The 5 Best Network TV Shows that You are NOT Watching

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Although you may have heard from some of these shows before, be it by Emmy wins or because you used to watch them; these are five shows that are truly entertaining and deserve more than the lousy numbers they pull in. If these shows don’t get viewers fast they may not have a future. 

The 5 Best TV Shows that You are NOT Watching

5) Dollhouse (Fox)

Dollhouse is the new show from Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, featuring in the leading role Buffy’s alumn Eliza Dushku (Buffy’s Faith) as Caroline, a woman who has signed? forced to sign? mislead to join? the mysterious organization called the Dollhouse where a bunch of young adults are held in a state of Tabula Rassa (a clean, childlike state) with their personalities wiped-off. These people are known as “actives” and they would have new personalities printed on them for whatever mission they are required, from a romantic getaway to a hostage negotiation. Problem is, some of the actives, including their most popular one Echo (Dushku) are starting to remember some of their past. In addition, the Dollhouse is being pursued by Paul Ballard an FBI agent who’s getting close to their operation, and Alpha an active who has escaped the Dollhouse before, leaving behind a trail of blood and who’s fascinated with Echo. 

The show’s first five episodes weren’t that great (although I’m a fan of the second episode were Echo is the ultimate outdoor girl) but since the sixth episode the show has gotten darker and more serious, and it’s good. There are five more episodes until the end of the first season and Fox hasn’t given a green light – yet – for a second season. One of the main issues here is that fans are complaining the show doesn’t have a Whedonesque vibe (humor) to which he has said the show is different than Buffy and Angel. You can’t expect these active’s without memories to turn to each other and say: “Echo, you are such a Blair!” Another big issue is that the show air Friday nights, which is the worst night for a show to air. 

Catch Dollhouse Fridays at 9pm on FOX  or watch it online at Hulu.com

4) Heroes

Yes, we are talking about the same Heroes that was so popular on it’s first season and took a down turn on their second one – that wasn’t helped by the writer’s strike. Things got better – compared to season two, not season one – by the third season and it’s new story arch “Villains.” The show got constantly slammed by critics, media and fans because it kept focusing in so many characters that really didn’t give them enough exposition or us time to care. It kept jumping back and forth from the future, to the past, to the present making everything more confusing and having characters doing things well – out of character – just to move the story forward. By the end of the first half of the third season, the writers and producers started doing a “character house-cleaning” by killing or just closing character arcs – in order to reduce the number of Heroes – sadly they did “offed” Elle ( Kristen Bell) who was one of the shows best characters, they also managed to de-power some “super-powered” heroes and removed the ability of time travel.

At the start of the second half of season three, Heroes has more focused story lines, more time to develop characters and story that we do care about. Don’t trust me, look at HRG’s and Sandra’s fight on the episode: Turn and Face the Strange. Although, Heroes producers, want to make Heroes fan really happy, kill Mohinder and Hiro, and stop killing our favorite blondes, Elle (Kristen Bell), Daphne (Bea Grant) and Nikki/Jessica/Tracy (Ali Larter) – although I’m pretty sure Ali Larter will be back as Barbara next season. 

Catch Heroes Mondays at 9pm on NBC or watch it online at Hulu.com or at www.nbc.com/heroes

3) 30 Rock (NBC)

It seems like it bares repeating – thought it shouldn’t – how funny Tina Fey is. Just look at her past work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) or the movie Mean Girls and Baby Mamma (although she didn’t write it). Tina Fey is one funny lady and she brings all her wits, charms and smarts to 30 Rock. The show deals with the behind-the-scenes of an SNL type of show where the writers are some lazy goofballs, the stars are starved for attention (which when they don’t get they act out in hilarious ways), the top executive is – well Alec Baldwin – and the page is a southern gullible guy who’s fascinated with television. 30 Rock has a constant spree of guest stars, which although welcomed, are not really needed. The show with or without them is hilarious and it uses their characters and story to their limits and then some. There’s a reason why this show won so many awards and so have Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. 

Catch 30 Rock Thursdays at 9:30 pm on NBC or watch it online at Hulu.com. 

2) Samantha Who? (ABC) 

Samantha Who? stars’ Christina Applegate, as  woman who after having an accident wakes up with amnesia to learn that she’s not close to her family, only has one real friend, her ex hates her and that she was a complete bitch. Now, she’s trying to make amends while figuring out who she really is. The show is really funny and the characters are all screwed up one way or the other. Samantha’s two friends Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) and Dena (Melissa McCarthy) act, respectively, as her evil angel/ good angel on her shoulders. I have to say that Jennifer Esposito’s performance is truly outstanding. As good/evil Samantha will say: “give it a go, give a try – or bitch don’t bother and let me be”

Catch Samantha Who? Thursday at 8:30pm on ABC or watch it online at www.abc.com

1) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

As everyone else has done already, let’s forget that Terminator 3 existed. Now imagine you have watched Terminator 2  - which you probably already did with the new Terminator movie: Terminator Salvation coming out soon – and remember how great movie that was. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles follows Sarah Connor and John Connor after the events of the second film as they continue to go underground and fight Skynet. A new terminator, Cameron (Summer Glau, shold win an award for her role, flawless) is sent to protect John (Thomas Dekker). It’s easy to assume that a show called Terminator, will feature a “terminator of the week” on every episode and it’s my duty to let you know that they don’t. The show is smart, fast paced and pushes the terminator mythology to a great lengths. This show, also shows us (no pun) how John Connor went from the John on Terminator 2 to the leader of the resistance and the influence that Sarah (a fantastic Lena Headey), his mom,  has on him and what she would do to protect him.

If you are a Terminator fan or an action fan – even a drama one – you owe it to yourself to give this show a try. You are going to love it. 

Catch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Friday’s on FOX at 8pm or watch it online at Hulu.com

Honorable Mentions: 

Gossip Girl (CW)

The only reason I didn’t make this show #1 on this list, is because as I’ve mentioned before on: The Nielsen Ratings Will Kill Your Favorite Show, the CW and show producers have recognized, Gossip Girl is followed mostly online on the CW website.

Better Off Ted (ABC)

The show is brand new – only three episodes have aired – and it doesn’t have a fate yet to be decided (as the other ones do). This show is a “corporate-comedy” where this corporation (think General Electric GE) creates all sorts of technology to improve your life (and some that don’t). Stars Jay Harrington and Portia di Rossi.

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