It’s no secret to anyone that I love TV. A lot. People like to claim that TV is boring or stale or that it’s all the same. But I beg to differ. In fact, I’ve compiled a lovely list of five ways in which TV has managed to surprise me this year:
1. “Lost”
ABC’s cult drama proved this year that it’s still relevant. People had been doubting the show lately, but this season it came back with a vengeance, offering fans an action-packed, cliffhanger-riddled season that delivers just as many answers as it does questions. The new season’s format combining flashbacks and flashforwards provides a jolt of freshness to the show, which was definitely suffering from a lull last season. I’ve always been a fan, but this season has been leagues better than last season ever was.
2. “Big Brother”
My favorite reality show has surprised me this season by boring me. I’ve loved every single season of “Big Brother” since the very beginning, but this season I don’t really care that much if I miss an episode or two. This season’s matchmaking twist was a sleazy, obvious attempt to get more sex in the house – and it worked, even though none of the sex has ended up on air. And the cast is so unlikeable that while I have favorites, I don’t have favorites. I was kind of upset when Chelsia got evicted last week, but not nearly as upset as I was when Howie and Kaysar got evicted in season 6.
3. Hulu.com
The Web site, a joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corporation, entered the world of online content distribution touting itself as a “YouTube killer.” At first, the site was a lackluster effort, but in recent weeks it has blossomed into an awesome portal for TV and movie lovers alike. In addition to an expanding array of free full episodes of TV shows, Hulu now offers a selection of full-length feature films. For free. Granted, Hulu’s content is entirely ad-supported. But I don’t give a crap. I’ll sit through commercials if it means I get to watch “Ice Age” or “Mulholland Drive” completely free. And Hulu is pretty much my savior when it comes to catching up on “New Amsterdam.” I fully take back the lukewarm review I wrote back in January.
4. ABC comedies
As of late, ABC hasn’t really been a good place for comedy. “According to Jim” and “George Lopez,” while mildly funny, could hardly be considered quality laughers. But things have changed. “Samantha Who?” and “Miss Guided” surprised everyone when they premiered and were actually funny. I’ll have to admit that my expectations were pretty low for both shows simply because they were on ABC, but now I’m hooked and can’t stop watching ABC’s funny ladies.
5. “Saturday Night Live”
It’s no secret that SNL has sucked in recent years. But when the show returned from the writers’ strike at the end of February, it drew its highest ratings in a long time and featured a couple really hilarious skits. Sure, the show has its misses just like any other comedy, but the 33-year-old late-night staple is still alive and kicking, even as people are quick to discount it as not as funny as it used to be. I’m here to tell you that you should watch. Give SNL another chance. There’s a reason the show’s video clips are often among the most-watched on YouTube and Hulu.
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