TVSquad

(S01E08) "You think we learned anything tonight?" - Jonathan

I'll tell you what I learned -- Bored to Death has a lot of potential. All season long, I've gone from loving to hating to loving this show, and with the season finale now come and gone, there's a real opportunity here for Bored to Death to become HBO's next break-out hit when it returns. All the pieces are in place and it probably could have blown up this season had there not been so many episodes where the show tried to find its footing. Is it a detective show? Or is it about three friends in the publishing world trying to make their mark? Or is it both?

• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Three Rivers, and Cold Case.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Cowboys vs. the Eagles.
• FOX has a new Brothers at 7, then new episodes of American Dad, Family Guy, Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show, and The Cleveland Show.
• Cartoon Network has a new Ed, Edd, 'N Eddy at 7.
• At 7:30, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• At 8, PBS has a new Nature, then a new Masterpiece Contemporary.
• At 9, HBO has a new Curb Your Enthusiasm, followed by the season finale of Bored To Death.
• Showtime has a new Dexter at 9, then a new Californication.
• Food Network has a new Next Iron Chef at 9, then a new Iron Chef America.
• Syfy has 2012: Startling New Secrets at 9.
• At 10, AMC has the season finale of Mad Men.
• Discovery has a new Storm Chasers at 10.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Titan Maximum.
• At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new episode of The Venture Brothers, followed by a new Metalocalypse.

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S01E07) "I don't mean to be rude, but I was transporting chilled semen." - Ray

What a great way to set up the season finale! At this point, I'm not sure Bored to Death has turned out to be anything like what HBO originally green-lit, but, despite its many ups and downs, it sure has been fun to watch.

Not only did last night's episode feature the return of two plots, that, when originally introduced, seemed like throw-away gags (Ray's sperm donations; George's rivalry with Richard Antrem), but it also featured one helluva line-up of guest stars. It bodes well for season two and even though we still have one more episode left, I'm feeling a lot better about the direction Bored to Death is taking when compared to Hung.

• Syfy is showing V: The Final Battle all night.
• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Three Rivers, and Cold Case.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7.
• At 8, FOX has Game 4 of The World Series.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8, followed by new episodes of Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef America.
• Nickelodeon has a new Dora The Explorer at 8.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Contemporary.
• There's a new Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO at 9, then a new Bored To Death.
• Also at 9: Showtime has a new Dexter, followed by a new Californication.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• VH-1 has the series premiere of Sex Rehab at 10.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Titan Maximum.
• At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new episode of The Venture Brothers.

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S01E06) "Excuse me -- can I get a cheeseburger, no cheese, to go?" - Jonathan

Despite its overall mediocrity thus far, those of us out there who have been sticking with Bored to Death in the hopes that it would get less, well... boring, were finally rewarded. Not only was "The Case of the Beautiful Blackmailer" the best episode of the season to date (I know I've said that before, but clearly I spoke too soon), but it definitively justifies the show getting a season two renewal. This episode proved that the ensemble can actually work well together, and it also made one other thing very clear -- individually, Schwartzman, Danson, and Galifianakis are funny guys. But, together? Comic gold.

• Nickelodeon has a marathon of The Nanny all night.
• Travel Channel has a Man vs. Food marathon all night.
• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Three Rivers, and Cold Case.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Giants vs. the Cardinals.
• At 7:30, FOX has Baseball Playoffs, the Yankees vs. the Angels.
• At 8, PBS has a new Nature, then a new Masterpiece Contemporary.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 9, followed by new episodes of Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef America.
• Also at 8: TCM has The Blob, then Die, Monster, Die!
• At 9, HBO has a new Curb Your Enthusiasm, followed by a new Bored To Death.
• Showtime has a new Dexter at 9, then a new Californication.
• History Channel has a new, two-hour MonsterQuest at 9.
• Animal Planet has Werewolves: The Dark Survivors at 9.
• Hallmark has the movie Always and Forever at 9.
• Retro TV has two episodes of the original Mike Hammer at 9, followed by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Titan Maximum.
• At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new episode of Venture Brothers.

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S01E05) "Is vodka really made from potatoes?" - Jonathan

Bored to Death isn't boring me, but after last night's extremely slow episode, it's close. The premise of the show coupled with a really great cast speaks to the potential Bored to Death has, but save for last week's episode (the one with Parker Posey and still the best so far), there haven't been many high points. Last night's installment had some of those moments, but for the most part, I didn't give a crap about the white dove or why she was lonely.

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Three Rivers, and Cold Case.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Bears vs. the Falcons.
• FOX has a new Brothers at 7.
• At 8, FOX has a new episode of The Simpsons, then a new Cleveland Show.
• TBS has Baseball Playoffs at 8, the Dodgers vs. the Phillies.
• Nickelodeon has a new Nick News Special Edition at 8.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Mystery!
• Food Network has a new Next Iron Chef at 9, then a new Iron Chef America.
• IFC has Monty Python: Almost The Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) at 9.
• HBO has a new Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9, followed by a new Bored To Death.
• Also at 9: Showtime has a new Dexter, then a new Californication.
• At 9:30, FOX has a new American Dad.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Titan Maximum.
• At midnight , Cartoon Network has a new Venture Brothers.

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S01E04) "I'm almost done. Just three more tugs!" - Ray

After I screened the first three episodes of Bored to Death early last month, I had resigned to not watch it ever again. For the most part, save for Ted Danson's performance, there wasn't much I found funny about the show. Add in last week's weirdo installment featuring Jim Jarmusch and I wasn't sure what to think. Given the premise of the show, last week's episode didn't even feel like the same program. It was like they took a script from something else and just had the Bored to Death ensemble act it out.

But then HBO went and renewed it for a second season and I figured, hey - maybe I'll cover the rest of the season for TV Squad. Well, I'm glad I did. Despite numerous shortcomings, "The Case of the Stolen Skateboard" is easily the best episode of the series thus far. And Ted Danson? Still very funny.

• TBS has Baseball Playoffs all night.
• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by new episodes of The Amazing Race, Three Rivers, and Cold Case.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, then the Colts vs. the Titans.
• FOX has a new Brothers at 7.
• At 7:30, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos (30 minutes), followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• At 8, FOX has a new episode of The Simpsons, then new episodes of The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8, followed by new episodes of Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef America.
• At 8:30, Disney has a new Jonas.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Mystery!
• HBO has a new Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9, then a new Bored To Death.
• Showtime has a new Dexter at 9, then a new Californication.
• Lifetime has the season finale of Drop Dead Diva at 9, followed by the season finale of Army Wives.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Titan Maximum.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then a new Amazing Race, the series premiere of Three Rivers, and a new Cold Case.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Chargers vs. the Steelers.
• At 8, FOX has a new episode of The Simpsons, then new episodes of The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8, then the season premiere of The Next Iron Chef.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Mystery!
• HBO has a new Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9, then a new Bored To Death.
• Lifetime has a new Drop Dead Diva at 8, followed by a new Army Wives.
• Showtime has a new Dexter at 9, then a new Californication.
• Discovery has two new episodes of Raging Planet at 9.
  
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• At 10:30, HBO has the season finale of Entourage.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Titan Maximum.

Check your local TV listings for more.

I've caught the first two episodes of HBO's Bored to Death, and while I'm not totally in love with the show (yet), the cast is impressive enough to keep me coming back for more.

The three main characters are Jonathan Ames (Jason Schwartzman), a struggling writer who leads a double life as a private detective; George Christopher (Ted Danson), the editor of Edition magazine and Jonathan's sometimes employer (and pot supplier); and Ray Hueston (Zach Galifianakis), a talented cartoonist who's Jonathan's best friend.

There's plenty of street creds in the other players, too, including Kristen Wiig, Jenny Slate, Heather Burns, Olivia Thirlby, and Trieste Kelly Dunn. Based on all of these folks, as well as the quirky film noir vibe, it seems like a can't-miss TV series. Let's put it this way: I've enjoyed the first two episodes, and will tune in for more to see where it goes.

Anyone else watching Bored to Death?

• TV Land has an Andy Griffith Show marathon all night.
• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then the Emmy Awards.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Giants/Cowboys game.
• At 8, Great American Country has a new Soundstage.
• At 8:30, Disney has a new Jonas.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Mystery!
• HBO has the season premiere of Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9, then the series premiere of Bored To Death.
• Lifetime has a new Drop Dead Diva at 9, followed by a new Army Wives.
• Cartoon Network has a new Total Drama Action at 9.
• At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
• History Channel has a new Pawn Stars at 10.
• At 10:30, HBO has a new Entourage.
• At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Robot Chicken.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Like most people in this world, I often turn to master geek musician Jonathan Coulton when I'm trying to figure out how I should feel about something (you can smell hair burning when I try to think for myself).

So imagine my horror when the Fall schedule started filling out and Mr. Coulton was still dealing with strictly music-related matters. Well, I can finally have a restful night of sleep, because John Sellers of True Slant has gotten Jonathan Coulton's take on Fall TV.

I'm a very impatient person, but I'm usually pretty patient when it comes to TV shows. I can pretty much wait several days or a week until an episode of one of my favorite shows premieres. But I'll admit that it's cool when networks give viewers a chance to see a new show before it officially debuts.

Here's the first episode of HBO's Bored To Death, which starts this Sunday. (Some of it might be NSFW.) It's also on Amazon, iTunes, and also HBO On Demand.