(part of) the week in scripted television

My feelings about fall TV starting can basically be summed up by, "oh, Grey's Anatomy is still on?"

I haven't watched The Undercovers yet, but I've got it saved on my DVR, and I'm really hoping it will be awesome. Feel free to tell me if it's awesome (or if it's not) if you've seen it! Also, still haven't started this season of Sons of Anarchy, because I keep forgetting to tell my DVR about it.

As for the stuff that I did watch, it pretty much went like this: returning shows, pretty good. new shows, everyone looks like someone else, I don't like the actors I legitimately recognize, and it took me 42 minutes to place the one person I genuinely did like.

NCIS: ( where things happen, but mostly I am distracted by the fact that McGee looks unnaturally thin )

Criminal Minds: ( which I only started watching at last season's finale )

The Defenders: ( I have no idea why I watched this )

$#*! My Dad Says - Not horrible, if you enjoy William Shatner

I don't watch sitcoms, as a rule. I think this show only exists so that William Shatner can say outrageous things, which he can do in any number of other venues, so I won't be mourning this one when it goes. Also, sort of mawkish father-son stuff. I just don't care, but on the bright side, it didn't actively offend me, and it had funny moments.

My Generation - ( or, a generation about a half-step behind me. close enough )

Who doesn't love The Hoff? Me.

There's a Top Gear marathon of every episode ever starting tonight at midnight. I don't actually need to watch every episode ever, particularly not the chopped-up versions that air in the US, but I think I'm going to have a hard time keeping away from it. However, starting this season they're actually airing the entire episodes, which is awesome. This should be very exciting for people like me who are too lazy to shake the internet until the unabridged versions all out.

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I don't usually watch Top Chef. Top Chef Masters and Chopped are more my type of cooking competition, because they are relatively free of drama llamas. If someone who regularly watches Top Chef would like to comment on the WTFery that is Seth on Top Chef: Just Desserts, with respect to whether Top Chef usually casts for stuff like that, I would be interested to know. I'm not sure whether I can tune in to watch him again. Also, Yigit reminds me of someone, I think, but it could just be that he reminds me of every J. Crew model and CW star from the 90s.

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I am continuing to watch SYTYCD Canada. Mostly I am perplexed by this Blake McGrath/Mia Michaels situation/rumor/whatever. I have to imagine that it started with a drunken mistake following a taping of the show and that it will end in tears, probably on both their parts, but perhaps I am wrong.

I think at this point last season, I had people who I looked forward to watching, and this season, I sort of don't. I don't know if that's casting or audition pool, or what, but I think after this season is over I'm not going to remember any of the contemporary dancers, with the possible exceptions of Danielle and Sebastian. Also, I like Amanda a lot better now that someone else is doing her makeup. Right, they're all lovely dancers and appear to be very nice people, but it's just not working for me.

And, because I started typing this up days ago... this season on Dancing With the Stars: ( Unexpected nostalgia for <i>Oz</i>, the return of father-son competition, Bristol Palin has an identity crisis, and I cheer for yet another Disney star. Also two - TWO! - MTV reality stars take the floor. Why? )

So, that's posted. On to less-rambly things!