What I've Been Watching

There's something you may not know about me.

I'm a TV addict. I love all kinds of TV, be it cheesy and poorly written, hysterically funny or extremely dramatic and brilliant. In fact, my perfect winter weekend would consist of being snowed in with a few seasons of TV on DVD in the queue and endless amounts of hot popcorn and other goodies. Take our New Year's Eve night, for example. We stayed in, made some grub and watched like 8 episodes of Boardwalk Empire. Now that's my kind of night.

I thought it would be fun to give you the rundown of what I'm watching now and hopefully you can give me some suggestions for new things to test out!

Shameless: It's the new show on Showtime featuring a fantastic William H. Macy as a drunken father of 6. Funny, heartbreaking and they aren't kidding with the title. While by the second episode I was on the fence, last Sunday's ep solidified its place in our TV repetoire.

 

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Lights Out: The new show on FX. I was lucky enough to attend the NYC premiere of the show and was immediately hooked, and not just by Holt McCallany's attractiveness either. Like any new show, it needed a couple of weeks to get going, but the third ep must be the charm since Tuesday night's outing left me on the edge of my seat for next week.

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Jersey Shore: Here's where the cheese comes in. I'm a Jersey girl and I find it brilliant that this subculture has made it to television. I'm no stranger to the Shore and some of the people who frequent certain parts, but examining it through a reality show is quite the ride. And for you non-Jerseyans, please note that most of the Jersey Shore is gorgeous and wonderful - not Snooki-laden.

30 Rock: I still love Liz and Jack, but it's not necessarily a must-watch. We catch it when we can!

Top Chef All-Stars: I love when they have all-star seasons because they are just so fun. I'm so happy to see Fabio back in action and the challenges this go 'round have stepped up the competition. Throw in some Tony Bourdain as a judge and I think we've got a winner on our hands.

 

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Modern Family: Love love love this show. The best comedy on TV since Arrested Development got the axe (though I'm hesitant to even put it in the same category as that piece of genius).

Castle: I've been watching since episode 1 and can never get enough. It's the most fun show on this list and I look forward to it each and every week. Fun mysteries, a budding romance and all the Nathan Fillion you can handle. What could be bad about that? Oh and did I mention that I even read the 2 novels written by Nathan's character, Richard Castle? Yup, I did.

The Office: I have a love/hate relationship with it. Sometimes its on the mark and sometimes not so much. Last night's David Brent appearance was so funny but so short-lived. I feel duped.

Of course, there are many more, depending on the time of year. For example, I'm already counting down to June when the 4th season of True Blood will premiere! So there you have it. A little round up of what I'm enjoying on the old telly these days. What are your favorite shows on TV right now?

What I'm Pop Culturing This Week...and the Last Few

What I'm Watching...on DVD
After finishing Dexter, Season 1, I burned straight through Dexter, Season 2. Though perhaps not for the uber-squeamish (he is a blood-obsessed serial killer after all), the show keeps up the 'need - to - see - next - ep - immediately - because - I - need - to - know - how - Dex - is - getting - out - of - this - one' urgency. And honestly? That's all I'm asking for. The impeccable (and post-Six Feet Under made over and now v. attractive) Michael C. Hall makes the blood-thirsty Dexter sympathetic while adorable Jennifer Carpenter as Dex's sister (and real-life wife of Michael C. Hall) brings humor as crass, foul-mouthed Deb. The mysteries remain compelling and the stories are tightly woven...meaning I will likely continue onto Dexter, Season 3 as soon as possible.

What I'm Watching...on TV
The end of Top Chef: Masters has brought a new personal obsession with Rick Bayless and a new season of Top Chef, this time from Las Vegas. Though the contestants this season seem like social misfits (and not one bit of eye candy for men or women), I can't help but watch, if only for Padma's kickin' wardrobe and Tom Colicchio's cool. Here's hoping that it picks up steam a little. Meanwhile, my Barefoot Contessa obsession remains strong. Fall TV cannot come fast enough.

What I'm Reading...on Kindle
Essentially nothing right now. I ask you, kind readers, for some good book recommendations. I don't discriminate between genres, so all suggestions are welcome! I have gotten into a bad habit of leaving books half-read when they aren't holding my interest (Three Cups of Tea, The Alchemist by Michael Scott). Help!

What I Pop Cultured...in Aruba

While I recover from my paradise-filled Aruban vacation, where I ate surf & turf, drank frozen cocktails, sat on the beach for 12 hours a day, mourned MJ, celebrated the first anniversary, and finally got a healthy tan, I thought it necessary to update my week in pop culture. Though I have much to share about my Caribbean adventure, I still need to sort through photos and information so it could take a few days. Since I had TONS of time on my hands this week, here's what I brought along for the trip.

What I Read...on the Plane:
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult A novel following a student who shoots up his high school, killing 10 and wounding dozens, in a mere nineteen minutes. Picoult also brings in very likable characters in the form of said student's parents, his childhood friend and her mother, a dashing detective on the case, and very unlikable bullies who've tortured the shooter throughout his lifetime. I appreciate Picoult's writing-style and her ability to incorporate controversial issues into her fictional stories. While she doesn't offer solutions or choose sides in the bully vs. bullied, she does paint a picture that blurs the line of what's right, wrong, and justified. While it was no My Sister's Keeper, it was an easy, interesting read that held my attention.

What I Read...on the Beach:
April & Oliver by Tess Callahan Childhood friends, unrequited love, sexual tension, weekends in the Hamptons...April & Oliver had such potential for a saucy chick lit beach read. Unfortunately, April & Oliver could not have been more disappointing. Perhaps I had unfair expectations of what the book would ultimately be about, but I was left unfulfilled. While I don't mind leaving some ambiguities at the end of a good read, I felt that this one lead me out to sea and left me there. Though the characters were well developed, interesting, and intense, I was highly unsatisfied with the ultimate turn of events. I mean, why would I read a book in which I have no idea what happens to the main characters? Though some may appreciate the ambiguous ending that 'makes you think', I prefer to have a definitive climax. The main character lives or dies. They hook up or they don't (and let's face it, if they don't, why am I wasting my time?). This one left much to be desired...in many ways.

What I Watched...in the Hotel:
How I Met Your Mother, Season 3 The writers finally got it right this season. While always charming, the first two season struggled (in my eyes) with Ted as the lead because...well, because he's just boring. Season 3 focuses more on Barney (played spectacularly by Neil Patrick Harris) and the group is integrated into more storylines, making it a seriously funny sitcom in a dying sitcom era. The only episodes that faltered? The ones that were Ted/finding the Mother-centric. Does anyone really care who the mother is? Give me more Barney.

What I Watched...on the Plane:
Mad Men, Season 1 Skeptical of the hype but willing to give it a whirl mainly due to Jon Hamm and my love for 60's-era things, I finally watched the first two eps and I'm hooked. Drama, comedy, inappropriate gender/racial stereotyping, New York City...a winning combo. I plan to get my DVD on all week, so hopefully it will only get better.

That's about all I had time for last week. I plan to continue pop culturing this week and be sure to check back for Aruba guides!