My New Favorite TV Show

With "Scrubs" on its way out, I'm in need of a new favorite show. Last season was the first time I really paid any attention to the television mostly because of my DVR which is a God send, so there are some potential shows that will eventually replace my beloved hospital comedy as No. 1.

The Front Runners

• "Chuck" - Out of all of the shows on TV right now, I'd have to say that "Chuck" has the best shot at becoming my favorite new show. I've been watching "Chuck" since it started on NBC, and I've been entertained almost every episode. For those out of the loop, "Chuck" is a mix of "Alias", "Scrubs", with a little bit of Clerks thrown in there as well. This show has the right mix of action, humor, and romantic tension. Plus, Yvonne Strahovski is HOT!
• "How I Met Your Mother" - At the start of last season, "HIMYM" was on route to becoming my new favorite show, but then season 3 ended on a relatively low-note. Season 3 was inferior compared to the first 2, especially when they had Robin & Barney hook up. Personally, that hook-up is when this show jumped the shark. So far season 4 has been a let down as well, but it's still early so this show still has the chance to redeem itself and to take the top spot.
• "Greek" - So, I'm usually not a fan of teeny bopper, tweener shows, but I really like ABC Family's "Greek". Now, I was never "fully" in a fraternity, so the Greek-life aspect of the show is kinda of irrelevant to me, but I do find the rest of the show entertaining. This show's just a funny take on college life in general with some charming characters involved in a good mix of drama and comedy.
• "Pushing Daisies" - I just started watching this show last weekend thanks to Netflix, and I quickly became a fan. I love the fact that this show is not like any other on any network today. Sure, it's quirky and too fairy-taleish, but it's got more going for it than most shows on TV. I like the storybook elements, and this show has good characters, charm, humor, and a little romance thrown in there for good measure. The second season opener was not on par with the first season, but I'm still hooked.

The Middle of the Pack

• "The Simpsons" - I've been a Simpsons fan for a good portion of my life, so it's hard to say goodbye to the show, but it's no secret that the series has been struggling for too many years. Even the movie couldn't reinvigorate my love for this show, but I will be tuning in every Sunday with my fingers crossed, hoping that it can recapture some of its original magic.
  
• "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" - I used to be a big "CSI" fan, but I've lost interest over the last couple of seasons, mostly because it was up against "The Office" and "Scrubs". Also, I was not happy that they had Grissom and Sara together at the end of Season 6. That was the beginning of the end for me. Season 7 was sub-par as well mostly due to the fact that Grissom left for sabbatical or whatever the reason was. Now that "Scrubs" is no longer on Thursday nights, I might head back towards "CSI", but this show is on its last legs and should be done once Grissom is gone for good.
• "House M.D." - "House" is another old favorite that has lost some steam. I really started to lose interest when they tried to introduce the new team in season 4, although I liked how the hiring process took place. It made sense to introduce a new team, but viewers really got attached to Cameron, Chase, & Foreman so any change is not going to go over well. Add the fact that the new team is pretty weak in comparison, and that's not a good sign. Despite the inferior new team, there are still some redeeming qualities that will keep me watching, just not as many.
• "Reaper" - This little fantasy dramedy had some potential early on, but mid-season it started to get formulaic and boring, then it ended on a pretty high-note. I'll be checking in to season 2, but I'm not happy that it's coming back mid-season so I might be hooked to another show by the time it is back on the air. There's also a chance that it will be going up against "Scrubs" which is not a good sign.
• "Fringe" - "Fringe" is one of the few new shows this season that has peaked my interest. This show is very J.J. Abrams which can be a good thing and a bad thing. I liked "Alias" but could never get into "Lost", and this series is in the same vein as both. Right now, it has some promise but we'll have to wait and see if it has lasting power.

Barely Hanging On

• "The Office" - I didn't start watching "The Office" until last summer thanks to Netflix Watch Instantly, so I was able to catch up on the first two seasons in a few days, and I was hooked. Season 3 was just as good, and then Season 4 happened. Season 4 was just horrible with only a minimal amount of laughs, and some episodes were actually painful to watch. I decided to give "The Office" one more shot, and so far Season 5 is just as lackluster.
• "Heroes" - Season 1 was engaging, Season 2 was a bore, and so far Season 3 is just all over the place. I know that "Heroes" is a show that is supposed to be complex, but right now I don't have the patience to put up with this show.
• "Family Guy" - For some reason I keep giving "Family Guy" another chance to convince me that it's a funny show, and every time it fails. It's just not funny.

So, there is a lot of competition for my TV heart, and while some may have the inside track, I'm always on the lookout for some good food for my DVR, so if there's a show that I should be watching (aside from reality TV...I refuse to watch reality TV) let me know.