Media Maven Musings

So yesterday, I suggested that you all tune in to Pushing Daisies, Bionic Woman, and South Park, for your own good.  Three cool shows, three shared cultural experiences, take from them what you will.

Today? I am going to beg you to watch two shows not for your own sake, but for mine.  If you don’t watch these shows, they are 100% going to get canceled, no doubt about it.  Both shows are huge critical darlings, but for whatever reason, are stuck in the ratings basement (we’re talking like 170th out of 180 here, so like uber-basement).

30 ROCK

Tonight at 8:30, you must must must watch the season premiere of 30 Rock on NBC.  Must.  Why?  Well, first of all, if you don’t, this gem is going to get the ax before it can even reach November sweeps.  Second, it guest stars Jerry Seinfeld!  It’s been 10 years since Seinfeld was on NBC– how can you miss his return to comedic television?  Third, Tina Fey & Co know what’s at stake for their show, and I guarantee that they will be pulling out all the stops from here on out in hopes of wooing some more viewers.  If you missed last year’s Emmy winning season (at least Emmy voters got one thing right), now is a perfect time to jump in.  I’ve yet to meet a single person who doesn’t like this show, and the most common reaction I get is, “How come I wasn’t watching this before?”  So join the dozens of happy pappy people and get your bottle of 30 Rock today.

IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA

Also on tonight is another terrific comedy I love, but not one that is on the brink of elimination (at least not to my knowledge).  10-11 pm tonight, do yourself a favor and check out It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia on FX.  For some reason, FX has been broadcasting back to back new episodes every week, so you get a double dose of those zany Philadelphians each week.  This show is like a bunch of GOB’s from Arrested Development running around and doing crazy things.  Everyone is completely self-absorbed and ridiculous, yet also super insecure and truly a loser at heart.  The show is very well written and the acting is really terrific, especially from the show’s producer/writer/actor team of Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, and Glenn Howerton.  Do yourself a favor and watch this show.  You won’t be sorry.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Last, but certainly not least, I beg, plead and implore you to pretty please watch the most underrated drama on tv, Friday Night Lights, whose sophomore season premiere’s tomorrow night (yup, its on Friday nights now.  Easy enough to remember) at 9 pm on NBC.  I can’t think of a single bad thing to say about this show.  It’s got everything you could possibly want from a drama.  Whether it’s dealing with football, marriage, racism, betrayal, love, topical issues, what have you, this show is always compelling, flawlessly acted, and intelligently written.  The unobtrusive directing style dusts the whole program in air of believability; everything feels real, nothing feels forced or falsified.  Every character is completely three-dimensional, subtly acted, and totally engrossing.  In one episode, you might laugh, cry, groan, gasp or shout– there are just that many honest emotions peppered throughout the program.  You owe it to yourself to watch Friday Night Lights.  I can’t speak highly enough of this show, and if you and your friends don’t all tune in, it’s going to be canceled before you can say “touchdown.”

Meet you back here tomorrow to chat 30 Rock and maybe some other stuff.  Now set those Tivos and WATCH THESE SHOWS!