The
new fall season is almost here. Starting next week, the cable and
broadcast networks will be begin rolling out new episodes of all the
shows that survived the writers-strike-afflicted 2007-2008 season,
giving us the chance to get acquainted with some old friends -- and
reacquaint ourselves with more than a few characters who we met only
fleetingly last fall. Here, then, are the top ten returning shows that
were most looking forward to seeing.
We're lumping these together because they've got pretty similar profiles -- shallow, oversexed Hollywood hunks and the misfits and hangers-on who enable them -- and because they're apparently going head-to-head this year, but we have to confess: we watch them for very different reasons. Californication we enjoy (when we do) almost solely for the performance of David Duchovny, whose Hank Moody is unbearable if you take even a second to think about it -- but Duchovny inhabits him which such light, wry line readings and precise comic hesitations that he earns the Hugh Laurie Award for justifying our coming back week after week to a show we're not convinced is all that good.
And as for Entourage, well, we're guessing that you're guessing that we watch that show for Jeremy Piven, but you're only partially right. Yes, Piven's fantastic, as are Kevins Dillon and Connelly. But the real reason we watch is that, in a million subtle ways, it's one of the most technically accomplished tv comedies that we've ever seen. So many jokes are executed in the background or the peripheral of the screen, and the photography is so rich with color and depth, that we find ourselves laughing more when we see it on a good TV -- and that's a rare thing.
All right, we admit it: we also watch these shows 'cause we like boobs. Like that's so wrong.
Entourage (Sundays at 10PM EST) returns Sunday, September 7 at 10PM EST on HBO; Californication (Sundays at 10PM EST) returns Sunday, September 28 at 10PM EST on Showtime.
TOP TEN RETURNING SHOWS FALL 2008
#1. "30 Rock" & "Terminator"
#2. "Dexter"
#3. "Gossip Girl"
#4. "Pushing Daisies"
#5. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
#6. "Heroes"
#7. "Dirty Sexy Money"
#8. "House"
#9. "Entourage" / "Californication"
#10. "The Shield"
