What I'm Watching: Something Funny, Something Scary, & Something Sentimental

One of the things that has gotten pushed to the back burner since I began a serious writing career (and had a child) is TV watching. A lot of people assume that since I work from home, I must get the chance to watch a lot of TV. But truth is, when I'm home during the day, I'm in my office, working. I can't remember the last time I watched TV during the day on a weekday. And in the evening, it's family time and dinner time and dishes time. So when I get that hour or so with the hubs after kidlet goes to bed, I have to choose shows wisely. And lately, I've gotten pretty lucky. Here's what I'm watching:

Something Funny:

Jane the Virgin (The CW)- Okay, so I'm not up to date (so don't tell me any spoilers) but I started a Netflix binge of this at Christmastime and am a good way into the first season. It's funny and silly and over the top. All the characters are interesting and the structure (kind of tongue and cheek about telenovelas) is fresh and entertaining. If you're not watching this one yet and like a show that will make you laugh (and has some romance and hot guys), then check this one out. 

Something Scary:

Killing Fields (Discovery Channel) - This is a true crime show about a cold case from 1997 in Louisiana that happened near LSU. The show itself is creepy because of what it's about, but it's particularly chilling for me because I was at LSU during the time of that murder and the serial killer that was murdering students. One of my grad school classmates was a victim (though her case also remains unsolved, most assume she was part of the serial killings). So this whole story hits very close to home for me and brings me back to a very scary time. However, the show is well done and compelling. I don't know how it will end (and they apparently taped it in real time), but I'm really hoping they solve the case. 

Something Sentimental:

American Idol (Fox) - I have watched every season of American Idol from the beginning, which was when I married hubs. So it's been an annual part of our routine from the start. I'm sad that this is the last season because I've never really taken to the other singing shows like I have this one, but I get that everything comes to an end. Hopefully, it will be a good one.

So that's what I'm watching? What's on your TV lately? Any recommendations?

Must Watch Wednesday: A Rockumentary directed by Dave Grohl

So I won't lie. I have a hard time resisting documentaries about music. I used to be slightly obsessed with Behind the Music on VH1. So when hubs clicked on Palladia the other night and saw that a rocumentary directed by Dave Grohl was starting, we were both in. And I'm so, so glad I watched this one. It was a fascinating peek into the music industry and the evolution of it told via the story of one famous recording studio. (And it also has a lot of relevance to the book industry regarding the huge shift digital caused, not just in putting out the music but in producing it.)

Plus, if for nothing else, I just love watching artists be passionate about what they do. 

SOUND CITY is currently playing on the Palladia channel and I believe it's also free on Amazon Prime Streaming, so go forth and watch. : )

Here's the trailer:

Has anyone else seen this one? Any rockumentary recommendations?

FALL INTO YOU's Television Debut & Book Clubs

Hey everyone! 

I'm buried still with my deadline coming up next week. But I wanted to pop in and share the Buy the Book/Fresh Fiction segment from Good Morning Texas this week.

Very surreal seeing my book on TV.

And by the way, if anyone is in a book club that selects one of my books as a read, let me know! If you're local, I'm happy to visit. And if you're not local, I can always pop in via Skype. : )  

FALL INTO YOU is going to be on Good Morning Texas!

Hi, everyone! Just wanted to pop in and share my good news. FALL INTO YOU is going to be featured this morning on the Buy the Book segment on Good Morning Texas!!! I'm so excited to see my book on TV, squee!

If you live in the DFW area, the segment will air between 9-10am central time on ABC. And if you're not, it will be available online here shortly after the broadcast. I'd love for y'all to watch. Here's a sneak peek on the books selected. The theme is picks for your Book Club.

And thanks to Fresh Fiction (@FreshFiction) for choosing my book! Here's all the info if you want to folow along today and for future segments:

You can find more at FreshFiction.com/GMT, on Good Morning Texas or follow Gwen on Twitter at @ReelVixen and Good Morning Texas at @WFAAGMT

The New Fall TV Season Starts: Anyone Else Gun Shy?

Photo by Sarah Reid (flickr cc)I love this time of year, not just for the break in 100+ heat, but because it signals the return of favorite shows and the start of new shows. (Though I will mourn the end of Big Brother summer deeply.)

And in the past, I used to look forward to finding those new TV shows that were going to grab me and keep me. Those shows that were going to become part of my weekly routine for years to come. Remember those? For me, it's shows like Friends, Dawson's Creek, Seinfeld, The Office, Lost... Shows that I can look back and remember the time in my life that they provided the background too. For instance, Dawson's Creek reminds me of making french bread pizza with my college roommates and all of us sitting on the floor to watch a new episode.

But in the past few years, I've started to grow wary of starting new TV show relationships. Besides True Blood and How I Met Your Mother, I haven't committed to anything non-reality show. And this is sad.

BUT, the reason why I've grown so gun shy is because it seems like networks give absolutely no time for a show to catch on anymore. You start watching something, get hooked on the damn thing and then 4-5 episodes in, it disappears forever. Not. Cool.

So I've taken to letting shows run for a while with the intention of going back and catching up if it sticks around. Of course, this usually results in whole seasons of shows on my DVR (hello, American Horror Story) and then I feel overwhelmed at the prospect of tackling it and never get to it. This also means I've missed out on some shows I know I'd like because I'm so behind now--Fringe, Modern Family, Bones. I still want to get some of those on DVD, but it's trying to find the time. It's a bad cycle.

But like a girl who still goes back to the bar after too many failed dates, I'm probably going to give a few shows this season a try.

Here are some that I'm tempted to try. You can click on the poster to find out more about each show.

Elementary (CBS)

A modern day take on Sherlock Holmes, that's a high concept I can't look away from.

The Mindy Project (Fox)

I loved Mindy Kaling on The Office so I have high hopes for this one.

Revolution (NBC)

A world without electricity. They have advertised the crap out of this one--which is usually a BIG sign that the show is going to end after a few episodes. Seriously, it seems the ones with the biggest budget and advertising campaign get slashed first. But I like the idea of it and I'm always in search for something to fill the hole that Lost left.

666 Park Avenue (ABC)

An apartment building where everyone made deals with the devil? This could either go very wrong or very right.

Chicago Fire (NBC)

TV Guide promises lots of shirtless firefighters, so yanno, I'm compelled.

Go On (NBC)

This is simply because I love Matthew Perry and am pulling for him to find something that works post-Friends

Nashville (ABC)

I'm a sucker for shows that involve music, but we'll see...

Partners (CBS)

This one is from the people who brought us Will & Grace, so may be worth checking out.

Beauty and the Beast (CW)

Okay, so I never watched that show in the 80s and wouldn't have much interest now, but it's on the CW and that station has a talent for doing shows that hold my interest.

Underemployed (MTV)

This follows a group of friends one year out from college graduation when their big time post-graduation dreams haven't gone the way they'd hoped. I saw the preview of this one and it looks like it could be funny. 

All right, so those are the ones that caught my eye. Which new shows are you looking forward to this season? Are you gun shy about starting and getting attached to new shows like me? What shows have played background to different times in your life?

*All TV posters from IMDB.com except for the last which was from MTV.com. Click on each poster and it will lead you to the source.