Monday, September 29, 2008

It's That Time of Year Again...

The leaves are going to be changing color soon, the air is getting cooler, furnaces are beginning to turn on, and Halloween is only a month away. In a few weeks, I'll be taking the kids to visit a local orchard (the same one my parents took me to when I was growing up). Another week or so, and we'll be buying pumpkins, spending an evening carving faces into them, and then baking the pumpkin seeds for kid snacks. And beginning this week, I'll start hoarding up on candy for all the trick-or-treaters that will be hitting my door at the end of October.

Following Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will arrive in mega-speed and before I can blink, we'll be in the middle of winter. But all of those are different posts, because what happens first--what's already started happening--is the start of the TV season. While there are a bunch of new shows scheduled to start, I'm more interested in the return of my favorites...and many of those left off with a cliffhanger.

The first huge cliffhanger I remember hearing about was from the show Dallas. "Who Shot J.R.?" made it on t-shirts, hats, and bumper stickers. People talked about it--a lot. So much so, that even though I was too young to really have watched much of Dallas, I'd heard enough about it that I wanted to know who shot J.R.!

Other television cliffhangers that I remember include (in no particular order):

  • Friends: When Ross says Rachel's name in place of Emily's--in the middle of his marriage ceremony.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Buffy sacrifices herself to close a portal to hell. Buffy dead?
  • Alias: When Michael Vaughn confesses his name is NOT Michael Vaughn to Sydney while they're driving--and then, another car crashes into them.
  • Grey's Anatomy: McDreamy is married! And his wife is a hot redhead? Oh, no! Poor Meredith!
  • Soap: Who shot Peter Campbell? Again, kind of before my time, but I remember my parents talking about this cliffhanger.
  • Lost: Every freaking year since this show has started has left us with huge cliffhangers. Season One: Walt is kidnapped and OOOH what's in that hatch? Season Two: Jack and Kate are abducted by the Others, the hatch went into meltdown mode, and who the heck are those guys in the arctic? Season Three: Is Charlie really dead? Apparently a rescue takes place, but Jack wants to return to the island?

I vaguely remember something about Dynasty having a huge cliffhanger one year, but don't remember the specifics. Same goes for Cheers--pretty sure there was one there, maybe with a proposal from Sam? But I can't remember the details.

What I do remember are the cliffhangers from MY favorite shows this past year. Some have already had their premiers, and others I'm still waiting on. In no particular order, here they are:

  • Supernatural: They left Dean in hell at the end of last season. This is totally unacceptable! Luckily, the season began almost two weeks ago, and Dean was pulled from hell--by an ANGEL. YES! I love Dean. I love Sam. I love Bobby. And I love my Thursdays!
  • Ghost Whisperer: Okay, this one doesn't start until this week--on Friday--but I'm already annoyed. Because last season ended with Payne making a comment about six people but only five shadows. So, someone's dead. The rumor mill is saying Jim (Melinda's husband) is dead--but I soooo hope they didn't go there. Besides, if JIM'S dead, how does Payne even know he's there? As far as I know, Payne can't see ghosts. So does that mean Payne is dead? Argh. No clue. Can't wait for Friday to find out!
  • Ugly Betty: Does Betty accept a marriage proposal from one man or go to Rome with another man? Well, this show began it's new season last week, and Betty turns BOTH men down. Nice play, Betty! I love this show for it's stupid humor and pushing the limits characterization.
  • Lost: Locke is dead? How? What about Jin...is he REALLY dead? And what the heck happened to Claire and why does Kate have Aaron? SO MANY QUESTIONS!!! Unfortunately, this isn't a fall starting show this year, so I'll have to wait until FEBRUARY to get the answers. So. Unfair.

There are other shows I love that I watch, but they didn't leave me hungering for answers at the end of last season. But I still love them! Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Chuck, Desperate Housewives are all on my watch list. Oh, and last year, we didn't even get 24, so I'm anxiously awaiting the return of Jack Bauer. Mmm. Jack.

The thing is, I'm so thankful for DVR...because I don't always have time to watch my faves when they're on. So I record everything, and watch them when I can. Well, except for Supernatural. I watch that when it's on, and normally several times over in the next week. I know--kind of sad, but I love those boys!

The only show that didn't make it from last year that I completely fell in love with was Journeyman. I really wish they'd given that show a second chance. I have questions! And they'll never be answered.

What about YOU? What season ending cliffhangers do you remember over the years? Which shows are you dying to watch this year? What are your favorites? I'd love to hear!

13 comments:

Maureen Lipinski said...

I've started to watch that new show, Fringe, and it's quite good! A big departure from what I usually watch (read: never saw one episode of The X-Files or the like)but really entertaining and suspenseful!

I'm also really, really embarassed to admit this, but I also watch The Hills. And yes, I find it quite suspenseful as well. :)

Tracy Madison said...

Maureen, I've also been watching Fringe and have enjoyed it so far. I've never watched The Hills though! A new fave of mine is Mad Men. Awesome show.

Jillian Cantor said...

I watched the first Fringe, and I have the next 2 on my DVR. I really liked it, but it terrified me so much that I'm a little scared to keep watching.

I'm a big, big fan of Lost -- can't wait until that comes back. But I think my absolute favorite right now is Grey's Anatomy.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

A cliffhanger that will never be resolved, to my everlasting dismay, was John Doe. Dominic Purcell (Lincoln from Prison Break) woke up naked in a forest knowing everything but who he was. He knew the time, he knew the number of dimples on a golf ball, he knew everything. As the season went on, we learned some of where he'd been and why, but at the end of the first season they showed the "bad guy" and it was his best friend! And the show was canceled, so we never got resolution to that.

the story siren said...

I'm a big fan of Heroes!! And I can't wait for Pushing Daisies to return!

The Compulsive Reader said...

The Fringe is SO WEIRD. But it is the same guy who created Lost, so what can we expect? And I hear you on all those Lost cliffhangers...although the fourth season's wasn't too bad...I suspected that it would turn out like that. And that Alias one is one I remember vividly as well...I think I was furious for like two weeks.

Haha, sorry about the mini rant!

Tracy Madison said...

Jillian: I'm with you on Lost. I can't wait to pick up where we left off. I like Grey's Anatomy, too, but not as much as I used to. Now, if they brought back Isiah Washington's character, I'd be really happy!

Tracy Madison said...

Nat: I never watched John Doe! But I can completely understand the frustration. At least we have Supernatural!

Tracy Madison said...

The Story Siren: I love Heroes, too. But I never got into Pushing Daisies. Maybe I'll give it another try this year!

Tracy Madison said...

The Compulsive Reader: LOL, I hear you! I was freaking out then too. Thanks for posting!

Lesley Livingston said...

Lost Lost Lost Lost...

Did I mention... er... Lost?

(Great post! Way to walk me down cliffhanger memory lane. Who shot JR, indeed...)

Anonymous said...

Tracy,
You of all people need to try the Office. You love quirky and well, we've never known quirky until this show. I promise! I love quirky, too, and this is irresistible to me!! Tape it if you have to but please do yourself a favor and watch it. You have to watch the back shows too!!

Tracy Madison said...

Lesley: I can't wait for February!

Lisa: I'll watch it! I do love quirky, lol.