5 Shows I Didn't Expect to Like

As everyone is more than aware, there are a lot of crappy shows on TV, especially nowadays. There are shows that try too hard to be raunchy, hip, groundbreaking, etc. instead of trying to be, you know, good. So, to save time, I usually judge by the TV spots if I'm going to risk emotional investment in a new show. Then my roommate, who tries out almost every new show, appeared and now I'm watching things I swore never to do. So here are the top 5 shows I didn't mean to watch, or like, but did.

5. Make It Or Break It (ABC Family): I watched probably the last four episodes of MIOBI, a show about gymnastic chicks, and although I can't say I was hooked, I did manage to care a bit about some of the characters; namely newcomer Jordan, played by Chelsea Tavares. She had a heart-wrenching storyline (that I totally called) that didn't get enough attention before the series ended for good this year. Where's the justice?! Ultimately, I didn't care about the main plot or the sport, but that Jordan girl...wow!

4. Smash (NBC): The Broadway musical drama starring an ensemble cast, which includes Debra Messing and former American Idol contestant Katherine McPhee, was one of the last shows I wanted to see. I saw the last... two? Three? And part of me still doesn't care. But the drama of the musical falling apart and everyone scrambling to make it work was fun, especially watching Debra Messing and her writing partner try to write new music. The show included guest spots by Nick Jonas and Uma Thurman, and next season will feature appearances from Oscar winner and former AI winner Jennifer Hudson, Messing's former Will & Grace co-star Sean Hayes, and Liza freaking Minnelli. The drama of the stage draws in all players.

3. Sherlock (BBC): One of the modern-day versions of super-sleuth Sherlock Holmes, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock and Dr. Watson respectively. To be honest, I wasn't too excited about the resurgence of Holmes' popularity, not because I didn't like him, but because I'm never excited about modern re-tellings. My step-mom made me watch a few episodes and I surprisingly liked the show, against my previous reluctance. Sherlock is odd and socially botched, but it works, and Watson holds his own as his own entity instead of just Sherlock's little sidekick, as he's sometimes portrayed. I haven't watched anymore episodes since then, but if the opportunity ever arose, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to it.

2. Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family): Four girls running around, trying to solve a murder mystery of their bitch best friend and NOT telling appropriate authority figures? I immediately wanted to ground them all. But then these girls got themselves into the most ridiculous situations: lesbianism, dating a teacher, constant habit of kissing sister's men. I had to see what kind of ridiculousness these females could get themselves into. I don't follow the show religiously, and sometimes I try to quit all together, but I always come back and get frustrated with whatever they're doing. I've never seen four people who needed to move more than they do.


1. Glee (Fox): Oh, Glee. Even the music aspect didn't appeal to me at first, and the fact that Kevin McHale took the show after the break up of NLT made it more bitter to me. But then I saw the season 2 Sexy episode and Brittany Pierce got me involved. Now I've seen almost every episode and no mater how irritating Rachel gets, no matter how awful the numbers and the writing gets, I keep watching. I care about Santana. I care about Quinn. I care about Kurt, Burt, Blaine, Puck, and so many other characters that no matter how bad the story screws them, I want to know they're okay.

Damn, I hate what Glee's made me.

Top 5 TV Shows

I don't watch a lot of t.v., to be perfectly honest, because it's hard for me to get into a plot and care about characters for eight years, especially when unnecessary romances and drama springs up. But there are shows that manage to tickle my imagination, rope in my heart, and overall awe me. So here are my current Top 5 TV Shows, until Hannibal finally airs.

5. Criminal Minds: I LOVE Criminal Minds! This crime drama follows a close-knit team of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit as they hunt down serial killers and the sort. Ugh, it's so intelligent and the team is so likeable that it makes me squeal. It doesn't hurt that the unexpectedly delectable Matthew Gray Gubler plays the adorably awkward Dr. Spencer Reid to cheek-pinching perfection. I don't like watching it before season 3, because I love David Rossi (and totally believe he and Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner need to be together). One of the highlights of the show are variety of guest stars they get and the roles they play. Fantastico!

4. The Newsroom: The Newsroom is a new show on HBO that makes me want to pick up a  newspaper and figure out what's going on with the world around me. Anything that makes me want to broaden my horizons gets a pat on the back from me. Plus, the dialogue and the characters are witty and HILARIOUS!! I love watching shows with quirky banter that never misses a beat, and this show delivers on it. I wish I had HBO to watch it more often, but alas, it is the internet for me. The Newsroom is about the drama and the runnings of an evening news show.

3. Law & Order SVU: Who doesn't love SVU? The characters, the crimes, the CHARACTERS!! Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay were superb as detective partners who specialized in sexual crimes along with Ice-T, Richard Belzar, the lovely B.D. Wong, Dann Florek, and a variety of D.A.'s and M.E.'s. The chemistry between the cast is infectious, and the crimes themselves are disturbing, yet fascinating. Not every case ended successfully, and you watched it affect the detectives in their own ways, but their personal lives never took away from the premise of the show. It's hard not to care about these people, and that may be why it's the only Law & Order series still airing.

2. Modern Family: I'm sure a lot of us flocked to the show to see more of Sofia Vergara a.k.a. God's gift to anyone attracted to women, but I stayed for the love I developed for this crazy, but loving family. The show follows the Prichett, Dunphy, and Prichett-Tucker families and how they go through life as dysfunctional as they are. None of them are perfect, but they all mean well, and are hilarious as they try to show it. Sofia's Gloria Prichett is loud and gorgeous, but Phil and Luke Dunphy, plus odd-couple Cameron and Mitch are what keep my sides bursting and heart warming. The show also manages to be FUNNY, which is rare for a comedy these days.

1. Game of Thrones: What can I say about this heart-wrenching show? Well, it manages to mix sex and politics extraordinarily well. It was a stunningly-talented cast, and a tendency to kill off the people you'd least expect. And if George R.R. Martin expects me to stick with this show, he better keep Tyrion Lannister alive. This is probably one of the most human shows in the fantasy genre, where every character has their terrible flaws, yet have some surprising good points, and although we all pick our teams (and there are so many to choose from), we find ourselves sympathizing with the enemy. Not every character is evil or good, and that extends to every person that fights under their banner. It's a hypnotizing and fabulous show, and I can't wait for April to get here so I can get my fix again! Team Stark, woot!!