Autism, Scrabble and Fall TV

I got some alphabet cookies from Trader Joe's, and eating them has reminded me of one of the kids in my preschool autism class a few years ago. He would only eat the cookies if we spelled something first, and then he would eat the letters in order. Since he was underweight and a picky eater, we obliged as it made snack time educational. This wasn't too bad at the beginning of a carton, but by the time we got towards the bottom, it was like playing an extra hard game of Scrabble. What can I spell with 2 Qs, a V and a J? (And yes, he was in preschool, and he could spell. He could also read simple words, even though he could not speak. The mysteries of autism.... On a totally random note, I read an article last night that said that some autism symptoms may be linked to low levels of oxytocin, the bonding hormone. Very interesting.)

Work is super busy for me right now, but I'm still glad to be back at work. I like being at one school, and middle school is fun. I spend so much time thinking about work, though, so I'm not going to write about it now.

On to really important things-- THE FALL TV SCHEDULE: So far, I'm not too impressed with the new shows' descriptions, but maybe something will surprise me. Also, the speed of cancellation in recent years makes me a bit gun shy. Why should I even try a new show if it's just going to be canceled once I get interested? I almost want to give it a couple of months and then watch (if it's still around). Anyway, here are some of the new and old shows that I'm planning to watch:

Monday
7:00-8:00*--Prison Break (Fox)-- I've only watched Season 1 so far, and Season 2 premieres on DVD this week. However, Season 3 premieres on TV on Sept. 17. With Netflix turnaround times, I don't think I can watch all of S2 before then....so my plan is to tape S3 as it's broadcast until I catch up. (I can barely stand the excitement when I see the previews....though I try to change the channel because I don't want to hear any spoilers for S2....but Wentworth is really hot.) Apparently, PB will go on hiatus in the winter--while some other show debuts-- and then it will return in the spring. That's kind of odd and annoying. Maybe I should just stick with the DVDs.

8:00-9:00--24 (Fox)-- As usual, Jack won't be back until January 2008...and then we'll see the season straight through. (What are we up to-- Season 6? 7?) I kind of like that. It's predictable, and the continuity is helpful for following the plot and building excitement.

Tuesday
8:00-9:00--House (Fox)--I guess I'll be watching a lot of Fox this year! I love Dr. House. I understand that he's an acquired taste, but I love that his character is so different than any other doctor I've seen on TV. Hugh Laurie truly is a fantastic actor. I'm not at all involved in the House fandom, and I don't follow this like I do my other shows. Still, I greatly enjoy watching, and I'm interested to see what they'll do this year since House drove away all of his staff.

Wednesday
8:00-9:00--Private Practice (ABC)-- Meh. I'm going to watch. I don't have high hopes, though I do like the actress who plays Addison, as well as that guy. Yeah, that guy. I don't know his name or his character's name. It's set in California, though, so that makes me happy. (For those who don't know, this is the Grey's Anatomy spinoff.)

Thursday
Okay, most of the days have almost nothing, and then they pile it all on Thursday...the night I'm never home. I don't even have TiVo so I'm going to have to make choices on what to tape.
8:00-9:00--Grey's Anatomy (ABC)-- I go back and forth with this show. Sometimes I like it, and sometimes I really don't. I probably won't tape it, but I may watch the re-runs or get it from Netflix next summer.

8:00-9:00--Supernatural (CW)-- Now the CW is weird AZ time-wise. I can't remember exactly how it works, but it shifts with the fall time change...but doesn't accommodate for AZ's lack of change....or something like that. So...I think that maybe Supernatural will be on at 7:00 for a while and then shift to 8:00 at Daylight Savings....or vice versa. (Really, why can't the rest of the country see the wisdom of AZ and Hawaii in keeping the time the same year round? It's so much simpler!) Anyhow, I'll tape this one. Although, like PB, I've only watched the DVDs of S1, unlike PB, I don't care about spoilers. I already know what happens at the end of S2, and I've caught an occasional random repeat of S2 episodes over the summer. So...I'll start watching S3 right away. DVDs for S2 come out in a week or two, and I'll watch them after I finish PB.

9:00-10:00--Without A Trace (CBS)-- This is more of a filler show for me, i.e., show that I like but don't invest in, shows that I watch in syndication as much as first broadcast. I feel the same about Law and Order (though I actually don't like the new ones), Law and Order SVU (though I think they ran out of storylines) and CSI (not Miami or New York). I couldn't even tell you the names of the characters on the show, though I think one of the main guys is Jack. (What's the obsession with leading guys named Jack? Alias, 24, Lost.... Dean and Logan are also pretty popular lately.)

9:00-10:00--Big Shots (ABC)-- I want to like this show, but I kind of doubt that I will. It's already getting bad reviews. Bummer. I'll tape it a few times just as a tribute to Michael Vaughn, Alias and Dylan McDermott.

Friday
8:00-9:00-- Women's Murder Club (ABC)-- This is about four female friends who breach professional ethics for the greater good. Or something like that. Four women in professional roles (journalist, detective, medical examiner, DA-- don't quote me on that) collaborate and solve crimes. If I can suspend disbelief and get into the story, I think this might be interesting. It has a good cast. Too bad the time slot is the kiss of death. Maybe they can solve the mystery of who put them there.

9:00-10:00-- Moonlight (CBS)-- This one's about a vampire who solves crimes and saves people. No, really. It has the potential to be horrifically bad (in which case, possibly funny) or creative and intriguing. I'm going to give it a try. (BTW, I think this is the one that's being produced or direct by The Matrix guy.)

Sunday
9:00-10:00-- Brothers and Sisters (ABC)-- This is a show that should be ten times better than it is. They have the dream cast for this type of drama. (Well, I'd get rid of what's-her-name, the Ally McBeal girl, because she annoys the heck out of me.) I know that these actors could do amazing things with more interesting material....so I'm waiting. Maybe the writers will hit their stride this season. Last year, I watched sporadically and usually half-heartedly as I was getting ready for Monday morning. I'll probably do the same until they decide to impress me.

*In Arizona, prime time starts at 7:00. News is at 10:00. So...for many of you, these times will be an hour off, with the shows starting an hour later in your area.