TV shows galore

What's your favorite past-time? With the workweek over (it went by so fast that I can't even recount/remember what happened chronologically in between) and me having this inkling that I should have a well-deserved rest--or better yet, vacation--to practically recharge myself and have fresh thoughts for  my work, I resort to watching TV and playing campaign missions on the worldwide phenom strategy game StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty. Caveat: might be pathetic for some, but I do enjoy how strategy games make me think, and probably lead me to out-of-box solutions. But that's just me.


So on to the not so childish good stuff.


It's saturday again and I can't help but enjoy the time to catch up on movies, books, and TV shows. Out of sheer curiosity (or boredom, depending on how you look at it) I thought of listing down all the TV shows I loved for the past decade and write down why I loved them. It's just amazing because they reflect how I think and what tickles my imagination (no pun intended). So here are the TOP10 TV shows I love. For the record, and (insert sarcasm here:) without any bias, you should try seeing them too.


10. Grey's Anatomy - okay, a lame way to start the countdown since this one is all-drama. Some funny instances but not all that good as a whole if you're not looking for heavy-saturday night tear "jerk time" (again, no pun intended but if you think there is I don't really care and good for you). Meredith Grey is full of quotable quotes about love, life, career, future and every serious and probably boring guys would love to hear. This TV show is for the clingy types, the bookworms and the full-metal jacket emotional people who just love to indulge in self-reflection and dreamy life thinking. Sadly, I am was like that.


9. Heroes (season 1) - ordinary people discovering that they have extraordinary abilities like controlling metals, x-ray visions, regeneration, flight, god-like strength, and my personal favorite: controlling the space-time-continuum? SIGN ME UP. Heroes was very promising at the start, and I really like feeling like Spiderman/Peter Parker (who btw sports a new actor) every time I see those bunch of guys coming in together to survive the world that grows to hate them everyday. Unfortunately though, after a strong first season (season 2 was highly mediocre, and season 3 was just plain crap) this franchise never really delivered within expectations. But I do love the concept because it stirs us into believing we can be special in a way--and this would likely be a plus for us if we reach for our dreams.


8. CSI - Las Vegas is admittedly the best CSI but I've grown to love Miami and NY as well. The story lines were always perfect, and Grissom (LV) was always entertaining (I haven't got time to watch Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Langston but something tells me no one should replace Grissom). His character is really something. But so is H (Miami) played by David Caruso. His demeanor has sarcasm written all over, and I love it. Mac (NY) played by veteran Gary Sinise is also good. But what struck me the most is the unique theme/lighting/hue for each CSI spinoffs. LV is predominantly green, Miami is orangy-red, and NY is blue. You can see the difference watching all three. That is character. Well, with Jerry Bruckheimer at your back, everything should be great.


7. Friends - some people might actually feel offended with me placing Friends so low into this countdown. I won't argue. Many people think Friends is "the" comedy series of our generation (or in this case, more the generation before me). It is. 10 seasons of nonstop fun and crazy-ness. The fab sitcom is your laid-back show that doesn't make you think too much but is just down-to-earth funny. It makes you watch episodes all over and you won't get bored. It's something worth 10hours of marathon watching on a lazy weekend (I know I did that). I give credit to the scriptwriters, this TV show never, even for a heartbeat, lost its wind.




6. Entourage - Vincent Chase and the A-list life on Hollywood. Thank you Mark Wahlberg for this. Your typical boyhood dreams all in one show. What else would you ask for? The Entourage is every bachelor's nirvana--money, cars, fame, and girls, girls, girls (and not relationships?). But of the entourage, I see myself in E the most. I'm the serious guy, the all business, the marrying type; not to mention he's got taste on women (hehe). Entourage is for the boys and rightfully so. They're funny, screwed up, and just plain pathetic. And that's hilarious.


5. Lie to me - I must admit, I'm for the idea that being sarcastic, smart, reckless, and downright straightforward (I just described three directions here) is raunchy. Cal Lightman played by the great Tim Roth is that guy and unfortunately I am not even close to being like him. Most people don't know what this series is--at least I haven't met anyone recently who is even remotely informed of this series--what this is about. But I am currently addicted to this. The bread and butter of this series is exactly what the title says--LIE TO ME. It's about deception experts trying to make a living helping the government, institutions, billionaires and businessmen, and even ordinary people about the truth. They see it in your eyes, your smile, your body language, your tweaks, your jerks, your nonchalant attitude, involuntary responses...practically everything. Isn't that awesome?


4. Big shots - a wildcard here and basically the story is about 4 "big shot" mid-30s executives (CEOs in fact) screwing up their lives in every move they make. This is prolly the older version of Entourage except this is about CEOs really on the top of their games--not some bunch of parasites. If you haven't heard of this series I don't blame you, the network only aired 10 episodes before calling it quits in the middle of the writers' crisis in 2008. This was one of the casualties. There's not much to expect on the story line since it's also straightforward... just having fun while contemplating on the thought that someday I'll be a CEO too.


3. How I met your mother - this is a no brainer. The dudes in HIMYM are all awesome. The script was good and the cast were hilarious. Barney Stinson is THE bro. Marshall is your Napoleon Dynamite, only better, bigger, and wiser. Robin is hot and crazy (I don't know if this is a good combination or not). Lily is your big sister in the group, and she's crazy too. Ted is just pathetic. Some people would think that HIMYM can never replace Friends (well, I concede, both have the same plot and sometimes punchlines but hey, it's not the 90s anymore). For me, HIMYM cannot be compared to Friends even if the similarities are striking. For me, this series brings it. In fact, currently looking forward to next season.


2. Lost - one roller coaster ride. It ended this year with a bang. All the anomalies, the questions, the hype---all of those ended abruptly with most puzzles left unsolved. That's the point really. The concept is scary but this series makes us think a lot about everything, every single detail. This series has the "hook" and every fan knows that it gets frustrating and gratifying at the same time. The beauty of this series lies on the fact that most plots, subplots, and repercussions are open for interpretation. Some people even joke that "this series LOST me at hello." "I got LOST in space." "LOST and never found." (ok, the last one is just me) The point is, the series isn't for everybody. But if you like stirring those brain juices every now and then, better take a second look at probably one of the best-mind-boggling (literally) series of all time.


1. House, MD - when asked about the best series I've watched (and I know I haven't watched that much), I have a straight answer. It's Gregory House, MD. For me the plot----read: misery+brilliance----is very compelling. House is not an idiot, he's just sometimes deranged, sarcastic, nosy, arrogant, and most of the time a pain in the butt, and he's the only one who can fix you. He's surrounded by caring friends who are in it not because they don't have a choice, they just cared so much about House. Superb script, great mix of cast. I do have a soft heart for amazingly arrogant but brilliant bastards who are not loved by others looking from afar but really admired by those who actually know them. House is that guy, and he saves lives in the process of constantly screwing up his own. Genius.


Possible runner-ups: Gossip Girl, Criminal minds, The OC, One tree hill (I know, I'm pathetic and young that time), Prison break (season 1)


Possible but haven't watched: 24, Glee, Dexter, Arrested Development, Chuck, Big Bang Theory


That's it for now, and I am psyched up to watch the new Lie to Me episode I just downloaded earlier. Please don't shoot me if you somehow disagree with this list. Create your own blog if you feel strongly about it. Take it easy now. :) Stinson out!