Top Ten Tuesday: Let's Talk TV

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

We all know I love books. You do too if you're reading this blog. But us bookworms seem to have a love of other types of stories as well and that's what this week's Top Ten Tuesday is all about. I've decided to list my favourite TV shows of the past and present (trying to choose favourite  movies is WAY too hard). What are some of your favourite TV shows? Are there any that you think I should watch?

Past

Gilmore Girls is my all time favourite show. I own all the DVDs and would watch them over and over again as I did homework in university. I loved the women, the humour, the boys, and the story. I wish with all my heart that Amy Sherman-Palladino had concluded the series but I suppose what we got wasn't too horrible (ok, just think that it could have been worse). Also: I never missed a single episode when it was airing live. Big deal in the time of no DVR or easy online watching.

I got into this show a little late but I adored it. It lasted four seasons (which was the plan) and it was amazing. Being Erica has a bit of fantastical twist (time traveling!) but it's so real. Plus, I loved that Erica was trying to make it in publishing in Toronto. 

My family and I started watching House because we loved Hugh Laurie in Jeeves and Wooster (a must watch!). He played Dr. House so well and I watched this show religiously. Confession: I still haven't watched the final season so don't tell me what happens! (The boyfriend and I are working on rewatching the series but got side-tracked with trying to rewatch all of 24 before the new season started!)

Oh, be still my teenage heart. I was the perfect age for this show when it started (just a year older than the characters). I already knew (and loved) my future husband, Adam Brody (thanks to Sausage Factory and the aforementioned Gilmore Girls), so that's why I started watching it. I was hooked after the first episode. A friend of mine and I have actually been rewatching the series and it's been SO much fun.

Current

I was a latecomer to Bones. My mom watched it and a couple of roommates in university watched it so I had caught quite a few episodes here and there. A friend lent me the DVDs one summer a few years ago and I powered through the series in time to start the new season. I was feeling "meh" about it prior to last season but they had a stellar season and I'm looking forward to next year.

Castle is another one I was late to the game to. My sister got into it and, thanks to her DVDs, I caught up and now eagerly look forward to the new episodes every week. Nathan Fillion is fantastic and I love the chemistry between him and Stana Katic. I like that the show is so funny as well as dramatic.

Sigh. I love Downton Abbey: the story, the actors, the scenery, the time period. Just love it. I bingewatched the first couple of seasons and am addicted (I believe I watched season two in one day...). I'm actually behind on this one too, thanks to being busy/away for a few weeks, so as soon as I get a permanent job I will be buying the DVD set of season four so I can catch up. 

Speaking of bingewatching, the boyfriend and I signed up for Netflix and I saw that Sherlock was available to us Canadians. I had had many people tell me I would probably love it so we decided to give it a try. We could not stop watching it. We didn't realize when we started it, though, that each season was only three episodes so we quickly finished the first two and were all "what the hell?" Absolutely cannot wait for the next season.

I love fairy tales so I was excited when I first heard about Once Upon a Time. I still love it and I love that it is a little bit cheesy. It plays with the stories we know so well thanks to Disney and puts their own spin on them. It's so much fun to watch and I cannot wait to see what happens with Emma and Hook (swoon). 

Yep, I like both Sherlock AND Elementary. I started watching the NYC show first (since it was readily available on network TV). It filled the hole House had left (which makes sense since House is loosely based on Holmes). And I just love Lady Watson! 

Honourable Mentions
24 - I only watched one season but I am LOVING the rewatch the boyfriend and I are doing. Jack kicks ass.
The Crazy Ones - I don't watch a lot of sitcoms but Robin Williams' new one is freaking hilarious.
Justified - This show is so bad ass but clever (and lacks the extreme violence of Sons of Anarchy which kept me from sticking with that show).
Parenthood - I started watching this because, duh, Lauren Graham. I've missed a bunch of episodes but it really is a great show.

Pumpkin Spiced Fall TV!

Earlier this week I talked about pumpkin spiced reading so I thought it would be fun to talk about the pumpkin spiced television today! Fall TV shows have already started premiering and I am so excited. Anyone else? I know some people may think that it's silly to get so attached to TV shows but, hey, I enjoy it.

I've got all my upcoming shows noted in my calendar on my phone so I don't miss anything. Even though I'm not sure what time each episode is on at or on which network. I have the added confusion of having to check the Canadian sites and figure out which networks are carrying shows instead of just going to the show's original source network. Lots o' fun.

Here are the returning shows I'm looking forward to watching this year:

Bones
Monday, September 16 at 8 Fox/Global
This one's already aired and it was a pretty good one. I can't wait for them to kill Pelant and for things to get back to normal. And, as much as I love the show, I think this should be the last season. It's in its ninth season  now and I think it might be time to move on.

Castle
Monday, September 23 at 10 ABC/CTV Two; Sunday, September 22 at 9 CTV Two
I'm currently marathoning Castle right now. I'm just finishing season three and I doubt I'll even get through four before Sunday (woohoo for being able to watch it earlier in Canada!). I can't wait to see if Beckett says yes!!!

Elementary
Thursday, September 26 at 10 CBS/Global
My boyfriend and I got hooked on this show last year. I love the twist they created with this Sherlock and Watson - placing them in New York City and making John a Joan. I also realized that I was missing the crazy hero with House being done. (PS I can now say that I'm watching the BBC's Sherlock...just started it last week and am loving it!)

Parenthood
Thursday, September 26 at 10 NBC; Friday, September 27 at 8 CTV
I started watching Parenthood because of Lauren Graham - Gilmore Girls is my favourite TV show ever. I missed part of season...three, I think...but watched last season anyway. I was worried that they would finish the season but I knew there were more stories to be told.

Once Upon a Time
Sunday, September 29 at 8 ABC/7 CTV
I was so excited when I first heard of Once before it had premiered. A modern day fairytale show? I'm in. I've really enjoyed the past two seasons and I can't wait to see what happens next! It's a little cheesy but I think that's what makes it so much fun!

And the new shows I want to check out:

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 
Tuesday, September 24 at 8 ABC/CTV

I'm not really into superheroes and I don't know the backstories to a lot of them but I'm still interested in seeing what this show is like. I've really enjoyed the Marvel movies I've seen so I'm hoping the TV show is just as good. We'll see!

The Crazy Ones

Thursday, September 26 at 9 CBS/City

Robin Williams. I don't think there really needs to be much else said! But, here's what the show is about, from the official site: "(The Crazy Ones is a) workplace comedy about a larger-than-life advertising genius whose unorthodox methods and unpredictable behavior would get him fired... if he weren't the boss". Sarah Michelle Geller plays his daughter, the dude who screwed everyone in The Newsroom (the actor, Hamish Linklater, who played Jerry Dantana) is also in the show, and Zach Cropper, played by James Wolk, is another main character. It sounds like it'll be funny so hopefully it lives up to its expectations!

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

Thursday, October 10 at 8 ABC/City

Since I love the original Once, I figure I should at least check out this spin-off. It's supposed to be a retelling of Alice in Wonderland but, if the original is anything to go on, we know other fairytale characters will show up.

Obviously, these are all network shows. Sons of Anarchy (FX) just started this month, too, but I haven't decided if I want to watch this season or not. I watched last season and, while I love the story, it's just so crazy violent and I am a huge wimp. So, I think I'll be replacing that with The League (FXX). Totally different, I know, haha. My boyfriend watches both those shows and that's why I've seen some episodes. I'm particularly interested in The League this year because Adam Brody is in it...aaaand, I love him. :) PS Fun fact I just learned...I can't even go to the FX site...have to go to the Canadian specific one. Ridiculous.

So what TV shows are you most excited about? Are there any new ones (or old ones!) I'm missing that you think I would like?

Happy watching! :)