It’s true. Those tears leaking out of my eyes cannot be blamed on allergies. They are simply the result of springtime television.
First there are the finales. The cliffhangers and the bombshells. The end of seasons and, sometimes, the end of series. This year, we even saw the end of a television website – which, to me, feels much more like the end of an era than saying goodbye to the long-running How I Met Your Mother or Psych.
Then there are the upfronts. This is where we learn about the new shows – the ones that may never make it to a screen near me, the ones that will start out with so much potential and just break our hearts, the one that will become must-watch after that second episode even though you don’t have time for another show.
And this year, the upfronts came with an added twist when several networks announced shows that would be over after next season. So on one hand, the writers have plenty of time to prepare and write conclusions and closure for our favorite shows. But on the other hand, we now have extra time to grieve the loss of our favorite characters and stories.
Finally, there’s summer TV – or the lack of it, depending on your preferences and the whims of the networks.
So, let’s talk it all out, eh? I’ll give you my take – and then you give me yours. That’s how it works, okay?!
The Finales
Well, you already know how I feel about How I Met Your Mother (although, feel free to head over there and discuss amongst yourselves a bit more…). And I haven’t watched the Castle finale yet, so there will be NO talk of any surprise ending or cliffhanger or ANYTHING. Capice?
So, moving on…
New Girl and The Mindy Project both consummated a will they/won’t they relationship just to break them up. Both breakups ticked me off, but at least The Mindy Project fixed its couple and ended with Danny and Mindy getting back together at the top of the Empire State Building. I can’t say the same about New Girl. Strangely enough, though, much as I love romantic comedies, the blatant homage of The Mindy Project’s finale left me a little cold.
I don’t know, guys. Maybe I was grouchy when I watched the last few episodes of these shows? What did you think about how they ended this year?
Arrow had a huge, intense run to its season end. I love action and superhero-type stuff, but holy violence, Batman! The last few episodes were SO intense and SO dark that it was hard for me to enjoy it as much as usual. I did like almost all the character development, though – with the exception of Thea’s storyline and the death of Moira. Ugh. I wish I hadn’t thought of that, because now I’m sad all over again. (However. Oliver and Felicity in that last episode – ???!!!)
Parks & Recreation is, hands down, one of my very favorite shows. Every single character is unique and outstanding in his or her own right, and the one-hour finale this year? Perfection. Honestly, the show could have ended right then and there, and though I’d be sad, I would have been satisfied, too. (I actually felt a bit of that after the episode when Ann and Chris left, too. Maybe the writers were just being prepared in case the show was canceled?) Thankfully, we have one more season left to enjoy the weirdo and sweethearts of Pawnee.
Hart of Dixie. Well, I know. Some of you jumped ship a while back, when we had Joel and Tansy and I don’t even remember because I erased all those pointless and annoying storylines from my memory. But I stuck with it. Because if there’s one thing I am, it’s loyal to my CW shows. ANYWAY. I’ve been Team Wade for a long time, so I’m all for the way they ended this season…even if my more logical side points out that their renewed love kinda, sorta came out of nowhere. Whatevs. Team Wade! (Although, UGH. Why can’t Lavon just go be happy with Annabelle? COME ON.)
Once Upon a Time is ridiculous. It really is. I know this. And yet? IT IS MY FAVORITE AND I LOVE IT AND YOU CAN’T STOP ME. You might think this is purely because of Captain Hook, but it’s not. Not completely. No, I just continue to love the way they twist traditional fairy tales and stories and tangle them all up. (Oh. No pun intended there. The vague Rapunzel storyline this season was lame.) Are you still watching? What did you think of the whole Wizard of Oz twist? Do you remember Peter Pan and that crazy business? How glad were you for it to be over? How do you feel about them adding a Frozen character for next season? And how much do you love or hate Captain Hook?
The Cancellations & Endings
This year, in addition to my regular shows, I added a few sitcoms to my already-long list of shows-I-watch. Mainly because a half-hour show was the perfect diversion while feeding Adrienne. And since she insists on eating several times a day, I had lots of half-hour slots to fill. I watched – and ended up loving – Trophy Wife, Enlisted, The Crazy Ones and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. All but the last one were canceled, and that bums me out.
Of course, as long as they keep making Hollywood Game Night (my new favorite thing), I’ll probably survive.
{Oh, also. I almost forgot this one. The CW – I know. Okay? I know. – had a new show called Star-Crossed. It was about teenagers and aliens and *SIGH* of course I watched it. It was pretty lame, but I watched all 13 episodes. And then breathed a sigh of relief when it was canceled.}
So. This year several of my favorite shows ended for good: Psych, Warehouse 13, Suburgatory and Community. Although, now that I look at that little list, it turns out I’m okay with all of them. I’d gotten a little bored with each of those shows. And as Shawn and Gus mentioned in a “this is our last season” commercial, there’s always syndication. As long as I can watch reruns of Psych and Community, I’m good.
Oh, yeah – here’s a list of shows ending next year (if you want to be pre-emptively sad). Parks & Rec is the only one I’ll miss, although knowing it’s the last season might be enough to make me watch Cougar Town again. Maybe.
The New Shows
Okay, so it’s too soon to really dive into the fall schedule and all the new shows. I mean, we shouldn’t talk about it all day. Right? Except this one:
How funny and delightfully bizarre does that look?!? SO FUN. (And probably canceled after half a season. But we’ll cross that bridge later.)
I’ve also been sucked in by the trailers for these shows (links go to their trailers):
- NCIS: New Orleans (CBS)
- Madam Secretary (CBS)
- Flash (CW)
- Angie Tribeca (TBS)
- State of Affairs (NBC)
- The Odd Couple (CBS) – no trailer, but it stars Matthew Perry, for whom I’m a sucker.
The Summer Shows
Okay, here’s what I know…
So You Think You Can Dance starts next week, and the cable shows start in a few weeks. Suits comes back on June 11, and Covert Affairs returns on June 24. I don’t know when White Collar will air its final, shortened season; I suppose it could be later this fall. Perception (and Rizzoli & Isles, which I usually end up watching not really on purpose) comes back on June 17, but Franklin & Bash doesn’t return until August 13.
And that is all I know about summer TV. I think I need to find something to watch on Netflix or Hulu. Any suggestions?
Now it’s YOUR turn. How are YOU feeling about springtime television?
Galavant!!! That preview was awesome. It is the new Pushing Daisies. Oh happy TV Day.
I need to watch Pushing Daisies again. Is that on Netflix or Hulu or anywhere?
Pushing Daisies is free on Amazon Prime, if you have that. <3
Why am I just now discovering your blog???? We have such similar tastes. Here’s my rundown:
~ The Mindy Project – Still haven’t forgiven Danny for how he treated Mindy. If Mindy was my BFF (which, in my mind, she is), I think I’d have to run an intervention. He needs to work MUCH harder to win her back. Didn’t care for the homage either.
~Parks & Rec – Yes, yes, yes! This show is superbly casted. I’m hoping Retta gets a new show soon, and I’m so happy for Chris Pratt’s success. Although, I’m a little fearful of the flash forward. The brief bit we saw made it seem like Leslie has a completely new personality. I didn’t see any of her awesome positivity.
~Suburgatory – I will miss this one. I started watching it while nursing my now-two-year-old. So it’s sentimental. Love Tessa and Ana Gasteyer and Chris Parnell.
~Mad Men – Do you watch? There is one more episode of the first half of the series finale, and we have to wait a year for the 2nd half. I thought it would be more exciting but it’s not.
~ Dallas – Super smutty but highly addictive. Comes back in August!
~The Middle – Maybe because I live in Wisconsin, it’s easy to relate? I think this show had a really strong season this year. I was almost ready to give up on it!
~Modern Family – Been a little uneven this year, but I’ll still watch!
I’m having a hard time getting sucked into new shows because I hate getting hooked and then having it canceled!
Looks like I’ll be watching Hollywood Game Night on demand this summer!
I don’t watch Mad Men, but I think it’s one of the ones ending next year. Is that right? I have another friend who loves The Middle – and anytime I’ve watched it, I’ve really liked it! You’ll have to tell me which HGN contestants you like best after you catch up on On Demand!
I like The Middle. And I liked The Mindy Project, even though I was annoyed with Danny for the catfish stuff. Perhaps I liked it because he and she remind me of someone and me. ;) Perhaps I’m a sucker. :P I’m hoping America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway start soon… I know, I’m probably the only one here into those. ;) What’s the television website that you said was ending? Oh. Never mind. I see your answer below. :) I’ve never actually heard of that. Big surprise.
Yeah, maybe that’s what bothered me about the Mindy Project finale. The catfishing business was just so mean and out of character, I thought, and just got on my nerves!
Sorry – one more question. Which tv website were you referring to?
Oops! I meant to link to it! Or explain it. Or SOMETHING. I was referring to Television Without Pity.
I loved both the Parks & Rec and the Once Upon a Time finales! I thought that the writers on both shows wrapped up the current season nicely while opening up great new stories for the next. I’ve been a fan of P&R from the beginning and will definitely miss it when it’s done next year.
I watched Castle regularly for a long time but haven’t seen a single episode of this season. My hubby and I decided to save it for the summer since (in our opinions) there’s never anything good on.
The Old Couple reboot with Matthew Perry? Sign me up!
Oh, do you watch any British television? Because, of course, there is Downton Abbey. And Mr. Selfridge. And Call the Midwife. And Doctor Who. And PBS just announced the Masterpiece Mystery line-up and it looks amazing…
I watch too much TV!
I watch too much, too, Marie. :) I don’t actually watch any PBS, although I enjoyed one season of Downton Abbey, and am sure (based on friends and family’s recommendations) I would love Call the Midwife and Doctor Who if I just watched them…
I refuse to believe OUAT is ridiculous! I love it and am proud of my love for it. I am elated about Hook and Emma and very curious about what will happen next season. I hope Regina doesn’t go full on evil again! She’s come so far. I cannot wait for the return of SYTYCD!
Oh my gosh, how could I forget the twist for Regina at the end?!? Oh my GOSH that was a dagger (or an arrow) to the heart!! So terrible. I will be REALLY interested to see how they handle that story.
OK. So, I have given up on New Girl. YES. I feel like Nick and Jess have been falling down a crazy hill and I just can’t do it anymore. So, feel free to tell me what happened. Did they break up?
MINDY. We stopped watching Mindy for awhile b/c Les doesn’t like it. Then I started watching it again–skipped a few too-sexual episodes and then started watching AGAIN. And it cracks me up. I love Mindy. Dr. C and Mindy are OK together. I don’t love ’em or hate ’em. And I actually did like the Empire State building shtick.
Also: SYTYCD. Yipppeeeee!
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Okay, I liked Nick and Jess together. But yeah – they broke up out of nowhere and THEN it got annoying and unrealistic to me. You know why I like Mindy and Dr. C? Because of Dr. C. Or, more accurately, that actor – he’s SO good and expressive!
I CAN’T WAIT FOR SYTYCD.
We stopped watching New Girl around January. Honestly the only things we watched all Spring were How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory, with an occasional binge on Modern Family. And Drop Dead Diva on Netflix. :)
The Nick/Jess thing just didn’t seem believable in the end, I think. I might watch the rest of this season to see how it played out. Was it renewed for next year?
Yes, New Girl was renewed for next year. I actually thought Nick and Jess were believable as a couple made of two very different people trying to figure it out. I did not find the breakup believable or anything after that. Boo.
OK, wait. I had to come back to this post because WHY DID YOU NOT MENTION 24 AND JACK BAUER??
(I have a crazy memory that you might not have ever watched 24 and I am going to be sad if I’m right.)
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Um. Well. I don’t want to answer this question. Because you KNOW the answer. {i’m sorry.} Seriously, though, I can’t handle watching torture, and I remember someone saying there was torture in 24, so I didn’t watch it. Was that the wrong call?
Mary. It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard. If you are a real TV fan you must watch 24. It’s a non-negotiable. PLUS, this season Sarah Walker, yes, Chuck’s Sarah is one of the main characters. So. There.
YES. 24 is back! The last couple seasons were so terrible, but my husband and I are loving this season so far (and it reminds me of when we were first married because we binge watched the first few seasons :))
Agreed, Jessica! I can’t even remember what happened in that final season—something about Jack being in a shipping crate, maybe? I dunno. Anyway, I’m glad Jack is back!! (Now, if only they’d let Chloe take a shower and wipe that eye makeup off!)