FX is what’s hot at 10 pm
Dear Diary,
I’ve been looking at my TV options at ten o’clock on weekdays and those options seemed pretty dismal. I mean, ABC and CBS are the only two broadcast networks that even bother with scripted shows in that time slot. And do you know how many of those shows are crime procedurals? A depressing six out of nine! I even made myself this little chart. (I was really bored.)
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
| ABC | Castle | the forgotten | Eastwick | Private Practice | |
| CBS | CSI: Miami | The Good Wife | CSI: NY | The Mentalist | Numb3rs |
It’s enough to make a TV fan do something crazy. Like go to bed early. But don’t, because I discovered that FX has the RX for my 10 o’clock blues. Check it out…
“Sons of Anarchy” Tuesdays, 10 pm
This show had a lot going for it before the pilot even aired. First, the series was created by Kurt Sutter, former writer for FX hit drama “The Shield” (which starred Michael Chiklis, AKA, my beloved Commish.) Second, it boasts the considerable talents of Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman, among others. Third, it’s on FX. With shows like “The Shield” and “Damages” on their programming resume, FX has certainly built a reputation for quality. “Sons of Anarchy” is another feather in the FX cap.
People who think a show about a homicidal gun-running biker gang is not for them should think again. Beneath the leather and exhaust, “Sons” has a lot to offer. You take two old-school warriors who are set in their ways, add a troubled son, torn between his loyalty and his vision, put them all in a town accustomed to secrets and violence and what do you get? Simply put: one of the best shows on television.
“Nip/Tuck” Wednesdays, 10 pm
I really think Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would like “Nip/Tuck.” Why? Because when it’s good, it’s very, very good. And this season is good. Season six of the show has a back to basics feel that I really like. Both the show and its characters have grown up quite a bit. But they’re still the appalling train wrecks I’ve come to know and love.
I hope anyone who, like me, has been away from the show for a while comes back this season because it’s every bit as warped and delicious as it once was. The story is taking its time in building some intrigue. And it’s also regained a lot of the heart it had in the first season. So far this season has done a really good job of balancing the shock with the “awww.”
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Thursdays, 10 pm
I’m a little tardy for the party on this one but I’ve discovered that “Sunny” is a terrifically funny show. It’s eccentric to the point of being surreal. But no matter how far afield the story goes, there’s always a payoff. You just have to stay with it. Actually, it’s kind of hard to take your eyes off the gang at Paddy’s. It’s isn’t exactly your grandfather’s bar. It’s not so much a place where everybody knows your name, as it is a place where everyone wonders, “What’s that smell?”
I’m so glad that FX has all of these great shows, Diary. That’s all for now.
Still a fan,
C.C.