The Shows Are Strong

September 29, 2015September 29, 2015 | LizT.

Fall is here. And that means pumpkin spice lattes, corn mazes and brand new seasons of television. Here’s what I’m watching (in no particular order!) Proceed with caution…there be spoilers ahead.

Gotham

Dear Fox, way to turn this dud around.

Last season really dipped around the 5th or 6th episode. The best parts of the show were the rough and tumble portrayal of Alfred (played by Sean Pertwee), the crazed penguin (played by Robin Taylor) and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Fish Mooney (Jada can do no wrong!) I have a very soft spot in my heart for Ben McKenzie so I always liked him, but Barbara Kean (played by Erin Richards) was completely unbearable.

Gotham suffered from high expectations (much like season 1 of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) When telling the story of a pre-Batman Gotham, you have to raise the bar pretty high. Enter season 2 and the Rise of the Villains plot line. Barbara Kean was imprisoned for killing her parents and in the season premier she and all the rest of the crazy-pants inmates of Arkham Asylum have been let loose to roam the city and spread their special brand of mayhem. Yes Please!

And that’s not even mentioning Cory Michael Smith’s, Edward Nygma, who has been turning out strong pre-Riddler performances since day 1. Now in season 2 he is getting a chance to spread his insane wings and begin the process of learning to fly! Double yes please!

Minority Report

This show has a lot of potential. The movie Minority Report (let’s not forget that it came out 13 years ago…) sets the pilot of this show up in a post Precrime world. The precogs are no longer being used to predict crimes. But the youngest precog, Dash (played by the delightful Stark Sands) still gets visions and has been trying to use them, rather unsuccessfully, to save lives. Along comes Detective Lara Vega to give him direction. Definitely one to put on your watch list.

Once Upon a TIme

Talk about coming in with a BANG!

After the events of season 4 and the savior going dark, it was truly promising to be an interesting turn of events and Sunday’s premier did not disappoint. What I loved most was that ABC decided to start slow with Emma’s decent into darkness. Lots of delicious set ups for the season ahead including harkening back to season 1’s memory wipe plot line. Very excited to see where this season is going to take us. If you’re behind on the show, catch up on Netflix. There’s always time to catch up!

The Walking Dead

I just binge-watched season 5. And season 6 doesn’t start till Sunday, October 11th. If you aren’t caught up, there’s plenty of time and it’s worth the watch. I’m expecting great things from the new season!

Agents of SHIELD

Yes! Yes! Yes!

The events of season 2 were so compelling and this new season (premiering tonight on ABC) promises not to disappoint. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has been a dark horse at times, but the Marvel team knows the gem it has on it’s hands and when the going gets tough they bring in the big guns. Which brings us to the Inhumans and the birth of Quake! Pumped for this premiere!

Heroes Reborn

It’s true. Heroes had a rocky last 2 seasons ending in it’s cancellation, but Heroes Reborn is here to fill the void left in our hearts after the end of Heroes. Last week’s 2 hour season premier was incredibly strong. New characters mixed with old favorites and a Brave New World is finally being realized. One to watch!

The Mindy Project

Thank goodness for Hulu, who swooped in at the last minute to rescue The Mindy Project from cancellation hell. With Mindy and Danny expecting a baby, it was just too ripe for comedy to miss and Hulu knew what it was doing! The first 2 episodes were Mindy at her best, charming…neurotic and chock full of funny. With wonderful guest starrings from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Kunal Nayyar in episode 1 alone, season 3 of Mindy is bound to bring joy to everyone still watching…and you should definitely still be watching!

Arrow

Arrow’s premier doesn’t air till Wednesday, October 7th. But season 2 left off with Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak riding off towards the sunset and away from Starling City. Season 3’s promos show Oliver on the verge of proposal (I might be one of the few humans who don’t ship Ollicity) being called back into active duty as The Arrow. With a new costume and the DC team gearing up for the premier of Legends of Tomorrow in 2016, this season of Arrow promises lots of action and even more of all that we love about the show already!

The Flash

I may love Arrow, but I LOVE The Flash! The Flash brings a levity to the world of superhero-ing. Season 1 was the strongest performance of last season (if you ask me) and I am eagerly anticipating the premier of season 2 on Tuesday, October 6th.

Doctor Who

I have to admit. The 12th Doctor’s story lines haven’t exactly won me over yet. But this new season starts with an epic guitar solo and a return of a favorite villain, the Daleks. With the Doctor’s current companion, Clara, on her way out and the eager anticipation of the one and only River Song (played by Alex Kingston) I’m ready to finally let the Doctor win my heart. (Probably just in time to have to say goodbye. That’s how this works!)

Supergirl

Out of all the new shows this season, I am most excited to see CBS’s Supergirl. There have been mixed reviews so far. With the Superhero meets Devil Wears Prada angle in play, it could easily go either way. But I find that angle to be interesting and I find Melissa Benoit charming. So I have high hopes.

The Big Bang Theory

What a way to start the new season of The Big Bang Theory, This show can at times be a little tired as it plays on the age old story of nerds who can’t get the girls. But Leonard and Penny have just tied the knot but there’s trouble in paradise only hours after tying the knot and Amy has broken up with Sheldon. So the stories do seem promising and I’ve always found the show (especially Jim Parson’s Sheldon) rather hilarious! I’ve already tuned in to the first 2 eps and I can’t wait to see where they take Amy and Sheldon’s relationship!

What are you watching this season and what are you enjoying so far?? Let me know in the comments below or come connect with me on social media!

A very special After Who

August 24, 2014August 25, 2014 | LizT.

Over the weekend I was invited to attend the screening and After Who taping for Doctor Who, Series 8. And incidentally the premier of the brand new 13th (if you’re counting correctly) iteration of The Doctor.

Host Chris Hardwick of The Nerdist, and proclaimed die-hard Whovian, had a panel of fellow nerds on his show, After Who, to talk about all things Doctor related.

Including nerd captain, Wil Wheaton of Star Trek and Big Bang Theory fame.

Also, Alton Brown from the Food Network, who is a big fan of Who as well.

And Mark Gatiss, who comes from the all important world of Sherlock, but who also writes for Doctor Who.

Dan Starkey, who plays Strax came on the show as himself and as the Sontaran commander and it was such a treat to see answer a few questions as his character. And finally Natalie Morales, from Girls came on the show to join the boys club.

More on the episode later. I’m still digesting everything that happened in Peter Capaldi’s first episode as The Doctor. But I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. Lots to be excited about in the new season!

My friend and fellow Whovian right before the event.

Special thank you to Josh Ricks for getting us in!

My First Crush(er)

January 3, 2013January 25, 2013 | LizT.

In 1987, I had my very first crush. I was 5 and Wesley Crusher was a baby-faced nuisance on the starship Enterprise.

Wil Wheaton’s Crusher was met with resistance by the fans. But to that 5 year old nerdy girl, he was quite dreamy!! And eventually he became a dashing man in uniform.

Wil Wheaton continues to woo nerdy fans everywhere with appearances on The Guild, Tabletop and of course as himself-nemesis to Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory.

They say you never forget your first crush (well they say love, but I say crush!) And I haven’t forgotten mine!

So thanks, Wil for being so darn cute!

Not enough hours in the day!

April 23, 2012 | LizT.

Have you ever heard something like this… ” Oh, you like (insert show title here)? Then you’ll love (insert similar show title here).”

Happens to me all the time. I like Lost, so I’ll love Once Upon a Time. I like Star Trek, so I’ll love Battlestar Galactica. I like Dr. Who, so I’ll love Sherlock! I like Buffy, so I’ll love Firefly. I like all of the above, so I’ll love The Big Bang Theory. (I do like and have already watched every one of the aforementioned shows.)

The only problem is that I seriously don’t have enough hours in the day to get caught up on all the good stuff that’s out there to watch. I will say that I have certainly watched my share. But I’ve made a list of things I need to catch up on. Things like Game of Thrones (I know, I know, it’s blasphemy that I haven’t got into it yet) and Stargate and Torchwood and Andromeda. Like Fringe and Eureka and Flight of the Conchords and The IT Crowd. The list is pretty long, but I’m determined to watch it all. Each and every show (some of which I’ve already started)

I just need more hours. And if anyone could figure out how to squeeze more hours out of a day, I’m convinced it’d be Dr. Sheldon Cooper.

PS. Just a thought but if Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock met Jim Parson’s Dr. Cooper, I think the intellectual world might implode! But it’d be interesting to watch!