2004 Fall Season

A System for TV Premiere Season 08.27.04

My mental illness is no secret. In this case, it expresses itself in a giant, time-wasting TV grid project when I should've been packing for a road trip.

Week One 09.07.04

NBC takes an opportunity to dump a couple of its most success-proof shows on us early, so we'll forget about the heartache they cause and return to NBC with open arms when the new season of Law & Order starts. (Also, get a head start on what's premiering this week.)

Week Two 09.13.04

This is probably one of the better weeks we're going to have for a while, what with Joey (an actual sitcom) and Neal McDonough (an actual actor). I'm with the LAX guy: "Shut it down! Shut it all down!"

Week Three 09.20.04

The Benefactor is every bit as pointless as you imagined, but – my stars! – LAX actually packs a modicum of style. Plus, get ready for week four: it's coming at us like a frickin' tidal wave.

Week Four 10.04.04

Better late than never, here's my take on the onslaught of new programming from The Week That Was. (Unfortunately, also the week I was out of town.) I'm hoping to play more catch-up over the next couple of days.

Week Five 10.05.04

The new TV season keeps trundling on, and now I'm just about caught up with it.

Week Six 10.07.04

And... there! I'm finally caught up with telling you what I think of all the shows that have debuted so far this season, just in time for two more to start tonight.

Week Seven 10.11.04

A pair of new shows from ABC. A little bit of surprise, a little bit of disappointment. Just sit tight: a little bit more baseball and then Arrested Development will be back.

Programming Note 10.18.04

After taking a week off, TV is premiering some more shows, and I wouldn't want you to be caught unawares.

Week Nine 10.25.04

Another season of The West Wing promises more of the same: plenty of drama, chaos, and peril, plus the continued slow decline of the post-Sorkin era.

Week Ten 11.03.04

The only new show we got this week was Center of the Universe, and there are no surprises.

Sho, Huff 11.02.04

Showtime is doing to me what it did last June with Out of Order: thrusting a bunch of great actors I love into a show that seems really fascinating. Will it work this time?

Grey's Anatomy 04.19.05

I watched the first two episodes of ABC's Grey's Anatomy – herewith, a smattering of random reactions.

Veronica Mars 05.16.05

The first season of Veronica Mars may well be the best first season of a TV drama so far this decade. Before it's too late, I implore (nay, order) you to try this show – you won't regret it.