Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Honorable Mentions

I am so sick right now that I can't move, but the Quiet Pool Bi-Monthly Power Rankings wait for no man's health.  So without further ado, here are March's Honorable Mentions.

Show (Last Time) red=moving down, green=moving up

Alcatraz (-) Mondays on FOX
I'm a few episodes behind on Alcatraz, which probably isn't a good sign.  They have yet to really grab me, but I'm hoping things pick up before the end of season one.

Hart of Dixie (-) Mondays on The CW
Summer Roberts and company have me enjoying myself every Monday in Bluebell.  It's really not all that exciting, but it's fun.

House of Lies (-) Sundays on Showtime
I still don't know what to think about the Don Cheadle dramedy.  It's really not all that funny, and the drama is not anything special.

Luck (-) Sundays on HBO
I am really enjoying Luck thus far. Nothing has been as good as the premiere, but it's all solid.

The Office (19) Thursdays on NBC
It hasn't been as bad as of late, thanks to the super group down in Tallahassee, but it's still a shell of its former self with Andy Bernard at the helm.

One Tree Hill (-) Wednesdays on The CW
They were having the best season since the fourth before the past few episodes basically stood still.  The return of Chad Michael Murray could have been so much more than it was.

Revenge (18) Wednesdays on ABC
These guys really lost me with that complete fake out with Daniel a couple weeks ago.  It's one thing to surprise the audience, and it is a whole other to do it the way they did.

The River (-) Tuesdays on ABC
I'm digging The River so far, and Joe Alexander is getting way too criticized, but it's not a blockbuster.  I like that they're only doing an eight-episode first season, because it won't allow them to get boring with their stories.

Smash (-) Mondays on NBC
Bringing Little Nicky Jonas on your show is only going to make it better.  For them it's just a shame he isn't a main character.  I've been liking Smash so far, but some of the dialogue is on a level with Terra Nova.

The Walking Dead (20) Sundays on AMC
While things have gotten a bit better over the past couple weeks, this has still been an extremely boring second season.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

I recently finished listing all of my favorite shows of the year, but what about now? What shows that are still on the air are the series you all should be watching? Well that's what the Quiet Pool Bi-Monthly Power Rankings are for. In the first rankings of 2012, we will recognize the shows that have been succeeding as of late, and some that will be returning to our screens for the first time in a while this winter. Next up are spots 20 through 11 on my list.

Rank. Show (Last Time) green=moving up, red=moving down

20. The Walking Dead (11) Sundays on AMC
I had a difficult time keeping The Walking Dead inside the Top 20 after its horrendous fall run. They aired seven episodes of action that easily could have been done in three. This, of course, led to an extremely slow pace, and not a lot of interesting material. Also, I still haven't found a character that I enjoy.

19. The Office (12) Thursdays on NBC
The Office has not been good in its first season without Steve Carell, but it also hasn't been all that bad. Even though most write it off as awful while touting the much worse Parks and Recreation, it has been much better than expected this year. If they can figure out how to work Ed Helms out of the starring role, The Office has a chance to stay in the Top 20.

18. Revenge (HM) Wednesdays on ABC
It's so very soapy, but Revenge has been extremely fun to start the year. It's refreshing not seeing Emily Van Camp complaining every second after those last few years on Brothers and Sisters. The back half of this first season is going to have to go somewhere interesting to keep Revenge in the running for a top spot.

17. Dexter (9) Sundays on Showtime
I don't know what was worse, the terrible imaginary killer story line in which the imaginary character did non-imaginary things, the terrible Deb story line in which she seemingly fell in love with her brother, or the terrible moment to end the season when they wasted an epic moment in the series with an absolutely non-dramatic scene. I have faith that next season will be interesting though.

16. Wilfred (18) Thursdays on FX
Since June, very few have recorded comedic acting performances like Jason Gann had over the first 12 episodes of Wilfred. As long as series like The Office and Modern Family keep heading in the wrong direction, Wilfred's first season looks more and more like one of the best comedies of the year.

15. Survivor (20) Wednesdays on CBS
This move up in the rankings is more of a reflection on its competitors than on Survivor itself. This season was very good, but so many series (Dexter, Walking Dead) took nose dives that this reality giant moves up by default. With any luck the next season of Survivor will not feature Redemption Island, and will not feature a Hantz showdown.

14. Boardwalk Empire (17) Sundays on HBO
As slow-moving as the second season was for a majority of the time, it did feature one of my favorite episodes of the year. The season finale was so rewarding that it made up for some lackluster moments early on. They really went for it, and the story they decided to tell in year two was brilliant.

13. Parenthood (15) Tuesdays on NBC
The family drama never stops for the Bravermans. At this point I'm really curious what they're going to do with some of these child actors as they begin to grow up. It is already becoming glaringly obvious that Jabar is ridiculously obnoxious. He was fine as a tiny kid, but as an older one, he's brutal. Less screen time for him would be preferable.

12. The Vampire Diaries (13) Thursdays on The CW
Nobody does the cliff hanger like Vampire Diaries. Well nobody does it as often. After marathon-ing my way through the first two seasons, the third has gotten off to a quality start with Joseph Morgan stealing the show thus far.

11. Happy Endings (14) Wednesdays on ABC
This ABC comedy has become a must watch on Wednesday nights. This gang has gelled in ways that not many casts do. Adam Pally is excellent, and it has three funny females, a feat almost never achieved. Who would have thought that The Girl Next Door would be one of the funniest women on tv?

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Honorable Mentions

It's that time again. The Quiet Pool Perspective's Bi-Monthly Power Rankings are back, and a lot has happened since early September here at the Pool. The Weekly Comedy Rankings have been working so well at helping gauge what shows are doing well on a week by week basis, that I might try to start doing the same thing with the other categories. For now, here are the November Power Rankings. Remember these take into account past and present performances, and the Honorable Mentions are not necessarily numbers 21 through 30 on my list. Enjoy.

Show (Last) red=moving down, green=moving up

American Horror Story (-) Wednesdays on FX
This is easily the strangest show on television, which is why I keep coming back for more. In no way is there anything redeeming from American Horror Story, but the shear disgusting, ridiculous, and weird events have me intrigued week after week. I honestly want to find out more about this haunted house.

Big Brother (16) Summers on CBS
This summer series falls out of the Top 20 and loses the top spot among reality shows for the first time in a long time. This season's cast was terrible, which didn't help, but after starting this season's Survivor immediately after Big Brother ended, it was clear which one is currently more entertaining to watch.

Bored to Death (-) Mondays on HBO
It's still nothing to go crazy over, but the third season of Bored to Death has been off to a good start. Jason Schwartzman is great if you can take his, and creator Jonathan Ames', style of humor. The other two leads are what make this show worth coming back to week in and week out. Ted Danson is fantastic, and Zach Galifianakis has done his best work outside of that Jimmy Fallon interview on this show.

Hart of Dixie (-) Mondays on The CW
From the creator of The O.C., Chuck, and Gossip Girl, Hart of Dixie is once again killing it for Josh Schwartz. It is just so easy and enjoyable to watch. Add to that, the fact that it has one of best casts on television, and you have a winner. Summer Roberts, DeShawn Hardell, a new and improved Jason Street, and Roy Martin combine for some very fun tv.

The League (12) Thursdays on FX
T-time has some very interesting ideas as why The League hasn't gotten off to a good start this third season, the one I like best being that they just hit a groove in season two. Aside from the third episode of the fall, which was good by all standards, they seem to have fallen into a habit of being lazy and relying on being dirty just for the sake of being dirty. Don't get me wrong, being dirty can work great, as The League proved last year, and Always Sunny proves time and time again, but you can't just be dirty and think it's automatically going to be funny.

New Girl (-) Tuesdays on FOX
It was a short sample there in the early going, but I loved what I saw out of Zooey Deschanel on the New Girl. Maybe my opinion will be different after the long hiatus due to baseball playoffs, but her Jess is one of the funniest females on television, and I don't see that changing any time soon. The jury is still out on some of the dudes on this show. I enjoy Schmidt so far, but Nick is heading down the wrong path as a character, and the new guy has yet to show anything.

Once Upon a Time (-) Sundays on ABC
Only two episodes in, but it is definitely the better of the two fairy tale shows this fall (Grimm was pretty, pretty boring on Friday). Sure, the acting doesn't seem all that great, and I'm not sure how the flashbacks are going to continue to be interesting as the series moves forward, but I am a sucker for anything dealing with Snow White, Jiminy Crickett, and Malificent (even if they so overtly made us know who that character was by saying her name in dialogue).

Parks and Recreation (20) Thursdays on NBC
I was early on the Parks bandwagon of being a much improved show at the beginning of season two, but I was ready to jump off as soon as Alan Sepinwall and every critic known to man started calling it the best comedy on television. For a while there it was definitely the most overrated comedy on tv, but it was still in my top 20 overall. To start this season, it just hasn't been good at all, and it falls out of the rankings. Rob Lowe saved that show at the end of season two, and most of season three, but his character has dropped off a cliff this season.

Revenge (-) Wednesdays on ABC
Like Hart of Dixie, Revenge is just so fun. I've always been a huge Emily VanCamp fan, but this character of hers takes the cake. It has been fantastic to watch the first half of this season, and I only see it getting better as the second half of this first order continues. The show seems to be becoming more serial as we move forward, which is what did wonders for Justified during its run.

Suburgatory (-) Wednesdays on ABC
Hard to tell what this show is trying to be, but it's enjoyable. Even when it's not funny, it's still a good watch. You can't say that about a lot of comedies, but Tessa and especially George are so easy to like, which is a good sign for the future. Once they get their footing on what they want to do comically, Suburgatory could go places.

2011-12 Season Outlook- ABC

Here at the Quiet Pool Perspective we like to give you a head start on figuring out what to watch heading into a new television season. Although we aren't cool enough to get all of the pilots in advanced, we have seen each and every trailer, have done the research, and have listened to what the critics are saying about all of the new shows for the 2011-12 season. So below are some my opinions on what should be watch, as well as some early insight on what I will be watching this year.

Here’s what’s new on ABC...

A Quick Look

Excited For
  1. Once Upon a Time
  2. The River
Interested In
  3. Revenge
  4. Last Man Standing
  5. Pan Am
Holding Out Hope For
  6. Suburgatory
  7. Charlie’s Angels
  8. Apartment 23
Passaroo
  9. Man Up
  10. Good Christian Belles

And Some More Depth

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time – Sunday – 8:00 p.m.
Need to Know: One of two fairy tale shows premiering this season. The characters live two lives; one in reality and one in fairy tale land. This comes to us from a couple writers from Lost not named Damon and Carlton. It stars Dr. Cameron from House.
Quiet Pool Plan: I will be watching this one throughout its run. Between the material, the writers and the leading lady, I’m in it for the long haul…and you should be too.

Pan Am – Sunday – 10:00 p.m.
Need to Know: It is the flight attendants from Pan Am in the 1960s, but with some sort of conspiracy added on to the drama. This is again one of two shows doing the same thing, this time it is trying to cash in on Mad Men’s success by setting itself up in the 60s. Tommy Schlamme of West Wing, Sports Night and Studio 60 fame is one of the creators. Christina Ricci, whose claim to fame is having her name said by Annie Edison in an episode of Community, will star.
Quiet Pool Plan: I will be checking this out, which can be said for most new series, but I have decently high hopes for the drama. If I’m choosing between this and NBC’s The Plaboy Club, it will be the latter.

Last Man Standing – Tuesday – 8:00 p.m.
Need to Know: @HitFixDaniel put it best as Home Improvement, but with daughters. I will give Tim Allen the benefit of the doubt for what he has given me during three Santa Clauses and three Toy Stories. The creator of this sitcom comes from the 30 Rock writing room, which is a good sign. Also stars the lady from So I Married an Axe Murderer, Billy Rosewood’s partner from Beverly Hills Cop 3, and little Loretta from this past season of Justified.
Quiet Pool Plan: This may be my new Gary Unmarried. I don’t expect intelligence from it, but I’m sure I will laugh at Tim Allen a bit, and I have ties to most of the supporting cast, so I will stick with it for at least half a season.

Man Up – Tuesday – 8:30 p.m.
Need to Know: Sitcom by an unknown starring a bunch of unknowns, Teri Polo and the guy from Balls of Fury. Trailer looks really dumb.  I think the guys play a lot of online video games.
Quiet Pool Plan: I will try to watch the first episode, but will most likely stop there. No desire here.

Apartment 23 – Tuesday – Spring
Need to Know: I guess this is a sitcom, but the trailer could fool you. It doesn’t look all that funny, and I have never enjoyed Krysten Ritter, who is one of the leads. Also, James Van Der Beek plays himself, which is interesting.
Quiet Pool Plan: I will re-evaluate come mid-season, but I will probably try a couple episodes and then bail if it’s not working for me.

Suburgatory – Wednesday – 8:30 p.m.
Need to Know: A sitcom about a chick that moves from NYC to the suburbs, and it’s really hard for her.  Chris Parnell, Larry David’s wife, Steve the Pirate, Lloyd from Entourage, and that guy who left his Cranberries CD in the car from Clueless star in the trailer.
Quiet Pool Plan: This is just weird enough to be interesting.  Plus, I like the cast, which can make up for a shaky start…I will give this a shot for a few weeks. If it’s too weird and not funny, then I’ll stop.

Emily Van Camp in Revenge

Revenge – Wednesday – 10:00 p.m.
Need to Know: Emily Van Camp. Emily Van Camp. Emily Van Camp. That’s all I need to know, but if you never saw Brothers and Sisters or Everwood, you won’t know what I’m talking about. This seems like an adult Gossip Girl in the Hamptons starring Emily Van Camp trying to get revenge on someone.
Quiet Pool Plan: I will come for Emily, I will most likely get sucked in by the plot twists and rich lifestyle.

Charlie’s Angels – Thursday – 8:00 p.m.
Need to Know: A remake of the original. Or is it of the more recent movies? Not sure, but it stars Minka Kelly and two other attractive ladies.
Quiet Pool Plan: I’ll watch the first episode and probably stop…unless Minka Kelly looks too good to quit.

Good Christian Belles - Not Sure
Need to Know: Ricky Bobby's wife plays a woman that returns to her hometown of Dallas in this dramedy.  Kristin Chenowith also stars.
Quiet Pool Plan: Not even attempting this one.

The River - Not Sure
Need to Know: This is a late addition, because it wasn't on the 2011-12 schedule on Wikipedia.  It's labeled as a paranormal/horror/thriller series.  It's about a group of people that are searching for a famous tv reporter who went missing somewhere on the Amazon.  It stars Teri Bauer and Steven Saunders from 24.
Quiet Pool Plan: Absolutely.

Don't Forget, there is plenty of great television returning to the screen this season.  Here are some of our favorites on ABC...

1. Modern Family – Wednesday – 9:00 p.m.
2. Happy Endings – Wednesday – 9:30 p.m.
3. Cougar Town – Tuesday – 9:00 p.m.
4. Bachelor Pad – Monday – 8:00 p.m.
5. Grey’s Anatomy – Thursday – 9:00 p.m.