Five Winter Premieres I’m Most Desperately Looking Forward To: #2 Fringe January 9, 2009
Posted by Amy Yen in 5 Premieres I'm Most Desperately Looking Forward To, Fringe, TV.Tags: Amy Yen, Fringe, Fringe Fox, Fringe mid-season premiere, Fringe premiere, Fringe spring premiere, Fringe TV show, Fringe winter premiere, mid-season premieres, StrawGrasping, television, TV winter premieres, winter premieres
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In anticipation of the end of the winter TV hiatus, I’m counting down the 5 Winter Premieres I Am Most Desperately Looking Forward To.
For a more complete list of winter premiere dates, see Kristen Dos Santos’ comprehensive list on E! Online.
#2 Fringe
Premieres Tuesday, January 20 @9pm on FOX
I didn’t really mind the first few episodes of the season as much as some critics, but I would agree it was like they were treading water for a while & then they pulled a Michael Phelps. Fringe, officially, has hit the high gear. A clearly evil new set of villains—Mr. Jones & Agent Loeb—have been introduced. The Observer is still lurking, there so approximately 3 million fans can go on message boards every week to say they saw him. Peter’s backstory has made an appearance. Olivia’s John Scott visions of doom stunningly have a plot purpose And Walter is still mostly crazy.
And so, with Olivia kidnapped & Mr. Jones free, I am so totally back in. You should be too.
Stay tuned for the rest of my winter season preview & drop me a comment to let me know what new & returning shows you’re looking forward to most.
Five Winter Premieres I’m Most Desperately Looking Forward To: #3 Burn Notice January 8, 2009
Posted by Amy Yen in Burn Notice, In Plain Sight, TV.Tags: Amy Yen, Bruce Campbell, Burn Notice, Burn Notice mid-season premiere, Burn Notice winter premiere, In Plain Sight, Jeffrey Donovan, mid-season premieres, spring premieres, StrawGrasping, television, TV, winter premieres
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In anticipation of the end of the winter TV hiatus, I’m counting down the 5 Winter Premieres I Am Most Desperately Looking Forward To.
For a more complete list of winter premiere dates, see Kristen Dos Santos’ comprehensive list on E! Online.
#3 Burn Notice
Premieres Thursday, January 22 @10pm on USA
More than any other show on TV, Burn Notice is a summer show. I don’t think it’s really not that smart a move for USA to cut the season in half. But nonetheless, I can’t say I’m not thrilled that we’ll be getting fresh episodes this month.
Interestingly, I wasn’t actually watching Burn Notice when I realized it was not just a nice distraction from the summer TV hiatus, but actually a great show. I was watching In Plain Sight, another quirky crime-related drama on USA. The reason I thought of Burn Notice when I was watching it is I kept thinking, if only this show had some decent writing. It could be so much better. And if you think about it, Burn Notice & In Plain Sight are not so different. It’s not like Burn Notice is more complex & deep, or even that the acting is better (although I do prefer Jeffrey Donovan‘s unbelievably cool smile & Bruce Campbell‘s laid back charm to irritable, exasperating Mary McCormack or anyone else on IPS besides maybe Frederick Weller‘s dorkily awesome Marshall Mann). It comes down to the writing & Burn Notice’s writing is much, much better. In fact, it’s more clever, more witty than a lot of what’s on network TV as well. I can’t wait for it to come back.
Stay tuned for the rest of my winter season preview & drop me a comment to let me know what new & returning shows you’re looking forward to most.
Live-Blogging Project Runway Season 5 Finale, Pt. 2 October 16, 2008
Posted by Amy Yen in Project Runway, TV.Tags: Amy Yen, Heidi Klum, Project Runway, Project Runway Kenley, Project Runway Korto, Project Runway Leanne, Project Runway live blog, Project Runway season 5 finale, StrawGrasping, television, Tim Gunn, TV blog
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8:59 – Previously on Project Runway…and then, there were three. Kenley was slightly less unbearable & managed to refrain from insulting Tim Gunn for one week. Korto made an ugly gold wedding dress. Leanne made a collection of waves that was shooed into the top 3. And poor Jarell isn’t going to Bryant Park. And by ‘isn’t,’ of course I mean ‘is,’ but we’re not gonna see it.
9:00 – Listen, we all know this was a pretty mediocre season. It’s disappointing. I hope NBC wins & keeps the show right where it is, because if this is the show moving to Lifetime…I mean, I’ll still watch. It’s still one of the best reality shows out there. I just feel like it’s lost its way a little. If I had to choose a winner…obviously, ABK (Anybody But Kenley) applies…but I’d probably with Leanne. Not because I think she’s the next great American designer. But I can see her clothes in stores & I can see myself buying them. And for that, I guess she deserves to win.
Live-Blogging Heroes 3.3 One of Us, One of Them September 30, 2008
Posted by Amy Yen in Heroes, TV.Tags: Amy Yen, Heroes, Heroes 2.3, Heroes One of Us One of Them, live blog, StrawGrasping, television, TV
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8:59 – Previously on Heroes, I will be writing my previouslys completely by memory since I will, at least for now, be switching over from Terminator on Fox after their previews. So anyway, previously, on Heroes, Future Peter goes back in time to shoot Present Nathan in order to prevent a horrible future. Instead, he manages to create an even more horrible future, i.e. the world being split in two & everyone dying. Jeez, wtg there, Future Peter. Also Sylar’s been captured by the company, but only after getting Claire’s ability, Matt is lost in Africa & Present Peter is stuck in Francis Capra (ahem, Jesse)’s body. Most of this is also Future Peter’s fault. Man, Future Peter sucks.
9:00 – Angela gave Sylar up for adoption! Touche! Who the hell is Bridget? That history thing is a really cool ability. OMG! Angela totally just fed that Bridget chick to Sylar! She is so evil! I love her!
Live-Bloglet: Grey’s Anatomy Season 5 Premiere September 26, 2008
Posted by Amy Yen in Grey's Anatomy, TV.Tags: ABC, Amy Yen, Grey's Anatomy, Grey's Anatomy season 5, Grey's Anatomy season premiere, live blog, television, TV
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I’m calling this a live-bloglet, I’m thinking it might be more of a reactions thing, i.e. I’m not going to try to say something about every scene. Grey’s has really let me down these last few years, so I’m hoping for a rebound.
UPDATE from after the show: I’ll warn you right now. This is not as coherent as these things usually are, because I mostly spent the time lamenting over how much I miss how this show used to be. Come back, old Grey’s! Come back!
9:00 – We open on Meredith & her floor plan o’ candles & her sad, sad voiceover & then, she’s in the hospital & yes, YES, I called it! There was an accident & Derek is totally dead. And then…Mere wakes up. Dang it. I guess freaking Derek is alive. Lame.
Live-Blogging Heroes Season 3 Premiere Night September 23, 2008
Posted by Amy Yen in Heroes, Terminator, TV.Tags: Amy Yen, Heroes, Heroes season 3, season premiere, StrawGrasping, television, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, TV, Veronica Mars
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7:00 – Big TV night for me. Um, PS: NBC has put the season 2 premiere of one of my favorite shows from last year, Life, online early. This is a really smart, quality show…this premiere isn’t the best episode they’ve had, but it’s still pretty good. Check it out HERE. And watch last season for free HERE.
8:00 – Yes, I’m choosing to watch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles over the “premiere event,” which looks like it mostly involves red carpet interviews. Sorry, it’s a Dean Winters-heavy episode, what can I say. This is more reactions than live-blogging, but if you just want to get to Heroes, skip down to 9:00.
Live-Blogging Project Runway 5.10 September 18, 2008
Posted by Amy Yen in Project Runway, TV.Tags: Amy Yen, live blog, Project Runway, Project Runway college grad challenge, reality show, StrawGrasping, television, TV
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8:59 – Previously, on Project Runway, the designers embarked on an over-complicated challenge involving avant garde design, astrological signs, eliminated designers, previous season designers & Blayne & Terri getting auf-ed. Touche, Terri letting whining Keith drag her down.
9:01 – Apartment open. The designers talk about what they’re doing next. They’re wrong, of course. I’m so over the apartment open.
9:02 – Heidi comes out in this skin-tight short black dress. It’s way cute. She says she has some “special ladies” to introduce. Some older ladies come out. The designers interview that this is the mom challenge…but it’s not. (more…)
Live-Blogging Project Runway 5.9 September 11, 2008
Posted by Amy Yen in Project Runway, TV.Tags: Amy Yen, Bones, live blog, Project Runway, Project Runway astological signs, Project Runway avant garde, StrawGrasping, television, TV
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8:59 – Previously on Project Runway, okay, look. My fondness for Bones got the better of me. Unfortunately, it seems that Bones may or may not have jumped the shark with the psycho killer plot o’ lameness known as the de-regularization of Little Zach Addy. Whatev. Anyway, I did catch the last minute or so of Runway, where Trash Bag Stella was finally, mercifully auf-ed. Even Tim Gunn wasn’t that sad to see her go. Auf wiedersehen, Stella!
9:00 – Apartment open. Terri tells us about how she won’t miss Stella. +10 points for Terri.
9:02 – On the runway, Heidi brings out the models. Leanne chooses to stay with her model & Stella’s model gets booted. Heidi says there are “special guests” for their next challenge. It’s kicked-out designers! UGH! Stella! There’s no getting rid of her! (more…)
What’s On Tap: My TV Lineup – Fall 2008 September 1, 2008
Posted by Amy Yen in Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, Lost, TV, Uncategorized.Tags: Amy Yen, Bones, Brothers & Sisters, Criminal Minds, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, Law & Order: SVU, Life, NUMB3RS, Private Practice, season premiere, StrawGrasping, television, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Office
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I realize I maybe watch more TV than your average bear, but I can’t help it, how am I supposed to leave of these brilliant shows behind? Oh & check out Wednesday, y’all. I might have to just give up sleep altogether. But it’ll be worth it!
Okay here we go…remember, this doesn’t include cable or sporting events…all times are PST/EST…
Amy’s WHAT’S ON TAP TV Lineup
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Five Season Premieres I’m Most Desperately Looking Forward To: #1 House August 31, 2008
Posted by Amy Yen in 5 Premieres I'm Most Desperately Looking Forward To, House, TV.Tags: Amy Yen, House, House season premiere, season premiere, StrawGrasping, television, TV
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As part of my fall TV preview, I’m counting down the 5 Season Premieres I Am Most Desperately Looking Forward To:
1.) House
Premieres Tuesday, September 16 @8pm EST on FOX
Last season’s two-part season finale was among the most well written, well acted, well directed & incredibly compelling hours of television we’ve seen in a long time. The entire season was about turning what we know upside down. The Cottages, original recipe (Chase, Cameron & Foreman), are replaced by The Cottages, extra crispy (Taub, Kutner, 13…& Foreman again). And Wilson, expert of needy relationships, finds his great love, controlling, dominating, AWESOME Amber (otherwise known as Cut-Throat Bitch), which means he’s no longer as much of a doormat as House always prefers he be. And then, the bus crash, House’s delayed, dreadful realization of who he saw, who he was supposed to save &, it turns out, the one person he can’t. Wilson & Amber’s last scene…I needed like 3 tissues. I thought the whole thing was done wonderfully, down to the episode titles. “House’s Head” & “Wilson’s Heart.” Aren’t those two things the heartbeat of this show? In the end, Wilson turns his back on House & it actually feels like this might not be something he can come back from. And you thought this show was formulaic…
Stay tuned for my complete fall TV line-up & drop me a comment to let me know what you’ll be watching this fall. 
