Impressions on the Fall TV Season Thus Far

So it took a lot of time and effort, but I have successfully caught up with my DVR on all the TV happenings while I was sunning myself on the beaches of Italy . Here's what's hit me so far:

Prison Break: I'm not sure that the wacky Ocean's 11ish shenanigans really fit with the tone of the rest of the show but it's still a welcome relief I guess from all the silly seriousness. I like the capture all the card-holders mission although I think a little too much pain is being inflicted on poor Mahone (played by William Fichtner who spent some time growing up in my hometown!) My favorite moment thus far though has to be when the evil hitman was trying to diss Agent Self by explaining with a sneer that he went to Touro Law School on L.I. - um, I appreciate the shoutout to us N.Y. area lawyers but how many people could have interpreted that statement nationwide?

Heroes: What the frickin' hell? No more bringing people back from gunshot wounds - seriously, I just can't take it any more. Also, Sylar is driving me up a tree. The man is pure evil which is repetitive and boring but putting him in a suit for one episode doesn't really help. And please, please, please, please, please let's just kill Maya and Mohinder and be done with it - I think a number of fans have asked that before but the solution can not be buffing Mohinder up and giving us Mohinder-Maya sex scenes. No, no, no. As always then it is left to Masi Oka to save the day and while I really love his scenes, I just don't know if I can put myself through all the other tortuous scenes just to get to his. The new scene is called "Villains" and I've think I've got them all identified - the writing staff of Heroes.

Chuck: Although apparently its numbers were down from last year, I thought last week's episode of Chuck was pretty much as good as it gets and it was pretty darn good. All of the story lines were incorporated and everyone got a chance to do what they do best - which in the case of Zachary Levi is just stumble and be adorable but I love that he also got to show off some acquired agenty skills. Let's hope he gets to kick some more ass and Adam Baldwin gets plenty of more chances to sneer - I quite enjoy that. I have to ask though that we lose the stupid special guest stars - did you really need Michael Clark Duncan for that? I think not.

Fringe: I'm starting to think I literally can't stomach this show. Those wires up the nose to the brain had me covering my eyes in pain. I do love that Michael Cerveris was on but I'm not sure I understand anything about his character and what his deal is supposed to be. Is the show finding its way toward an alien plotline or will his abilities, agelessness and creepiness be explained some other way? God damn it, those questions combined with the return of Mark Valley will probably keep me tuned in even if I have to turn away once or twice an episode.

Pushing Daisies: Hooray for Pushing Daisies! Yes I know it is too precious and cute but I love, love, love it. It combines some of my favorite actors with such entertaining, adorable stories, colors and situations that it is certainly one of my favorite shows on TV right now. The sight of Kristen Chenoweth doing her best Maria spin last night made me cheer out loud. I also really enjoy the pies, the beekeeping and Emerson's cute pop-up book. More, more, more!

Dirty Sexy Money: I'm still not sure I really like this show but it's entertaining enough I suppose. I particularly enjoy Brian's new scary business side and Jeremy's new romantic side but why exactly did Patrick's poor wife deserve such treatment? Seems overly harsh. And why would Letitia be arrested for Dutch's murder? And who the hell is Lucy Liu supposed to be? Another god damn it, they've got me as well.

Coming up, the return of Eli Stone (hooray!) and I am planning on tuning in to My Own Worst Enemy - the premise looks intriguing and the lingering teenage girl in me wants to support Christian Slater. I'm also really looking forward to the return of Samantha Who - that Christina Applegate is one funny lady. Finally, I'll see if I can take the new American version of Life on Mars - I loved the original so much but it's just such a good premise that I may take the chance on the "americanized" version - I'll be sure to report my thoughts.