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Productivity TV

Oh baby, where have you been all my life?

It is a well known fact that the only show I care about on TV is LOST.  Since season four of LOST isn't slated to return to primetime until February '08, I haven't bothered to tune into the fall season.  At all.

My typical evening goes something like this: dinner, dishes, baths, clean up,storytime, check email, collapse.  My husband likes to watch The Colbert Report at 8:30 while I'm still giving leg and arm massages to all three kids or reading "just one more story".  We stumbled upon Mind of Mencia following Colbert and that was surprisingly very good.  Comedy Central took Mencia off the 9 PM slot and with the writers strike, there is no new Cobert anyway, so, yeah, I'm off TV almost entirely. I was only watching those two to spend time with hubby anyway.

Until tonight, that is.

We let the kids watch HSM 2 until 10PM because T has J's room torn apart.  He is installing new flooring.  From 10 to midnight, I have been working on a holiday project at my desk and watching ABC.com from my laptop. 

I can rarely stand to sit still long enough to watch TV.  There is always so much more I can be doing with my time.  Tonight I wanted some background noise on while worked on my papercrafting.  I listened to too many podcasts while doing Thanksgiving dinner dishes and putting up my tree and indoor Christmas decor today, so I needed something different.  I remembered ABC.com and the on demand shows.  I caught one episode of Private Practice and one Grey's Anatomy. I tried Pushing Daisies, but I just don't think it is for me.

Now, if only I could figure out how to invent an on-demand console for the treadmill....

It may just work

I'm a hesitant Grey's Anatomy fan.  I watched my first episode after spending a weekend with a group of rabid groupies.  After all, they did give me a "Keep the McDreamy Alive" Valentine card at the February crop.  So I tuned in.  Then I had a character analysis discussion with girlfriends.  And then I downloaded the Official Grey's Podcast.  I think I'm hooked.

I've been reading the buzz about Addison's departure into her own spinoff show.  Korie and I discussed it yesterday and wondered if her character was interesting enough to stand on its own, or if she needs those quirky, needy, insecure characters around her to make her stand out as having it all under control.  We like Addison because she seems to have her shit together.

That is, until she has an epiphany that she needs more out of life, walks out the doors of Seattle Grace, drives south for two days ( who, I ask you, in Seattle keeps a snappy little red convertible sports car handy for coastal drives on sunny days????) ends up in LA and joins a sorority of beautiful people carrying their own neurosis, where, she finally discovers her own.

This all just may work.

The best scene of the episode was when she is face up on the naturopath's table with acupuncture needles flopping around, sticking out of her face.  She is ranting about how pointless this "emotional release" crap is, that she doesn't need to deal with anything, and really losing patience with the idea that she needs to work through her stuff.  I felt a visceral impulse to take a few deep cleansing breaths for her, but I was laughing too hard and trying to explain why this was so funny to my husband (he has never had acupuncture).

I hope this CSI-esque formula works for ABC.  I noticed that when they jumped over to the happenings at Seattle Grace, it felt dark and dreary and heavy with drama.  When the show jumped over to life "On The Other Side" in California it seemed bright and hopeful and vibrant and slightly quirky.  I'm sure it was intentional and just what Addison needs.

Grey's Musings

Admittedly, I was not a Grey's fan until recently.  I think my moment of interest came after the  Get Croppin' Scrapbowl in February when Carol passed out Grey's themed Valentines.  McDreamy was on the cover with "Keep the McDream Alive" inside.  So many people love Grey's, so I thought I should check it out.

I tuned in for most of the 3-part ferryboat crisis.  I, for one, was voting for them to gracefully let Meredith go.  When she bounced right back and snuggled with McDreamy by the end of episode three after her near-death experience.  I decided that this show has jumped the shark for me.  That's ok.  It is television. 

On Korie's suggestion, I downloaded the Official Grey's Anatomy podcast and was totally entertained and won-over by the creators.  These girls are funny and real and a pleasure to listen to.  They keep me coming back.  Not Meredith Grey.  She disappoints me.

A few of my observations from last night's episode: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T YET WATCHED IT

• Meredith's entire purpose on the show is to offset the strong female characters that surround her.  Her neurotic, unconfident, self-doubting and ho-bag antics are annoying.  However, she does enough damage to the female image to offset the other very capable, strong willed women who seem to be in control of their lives.  I guess every show needs balance.
• I love Callie.  I laughed out loud last night when she admitted to George that she used his $200 a week to tip housekeeping. 
• So disappointed in George and Izzie. Tsk, tsk.  Typical.
• I love seeing Alex interact with Jane Doe.  I want her to heal and be this beautiful amazing woman and for him to fall in love with her and turn into a caring, devoted man.  But then the writers would probably bring in her husband and two other kids and carry her off into the sunset, leaving Alex a broken man.  Sigh.
• My favorite line from last night was when Cristina burst into the house and interrupted the dinner party with her crisis.  When Meredith apologized to her guests and said, "It isn't always like this", Cristina corrected her said, "yeah, it kinda is".  Cristina is the epitome of "IT'S ALL ABOUT ME"....and I love her for it.
• Why is it that after dying last episode, Meredith is back to her pretty, but lethargic and unhappy self, and it is Derek who looks like hell?  I thought she had an epiphany?

Looks like Grey's sucked me right in, doesn't it?

Looking to get LOST!

It's here!  Season 3 begins in about four hours!  The kids are doing homework right now.  I'll let them play outside and exhaust themselves for a couple of hours before dinner of turkey burritos and mangos.  After baths, reading and dishes, I'll get into my comfy pjs and T will run out and pick up Golden Spoon frozen yogurt and we'll return to my favorite Wednesday night escape. 

Notice I say my favority Wednesday night escape.  T will watch LOST.  I think mostly to humor me.  He certainly doesn't follow all of the clues or hang on every detail like I do.  He wouldn't spend an hour folding laundry or vaccuming while plugged into a LOST podcast.  He doesnt' get excited when a new Hanso Foundation commercial is aired.  Call me simple, but I am truly entertained by the whole thing.

Some of you may not understand the intrigue.  That's ok.  I may not totally "get" your fix either.   I think that LOST is the most intelligent show on TV.  I love that you can be a casual viewer and  be simply entertained or you can look deeper and be intrigued.  I love the whole thing:  the show, the podcasts, the forums.  I didn't have any time to devote to the alternate reality game this summer,or the Lost-inspired books or the literary references that have been reviewed for connections to the plotline, but I have listened in on a few podcast updates over the summer hiatus.   I think I've been very patient. 

Fine Living Network

Have you checked out the Fine Living channel?  In my 5:30 am stupor, I like to sit on the floor with my hot coffee and watch Back to Basics and Simplify your LIfe .  These shows are kind of like Simple Abundance gone TLC.  What I like best about it is the budget-conscious, streamlining, very acheivable improvements the show makes in the lives of everyday people.  I love the escapism of Extreme Makeover, but let's be real, most of us will  never have a home like they turn out.  Simplify your Life takes average people with average problems (outdated wardrobes, cluttered kitchens or no "me" space) and sends a team to do mini-makeovers.  I love it.

Of course, when these shows are over at 6:30, I race to catch up with the hour I just wasted.  I hate this about myself.  I am the world's worst morning procrastinator.  I know what my problem is:  I'm not a morning person.  I wish I could spring out of bed, jump on my treadmill, have a great workout, shower, get dressed to my shoes (and make Flylady proud) and greet my children with a calm, cool and in control mommy (who isn't barefoot and braless). 

This is the great irony of my mornings: I spend precious time watching people who are simplifying their lives, while what I should be doing is moving my ass and getting a jump on my own day.  Kind of like watching Fit TV while lamenting how out of shape  I am.  (I've only done that once).

Oh well.  I like to think I make up for my idleness as my day ramps up.  I am pretty crazed as I run from school to work, to school, to the store, to school, to housework and on and on.  One thing I am proud of is that I cook a lot.  I manage to cook a hot breakfast for my kids most mornings.  This is a priority to me.  I may have to drive my kids to school (one block away) in pajama pants and my Jackie O sunglasses, but dammit, at least they have a hot protein source to fuel their little bodies and minds.

OK, self-affirmation for the day is over.  Have a nice day!

Ready to get LOST?

After six agonizing weeks, my Wednesday night obesession is back.  I've been getting back into the LOST mindset with listening to The Transmission , a fantastic LOST fan podcast.  I especially liked the January 7 Podcast, as it focused on LOST on the web and gave great reviews and links to all things LOST: spoiler sites, forums, "Easter egg" sites (that hide clues, hints and spoilers) and other podcasts.  Yes, I'm a LOST geek. And proud of it!  Don't call me on Wednesday nights.  I'll be getting LOST !