Now I am currently between cable providers at the moment, but luckily I live in a time that allows me to compensate for that. It’s been hard for me to be a fan of television shows as they usually get cancelled, simply end, or get stale and unwatchable. Comedic series are generally the safe area, as there have been some gems over the years that lasted long periods of time. Shows like Seinfeld, Married With Children, The Simpson’s, etc, etc. Dramatic series however are harder to find, for myself at least. I wasn’t a fan of X-Files, aliens just aren’t at the top of my interests list, House was interesting for awhile but lost me due to not being able to watch newer episodes (sports, news, etc). C.S.I. was an option but I didn’t care too much for the episodes that I saw, even with an interest in forensics. 

I admit, I passed on a few gems over the years. A variety of reasons, ranging from poor start to the series, not being a fan of an actor in the cast due to previous characters they played in previous shows, to thinking the show just wasn’t going to last or be any good. So, I got a late start on most of the television shows that fit this bill in any way. Trailer Park Boys, was a Canadian production so it was very low budget and well Canadian, so I never thought I would be a huge fan of the now cancelled series that lasted 7 seasons and spawned 2 movies. Weeds was a show that I didn’t think would last, and was on the same channel that showed The Sopranos which I missed because of inability to see each show. Johhny Galecki steered me away from The Big Bang Theory due to not liking him so much on Rosanne. And Jim Parsons character Sheldon took some getting used to. Heroes I thought was going to be, in my opinion, lame like Mutant X, but was wrong.

But, again thanks to the time we live in, I am able to watch these shows from the beginning. Not only feeding my television hunger, but in some cases has provided shows that both my Sweets and myself enjoy, which is rare because her taste suck (ahahaha!).

Here’s a list of the series that I am currently or recently followed. I am collecting each season on DVD, so while I “catch up”, we’ll have our cable or satellite figured out, and return to the more boring one episode a week routine.

• Smallville. When this started I thought it was going to be like Roswell meets Superman. Neither of which appealed to me. Again, Aliens are low on my list, and Superman was too “perfect” for my tastes. Eventually I caught a preview of one of the later seasons and decided to give it a try. And it was a comic book character, usually means it won’t last whether I like it or not. Needless to say my girlfriend and I are waiting for Season 10 to come out to complete our collection. The series wasn’t about aliens, and everything I didn’t really like about Superman was gone. He was vulnerable more often, with Kryptonite not being so “rare”, it also helped that the acting and writing was spot on for the majority of the series. My Sweets has a Celeb Crush on Superman Tom Welling, that’s okay cause I am crushing on Lois, Lana, Chloe and Black Canary ahaha! Now that the show is over, I am left wonder why there isn’t a Batman show made in the same style? I believe it could work wonderfully. The OC meets Batman. I need connections ahaha! It has also made me hope that they take this to the big screen like The Simpson’s and Trailer Park Boys did. It could make for a smoother path to unleashing Justice League of America onto the Silver Screen having already established some back story with characters like Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter and Aqua Man.

• The Big Bang Theory. After a few people  told me that they were surprised that I wasn’t already a fan, I gave it a go. Leonard wasn’t as whiny as David was, and Sheldon Cooper grew on me. So much, I am typing this while wearing my new BAZINGA! T-shirt. Waiting on Season 4 to come out on DVD, and Season 5 to begin. I am hoping for more comic book related material, obviously DC Comics related, being WB and all.

• Trailer Park Boys. Usually, if it is Canadian television, its lame. Very rare occasions. Yes, we provide the world some of the funniest people ever (Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, etc), but our shows tend to just not deliver on any level, not for me at least. Trailer Park Boys is Canadian and shot in a reality show style manner, giving it an even lower quality look on a lower budget show. It was also one of the rare exceptions. Because it was one of the funniest shows I had ever seen. Filled with characters that could possibly live on forever like Bob and Doug Mackenzie, characters like Bubbles, Ricky, Julian, Jim Lahey, Randy Bo-Bandy, etc. The show lasted 7 seasons, with the producers apparently not wanting to continue, despite the strong following and 2 movies.

•  Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour. It is the new show from the guys that gave me Trailer Park Boys. It’s a bit wonky, but has enough humour to keep me intrigued. It helps to be Drunk or on Drugs if you don’t “get it” sober ahaha! Jay Baruchel plays some characters on the show.

• Weeds. I honestly didn’t think that a show about a mom selling marijuana would last. Not in a dramatic series. I was proven very wrong. It may be a dramatic series, there are also funny moments (usually courtesy of Kevin Nealon), but it is extremely well written. The cast, from the lead role to the supporting cast, even the smaller bit characters, all deliver good performances. I am both intrigued with the flow of the story, but left missing characters that leave. I do like when they return in some manner though.

•  Heroes. I originally had gotten this show confused with Mutant X, so I never bothered. For me it was X-Men with a side order of cheese. But, once I got things straight I have been hooked. Only half way through Season 2, but I am liking every minute. So many stories being told, and all intertwine, but written greatly and in a way so that you’re not confused as to what is happening.

I do plan on eventually adding these shows on the list once the cash flow improves.

•       The Sopranos. Could never really get into it as it was hard for me to catch the new episodes.

•       The Flash. I loved this show as a youth. Saw it at Wal-Mart hopefully it’ll “survive” until I can afford it.

•       Batman The Animated Series. Pricey, but it is a childhood all rolled up onto DVD’s.

•     The Batman. We have Season’s 1-3. My Nerdy loves it, might as well get the rest of them.

All in all, I hoping that the success of Smallville and Heroes on television, and comic book movies raking in at the box office, this will lead to more comic book or superhero television shows. Wonder Woman sounded weak story wise, so I am glad they scrapped it. I still say take the story all the way back to origin. Back when she is in her homeland with the other Amazons. This would appeal to the Xena fans I think. But what do I know? Ahaha!