TVSquad

There's so much on television for which to be thankful: the returning favorites, the new obsessions, the comedic, and the dramatic. Fresh faces work with old pros to bring us shows ranging from artistic masterpieces to guilty pleasures. On a basic level, I'm thankful that I had some difficulty choosing only five things on TV to praise. Specifically, the five things that I chose have given me hours of thought-provoking, laughter-inducing entertainment.

Another brilliant season of Ugly Betty: There's nothing worse than watching your favorite new show lose its touch in the second season. Like all Ugly Betty fans, I'm thankful that the sweetest comedy on television has avoided the sophomore slump. The best elements from the first season--clever one-liners, heartwarming moments, and top-notch performances from the ensemble cast--have remained intact.

September is that magical month we TV fanatics have been waiting for, when all our favorite shows return and new shows try to find a place in our hearts and our DVRs.

However, don't spend your August reading books and spending time with loved ones, because there are a few shows popping up this month you may want to check out. Someone spent a lot of time building that TV set, so the least you can do is sit around and watch whatever is on. Here's a few things:

Friday's TCA, which continued cable TV presentations, felt like three days rolled into one.

Just how jam-packed and eclectic are the programs and announcements that were made?

Here's a sample: Dynasty diva Joan Collins is checking into BBC America's Hotel Babylon, Richard Dreyfus (Jaws) is not afraid to get back into the water as host of The Discovery Channel's Ocean of Fear: The Worst Shark Attack Ever and Jonny Fairplay (Survivor) of CMT's Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull-Riding Challenge sadly announced that his beloved grandmother passed away two weeks ago.

I mentioned earlier that BBC America was pushing out older series like Benny Hill to make way for newer fare. Well, that's exactly what's happening: Hill is out, and soon Torchwood and Hotel Babylon will be moving in, along with the second seasons of Life on Mars and Vincent.

You can expect to see Hotel Babylon in August, and Vincent and Torchwood sometime in September. There is no date set for Life on Mars just yet.

Torchwood, as most of you know, is a spinoff of Doctor Who. If you want a taste of what the series is like, check out Martin's reviews. Martin also wrote some great reviews of Life on Mars. You can search this site for those, as well. The series centers on a man who goes back in time to solve a crime. Its first season is currently airing on BBC America.