Every fall we’re bombarded with a plethora of new TV shows, and every fall I ask myself the same question: “What am I going to watch?”
Some years, I completely miss the mark. I was willing to suffer through half of Melrose Place in 2009, but skipped out on Modern Family that same year? And why didn’t I start watching Friday Night Lights earlier? I’ll never forgive myself (slight overstatement, but whatevs) for that oversight.
Once I’ve determined what shows I’ll check out, I have to decide how long I’ll test drive them for. Like a moron, I gave up on both Cougar Town and Parks and Recreation after about two episodes. That situation has since been rectified, but it brings to light an important question – When do you make the call?
I’ve often said that I give a show three episodes to hook me. This has worked for shows like The Wire, Mad Men and Friday Night Lights – but those are all dramas. Sitcoms take much longer to find their footing, and it’s impossible to judge a comedy based solely on the pilot.
There are a lot of reasons pilot episodes aren’t a good, true example of what a show will be like. They’re made when shows are trying to get picked up, and from there writers and showrunners have to opportunity to really make the show they want to make, not the show they think the network wants. Just look at Cougar Town – I wrote that off because I wasn’t interested in watching Courtney Cox bed younger men, but by the Thanksgiving episode it had morphed into a quirky, warm comedy about a funny group of wine-guzzling friends. What’s not to love there?
So for now, I’m going with five episodes. I’m adding a few new sitcoms to my TV schedule this year, and I’ll give them each at least five episodes to grab me. If I watch five episodes and hate the show, I’ll dump it. If I’m on the fence I’ll keep going until I make up my mind.
And what are those shows? Well, starting this September they’ll be 2 Broke Girls, New Girl and Up All Night. I also might check out The X-Factor, but the five episode rule won’t really apply there. There’ll be some more test drives coming mid-season, Smash and Apartment 23 as well. So stay tuned! What new shows are y’all checking out this fall? How many episodes will you give them?
Personally, I have to make a call based on the show. Sometimes I'll watch a whole season and halfway through the second season, I lose interest. Sometimes I suffer through 4 or 5 episodes and just call it quits. If I'm close to the end of a season when I decide I just can't stand it anymore, I hold out through the end of the season so I can have more of a "clean break." I'm personally going to try ten new shows this fall (http://www.thetalkingbox.com/2011/09/new-fall-shows.html). Since Terra Nova is only 13, I'll probably watch them all – loved the pilot! Similarly, Boss is a short season, so unless it's truly heinous, I'll probably stay with it. But everything else, I try to give about four episode, but we'll see!
I'm going to try New Girl. I think that's it. There's still too many good old shows in my schedule!
AmyKB – Wow, you're going to have a lot to watch! I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of Terra Nova. That's one I might try to catch up on if people end up liking it.randi – I agree! There were a few shows, like Pan Am and Charlie's Angels, that I'd try if I felt like I had nothing to watch. But there's already so much good TV on that it's good to be choosy!
I don't usually try a lot (or any) new shows at the beginning of the season unless it's one that I really, REALLY I-can't-sleep-I'm-so-excited need to see. Mostly because in the past, I've gotten hooked on a new show only for it to get cancelled after a few episodes. And that breaks my heart a bit. So I typically wait to see how things go first, or wait on recommendations from friends of what's awesome. This season, however, there are a few new shows that I'm really looking forward to. Obviously, New Girl. (Did you see the pilot yet? It leaked last week. Zooey is SO charming in it.) I'm also excited for Ringer since I love me some Sarah Michelle Gellar. And I also hear there's this fairy tale show as well? Forget what it's called or what it's really about, but Ginnifer Goodwin is in it (and I love her), and it's sorta about fairy tales (and I have an obsession with folk/fairy tales). So I'm breaking my "no new shows" rule x 3.So on that note, since I don't usually watch shows right out of the gate and wait until they come highly recommended, I usually don't have to worry about giving a show x number of episodes before I dump it. I trust the tastes/opinions of my tv-recommendation friends. They know me well and always recommend stuff I love.P.S. Are you excited for the new season of Survivor? I can't wait!
Sorry to gate crash the conv, but I read the word Survivor and I just want to once more state how mortified I am that Ozzy + Coach + RI return this season. That they brought Russell's freaking nephew. And that all the other castaways seem to be carbon copies of players from the past two seasons. I don't know, I just don't have a good feeling about this season.I hope I'm wrong. And I am so much more excited for The Amazing Race.
I haven't seen the New Girl pilot yet but I hopefully will be able to watch it tonight. Even if I don't like it, I'll give it some time – I love Zooey Deschanel and comedies need a little time to find their tone.I'm intrigued by this fairy tale show as well, mostly because of Ginnifer Goodwin. It's premieres at a weird time – around the end of October. But if that's when everything else goes on hiatus, it could be a fun way to fill a Monday night.I am SO excited for Survivor tonight. I cannot even describe it. I'm dying to win the office pool this year.
Skeiron – I'm not impressed about those details of Survivor either. I'm trying to be optimistic, though! I kind of hope the veteran players get voted out early.
Yeah, if those three players are the first to leave the game (aka after RI), this season would go to my top 3. Okay, maybe 5.I mean, I liked Ozzy and all, but why have you brought him back? And why alongside Coach? The only thing they have in common is their hair, so it doesn't really make sense to me.Anyways, good luck with the office pool, hehe! You sort of need it!
It's a really odd pairing. I get that Coach makes good TV, but he hasn't proven to be good at the game and I don't think he deserves another shot. And Ozzy? I liked him in Cook Islands, but not so much in Fans vs. Faves. I don't need to see him again. I do need it! My mom started the pool forever ago at her office, and I think at this point we're the only two who've never won!