Your online viewing options

It happens to the best of us, whether there is some sort of DVR related issue or it just slips your mind, it's a bad feeling when you realize that you didn't record a show you thought you did. But now most shows are available online and many of them for free (although if you are dealing with an HD DVR, it still hurts just because it won't be in HD). There are shows available on iTunes, but I just think $2 for an episode is too much (especially for the quality) so I don't really recommend it unless you are downloading for your iPod. Here is what is available for free

CBS has full episodes of "How I Met Your Mother", "The Unit", "Cane", "Moonlight", "Shark" and "The Price Is Right" (so you can check out how Drew Carey is doing). They also have all CSIs, NCIS, Numbers, all their reality shows and some soaps available on their innertube viewer.

NBC is offering full episodes of nearly all their shows, and the rumor is they may make free downloads available due to the dispute with iTunes. Check out all of these series: "30 Rock", "Bionic Woman", "Chuck", "Friday Night Lights"(The entire first season is still available), "Heroes", "Journeyman", "Las Vegas", "Life", "My Name Is Earl", "The Office" and "Scrubs". As you may remember, last year many of these shows were iTunes exclusives (along with the $2 charge), but this year they will be available for free at NBC.com. There are 5 episodes available of each of these shows except for "Journeyman" and "Chuck" which only have the last 4 episodes available which means both pilots aren't available. I hoped that they would follow the same system as last year with every episode of all new shows being available throughout the season, maybe they still will with the other shows though theres no real standout among them.

ABC has "Lost", "Pushing Daisies", "Brothers & Sisters", "Dirty Sexy Money", "October Road", "Desperate Housewives", "Big Shots" and "Carpoolers" and many other shows available through their episode viewer. All of the shows have at least the last 2 episodes available, most have the last 4 or more. You can also stream the latest episode of "Pushing Daisies", "Private Practice", "Dirty Sexy Money", "Ugly Betty", "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives" in HD which does make for a better online viewing experience.

Fox now has many shows available with the new Fox on Demand, "Bones", "Family Guy", "Prison Break", "Simpsons", "Back To You", "House" and "K-Ville". Most of these shows have the last 4 or 5 episodes available.

The CW has the last 4 epsiodes of "Supernatural", "Reaper", "Gossip Girl", and "Everybody Loves Chris" available.

Happy Halloween

"Ghost Hunters"(Sci Fi) is having a live 6 hour Halloween broadcast tonight at 8.
If you haven't seen Ghost Hunters before, the title should pretty much fill you in, but it's a group (TAPS) that investigates Ghost sightings and hauntings. Its a cool show and the team is actually pretty serious and they have some cool ghost detecting equipment, but I always feel like most of the drama comes from the production of the show rather than what happens on their hunt. I am not saying that the show manufactures all of the drama because it is pretty creepy at times and there is plenty of tension anytime someone hears a noise in a dark area. But, if there was an episode that showed 100% documented proof that ghosts exist, it wouldn't be shown on Sci Fi, it would be a huge news story. This live episode can change all that with the return to the Waverly Hills Sanatorium (which is definitely haunted and was pretty active on their first visit).

Luckily the 8 o'clock start time for Ghost Hunters gives you the 7 o'clock hour to fully focus on "Pushing Daisies"(Wednesday 7 ABC). If you're not watching this show yet I have no choice but to take it as a personal attack against myself, quality television and America. It really is a great show, its a quirky fairy tale that is easily the best looking show on TV in years. But aside from being visually stunning, the show also has a fun premise (Ned can bring back the dead with some additional restrictions) and a love story where the characters can never touch each other (one of those restrictions). Tonight's Halloween episode promises to be spooky, creepy and scary (really the trifecta for any Halloween description) and looks very funny. The entire series is streaming for free at ABC.com, so if you happened to have missed an episode you can easily catch up.

Get your free Taco tomorrow from 2-5 at Taco Bell.

Do you feel the need to hide your Star Wars obsession? I personally have a podracer hanging under my rear view mirror, that's right in plain view. And I think that you too can start to show just how into Star Wars you really are. An easy first step is to visit the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago for the very legitimate Star Wars exhibit. I am very excited to sit in the Millennium Falcon.

Alyssa Milano is going to be on "My Name is Earl"(Thursday 7 NBC) tonight, and I just love it when TV combines 2 of my favorite things.
The creative writing episode last week was another hilarious idea from the show and another way to focus on each character and give them their own outlet. As great as Randy's story was, I have to say my favorite was Crabman's ode to the crab (it was very "Flight of the Conchords", but it's okay if you follow the template of something as offbeat and funny as that show) followed by Randy, Joy, Catalina and Earl.

Last weeks "The Office"(Thursday 8 NBC) was one of my favorites in awhile, it was also the last of the 4 hour long episodes to start the year. "You wouldn't understand Jim, it a secret" and "You're talking about Jim and Pam aren't you, if their having sex and what it looks like" are hilarious lines that only add to the episode where we see Michael working as a telemarketer, Jim and Pam stay at Dwight's beet farm B&B and some serious bonding between Jim and Dwight as Dwight breaks down when Angela accepts a date with another man.

Watch these 2 shows. While you're at it, check out "30 Rock"(Thursday 7:30 NBC) and the season premiere of "Scrubs"(Thursday 8:30 NBC) which is starting its final season.

Wha Happened?

I think I am back, I think.

I am sorry that I left you during this crucial time in your TV lives, I hope you haven't taken extreme measures, like reading or something dangerous like that.
I have been busy, (and have recently chosen sleep over posting, seriously its nothing personal I will still be your guide in this thing called life) but I will do my best to resume sacrificing both my health and social life for the good of TV. I hope to work less, watch just the same amount of TV (I think I am down to only about 27 hours a week of primetime network shows) and bring you my delightful commentary on all of my favorite shows now that I am working closer to home and putting the finishing touches on a Halloween party that promises to be the best ever (and not in name alone).

Some of the topics that I hope to touch on over the next lets call it 96 hours:

• What the Chuck?-There are many characters named Chuck on TV this year, what's the deal with that?
• Which new shows are my favorites-"Pushing Daisies"(Wednesday 7 ABC) and "Reaper"(Tuesday 8 The CW) are currently leading the pack
• How and where to catch up on all the essential shows that may have slipped through the cracks or not recorded due to DVR mishaps.
• Roger Feely is in the house!
• Who would have thought that we would see a B-Boy revival
  
• And finally I want to find out how you're doing. Are you okay? Did you miss me? I know that's a silly question (of course you did), but hopefully I can make it up to you. You want to throw the ball around and catch up?

See, I'm here for you now. And hopefully my next posts will actually have topics that allow me to complete a thought without being a smartass.

Monday's New Show Updates

Monday
Chuck(NBC 7)-I've kind of cooled on this one, but only because I had extremely high hopes from the very funny pilot. The thing I have to remember is how Josh Schwartz writes, "The O.C." didn't really have a true sense of direction until the 3rd or 4th episode, with the first couple setting up the real storylines for the series. This is a smart show that doesn't take itself too seriously, and has already made reference to "Lost" as part of the government secrets that Chuck knows. Watch all episodes this season free(I am assuming).
Big Bang Theory(CBS 7:30)-I don't really remember much from the second episode, and I don't think I even came close to laughing.
K-Ville(Fox 8)-So far this show hasn't done anything to make itself unique, and right now its just a mediocre cop show.
Journeyman(NBC 9)-This show looks like it will be able to deliver some mystery and a bigger mythology and backstory to the time traveling story. Its not just why is he going back in time, but who is behind it and how did his ex-finance get involved and where is she in her "real time" world? Only 2 shows in, but I really like the direction the show has taken and suggest checking this one out, you can watch the first 2 episodes for free.

Friday Night Lights

Just a little reminder that tonight is the night for the "Friday Night Lights"(Friday 8 NBC) premiere.
watch it

I almost don't know what to do with myself, its 12:15 and I am done watching all the TV I have for tonight. Its refreshing to think that I can actually get a good nights sleep tonight.
While thinking about how much sleep I may get, I noticed the SNL on my DVR and I felt the need to comment on it.
If you didn't see it LeBron James and Kanye West were host and musical guest.
Both did bad. LeBron was not comfortable, or believable, or prepared it was scary. His monologue reminded me of my performance as Sweetness in the Super Bowl Shuffle, he didn't know what to do with his hands so he just kept on moving them back and forth (but my dancing was better). Kanye forgot the lyrics to his song then tried to freestyle for a few minutes, bad.

The whole show was pretty weak, but there were a couple funny moments.
The best by far was the new Digital Short, and big surprise, its another song by Andy Samberg (Lazy Sunday, Dick in a box and the Natalie Portman rap).
"Iran so far" could be a popular song, its made for the radio and features Adam Levine from Maroon 5, but its also about how and why Andy loves Mahmoud Ahmandinejad (yeah, the president of Iran).
Hilarious

The Tuesday

Get ready for "Cavemen"(Tuesday ABC 7) and "Carpoolers"(Tuesday ABC 7:30) tonight, because there is a good chance that neither will make it past week 2. Both shows are said to be the worst of the season.
I saw the original pilot for Cavemen (which will be reshot and shown as the 3rd or 4th episode) and I thought it was actually funny. But they have since recast some of the cavemen and have "changed the direction" of the show. The idea is stupid, take a mildly funny TV ad and stretch it out into a show, but the pilot had some very funny moments. I don't have much faith that this show will be able to be entertaining long term. I have even less faith in Carpoolers, watch "Bones"(Tuesday 7 FOX) instead. ABC will redeem themselves tomorrow night with the best new show of the season "Pushing Daisies"(Wednesday 7 ABC). The creativity of this show is on display in every shot, the whole show has a quirky fairy tale feeling to it (this show is even more amazing in HD).
Tonight is episode 2 of both "Reaper"(Tuesday 8 The CW) and "Cane"(Tuesday 9 CBS). Reaper looks like it could be one of the better new shows, while Cane looks like it could get boring pretty quickly.

Tonight both "Everybody Hates Chris"(Monday 7 The CW) and "Aliens In America"(Monday 7:30 The CW) have their premieres. Unfortunately these 2 shows are on at a very busy time, and I know that few will be able to watch these. Chris is a very funny show, and Aliens has Luke from "Gilmore Girls" and the pilot was good, but I can't realistically recommend either of these shows to you.

Monday's at 7 are brutal. One of my top 8 is on "How I Met Your Mother"(CBS), one of the best new shows is on "Chuck"(NBC) and there still is a possibility that "Prison Break"(FOX) will have a fun and exciting season.
I am watching 7 1/2 hours of TV tonight, and 4 of those are from 7-8. Tonight may be the last night I watch "K-Ville"(FOX 8), so far it hasn't worked for me, though the last episode did a better job of focusing on Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser.
"Heroes"(NBC 8) is the one show that I never worry about where the story is going, so far they have done a flawless job by unfolding the story in new and creative ways.
I'm very excited to see the direction the second episode of "Journeyman"(NBC 9) takes. I know that each episode will involve flashbacks into a person's life so that Dan can help them, but how long will he do this without a reason or extra motivation? I like the actors (and no the lead is not Anthony Michael Hall) and I like the mystery surrounding his time travelling.