Watching The CW

I’m gonna miss Reaper over the next few weeks and I’m gonna hope it will be back after the New Year. They didn’t actually say it would, but I have hope. Although, Tuesday night, traditionally a full night for me with TV, will be even more full with the addition of American Idol, so I don’t know how much I can watch.

We will have our DVR by then. I hope. When I called Time Warner cable they were all out of boxes and told me it might be a few weeks!! However, they tell me a DVR can only tape two shows at a time, when I have been known to tape anywhere up to five shows at one time. Plus, I keep the tapes. I really need someone who understands how this all works to explain it to me. I mean, can I tape on the DVR and then somehow save the show to a video tape or DVD so I can watch it again later like I do with my tapes now? I’ve been known to tape an entire season of a show and then re-watch it at a later date. I suppose that the season DVDs come out so soon now that maybe that’s not necessary, but still, what if I wanna??

I’m completely serious. I need a lesson in what it means to DVR and what I can and can’t do with it. If I don’t know, how can I do what I’ve been doing all along. I’ve been taping shows and saving them since the early 80’s. Really. So please, if you’re our there, help me. Soon, like before Reaper comes back on.

Reaper, American Idol, DVR

Reaper was OK this week. Maybe I’m expecting more cause so many shows are repeats now. We were actually sitting at dinner tonight and I had one of those really frustrating conversations that often happen with my 80-year old mom:

MOM: That show is a repeat again tonight.
ME: What show?
MOM: You know, Back To Back, Back To You?
ME: Yeah, of course, there aren’t any more new episodes.
MOM: Why do they do that? Why start a new show and then right away show repeats?
ME: Um . . . the writers strike? Remember the strike? It’s all over the news and most shows are in repeats now.

Anyway, that’s my life. Getting back to Reaper, its not that I didn’t have fun when they were running around into people’s homes and stealing cremated ashes, but I kept thinking, this could be better. Years ago I worked for an attorney that had a deceased client’s cremated remains in our vault. The office was in a really old house and the vault was a creepy place. Our law clerk (he’s not a partner at one of the largest firms in the city!) went down and opened the box so we could look at it. We were young. After that time, the rest of the people in the office kept playing all these practical jokes on me and saying it was her ghost. Ahhhh, good times.

OK, Reaper. What was it about again? Oh, I did like the part where Ben told Sam and Sock about his uncle that the grandmother won’t let them speak to anymore. He lives in the house and no one can talk to him!! That’s funny. Cause, you know, our family has crazy stuff like that, too. I was a little freaked out when the grandmother stabbed Sam in the hand, although, of course, I totally saw it coming.

I did wonder that no one comments when Ben’s grandmother tells him that he was doing “God’s work” since obviously, they are working for the Devil. Who, by the way, is just as awesomely, evilly creepy as ever.

Reaper, Writers Strike, Back To You

Just to keep up with strike issue and holiday programming, I’ve checked out the prime time schedule on the CW for the next couple of weeks. The CW shows its own programming from 8 to 10 pm Sunday through Friday, and local programming on Saturday night. Here’s the scoop:

Sunday, November 25
Tonight, they are showing a repeat of New Life is Wild and, as always on Sunday, an encore of the latest ep of America’s Next Top Model.

Monday, November 26
Monday is the night of the sitcom at the CW and this week there are all new programs all night, which are Everybody Hates Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends and The Game.

Tuesday, November 27
Both Beauty and the Geek and Reaper are new this week. Of course, being reality TV, Beauty and the Geek will be new regardless of the strike. There probably aren’t too many weeks left though.

Wednesday, November 28
Wednesday has another reality show, America’s Next Top Model, which has about 3 weeks left, plus this week, a new Gossip Girl. At first, I thought of watching this, but somehow, I never got around to it. Some of the previews I’ve seen, though, have not at all captured my interest.

Thursday, November 29
Unfortunately, both Smallville and Supernatural are repeats this week, which makes me very sad.

Friday, November 30
The CW has the Friday Night Smackdown each week, and being a form or reality TV - or do they consider this a sport? - its a new ep.

Sunday, December 2
New Life is Wild and encore of ANTM.

Monday, December 3
All the sitcoms are all repeats.

Tuesday, December 4
Both new Beauty and Reaper.

Wednesday, December 5
All new ANTM and Gossip Girl.

Thursday, December 6
Again, *sigh* repeats of Smallville and Supernatural.

Friday, December 7
New Smackdown.

Sunday, December 9
Once again, we are treated to a new Life is Wild and an encore of the latest ep of ANTM.

Just for fun, here’s a link an Ausiello report of the 20 things he’s thankful for this year. It’s worth it, just for the link to the what could have been Season 4 Veronica Mars trailer, so check it out.

The CW, the Ausiello Report, Veronica Mars, Reaper, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, Smallville, Life Is Wild, Everybody Hates Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends, The Game, Bauty and the geek, Friday Night Smackdown

A deal with the Devil is not a good thing. Ever. That was definitely proven to Sam this week on Reaper. I have to say I was very glad about that. I was also glad that Sock macking on Gladys was all a bad dream sent by a demon. Cause, ewwwww!

I’m starting to get more into this show each week. More than I did at first, anyway. One thing I find so interesting is how they can take a show that is basically silly and a little funny and then suddenly turn it around with something really gruesome, like the detective being forced to shoot himself. Obviously, that was better than having him shoot Sam, but still, it seems like a very hard price to pay to redeem your debt to the devil.

I hope Sam is paying close attention. I hope he’s learning. I know he really seems to dislike the devil and he did, possibly, learn his lesson. This time. I just don’t want him to forget and think he can trust the devil. OK, I’m thinking about this way too much, aren’t I? I do know that these aren’t real people. Really I do. And I’m pretty sure that they won’t mess up their show by killing off the main character anytime soon, but I am wondering what direction they plan on taking this, since they keep proving that no one wins when they go head to head with Satan.

I’m also wondering when and how Sam is gonna need that get out of jail free card.

Reaper, Bret Harrison, Ray Wise

So where does the term Grim Reaper come from anyway. I understand the context, I’m just wondering about the origination of the term. Does it have something to do with the Brothers Grimm? This past week, Supernatural based their episode “Bedtime Stories” on the Grimm version of some fairy tales. So is that the origin of the word “grim” as well? I’m gonna have to do some research.

In any case, it’s not my favorite show, but I do like Reaper. Although, I guess I wouldn’t call it grim. Ray Wise really makes such a great devil. He’s just perfect in that role and he’s so much fun.

I’m even liking Sock better. At first I thought he was so annoying and over the top, but he’s growing on me. I also enjoy the relationship between Sam and Andi. I like how they brought them so close together, then created a situation which kept them apart for a couple of eps, and now are bringing them back together. I think it makes things better, creates more interest and tension on a show, to keep the main characters apart.

I’ve mentioned it before, I know, it’s that whole Moonlighting, Remington Steele thing. There’s probably some more modern shows where the same thing has happened, but I think they were the start. A show with all this great tension between the main characters that’s ruined by their eventually hooking up. There must be a way that it can happen and maybbe there are shows where it works, but I always worry about it messing up a show I like.

Also, I happened to catch an ep of Grounded for Life over the weekend with Bret Harrison. I didn’t realize he was in that show. He was such a little doll.

Reaper, Ray Wise, Bret Harrison, Grounded for Life, Moonlighting, Remington Steele, Grim Reaper, Brothers Grimm

Well, things change, and as of today, the change on WatchingCW.com is that I’ll be the new blogger.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide you with lots of fun info, along with my occasionally slanted take on the CW’s shows. Please feel free to comment, discuss, argue, cajole, and whatever else you’d like, in the comments section. I love to have feedback.

Just so you have some background info about me, I love scifi stuff, so I’m a fan of Reaper and Supernatural, and to a lesser degree, Smallville. I also watch America’s Next Top Model, whenever I get the chance, and not, as you might think, because I believe that chicks that skinny must be aliens. Well, I’m not positive they aren’t, but I’m pretty sure.

If you hang around me long enough, you’ll know that my absolute favorite show of all time, is, was and always will be, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That probably tells you something about me that you may or may not even want to know. Either way, get ready for lots of random Buffy quotes and Whedonisms, as well as comparisons to Buffy and why, in my opinion, it was so much better than any other show out there. Ever.

I hope we’ll all be very happy together for some time to come and get to be great friends. Or at least that you will read my blog and post comments so that I don’t think I’m just here talking to myself and that no one cares.

You can also check out my other blog at www.watchingsitcoms.com.

CW, Reaper, Supernatural, Smallville, America’s Next Top Model, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon, Watching Sitcoms

Reaper is the new show on the CW that i have been most looking forward to. A better fit to my taste than say Gossip Girl, and neatly bookends the week with Supernatural (10 days and counting to season 3).

Here is the preview from youtube - ENJOY!

The CW, Reaper, youtube

Lovely interview with Ray Wise over at SciFi about how his whole career was leading up to playing the devil. I think the powers-that-be made a wise choice in Wise as having such an experienced character actor will bring much depth to a light and frothy show (think Buffy and how they were packed to the gills with solid actors). Of course it also helps to have input from cinematic meister Kevin Smith who really knows how to handle the “slacker” genre.

The CW, Reaper, Ray Wise, Kevin Smith, Buffy, SciFi

TVGuide’s Matt Roush has some praise for the forthcoming season of scripted shows on the CW. He is excited about Reaper and positively glowing about Aliens in America.

Apparently all us Supernatural fans are getting our knickers into a twist over the two new female characters that will be regulars in the third season. In an interview Eric Kripke, series creator, addresses our fears and promises that “We are not turning into One Tree Hill with monsters”. There seems to be a fair amount of hand holding going out to us fans to reassure us that Ruby and Bella will be rivals, or equals, to the Winchester brothers BUT not love interests.

The CW, Supernatural, TV Guide, Matt Roush, Ausiello, Reaper, Aliens in America

Reaper is by far the new CW show that I am most excited about. I think that it will fit very well with CW’s genre programming of quirky shows like Supernatural and Smallville.

The simple premise is that on a slacker’s 21st birthday he discovers that his parents sold his soul to the devil (suddenly why his parents were so easy on him makes sense) and Satan (Ray Wise) swings into town to appoint him as bounty hunter for escaped evil souls.

For sneak peeks and more info check out Reaper’s homepage over at CW.

CW, Reaper, Fall 2007, Kevin Smith, Ray Wise