What's your favorite new comedy?

As you may or may not know, Pushing Daisies and Chuck are finalists for People's Choice Awards this January! The category is Favorite New TV Comedy (the third finalist - and probable winner, sadly enough - is Samantha Who?), and polls are open pretty much until the award is announced during the telecast on January 8th. (Which may or may not have writers and attendees...) While I love Pushing Daisies AND Chuck very much, I am throwing my weighty influence behind Pushing Daisies. Mostly because I like it more, but also to reward its outside-the-box sensibility.

As far as Favorite New TV Drama goes, I didn't bother voting. Personally, my favorite new drama is Life, which doesn't rise to the level of either of the aforementioned comedies, but does a good job keeping me entertained. Unfortunately, the finalists are Private Practice, Moonlight, and Gossip Girl, so...yeah. Anyway, don't let the weak dramas this year turn you off--vote for Pushing Daisies early (Chuck is also an acceptable choice, though I'm worried these two will split the "cool" vote), and vote for it often!

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On the Glowy Box: You suck, Tyra

[Professor Farnsworth voice] Good news, everyone! [/Professor Farnsworth voice] Gillian Anderson will host the new mini-season of Masterpiece Theatre! Nicely done, PBS. Now I have something to watch in January.

Last Night:
Pushing Daisies: WOAH. That was some bombshell at the end, there! I though we were supposed to get closure last night. Was that a cruel joke? Anyway, quality episode, as always. I do feel the need to point out, however, that a bonobo is NOT a monkey. It's an ape. And it's not "gentle," either. It's legendarily horny. The Wish a Wish monkey was nothing like a bonobo (perhaps a capuchin?). Just sayin'. Also, why wasn't Olive strongly affected when she tasted the mood enhancer? That kind of threw me off, since I was expecting something to come of it. The Chuck/Ned scenes, though, were uniformly fantastic. Lee Pace more than earned his paycheck last night. Also, the coroner was really rocking that Christmas sweater.

Project Runway: I should have a full recap up later on, but I loved last night's challenge! And it definitely separated the wheat from the chaff. Also, poor Jack! I hope they can bring him back next season, because he really deserves another shot at this show. And okay, is anyone else really starting to like Sweet P? Just wanted to throw that out there. More later!

America's Next Top Model: I can't really think about last night's finale without throwing up in my mouth a little, so I'm just going to link to my recap and go on my merry way. Except to say this: Worst Cycle Ever.

Tonight:
30 Rock: Tracy cannot participate in the staff's annual Ludachristmas party; Liz's parents (Buck Henry, Anita Gillette) and brother (Andy Richter) come to gloat over her. 9 PM, NBC.

Aaaand...that's about it. Thank God for 30 Rock. And for whatever the hell else is sitting on my DVR waiting to be watched (I'm looking at you, Life, so get ready!)

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On the Glowy Box: Fun Times Accomplished

An offer is a step in the right direction, right? Even if it's not a good one? Sigh...

Last Night:
30 Rock: I loved the "Liz dates a younger guy" plot, though it did remind me a bit of the Friends episode where Monica dates a guy whom she thought was a senior in college, but is actually a senior in high school. I'm ashamed to admit that I lead an even safer life than Liz Lemon: I've never been on my roof. That said, my apartment is in a townhouse, so I'm not sure roof access would even be possible. Also, MAD PROPS to the "Gellin' like Magellan" reference, which I'm going to take as an homage to my favorite commercials ever. (Shut up. "Gellin' like a felon, want some melon?" is HILARIOUS!) I wasn't so into the Mighty Ducks-meets-Iraq plot, though it did yield a few amusing lines ("You know at the first practice they asked me what the sun was?"). And I feel like I have to mention Frank's "so weird it worked" gay side-plot. Something about a slob buying a "little peach" a slim-fit sweater is just innately hilarious, I guess.

Scrubs: Hooch is crazy! Read my full review here.

Pushing Daisies: From Wednesday. Yay, Raúl Esparza! (Also, yay, love interest for Olive!) Yay, Mike White! Um...okay, Molly Shannon, who was appropriately cast in an annoying role! Incidentally, I think I can call myself a "Pie Ho" after last week's holiday. Mmm...pie... And oof, Ned, that is NOT the way to break the news to someone that you killed their father. Yeesh.

This Weekend:
Jeopardy: My friend Per is a contestant tonight, so you should all totally watch! Check local listings.

Desperate Housewives: An approaching tornado forces the Wisteria Lane residents into basements, cellars and safe rooms. ABC, 9 PM Sunday.

Man, do I love me some weekends.

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On the Glowy Box: Happy Slapsgiving!

I've got two tasty vegan pies in the oven, and I'm ready to stuff myself silly (before watching Grey's Anatomy of course, 'cause I'm just that dedicated to you, fair readers).

Last Night:
Pushing Daisies: Okay, so now Emerson and Olive are fighting it out for the spot of my favorite character. It's such a tough call! Tough detective who knits and makes pop-up books in his spare time vs. tough (and singing!) romantic who helps someone else's eccentric aunts in her spare time. I'm still leaning towards Olive, but it's a close one! And how impressive is this show at coming up with crazy ways for people to die? I mean, an exploding scratch-'n-sniff book? Really? That might just be pure genius. That said, I kind of wish it had been a Thanksgiving episode. I mean, the dude runs a pie shop! It would've been so easy!

America's Next Top Model: Those Covergirl commercials have been the downfall of many a prospective Top Model. Read my full recap here.

Project Runway: SJP!!!!1 Read my full recap here.

Tonight:
Ugly Betty: A Wilhelmina-induced crisis causes everyone to scramble to re-create an issue by deadline; Daniel and Betty try to break the wild-child cover girl (Eliza Dushku) out of rehab for a re-shoot; Alexis tries to charm the printer into extending their time. ABC, 8 PM.

Grey's Anatomy: An ambulance crash endangers the lives of the paramedics involved; Bailey treats a patient who refuses her help; Ava returns for Alex and meets his other girlfriend. ABC, 9 PM.

Enjoy your Slapsgiving!

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On the Glowy Box: Enjoy it while it lasts...

First, a couple strike links. Here's a guide AOL TV put together on the status of a bunch of primetime shows. It's not looking too good, folks. Want to help out? Here's a site with a great list of addresses, phone numbers, and a sample letter to make it extra-easy for you to give the networks a piece of your mind. It even has a list of which executives are responsible for which shows. So get writing, people!

Last Night:
Pushing Daisies: While my love for this show knows no bounds, last night's episode wasn't quite as amazingly wonderful as previous weeks, if you ask me. Slightly less quirky, slightly more heavy. That said, I think it was completely necessary so that the show could move to the next level. Last night, we broke through the surface twee and got some serious character issues out in the open. Now, we've got all the more interesting stuff to play with! Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Olive is rapidly becoming my favorite character.

America's Next Top Model: China? Really??? You can read my full recap here.

House: From Tuesday. Okay, props for the improved incorporation of Chase and Cameron. Negative props for featuring that whiny plastic surgeon. I'm SO not into his character. Props for making the standard documentary episode interesting by focusing on the camera's effect on the doctors. Negative props for...eh...nothing else! It was a pretty good episode, actually.

Reaper: From Tuesday. At long last, this show is totally growing on me. As I mentioned before, this fact is probably due to a lowering of standards rather than an increase in the show's quality, but I don't care--it's fun to watch, and doesn't involve too much effort on my point (a selling point, given my current schedule). And duuuude, that special effect where the demon's tattoos turned into real weapons? So cool. It's also nice to see Reaper continuing to think outside the formula, particularly with the Gladys side plot this week. Nicely done, Reaper.

How I Met Your Mother: From Monday. Okay, did this episode make anyone else wonder what terrible habits they have? Because I've been obsessing over it a little. Do I talk too much? (Yes.) Do I over-correct? (Yes.) Do I chew loudly? (Possibly.) Do I sing while I perform menial tasks? (Not so much, no.) I think my glass-shattering habit (Literally, in this case. No, wait... figuratively.) is probably that I talk really loudly. Yep.

Tonight:
Ugly Betty: Wilhelmina plots her next moves in the wake of the Meade-Slater nuptials; Betty tries to make things right with Daniel; Henry uses his charm to get the weekend receptionist (Mo'Nique) to let him in after hours. ABC, 8 PM.

30 Rock: When Jack attends a cocktail party, he falls for a Vermont congresswoman (Edie Falco); Liz suspects her Middle Eastern neighbor of being a terrorist. NBC, 8:30 PM.

Grey's Anatomy: Teenagers fill the ER after a school-bus crash; Bailey treats a patient who was her high-school crush; Derek goes on a date with a fellow doctor; Thatcher enters the ER looking for Meredith. ABC, 9 PM.

The Office: Jan sues Dunder Mifflin, and Michael is deposed as a witness; Kelly trash-talks Pam after Darryl beats Jim at pingpong. NBC, 9 PM.

Scrubs: Carla worries that she is losing her identity; J.D. angers the staff when they realize that he uses nicknames because he does not know their real names. NBC, 9:30 PM.

Wait, so is Women's Murder Club on Thursdays now? Because that totally takes away from its watchability.

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On the Glowy Box: Mark July 25th on your calendars...

...'Cause there's going to be another X-Files movie, baby!!! Production starts December 10th, and I am crazy super excited. (In case you didn't know, I am totally the biggest X-Files nerd on the planet. Or "X-Phile," if you will.)

Watched Last Night:
Pushing Daisies: Um, awesome. Of course. As always. This show can do no wrong, as far as I'm concerned. And the more Olive the better! This week's mystery was appropriately Scooby-and-the-Gang, with the fake ghost turning out to be an angry mother who would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling private investigators. Perfect for Halloween! I'm also glad they're pushing the boundaries of the Chuck/Ned relationship with the Olive kiss (and more coming next week, it seems). I hope Chuck gets hers, too, but slightly fractured fairy tales are far more interesting than happily ever after ones, don't you think?

Private Practice: After a couple weeks of maybe being a decent, or at least passable, show, Private Practice veered back into the realm of the boring and predictable this week. Who DIDN'T call that child abuse thing immediately? And who else is sick of hearing about Pete's "magic touch"? And seeing Addison's self-satisfied smile every time she walks away from an interaction with Pete? UGH. This show is completely wasting one of the best ensembles on television with its pedestrian writing. Maybe they can replace the WGA writers on Private Practice with college interns during the strike, and we could actually get some realistic dialogue for once. Or at least a plotline that doesn't seem like it's been done a thousand times before.

Reaper: From Tuesday. You know, this episode actually grabbed me a lot more than any other one since the pilot, probably because it diverged from the usual formula. The addition of Leon (Czolgosz) as a fairly entertaining escaped/captured/escaped soul really helped to shake up the proceedings, as did the tension between Sam and Sock. And the multitude of Devil scenes certainly didn't hurt. Way to go, Reaper, and here's hoping you keep it up!

America's Next Top Model: Clip show. Sigh. Read my recap here.

Will Watch or DVR Tonight:
(Descriptions from Zap2it.com's TV listings)

Ugly Betty: Betty and Henry make a date to see "Wicked," but things do not go as planned; Daniel woos an important advertiser (Marlo Thomas) with a penchant for younger men. ABC, 8 PM.

Grey's Anatomy: The chief has a gentlemen's evening with his fellow surgeons; Cristina and Izzie find themselves competing for the same surgeries and the favor of the doctors performing them; Meredith tends to the survivor of a sky-diving accident. ABC, 9 PM.

The Office: Michael fights back when Karen tries to woo Stanley away from Scranton; a Finer Things Club further disturbs Dunder Mifflin's calm. NBC, 9 PM.

Scrubs: When Kim goes into labor, she and J.D. worry about their future as a couple; the Sacred Heart staffers prove that parenting is all about sacrifice. NBC, 9:30 PM.

I'll miss you, 30 Rock, but at least I'll have Scrubs with which to console myself...

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On the Glowy Box: Scrubs!

SCRUBS!!!

Watched Last Night:
Pushing Daisies: Oh. My God. Who would have thought that such a perfect little gem of a show would ever get a full-season pickup? I've been treating each episode like a special gift, while secretly dreading the moment when there would be no more. Hooray for unrealized fears! Last night's episode was beyond fantastic. It's not enough for them to slip in a sly They Might Be Giants reference--no, they actually have two Broadway stars sing a few lines of Birdhouse in Your Soul (one of my favorite songs ever, as it happens) in the next scene! Fantastic. I thought the plot, too, was a perfect mini-version of the twisted fairytale romance that forms the show in general. And how cute was that bedazzled pigeon? SO cute. Just like this show.

Private Practice: Dear Violet: You suck. Please either run off with Allan or shut the fuck up about him. Love, Liz (P.S. Good luck scratching that itch, Addison! And here's hoping it puts a stop to cheesy dream sequences.)

America's Next Top Model: Read my full recap here, and enjoy the literally trashy goodness.

Will Watch or DVR Tonight:
(Descriptions from Zap2it.com's TV listings)

Ugly Betty: Betty tries Internet dating and gets asked out on a bowling date; Marc finds himself attracted to someone who is not his type; Danny and Alexis ready themselves for dinner with stepmom-to-be Wilhelmina; Justin ditches school. ABC, 8 PM.

30 Rock: Liz invites her idol (Carrie Fisher) to be a guest writer on the show, but her ideas are too controversial; Kenneth must compete to keep his job. NBC, 8:30 PM.

Grey's Anatomy: Halloween is full of surprises for the doctors of Seattle Grace; Alex receives an unexpected visit from a former patient; Meredith thinks her mother's ashes are haunting her; a surgeon Cristina admires snubs her. ABC, 9 PM.

The Office: Michael seizes the opportunity to exhibit his creativity when the Scranton branch must participate in a company ad; Dwight explores an online world. NBC, 9 PM.

Scrubs: The final season begins. (Sniff, sniff...) J.D. contemplates his commitment to Kim; Elliot struggles with the idea of her upcoming marriage; Carla tries to protect her diabetic husband from his sweet tooth. NBC, 9:30 PM.

Seriously, I am SO EXCITED about Scrubs being back. So excited!

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On the Glowy Box: Better late than never!

This will be my last post until Sunday night, 'cause I'm heading outta town for a few days. In the meantime, there are only a few days left in the Veronica Mars DVD contest, so get those entries in!

Watched Last Night:
Pushing Daisies: Happily, there was no discernable quality drop-off from last week. Pushing Daisies is clearly strong enough to stand up to the lack of Barry Sonnenfeld and an absurdly huge budget. Yay! I especially loved the "Kiss a Beaver" t-shirt joke, in that it was so unexpected. This show does such a great job at being incredibly precious to the point where anything perverse is so shockingly out of place that it has twelve times the impact it would on any other show. Similarly, the preciousness also provides a great contrast for the extreme morbidity. Love!

Samantha Who?: From Monday night. Not too shabby, surprisingly enough. I think I liked it even better the second time around. It's no 30 Rock, but it's a new sitcom that's better than just watchable, which is a rare commodity this season. I wish they'd figure out what they want to do with the mother's character, though. Is she small-town and wholesome? A self-centered diva? Caring? Selfish? There was a lot of back-and-forth there, I felt.

America's Next Top Model: God help me, I kind of love this show. I mean, figure skating poses? Gargoyles? Trampolines?! Read my full recap here.

Will Watch or DVR Tonight:
(Descriptions from Zap2it.com's TV listings)

Ugly Betty: Betty cheats in her writing class and submits another woman's story, which was intended for Mode; amnesia makes Alexis forget how to act like a woman; a top advertiser issues an ultimatum to Daniel; Amanda uncovers a secret from Wilhelmina's past. ABC, 9 PM.

30 Rock: Jack learns he must give up his secret collection of cookie jars; Tracy's wife (Sherri Shepherd) announces that she will stay with him at all times to make sure he behaves. NBC, 8:30 PM.

Grey's Anatomy: The chief's wife rushes their niece to Seattle Grace; Izzie gets an unexpected reaction when she reveals her feelings about George to a mutual friend; Derek shows Cristina how to be a better teaching resident; Norman misdiagnoses Meredith's patient. ABC, 9 PM.

The Office: Michael tries to combat his growing debt by asking employees for loans; Jim and Pam spend a night at Dwight's family farm. NBC, 9 PM.

Viva Laughlin: A freewheeling businessman tries to open a casino in Laughlin, Nev., despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles like the murder of his former business partner and a lack of financing. CBS, 10 PM.

While "Cop Rock meets Las Vegas" may not be a winning concept for many of you, it's right up my alley. Even if you don't factor in Hugh Jackman, the sexiest man on the planet. That said, it's pretty terrible. That said, I'm totally watching anyway.

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On the Glowy Box: Hopelessly Devoted to Pushing Daisies

My head is saying, "Fool, forget Private Practice." My heart is saying, "Don't let goooo...." Let's face it, I'll probably listen to my heart and watch the episode I DVR'd last night sometime this weekend.

Watched Last Night:
Pushing Daisies: I have to admit, I didn't think Pushing Daisies could reach any new heights after the pilot episode. I mean, come on, that shit was genius. I was wrong. Having Kristin Chenoweth sing "Hopelessly Devoted to You" was the perfect way to get me to love this show even more (although I'm sure tons of non-Broadway loving people weren't into it). So mad props to Pushing Daisies for actually USING her amazing singing voice, which rarely happens when she's on television. I'm also really liking how they throw in little details about characters' lives (like the "cheese box" for Chuck, and knitting for Emerson). My only complaint is that the narration got a little intrusive. Much as I love Jim Dale, he doesn't need to be speaking over every scene in the episode, and the thing where he tells us exactly how old everyone is, down to the minute, is grating on me. But that's a small complaint. I was really into the central mystery this week (dandelion cars=awesomely precious), and I liked how they were able to blend it in seamlessly with the development of more character-related plots. Can't wait 'til next week, though I'm worried the quality may drop off with a lower budget and no Barry Sonnenfeld.

The Sarah Silverman Program: From last Wednesday. Yeah, I'm just getting caught up on this one. I really liked the first season, but thought the second season premiere was a little much. It was all going really well until the crazy "save the clinic from being bombed" ending...this show doesn't do action or high drama very well, and I thought the "Sarah joins a pro-life group" plot was funny enough as it was. I don't know. I think I may just need to get back into the show, since it's so unusual. We'll see!

America's Next Top Model: MAKEOVER NIGHT! Read my recap here.

Will Watch or DVR Tonight:
(Descriptions from Zap2it.com's TV listings)

Ugly Betty: Betty finds herself distracted by Mode's new sandwich guy, who both annoys and intrigues her; the Mode-ites prepare for the social event of the season; Wilhelmina plots to get her wedding back on track. ABC, 8 PM.

30 Rock: On the heels of Jack's realization that Don Geiss may be retiring, Jack's nemesis returns, engaged to Don's daughter; Liz tries to get her life in order. NBC, 8:30 PM.

Grey's Anatomy: George's skill level dazzles the new interns; Meredith halfheartedly helps Lexie with her first emergency patient; Sloan and Richard attempt a radical new surgery to save a woman's ability to speak; George tells Callie of his past indiscretion with Izzie. ABC, 9 PM.

The Office: Michael anticipates going to New York for the company's Web site launch party; Dwight tries to sell more paper in one day than the Web site does. NBC, 9 PM.

30 Rock! Tonight! Watch it! Seriously!

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On the Glowy Box: 30 Rock!!!!! !!!! !!! !! !

Pushing Daisies made me hungry for pie. Strawberry pie, specifically.

Watched Last Night:
Cane: From Tuesday night. I was uncertain about the pilot, and now I think I can definitively say that this show just isn't my thing. Great cast, great story, nice production...just not grabbing me. It seems I'm not in the mood for heavy drama this season. Good luck, Cane, but you're on your own.

Pushing Daisies: Like everyone else writing about television, I love this show. Love it. It's sweet, it's beautiful, it's funny, and it's like nothing else on TV. Last night's episode was, without a doubt, one of the best pilots I've ever seen. Of course, it helps that the show has its own charming narrator to make the normally painful exposition less so, but still--just fantastic.

Private Practice: Sigh. Sigh. On the one hand, this episode was marginally better than last week's, which saw Addison dancing naked in her apartment. On the other hand...sigh. A stripper? Really? And can we please let Addison calm down, be her professional self, and stop freaking out on Pete all the damn time? Speaking of Pete, I feel really terrible for Tim Daly having to read all those cheesy lines. That whole "I like women with lines around their eyes" speech was just painful.

America's Next Top Model: Check out my thoughts here. (Go Heather!)

Will Watch or DVR Tonight*:
Ugly Betty: Betty does not know what to do when she finds out that Wilhelmina's new bodyguard (Rick Fox) is taking the job to a whole new level; Bradford uses Alexis' amnesia to rewrite family history; Hilda comes to terms with recent events. ABC, 8 PM.

30 Rock: Jack tells Liz that, despite what she thinks, she is not over Floyd; Jack has a plan to insert "Seinfeld'' footage into the network's current shows. NBC, 8:30 PM.

Grey's Anatomy: The residents and interns treat the victims of a massive explosion at an apartment building; Mama Burke returns to collect her son's things; Lexie tries to have a heart-to-heart with unwilling Meredith. ABC, 9 PM.

The Office: Ryan returns to Dunder-Mifflin's Scranton branch to bring the company into the digital age; Angela remains unhappy about her cat. NBC, 9 PM.

*Descriptions from Zap2it.com's TV listings.

So psyched for 30 Rock. SO PSYCHED!

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