While there were several shows that had outstanding seasons in 2008, some shows hit a slump and kind of skidded through 2008. Everyone talks about the former but very few talk about the latter. So I have decided to create a list of 10 shows that could use a jumpstart in 2008. By jumpstart I mean everything from rebounding to a bad first half of the season, to not living up to expectations, to even getting the show on the right track for a series finale. So here is my list of 10 shows that I think could use a jumpstart in 2008.
10) How I Met Your Mother: This will come as a shocker to anyone who regularly reads this blog, but I think How I Met Your Mother could benefit from a jump start in 2009. How I Met Your Mother is still easily the best comedy on television, but this season so far has kind of been a downer. The first half of the season was kind of killed by Stella in my opinion. I never really liked Stella (I still like Sarah Chalke though) and the character brought down the first half of the season. Being on this list is actually kind of a compliment to How I Met Your Mother. How I Met Your Mother has set such a high standard in the past that even when it has had only a couple average episodes it is still considered a disappointment. I honestly don’t think anyone has to worry about How I Met Your Mother rebounding since I am sure it is going to happen. With Stella out of the picture, Ted can continue his journey to find the eventual mother. There are also two pregnancies (Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders) that the show will have to either incorporate into the show or hide from audiences. Although being on this list, I am excited about the second half of How I Met Your Mother’s season.
9) Monk: Some people might be wondering why Monk is on a list of shows that need a jumpstart in 2009. Unlike most of the shows on this list, it’s not because the show has hit a bumpy patch (even though the earlier seasons were better). It’s actually because Monk is coming to it’s conclusion is just about a year and a half. With a season and a half left, Monk has it’s work cut out for it in order to give fans a satisfying conclusion. For the show to have a totally satisfying conclusion, I think that Monk needs to start getting more clues regarding Trudy’s murder. I would suggest maybe some little clues scattered around the rest of the episodes this season and a huge clue given in the season finale. Then next season I want Monk to keep getting more clues while he also starts getting better. By the end of next season I would like to see Monk solve Trudy’s murder and also finally be able to live a semi normal lifestyle.
8) Psych: While Psych is one of the best crime dramas on television and also one of the best cable shows, I think Psych was in sort of a slump to begin the season. The show seemed to take a little more of a drama feel than previous seasons and with that there was less humor than the first two seasons. I am chocking it up to a slump since every show hits slumps from time to time. I think by bringing back a little more of the wackiness and humor Psych will quickly be back.
7) Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles: I know some Terminator fans will be upset with me saying this, but I think Terminator the Sarah Connor Chronicles could use some work. This doesn’t mean that it’s a bad show, it just means that I think the show could improve some things. It’s not like the show couldn’t use some help since it’s future past this season is pretty dim at this point (especially after being moved to Fridays). My problem with Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles is that it is too inconsistent. The show will have one good episode but then the next episode will be disappointing. With the plot of trying stopping a robotic created apocolypse you would think that Sarah, John, and the rest of the crew would try to do more in order to try and stop the terrorfying future. It’s too bad that it seems that they haven’t done a whole lot since the future doesn’t appear to have changed a whole lot. With that being said I think a way to really improve the show is to embrace the fact that they are trying to change the future. Have their actions actually have consequences on the future. Have the gang face the future they are trying to fight more often. The show needs to just embrace this fact, not try to shy away from it.
6) Gossip Girl: I actually never even watched the first season of Gossip Girl live. I actually had to get caught up with the season one dvd set. While it took a while to get into the first season, I have to admit that the show actually got pretty good in the first season. For some reason the second season really isn’t doing it for me though. Maybe it’s due to some boring storylines, maybe it’s due some boring relationships; I don’t know but the season is missing something. I think the problem can be fixed pretty easily though. Gossip Girl just needs to add some more interesting storylines in the second half of the season and I thin the show will get back on track.
5) Scrubs: In what will most likely be it’s last season, I think Scrubs has it’s work cut out for it. After a lackluster season last year, going into it’s final season Scrubs needs to show that it deserves to stay on the air for another season instead of looking past it’s prime. Last season Scrubs was still funny but it just wasn’t the same as previous seasons. Maybe it was because there were less dream sequences, or maybe it was because JD was actually starting to grow up. I think Scrubs owes it’s fans one final great season in what most likely is it’s final season.
4) Family Guy: Family Guy has always been a hit and miss type of show. Some episodes would be hilarious while other episodes wouldn’t be funny at all. This really didn’t bother me a ton since when Family Guy was funny, it was laugh out loud funny. This season Family Guy has continued to have the misses but has had fewer and fewer hits. Maybe the show has just had a slump, but I really haven’t found this season of Family Guy to be that funny. Hopefully the show brings back some of the completely random moments from previous seasons since those are the funniest moments in the show. At least looking at future episodes, it appears that Family Guy could have a rebound second half to the season including it’s second Star Wars special following the events of The Empire Strikes Back.
3) Brothers and Sisters: I don’t know if it is just me but I already hate Ryan and he has yet to even appear on the show yet. The third season of Brothers and Sisters started off pretty well but it never sustained that momentum. With some pretty boring storylines ending the first half of the season, I am having a hard time believing Brothers and Sisters is going to turn it around. I honestly don’t know if the show realizes what it has going for it. First Sally Field (Nora) is the best character on the show and yet the show rarely utilizes the character except in a motherly role or to scold the kids when they misbehave. Hopefully Nora will get a more rewarding storyline the rest of this season. The show also seems to want to either stretch storylines out way too long (Kitty’s attempt to have a kid or adopt) or give characters stupid storylines (Tommy), or no storylines at all (Saul). If Brothers and Sisters would feature Nora more in a non motherly role and the writers can actually come up with some good storylines for the rest of the characters, I think Brothers and Sisters can turn things around quickly as long as they don’t introduce another biological Walker sibling. The good news is that last night’s episode might have been the beginning of a jump start that Brothers and Sisters really needed.
2) Grey’s Anatomy: Many of you probably are wondering how in the world one of the most popular shows on television needs help. Even though the show is popular, the show really needs help. I don’t know if a show has ever fallen as fast as Grey’s Anatomy has. Season two was one of the best seasons in television history. From that point though things seem to have only gotten worse and worse. Not even counting all the off camera problems, the show has many things to fix. First we’ll begin with the storyline almost everyone hates, the Denny ghost storyline. This storyline is terrible and if I had my way it would have ended a week after it began. Yes there is supposedly a reason behind it (which I know but won’t reveal for those of you who haven’t heard). While the reason makes the story not quite as bad, the story still needs to go. I loved Denny in season two but his appearances as Ghost Denny are driving me nuts. Shonda Rhimes, just leave Jeffrey Dean Morgan alone. Let him do something better than being a ghost. Second they need to actually start giving some characters some good storylines. Grey’s Anatomy is already losing their best character (George) because they haven’t given him a good storyline since season two. If you don’t start giving some of these characters better storylines, they should leave as well. Characters I am talking about include Bailey, and Sloane. Finally my last gripe with the show is that it needs to actually make up a decision with some of their relationships. I am sick and tired of characters wavering back and forth about their relationships (I’m talking to you Meredith). Have the characters actually make the decision. Either keep them together or break them up for good. I don’t really care. I do hate it though when they break up and get back together time after time. While I am not getting my hopes up, hopefully Grey’s Anatomy can return to it’s season two glory.
1) Heroes: No list of 2008 disappointments could be complete without bringing up what might have been the biggest disappointment of the season, Heroes. Don’t get me wrong, I have always liked Heroes (even though the show could be a little more original). Since the season one finale though the show has been going downhill quickly and it is sad to see. We’ll all be waiting till February to see where the show is going but despite a poor first half to the season I hold out hope that the second half could bring the show back. Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies) coming back to the show could be just what the show needs. Also the end of Villains gives me many things to at least remain hopeful for. The premise of the chapter seems promising. I think it would be interesting to see the Heroes hunted by the government. This concept alone leads me to one of my recommendations. Heroes needs to kill off or write off several characters. I am seriously wondering why the show doesn’t have the guts to kill anyone off. Remember season one where Issac was killed off. Maybe it’s just coincidence but the show was much better when there was actually a sense of danger that someone could actually die. While this might upset some Heroes fans, I believe Nathan, Mohinder and Tracy for sure need to either be killed off or be written off.
So which shows do you think need a jumpstart in 2009? Which shows are just not performing as well as they have in the past or not up to expectations? Is there any from my list that you disagree with? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
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