While The Writers Are Out...

(This post gets a re-up, as I thought of a few more to add.)

Since, as I mentioned in a previous post, the Writers Guild has basically ruined TV, I thought I might throw out a couple of actually scripted shows worth checking out that are currently airing new episodes. Yes, among all of the fucking reality shows that muddy up the airwaves, there are still serialized TV shows:

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox)
A continuation of the Terminator franchise that cleverly circumvents the fact that there was a third movie by having them time-travel right past the timeframe of that movie. (It also makes a nice continuity error, as T3 claims Sarah Connor died in 1997; this Terminator show starts in 1999 with Sarah very much alive. OOPS!!) It's also nice to see that in the 23 years since the original movie that they've perfected "two-way" time travel.

The Wire (HBO)
The last season of probably the best show on TV. If real-life cops misallocated department resources like these cops do, they'd have an 100% clearance rate. A note for newbies: if you haven't seen any of the previous four seasons, nothing on this show will make any sense to you (and yes, that is a subtle hint to watch those seasons).

Breaking Bad (AMC)
Bryan Cranston (yeah, that's right: the dad from Malcolm in the Middle) plays a down-on-his-luck chemistry teacher, dying of cancer, who decides that going into the crystal meth business would be a good idea. It's only aired one episode so far, but it's pretty entertaining. I'll also mention that AMC is currently rerunning Mad Men, which you should check out if you missed it the first time around.

Law & Order (NBC)
The 2nd longest-running show on TV (and one that almost didn't come back) is back with new shows AND back in its old "Wednesdays @ 9:00" timeslot. While I'm somewhat saddened by "Mad Dog" Sam Waterson's somewhat reduced role in the show, the rest of the new cast is pretty good. And it just goes to show that sometimes those mid-season starts can work out pretty good for a show. Where you at now, Life? Oh, you off the air. That's right.

Nip/Tuck (FX)
FX must have made some kind of deal with the Devil, because they actually have this and at least two other shows on deck (Dirt and The Shield) airing new episodes. They may actually have a lock on being able to air the most new shows. I guess there's something to be said for only airing 13 episode seasons.

Prison Break (Fox)
While I'm not really advocating watching Prison Break, as it's absolutely terrible this season, they are new episodes. So, if you just need to watch anything, this is something to watch.

Lost (ABC)
Yes, I realize it doesn't start until next Thursday, but is there anyone who can really wait for the goofiest yet most addictive show on TV to start again? Not me.

Assorted mid-season shows (every network)
In addition to everything listed above, there are a lot of shows starting up now that I really have no interest in watching, but you might like. Also, shows that just kinda disappeared from the schedule, like ABC's Big Shots, have reappeared, because...hey, new episodes.

Hopefully, one of these years that writers will get back to work and I can get back to some quality TV watching. Until then, I'll just have to make due.