Grading the 2005-06 TV Season

(Updated 2005.10.10) I personally don't own a TV but I still manage to watch new shows - albeit a few days later than the original airing. Below is my first report card of some new (and returning) programs, in no particular order.

• 2005 World Series of Poker: 99%. You can't go wrong with the biggest hold'em poker tournament(s) in the world. Please replace Norman Chad or get him to stop trying to be funny. He isn't funny.
  
• The 4400: 77%. Why does the season always suddenly end?
• Stargate Atlantis: 77%. Dr. McKay is funny as usual and the Wraith are still around.
  
• Prison Break: 95%. Wow. A clever new thriller/drama that keeps you wanting to know more. Like Lost.
  
• Family Guy: 80%. First few episodes have been so-so. They need more Quagmire.
  
• Stevie Griffin - The Untold Story: 85%. Hilarious and uncensored as it should be.
• House: 87%. No one knows what the hell medical terms they're saying, but the smart humour and characters in the show are unlike any.
• Threshold: 72%. Can Carla Gugino keep this afloat? The alien plot is intriguing but the cheesy characters and subpar special effects leave you thinking this could be better. (Upgraded from 67% on 2005.10.10)
  
• How I Met Your Mother: 72%. NPH is the reason to watch this sitcom. Lose the laugh track please!
• Weeds: 90%. A fictional suburbia in California centred around a marijuana-dealing widow. How can this not succeed with a familiar formula of dirty secrets and smart humour.
  
• Desperate Housewives: 90%. Speaking of dirty secrets and smart humour...
  
• My Name is Earl: 85%. A clever comedy with Jason Lee. It'll be interesting if Earl really does complete his list.
  
• Lost: 95%. If you're not watching, you're the one who's lost. Ouch.
• Reunion: 72%. Retro 80's music won't go out of style.
  
• Invasion: 72%. Hard to suspend disbelief that the antagonist has two kids. Shouldn't he be playing poker?
  
• E-Ring: 62%. Talk about just-in-the-nick-of-time predictability.
  
• The Apprentice - Martha Stewart: 67%. Does Martha know reality TV should at least be entertaining? Not such a good thing.
  
• The Apprentice: 82%. The most attractive female candidates yet.
  
• Numb3rs: 85%. An unexpected change in the cast but the crime-fighting brothers haven't missed a beat.
• Grey's Anatomy: 85%. It's all about character development and doctor-doctor r-ships.
• Curb Your Enthusiasm: 77%. I can't remember what happened in season four. It doesn't matter.
• Smallville: 77%. A new intro and cast changes and more messing around with the Superman movie/comic mythology. The usual.
  
• Supernatural: 82%. I thought X-Files and Buffy covered all the possible supernatural stories. But this is scary. (Upgraded from 77% on 2005.10.10)
  
• Ghost Whisperer: 72%. Is Love enough to keep another new sci-fi drama around?
• Alias: 72%. Whoa, a lot of surprises here. But c'mon, it's not that damn easy to hack into any computer system or search for information that quickly... (Updated on 2005.10.10)
  
• Everybody Hates Chris: 85%. Not a rehash of Rock's standup (but there are some subtle references to it) after all. (Added on 2005.10.10)
  

Shit. Am I really going to follow all these programs?

Report Card Legend
Under 70%: Won't hurt to stop watching. It's probably better not to watch then.
70-80%: I've watched this much of it, might as well see what else happens.
80-90%: Good show and high entertainment value.
90-100%: Don't even think about missing it.