TV Beat

It wasn't until I read Ann Cannon's two blogs (The Writer's Corner) about TV watching that I realized I hadn't seen any of the new fall offerings. It isn't because I don't like TV; I do, but I watch most of it on my laptop streaming HULU or HULU PLUS where the ads are much shorter.

I watch CASTLE on Tuesday mornings, MODERN FAMILY on Thursday mornings, THE OFFICE on Friday morning and so on. I also watch HOUSE, and LAW AND ORDER, SVU.

On TV, I watch Masterpiece Theater on Sunday nights. It's a ritual. On Saturday nights, I watch NEW TRICKS, a British detective show on PBS. And almost every night at eleven, I watch INTERNATIONAL HOUSE HUNTERS. It's irresistible. I also like watching the bitchy real estate brokers on BUYING NEW YORK on Thursday nights on HGTV.

I was a huge fan of Helen Mirren as detective chief inspector, Jane Tennison in the British PRIME SUSPECT, so when I saw there was an American version, I was reluctant to watch.

But last week, I watched the first three hours of the series and though it isn't quite as understated as its British counterpart, it is edgy and character driven. Although, I hate the fedora and the gum chewing. But oh vel. I'm a fan.

I also watched the first three hours of REVENGE, which has the nastiest bunch of characters since DAMAGES, which I miss terribly. REVENGE reminds me of DAMAGES--it even uses that disorienting treatment of time where you watch a scene in the distant past, one in the present, and then the next scene begins with "Six months earlier." Really? Chronology is evidently not hip.

I like DAMAGES better than REVENGE, because it allows more time for both character and story development. And Glenn Close in those Ralph Lauren sunglasses is to die for. REVENGE moves quickly in one hour segments of someone's downfall. Characters sneer smiles at each other. I hate it. And I'll keep watching it, because it's so completely trashy.

I don't watch situation comedies until someone I trust tells me I will love it.

So what are you watching?