The first actual no kidding brand new show is The Mentalist, on CBS starring Simon Baker as Patrick Jane. He plays a former fake psychic who now uses his unusually perceptive observation skills helping some agency in California solve crimes. The reason he uses his skills for good is due to the fact that his family was murdered by a serial killer. It's only been on for four episodes now and is surprising everyone by being a big hit. Which is kinda weird because I'm not entirely convinced that it's a good show. Entertainment Weekly had an article in last week's issue that a number of people believe this to be related to the fact that it's a procedural show. Essentially the argument holds that given these difficult economic times we face people are comforted by shows that have a tidy conclusion at the end and where the good guys beat out the bad guys. I'm not entirely convinced by this argument mainly because I don't think enough emphasis has been put on the fact that Simon Baker is just so pretty. The other characters feel rather bland, most expressing either contained amusement or exasperation at Jane's antics that though wild and kooky actually--gasp!--work. Aside from the first episode where Red John, the serial killer who murdered Jane's family, there also hasn't been that much introspection into Jane's character either. Still, I'm doing it the notable honor of both watching and recording it so that's something. And speaking of serial killers....

I recently made the acquaintance of Dexter. I had heard about Dexter Morgtan for a little while, as he's currently in his third season of killing serial killers in Miami, but resisted knowing anything more about him until recently. I tried getting to know him when CBS invited those in the U.S. unwilling to pay premium cable channel fees (I may be self-indulgent when it comes to my viewing habits, but I do draw a line) this past summer. But frankly with all the editing CBS did (of language and some visuals), I wasn't terribly impressed. In fact I recall discussing this with Leah when she and David were hanging out in Argentina. They both got hooked on Dexter and House while there and due to their enjoyment, I put it on my Netflix queue. Well, the first disc came a few weekends ago and I was hugely impressed. After chattering about how much I liked it at work, a co-worker lent me the rest of season 1 and all of season 2. I watched the remaining 8 episodes of season 1 (apparently for Showtime a full season is 12 episodes) and grew to like Dexter even more. Which is really odd when you think about it because he is a man who not only enjoys but feels a need to kill people. Now granted they are not nice people themselves, but it is a tad unsettling to root for a guy to murder people and much of the credit must be given to Michael C. Hall who plays Dexter. The show is really well written as well and I love the music--though not really the theme music over the opening credits, but the soundtrack is really great and I recommend the show highly. It was announced earlier this week that it has been renewed for 2 additional seasons past this current third one and I look forward to Dexter trying to evade discovery by fellow cops (he works as a blood splatter analyst with the Miami Police Department) and loved ones, his sister, a detective in the department and girlfriend who has her own issues.

Shifting gears to a show where the main character is actively seeking out bad guys, we now come to Life. It actually premiered last season and stars Damian Lewis as Charlie Crews, a police officer who was imprisoned for murders he did not commit. 12 years later he is exonerated, receives a hefty settlement fee and is back on the force as a detective. As with Patrick Jane and Dexter Morgan, Charlie Crews has quirks. One is he eats fruit almost exclusively (it being one of the many things he missed most while in prison) and another is he has a tendency to say whatever is on his mind at the moment, again to the exasperation of those around him. In addition to solving crimes on a day-to-day basis, he is determined to figure out who set him up for the murder. At the conclusion of the abbreviated first season, he discovered who was the murderer, but naturally in the land of television, there is a larger conspiracy and that has been his focus thus far in the current season. I enjoy the show immensely and am, like many of its fans, afraid that it being shoved to Fridays at 10pm doesn't bode well for its continued existence. So please, watch it! If you want to catch up on all the episodes, you can go to Hulu and search under tv for it.

So, these are the men I've been watching on tv lately. The asterisk in the title of this praise-fest is because I would be remiss if I didn't include Ned from Pushing Daisies. I think everyone can use a regular visit to the town of Coeur d'Coeur. Go! Spend some time with "I can revive dead things (including people) with one touch" Ned. Visit private investigator Emerson Cod who knits and makes pop-up books in his spare time. The color palette for the show is really cool and amazing and it's very well written too. This show, like Life, is in some danger of being canceled so if you haven't yet, become a fan immediately!