I watched The Machinist last night and, although I enjoyed it and was suitably transfixed by Bale's freaky skeletal appearance, I was most excited about seeing D'Angelo Barksdale and Norman Wilson/Martin motherfuckin' Querns make small appearances. I am a slave to HBO and I regret nothing.

I watched the first episode, but I was unimpressed.

I wasn't particularly impressed by Sons of Anarchy either, which was created by the same guy I think.

Still thoroughly enjoying True Blood. Refreshingly better than Heroes.

On an old school tip been enjoying the Royle Family past couple of evenings

You'd be better off getting them separately. More seeds then leechers now. Plus the big download with them all in will have more leeches then seeds.

I've just found out Reaper was cancelled. That's bullshit it was awesome.

Ahhh, kinda harsh compairing it to the Wire, Shield is a top show in it's own right, Vic Makey is a legend.


I can't wait for Fringe to come back on.

I wasn't comparing the story to The Wire more the fact that The Shield seems to try extremely hard to be gritty, harsh and realistic but when you compare it to The Wire it just comes across as the cheesy piece of Hollywood-made fluff that it is.

i've watched both the shield and the wire all the way through, and you can't compare the two but both are the greatest tv shows i've ever seen. some of the moments in the shied both make you laugh and cry and even though you know what vic's done you still want him to succed. Season 1 of the shield is just the foundations of the program to get how good it is you have to watch it all. knowing there's no shield to come i could't bring myself to watch the last couple of epsoides knowing it would be the end.

This! I've missed Walter.

Are Sky 1 showing it a day after it's aired in America like last time? It'll be upped by tomorrow/day after.

Saying something is better than Heroes isn't really that much of a compliment. You might aswell have said "Refreshingly better than getting stabbed in the dick".

Heroes is the worst shit ever. Even the first season which so many idiots jizzed over...fucking terrible.

I've read that season 2 will start over here on October 4th which is about 2 weeks after the US showing (for anyone interested it starts in the US tomorrow)

I'm really enjoying '' The Fixer '' at the minute on ITV, I only caught a couple of episodes from the last series but I've been watching it all the way this time.

just finished watching true blood season 2 heres my thoughts and summary of the series
SPOILER - Highlight the black box to read

the 2nd series more than lived up to the first one if you ask me, so many things going on. jason joining the fellowship of the sun and eventually banging the ministers missus and realising they were all nutjobs after they kidnapped sookie. eric needing sookie to help him find his maker. layfette being kidnapped at the beginning and then let go only to continue selling vamp blood for eric and as we would find out the queen vamp and ofcourse the whole mary anne saga taking over everyone and nearly sacrficing sam all i can say is damm.

i actually love this series and am gutted now i have worked my way threw them and have to wait now till the next series but seriously can't wait been awhile since a program has grabbed my attention as much as this one and the anna paquain nudity only makes it that much more awesome

bring on series 3

Must...not...read...season 2... spoilers. I'll get back to True Blood soon, my download is done.

Mid-way through season 3 of Dexter now. Still liking it but I must admit the central "hook" SPOILER - Highlight the black box to read
(Ice Truck Killer in S1, Dexter's bodies surfacing in S2) isn't nearly as intriguing as the main ongoing plot of the first two seasons. Dexter is softening up too much now as well. I know he pretty much kids himself about not having any emotions, but they've used that "if I knew how to feel ... then I'd be feeling it right now" device far too much.

Season 2 was absolutely tremendous though. Constant drama and an absolutely mental conclusion. Lila was amazing, I liked the FBI dude and Doakes was fun too (if a bit of an over-actor).

What's keeping me watching season 3 is that Rita, Deb, Masuka and Batista make for a watchable and sympathetic supporting cast which keeps things interesting when they occasionally seem short of ideas for Dexter himself. Even Rita's Kids are likeable

Also got an enormous torrent (17gig) of Batman: The Animated Series/The Adventures of Batman and Robin/The new Batman adventures. 86 episodes. Aww yeeeah.

Used to love this show and there are so many episodes I haven't seen. It's so dark and atmospheric and has some of the best voice acting I've ever seen in a cartoon. Mark Hamil's Joker is the obvious example but almost everyone is strong. Looking forward to seeing the Emmy-award winning Mr. Freeze episode.

Watched the first episode last night and quite enjoyed it. Man-Bat is the villain and he's dealt with fairly easily. I forgot just how dry Alfred is in this show. He's always portrayed that way to some extent but he is perfect in this series:

Batman drags a giant man/bat monster freak into the bat-cave. Batman's suit is torn, the beast is clearly the one that has been terrorising the city and, again, it's a giant man/bat monster freak. He slumps it down on a table and is starting to examine it when Alfred comes in:

"Two for dinner, sir?"

Beautiful, understated brilliance.

Anyone watching Lie to me? Micro-expressions, body language analysis and Tim Roth. I am intrigued.

Yeah, watched the whole of season one, and I think it's great. I'm not sure how long it will be great for - as the storylines are pretty intricate - but for now, I'm enjoying it. I'm also picking up a lot of tips to find out if people are bullshitting me too.

I'm also up to the final episode of House season 5, and while it's pretty gripping, the penultimate episode bored me for some reason. I hope the series finale is as awesome as season 4's.

Chain Letters, in the series link for the last few weeks on Challenge. Two episodes a day, and a great thing to have on in the background, if you're having tea, etc. Dave Spikey is beyond horrendous at presenting it though.

Also, because I've only ever seen maybe half the episodes (and always out of order), I've started watching Scrubs from scratch, as I caught the pilot on E4 a couple of weeks back and decided it was as a good time as any. So far I'm enjoying it loads, but one thing hasn't changed from my opinions as a half-interested fan. Is JD supposed to be cast as the most dislikable twatface ever? What a whining, mugging fucking little scrote. I hate him and wish no happiness to come to his character.

Yes! This is a problem throughout Scrubs. He isn't a flawed but loveable hero, he's just a despicable sack of shit with very few redeeming qualities. He's particularly horrible to Elliott and his brother, and in real life I think just about everyone in his life would have told him to get fucked after giving him 500 second chances.

Ted Robbins was best at Chain Letters. And he's a Wrexham supporter, so it's all good.

Scrubs is a strange one for me. I started watching it on ABC1 about 4 years ago, and for a few epsiodes I thought it was alright, then out of the blue I decided that "actually, this is a bit shit". I realised that I didn't like a single character, all the pathos at the end of every episode used to piss me off, and Dr Cox isn't half as great a character as people say he is, the hard but fair and caring superior had been done far better many times, and that really JD would have been smacked in the chops by now.

A few times I've started watching it again, and each time hating it more. It seems more like a dodgy soap opera with "OMGS RANDOMS!" jokes in it to me than a quality sitcom.

The songs in it are shit as well.

Blimey, ABC1. There was some shite on there. Unhappily Ever After was probably the worst in that it ripped off Married With Children of all things - but it did have Nikki Cox's pippins to gawp at, so it was okay.

I detest Scrubs. I don't fucking like random comedies and I don't care if it has John McGinley in it - I can always watch him being awesome in Platoon amongst other things.

The music is mostly shit but they did once use Hold On Hope by Guided By Voices on it which is one of my favourite songs of all time, so I'll give them that.

This might make you feel good then: apparently McGinley is loathed by everyone on set and generally makes life a misery for them. Good stuff!

I dunno. You've not lived until you've seen "Golden Girls" spin-off "Empty Nest".

Invested in all 3 series of Ideal staring Johnny Vegas last week. Have just about finished series 1, and it's not too bad!. Some unique characters to say the least, and a decent level of humour mixed with some surreal situations makes it an easy watch. Nothing groundbreaking, and personally i enjoyed Mtv's Stoner Comedy series "Top Buzzer" alot more, but by no means is it shit.

Some of the characters are quite annoying however. Esspecially the "Im on Probation" fella. Was quite funny at first, but very repetitive. Got to say though im loving the characters "Craig" and "Cartoonhead" and hope their individual storylines head somewhere!

Anybody else a fan?

Has anybody seen anything of Eastbound and Down? I liked the write up it got in saturdays Guardian and it is on FX over here so I'll give it a shot, HBO whore that I am.

Yeah, it's meant to be pretty bloody good. I imagine I'll give it a bit of a stream tomorrow.

He's also Paul McCartney's second cousin you know....not that he ever mentions that...

Good find Keith. I'd never heard of it but some googling reveals it's meant to be good (and Handsome Butch's post of course).

I really should keep a closer eye on FX.

I watched the first three episodes of Eastbound and Down, and didn't like it all that much. I didn't warm to the main character at all, and thought there was something missing from it.

I normally love those low-key comedies with unlikeable casts (It's Always Sunny..., Trailer Park Boys) but this was thumbs down from me.

Did anyone watch "Jonathan Meades - Off Kilter" on BBC4? I love Meades, he is one of the few genuine intellects left on TV (albeit, 3 part specials on BBC4). I'm not an architecture expert or anything but he presents it in such a brilliant, intelligent way that it makes for compelling viewing. His camera tricks may be a bit much for people but once I was in Amsterdam and watched one of his shows after taking some lovely Ecuador mushrooms and it was perfection.

Part 3 opens with a funny tour of lower league Scottish football grounds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search/?q=jonathan%20meades

Has anyone seen the first FlashForward episode yet?

I can't remember what the penultimate episode is but if it's the one where SPOILER - Highlight the black box to read
House finally sleeps with Cuddy then the last episode is strangely heart wrenching in comparison. I'm guessing you've already watched it by now and it was really quite obvious, if you thought about it, yet completely took me by surprise.

3/4 my way through the first episode of The Corner so far I am enjoying it.

Can't complain for a five pound and change for sure.

Cheers

Been watching Harper's Island. It's been slowly but surely turning into a boatload of fun.

Rebus has been coming on ITV as well over the last few weeks. I'm a big fan of that show.

harpers island is amazing shame i went on the facebook fan site and found out who the killer is. fucking stupid american came in and told everyone but no ones put up SPOILERS.

so i brought the whole series on dvd (region 1)

If you can, check out the pilot episode of "Archer". It's an animated spy comedy from the same guys who made "Sealab 2021", and is really really good. Absolutely packed with jokes and silliness.

Apart from all the edutainment programs the History Channel is putting out, I've not watched much recently.

I like it, haven't seen it all yet, Will Ferrel doing Ric Flair is good.

I thought the Wil Farrel episodes were the weakest, but still great. I watched all six episodes and loved it. Kenny Powers makes Al bundy and Larry David look like alter boys. He isnt very likeable and very selfish and egotistical but he's so fucking funny that it works.

I would definately recommend at least watching the pilot because its one of the strongest Ive ever seen in a comedy. Comedy pilots are usually ropey and all over the place, but Eastbound and Downs was strong as hell. I genuinely laughed out loud three or four times during it which is pretty impressive.

I'll add my disinterest to Scrubs too. I think it was enjoyable at first but was one of those shows that went down the shitter incredibly quickly. If I'm lazing about and an episode is on comedy central I'll switch over to something cool like Taxi. That reminds me Ive been watching a lot of Taxi. It can be a little "We've learned something today" preachy, but has some great jokes and one-liners. Its one of the few older comedies that holds up.

I'll be looking out for this being on, noticed it in the new Sky guide.

Anyone else been following What Katie Did Next on ITV2? It's a lot different watching her with Alex Reid as opposed to Peter Andre.

I enjoyed Peep Show last night, was a real corker!

Got True Blood waiting to watch on Sky +. I see that'll be on Channel 4 soon.

Does anyone else here still watch Smallville?

The premiere of season 9 aired last night in the U.S. and there's plenty of links to watch it online...

I caught some of it from E4 yesterday when my son was off school. Looks a lot different, where Clark is in Metropolis and just met Lois Lane.

Watched the first episode of Dexter Season 4 last night, good to have it back. Carries on nicely from where season 3 ended and I look forward to seeing the rest of the season which leads nicely up the end of the year and then in January Mr Bauer is back for my tv obsession.

Over the past 10 days we've watched seasons 1-4 (4 episodes to go in season 4) of House after picking them up reasonably cheap in a Tesco's sale. How have I managed to miss this up to now?

Same thing here.

I'm loving a bit of "House", and I'll need to go into Tesco soon, by the sound of things.

Since having MTV again we've been catching up Brooke Knows Best. One the mrs, my son and I can enjoy
Gotta love the double act of The Hulkster and Knobbs!
It's Freakish how similar Hulk's girlfriend is to his daughter

Saw a bit of the Kerry Katona series, it's horrible to watch.

just picked up the orignal Incredible Hulk Season 1. Great stuff, it was something i loved as a kid and it's still great. It's a pretty depressing show, but it's still fucking awesome.

His transformation scared the crap out of me as a kid.

Has anyone seen:

Bored To Death
FlashForward

I thought the first ep of FlashForward is on tonight?

I think it aired in America last week, I didn't realise it was on over here so soon.

Been watching Stephens Frys - Last Chance To See, some really amazing animals on there and some truly sad stories about how close they are to extinction.

Has anyone watched Eastbound and Down yet?.. Its already aired in USA, but the premier in UK starts on Thursday on FX.

From what I've read so far it has all the makings of a hilarious show. With the Anchorman team behind it.. it should be pretty awesome!

This is why these big-ass threads are sometimes a problem - this exact show was discussed one or two pages back. I'm disappointed that fewer people are getting to read my riveting thoughts on it, too