Jude's Thursday Dish #44

I need to start cleaning my house, but I've been messing around on the computer for an hour. Here's my dish and then I'm REALLY getting started. No pictures or videos today. Gotta get going...

1. We doubled with friends, Marcy and Brandon, on Saturday. We saw the movie "(500) Days of Summer." So good! A very fresh take on the romantic comedy with some real laugh out loud moments. If I had seen this in my 20's, it would have really resonated with my dating life. Now, it's fun to watch recalling those memories -- and made me grateful I am NO longer dealing with break-up drama.

2. I'm an official "Gleek" now. I heart the new TV show "Glee." If you're going to add one of the new fall shows to your DVR list, this needs to top it.

This will segue me into my FALL TV schedule. I always compare the new fall season to dating terms. I've got standards for my DVR. Not just anyone gets a coveted spot on the Season Pass list. I'll "casually date" these new shows to see who deserves to get bumped up. I have to make sure if it's lust, infatuation, a passing crush -- or true love. I'm a sucker for word of mouth favor and critic buzz. If I hear a show is really good, I always try it out. This is how I've found some of my favorite shows. I'll give a new show 5 episodes before I decide to dump it. This is serious stuff! My time is precious and I can't watch everything! None of this was possible before I first got Tivo, then upgraded to cable and a DVR that record more than one show. I don't watch daytime TV, so my recorded shows are what I tune in when I need a break during the day or my treadmill TV. I never watch what I consider PG-13 shows around Katie, so most of my TV watching is done after 9 p.m. at night. This is telling why I never really sleep, because I'm watching TV until midnight. The other reason I take this seriously is scripted TV shows aren't like they used to be. You can't really casually watch anything anymore. Everything has continued stories and cliffhangers. Even sitcoms. So, there's Jude's philosophy of Fall TV 101. These are my high-hopes for fall. Check back at the beginning of October to see who made the final cut.

SUNDAYS

Too much on Sundays. Plus, I'm hardly ever home those evenings, so I watch these shows the next couple of days. The only one I dare watch live is "Amazing Race" because like I want Katie catching any of the others!

MAD MEN (8 p.m. AMC) - This is one of the few shows John and I watch together. Instead of renting a movie, we'll watch 2 or 3 episodes in one sitting.

AMAZING RACE (7 p.m. CBS) - Katie loves this show, so we watch it together.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (8 p.m. ABC) - I'm lukewarm on this show as of late, but I haven't had the heart to dump it yet.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (9 p.m. ABC) - B & S was a bit off last year, but it started to pick up steam again near the finale, so I'm giving it another shot

MONDAY

I used to HEART "Gossip Girl" but I decided I want to leave that show on a high note with Blair and Chuck ending up together and the end of high school from season 2. Unless my sis convinces me that it's AMAZING and I'm missing out, "G.G." is retired. I also don't get into "Dancing with the Stars" because that blasted show takes forever and there's so much filler! "Heroes" is dead to both me and John now. I do like "Chuck" and heaven help me, "The Bachelor" so the night might change once those shows pop up as mid-season replacements.

TUESDAY
I think this is going to be my experiment night. I tune in to "Biggest Loser" once in a while, but it's kind of the hey-it's-convenient-let's-hang-out-cause-I'm-bored kind of date. I think I might try out "Melrose Place" or "The Good Wife." The first out of pure curiosity and the second because Big (Chris Noth) is starring in it. Plus, in 2010 -- Tuesday will totally be all about "American Idol" and it's too hard two-timing "Idol."

WEDNESDAY
ABC has some sitcoms that look mildly amusing that I think I'll try out. I am especially interested to see if Courtney Cox's new show "Cougar Town" is any good. NBC's nurse drama "Mercy" looks interesting. But ultimately, the night is reserved for "Glee" of course and "America's Next Top Model." And in January, I don't watch "Idol' result night -- I just go online afterwards and find out who got booted. I have to free up my time for my one and only, true, committed TV love: "Lost." That's almost a "Fatal Attraction" like obsession with me.

THURSDAY
Damn you, Thursday. Best night of TV, worst night for scheduling. I'm almost completely committed to the NBC line-up, except I'm a little sad there's no "Kath & Kim" or "My Name is Earl" anymore. I can NOT miss "The Office," "30 Rock" or "Parks & Recreation." I'll give Chevy Chase's new show "Community" 5 eps to win me over to finish that line-up for me. I used to totally be into "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice", but I'm over both of those shows. From what I'm hearing about "Grey's", it doesn't sound like that show will be improving anytime soon. I am interested in "Flash Forward" on ABC, so if I can squeeze anymore time in - I may check that out. I'm also watching "Project Runway" so that night is PACKED.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Catching up on my overstuffed DVR.

And just some quick Lunch Rush:

-- What kind of stupid message is Chris Brown sending out when he claims he "can't remember" hitting Rihanna on Larry King Live? That's going to be the next great excuse for wife/girl friend beaters out there. Yes, he came out later and said that wasn't true, but you know there are going to be tools out there that only hear the first part and use that as their defense.

-- Speaking of Larry King, remind me NEVER EVER EVER to watch anything about kidnapping and rape again. I watched that interview with the poor victim of that Garrido Kidnapper/Rapist guy on Larry King and I couldn't sleep all night. And I totally know better. This stuff always freaks me out, but I watched against my better judgement.

-- And in that same vein, take that stupid Nancy Grace and Jane Valez-Mitchell of the air! Even if I'm channel surfing, those two make me want to find something sharp and stab it into my eyeball. Seriously!

-- Am I totally out of touch that I have no idea who D.J. AM is? Sure, I've heard who he was hooked-up with (Nicole Ritchie, Mandy Moore, etc.), but what is he famous for exactly? Being a D.J.?

-- Reuben won "Dance Your Ass Off" which was no big surprise. The judges favored him and he lost the most weight. I can't wait for the reunion show on Monday to see who really kept off the weight. I have my doubts on some of them.

-- I was home sick on Sunday night and watched the Daytime Emmy's. So stupid. I used to be totally into daytime soaps. My mom would never let me watch them, so I would sneak and watch "Another World" and "Days of Our Lives" in middle school and high school. When I went away to college, watching soaps, rated R movies, and drinking caffeine were my big rebellions (well, and a few other things that happened later that I won't write here!). I was an art major for one semester at Ricks and my classes were done by 10:30 a.m. I would come home and work on my art projects while my other roommates were still in class, watching soaps from 11 - 4 p.m. That didn't last, but I stuck with a few of my favorite soaps into my early 30's. I think as nighttime TV got better and I got busier, I just grew out of them. Now, I can't even stomach watching them for more than 5 minutes. I'm not saying this as some judgemental snob. If you like Soaps, more power to you! I just find they are unbearable now, especially when there are such better stories in prime time that move faster. Soaps seem so dated to me. Anyway, my point is that I found it really interesting that most of the actors haven't changed at all and neither have the story lines. I could start watching again and not (hardly) miss a beat. I must say though, man... Peter Reckell sure has aged well!

That's it for this week!