My TV Schedule (And Two Gay Nays)

In the past I've talked about how I decide whether or not to watch a new TV show -- basically, I need something to pique my interest in it, or else I just happen to watch on a whim. So with the new fall TV season under way, I thought I'd update you on what I'm currently watching (or considering watching, or tried to watch). There have been a few changes in my schedule.

SUNDAY: I've still got "The Simpsons" (which, let's face it, at this point I'll never stop watching) and "Family Guy" (which I can't quite get rid of). With "Desperate Housewives" gone, though, I don't have another Sunday night show. I'm considering trying "666 Park Avenue," only because Vanessa Williams moved from Wisteria Lane to this address. Apparently (as you can guess from the number) there are devilish doings going on. I'll try it.

MONDAY: It used to be a quiet night until Fox moved "Bones" here. I also sampled the debut of "Partners," one of the two new shows with heavy gay content. It co-stars Michael Urie, one of my faves from "Ugly Betty," which is why I watched it. Urie's character is gay and his best friend (played by David Krumholtz) is straight. Their significant others are Brandon "I'm no longer Superman" Routh and Sophia Bush, respectively. I may watch another episode because I really like Urie, but I think they'd be better off if they ditched the truly dull Krumholtz and Routh entirely, and maybe Bush as well.

TUESDAY: At least "Partners" isn't the other big gay sitcom, "The New Normal."
I watched the pilot of this one and despised it. It was really preachy and obvious. The characters were annoying, particularly the bigoted grandmother -- sorry, but it's bad enough people like her exist in real life. I don't want one on a show that's supposed to make me laugh. Speaking of which, this committed the worst sitcom sin of all: it didn't make me laugh once. I have no intentions of giving this another shot. So that leaves "Don't Trust The B---- In Apt. 23," which debuted last spring. I began watching this because of James Van Der Beek's portrayal of a fictional, douche-y version of himself, and so far he hasn't disappointed. I'm not entirely invested in the other characters, so it remains to be seen how long I'll stick with it.

WEDNESDAY: The only show on this night I'm even considering is "Arrow," the CW's version of DC Comics' Green Arrow. Like "Smallville's" take on teenager Clark Kent and his eventual path to becoming Superman, "Arrow" is taking many liberties with the character.

THURSDAY: This spring and summer I finally gave in and got hooked on "The Big Bang Theory," so it's now a Thursday staple, and "Glee" is on Thursdays now as well. Thanks to other shows moving, that's all I currently have. I missed the debut of "Elementary," the new CBS series featuring Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Watson, with both of them in modern-day New York City solving crimes. I meant to watch it but fell asleep on my recliner and didn't have my DVR set to record it, so I'll have to try it out On Demand. I'm skeptical, but I was skeptical about the BBC "Sherlock" series and instantly loved that, so...

FRIDAY: NBC moved "Community" to Friday, to kill it off once and for all, I think. I really got into it, oh, maybe 18 months or so ago, but it's not a show where I say "I can't understand why more people don't watch it." Also a possibility is "Malibu Country," which stars Reba McEntire (hence the "country") as a former country singer who uproots her family after her divorce (hence the "Malibu"). It co-stars Lily Tomlin and former "Queer Eye" expert Jai Rodriguez. Apparently it doesn't start until November, though, so I have a while to wait.

SATURDAY: Yeah, right. The networks don't even try on Saturdays.

This doesn't even include sports, my daily dose of TMZ, or cable shows (which debut any time of year and have shorter runs) and shows not on in prime time such as RuPaul's "Drag Race" and "Drag U," "Robot Chicken," "Mad Men," and other shows whose names escape me right now.