This week begins the fall TV schedule. Two of my TV shows, The Odd Couple & Duck Dynasty, ended recently, & while I was prepared to begin watching Last Man Standing, ABC axed it. TV shows are like beer. Ignore the critics; there is no right or wrong one. They are all different tastes, from different places, & available at different times. Some you enjoy more than others, yet they are an inseparable part of American culture. Some people dislike Friends, a classic American sitcom, & some dislike Bud Light. Personally, I never cared for How I Met Your Mother or Everybody Loves Raymond. While Leinenkugel rapidly gains fans, there remain skeptics. Below I will tell y’all which shows I watch & give you my opinion about each of them. So, sit back, grab a snack, & keep reading.
Tuesdays consist of three hours being watched or recorded via DVR. I began watching NCIS when I moved to Philly because a coworker enjoyed watching it. Thanks to USA Network & living in Kensington, I successfully binged many episodes, & thus I learned the timeline & history of the show, despite starting with Season 13. When I returned home, Dad joined me in watching, & on occasion Mom watches also. While Season 14 saw the addition of three new fulltime characters & Season 15 marks the departure of Jennifer Esposito & the addition of Maria Bello, NCIS continually captivates audiences. My only concern with the show is not about its stamina; the change of actors provided fresh blood to show. Instead, I worry the show added too many new characters. Keep in mind the fact the show must have some crime or significant storyline, so the agents are at the forefront. This pushes Ducky, Jimmy Palmer, Abby, & Director Vance to the background. If I were in charge, the show would not have replaced Esposito fulltime. Instead, create a character such as Ned Dorneget, a supporting agent, & use them in an episode or so. Or, incorporate Fornell, Tony DiNozzo Sr., & Delilah McGee, especially now that the McGees will welcome a baby into the world. Another option would be to focus on families & friends, such as Vance’s children, Jimmy’s family, McGee’s sister, Mike Franks’ family, or Gibbs’ therapist or doctor played by Jon Cryer. Each of those characters can add a different element to each episode, allowing viewers the opportunity to see the reactions of our beloved characters, such as a Gibbs head slap when Torres doubts Fornell or Abby working with Gibbs’ therapist to help him come out of his shell. Esposito’s departure could have led to more screen time for each character with longer secondary storylines. Not to belittle Maria Bello but such a large fulltime cast reduces the spotlight in an hour-long show.
At 9 pm Central premiers NCIS: New Orleans. The series debuted with NCIS Season 13, so I have seen every episode. Although last season featured several long story arcs, I am glad they all came to an end. One question mark for the show will be the fallout from Dwayne Prides’ actions. Yes, he saved the city, but he went rogue, & there should be repercussions. Personally, I would appoint Chris LaSalle as the lead agent, & allow that time for Pride to mentor Sebastian, spend time with his daughter, & enjoy life. Too often he is overwhelmed with responsibility. For LaSalle, it could be a neat growth moment, where he leans on Sonja Percy & Tammy Gregorio for support in being the team lead in The Big Easy. I look forward to how the show grows in its fourth season. Back in the land of reality, when my family & I went on our last cruise, our port city in the US was New Orleans, & so on our return day, we walked to where the main character Dwayne Pride’s bar is based, Dad & I took a picture, & we shared a drink there. Upon my return home from Philly, I successfully hooked Dad into watching both shows with me, & he loves the NCIS: New Orleans theme song so much it is now his ringtone. For you curious folks, it is “Boom Boom” by Big Head Todd & the Monsters, admittedly quite catchy.
In between the two naval shows stars Michael Weatherly, formerly known as Tony DiNozzo but now winning juries as Dr. Jason Bull in Bull. Fresh off its first season, there are some areas for improvement, but all in all a solid show, which again Dad & I tuned into weekly. There are two avenues the show should explore. First, while Dr. Bull is outstanding at his job, he is not perfect, & if he lost a case, it certainly would be neat to see his reaction corresponding to how his team picks up the pieces. Perhaps the team falters for a bit, maybe they accept the loss as a part of the judicial system, or instead they strive to learn from their loss. The other option for the show, & these two could work together, is to have a case over the course of at least two episodes. Each case featured a new opposition to Dr. Bull & his team. Allow viewers the opportunity to see the adjustments the opposition makes in a court appeal, or create a large-scale case where information continues to be discovered, only for that information to be the dagger to the heart for Bull’s case. Either way, I look forward to the way Dr. Bull views people, the storylines are captivating, & I enjoy the chemistry of Dr. Bull’s team.
Next up is Chicago PD. Yes, the show bears the name of the major city about 30 minutes away from me, but I did not start watching this show from day one. No, I do not remember when I started watching alongside Mom & Dad. Thankfully, USA Network announced it will air reruns of the show, so over time I shall catch up. Like NCIS, this cast may be too large, but the show does not feature nearly as predominate secondary storylines. The biggest challenge is screen time for all characters. For Trudy Platt, that may be an issue because there no longer is a fulltime beat police officer; all other fulltime characters work in Intelligence. Fortunately, the show makes up for by brilliantly handling issues relevant to the city such as distrust of police, shootings, robberies, & teenagers involved more in shady dealings than in school, etc. The crossover between Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, & Chicago Justice last season was phenomenal. Rather than three separate shows dealing with one storyline, it was a three-hour episode containing characters from all three shows.
My last TV love is The Big Bang Theory. Without revealing spoilers, last season’s finale left fans with a massive cliffhanger. Last season also showed the growth of each character in significant ways. Penny & Leonard married in front of their families & friends, Bernadette & Howard became parents, Raj stopped relying on his parents’ money, & Sheldon & Amy are now living together. Several seasons ago, when Sheldon left aboard a train, the show gained an opportunity to truly develop characters. Unfortunately, I felt the show stunted that growth, allowing Sheldon to continue to act childish & everyone accepted his behavior. This approach harmed the Hofstadter’s relationship & delayed the maturation of Amy & Sheldon’s relationship. While Amy attempted to move on, Penny & Leonard bicker & are not the couple I grew fond of. Last season finally took a turn in the right direction. My main issue with Sheldon is his arrogance over the others & their acceptance. Amy broke up with him because of his refusal to change, but the others, outside of perhaps Bernadette, still allow him to criticize them. Hopefully the development from the season finale will continue Sheldon’s maturity.
Additionally, Leonard & Penny need to change. He continually comments he does not deserve her & she accepts that. Neither are perfect, but their strengths balance their weaknesses. He is loving, compassionate, & willing to grow with her. She loves him for who he is & knows he keeps her on the mature path. They complete each other. On a minor note, it would be nice for Stuart to have a thriving comic book store & more of a storyline than simply mooching off the Wolowitzs. Lastly, Raj needs to continue to live on his own finances. As the show is often compared to Friends, I see Raj as the Joey of the show. Forever single, but an outstanding friend. Like Joey, he will not be the star of his career field, but an accomplishment for Raj affects Sheldon as their two fields are similar. Finally, compliments to the show for its terrific minor characters. Everyone’s parents, Barry Kripke, the famed Stephen Hawking, Bert, Leslie Winkle, & even Ramona Nowitzki provide interesting insights into the characters. Who does not love the hilarious Kripke voice, the Christian Mrs. Cooper, the deadpan Dr. Mrs. Hofstadter, & the friendly aloof Bert? They continue to add comedy, allowing the regular cast serious moments. The 90’s are known for Friends, the 2010’s will be known for The Big Bang Theory.
When I turned 21, I loved Yuengling. Later I discovered my love of Redd’s Apple Ale. I dislike Miller & will drink Coors if nothing else is available. My relationship with TV shows is similar. I loved Duck Dynasty. I now love NCIS & its counterpart NCIS: New Orleans. Mom is to TV for me as Coors is to alcohol. I will enjoy both if they are available. I look forward to the premiere of Young Sheldon much like I anticipated the taste of Redd’s Green Apple Ale. As I walk down the beer aisle at Meijer, I see numerous new beers. While my wallet is light, I will keep an eye open & an ear listening to find my next delicious drink. Who knows what show I will stumble upon next? Until then, you know my thoughts about my favorite TV shows. What are yours?
