regarding recording television

Upcoming Recordings 09/13 - 09/18

For the next week I think I’ll preface every conversation with a reference to THE SURREAL LIFE. Anyone not watching the VH1 show is out of his mind. The interaction between Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen is truly surreal. The casting for season three of the show is better than anyone had any right to expect. Dave Coulier’s constant inability to understand Charo is fantastic and mesmerizing. Ryan Starr's dislike for all of her castmates is totally unwarranted. And Jordan Knight’s assholeness is comparable to Corey Feldman's, yet totally distinct. If you watch just one reality show this year, THE SURREAL LIFE is the one you should watch.

I will also throw in a quick note about the WB’s JACK & BOBBY. I liked it. It is a little schmaltzy, but it’s got promise. The conceit of the story’s narration (as told by various people who knew the adult Jack & Bobby) is way heavy handed and I think it will get old by the third or fourth episode. Right now, I’m willing to hang with it (the narration) and see where the show goes.

MONDAY (9/13)

HOME MOVIES (Cartoon, 4:29am) Part of Adult Swim, HOME MOVIES is good stuff. Alex got me hooked on the show. I like it more than AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE and SEALAB 2021.

THE BENEFACTOR (ABC, 8pm) I have yet to read a good review of this show. Maybe one or two will appear Monday morning. Mark Cuban is an interesting guy and I’m completely hooked on his blog. The idea of him giving away a million dollars is sort of enticing and I’ve got my fingers crossed that the casting is as good as he says it is (but he’s a salesman, so maybe I should lower my expectations a bit).

EVERWOOD (The WB, 9pm) Season premiere. Are we already onto the third year of this show? It really is one of the best dramas on television.

PARKING LOT (Trio, 9pm) A new episode of PARKING LOT – Michael Jackson Parking Lot. I’ve seen the other episodes of the show and I’m sort of a completist on that front. One more episode won’t hurt, but my level of enthusiasm is incredibly low for this one.

TUESDAY (9/14)

GROWING UP GOTTI (A&E, 1:30am) This is now a regular on my list of things to record. I watched two episodes earlier today and as much as I didn’t want to get hooked, I couldn’t resist. Twenty minutes of this show once a week is the perfect dose.

WEDNESDAY (9/15)

THE ALTERNATIVE (VH1 Classic, 11pm) Have I already mentioned this show on VH1? It’s like 120 Minutes – same music videos and everything. It’s just that it’s 60 minutes shorter and it airs earlier in the evening. Best watched in group settings.

THURSDAY (9/16)

RAY DAVIES: THE WORLD THROUGH MY WINDOW (Trio, 6pm) I know absolutely nothing about this. I scoured the internet and couldn’t find a single review. If anyone knows anything about this, please leave a comment. Is it a documentary? Is it a recording of a live performance? I have no idea. I’m willing to take a chance, though.

THE O.C.: OBSESS COMPLETELY (Fox, 8pm) I’ve already stated to members of my OC watching club that I won’t be watching this teaser about what’s to come this season. I’d feel remiss if I didn’t mention it’s existence, though.

BURT REYNOLDS (TCM) TCM is having a Burt Reynolds five movie marathon on Thursday. If you’re in the mood to record a film this week, take your pick of WHITE LIGHTNING, SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, DELIVERANCE, FUZZ and THE MAN WHO LOVED CAT DANCING. Anyone have any favorites among these? Which one should I record?

FRIDAY (9/17)

WHOLE (Sundance, 12:30am) This documentary is about a small group of the population who feel the need to cut off one of their limbs in order to feel “whole.” I don’t think there’s any way this could not be fascinating.

DEGRASSI: UNSCRIPTED (The N, 8pm) This show is sort of like MTV’s Cribs, but not at all. The show is just promotional filler before the new season of DEGRASSI starts. When you fast forward most of it, you can watch it in ten minutes.

FILM SCHOOL (IFC, 10:30pm) I watched episode one this week and found myself very relieved that I never went to film school. The show follows four students as they work on creating their ten minute shorts. The potential for dullsville is pretty high with this one.

SATURDAY (9/18)

DESIGNER FINALS (HGTV, 1am) This show returned to HGTV a few weeks ago. Because I loved the first episode last January, you’d think that I would’ve watched every additional episode. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I’ll record it this week and see what I’ve been missing.