New Fall Sitcoms Is Where It’s At

Friends! And everyone else that is wildly disappointed with this week’s episode of Glee! Stop watching trash television. We don’t have to stand for it. Yeah, I’m looking at you Ladies of Greenwood with all of your Bad Girls Club nonsense. There are actually really charming new sitcoms to feast upon that I think will make you think twice about your allegiances to the shit we’ve been watching lately. Behold: Raising Hope and Outsourced.

Raising Hope

The story of a boy who knocked up a girl that was actually a murderer and then got sentenced to death so now he’s raising a kid with his lovably simple minded parents and senile Maw Maw. I’ll admit that at first I thought this show was just trying to milk (pun intended) the joke made popular in The Hangover: inept man takes care of infant. Hilarious right? Well, luckily that’s not really at all what this show is about. Jimmy, the boy in question, earnestly wants to be a good dad. He’s got a lot of heart and compassion. I don’t think we’ll be seeing him make his baby do jerking off hand gestures any time soon. The show has hints of My Name is Earl (and I say that as someone that never watched an episode but gathered that it was all just about making fun of republican hicks) but with the sensibility of How I Met Your Mother (the humor comes from relatable characters and relationships instead of relying solely on pop culture references and over-the-top antics). We’re only two episodes in and you can catch up on Hulu. I say give it a spin. It’s a really cute show.

Outsourced

The story of a boy who was ready to start a brand new management position for American novelty products when he suddenly learns that to keep his job he’ll have to move to India. Way to finally tap into the Bollywood scene, Hollywood. This show is just plain charming. It’s The Office but without all of the unbearable awkwardness. Just a group of people, in a room, coping with one of the worst jobs known to mankind: customer service. I love that it takes place in India because it allows the writers to shine a light on all of the bullshit things that Americans consume. I look at every product in their catalogue and can think of at least one person that I know that would not only buy it, but would show it to me the second I come over to their house, giggling like a little girl. It’s sad but true. And I know, I know, I’m only 1 episode in, but I’m hopeful. I think it looks pretty funny and easy to watch. And that’s what this 24 going on 44 girl needs.

Finales Finally

One of our faithful PopFountain addicts pointed me to a survey on EW about this season’s finales that I’ve quickly come up with my responses to. Hey, better to read my opinions here than me posting it as a note on Facebook. Am I right?

She's f***ing Matt Damon. Hopefully.

Best Death: Jack from LOST wins hands down. It might be time for that guy to get nominated for an Emmy.
Most Welcome Exit for an Unloved Character: Vaughn on Community. Little nipples are not okay.
Best Overall Ending to an Otherwise Crappy Season: V. It wasn’t for everyone but I thought they went out strong. Cest la vie visitors.
Worst Overall Ending to an Otherwise Solid Season: Community. What happened that was funny in this episode? No, really?
Best Romantic Cliffhanger: Michael and Holly on The Office. I know, I’m the only one still watching. But it beats that four-some on Community.
Best Non-Romantic Cliffhanger: 30 Rock. If Matt Damon is supposed to be the love of Liz Lemon’s life, how the hell is that going to work out? Unless he becomes a regular I’ll be very, VERY disappointed.
Best Kiss: Jack and Kate on LOST. That aggression was steamy.
Best Fight (Verbal or Physical): More like Best Sexual Tension which of course goes to Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest.
Top Tissue Moment (Single tear or sobfest): LOS…I can’t even finish typing it without getting choked up again.
Most Clever Single Twist: I hate to sound like a broken Dharma record, but the Sideways/Purgatory story takes the cake.
Weakest Single Twist: Annie kissing Andy on Parks and Recreation. Yawn, boring, saw that coming 2 seasons ago.
Funniest Half Hour: Modern Family, although I don’t think it was their strongest episode by a long shot. They should have ended on the Hawaii vacay.
Spookiest Image: Why is this even a category?
Most Rewound Moment: Last 10 mins of LOST.
SPECIAL AWARD: Biggest Regret That I Didn’t See It, I Just Read About It: Grey’s Anatomy. Apparently not watching for the past 2 years doesn’t matter and I should still watch this finale. But I probably won’t.

And here are a few categories of my own:

I’ll take “Don’t Add Crappy New Characters” for 100, Alex.

As a college student I didn’t have time for TV. No Thursday night line-ups on NBC. No TGIF on ABC. Not even a Movie and a Makeover Sunday with TBS.

But now I’m a bonafide working girl with a less strenuous schedule and Hulu has taken away any barrier between me and the small screen. I’ve unearthed my IV drip of yore, plugged it directly into my MacBook and with only a few hits a day I’m back in my TV coma. While I’m propped up on my Tempur-Pedic bed waiting for my jello to arrive I’ll confess that I am actively following LOST, The Office, Modern Family, V, 30 Rock, Community, Parks and Recreation, Glee, and the occasional Project Runway. Damn, it feels good.

Looking at this line-up I notice a lot of newcomers. Shows that are doing pretty well in their first season with no looming signs of cancellation in sight. LET ME WARN ALL OF YOU. You will be tempted to add new characters in future seasons. But listen to this re-lapsed TV junky: I beg you, choose wisely. There is right way to do it. And there is a very, very wrong way to do it.