That's One Boring Hit Show

Just for the record, I think NBC's hit Heroes is boring.

The Season 1 Finale was anti-climactic. The season two preview was even more lame - I mean, Hiro in 1671 Japan? Who cares? I think the show is predictable and is lucky that it has a cool concept, innovative characters and a nice budget. But, between the fake New York and the fact that I don't really care about any of the characters, I know I may be a villain in the eyes of some hard core fans.

Now the real question is, will I be back for more? That's about the only Heroes cliffhanger worth waiting the summer to find out because knowing me and my TV, you never know...

TV's Black Monday

Monday nights have become one of my most stressful nights of television. Sounds rough, I know.

Action-packed hour-long dramas, a concoction of characters, plenty of plot lines and 4 hours of TV that really needs undivided attention the night it airs (Mondays) because you never know whats going to turn up at the water cooler (we have a fridge full of Poland Spring in my office, but you get the general idea).

Here's the line-up:
Prison Break, 8pm on Fox
Heroes, 9pm on NBC
24, 9pm on Fox
The Black Donnellys, 10pm on NBC
(and to keep things light, the charming sitcoms How I Met Your Mother, 8pm, and The Class, 8:30pm, both on CBS.)

I could spend time trying to justify the various reasons I have for watching the various television I watch. Now's not the time for that.

I could spend time telling you my history with Prison Break, Heroes, 24, and the aforementioned CBS Monday night sitcoms that are only so-so acclaimed and only perform so-so in the ratings. Bot, now's not the time for that either.

I'm here right now to talk..and complain a bit...about Monday's newest drama, The Black Donnellys. A replacement for NBC's other problematic Monday night hour-long, Studio 60. I wasn't going to watch The BDs because the reviews weren't that great and the whole The Departed meets The Sopranos in Queens wasn't really hooking me. Based on Ally's recommendation I DVR'd a re-airing of the pilot and caught the second episode tonight.

Just because I've seen two episodes doesn't mean I'm ready to be called a fan.

The show has it's share of problems. The biggest one is identity. I think it can't decide what it wants to be. It uses several devices that are already distracting, the voice-over from a non-main more-comic relief character who puts himself in scenes but only at the end when it doesn't interrupt the drama, a mixture of music from today and from the middle of last century along with other time-period issues like - if this takes place today, then where are people's freaking cell phones? I mean, it's New York City. And these baby face boys ruling the neighborhood, pulling one over on not one, but two crime bosses.

It has flaws the remind me of a show I stuck around one season for and now can never get that time back - Desperate Housewives. I am still trying to decide if the show is so deeply confused about who it is trying to appeal to and how it's going to achieve it's ultimate story or if it is a stroke of genius that is 10 steps ahead of me and I'm going to be wow'd, like, next week.

I think they only have four episodes to hook me, and except for the the scene where two of the brothers stripped down to their underwear to keep some blood off their clothes, I haven't yet felt a true emotional draw. But, damn, that scene alone mad the two hours I've spent with the Donnelly brothers worth while. It had better come up with something else soon (maybe more Irish sausage shots?) or my TV will be showing The Black Donnellys minus the "The"...and the "Donnellys". Get it? Just black.

Well, not really. It's not like I don't have plenty to watch as it is.

That's Random: Eggrolls, Prison, and Heroes

When I walked up from the subway this morning, the fresh, wintry New York City air smelled of egg rolls. I don't think it's a conspiracy or anything, it just should be noted - egg rolls. In the morning. No thanks.

Tonight on TV:
Prison Break returns tonight...to a mediocre review from Entertainment Weekly. This show is hit or miss with plausibility, but Wentworth is hot and the it is suspenseful, if not completely ridiculous. I'll be tuning. Plus, it leads right into an all new 24. How much damage will that nuclear bomb cause? I mean, LA is radioactive - maybe it will take more than the 20 hours that are left in the day to take effect!

Also back from winter hiatus tonight: Heroes. I've decided this show is a little complicated, it jumps time, location and storyline every chance it gets, but it is so good that I pretend to know what's going on so I don't feel dumb. I'm looking forward to the "Previously on Heroes..." montage so they can sum up the most relevant plot lines for me.

Scheduled to be Nick'd this week:

...Children of Men

...Friday Night Lights (if you haven't started watching it yet, call in sick tomorrow and watch every episode on NBC.com, you won't regret it)

...and new music from Finger Eleven!