Off Off Network TV

‘Tis the season - the networks are showing reruns or crappy summer replacements like NBC’s The Philanthropist or Fox’s Mental. It’s downright depressing to think I’ll never get back the hours I wasted watching those two losers. We don't subscribe to the elite channels, like HBO and Showtime. So, we’ve been sampling the original offerings the cable channels have been producing.

First, let me get this off my chest, after panning The Closer some time back, I have to confess Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson played by Kyra Sedgwick has wormed her way into my heart. In a field that includes few gems, this show stands out. Another show worth watching is the resurrected Law and Order: Criminal Intent now showing on the USA Network. With Det. Zack Nichols, played by actor Jeff Goldblum, joining the distinguished team of quirky crime investigators, the show still packs a punch for diehard fans. To be honest, though, my wife and I always experience a letdown whenever an episode doesn’t feature our favorite tandem, Detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Alex Eames (Kathryn Erbe). But somehow we manage to fight through our disappointment.

Burn Notice, starring Michael Westen, Gabrielle Anwar, with Sharon Gless, has also become one of our favorites. The premise, the writing, the acting are all top of the charts. Though the season just ended, we’re already impatient for the next installment.

Saving Grace, according to my wife, gets a little too silly at times and she abhors all kinds of silliness. Still, there’s something there worth watching, so we haven’t deleted it from our preferred list.

Royal Pains falls into the “okay” category. Somewhat lighter in tone, it’s a nice change from the deluge of heavy material. Speaking of which, TNT’s Dark Blue is too dark for our tastes. Its successor on Wednesday nights, Leverage, is too poorly written and acted and should haunt Timothy Hutton for the rest of his career.

But, it’s mid August and the new season of Network TV is right around the corner. Thanks God for small favors.

The Listener - Mental - Medium

It's summer. There's not much to watch on TV as regards dramas. So, I'm trying to like The Listener.

Granted, I've only seen two episodes, but here's my problem. It's hard to think "drama" when the show's main character, Toby Logan played by Craig Olejnik, bears a striking resemblence to Dana Carvey, one of my favorite funnymen. Just to be sure, I ran this notion past my wife, and she too had observed the similarities.

Still, aside from that, I'm liking the show so far. I like what's going on between Toby and his ex-girlfriend Dr. Olivia Fawcett, and Detective Charlene Marks portrayed by ex-model Lisa Marcos. And there's something likeable about his partner/buddy/regular guy Oz Bey.

Admittedly, the EMT thing doesn't thrill me, but, for now, during these stark days of summer TV viewing, I'll put up with it.

While we're talking about shows meant to rival The Mentalist, we should talk about the FOX offering Mental. This show might be of interest to students of Psych 101, but probably not to the rest of us who have learned long ago that psychotic people are not very much fun. Personally, I've had my fill of them.

Then there's Medium starring Patricia Arquette. A favorite of my wife and me, it was dumped by NBC and immediately picked up by CBS for the fall season. Thank God. I thought this last season had some of the best episodes of the entire 5 year run. Reportedly, NBC thought the show was "aging, as we were getting younger." Yeah, sure, as can be verified by the torturous Law and Order trilogy. There's a good reason why NBC is last in the ratings - it's being run by a bunch of idiots. And here I am holding 700 shares of parent company GE. Talk about idiots.