First …. we have a winner! Thank you to everyone who commented on Lisa Gardner’s giveaway Tuesday … Random.org picked CRYSTALGB as the winner of the beach bag bonanza! Crystal, I sent you a private email, so make sure you reply! Congratulations!
Okay, now for some serious matters.
Very serious.
I’m talking about television.
As long-time MSW readers know, I’m a TV addict. I prefer television to movies (with rare exceptions) and I’ve often commented about the amazing programming available today … unlike 10, 15 years ago when there was MAYBE one or two good shows worth watching.
One thing I particularly like is that there is no summer slump. No more downtime in TV land.
There are so many fantastic television shows that began in May and June that I’m in heaven. For example, the “oldies” — season two of LONGMIRE and PERCEPTION and season four of COVERT AFFAIRS, THE GLADES, and RIZZOLI & ISLES. And then the newbies, namely KING & MAXWELL.
There are more shows, I know. Those of you lucky enough to live in England are already enjoying LUTHER (grrrr) while those of us in the States have to wait a few more months. And then there’s the shows I don’t watch, either because I haven’t heard of them or they didn’t appeal to me. Often, I have to wait until I get feedback from someone before I invest the time in a television series, because — as I’ve said before — I’m an addict. And there’s nothing worse that to start a show that you think is going to get better, and you invest 2, 4, 10 episodes in it and it’s a total dud.
My two favorite characters on Longmire
I’m DVR’ing this show and am not caught up yet. I had to cut back on my iTunes bill which was getting kinda big. Based on a book series by Craig Johnson, this show follows a Wyoming Sheriff. It’s a modern western, with great characters and casting.
PERCEPTION
A different take on the typical crime show, with a paranoid schizophrenic who’s a genius and works with the FBI to solve cases. Because he has hallucinations, it makes the show doubly interesting, and because the actor (Eric McCormack) is so good in the role. It’s not my favorite, but I’m definitely compelled to watch it.
COVERT AFFAIRS
I haven’t started this yet, I’ll admit. This is a show I hate to love. I didn’t know it had already begun, so I couldn’t DVR it, which means I’ll have to go to Netflix or buy it on iTunes. But … knowing me … I’ll be doing it sooner rather than later.
He makes the show
Here’s a show that’s hit or miss. I thought that after season three it was cancelled (it was an awful season, and the hero Jim Longworth, became a wuss. Season one was amazing, season two was okay.) But it wasn’t cancelled, and so far season four has everything in it that I loved about season one … the witty banter, Jim’s lack of political correctness and his blunt assessments that he has no hesitation in speaking. You know the phrase, “Larger than life character?” In fiction, a larger than life character will say the things you want (but won’t) say, and do the things you want to do (but won’t.) That’s Jim. I’m glad I scheduled it to record, because it’s one of my favorites this summer.
RIZZOLI & ISLES
Like BONES, I had to disconnect the books from the television show. I didn’t start watching until season two (though I bought season one first, and watched the first two seasons back-to-back.) It’s very easy to separate the show from the books because the characters are so different, and the show is more about relationships than the crimes. This season (4) is so far the best.
My two favorite characters on the show
This is a new series, and I ended up buying it on iTunes because I didn’t find out about it before the first airing. I rarely buy without a recommendation, and I thank my mother for the high praise. She is right. This show is a MUST WATCH for those of us who write series characters. Opens with action, complex mystery, compelling leading cast, strong secondary characters. I love it. Easily, this is my favorite show of the season. And, like LONGMIRE, RIZZOLI & ISLES, and BONES, it’s based on a series of books … this time by David Baldacci.
What show am I missing? Anything? Have you seen any of these shows? What do you think?
Love this show!
As far as the fall … it’s no secret I’m looking forward to the BBC productions of LUTHER and SHERLOCK. In the good old USA, I’m most looking forward to GRIMM in the Fall and JUSTIFIED in the mid-season. I also have a “thing” for PERSON OF INTEREST, and now that they’ve (finally!) made it available on iTunes, I’m all caught up and will be adding season three to my collection as soon as it airs.
And then there’s SUPERNATURAL with the intense cliffhanger at the end of season 8 … I could go on. And on.
Now … for a minute of BSP (blatant self-promotion) … I have a novella in an anthology out this week called I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE YOU AGAIN. It was put together by Novelists, Inc, an organization for professional writers (meaning, we’re all multi-published.) We were given a theme — hence the title — and asked to write a story. As soon as I heard, a story popped into my head about a 15 year old street-smart girl who meets her father for the first time … under dangerous circumstances. To say I had fun writing “36 Hours” is an understatement … I like these characters so much, I’m writing a sequel.
This week, I finished half the other stories and can honestly say I’ve enjoyed them. Some are shorter than others, but each is a great take on the theme. So I’m giving away a copy to a commenter below! And you can talk about anything … what TV show you’re most looking forward to in the fall … what show you’re enjoying this summer … or maybe what you think of when you hear the phrase, “I never thought I’d see you again.”
(Photo Credit: Television feature image from TV For Breakfast)
Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly three dozen romantic thrillers and mysteries, including the Lucy Kincaid series and the Max Revere series. She lives in Northern California with her husband, five children, and assorted pets.
I’m like you…I love King & Maxwell. It had to be a hit if it was based on David Baldacci’s novels!
I’m a big fan of the others as well!
Happy viewing!
I needed that thumbs up from my mom, because I watch too many shows as it is … but this was definitely worth buying on iTunes.
After working in TV for so long it took me a while before I could sit down and enjoy a show, no less a series. But, I always love hearing what shows my fellow writers recommend. I’ll have to check several of these out. I’ve been enjoying ENDEAVOR which is a show about young Inspector Morse. Like SHERLOCK it’s just a few episodes (hopefully) each year. I think they are still available to stream on the PBS website. I’m looking forward to more of SCANDAL, JUSTIFIED, and FOYLE’S WAR, which I was delighted to see has a new season coming in September.
Foyle’s War? Never heard of it! What’s it about? Crime show?
I like the shorter seasons. The longer, 3 or 4 episode arcs of Sherlock and Luther; the 13 episode seasons of Justified and Longmire. I mean, I complain that I have to wait a whole year (or two!) to see the next season, but I definitely come back.
FOYLE’S WAR is a crime show that takes place in Hastings, UK, during and after WWII. It’s absolutely wonderful and stars Michael Kitchen as DCS Foyle. Netflix has 6 seasons available for streaming. The episodes are long, about 90+ minutes and there are 3-4 per season. You will love it.
Sounds fascinating, my son might like it, too
I like all of the shows that you mentioned too! There is another one that you might want to try, Major Crimes. It is another show that has a lot of character interaction that I think is pretty good. It is on Monday nights on TNT.
I will put this book on my list to buy once my book budget is re-opened. Next week I finally get to go on my vacation to Seattle to take a foster kitten to its forever home with Stella Cameron.
LInda, Be sure to go to West Seattle and go Alki Beach to a little place called SPUDS. They have hand cut fries and wonderful fish. (Among other things). They have been there since the1930’s. The beach across the street is small but feeding the leftover fries to the seagulls is fun, or just a walk for the wonderful view. Hope you have a wonderful vacation!
I love Seattle. Love it. I’m going tomorrow to pick up my daughter from her art college (she was there for the summer) …
My mom watches Major Crimes. It’s a spin-off of The Closer, right? I loved the Closer at the beginning, but got tired of it (sort of like Criminal Minds … I know, weird I am. I might have to do a marathon of CM at some point.)
Between my cable company’s free On Demand service (LOVE), Netflix, my DVR, and my Amazon Prime Membership that allows me to stream shows for free, I could watch TV ALL the time! But I try to ration my viewing. I, too, love LONGMIRE! And COVERT AFFAIRS and BONES. DROP DEAD DIVA. Trying to warm up to KING & MAXWELL. Like WHITE COLLAR but it needs an infusion of…something. Oh, and because I like to sew, I never miss PROJECT RUNWAY. And–well, I could go on and on…and on….
Congrats on the new book release!
I watch tv late at night after I write and after the kids go to bed. I watch BONES with my son and daughter; NEW GIRL with my two teenage girls; and CASTLE with my daughter. The others … well, let’s just say I go to bed late!
Allison – are you sure we aren’t sisters? We have such similar taste.
Glad you are finally on the POI bandwagon. Love, love that show. Not loving the move to 9:00 on Tuesdays, but we’ll see how that goes.
White Collar is one of my favs, also. The interaction between Neal and Peter is fabulous. Have you tried the sister show Burn Notice? I’m working my way through season 5 right now. Not loving it as well as the early seasons, but now I have to finish.
I like your point about distancing the book and the show. That’s my hesitation about King and Maxwell. I love the books, but I’m somewhat turned off by the idea that they’ve turned Sean into an alcoholic. That’s not the character I know and love.
Congrats on the new novella. I can’t wait to read it.
I had to watch the first season of POI through Netflix on disks, and the second season I was planning on doing the same thing, until YOU told me it was available on iTunes. So I bought it. Watched the entire season in one week. I love that show. Now, I’m thinking of buying season one and making my kids watch it with me 🙂 … they often discount the first season, so I’m just waiting and waiting …
Haven’t seen Burn Notice. Five seasons? Yikes, not sure I can invest the time. Maybe.
I’m waiting for them to discount the first season of POI also. I’d like to add it to my collection. There are also so many things going on I’d like to go back and watch more consecutively.
Burn Notice is in its last season (7) this summer. It is only 16 episodes each summer. Not a horrible time suck…. 🙂
I have missed most TV shows this summer… however I am gearing up for SHARK WEEK!!! Always my favorite season.
I too love Rizzoli & Isles and think this season is the best.
Was happy that Drop Dead Diva was saved from death at the last minute. This season has been so good.
But the top show of the summer has been The Bridge. Amazing writing and a great plot that reflects current issues. Don’t miss it!
I had another friend who said The Bridge wasn’t worth it … I might have to check out the first two episodes and make up my mind.
Love COVERT AFFAIRS. Saw a few minutes of LONGMIRE, but then forgot about it. I’ll have to look that one up again. POI is a great show too.
Besides most of what you’ve listed (LOVE LONGMIRE!), I’m also waiting for HAVEN and LOST GIRL to come back to Syfy and RIPPER STREET to BBCA. The new fall show I’m looking forward to sampling is SLEEPY HOLLOW (on Fox). I’ve started watching THE BRIDGE on FX. The main protagonist, an El Paso police detective, is hard to like (she has a personality disorder that’s undefined–not sure if its Aspergers or something else–she doesn’t like to be touched, has no social empathy, and says whatever she’s thinking.) The Mexican detective she ends up partnering with is a complex character. The show is dark and gritty and took awhile to get into but I’ve stuck with it through three or four episodes now. The other new show is CROSSING LINES on NBC, about a special police unit in Europe tasked to investigate crimes that cross borders.
Thank goodness I have a DVR!
I love HAVEN and have also been looking forward to Sleepy Hollow … Okay, 2 votes for The Bridge. I might get it after the season is over and see what I think.
The first 3 shows are up “On Demand” now. I noticed the blurb last night when I caught this week’s episode on DVR.
I watch almost all of the same shows – no longmire, covert affairs. I used to watch The Glades – got tired of it. my favorite new show is definitely king & maxwell – have read all of Baldacvi’s books, so I wasn’t surprised. About White Collar – I’ve watched it from the beginning – it’s one of my very favorite shows. I can’t wait for the new season!
The Glades had a poor 2nd and 3rd seasons. I wasn’t going to watch it this season, but … I really like the main character, and so far, this season is the best, and you don’t have to watch the other seasons to get caught up. I don’t care much for Callie, but I like her better this season than last.
You listed almost all my favorites, with Glades and Longmire topping my list. In recent years I look forward to the summer TV season more than the fall.
I love RIZZOLI & ISLES, SCANDAL, DROP DEAD DIVA (viewers brought the show back) PROJECT RUNWAY, MASTERCHEF and those darn bakings shows. And I even like MISTRESSES and the one with the maid, DEVIOUS MAIDS or whatever it is.
So summer tv hasn’t been so bad.
Also MASTERPIECE THEATRE has had some good mystery series this summer.
It’s been a good summer of television this year! Loving Rizzolli & Isles this season. King Maxwell and Graceland are my fave new shows this summer. And there are all the good returning shows Covert Affairs, Perception, Major Case, & Burn Notice! This fall I’m looking forward to Scandal and NCIS.
Definitely NCIS … except I really hated the season finale, and I’m interested to see what they do with Cote de Paolo not returning as Ziva. I think she’ll be in the first 2 episodes, and that’s it. She didn’t re-up.
Our TV tastes are very similar. Love all the shows you mentioned. I like King and Maxwell (like books better), but I wish they didn’t make Sean so whimpy. You really need to watch Burn Notice. Love me some Sam Ax (Bruce Campbell’s character).
Can’t wait for LUTHER!!! I’m totally enjoying Ray Donovan on Showtime.
I adore both LONGMIRE and JUSTIFIED–they’re the only two shows my husband and I both watch. Although I must admit that last season of JUSTIFIED left me a little nonplussed at the end (it seemed as if Boyd and Ava had gone just a little too far), you’ll find me firmly planted in my seat when it starts again.
And HAVEN. Why on earth are the breaks so long??
So much TV, so little sleep.