What I'll Be Watching This Fall

It's that time again.

Each year, as fall approaches, I create the 'Schedule of All Schedules' - a wondrous listing of every major show that will be on the major networks. I use it to schedule the shows on my TiVo. The scheduling is getting more complex each year, so I thought I would share what shows that will be TiVo'd in my household this fall. If you want more detailed information on any of the shows listed, I recommend Laurel's excellent TV Picks site. She has a full fall schedule available, with links for additional information on all of the new shows.

That said, in the following listing, I have the Sci-Fi shows listed separately and then anything else that is getting taped in the summaries. After all, this is a Sci-Fi blog!

Monday
"Chuck" (8:00 PM EST on NBC, debuts 9/24)
"Heroes" (9:00 PM EST on NBC, returns 9/24)
"Journeyman" (10:00 PM EST on NBC, debuts 9/24)

Monday is shaping up to be an all-NBC night! I know I probably should watch "Big Bang Theory" (8:30 PM, CBS), as it is supposed to be pretty good and kinda geeky, but I never seem to record the sitcoms. Monday Night Football is still a factor here...but, I watch football LIVE!

I have extremely high hopes for "Chuck". I really liked "Jake 2.0" and this seems to have that feel, only with a better writing pedigree. This NBC lineup may be a big surprise in the ratings!

Tuesday
"Reaper" (8:00 PM EST on The CW, debuts 9/25)
"Eureka" (9:00 PM EST on Sci-Fi, season on-going)

Since "Eureka" (which continues to get better) wraps up in October, there is only one, single, solitary new show here - "Reaper". But, from all reports, "Reaper" will be one of the hits of the new season. Good reviews all around for this one.

I decided not to record "Cavemen (8:00 PM, ABC), because...well, just because. "House" is going up against "Reaper", but that's why you have two TiVos - right?

Wednesday
"Pushing Daisies" (8:00 PM EST on ABC, debuts 10/3)
"Bionic Woman" (9:00 PM EST on NBC, debuts 9/26)

"Pushing Daisies" had received the most positive reviews of any new show this season. Thus, I will probably hate it. Still, it and "Bionic Woman" are firmly on the record list. My wife will have me recording "Kid Nation" (8:00 PM, CBS) and "Private Practice" (9:00 PM, ABC), but those are just filler for me.

Thursday
"Supernatural" (9:00 PM EST on The CW, returns 10/4)

The best show on TV is already on my Season Pass list (with "Lost" and "BSG" delayed until midseason, I feel very safe in making that statement). I have already stated the "Supernatural" will be great this year - don't miss it!

My wife has other plans for this night, however, taping "Ugly Betty" (8:00 PM, ABC...not a bad show, btw) and "Grey's Anatomy" (9:00 PM, ABC...painful to watch, in my opinion, but she likes it). We still record "Survivor" (8:00 PM, CBS, returns 9/20) also. There are a bunch of decent sitcoms on NBC, which would be cool if I recorded them, but I just don't.

Friday
"Moonlight" (9:00 PM EST on CBS, debuts 9/28)
"Doctor Who" (8:00 PM EST on Sci-Fi, season on-going)
"Flash Gordon" (9:00 PM EST on Sci-Fi, season on-going)

Sci-Fi is doing a great job on Fridays. I should be watching "Stargate: Atlantis" (10:00 PM EST on Sci-Fi, season on-going), and I will - but it won't be on my TiVo list until I catch up on the DVDs. "Moonlight" should be interesting, but I am still very concerned about it debuting on a Friday night. It's still my pick to be the first cancellation of the season - but, I am hoping it proves me wrong.

The wife is still watching "Men in Trees" (10:00 PM, ABC, returns 10/12). I am obviously not the target demographic for that show.

Saturday
Nothing really to report for Saturdays this fall. If you are desperate, you could tape "Blood Ties" (9:00 PM EST on Lifetime, returns 10/13). My wife taped season one and we found that it only was watched when there was nothing left on the TiVo. So, that should tell you something.

Sunday
A Sci-Fi wastland. My wife is busy, though, taping "Viva Laughlin" (8:00 PM EST on CBS, debuts 10/18), "Desperate Housewives" (9:00 PM EST on ABC, debuts 9/30) and "Brothers and Sisters" (10:00 PM EST on ABC, debuts 9/30). Although some would say watching Calista Flockhart play a conservative is the best example of science fiction currently on TV, it's still not my cup of tea.

Miniseries
In addition to the weekly shows, there are two noteworthy miniseries scheduled. "Battlestar Galactica: Razor" is set for late November and "Tin Man" will debut in December. Both of these will be on the Sci-Fi Channel.

Summary
So, that's the schedule. The TiVo will be set with 20 hours of programming to start, with a little over half of those hours dedicated to shows with Sci-Fi themes.

I am proud to say that FOX has been purged from the TiVo. They have a fairly pathetic fall schedule (with apologies to the "Simpsons", "Bones" and "House" fans). I'll pick up them back up at midseason with "New Amsterdam" (as well as the ubiquitous "American Idol" and probably another season of "24"), but they made it easy to skip their shows with the quick cancellation policy that they employed last year. "Drive" - we miss you!

However, I am actually counting on a few cancellations this year. In addition to "New Amsterdam", "Lost", "Battlestar Galactica", "Jericho" and "Sarah Connor Chronicles" all have midseason start dates. I will need the extra bandwidth!

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