Watching It, Watching Me

I don't watch ER because it's freaking ridiculous. I don't watch Alias because they killed Vaughn and I'm tired of it hurting my brain and not making any damn sense. But mostly because they killed Vaughn. Bastards. Sydney Bristow has been through so many major traumas and tragedies--there is just no way she wouldn't be completely mental. I should know, I'm a counselor. I have a Masters in mental health. Not impressed? Well, okay, it doesn't take a Masters degree to see that losing one's fiance (twice), learning that you work for the bad guys, becoming a double agent and then having to later work again for the bad guy you double crossed all the while thinking your mother is dead (twice!) and then having said mother show up as public enemy number one and then being kinda good or is she kind of bad but good?. Also, your best friend dies, your aunt tries to kill you, your sister (whom you've only recently learned of) goes crazy with some ancient voodooish shit and tries to kill you, and then you get knocked up and the father gets gunned down right in front of you. Oh yeah, you've got some issues with dad, too. For my own mental health, I had to move on.

I also don't watch any of the new supernatural or alien shows. I tried Supernatural (on the WB) for awhile, but the dialogue was just too corny and I couldn't get excited for the long haul since it's a show with a mythology and that could take up years of my life. No. Threshold has been on my DVR for awhile, but I haven't gotten to it. Good cast, though.

I do watch Medium, Gilmore Girls, Lost, Everwood, both of The Apprentices, an occasional Queer Eye, and a heck of a lot of HGTV. I dilly dally in other shows sometimes. Those crime shows always hook me if I don't turn the channel fast enough, but I don't keep a weekly date with Law & Order or anything. Letterman is my late night choice, Ellen my A.M. choice. Sometimes I'll catch an Oprah, Martha, or any number of those home buying, selling, and fixing shows in the 200 channels. TV is a big, big world and unfortunately, I'm pretty knee deep in it. But not so deep that I'd ever resort to watching Fear Factor, Laguna Beach, or anything on Spike TV. And you can't make me.

This week, my favorite show is Everwood. I laugh, I cry, I think about it during regular daily activities having nothing to do with television. I've always liked it, but sometimes it's been a little didactic. Thankfully the writers have moved on to focus more on the main characters and less on Dr. Brown-saves-his-patients-from-moral-crises stories. I'm also glad Madison is gone, because she was like the most annoying hot and wise older girl ever. Madison is the chick that at 21 dated 16 year old Ephram, stole his virginity, then had his child and gave it away. Which reminds me, thank goodness we've moved on from that melodrama. Now we can focus on the sweet early love of Bright and Hannah, as well as the bittersweet push and pull between Ephram and Amy.

The two Apprenctices are soon wrapping up, poor Martha's for good. Most of the free world has to believe that Dawna is going to be Martha's apprentice. She's bright, hard working, and, well, sane. The others? Maybe not. I like Bethany, but she's hyper, and Jim? Well, Jim needs his meds NOW. I do enjoy Bethany and Jim, though. Despite their spazziness, they work hard and, for the most part, bring creativity to the table. Creativity is certainly what is lacking in the final two on Donald's show. Randall and Rebecca seem nice and smart, but boring. I don't much care who wins that one, though it's ALWAYS fun to watch The Donald do his latest firing maneuver--the Smack the Table and Shoot Ya Down. It seems to require a lot of effort, actually, but I guess he must have been sick of last year's Biting Snake.

Reruns are alive and kicking. Stay tuned for lots of holiday inspired television. I'm hoping to pass the next few weeks without Faith Hill, thank you very much.

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