What Johny Savage is Watching

With the writer's strike outlasting my attention span for reality TV and 2 hour blocks of Deal or No Deal (every single night), I decided that I would seek out some quality shows that I haven’t had the time to watch otherwise. Here’s what I’ve been watching:

DEXTER:

I first learned of this Showtime drama from the Pop Candy Blog over at USAtoday.com (check it out if you’re into pop culture but you’d like to hear more about good TV, movies, and music rather than the type of underpants currently being sported (or not sported) by Paris or Britney). The show follows a serial killer in Miami who actually works as a forensic blood spatter expert for the Miami police department. Dexter doesn’t exactly follow the rules imposed by the American justice system… he follows his own code. He hunts the murderers who have escaped the fickle jaws of justice, and then dismembers them neatly before disposing of their bodies off the coast of Florida.

As you may expect from a series on Showtime, Dexter has its fair share of violence, gore, language, and sex, but that’s not what drives this show on. The acting, the writing, and the production quality are at a level that one would expect out of network television shows, but that we don’t always get from CSI or Law & Order. The first season of Dexter was so good that I’m contemplating watching it again after I finish the second season. As Ferris Bueller once said: “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking it up.” (or something to that effect). And for those of you who are worried about all the nitty gritty, CBS will be showing the first season starting in February.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER:

I realize that this show is a bit more mainstream and that many of you are probably already fans. That won’t stop me from recommending this show to the rest of you. I received the first season of this show on DVD for Christmas and I couldn’t stop watching it. The show follows a group of 5 friends in New York who spend most of their time in a bar. Sounds like a mix between Friends and Cheers, doesn’t it? It’s much better than Friends (I won’t comment on Cheers because of its legendary status).

I have to give an honorable mention to Neil Patrick Harris who finally escaped from the Doogie Howser, M.D. slump to create an awesome character like Barney. In fact, Barney is the sole reason I have decided to “suit up” every time I go out. Because suits are awesome.

The show is now in its third season on CBS, but is in indefinite hiatus due to the writer’s strike. So now is your perfect opportunity to catch up on this gem before new episodes come back. It airs on Monday nights.

IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA:

This is another one of those shows that many people haven’t quite caught onto just yet. I will admit that this show is not for everybody. It’s like a very raunchy version of Seinfeld on steroids. The show was created by Rob McElhenney and developed by McElhenney and Glenn Howerton. The show is about four friends in their late 20s with clear sociopathic tendencies who run an Irish bar, "Paddy's Pub," in Philadelphia. The series deals with a variety of controversial topics, including abortion, gun control, racism, sexism, religion, transsexuality, slavery, incest, sexual harassment in education, the homeless, and gay rights.

In my opinion, the real standout of the show is Charlie Day, who plays Charlie (I guess it’s easier for actors to play characters with the same name). I have never laughed so hard during a show in my life. I’d recommend watching the second or third season, which is when Danny Devito joined the cast. So go rent the DVDs.