It’s the new fall television season, and Sirui seems to think that 1.) My television choices makes us PCS men look like bee-yotches (I disagree), and that 2.) This bonding exercise lets you guys into our heads, which isn’t such a bad thing, no?

So, I adore television, and watch very little of it. Why? Well, most of it isn’t very good. The Wire, Deadwood, Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Galactica? All Gone. God rest ‘em. They were the best television had to offer. Those were the glory days. Here’s all I’m left with:

Fringe:
I’ll say it: It’s X-Files done better. It took about 6 episodes into the first season for it to finally kick in, but when it does, it never lets up. They ask questions, then answer them. When there’s a logical conclusion to reach, people don’t run from it, no matter how absurd. JJ Abrams has made television his bitch. He is awesome for this kind of stuff (Where the HECK is Star Trek??), and Fringe has me on the edge every week.

Grey’s Anatomy:
Yes, I’m a guy, and yes, I watch Greys. It’s a little soapy, and that’s a big problem. The last two seasons weren’t so great, again, a negative mark. However, when this show is in stride, few dramas can compare. I’ll wager it’s because, structurally, the writing is flawless. When I’m studying the tics of mainstream t.v. writing, and I want an ensemble drama, few shows balance high tension, human relationships, and social commentary as effortlessly as Grey’s Anatomy. That, and the Chief is a brother holding it down. What?

Trauma:
NBC has a history of edgy hospital shows, and for some reason they come off a lot more realistic than most of the contemporaries. Trauma’s cast is what grabbed me. That’s probably due to the fact that three of them come directly from FILM. Combine these fine actors with a fantastic premise, ie, those moments BEFORE we get to the hospital leading up to the trauma room, and I’m ready. This is what you call Shola giving NBC credit to burn.

Mad Men:
Ernie tells me that this is the show that I should be watching. He says A&E falls somewhere below HBO pedigree (True Blood notwithstanding) and above Showtime. If that’s true, sign me up. I know nothing about the show, but the emmy folks love it – which means that it’s probably watchable. Maybe. Ernie gave it some love and I trust him, like, 75% of the time…which is surprisingly fucking high.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency:
So I just caught up on the series via ITunes, and this is definitely of HBO pedigree. Strong writing, excellent cinematography, and gripping plots continue the Must See TV tradition. Who knew that Jill Scott would be so affably vibrant on screen as Botswanna’s audacious female detective. Add Dreamgirl’s Anika Noni Rose to the cast as Scott’s peculiarly stuffy secretary, and you’ve got one of the most spectacular mystery casts since Angela Lansbury charmed the world with Murder She Wrote. Fantastic television. Let’s hope HBO picks it up for 2nd season.

So What Else is On?
Flash Forward is something I should care about (being Sci-Fi and all), but I’m surprisingly ‘meh’. Comic book writers and television don’t equal automatic gold with me, and if people keep comparing this to LOST, that’s just pushing me away. I tried LOST for two seasons and it pissed me off. Howard and crew keep singing the praises of Supernatural, but it’s WB, so I’m VERY cautious about turning my television anywhere NEAR that channel. The show that continues it’s sordid Love/Hate relationship with me is DEXTER. Season 1 and 2 were spectacular. Season 3 with the psychopathic District Attorney was spectacularly bad. Maybe I should get back to Californication?