10 Great Shows Lacking Viewership

Hello Something About TVers (that really rolls off the tongue). I was taking a look at some television ratings lately and, as usual, I was completely disappointed in the shows that get boatloads of viewers compared to much higher quality shows. So, here’s my list of some of the best shows currently on the air that struggle for viewership while Two and a Half Men is still running rampant:

1. Justified (FX)

I can’t recommend Justified nearly enough and for anyone looking to replace their Breaking Bad fix, this is the show you want. Currently on its fifth season, it’s the story of Raylan Givens (played by Timothy Olyphant), a U.S. Marshall who is as much sarcastic as he is a badass. The story begins when he gets relocated back to his home town of Harlan County where most of the citizens have grown accustomed to minimal interference with lawmakers. It’s also home to Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) who is the constant foil to Raylan and is known for using every word in the dictionary. Boyd really separates Justified from other dramas because we get to follow the side story of him building his crime empire with stories that are interspersed with Raylan.

2. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)

Nine-Nine has really excelled in its first season and has avoided any really bad episodes. Led by Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, and Andre Bruagher, the show has a fantastic cast with a lots of actors who know their way around a joke. Taking place in a police station sets up for some hilarious storylines as they are constantly taking serious police stories and telling them from a more comedic angle. The ratings have been rough but critical praise should get it a second season at this point. There’s going to be a new episode following the Super Bowl and post-Bowl episodes of shows tend to have an easy to follow storyline for new viewers if you want to hop on the train.

3. Parenthood (NBC)

I can’t praise Parenthood enough for showing so simple things that families go through. It follows the story of the Bravermans (Bravermen?), 4 adult siblings that all have families of their own with different types of dynamics. It’s loosely based off the Steve Martin film by the same name and was adapted for television by Jason Katims, the same guy who did Friday Night Lights. Currently in its fifth season, it’s become a staple that you’re in for a good cry at least once per episode.

4. Parks and Recreation/Community (NBC)

At first glance you may be wondering why I included these two, especially considering all the memes that circulate on imgur from the shows, but year after year these shows are on the bubble of being cancelled. In fact, both shows combined don’t even equate to half the number of viewers Big Bang Theory gets. Both shows are getting up there in age but unlike many sitcoms they can still churn out fresh stories and bring big laughs when done right. Not to mention that the return of Dan Harmon has really invigorated Community in its current season.

5. The Americans (FX)

If you’re looking for a good spy thriller this is the show for you. The only thing is you find yourself rooting for KGB during the Cold War. It follows the lives Elizabeth (Kerri Russell) and Phillip (Matthew Rhys) who appear to be your average American family with two kids, but are instead cold hard Russian killers who have infiltrated the US to get information on what America is planning. As an added obstacle, their new neighbor coincidentally is an FBI agent (Noah Emmerich) who gives perspective on the other side of the story. The show really struggled for viewers in its first season but was able to scratch out a second season which premieres Feb 26.

6. Girls (HBO)

Created by and starring Lena Dunham, this is probably the most controversial show on the list as it really polarizes people who watch it. While I can’t argue with people who don’t like it, I do find it a very interesting watch. It essentially follows the lives of four 20-something girls who try to make it in New York. The problem is that for the most part they’re pretty terrible people who are in no way aware of their pretentiousness. All I can say here is give it a chance for a few episodes but if it isn’t for you then it isn’t for you.

7. Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

I’m actually not sure if this show doesn’t get many viewers because Netflix doesn’t release that information. However, most of the buzz around Netflix originals circles around House of Cards and season 4 of Arrested Development and OITNB is even better than those two. It’s dark, depressing, heart-warming, and at times hilarious as it gives us a look inside a women’s prison. It’s done an absolutely fantastic job of building strong characters and making us feel connected in some way to all of them.

8. Game of Thrones (HBO)

What!? Everyone watches this show! Yeah everyone does watch it but that’s because it’s the most pirated show on television. It still gets high ratings but that’s not nearly as representative as what it could get. I don’t want to get up too high on a soap box but this show is ridiculously expensive to produce, between a huge cast and greatly detailed wardrobes and environments. I know it’s hard to justify doling the money out but if you enjoy something of high quality, and want it to stay that way, then it may be something to consider.

9. Cougar Town (TBS)

Everyone wrote this show off based off the title (in fact that’s becoming a running meta joke on the show) but don’t let that sway you away from watching it. Created by Bill Lawrence and starring Courtney Cox, there are constantly guest stars showing up from Scrubs and Friends. ABC actually cancelled the show but TBS decided to save it (unfortunately they couldn’t do the same for Happy Endings, RIP) and its’ maintained the same level of laughs since switching networks. If you start from the beginning, the show doesn’t find itself until halfway through the first season but it doesn’t look back after that. Also, Penny Can!

10. Mad Men (AMC)

Ah, the best for last. Now that Breaking Bad is off the air I consider Mad Men to be the best drama on television, heck before Bad’s final eight episodes I could argue they rivaled for that spot. With one season remaining (Broken into two parts like the last season of Breaking Bad) it still remains the best written show on television and Don Draper (Jon Hamm) is still the man you love to hate. For those unfamiliar with the story, it follows the advertisement world in the 1960’s and the lives of the men and women who work within that world. Between Draper, Pete Campbell, Peggy Olsen, and Roger Sterling it may have the most well developed cast of characters on television.

Honorable mentions to Hannibal, Trophy Wife, and Portlandia which could have easily made the list. Any shows I left off? Let me know in that comment section below.

Cougar Town: ‘Like a Diamond’

As an unabashed Friends fan, these cameos of Courtney Cox’s former cast mates put the nostalgia part of my brain into overdrive. ‘Like a Diamond’ was no different as Matthew Perry becomes the fourth member of the old gang to appear on the show. Although my bias wooed me over to smile at every interaction Perry and Cox were having, the rest of the episode around it wasn’t one of the best we’ve seen out of the Cul-de-sac Crew.

Don’t get me wrong, consider it’s in the fifth season Cougar Town is still churning out fantastic jokes for the characters that they haven’t had to alter much since season one. However, I feel like we’ve seen variations of these stories over and over again. I mean there are only so many ways you put a twist on an Ellie/Laurie fight where they both eventually come out of it respecting the other a little bit more. Not to mention the countless times we’ve seen the child-like wonder and hope of Bobby questioned by another member of the group, only to see a “miracle” come through at the end which lead them all to believe “hey maybe I should chill out and be a little more like Bobby.”

But since these are only qualms with the storytelling aspect of the show I’m not too worried. What I would like to see going forward is more experimental episodes in the vein of what Community does. Considering the characters are so well established I think an episode or two like that would help shake things up for the better and I’m willing to bet the cast and writing staff would be game for something like a spoof of American Hustle.

In terms of this particular episode, I’m glad they didn’t go too meta with the Sam/Jules, Chandler/Monica dynamic, but it was really fun to see the two actors interacting on screen again (not counting Courtney Cox guesting on Go On last year). Also, I still say Matthew Perry is the best television actor for delivering a sarcastic line: “I’ve been sitting here for about four hours. You don’t work much do you?”

Other moments of note:

• The opening credits tag this week was “Cougar Town: Now with more Friends”
• I’m always a fan of doppelganger stories, especially if it involves Busy Phillips doing a weird Southern accent and saying things like “Bite me, little eyes.”
• “I like wine. Oh, and I also sell real estate.” - Jules
• Laurie was born and conceived in a Jacuzzi and has been medically dead four times.
• “I’m in really good shape!” -Grayson … “Okay, I’ll try to spread the word.” - Sam
• “Grayson, Monica.” – Perry addressing Grayson and Jules in an outtake. 

Cougar Town: “Blue Sunday”

New network, same old cul-de-sac crew.

Cougar Town has been off the air for quite a while now (*) and, with the exclusion of the opening gag about how it feels like they’ve been gone for so long, things seem to be just how we left them. Jules is still neurotic about, well, everything. Grayson’s still going to get annoyed by the others doing things like changing the meaning of “junk in the trunk." Bobby and Andy are still going to solve problems as little kids would, like literally running away from a problem. And Tom is still going to be lurking in the window, desperately looking to be accepted into the gang.

(*) I’m most concerned about what Abed has been doing to fill his time with both Community on lockdown and his beloved Cougar Town left off the fall schedule. Maybe he’s started an internet campaign to bring back Cougarton Abbey?

So it looks like we’re going to be getting more of the same of what we love. Travis asks Jules: “Are you alcoholics? Are you all in AA?” And Jules, in the most Cougar Towny way, declares: “that’s two different questions.” I’m guessing we’ll be getting a lot of new stories revolving around Jules and Grayson being newlyweds like how the first week sets a precedent for the rest of marriage. It also appears that we may be headed to Travis and Laurie actually embarking into a relationship instead of the hinting and flirtatious stuff they did for the last three seasons.

I know last season had a good amount of Bobby stories with him “growing up” a little bit and having a relationship with Travis’ art teacher Angie but I’d like to see him take a few more steps towards living a more fulfilling life. Don’t get me wrong, I still want him to be pretty oblivious to normal human behavior and be a goofy kid trapped in a grown man’s body; but am I the only one who gets sad when he says things like “look what happened when I didn’t try to change for Jules, I ended up living by myself on a boat in a parking lot?”

All in all it’s great having the show with a terrible title back on the airwaves, and, as the title card for this episode pointed out, we have TBS to thank for saving the show.

Other favorite moments:

• “I once hooked up with a guy because he was named Marvin Gardens.” – Laurie explaining her love of Monopoly.
• “I’m only taking this torch because I love mime.” – Grayson taking the metaphorical torch of keeping Jules happy for the group’s sake from Ellie.
• “Most of my feelings about fatherhood come from The Road by Cormac McCarthy.” – Travis on the bleakness he perceives advice from Bobby to be.
• The song playing at the end of the episode was “Crystal Fighter” by Champion Sound.

What did everyone else think? Comments are always welcome.

Titles are Hard

Just a few random thoughts on a Wednesday afternoon.

• I'm glad the Orioles won last night, I really want to see them get into the playoffs along with Oakland. Also, I want Hollywood to make a Hardy Boys movie starring Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy and the great Tom Hardy. But while they're solving crimes J.J. has to be in his Orioles uniform and Tom in his full Bane getup. 

• I watched the movie Highlander for the first time last night and was not really impressed. Might be one of those movies you have to watch as a kid in order to really love it (I'm looking at you Princess Bride and Goonies). Not sure how I feel about this getting remade with Ryan Reynolds but I do think it has some potential.

• We're also at the start TV season! Although it doesn't return until January, the new promo for Cougar Town (don't judge me until you've seen it), has the cast singing about their return and has cameos from The Janitor from Scrubs, as well as the shows biggest fan Abed. Here's the link : http://www.vulture.com/2012/09/cougar-town-gets-a-premiere-date-catchy-song.html?mid=twitter_vulture

• I decided yesterday that if I should ever own three dogs at the same time in my life, their names will Ctrl, Alt, and Delete. I'll tell people to feel free to pet them individually, but not dare pet them all at the same time.

• Need a new book to start reading. I have plenty in my book queue but I'm trying to figure out what exactly I'm in the mood for. Might go with The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan per the suggestion of one of my friends.

• Bears @ Packers tomorrow. Can't remember a bigger week 2 game for the Bears during the tenure of my fandom.