TV Shows Off the Beaten Path – Corner Gas
Yes, this one is definitely a bit off the beaten path. That is, unless you live in Dog River which is near Saskatchewan, at least on a fictional level. Corner Gas is a series from CTV in Canada. As far as I know, the only station airing the show in the U.S. is WGN. It used to be on nightly late nights. Alas, that’s no longer the case.
But if you have a hankering to watch it, WGN airs a block of episodes “late Mondays at 4 AM ET.” I’d personally call that early Tuesday, but that’s just me. If you’ve never watched this little gem, it might be worth the TIVO. It’s light, refreshing, and just a step away from the rat race or … off the beaten path.
TV Shows Off the Beaten Path – America’s Most Wanted
Saturday night television programming is usually slim pickings. I suppose they think the entire world is out dating or something. While I do like that some of the network shows from earlier in the week are re-broadcast on Saturday nights, I’ve often seen them by the time Saturday evening rolls around. So, although I’m not an avid viewer of America’s Most Wanted, I definitely catch some episodes.
Did you know that we are responsible for the capture of 1056 fugitives to date? Well, not me. I haven’t caught a one yet. I keep looking. Who knows? While the show is definitely a fine crime-fighting tool, it’s also a starting ground for new actors used in the dramatizations.
TV Shows Off the Beaten Path – The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
When that other Craig left the late late show talk scene, I was a happy camper. I didn’t like the guy so much that I’ve obviously blocked his last name from my mind in some sort of post traumatic stress reaction. Oh, wait. I now remember his last name. But I won’t post it. I won’t because this is all about Craig Ferguson. You see, David Letterman (who owns The Late Late Show) had a week or so of folks trying out their mad skillz as late night talk show hosts. Out of the several who “auditioned” for the show, I enjoyed David Allen Grier and Craig Ferguson.
At the time, I thought Grier seemed more creative and funny than Ferguson. I was so wrong. From ending the show with the “Cow of Time” to today’s yodeling puppets intro, Ferguson oozes with creativity and seems to have a rapport with the guests, too.
TV Shows Off the Beaten Path – The Steve Wilkos Show
I’m doing something a bit different with this week’s column. Normally I write about shows I enjoy or shows I feel don’t get enough press. Not this time. This time I’m writing about a show which should be so far off the beaten path that it should get lost in the woods, follow breadcrumbs deeper into the labyrinth and then get eaten by a wolf dressed in granny’s nightgown. Yep, I’m talking about The Steve Wilkos Show.
TV Shows Off the Beaten Path – True Beauty
Yes, it’s another (fairly) new reality show. No fear for the anti-reality folks, though. With the premise of True Beauty, such as it is, chances are it’s only good for a season. You see, the contestants have only been told that they’re basically entering a beauty contest with challenges which eliminate a contestant each week. The winner wins a quarter-million dollars and will be included in People Magazine in a special issue featuring all those oh-so-beautiful folks. But in reality, they’re not judged just on the cover. Now, I’m not seeing much “cover” beauty for these two guys, but maybe it’s just me.
TV Shows Off the Beaten Path – Cash Cab
It’s amazing how much useless trivia I carry around in my mind. I think a lot of folks are like me. Sometimes you just remember obscure facts you learned in junior high school decades later. Or you find that more recent news has actually seeped into your mind via osmosis or something. Jeopardy used to be one of my favorite game shows, but Cash Cab on the Discovery Channel has taken the lead. While the former is fairly straight categorized trivia, Cash Cab is so much more!
TV Shows Off the Beaten Path – The Soup
If you’re into pop culture, movies, reality television — you know, the finer things in life — then The Soup on E is a show you just can’t pass up! Joel McHale hosts the show with a delicious touch of evil mockery and a fine sense of comedic timing. After all, if we as a society cannot laugh at ourselves and what interests us, how can we be expected to rule the world? The squirrels might as well take over. They have no sense of humor, you know.
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