regarding recording television

Upcoming Recordings 01/04 - 01/09

I'm trying to get back in the habit of updating my dvr blog at least once a week. Unfortunately, a lot of the things that look like they're worth recording are shows I've already seen. There are new episodes of THE O.C. and LIFE AS WE KNOW IT this week. And don't forget about LOST on Wednesday (followed by the season premiere of ALIAS). But this is stuff everyone already knows about.

Here's what my DVR is slated to record this week:

Tuesday (4 Jan)

THEY MADE AMERICA (WLIW (pbs), 11:30pm) - Based on the book by Harry Evans, this series looks like it could be interesting. I've opted to record the episode tonight because it features Ted Turner and Russell Simmons (perhaps two of the most profiled men in America). I just hope the show has some of the sassiness of MTV's CRIBS.

Wednesday (5 Jan)

DWELL (FineLvg, 1am) - Speaking of cribs, I was just reminded by Matt Haughey's new "my tivo" section on his pvrblog.com that DWELL exists. Somehow this show slipped off my radar and I stopped recording it. I was reminded why when I looked at the episode playing this week - it's one I've already seen. Maybe next week.

A COOK'S TOUR (Food, 4am) - Speaking of shows we've all seen before, it looks like Food Network is once again airing old episodes of A COOK'S TOUR. I feel like these disappeared for a few months. Now they're back. Last night I watched a recorded episode of Sundance's First Amendment Project (the episode directed by Bob Balaban). Eric Bogosian handled the hosting duties for the show. While drifting to sleep on the couch listening to Bogosian, I realized that he and Tony Bourdain sound really similar. My mind starting drifting into this weird cycle of who would play whom in the movie version of the other's life. They're both mid-level stars who get recognized but haven't lead these huge lives. Could one play the other in a bio-pic? Maybe they could team up and do a comedy food show? How awesome would that be? You'd never know who was talking! Yeah, so it made my brain hurt just thinking about it. It wasn't as exciting celeb casting as the time I decided ROSEANNE's Jonny Galecki should play Dave Eggers in the movie version of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

Thursday (6 Jan)

SECRET HISTORY OF SAN FRANCISCO (DiscoveryTimes, 4am) - I feel like Eggers got a bit of his creative start in San Francisco. Isn't that where he and some of his cronies created that first magazine they did? The one that only lasted 8 issues or so and featured the reported death of Adam Rich? None of that will be addressed in what I imagine is this dry documentary about San Francisco. I've got my fingers crossed that it'll be interesting.

Friday (7 Jan)

HENRY'S FILM CORNER (IFC, 2am) - I don't know why I'm going to watch this show again. I tried the first episode and was less than impressed. I'm watching because I hope the guests will be interesting. And I hope Henry Rollins has toned down his act. I will be proven wrong.

FRAZETTA: PAINTING WITH FIRE (IFC, 1:45pm) - Frank Frazetta is this crazy artist guy who is HUGE in the sci-fi/fantasy community. If you like monsters or swords or bodacious babes, I'm sure you're familiar with his work. During the past few months I've occasionally skipped past this doc, thinking I should record it. Now is that time - I will embrace my wannabe sci-fi/fantasy background!

Saturday (8 Jan)

DO YOU SPEAK AMERICAN? (13World (pbs channel 715 in NY), 2am) - This is a new show from PBS about American dialects. It could be neat. I'm sure it airs at different times and on different days across the country. Could be interesting, though. In sixth grade a friend of mine once reported to the class that sometimes his family would disappear on weekends and they'd take long drives to different parts of Virginia just to listen to the different dialects. I'm sure this would be right up his alley. Steve? Are you out there? Are you reading this?

Sunday (9 Jan)
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS (WLIW 21, 12am) - If you don't have AUSTIN CITY LIMITS set up as a regular record feature on your DVR, you don't know what you're missing. Every season there are three or four episodes of really great live music. Tonight's episode is one that could be hated, loved or loved and hated. It features Wilco and Bright Eyes. An upcoming episode features Modest Mouse and Guided By Voices.

What am I missing? Are there good shows I'm not recording?