Poll: So what TV Shows are You Watching ?

[shadowkat]

I like to do this every once and a while - find out what tv series that people reading or lurking on my livejournal are reading. Assuming of course anyone is outside of the handful of folks that occasionally comment. It's really impossible to tell who reads your journal and who doesn't, even if you lock all the entries - isn't it? Sort of true about most things that we write or say - actually. You don't know if people read it or heard it - unless they respond. Whether they grokked it - is a whole other issue. (Grokked is now a word - which Robert Heinlein created - and it means understood, but really totally understood it, as opposed to just got it.)

A couple of caveats regarding this poll - it is unfortunately slanted toward American Standard and Basic Cable Television, because that is what I have access to. Also, only tv shows that are on this season, nothing that is cancelled or in hiatus. (ie. only available on DVD or netflix streaming). Also if your favorite series is not referenced, because seriously there are over 125 tv series on at the moment and I can only remember or possibly watch 28 of them, please just list it in the comments. And it's more than possible I'll forget one of the one's I'm watching. (Lack of sleep may be killing short term memory cells.) Apologies for mistakes in advance. I'm doing a poll because they are easier to get responses to than memes.




[Poll #1984210]


Oh I only listed the new shows that have premiered to date. If it hasn't premiered yet, I didn't list it. And with the exception of Walking Dead (which is rerunned on numerous channels, and Arrow, I left tv shows that haven't aired yet this week off the list. Or tried to. Trying to keep it current.

Comments

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Wow, we really don't watch TV anymore. There were a number of those I checked as Watching that I'm so far behind on, I'm not sure they should count, either.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I can't really recommend anything new. The ones I have seen have been okey-dokey, but nothing great.

Reign season 2 starts tonight. I'll have to see if I want to keep watching.

[ann1962]

Thanks for the heads up. But unfortunately, high school football is on instead. Grr.

[rahirah]

Some of the ones I checked I'm watching only in the sense that they're on while I'm in the room. The only shows I'd say I'm really following right now are Doctor Who, Person of Interest, and to a lesser extent Sleepy Hollow and OUAT. I've quite liked the first couple of episodes of Gotham, though.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Agreed on Gotham - it's the only new series that has held my interest so far.
Well cast. Also Ben Edlund (of Angel and The Tick fame is a writer).

[elisi]

I, too, have ticked 'shows that sometimes happen to be on'. As in, I enjoy The Big Bang Theory very much, but I don't follow it - bit if I'm channel hopping and it's on, I'll watch. Archer is on Netflix, so if Darcy's watching, I'll join because it's hilarious.

Doctor Who is the only one I'm wacthing watching.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

The only thing I'm watching now is "Doctor Who". I was looking forward to "Once Upon a Time", but then its UK channel decided that they wouldn't buy it any more.

[vamp-mogs.livejournal.com]

I'm watching Revenge, Gotham and will be watching American Horror Story: Freakshow when it returns this week. The season premier of Revenge was quite good (it felt like a pilot) and I've been pretty disappointed in Gotham so far but it shows glimmer of potential. I'm most excited for AHS:Freakshow though.

I'm afraid most of my TV-time has spent rewatching old series at the moment. I'm currently in the middle of a BtVS rewatch with my mum (we don't do much together and I'm showing her the series for the first time - she loves it! We just finished S6 yesterday) and I'm also rewatching Alias. I forgot how much I enjoyed that show and how great the twists and turns were. I also found Jennifer Garner to be really great in it and think Sydney Bristow is a woefully underrated and unappreciated TV heroine. She is great.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Gotham does feel a little like style over substance at the moment, but it has potential or more than most of the new series to date.

And Revenge did feel like a reboot or pilot of a new series in some respects, which is an interesting choice.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

OUAT is no longer being picked up by the UK? Interesting. Wonder why?

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Enjoying Manhattan the most of the new shows (WGN historical drama right?). Looking forward to Grimm.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I may have to try Manhattan again, or rent it. I had troubles finding it - and was too wrapped up in the mad apt hunt/cleanse..to focus on it when I did.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I'm watching it on Hulu. Very engrossing and layered, and some good women characters.

[treadingthedark.livejournal.com]

I really like Scorpion. Fast paced, really interesting, I got super wrapped up in the story both episodes.

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

Gotham has really impressed me so far, at least with the assumption that the following eps are as well-crafted as the first two. The visual aspects are so stunning that it's easy to think that the show is mainly style, but there's quite a bit happening on many levels if you either pay close attention or simply rewind and rewatch.

The villains are particularly well crafted. Selena Kyle / Catwoman (who isn't, yet) is a spin I haven't seen before, and very intriguing. The actor playing the Penguin is fabulous-- this may turn out to be the best version of this character ever.

There was quite a lot of hype for this show pre-debut, but this may be a case where the hype was valid.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Would have to agree - more or less on the above. I admittedly went in with low expectations due to the mixed reviews. But it has some nice twists, while still keeping true to the noir-ish universe created in the Christopher Nolan films and Frank Miller/Tim Sale comics. Probably helps that it is based on a comic of the same name.

And the villains are far more interesting. Batman always had the best and most colorful villains.

Selena Kyle's character is quite close to the grown-up version of the character in Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and later Nolan's Dark Knight Rises. There's a nice symmetry there - I think. At any rate - it impressed me as well - best new series that I've seen to date.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

Orphan Black!! I don't watch much commercial tv (the wonder of Roku!) but I don't miss Orphan Black.

Also OITNB - amazing show. Can't miss that either!

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

What's OITNB stand for?

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

Sorry - Orange is the New Black. Very good show that features only women. Talk about strong female characters!

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

Actually, I also watch Finding Carter - with Alexis Denisoff, and I did check out the Witches of East whatever when Marsters was there. They just killed him off but it would be great to see him come back. :D

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

This is why I've stopped following Marsters from tv show to tv show - he plays the same role, and is either killed off or just a cameo. And I'm always disappointed. Acting is a tough career - which explains why the majority of my professional actor friends all have day jobs in other things and do acting on the side.

Hmmm...never heard of Finding Carter.

I have seen Orange is the New Black - the first season on DVD. I don't have a streaming device.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

Finding Carter is on MTV. It's well done. A girl picked up by cops with her friends for minor stuff is told that her mother (with whom she has a great relationship) kidnapped her when she was 3 years old. She is given to her biological family - she has a twin (fraternal) sister and a younger brother. Her birth mother is a cop, and her father (Alexis Denisoff) is a writer whose fame comes from his book Losing Linden (Carter's original name).

I do have a Roku - but my real gift is a daughter who can download anything.

Yeah - Marsters is the current king of type cast. And now that other Buffy actors are starting to do the convention circuit.... Yeah, acting is like writing - the average yearly earnings of a writer is 0$ and I suspect it's the same for actors. I hope he can break out like Nimoy finally managed.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been debating the whole streaming thing. But I like cable for now and I watch too much as is.

Marsters is more into theater and music than television/film acting which he does for money. So that's part of it. (Can't say I blame him - television action is not fun. It's basically stand around or sit around for hours, jump in, say five lines twenty different times until they get the lighting right or the take. And often the scene they pick in editing isn't your best but the one with the best lighting or F/X. Also it's all done out of order. That's why tv and film actors are paid so much - it's grueling. All you have to do is watch them film something...and you get it. Ugh. Stage on the other hand - you can improvise more, and have more control - also there's an audience - so instant feedback, and no director or editor changing your performance..)

Well, with writers it is a wee bit different. You can make a decent living writing - just not "creatively". Ad writers make quite a bit.
As do Marketing writers. And heck, I do well with legal, technical, and business writing in my job. The "creative" writing field, particularly television, screen, stage, and novels - is not high paying unless you get lucky and hit a nerve with everyone. (ie. 50 Shades of Grey, Gone Girl, Harry Potter, Twilight, etc.)

Actually, now that I think of it - this is true of actors as well. It's not high paying unless you take off - that's luck. But, you can make a decent living acting - a friend of mine is a drama-therapist for example.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

I love streaming - mostly a matter of taste. I tend to not follow many new shows, and I love some of the old ones, as well as no commercials.

I hadn't really thought about the theater and music - I tend to forget them for some reason. But you are right - he does love both from what I know. Also, he doesn't seem like the kind of person who cares all that much about the whole big fish eating smaller culture of Hollywood. That's part of why I would love to just sit down and have some coffee with him (plantations of coffee!) My other three from the B-verse - ASH, Alexis and Allyson. Sigh. Have you done any work in the field - you seem to know it well.

I do know the writing field - I have 34 books out in the children's field. Almost all were assigned in one way or another - either legends for Troll, or the educational market. I am good - had one book with editorial panels in Britain, Canada, Australia and the US, and I am told I was the only writer they didn't need to request any edits from. That's because their specs looked like they had been written by 4 editorial panels - beyond mentioning the topic they were garbled beyond belief. So I ignored them and went Montessori - whole to parts and then back to whole. I enjoy writing - I learn a lot. Children's books are well paid but assignments are sketchy. You are right that getting a slush pile manuscript to take off is like getting hit by lightning. I think 90% of books are flat rate now anyway.

Yeah, it's amazing what image we have of anyone in the artistic fields. I remember meeting my first author - going to her house - when I was in college. I expected a mansion with a pool. *snerk*

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

That's part of why I would love to just sit down and have some coffee with him (plantations of coffee!) My other three from the B-verse - ASH, Alexis and Allyson.

While I'd love to talk to them, the whole knowing more about them thing then they know about me - would get in the way. I'm just not crazy about meeting celebrities for that reason.

I have a fantasy of meeting him and his wife, having a lengthy conversation about various things - and not realizing who he is until the very end of the conversation. Which could actually happen, because I have horrible facial and vocal recognition skills. I'll meet someone famous and unless they tell me who they are - I'll have no clue. Actually it also happens with co-workers, and people from church - unless I spend a lot of time with you - I'll forget.

Have you done any work in the field - you seem to know it well.

Not really. My experience is all second-hand. I have a lot of friends who have worked in it in various guises. Also my brother and sisinlaw, plus their friends have worked in it. Add to that - the fact that I find what others do for a living fascinating. And - the entertainment profession fascinates me. So..over time I've cobbled together a lot of information. And - I live in NYC, so I pass through various film and television shoots on a daily basis. Seen everything from Elementary to Winter's Tale being filmed on the way to work.

My brother and sis-inlaw worked on the film Love Crimes, and her uncle directed and wrote various cult indie hits such as Texas Chainsaw Masscacre II, and Paris, Texas. Her best friend is a professional make-up artist. Then there's my own friends, one's ex-husband taught Chris O'Donnell and Matt Damon how to act, and she was a professional actress in various films that never got off the shelf for years before she gave up and became a project manager in IT. Another friend is a travel agent for various Hollywood types - so through her, I interned for a Marketing firm that represented The Who and the Beatles and planned celebrity launch parties. Then there's the guy I met who is a screen-writer/play write and his wife who does costume design for plays. Another friend is a mystery writer (Mr. Churchill's Secretary - I betaed her first book and am listed in the acknowledgements). Her husband is a professional puppeteer - who works on Sesame Street and doubles as Big Bird. He's also somewhat famous as Bear in the Big Blue House - a kids show. Through them, I met the team that created the puppets for Smile Time (I actually know the back stage bits directly from them), and Avenue Q. That's really how I know so much - I'm interested in it.

On the writing side? My father and uncle have self-published about 20 books between them. I worked in publishing for 6 years, and investigated the field. Also lots of job interviews in and out of publishing firms and literary agencies, and friends who worked in them.
Sisinlaw has also published three books. I, have written the equivalent of four books, two I've attempted to get published. And various short stories - one I won an award for in college. I may eventually self-publish one of them. And this year I co-wrote a children's/family play that we may or may not turn into a puppet show.
Didn't get paid for any of this.

My day job? I basically buy stuff. In the past it was content for an online library reference service, then it was various products for a health insurance company, now it is construction and consulting services for a Railroad. Lots of price negotiations, writing contracts and technical statements of work, as well as writing up financial analysis, and legal documents. The thing I like about it? The services clean up the environment, ensure safe work environment for others and for customers, and further public transportation - particularly trains.

Congrats on the children's books - and getting so many published. Yes, people tend to glamorize the entertainment industry. But most are lowly paid or "glamour jobs" - where you have someone else sponsoring you (a rich hubby or rich parents or rich wife).

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's amazing what image we have of anyone in the artistic fields. I remember meeting my first author - going to her house - when I was in college. I expected a mansion with a pool. *snerk*

One of my college professors had written a slew of mystery novels, and was a television scribe. I'd never heard of him before I went to college - and he was an amazing teacher. Anyhow - he told us the first day of class that if we were writing to become the next Stephen King or the next Great American Writer? To give up now. Because seriously, the odds of it happening...are slim to none. And after you get your first book published and few have read it, the wonder passes. But if you are writing not so much to get published or fame or fortune, but because you have something to say - then be a writer.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

I understand it is far less likely than being hit by lightning. :D

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

I became a teacher - I really dislike the whole book signing mentality. I couldn't break through it. But I did like talking at a few local conferences and teaching adults (which is how most authors really get bread and butter).

But Montessori - training and teaching - I loved that more than anything. It was revolutionary - teaching children to think is the most revolutionary action on the planet. Dealing with administration was a nightmare, and I loved the parents but had no way to remember their names. I am like you there.

Sounds to me like you are doing everything right in the writing era. Hell, Cathy had a b-day party for one of the kids and gave out paper dolls and somehow I ended up with a writing career. We self published a Victorian paper doll book, and a bookstore owner told us to go to a small local publisher. So, you write and jobs and opportunities arrive. I am very big on self-publishing.

Ah, fantasy me has coffee, deep and witty talk and become best friends in some vague way. Real me laughs it's ass off in between scathing insults.