Television is there to keep us warm on cool autumn nights. Or it can provide an excuse to procrastinate from studying. The good news is there is actually some good stuff to watch.
Old Faves
Rounding off the list of the top three returning shows is the incomparable “Weeds.” Its late-summer premier ensured its likeability among audiences fed up with reruns. Its stars, Mary-Louise Parker and Elizabeth Perkins, bring heart and humor to the world of illegal drug dealing. Even though it just finished its freshman run, this has already become an old addiction that’s hard to kick.
The Premise: A suburbanite (Parker) loses her husband and begins selling marijuana to pay the bills. Add this to the stress of raising two hyperactive boys, coping with the loss of a loved one and the meddling of cookie-cutter neighbors, most notably the drunk Celia (Perkins), and you get a completely original, yet definitely risquܬ, dramedy.
Best Part: Parker and Perkins can have the audience laugh and cry in the same episode. Ranging from quirky to heartfelt to hilarious, “Weeds” grows on you.
“Weeds” just finished its first season on Showtime. Look forward to a new season very soon.
After four complete cycles, the fifth season of “America’s Next Top Model” has already had fights, tears and some really bad pictures. Host and producer Tyra Banks has once again scored with her behind-the-scenes glance into the world of modeling.
The Premise: After a rigorous selection process, young women are chosen to compete in a series of modeling tasks to see which one is cut out to be the next supermodel. Each episode shows some real life drama between the contestants and features some elaborate photo shoot. After 40 minutes worth of competition, Tyra and the other judges, big-to-do’s in the fashion industry, cut one of the catwalk hopefuls.
Best Part: Nothing is as funny as seeing gorgeous people tell other gorgeous people they are not good enough to be a model. Human nature compels us to feed on the sadness of others lives, and that is so much sweeter when it’s a pretty person.
“America’s Next Top Model” airs every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on UPN.
What can be funnier than an average American family with average American problems? An animated family that is miles away from average or even reality, complete with problems such as being chased by Mel Gibson, or fighting with a giant chicken or fending off the attacks of a genius toddler. “Family Guy”‘s return to primetime has proven that America wants ludicrous plot lines and a little bit of malicious humor in their humor.
The Premise: A fat guy married to a cute red-head tries to direct his wayward family through not-so-everyday life problems. A clueless son, hideous daughter, maniacal infant and alcoholic dog round out this warped Brady Bunch.
Best Part: Perhaps it’s open to interpretation, but the British accent and the evil stares make Stewie, the demonic child, the reason to watch. Whether he’s plotting to kill his mom, spewing out foul-mouthed tirades or, even better, occasionally showing his youthful innocence, Stewie makes audiences lean forward to hear his next line. And “Family Guy” uses this tyke to deliver some of its cruelest humor aimed at icons ranging from Helen Keller to Kiss to Hugh Downs.
“Family Guy” airs on Fox every Sunday at 8 p.m. Look for new episodes beginning Nov. 6.
New Addictions
Some of the best new shows worth your time happen to be drama with a thrilling twist. Leading the pack is the smartly written psychological drama “Criminal Minds.” Taking an even further step into the world of police investigation, this new offering makes audiences wait for the next murder.
The Premise: Members of the FBI behavioral analysis unit use their knowledge of psychology to create criminal profiles of serial killers, serial rapists and bombers. Each week a new offender’s misdeeds calls for the expert know-how of the nation’s finest in criminal psychology.
Best Part: Unlike other shows delving into the world of criminal investigations (“CSI” and its many offspring), “Criminal Minds” uses actual dialogue to keep the audience into the story. Sure, there are neat tricks used to find clues about the perpetrator, but this show blends it beautifully with good acting and witty, but not distracting, banter.
“Criminal Minds” airs on CBS at 8 p.m. every Wednesday.
CBS strikes again with another new drama. This time the bad guy is an unforeseen alien force. “Threshold” is one of many supernatural dramas to emerge from the Fall lineup-and it’s also one of the best.
The Premise: An alien object, broadcasting a deadly signal, appears over a boat out in the sea. The men on the boat react differently. Most die, but some change. As we soon find out, the signal is capable of altering human DNA, in effect transforming humans into aliens. They still look the same, but now they have super strengths and a burning desire to infect the world with the signal, therefore propagating a new race of aliens.
Best Part: Each week, the crisis is dire and gloomy. Then once the Threshold team, helmed by the marvelous Carla Gugino, solves the problem, news of another infection pops up. There is never a break. The action is non-stop, much like the audience’s hearts when the episode concludes.
“Threshold” broadcasts its signal of alien terror every Friday night at 8 p.m.
CBS batted a homerun with its new offerings, putting a new edge on the world of spirits. “Ghost Whisperer” may not be M. Night Shyamalan’s masterful “Sixth Sense,” but it’s entertaining enough. Another addition to the supernatural genre, “Ghost” manages to connect to its audience each time.
The Premise: Melinda Gordon (Jennifer Love Hewitt) sees dead people. She has since she was little. From helping them realize they must move on to sending messages from the beyond to loved ones, Gordon is nice and filled with sympathy.
Best Part: When Gordon finally makes the disbelieving loved ones realize she isn’t a complete freak, the loved ones reach a variety of emotions. It’s just so sweet to watch. And Hewitt may have found a role where her bubbly persona can bleed through onto her character without interfering with the plot. How can you hate a woman who helps the grieved and the dead move on?
“Ghost Whisperer” also adds to the strong CBS Friday lineup at 7 p.m.