Stay Tuned Part 2: Binge Watching

March 18, 2016March 17, 2016 / azlotnik / Leave a comment

Ahh, binge watching. It’s something that’s become more and more common as our media and the way we watch TV is changing. With live streaming from Netflix and Hulu, you can watch an entire season at once, sometimes in one sitting if you are truly devoted to the show.

A few years ago, I did a blog post about all the TV shows I was watching. Check it out here. Now, this part 2 is about all the shows I am streaming and binge watching. Streaming devices such as Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and TV Stick, Roku, and more are now replacing DVRs and allowing for instant access and more flexibility. Currently, I still use a DVR and Netflix as well as watch live TV. I am thinking about trying out Hulu for a little while because they have exclusive shows that you can’t watch anywhere else. However you watch, it’s still great entertainment!

This is what I’m currently streaming:

Dexter: Off air, 8 seasons
From Showtime’s website: “He’s smart, he’s good looking, and he’s got a great sense of humor. He’s Dexter Morgan, everyone’s favorite serial killer. As a Miami forensics expert, he spends his days solving crimes, and nights committing them. But Dexter lives by a strict code of honor that is both his saving grace and lifelong burden. Torn between his deadly compulsion and his desire for true happiness, Dexter is a man in profound conflict with the world and himself.”

At first I didn’t like this show. I thought it was too gory. But then the story-line and Dexter’s personality drew me in. The only thing that really creeps me out now is the intro. I know he’s just shaving, getting dressed and making breakfast, but the way they filmed it is so detailed that it just gives me a funny feeling. Despite the fact that Dexter is a serial killer, I still really like his character and am rooting for things to go his way. I’m only on season 3 of Dexter and I can’t wait to find out what else is going to happen. The final episode of Dexter aired in 2013.

Parks and Recreation: Off air, 7 seasons
From NBC’s Website: “Parks and Recreation” is a hilarious ensemble comedy that follows Leslie Knope (Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Amy Poehler, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” “Baby Mama”), a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, and her tireless efforts to make her quintessentially American town just a little bit more fun.

In the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department, Leslie’s office mates include Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe, “Brothers and Sisters,” “The West Wing”), a health nut who wants to live to be 150 years old, and Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari, “Human Giant,” “Scrubs”), a fashion-obsessed wannabe player whose greatest dream is to own his own nightclub. Leslie’s boss, Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman, “Children’s Hospital”), hates the very government he works for, and sports one of the most impressive moustaches on primetime television. Rounding out the cast are: Adam Scott (“Friends with Kids,” “Party Down”) as Leslie’s husband and former campaign manager, Ben Wyatt; Rashida Jones ( “Celeste and Jesse Forever,” “The Office”) as her best friend, Ann; Chris Pratt (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Moneyball”) as shoeshine boy extraordinaire Andy Dwyer; and Aubrey Plaza (“Funny People”) as Andy’s wife, April, who doubles as Ron’s sullen assistant. Also starring are Retta (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) as the fun-loving Donna Meagle and Jim O’Heir (“Castle”) as the department’s punching bag, Jerry Gergich.”

This show is so funny! I love watching the overachieving Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and hearing about all of her great ideas. All the characters are great and hilarious. I’m glad I took a chance on this show. It didn’t seem like something I would like while it was on the air. I’m currently on season 5. The final episode of Parks and Recreation aired in 2015.

Fuller House: Netflix original series, One season
From Netflix: “The Tanner family’s adventures continue as DJ Tanner-Fuller shares a home with her sister Stephanie and friend Kimmy who help raise her three boys.”

Full House was my favorite show as a child. I grew up in the 90’s and watched Full House when it was on T.G.I.F. As a child, I didn’t know how corny the show actually was. The sequel is just as corny, but it’s really a good show — at least to those who grew up with Full House. I love how some of the plots are the same as the original. Only now, the kids being all grown up and dealing with kids of their own. It’s great that they show clips of the original too, sometimes side-by-side with the current season. I thought it was hilarious when the cast called out Michelle (The Olsen twins) on how they couldn’t be there. Maybe we’ll see them on season 2 because Netflix renewed Fuller House for a second season thought to air in 2017.

Jane the Virgin: Currently on air in its second season
Online Summary: “The daughter of a teen mother, Jane Villanueva grew up determined not to repeat her mom’s mistakes. At 23 her life is on track; Jane is studying to be a teacher and engaged to a handsome detective who supports her decision to remain a virgin until marriage. Then a routine clinic visit flips her life upside down. Inseminated by a specimen meant for a patient in the next room, now-pregnant Jane is in a situation made only more-insane when she learns that the sperm donor is her boss, Rafael. As her meticulously planned life gets more like the telenovelas she loves, she faces a lot of complicated decisions about where to go from here.”

At first I thought Jane the Virgin was a bit weird, with all the narration and words appearing across the screen. But, after the fist few episodes, this show really grows on you! I am so hooked. I love watching this show and seeing all of Jane’s drama. Only season 1 is available on Netflix. Since season 2 is currently on the air, it won’t be on Netflix until October or so. I missed out on the beginning of season 2 and the CW website only has full episodes of Jane the Virgin starting mid-season. So, I’ll just have to watch my other shows while I wait patiently for October. New episodes of Jane the Virgin air Mondays at 9 on the CW.

Binge Re-watching:

The Office: Off air, 9 seasons
It’s funny what you pick up on when you re-watch a show, especially while binge watching it. I originally thought that it took such a long time for Jim and Pam to get together, but after watching this great show again, I realized it wasn’t as long as I thought it was. It’s even better the second time around. Between the pranks with Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and the comedy of Michael Scott (Steve Carell) this show has me still laughing out loud. This second time around, I have really gotten to appreciate the character of Kelly Kipoor (Mindy Kaling). I always liked her on the show, but after reading her two books (Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns, and Why Not Me?) I see what a cool person she is and it has made me want to watch The Mindy Project once we get Hulu. I wrote about The Office in my first blog post about TV. The final episode of The Office aired in 2013.

Malcolm in the Middle: Off air, 7 seasons
Online Summary: “The Cleavers they ain’t. Mom is a screaming control freak, Dad is a goofy human hairball, oldest son Francis escaped the family at a young age, Reese is just criminal, Dewey is a space cadet and young Jamie is the scapegoat. The middle kid, Malcolm (who delivers the narrative for the capers of this whacked-out clan) is a brainiac who doesn’t want to be burdened by his genius.”

I really don’t remember too much about this show besides the fact that I really liked the main character, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz). This show is about a dysfunctional family and the craziness four boys can get into. It’s pretty funny and sort of new to me since I watched only a handful of episodes so long ago. It is also notably the first memorable character for Bryan Cranston who just happens to be the main character of the next show I will write about. The last episode of Malcolm in the Middle aired in 2006.

These are shows that I have streamed in the past:

Breaking Bad: Off air, 5 seasons
From AMC’s website: “Breaking Bad follows protagonist Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a chemistry teacher who lives in New Mexico with his wife (Anna Gunn) and teenage son (RJ Mitte) who has cerebral palsy. White is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of two years left to live. With a new sense of fearlessness based on his medical prognosis, and a desire to secure his family’s financial security, White chooses to enter a dangerous world of drugs and crime and ascends to power in this world. The series explores how a fatal diagnosis such as White’s releases a typical man from the daily concerns and constraints of normal society and follows his transformation from mild family man to a kingpin of the drug trade.”

Even though this show had gore and a lot of drug use, I came to really like it. I was always rooting for Walter White, or shall I say “Heisenberg.” This show always kept me on my toes about what was to happen next. I really did not like the women in this show. Skylar (Anna Gun) and Marie (Betsy Brandt) had their flaws and were not strong female characters, in m opinion. I felt bad for Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) because he was always screwing up his life. Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) was on of my favorite characters because of his great attitude, even though he was a shady lawyer. Last year, Bob Odenkrik got his own spinoff from Breaking Bad called Better Call Saul, which is a really good show. The last episode of Breaking Bad aired in 2013.

Master of None: Netflix Original Series, 1 season
From Netflix: “New Yorker Dev takes on such pillars of maturity as the first big job, a serious relationship, and busting sex offenders on the subway.”

I really enjoyed Aziz’s original show that he produced, starred in, wrote and directed. He is one of my favorite stand-up comedians, and he was great in his role as Tom on Parks and Recreation, a show I talked about earlier in this post. Master of None is funny and entertaining. I especially liked the episodes where Dev and his friends hung out with their parents and learned interesting facts about them. Master of None was renewed by Netflix for a season 2, which should air in 2017.

Parenthood: Off air,
6 seasons
Online summary: “The four grown Braverman siblings — Adam, Sarah, Crosby and Julia — share the joys, heartaches and headaches of parenthood in their California hometown. As their parents deal with life and marital issues, the four lean on one another while tackling the challenges of modern family life in an updated reimagining of the 1989 film by the same name.”

I absolutely love this show! I wish I would have watched it while it was on the air. The Bravermans are great. Who wouldn’t want to be in their family? They all really care about one another and the show gives you such a warm and happy feeling. Parenthood is one of the best shows I have ever watched. The storyline is very interesting and it’s just a phenomenal show. If you don’t stream this, you’re missing out. The last episode of Parenthood aired in 2015.

Halt and Catch Fire: 2 seasons
Online summary: “It’s the early 1980s, and the spirit of innovation in personal computing is about to catch fire. Hot on the trail is a renegade trio — a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy — who risk everything to realize their vision of building a computer that can change the future. Not long after IBM corners the market with its flagship PC, a flaw is discovered in its operation, opening the door for competition. In steps Joe MacMillan, a former IBM executive who now works for Cardiff Electric. MacMillan plans to reverse-engineer IBM’s technology, putting Cardiff in the thick of the personal computer race. He enlists the help of engineer Gordon Clark, who dreams of creating a revolutionary computer, and Cameron Howe, a volatile prodigy who puts her future on the line to join MacMillan’s rogue project.”

This show has its share of drama, but part of the fun is that it takes place in the 1980’s so everything is reflected of that period, from the clothes, to the home décor, to the cars. What’s really interesting is seeing how the technology was back then compared to what it is now. I was just a small child in the 1980’s so I don’t know what computers were like then. I never thought I’d love a show about the 1980’s PC revolution, but I do. I enjoy all the characters, and especially Cameron (Mackenzie Davis) and her quirkiness, and Joe MacMIllan (Lee Pace) who often has a hidden agenda. Season 3 of Halt and Catch Fire airs on AMC in summer 2016.

What I am still catching on the DVR:

The Walking Dead: Everyone’s favorite zombie apocalypse show based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman.
Better Call Saul: Spinoff of Breaking Bad where Goodman is Jimmy McGill, a small-time attorney hustling to make a name for himself.
Castle: Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), a best-selling mystery novelist, and Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), an NYPD homicide detective, solve various unusual crimes in New York City.

Maybe I watch too much TV, but I don’t care! It’s entertaining!

140424153843-web-streaming-tv-horizontal-large-gallery

Growing Up in the ’90s

December 19, 2013 / azlotnik / Leave a comment

I’m a ‘80s baby. Born in 1985 to be exact. So, most of my childhood was during the 1990s. Ah, those were the days. It was before everyone had a cell phone and personal computer. It was before everyone knew what everyone was doing all the time and before you could reach someone through 10 different media channels. The ’90s were a time when kids actually loved to play outside and imaginations ran wild. Growing up in the ’90s was awesome and this blog post is dedicated to all the things that remind us of our childhood- Generation Y, this is for you!

We all love remembering things from our childhood. Back in the days of less stress and worries. Here is my tribute to the Best of the late ’80s and the 1990s.

Music:
I think the most significant contribution of ’90s music was when Nirvana came out with Smells like Teen Spirit. This single changed the face of rock music and a new genre was formed: alternative rock. I’m a lover of rock music and hits from the 1990s are my all time favorite. Bands like Counting Crows, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighers, Silverchair, Radiohead, Third Eye Blind, Bush, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine, Live, The Red Hot Chile Peppers, Weezer, Sublime, etc. I still love to listen to rock music from this time and I think the ‘90s were when the best of the best were recorded. Living in Atlanta, there is only really one radio station that consistently plays ‘90s rock. Radio 105.7 does a great job of playing all my favorites.

Movies:
Oh the movies from the ‘80s. Who couldn’t love them? Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Buhler’s Day Off, and Weird Science are all classics. Some of these movies were a little before my time. I may not have seen them at the time they came out, but I always had a love for them and grew up learning to appreciate pop culture from my generation. The ‘90s had some great teen movies come out too. When I think back of movies of this time, these come to mind: Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s All That, American Pie, Now and Then, Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Can’t Hardly Wait, My Girl, There’s Something about Mary, The Wedding Singer, Titanic, Casper, Tommy Boy, Wayne’s World, etc. If you haven’t seen any of these, you definitely should. It’s always good to reminisce of things from our childhood and teenage years.

TV shows:
I grew up watching TV with my brother. He always had the control over the remote. (And he always used to nag me during the commercials. Lol). Of what I can remember, our favorite shows were usually on Nickelodeon or on ABC’s TGIF. We watched Doug, Rugrats, Are you Afraid of the Dark?, Salute Your Shorts, Double Dare, Guts, Legends of the Hidden Temple, What Would You Do?, Wild and Crazy Kids, All That, Round House, The Secret World of Alex Mack, Hey Dude, Clarissa Explains it All, You Can’t do that on Television, etc.

TGIF was a weekly Friday night tradition with my brother and the neighborhood kids. We would always watch it, and sometimes stay over each other’s houses for a sleepover. The lineup usually included: Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, Boy Meets World, and Hanging with Mr. Cooper. It was always the perfect way to end a week of going to school.

Fads:
Each generation usually has a fad that is very popular at a certain time. According to Wikipedia, “A fad is any form of behavior that develops amongst a large population and is collectively followed enthusiastically for a period of time, generally as a result of the behavior being perceived as popular by one’s peers or being deemed “cool” by social media.” Here are some fads that I remember growing up: Lisa Frank stickers, folders, pencils and basically everything of that brand were very popular. I loved those colorful unicorns, rainbows, animals, stars and designs. Also, Trapper Keepers with cool designs were a great way to organize school papers in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

When I was in middle school, everyone was obsessed with Beanie Babies. Cute little animals filled with beans from Ty Company complete with a name tag and a story. I remember going on the Beanie Baby website on my America Online account and looking up different animals. Obviously, it took forever to load the pages since all we had was dial up internet access.

Pogs were also a popular game. Some kids collected them while some played with the cardboard disks and the heavier pieces called slammers that were sometimes made of metal. The slammers were thrown down to cause the pogs to turn over. There were different variations of playing this game and some kids played for keeps. I had quite a number of pogs and slammers, although I never really played the actual game, just collected them.

Another popular toy of the ‘90s was the Tamagotchi, a keychain-sized virtual pet simulation game. You could make your pet eat, sleep, and play, and if you didn’t take care of it, your virtual pet would die. I had one of these as well and it was really cool at first, then months later, mine would be dead at the bottom of my desk drawer.

Flashback of Fashion:
When thinking back on a certain decade, it’s always fun to look back on the style of fashion that was very popular. Although we had some fashion faux pas in the ’80s and ’90s, we thought it was so cool back then. Some of them are coming back in style. I will touch on that later, but first here are some major fashion trends of the ’80s and ’90s that I remember.

1980s:
Shoulder pads
Power Suits
Dancewear
Miniskirts
Doc Martins
Big permed hair
Ray-Ban sunglasses
The Miami Vice look
Stirrup leggings
T-shirts tied to the side or with a clip
Big hoop earrings

1990s:
Parachute Pants
Reebok pumps
Mini Backpacks
Crimped hair
Bandanas
Baby G watches
Overalls
Slap bracelets
Tattoo chokers
Wallet chains
Wide leg jeans
Shell necklaces
Butterfly clips
Scrunchies
Bucket hats

’80s & ’90s Fashion Coming Back in Style now:
Acid-washed jeans and vests
Half tops
High wasted shorts and pants
Jelly shoes (once sandals, now boots)
Floral print jeans
Neon colored blazers
High-top sneakers
Off the shoulder sweatshirts and tops
Printed leggings
Side ponytails
Lace
Platform shoes
Headbands
Keds
Jansport backpacks

Jelly Boots. Can you believe this is actually a thing?

The ’80s are also coming back in style another way, on TV. The hit show The Goldbergs comes on ABC Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. The series was created by Adam F. Goldberg who based the sitcom on his family back in the ‘80s. I do watch the show and it is really funny. I doubt that it will play for more than one season, but it is really entertaining to watch. Everything on the show is based in that time period and it’s very amusing to get reminded of it. Such as: the big hair, the blue and pink heavy eye shadow, DeLorean cars, the original Nintendo, boom boxes, over the shoulder camcorders, etc.

Here is a blog that is dedicated to the children of the ‘90s. I have spent a good amount of time reading all the posts and reliving my childhood. They haven’t posted anything new since 2012, but if you scroll down and read all the archives on the right hand side, it will be worth your time. The blog is well written and even had guest bloggers back when it was being consistently updated. They also have a Facebook page where they post things about growing up in the ‘90s including Buzzfeed lists.

Here are some Buzzfeed lists that children of the ‘90s will appreciate:

25 Ways to tell you’re a Kid of the ‘90s

Things Kids Today will never get to Experience

Things that Look Just like Childhood

Looking back on it all, the ‘80s and ‘90s were great decades and the pop culture, fashion and trends of the time should not be forgotten. I loved growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s and it is so fun to relive my childhood days. So, I hope this blog post reminded you of your good memories of your childhood and helped you re-live things from back in the day.

Stay Tuned

June 29, 2012June 28, 2012 / azlotnik / Leave a comment

Summertime. What we always looked forward to as kids. Now, as adults, most of us have to work year round, so summer isn’t what it used to be. Another downside of Summer is that all our favorite TV shows are on hiatus. So, while we are waiting to be entertained this fall in HD I thought I’d share with you all what I will be watching.

What I’m watching:

Modern Family: (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC) In my opinion this is the best TV comedy series in a very long time. Though I caught on to this marvelous show late in its second season, this is by far one of my favorite shows. And the awards this series has gotten speak for themselves. Modern Family is hilarious! I love it when Phil says, “gotta fix that step.” I own the first and second season on DVD and have kept up with the third season. This fall Modern Family will return for its fourth season and I can’t wait. The show’s title really says it all. It portrays modern families in today’s age. We are long past the Ward and June Cleaver days, and Modern Family has characters that are not as traditional but ever so prevalent in today’s world.

Claire and Phi Dunphy (Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell) are married and have three kids, Hailey (18), Alex (14), and Luke (13). Claire’s parents are divorced and her dad Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill) remarried a much younger woman named Gloria (Sofía Vergara) who happens to be Columbian and has a son named Manny who is 13 going on 30. Claire’s brother Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) lives with his partner Cameron Tucker (Eric Stonestreet) and they adopted a Vietnamese baby named Lily who is four years old and turning into a terror. Cam and Mitchell are trying to adopt another baby but are having a little trouble because they want to adopt within the United States. This show is great to watch and you just can’t stop laughing practically the whole time. I look forward to many more seasons of this great comedy series.

The ABC website on Modern Family: “First, let’s meet the Dunphys. Phil is the enthusiastic, “tries too hard” husband/dad who loves his slightly-uptight (but in a good way) wife, Claire, and their three way different kids. Haley is the independent, eye-rolling teen. Middle sister Alex is wise beyond her years and little brother Luke, well, isn’t.

Claire’s no-nonsense dad, Jay Pritchett, married a much younger Colombian beauty named Gloria Delgado. Her passion for life has rubbed off on her young son Manny, who marches to the beat of his own drum, usually in a burgundy dinner jacket.

Jay’s lawyer son, Mitchell, embraced a major life change when he and his free-spirit partner, Cameron, adopted their super-cute Vietnamese baby, Lily. They’re learning all the parenting ropes as they go. Fortunately, they have the loving support of their extended, eclectic, ever-funny family.

Modern Family won 11 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series two years in a row.”

The Middle: (Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC) I missed the first season of this great show as well. You got to love this quirky family. Although they are all odd, you really get to like the Hecks. Sue, that’s another story… She has a crazy and not so cute fashion sense that always strikes up a good laugh as well as a twisted view of the world. The show is humorous and each episode always ends well. The family has ups and downs but at the end of each episode you feel good inside because the Heck family usually shares a sense of togetherness. They may not have that much money and their house is always falling apart but they are a close family who loves one another. I highly recommend this humorous show.

The ABC website on the Middle: “Forget about athletes, movie stars and politicians. Parents are the real heroes—but we think Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton), must be some kind of superhero. A loving wife and mother of three, she’s middle class in the middle of the country and is rapidly approaching middle age.

Frankie and her husband, Mike (Neil Flynn), have lived in Orson, Indiana, their whole lives. A man of few words (every one a zinger), Mike is a manager at the town quarry and Frankie is the third-best used car salesman (out of the three) at the local dealership. She may not be a high-powered career woman, but when it comes to her family, she’ll go to just about any length. And with kids like these, she had better. There’s Axl (Charlie McDermott), her semi-nudist teenage son conceived while under the influence of Guns N’ Roses; Sue (Eden Sher), the awkward teenage daughter who fails at everything… but with the utmost of gusto; and their seven-year-old son Brick (Atticus Shaffer), whose best friend is his backpack.

Sometimes it seems like everyone is trying to get to the top, or struggling not to hit bottom, but we think Frankie and her family will find a lot of love, and a lot of laughs, somewhere in The Middle.”

The Office: (Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC) In the fall, this comedy will return for its ninth season. Depicting the everyday lives of office workers of Dunder Mifflin/Sabre in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the show is shot to look like a documentary. In the early seasons of The Office, the focus was mainly on the romance between Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer). Virtually unknown actors before they show, they still remain my favorite characters on The Office.

Even though Michael Scott (Steve Carell) left the show, The Office did not go downhill. In fact, it may have gotten even funnier. The awkward humor is still there. I think Andy (Ed Helms) did a great job (at first) of taking over Michael’s position as manager. When Andy went to Florida to get Erin (Ellie Kemper) back Nellie (Catherine Tate) declared she was manager, even thought she had no rights to the job. But, in the last episode of season eight, Andy reclaimed his managerial position and his old office thanks to David Wallace (former company CFO) who decided to buy Dunder Mifflin/Sabre.

Fringe: (Fridays at 9 p.m. on FOX) The best show you’ve possibly never heard of. This science fiction marvel follows the strange lives and cases of a division of the FBI that specializes in Fringe Science. It’s just a whole lot of weird stuff, but that is what makes the show so interesting. You really learn to like the characters, especially Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), and Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble). I especially like Walter’s random comments which mainly are about what kinds of food he wants to eat next. Also known as “Walterisms.” Overall, you really see some cool science fiction that could never happen in real life — or so they want you to believe… From alternate universes to shape shifters, you are not going to believe your eyes. If you are not watching this show, start! I would recommend watching it from the beginning on season DVDs. That’s what I did, but I’m still on season 2. There is a lot of background information you need to know if you have not seen the show before. However, I also watch new episodes so it gets a big confusing for me. Luckily my boyfriend has seen the series from the beginning and fills me in on the things I miss.

Hell’s Kitchen: (Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox) Gordon Ramsey has many shows on television, but Hell’s Kitchen is my favorite. A well respected and fantastic chef, Ramsey brings in 18 chefs from all over the country to compete for a head chef position in a five star restaurant. This season, which is currently on television now, they are competing to be a chef in Ramsey’s restaurant inside the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. They are divided into two teams, the red team of women and the men have the blue team. Some of the chefs on this season are cut-throat, doing anything they can to make sure their fellow team members do not succeed. Although this show is a competition and only one chef will win, they still have to work together as a team to finish challenges and complete dinner service for the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant. There is a lot of screaming, yelling, cursing (all bleeped of course) and Chef Ramsey getting so mad that he throws chefs out of the kitchen or completely shuts down the kitchen during dinner service. You never know what to expect next from this season’s chefs. If you like cooking and drama, this show is for you.

New girl: (Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox) This fairly new show is “simply adorkable.” Jess, a really sweet and weird teacher who likes to burst out singing funny songs, lives with three men who are best friends and early-thirties bachelors. It’s fun and makes you laugh. You should watch New Girl.

The Fox website on New Girl: “After a bad break-up, Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel) needs a new place to live. An online search leads her to a great loft…and three single guys she’s never met before. But Jess moves in, and through her unique sense of self and the support of her new roommates, she learns to move on.

Of her three new male roommates, Nick (Jake Johnson) is the most grounded…and also the most jaded. A law school dropout, he spends most of his time hiding under his hoodie and tending bar. Schmidt (Max Greenfield) is a hustling young professional who’s pretty proud of his own abs. Winston (Lamorne Morris), is an intensely competitive former athlete who doesn’t know what to do next-but whatever he does, he wants to win it.

Rounding out the group is Jess’ childhood best friend, Cece (Hannah Simone), a model with a killer deadpan. As their relationships progress, these five realize they need each other more than they thought they would and end up forming a charmingly dysfunctional – or strangely functional – family.”

Newish and awesome:

Revenge: (Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC) This drama is fantastic. I love Emily Thorne (Emily Van Camp), or shall I say Amanda Clark. When Amanda was a kid her father was framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, Amanda has changed her identity as Emily and is trying to seek revenge on the Grayson’s who framed her father for a terrorist act that ruined both their lives. This fast paced, spiteful series draws you in makes you want more. The season finale was unexpected, and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the Hamptons.

The ABC website on Revenge: “Wealth, beauty and status define the people in this town, but one woman is willing to destroy everyone for the sake of revenge.

Emily Thorne (Emily Van Camp) is new to the Hamptons. She’s met some of her wealthy neighbors, has made a few new friends and seemingly blends into the town. But something is a little odd about a young girl living in a wealthy town all on her own, and the truth is that Emily isn’t exactly new to the neighborhood. In fact, this was once her old neighborhood, until something bad happened that ruined her family and their reputation. Now Emily is back, and she’s returned to right some of those wrongs in the best way she knows how – with a vengeance.”

Scandal: (Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC) This very new show is about a bunch of lawyers who do not work in a law firm. Instead, they investigate cases for their clients and make things happen. Olivia Pope is a former communications director to the President of the United States and is the leader of her business. But she couldn’t do it without her highly talented and experienced team. There is a lot of drama in this series, but it’s very good and keeps you wanting more.

The ABC website on Scandal: “Everyone has a secret… and Olivia Pope has dedicated her life to protecting and defending the public images of the nation’s elite and keeping those secrets under wraps. Revered and feared at the same time, Olivia, a former communications director to the President of the United States, left the White House to open her own prominent crisis management firm. She is hoping to start a new chapter in her life—both professionally and personally—but she can’t seem to completely cut ties with her past. Slowly it becomes apparent that her dysfunctional staff, who specialize in fixing other people’s lives, can’t quite fix the ones closest at hand-their own. The creator and executive producers of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice delve into the behind-the-scenes machinations of a mesmerizing top crisis manager in ABC’s highly anticipated new drama, Scandal.”

Guilty pleasures:

The Secret Life of the American Teenager: (Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC Family) Yes, I am embarrassed to admit that I still watch this show and have not missed an episode. It’s so stupid, you just have to watch. Main topics on this ABC family drama include sex, teenage pregnancy and moral issues that executive producer Brenda Hampton (Creator of 7^th Heaven) thinks teenagers should be aware of. While I’m probably not in the targeted demographic of Secret Life, I started watching this show from the beginning and the drama kind of sucked me in. My old roommate came up with an alternate name of this crazy show: Teenage Baby Momma Drama — and it surely is.

In recent episodes, Amy and Ricky tell their parents they eloped. On Amy’s first day back at school, her classmates surprise her with a flash mob to congratulate her complete with photos of Ricky on a stick… (Seriously). Then, when, Ricky and Amy watch their wedding video you find out that they didn’t really get married, rather walked out of the crazy wedding chapel Amy found on the internet. I’m sure that in the next episode the secret will be out and that will raise all kinds of hell.

The ABC Family website on Secret Life: “The teens at Grant High are living life in the fast lane. Between their love triangles, secrets, drama, accusations, gossip, confusion, and scandalous rumors, there’s never a dull moment. The he-said, she-said gets intense! Their parents’ lives are just as complicated. From paternity questions to happy reunions and unexpected romances (past and present), there’s always something going on. You can’t stop watching, because you’ve just gotta know what’ll happen next.”

I can’t wait until this show finally ends, so I can stop watching the gossip and craziness that is Secret Life!

Switched at Birth: (Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC Family) This is actually the best show I’ve ever watched on ABC Family. Sure it’s got plenty of drama, but it really gives you a first hand look on what it is like to be deaf in a hearing world. And the characters are relatable making it an overall interesting and great show.

The ABC Family website on Switched at Birth: “Switched at Birth tells the story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother. Meanwhile, Daphne Vasquez, who contracted meningitis and became deaf at an early age, grew up with a single mother in a working-class neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when the families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls.”

I can’t wait for the new season to start, and according to ABC Family’s website, new episodes are coming soon. That means in a few months they will start promoting the new season.

Shows that got canceled and I’m sad to see go:

House

Entourage

Flash Forward

You might say that I watch too many shows, but hey, that’s what they invented the DVR for 🙂