Tuesday night is really the worst night of television of the entire week. Looking back at my fall season preview for Tuesday, I only listed four programs capable of making their way onto my TiVo. (For comparison, Thursday has TEN!) One of them (V) won't start for a while, one already concluded its delightful and promising summer run (Warehouse 13), and one is a passably entertaining procedural (NCIS) that I watch as I go to sleep (though it does continue to build as a ratings powerhouse, frequently ranking #1 in total viewers). Only the dark, engaging, challenging and well-crafted biker drama Sons of Anarchy stands out at all.
Obviously, it would be nice if the networks moved some of the shows from elsewhere on the schedule into the Tuesday void, but A. they're probably afraid of the NCIS juggernaut, and B. Tuesday isn't, as a whole, a well viewed night for advertising (again, compared to Thursday, which gets a lot of advertiser support, particularly for clients looking to motivate weekend purchases).
However, there are a few things that brighten up the night.
First, there are the TiVo carryovers that I haven't gotten around to watching yet, like last night's Castle, which just got an order for a full season. Huzzah! (Mondays are usually pretty busy, with Big Bang, HIMYM, House, Lie to Me and Monday Night Football).
Second, we have two outstanding documentaries going on. On IFC, there's the insightful and laugh out loud six part doc on Monty Python (which is entering its third episode tonight, and is really very good thus far). On ESPN, there's the third episode of their 30 for 30 series, which is surprisingly (and thankfully) free of the usual grating ESPN bombast and self-promotion, instead giving the creators total control of their hour. Tonight is a look at the USFL, which should be fun.
I guess it helps to have a "catch up" night, but man do I wish some of the scripted favorites would relocate.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
I know exactly what you're talking about. I had to give up everything on NBC on Thursdays because I couldn't DVR everything I wanted. Tuesdays, on the other hand, are a TV wasteland for the most part. I have exactly three things recording on that night, so I have to record crappy stuff on the weekends so I'll have something to watch that evening.
ReplyDeleteAnd hurray for Castle! It's not television that makes me think, but it's entertaining and features my Pretend Husband No. 1.
I could not agree with you more. I understand the marketing behind the Thursday feast and the Tuesday famine but is sure does leave you hungry. As you say, good to have some tasty leftovers cooling in the DVR. (okay enough with the extended food metaphor)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of my DVR I have that USFL film in there. I was a big Birmingham Stallions fan back in the day so I am looking foward to seeing it. One my USFL comment-damn you Donald Trump!
I caught up on Monday's Castle, which was just as effervescently charming as it always is. PLUS, previews for next Monday's episode showed Nathan in his "Captain Mal" getup! Can't wait to see how they explain the meta-ness of that (of course, they have a NY Times bestseller, written by a fictional character about a fictional character based on a fictional character, so I'm sure it will be entertaining).
ReplyDeleteThe USFL doc was pretty entertaining. Honestly, I could have watched several more hours of that. Very sad about Bandits owner John Bassett, who actually had a good handle on the whole thing (and as a tennis playing youth, I had a huge crush on his daughter Carling). And yes, The Donald was a douchebag, bar none.