WHAT I'M WATCHING

24 / Mondays@9 / Fox

So for about four years I had done a really good job of never watching this show, and thus never becoming obsessed with it. But then I made the mistake of watching the two-hour premiere a couple weeks ago and was suddenly sucked in. It's kind of weird watching it because I have a preconceived notion of Kiefer Sutherland as the guy-who-became-famous-again-because-of-"24", but it turns out there's a reason for that. I have been kind of surprised at how easy it is to just suddenly plug into this show, as it has a huge backstory that I'm mostly ignorant of.

This season's story revolves around a terrorist plot by some Chechen rebels. Of course, nobody ever says they're Chechens because that might be offensive to Chechens, but it would also be cheesy to make up a country (Kreplakistan, anyone?) so instead no one ever seems to mention what breakaway republic these guys are fucking shit up for. And we all know that they'd just use Arabs if it was PC to do so, because that's what you're all thinking.

How I Met Your Mother / Mondays@8:30 / CBS

I have really gotten away from the traditional sitcom but randomly got hooked on this after hearing some of the good reviews. Bob Saget plays Ted the narrator, who retells his children stories from his days as a single late-20-something in NYC (and in the present day). And as you can guess, the show itself revolves around said time in his life, with younger Ted (played by the amusing enough and generally likable Josh Radnor) flanked by his soon-to-be-married friends (band camp graduate Alyson Hannigan and the surprisingly likable Jason Segel) as well as the obligatory ladykiller (the rejuvenated child prodigy Neil Patrick Harris). I haven't seen the first episodes of the show, but in them we are also introduced to the attainably smoking hot Robin (played by the attainably smoking hot, but oddly named, Cobie Smulders). Of course, Ted immediately falls for Robin (the mother of Ted's future children?) but because she is cool, wonderful and smoking hot things just can't work out between them. Anyway, it's got a nice balance of likable (Ted), funny (NPH), and smoking hot (Robin) characters, which is always a good combo in my book. And let's be honest, as a single guy I will give any show a chance where the likable-but-only-half-decent-looking-guy is given a realistic shot at the smoking hot, super-cool chick.



The show forever won me over during one episode when Ted winds up hanging out with Robin on a rooftop in one of those super-bullshit moments where we all know what he wants but we also know he won't get it. Anyway, it SHOULD be a super-bullshit moment, but then as they're ending the show they play Nada Surf's "Inside of Love," and totally redeem themselves.

Love Monkey / Tuesdays@10 / CBS

I can't recommend this show quite yet, but I figured I should give it a shot since it's about a guy working at an indie music label. Of course, the music on the show isn't particularly indie per se, but whatever. It started last week and was pretty decent. It stars Tom Kavanagh (Ed from "Ed"), who I kinda like even though I don't think he's very funny or a very good actor. Which pretty much summed up my feelings about the show "Ed," since I think I liked it even though I never particularly understood why. It's also got Judy Greer, who was great as Kitty on Arrested Development, though she's obviously not, like, psycho in this one. Some better clips on the soundtrack tonight, including the Sleepy Jackson (!) and the Magic Numbers.

The Sleepy Jackson / "Come to This (KEXP Live Sessions)" (yousendit.com)