Squarish eyes

There are about half a dozen shows that I follow and without a shadow of a doubt Battlestar Galactica takes the top spot. In fact it annihilates the competition. Growing up in a pro-scifi environment I never realised the prejudice against this genre. It is a loss to those not tuning in; such a stellar ensemble cast, good writing and direction. You can tell that everyone involved cares and then there are the perks: Ron Moore's podcasts for EVERY episode, round table discussions, webisodes over the summer and a geeky music video (which I have watch an unhealthy amount of times today). The big themes running at the moment are Gaius Baltar's trial (I am confident that the silver tonged genius will get off) and the identities of the final five cylons. There is a lot of speculation on the boards but my guess is Saul Tigh...  Only time will tell. My other top show at the mo is Supernatural. It has shifted up from guilty pleasure to highlight of the week, along side BSG and House (which has a BIG revelation coming about the gruff doctor's childhood tomorrow night!) - such is my exciting Manhattan life.

Supernatural has a Buffy crossed with early X-Files feel about it but with consquences. I am all about cause and effect, it's the Greeks what can I say. There is great chemistry between the actors playing the Winchester boys (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki), plenty of sarky banther and classic rock references. The background is that their mother died in mysterious circumstances and their father dealt with it by becoming a hunter of all things supernatural. This of course leads to tension and resentment as the boys grow up. Sam (Padalecki) eventual leaves to go to college but is reunited with Dean (Ackles) to go looking for their missing father, and that is where season one begins. You need to watch it carefully as there are plenty of good genre cameos: the smoking man, Fred from Angel, Leoben from BSG and Tricia Helfer will be seen later this season!

Being a born again student has eaten into my couch potato time. There had to be cut backs and several shows on parole at the moment. Season passes could be revoked at any time for CSI, ER, Bones, Prison Break and 24. I am not buying into the ER resurgence, and CSI has lost its faux edge. I need to check to see if Danny Cannon is still exec-producer cos if not that might explain the gear shift down to medicoracy. To a certain extent I am enjoying Liev Schrieber as the mysterious fill-in whilst Grisolm treads the boards, he pockets his used coffee cup in a manner of someone with something to hide. Prison Break has got very blah since they crims escaped and I just can't see it going three seasons. If they tied things up neaty at the end of this seasons the principals would be free to head up other shows perhaps Wentworth Miller could turn up on 24. CTU should so hire Michael Scofield. I'll give up on Bones once I have seen the arc where Stephen Fry guests a shrink. How long till Fry & Laurie reunion?

And finally 24. Which totally lost it last week which introoduced last season's bluetooth man as Jack's Bel-Air dwelling brother - WTF.  Everyone knows that Jack does not have family. He was bread in a lab and is a cylon; one of the final five.