What I'm Watching Wednesdays

That's right you crazy kids (all 4 of you), since I was out of commish this weekend on blogging, you get TWO posts in one day, contain yourselves! Also let me say on a completely unrelated note that I'm watching Gone with the Wind on Netflix Instant right now and they only have it listed as TWO STARS. Um, hello? It's probably one of the greatest movies of all time. You're fired Netflix ratings guy. You. Are. Fired. Anyway, onto What I'm Watching Wednesdays, in which I regale you with more of my television obsessions and encourage you to follow my lead by being thoroughly entertained by these marvelous shows! First,

Iron Chef America! How great is this picture of the Chairman, seriously? For those of you unfamiliar with this magical program, ICA is a competition show on Food Network where one very accomplished chef from a prestigious restaurant pits him or herself against one of the Iron Chefs (Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, Mario Batali, etc.) by each creating a 5-course meal revolving around the Secret Ingredient. Oh and they do this in 1 hour. The picture above is the Chairman, whose role still remains unclear to me except that he announces the Secret Ingredient before the battle and makes that face. This show is great because they do some wildly creative things with food and the elements of competition and cooking against the clock make it exciting.

Pretty Little Liars. The only show ABC Family could have created to fill the Greek-sized hole in my life. (RIP Greek!) I realize this show focuses on high school students and I am a decade (!) out of that holy institution, but it's irresistible! I don't want to reveal too much but basically the show revolves around 4 friends who have a scandalous secret to keep after the death of their manipulative ringleader friend Allison and they are terrorized by an anonymous pot-stirrer called "A" with texts, emails and threats. It is awesome. They've really upped the stakes this season and I can't miss an episode!

I've loved the Office since Danny introduced me to it in Season 2. We spent one of our long distance weekends watching about 25 episodes to catch up and I've never missed another one. It's obviously not on right now because it's summer but thanks to Netflix, I get to watch my favorite episodes whenever I want. So, totally normal behavior, I've watched the Jim and Pam wedding episode approximately 10 times and cried every time. It is so sweet and adorable and truly, if you're planning a wedding, it's a wonderful way to be reminded of what really matters when you are getting married, each other. It's not too often a sitcom can be touching and ridiculously hilarious with multiple viewings, but the Office does it all the time. (Silent prayer that it can still be good without Steve Carell!)

What I'm Watching Wednesdays

I love television. I promise I try not to watch too too much and if there's nothing on that I'm feeling, I do have the willpower to turn it off and pick up a book or go outside. That said, there are some shows that I just can't help but get hooked on. And so What I'm Watching Wednesdays is born. 

White Collar is a USA original series and I assure you that it will not be the last USA show I mention on this blog. Some may call these shows "formulaic" but isn't that the case for lots of television? If the characters and plot are good, it's fine if the episodes follow a pattern. White Collar is awesome. It's about a conman who cuts a deal after he's caught and pays back his debt to society working as a consulting in the FBI's White Collar Crimes unit. Matt Bomer plays this charming conman, Neal Caffrey, and he is witty and impeccably dressed and super handsome. He's the best reason for watching this show but I'll give you one more: Tiffani Thiessen, aka Kelly Kapowski, is in this and she's ADORABLE, in an upbeat, perky, but grown up Kelly kind of way.

I am SO excited this show got nominated for an Emmy, because if it hadn't been, I would not have heard of it, found it on Netflix Instant and watched the first season in its entirety this weekend. It's a phenomenal series focusing on an English estate and all the drama with both the aristocratic family upstairs and the servants quarters downstairs. If you've ever seen Gosford Park, this is a similar idea, but I think even better. Any Jane Austen, Henry James or Bronte fan will really enjoy this. The only thing not enjoyable is that it will not return until January of 2012 and I hate waiting to find out what's next!

I used to plan my wedding in my head, even before I was engaged and now I plan my house in my head, probably long before Danny and I can buy one. House Hunters is the ideal source for feeding my imagination. The show focuses usually on a couple who is looking to buy a home. They get to look at 3 options in their price range, trying to include as many items on their wish list as possible. It's absurdly addictive and as Danny and I could be potentially moving in 10 months, it's fun to see what's available in some of the cities we could be moving to. If buying a home could be in your future, try an episode, you really can't watch just one.

I know. This show is trash. It's partially responsible for the demise of American intelligence levels. I CAN'T HELP MYSELF. Seriously, if a marathon is on MTV, even if I've seen the episodes, it takes all of my willpower to change the channel and sometimes even that fails me. I am utterly captivated by the misadventures of these ridiculous people. The fact that fame has completely gone to their heads just make them that much more hilarious to watch. This season they're in Florence, and I can't wait to see what new meaning they bring to the term "Ugly American."