I Love Falling Leaves and November Sweeps

So, Fall is finally here, and the most important thing for me other than my birthday, my husband's birthday, Thanksgiving and my anniversary is that the networks retire their shiteous summer reality lineups such as "My Midget Dad is Better than Your Meth-Addicted Mom at Texas Hold-Em" back to the shows that make my life so much better for watching.

Television-watching has been something that I have taken quite seriously ever since I can remember. When most 7th graders sneakily stay up late to watch MTV or Jackass, I was watching classic reruns of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" on Nick at Nite. I knew, even at the tender age of 12 that some shows were more than just shows, they represent a substantial change in the wind, or demonstrate humanity at it's purest and most dark. Television had quite a paltry conotation for the last few decades, but not so much any more. Some of Hollywood's most talented and well-respected actors returned (or premiered) on the small screen because they know what I have known my whole life--television might be for the masses, and instead of catering to the lowest common denominator (not that there is anything wrong with that) they can spread knowledge and meaning to everyone who has a universal remote.

People might judge me for trying to watch as much television as possible, they might tell me to go get a life, but this is indeed my life, and I am not going to apologize for it. In this digital age, I no longer have to run home and skip much-needed workouts in order to catch the beginning of prime time. I can comfortably watch "Gossip Girl" at 1am if need be (and something done quite often.)

What I still find depressing, however, is that such quality television shows are still not getting the love they deserve and getting the bumps in scheduling that only alienate more viewers. As I am writing this, I have just finished watching the second episode in the third season of "Friday Night Lights." This is a perfect example of an amazing show that stupidly got pushed around so much on NBC's lineup that the actual actors probably could not even find it. Now, to add insult to injury, it has been moved to the DirecTV Channel...yeah, I know...what the fuck is the DirecTV channel. So, not only has this brilliant demonstration of acting and story-telling been ignored by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences time and time again, it's now being taken away from free-to-the-public television. Yes, NBC will replay the season again after it's wrap on DirecTV, but I mean...really. Everytime I watch Kyle Chandler's magnificent and unapologetically cute, Coach Taylor I just cry that no one else is getting to see this. Yes, the series was based on the movie that was based on the book, but I am pretty sure that the title is unfortunate. To everyone outside of the Lone Star State, it is just that "show about Texas football...." Ugh, so frustratingly untrue. Hopefully, people will start watching, but I am not feeling the intelligence of humanity right now, so to the Dillon Panthers, I will watch you as long as you will let me.

On another thought of brilliant television that no one watches, "Reaper," WHERE ARE YOU?!??! Last I heard, the CW was bringing you back! PLEASE! I need the Devil, Sock and Same to fulfill my witty banter quotient. ARGH!

"Dirty, Sexy, Money" has come back with avengence...I don't think anyone watches this one either. Peter Krause alone will make me watch this one until my DVR is full and blows up. The perfect blend of good acting and guilty pleasure...makes me want to eat a piece of decadent red velvet cake and swig a lowball of Scotch. Yum.

I of course am still watching "The Office (hilarious), "The Amazing Race (um, the brother and sister are creeping me out), "Brothers and Sisters" (I am begining to want to have 5 children), "Bones (Sexual tension, anyone), "Greek" (Will someone please explain why this is on ABC Family??? I truly don't get it), "Boston Legal (THE best comedy male pairing in television history), "Entourage" (aww, gotta love the boys), "Gossip Girl" (xoxo), and a new fav, "True Blood" (I ALSO wanna do bad things with you.) "30 Rock" I'll be seeing ya' in a few weeks!

Next time you judge me, why don't you challenge me to a trivia contest and see who wins.

That's what I thought.