What to watch?

Okay everyone, I have some recommendations. But first, let me share my recent adventure. I had to travel to Paris for work and since the Parisian TV experience in my hotel is not pleasant -- it is a very international experience, for sure, with German MTV, two Italian channels, CNN, Sky News and a couple of French networks, but it is pretty much unbearable. An Italian version of Dancing with the Stars -- really? Jackass dubbed into French? No thanks.

So this trip, I decided to bring a DVD player and all 5 DVD's of season 1 of Friday Night Lights. What better way to get ready for the new season, right? I know, I'm sick. So anyway, great idea, but after watching the first DVD, the power in the battery died and my technologically challenged brain decided, sure any piece of equipment can be plugged into the wall if the plug has an adaptor on it. Wrong -- FYI, European outlets have a different voltage coming through them and will basically zap electronic equipment. I hear the laughter coming from all of you. Don't you know about power supplies in different countries -- ha, ha, you would think she has never traveled, ha, ha. But listen, explain this to me -- IT IS CALLED A PORTABLE DVD PLAYER!!!!!!!!!! Does "portable" mean portable in one country only? Computers can just be plugged in, and they aren't even called PORTABLE! Whatever, I got four episodes and then had to spend the rest of the trip changing the channel between Dora the Explorer in French and MTV's Parental Control in English -- that is one show that could have been dubbed and might have become more enjoyable.

So I came back to NYC and a DVR full of new and returning favorites. I am not yet caught up and am still saving the new Friday Night Lights for full non-jet lagged viewing. In terms of returning shows, Heroes is holding up really well. Milo looks great with his new haircut and the show still blows my mind with the twists and turns. New season of Survivor is fantastic -- one player is a cafeteria lady, another a gravedigger and then there is the 70 lb Courtney from NY who is attempting as an anorexic to waste away even more with no food and compete in strenuous physical competitions. But she wonders why her teammates are discriminating against her? She looks like she could blow over if someone sneezed on her. Watch, she will end up winning.

Grey's Anatomy is fantastic -- the humor is back and the heart tugging is still there. I don't miss Burke, but most importantly, Katherine Heigl is proving why she just won the Emmy. She is funny, poignant and in my mind definitely more the heart of the show than Ellen Pompeo. And finally Dr McSteamy is smiling -- love the friendship forming again with him and McDreamy. Here is my question, do people auditioning to be on the show, i.e. Meredith's new half sister, have to learn how to speak in the Grey's rhythm? They all talk really fast and have certain speech ticks. It is really weird. And of course when the episode is over, I speak the same way -- sorry everyone who has to see me the next day...

Still have to watch the Office (by the way, anyone looking for a b-day present for me can buy me Season 3), 30 Rock, ER...so more on returning shows soon.

Onto new shows, already told you I'm done with Gossip Girl, I also tried Dirty Sexy Money and I'm not feeling it. Maybe it is clever, but to me there is no emotional connection to the characters -- a really wealthy family hires the son of their recently deceased lawyer to be the new family lawyer. There is the Patriarch who tries to buy his way into everything, the Matriarch who was sleeping with the recently deceased lawyer, the spoiled daughter who is on her 4th husband, the priest who actually has a kid --- whatever and there are other family members and I don't care. I don't even care enough to explain it to you. I have one more episode stored, but I think it might get erased this weekend.

Private Practice -- I want to like it -- I like a lot of the actors, but I just can't devote myself to it. Grey's is so much better and in the spring Idol will be up against it so why bother?

I owe you more new show stuff - Big Shots, Pushing Daisies, Tell Me You Love Me, etc.

Music wise, love Stronger by Kanye -- I think he is full of himself, but the Daft Punk collaboration is genius. But let me bring you back a little -- I am obsessed (can you imagine?) with The Outfield "Your Love" A couple sang it at karaoke a few months ago, and now I can't get it out of my head. You know the song... It starts "josie's on a vacation far away" followed by some words I can't understand and will therefore not try to guess at in writing. Anyone who can help me, I appreciate it. Download it - you will not be able to get it out of your head. Might try it a Karaoke this weekend - they put words on the screen for idiots like me :)

So much more to discuss...the Yanks, end of Rock of Love, Top Chef and the Little Big Town concert. So until next time,

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...