Classes are in full-swing, the bills are piling up and the dishes need to be washed. Turn the TV on and tune out
By Emily Sitton, Aly Ferris, Clare Shreve and Jessie Hethcoat
The fall TV season has begun, bringing another activity to balance on top of homework, class, a job and a social life. Here is a quick update on how some of the shows are looking so you can judge whether it's really worth your time.
"Heroes"
The mystery, suspense, action and plot twists have thrust the fans headfirst into season three of "Heroes."
Most of the main characters like Hiro, Claire, Matt Parkman and others return, but there are a few additions and surprises. Another Peter Petrelli, from the future, joins the Petrelli from the present. Hiro has a "nemesis," or at least that's what he calls her, and Niki Sanders is back with yet another personality - Tracy Strauss.
This season is titled "Villains" although we have yet to find out who will be good and who will be bad. The season began with a glimpse of the future villains, but the future has already changed. This added element of time travel and the number of intermixed plotlines can be confusing, said junior and "Heroes" fan Alyssa Reget.
At times "Heroes" may be confusing, but it also appears to be on the same addictive and intriguing track as the first two seasons. "As usual there's a lot going on and you really have to pay attention or you'll miss something and that's what keeps people coming back," Reget said.
- Emily Sitton
"Grey's Anatomy"
While the fourth season of "Grey's Anatomy" disappointed many fans, it's hard to tell whether or not the fifth season will be able to recover the popularity that surrounded the show in its early seasons. In the two-hour season premiere, Seattle Grace Hospital was placed 12th on the list of teaching hospitals. Unsatisfied with this ranking, the chief (James Pickens, Jr.) is bound and determined to teach his surgeons a thing or two about teaching surgeons.
Ellen Pompeo is predictable as whiny Meredith, still caught in her continual struggle between allowing herself to love Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) and running away from their relationship because she is too emotionally scarred from the failures of her parents' relationship to be able to successfully love anyone else. Dr. Shepherd is his typically aloof self and is relatively boring throughout the entire episode.
Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and Alex (Justin Chambers) appear to be moving down the same path that they started down during season two. However it doesn't seem as if they'll be able to tolerate each other for long enough to even make it into the supply closet to do what the surgeons of Seattle Grace do best-each other.
One of the few interesting plot twists happens when Cristina (Sandra Oh) is impaled by an icicle and must be rescued by hot army doctor Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd). Hunt is perhaps the only character on the entire show who is harsher than Cristina, which will make for some interesting drama, providing the writers keep him around for the rest of the season.
Also new this season: the budding relationship between Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Dr. Erika Hahn (Brooke Smith). It's the first same-sex relationship between any of the main characters on the show, but so far falls short of the typical passion that causes most of the "Grey's" relationships to be fascinating, yet short-lived.
One thing that "Grey's" usually does well is construct complex and rare patient relationships. However, the season premiere presents three couples with infidelity issues. Between them and the surgeons who are attempting to heal them, it's hard to find a healthy relationship anywhere. Hopefully this season will get out of the petty relationship drama that characterized last season and return to the originality and heat of the earlier seasons.
- Aly Ferris
"Mad Men"
Scotch-drinking, Lucky Strike-smoking, womanizing men of an advertising company on Madison Ave. make up the character basis of "Mad Men." Winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Dramatic TV series and Best Actor, this AMC original series gives today's Americans a taste of what was happening to Americans 50 years ago. Set in 1960s New York City, these two-pack-a-day ad-men bring home the bacon each night, along with an ego and secrets to boot. The premiere for season two met up with the characters two years after the Nixon-Kennedy election, when a very dramatic end came to season one.
The show centers around one man, Donald Draper as he tries to keep up with his advertising competitors, wife and family and his active illicit sex life. The show is written eloquently, like a smooth draw from a cigarette, and is shot with the utmost of care in regards to the time period and the characters themselves. Everything is thought about, right down to the classic Zippo lighters that spark on set each time someone lights up. The world of Mad Men blends racist undertones, overt sexism and good, old-fashioned competition into a show where there are characters you hate, characters you pity and characters you can't help but fall in love with. Lies, scandals, and fabulous wardrobes all play a part in defining this era in America where men both ruled and drooled over the women of the workplace.
Mad Men airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. on AMC.
- Clare Shreve
"Desperate Housewives"
The new season of Desperate Housewives this fall kicked off five years "Desperate Housewives time" after the last season, which ended in May 2008. Each one of the characters, still, has something to worry about.
Susan, once again, is without Mike. All we know so far is that he was, once again, in a car accident. She has a physical relationship with her painter, but hasn't told any of her friends or family.
Lynette's kids are growing up, but she feels as though they haven't changed much at all. Her husband Tom seems to be more concerned with how cool his teenagers are than their safety and well-being.
Glamorous Gabby, has traded her youth and beauty for a family that is beginning to look like anything but the supermodel she once was.
Bree has become a high-powered caterer. Tensions arise, however, when Katherine Mayfair claims that Bree has used her ideas without giving due-credit.
Edie, who was basically forced to leave Wisteria Lane, is back with a new husband, Dave.
To the housewives, Dave looks like Edie's new savior. He's clean cut and a motivational speaker. Like the rest of Wisteria Lane, however, he has something to hide.
The new season promises to be filled with drama and laughter.
Moving the story forward five years was probably a good decision on the writers' part because it will allow for flashbacks and revelations in the Desperate Housewives style of only filling in the viewer piece by piece.
Tune in Sundays at 9 p.m. on ABC or online at abc.com/player. You're bound to stay on the edge of your seat.
- Jessie Hethcoat
