. True Blood takes the New Orleans-centered Anne Rice influence and turns it completely on its head, using vampirism as a metaphor for class and cultural clashes.
Housewives of New York
Like Gomez on The Addams Family I love a good train wreck, but I don’t want actual casualties (how’s that for an obscure TV reference). That’s why I can’t recommend Real Housewives of Atlanta, there’s just too much bloodshed for my taste. But I do highly recommend Real Housewives of New York. Somehow social climbing by offensive status-seeking women takes on more intrigue in a city with real society and real money.
Nip/Tuck (F/X)
The new season starts January 6 and we can’t wait. Despite its tendency to veer way over the top into the unfathomable, somehow it still fascinates and gets the perils of vanity and hubris dead right.
Throwdown with Bobby Flay (Food Network)
I never took Bobby Flay seriously as a chef. Something about that smug frat boy look. But after a trip to his restaurant in Vegas I gotta say, homeboy has skills. Throwdown would be a fairly smarmy show if Flay didn’t lose every now and then. But he does, and it shows the kind of amazing cooking going on in local restaurants.
No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain (Travel Channel. Mondays)
Yep, another food show. Except it’s not really that. It’s about travel and the importance of understanding local culture if you want to get a great travel experience. Bourdain shows the connection of food to culture the way it should be done. We could hang with this dude easily.
Deadliest Catch (Discovery)
Who would have thought watching crab boats not catch crabs could provide some of the best drama on reality TV? Somehow it really works. When you tire of handyman shows on HGTV, it’s the perfect hands down your pants, beer mug in your hand TV watching experience.
Elite XC (Showtime)
Yes, mixed martial arts. Brutal. Ridiculous. Over the top. And completely taking over boxing as the most consistently watchable sports experience on television (aside from college football).
So what are you watching?
Eric Easter is Chief of Digital Strategy for Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. He writes about politics, culture and technology for Ebonyjet.com.
