But there are still a few shows left that I might actually give a shot, and since I did this two years ago and the television landscape evolves rapidly in that amount of time, I figured it was time to give this another go. Last time I only got to one show (House of Cards...and I hated it), so who knows how many of these will be part of my annual Emmy ballot, but the comments section is down below if you want to guide me. Here are the Top 10 Shows I Should Be Watching (But Am Not):
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 1
Reason I Never Started: I actually have an excuse here-I don't have Starz! That makes me feel a little better, though it's been out on DVD for months now so I probably should have made the jump. Still, when you don't have the channel and can't play along when the show is on with viewers (I love playing "what do you think will happen next?" at the water cooler), it's not quite as thrilling and as a result I've skipped it.
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: A historical fantasy epic from Britain? One of my favorite shows on the air right now is Game of Thrones, so it's kind of appalling that I'm not investing some time in this.
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: I've heard nothing but marvelous things about Diana Gabaldon as a writer, and unlike George RR Martin, she actually seems to finish her books.
Odds I'll Ever Give it a Shot: 50/50-I'll probably need a family member to get into it to push me over the edge since I don't get the channel.
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 1
Reason I Never Started: I'm not what one would consider technologically savvy, this is true. I don't even stream Netflix, I still just get the discs. So adding Amazon Prime onto that list seemed like a lot of money to give, especially if I didn't like it (I am not well-versed enough to know if you need a subscription or not to watch this show). That plus a slight dislike for Jeffrey Tambor added up to a miss.
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: Transparent dominated the Golden Globes this past year, nabbing Best Series and Best Actor. I try to get in on zeitgeisty hits like this, especially if they're new.
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: I'm actually not convinced I would (though my brother has been writing sonnets, and he's my go-to in terms of recommendations for television) since I don't love Tambor, but I should at least try it. It's a pretty big show in a pretty big moment for the transgender community not to be taking part.
Odds I'll Ever Give It a Shot: I'm saying decent that I at least watch an episode. It's summer now and if it's relatively easy to stream I might consider it since the second season is coming out soon.
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 1
Reason I Never Started: It was on the CW, which for most intents and purposes is a great excuse not to watch anything. Plus, I tried The Flash this year and didn't love it, and that was supposed to be the cultural moment happening on the CW (it was certainly the ratings moment).
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: Gina Rodriguez surprising everyone and getting that Golden Globe, potentially become a star ala Jennifer Garner and Jessica Alba. I should be on this band wagon before it becomes mandatory.
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: I've heard nothing but praise, and particularly that it does meta well which is something I'd want to sign on for after loving Community for so many years. Plus, I really want to love a network TV show again.
Odds I'll Ever Give It a Shot: Strong. I actually have this one on my "To Do" list this summer, and I think it's one that will probably make it into my viewings before the next season starts, provided it's On Demand.
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 1
Reason I Never Started: I'm starting to realize I have much better reasons this time around than last time for these shows, but principally because I no longer get Showtime. I dropped it a couple of years ago because everything on it I wasn't watching and I was kind of over The Big C.
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: Ruth Wilson and the series both scooped up Golden Globes this past year.
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: It's a tense romantic drama that has hints of mystery. That's basically the reason I watch television.
Odds I'll Ever Give It a Shot: So-so. Again, it's one of those questions of whether or not I can afford to add Showtime to my cable package again, since this really intrigues me (if this were on HBO or AMC, I'd be watching already and this wouldn't be on the list), but since I can't play along it gets pushed to the maybe pile. That being said, if I decide to get Showtime On Demand as a separate package (seriously, someone fix the cable industry) it goes toward the top of the list.
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 2
Reason I Never Started: Same song, different note. I had just cancelled Showtime right before this, realizing that I wasn't going to watch anything on the channel and as a result didn't get into Masters of Sex. Had the show come out six months earlier I'd probably be a lot poorer, but a lot better versed in the TV landscape.
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: The show has been hot at the Emmys, landing nods for Lizzy Caplan and Beau Bridges, and a win for Allison Janney.
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: I heard a rumor that Finn Wittrock has a gay sex scene-is this true?!?
Odds I'll Ever Give It a Shot: I find that every season that I have to go back and watch the less likely it is that I will get into a show. My sweet spot seems to be to catch the first season on DVD followed by heading straight into the second season live. Considering I'm two seasons behind now and that I don't have Showtime, this might be the toughest sell on the list.
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 3 (as of this past week)
Reason I Never Started: I'm gonna be honest here, as this is the only show that was on the previous list-I was a bit turned off by House of Cards. EVERYONE said how much I would love it, but as I documented here, I found it wildly disappointing. That's basically what stopped me from getting Netflix streaming again, and as a result I haven't gotten into the other massive pop culture hit from the channel.
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: When I go out on dates, two TV shows inevitably come up that my date is obsessed with: Orange is the New Black and RuPaul's Drag Race. I have seen RuPaul and thought it was boring and wildly overrated, but I can't weigh in on Orange which makes me a bit unfun when I already come across that way depending on the conversation (not a partier, as you might be able to tell from 2000-words I spit out on this blog daiily).
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: All female casts are my catnip.
Odds I'll Ever Give It a Shot: Honestly, if one of my friends or family members actually sat me down, made me watch the first episode, and I liked it, I'd probably reinvest in Netflix streaming. However, until that happens I find it doubtful.
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 1
Reason I Never Started: No idea. I wasn't particularly tired of McConaughey at the time quite yet (Interstellar has me a bit dour there), and I usually go for Woody Harrelson. Perhaps I was in a bad mood or didn't realize it was going to be a "thing." Either way, I actually get and watch most of HBO so this is a mystery to me as well.
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: It's literally the only show on HBO I don't obsess over, and it clobbered at awards nominations last year (though weirdly it didn't win any major trophies).
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: It's on HBO and it feels quite cinematic. Plus, the changing cast of characters kept me with American Horror Story for a while.
Odds I'll Ever Give It a Shot: It entirely depends on reviews for the second season. The cast has one person I love (Colin Farrell), one I'm apathetic toward (Taylor Kitsch) and two that I actively avoid (Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn). I'm gonna need decent reviews to go into the show with that slate, which at this point the series doesn't seem to be producing.
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 1
Reason I Never Started: I don't have Netflix streaming, as already pointed out, and I'm going to say something I shouldn't right now-I loved 30 Rock when it was on, don't get me wrong, but I don't really miss it. The show wasn't as good in its final seasons and it wasn't something that I needed back in my life unless it was heyday 30 Rock. So I was reluctant to dive in, particularly considering my House of Cards experience.
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: It's slowly becoming the third major gay show I don't watch that comes up on dates.
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: Ellie Kemper and Jane Krakowski are both favorites in my world, and the reviews for it in many ways have eclipsed Orange is the New Black and House of Cards even.
Odds I'll Ever Give It a Shot: Strong. I need to get over my Netflix aversion at some point (or at least give it one more shot), and with Tina Fey behind this, I suspect this is the best bet I could place.
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 1
Reason I Never Started: No one thought it would be as big as it was, and Terence Howard isn't my cup of tea. I loved the idea of Taraji P. Henson, but I had already tried her in a series and wasn't impressed (Person of Interest). Little did I know it would become THE biggest thing on television (I sort of get the feeling that this could be as bad as me not watching The Walking Dead if the second season sustains).
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: There's probably no bigger water cooler show at the moment, and it's about to grab Henson an Emmy nomination.
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: Aside from the Henson love and my well-documented crush on Glee, there's supposedly a hot gay guy in the show, which is usually how most TV shows get me hooked.
Odds I'll Ever Give It a Shot: If I can find a way to catch it all before the next season, extremely strong. I love and want another nighttime soap on my television. If I can't before then, the odds go way down (no show can sustain this kind of buzz indefinitely, and I'm getting a sophomore slump vibe here).
Number of Seasons I'm Behind: 2
Reason I Never Started: If there was one show that could get me back on the Showtime wagon, it would probably be this one. Still, I haven't gotten into Showtime quite yet and that's a problem here.
Most Embarrassing Thing About Not Watching: I'm pretty sure Josh Hartnett, John-at-17's top crush, is apparently going gay in the series which is pretty much the most embarrassing thing I can think of (my teenage self would slap me upside the head for that one).
Reason I'm Sure I'd Love It: My brother has basically convinced me this is the show he's most flabbergasted I'm not watching right now, and he knows my tastes better than anyone. Plus, a period horror-fantasy ensemble drama with gay elements is literally how I would pitch my ideal show.
Odds I'll Ever Give it a Shot: It's already on the Netflix queue.
There you have it-my most humiliating shows that I'm missing. Which one should I give a shot at report back on? Which should I totally pass up? And what shows are you missing that you should be seeing? Share your thoughts in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment