During the summer, my TV watching habits become much more sporadic. In the regular TV season, I generally watch all of my favorite shows as they air. The only time I rely on TiVo is when two of my favorite shows air at the same time. Last season my trusted DVR recorded ‘Earl’ and ‘The Office’ so I could watch ‘Ugly Betty.’ TiVo was also there for me to catch ‘24’ while I watched ‘Heroes.’ Once summer hits, I look to my DVR for another reason. The networks get flooded with reality TV shows – some worth watching (‘Big Brother,’ ‘So You Think You Can Dance’) and some not (‘Pirate Master,’ ‘Greatest Celebrity Impersonator’). The abundance of bad reality TV gives me an opportunity to get out of the house once in a while. This is not to say that I don’t watch TV during the summer. I certainly do. I just leave it to TiVo to record the shows I’ll watch later when I’m done with the outside world.
Generally I’ll watch shows like ‘Big Brother,’ ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ ‘Rescue Me’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ as they air but the rest aren’t really shows I feel the need to watch right away. Instead, I’ll save them for when there’s nothing else on. Here’s a couple of shows I’ve got Season-passed on my TiVo:
Traveler - ABC – Wednesdays at 10:00 pm
‘Traveler’ is a new drama about two college graduates who are framed for a terrorist act when they and their friend, Will Traveler are about to embark on a cross-country road trip. They’re now outlaws on the run and trying to figure out who their friend Will really is. I like ‘Traveler’ enough that I would actually watch it as it aired if it didn’t air on Wednesday nights at 10:00 p.m. Generally I’ll watch ‘Traveler’ on Fridays after work.
If you haven’t caught ‘Traveler,’ you’ve only missed a few episodes and ABC has them available on their website here. Chances of this show getting picked up for a full season seem unlikely based on the current ratings but it’s still worth a watch.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservation - Travel Channel – Mondays at 10:00 p.m.
I’m a bit out of the loop when it comes to the Travel Channel. It was only after I wish-listed “Disney World” (in preparation for a vacation I’m planning), that I really became aware of just how much this network offers. My husband loves to cook so he was already aware of Bourdain’s work but I knew virtually nothing about this guy until I started watching ‘No Reservations.’ He pretty much travels everywhere, experiencing different cultures and trying local foods. I know there’s no way I’d be adventurous enough to eat what this guy eats but I do find him very entertaining and the show definitely serves to allow people to “visit” places they probably wont be traveling to anytime soon.
Bad Girls Road Trip - Oxygen – Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m.
Its trashy, I know but until ‘Big Brother’ starts I need to get my fix of grown adults drinking too much, arguing and generally acting like PMSing high school girls. I haven’t actually watched any episodes of this spin-off series as of yet but I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually.
The Starter Wife - USA – Thursdays at 9:00 p.m.
This is another series I’m way behind on. I only caught the first hour of this six hour mini-series about a woman who gets dumped by her powerful, wealthy husband and has to learn how to get on with her life without most of her social connections. From what I did see of it, I really enjoyed. Debra Messing does a good job of playing a not-quite-desperate woman who has to start all over.
Criss Angel Mindfreak - USA – A&E – Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m.
Yet another show I didn’t start watching until this season. The bonus to this is that my DVR records all episodes, old or new so I’ve had the chance to watch a good chunk of the previous seasons’ episodes. Whether its sowing a woman in half, driving Mandy Moore’s car blindfolded or pulling a dollar bill out of a banana, each episode of this series is truly entertaining. Don’t know how Angel does it but that’s definitely part of what makes the show so much fun to watch.
To those of you who have TiVo or some other DVR service. What shows do you record regularly with the intention of watching at some point in the future?
Big Love (HBO) 8:00 pm
Damage Control - (Rerun) – In case you missed the premiere episode of the third season of ‘Big Love,’ here’s your chance to get caught up before Monday nights new episode airs.
John From Cincinnati (HBO) 9:00 pm
His Visit: Day Two - (New!) – I thought the first episode of this new series was decent enough to tune in for the second episode. In this episode, Linc continues to try to convince Mitch to let him sponsor Shaun.
Entourage (HBO) 10:00 pm
Welcome To The Jungle - (New!) – The fourth season begins with a documentary-style look at the making of Medellin.
’Creature Comforts’ (CBS) 8:00 pm
Winter; The Zoo (New!) – The animals talk about winter and the zoo.
’Hell’s Kitchen’ (Fox) 9:00 pm
(New!) – The previews are hinting that in the second challenge of this episode, one of the dishes that was prepares is potentially poisonous. Oops.
’America’s Got Talent’ (NBC) 8:00 pm
Chicago Auditions - (New!) – The judges head to the Windy City to see how many auditioners they can make cry.
’Bad Girls Road Trip’ (Oh!) 10:00 pm
Caddy Issues - (New!) – Drama ensues as the girls head to Atlanta to look for new Bad Girls.
’So You Think You Can Dance’ (FOX) 8:00 pm
(New!) – In the next round of auditions, the top 18 dance their tales off in the hopes of winning the viewers votes.
’American Inventor’ (ABC) 9:00 pm
(New!) – The audition process continues in New York and Chicago. The winner from each city gets $50,000 to develop their product.
’Traveler’ (ABC) 10:00 pm
The Tells - (New!) – As Will and Tyler get closer to learning who Will really is (and what names he’s gone by), Will gets captured by his bosses. Watch this show! It needs the ratings!
’So You Think You Can Dance’ (FOX) 9:00 pm
Two of the top 18 dancers are eliminated and Daddy Yankee performs.
Kyle XY (ABC) 8:00 pm
The Homecoming (New!) – Kyle returns to the Trager house and wonders if he made the right choice.
Painkiller Jane (Scifi) 10:00 pm
Portrait of Lauren Gray (new!) – The group investigate a fashion show after a bunch of women start becoming old overnight.
Braveheart (AMC) 8:00 pm
The fantastic Mel Gibson movie about the legendary William Wallace.
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