Television

Ed. note: This is one part of The MUSE’s retrospective of the semester that was and look ahead to the summer that will be.

As the semester draws to a close, I find myself writing this column for the last time. The end feels so abrupt and sudden; soon I won’t be racing to classes with a minute to spare nor staying up all night trying to combat my extreme procrastination. Worst of all, I have one last chance to impose my television opinions on you, my reader. So listen up – this may well be the last time you have a chance to be swayed by yours truly:

Summertime is for playing catch up

As of Friday May 6 I can confidently say I’ve finished my last and final homework assignment of college. I have no more finals, no more essays and all the time in the world to start catching up on some good old fashioned TV. The following shows are all shows I wish I had watched (or watched more of) and I beg of you to do the same.

United States of Tara

I only recently got my first taste of this show after years of hearing nothing but good things. I can safely say from what I’ve seen that none of it has been hyperbole. Tara Gregson (played by Toni Collette) is the ever-intriguing star of this Showtime gem. Tara, a housewife in the suburbs of Kansas City, suffers from dissociative identity disorder. As her stress levels rise, she escapes from reality and in her place come a veritable cornucopia of personalities that take over. There’s drama and intrigue watching her family cope with the many faces of Tara but comic relief as Collette plays each character spectacularly with a flair for fun.

Supernatural

I will admit that I’m a sucker for the paranormal in shows and movies. I started watching this show when it first aired on the WB (remember that channel??) and eventually lost track of how many episodes I had missed somewhere during the fourth season. I fully intend on picking up where I left off as soon as possible and I suggest first time watchers start from the beginning. Two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, find themselves hunting an array of spirits, monsters and more as they travel cross-country trying to piece together a bigger mystery. There’s an over-arching storyline that connects to mythology and religion seamlessly and each episode usually features a monster of the week. Great fun and kind of a guilty pleasure with terrific production value.

The West Wing

I’ve seen several of the seven seasons that make up the show lauded by all who watched it. I wish I had the time to catch up before and now that the time is nigh I intend on starting from the beginning and working my way through the series. It’s intriguing and dramatic: an inside look into a tumultuous government, what more could you ask for? Starring Martin Sheen and Allison Janney (among other incredibly talented actors) this show is jumping to the top of my list for summer viewing and I hope that you check it out too.

So that’s that. I leave you with three show suggestions that I myself will be indulging in over the coming weeks and months. I have sincerely enjoyed an outlet for my opinions on television and TV news and I cannot wait until I have an opportunity to write again. For now, I’m signing off…pretending I’m ready to leave the comfort of college for the harsh realities of a 9-5.