The Daily Procrastinator

Plenty of sites and magazines give previews of the new television shows hitting the airwaves each season. The DP isn’t one of them. No, the DP has no access to previews or screenings of these shows, and because of this we don’t feel an obligation to be nice when talking about the recycled, tired garbage the networks are going to be attempting to foist on us this fall. We have something better than previews, though: instinct. And we’re here to tell you which new shows you should pay attention to, and, more importantly, which shows not to get emotionally attached to, because they’re not long for this world (Trauma is already hemorrhaging).

A few caveats here: 1) I’m not looking at HBO shows – no real reason why, except those fuckers are responsible for True Blood and I’m getting sick of hearing/reading about that soap opera (that’s all it is, people – a soap with mythological characters, Rogue getting naked, and bad accents). 2) No reality shows are being mentioned. They thrive on appealing to the lowest common denominator, and I’ve found the LCD always manages to surprise me with their poor taste. And 3) I’m not mentioning actors in the series unless for some reason its pertinent to my prediction…or if there’s a good pic of an actress available.

So let’s start with CBS’s new shows:

Accidentally on Purpose – Mondays, 8:30/9:30

Stop me if you’ve heard this storyline before – a babe gets knocked up by someone who would normally not be on her radar, and then they decide to keep the kid and see where that takes them. Yeah, it’s stolen from Knocked Up, though it throws in another love interest for the girl. Whoop-de-doo. This is attempting to draw in the HIMYM and Big Bang Theory crowd, so it’s got a chance, but I’m betting that crowd has seen Knocked Up too and won’t feel the need to see a serialized small screen version.

The Good Wife – Tues. 9/10

The wife of a shady politician has to go back to work at a law firm when her husband goes to jail. Topical, and I really like Julianna Margulies, but the point about her working at a law firm leaves me cold. Too many damn shows out there with the court system, and I’m sure there will be a lot of emotional cases Margulies will get involved in: abused children, battered wives, etc., so it will become a courtroom drama. And dramas focused on leading women haven’t traditionally lasted on the Big Three (Providence, The Ghost Whisperer, …ok, that’s all I’ve got).

NCIS: LA – Tuesdays, 9/8

Can anyone actually watch Chris O’Donnell for a straight hour? His movie career says “NO.” LL Cool J is also part of the cast of this criminal investigation drama – yes, another one (which makes, what, 15 such shows, 8 of them with the letters “CSI” in them?) – and without Mark Harmon this time there goes the moms over 35 audience. But CBS is pretty good about marketing its crime shows, and with the names attached it’ll get at least two seasons. But I’ll be damned if you’ll be able to find anyone who admits to watching it.

Three Rivers – Sundays, 9/8

A medical drama revolving around transplant doctors. A tear-jerker to be sure, but it’s locked into a limited formula from the get-go. They’ll be telling stories from three perspectives (doctors, patient, donor), so there will be a lot of human interest, but CBS has not faired well with medical dramas since Chicago Hope which ended in 2000 ( L.A Doctors and City of Angels both might as well have been DOA). Still, CBS audiences tend to like limited formulas, and with the passing of ER, and the fact that older audiences probably find House too edgy, I’ll say the network finally will have an established medical drama to hang its hat on.

Next time: NBC’s new shows

One of these four shows is not real.  Guess which one.

1. Groomer Has It: 12 professional pet groomers compete for a coveted title.  (Animal Planet)
2. Kid Swap: A cross between Wife Swap and Supernanny, families take on each others’ kids for a month of tough love.  (ABC)
3. Hole in the Wall: An import from Japan, contestants try to fit themselves through small, awkward shapes cut into a wall.  (Fox)
4. Parking Wars: Following members of the Philadelphia Parking Authority as they ticket, tow and impound cars.  (A&E)

Hi, I’m TallGirl, and I’m a workaholic.

(You’re supposed to say, “Hi, TallGirl!” in unison. Thank you.)

I wasn’t always this way. There was a time when I was out the door at 5:00, thank you very much. I can remember it, and yet I have a hard time believing it.

Yet it makes sense. I didn’t have a work-issued laptop to take home with me. I didn’t have Wi-Fi in my house. I didn’t have an iPhone that automatically delivered my email to the left pocket of my jeans. I didn’t work for myself, or write for a blog, or volunteer my time to write the annual report for a nonprofit, or… well, you get the idea.

Still working after 10 PM? Oh, happiness!

It was this past week when I realized that I needed a support group — not that I had the time to go out and meet with them. I didn’t have a single day where I wasn’t scheduled to the hilt during business hours, with conference calls being conducted in the car on the way to on-site client meetings. As a result, there was no time to actually get work done, and I worked until at least 11 PM each night of the week and, barring two pre-scheduled commitments, the entire weekend. When did this happen to me? When did I decide that life was not complete without my MacBook in tow?

I probably should have realized that the balance of power was shifting in favor of workaholic when I moved four years ago. I had already set up my DirecTV and TiVo, but due to some sort of major snafu with the local provider, my DSL order was delayed and then cancelled without my knowledge or consent. I lost my mind. No amount of Food Network or Discovery Channel was going to console me. I needed my Internet and needed it immediately. By the time I finally got some connectivity, I realized that I had no time for my TV. Dozens of hours of shows backed up, unwatched, before I finally cancelled my service.

At first, it was liberating. I’d been feeling a little bit oppressed by my “to-watch” list, and it was great to not have the pressure. Even now, I don’t really miss it. Anything I want to watch can be found online. Just another reason for me to be attached to my MacBook.

And so, as I wonder what happened to my weekend, I have nothing but myself to blame. Combine ubiquitous connectivity with an inability to say no, and you find yourself where I am, searching for an online support group for people who can’t let go of their work.

Now, do we have coffee and donuts at this meeting?

We’ve had another busy week at The Daily Procrastinator, and now is the time to make sure none of the articles escaped your notice!

The week began appropriately with a heart-related post on Valentine’s Day, when TallGirl offered her thoughts and reminders about congenital heart defects in babies, particularly the condition known as tetralogy of fallout.

The Procrastinator also served up a piping-hot plate of tasty tidbits for sports fans this week. BigRedPoet took a satirical look at the criminals of the NFL, while Juggernaut voiced his thoughts on A-Roid’s recent admissions.

FlashCap posted the second installment of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the Zombies, in which the first Zombie rears his ugly, undead head. If you missed part one, check it out before reading this week’s installment!

TallGirl pondered many aspects of modern life this week, including her love of reading, an amazing website that offers aerial photographs from across the decades, and finding extra time in the day by watching less television.

Finally, BigRedPoet wrapped up the week with an announcement concerning National Margarita Day.

Visit The Daily Procrastinator at any of the links above and sign up to receive daily email updates so you never miss an article!

The Daily Procrastinator: Contributing to the Dramatic Reduction of Your Personal Productivity

Why do you care?

Who is it that watches Hollywood award shows such as the Golden Globes and the Oscars? And the more important question: why? I know of absolutely no reason why anyone would waste their time watching the smug congratulate themselves over and over while trying to convince everyone not in the room just how important they are. And to top it off, you then have to sit through speeches that half the time turn into lectures on just how bad things are in a country that allows individuals with severe psychological issues or drug problems make millions of dollars a year.

And further, is there any group out there that does more self-congratulatory back-patting than the entertainment industry? I found this website which keeps track of the results of the award shows. By my count, there are about thirty different organizations that feel the need to heap praise on an industry that at its very core is all about people who seek the praise of their respective audiences. Unbelievable.

Just say no to awards shows, people.

*** *** ***

And now a response from FlashCap:

While I agree with many of the above points about award shows, particularly the sense that they’re self-congratulatory and often reflect an overinflated sense of importance in both actors and the films themselves, I do believe award shows (and for convenience’s sake I’m going to reference the Oscars exclusively here) are not the bane of existence Juggernaut makes them out to be.

All areas of society attempt to recognize the best in their respective field of endeavor, whether it’s awarding “Most Valuable Player” awards to athletes from little league on up to the professional leagues, teachers being recognized by their peers, business chains recognizing their top-performing stores. Hell, I bet even law firms have end-of-the-year parties celebrating who billed the most hours.

Of course, these examples are not advertised or celebrated as much as the Oscars, but the Academy Awards are recognizing a particular aspect of the public domain, film, and thus there is a larger public interest in them than other awards. Yes, portions of the ceremony can be aggravating, particularly those award recipients who use their time at the podium to express views that 1) have nothing to do with the award won and 2) express some sentiment we disagree with, but such moments are not the focus of events. It is the recognition of excellence.

Except of course when the Academy is wrong. Best Picture my ass.