1. Top Chef Masters: Love watching the creativity of these master chefs. The competition is between a group of chefs each week, and only two move on to the final round. Last season’s winner was Rick Bayless – a huge favorite of mine.

2. Jessica Simpson’s The Price of Beauty: Okay, so you have to overlook some giggling and awkward moments, but actually, this show is rather interesting. Jessica and her two friends visit different countries and experience the beauty rituals of that particular area. For instance, she visited Thailand and had a Thai massage – but then also visited with a lady whose skin had peeled from her face because it is very much in fashion in Thailand to have lighter/fairer skin. The harsh chemicals caused this lady to lose pigmentation in her skin. Interesting show.

3. Amazing Race! Another cultural experience! I love seeing the different countries and traditions. This year I’m definitely rooting for the cowboys. I did a quiz online about Amazing Race and got a two $1 off coupons for 7-Up and used those today to get two free 2 liters. A little bonus for paying attention to my favorite show!

4. Lost: It’s getting down to the end of the series! The mysteries are being slowwwwwwly cleared up and we’re enjoying seeing the characters’ stories delved into even more deeply. A+

5. Celebrity Apprentice: Kinda fun…wish it wasn’t so long – but we like it.

6. Minute to Win It: Kids’ new favorite! Have you seen it?

7. The Middle: This show has really kept our attention. Last week’s episode on cutting costs was hilarious.

8. What Would Brian Boitano Make?: I just think this cooking show has creativity and an originality seriously lacking in most other food shows!

Any other shows we should be checking out?

For those of you who haven’t seen Lost before, or for those of you who have forgotten the various plots, here’s a quick review:

There was a plane crash, but the people survived and found themselves on a deserted (or was it?) island.

Jack, a notable character for various reasons, is a doctor and took control of the Dire Situation.

Now, years have passed. Other monsters and other people have been discovered on the island. And, frankly, I keep worrying about what they’ve done to the cute dog, Vincent. For a long time, Vincent roamed around the deserted island’s deserted rainforest and made rustling sounds in the trees. Your nerves tensed during the commercial break as you awaited the answer: Was that Vincent or was that a scary, black puff of smoke?

Oh, it’s just you, sweet little Vincent…. ah! no!!! it’s a puff of black smoke coming to eat us!

Then people got on a boat and tried to find mainland.

This did not go well.Lots of characters named Crewman #7 and Helicopter Pilot #2 died.

But then 6! of the survivors, through two season’s worth of events, made it back home to the US of A. But now they’re going nutso, because they left behind the other people on the island. But now the island has disappeared and how will they ever find their friends again?

This is driving the US of A survivors to drink, to denial and to Hurley seeing Charlie everywhere. Even though Charlie is dead. I mean, can you see Charlie here?

No, because he’s dead. But Hurley does see him. Why? How? Is Hurley crazy or is Charlie still alive?

They decide to return to the Island. And, in tonight’s ep, Kate comes to her “son,” Aaron and says, “We’re going on a vacation.”

“But why, mommy? And by the way, how do you keep your hair looking so nice through every trauma?”

And Desmond continues to pine over Penny. His lost love. But as long as he continues to pine in his Scottish accent, I’m cheering him on. (or, wait, did he die?? I can’t remember.)

There you have it. All you need to know about Lost. There’s an island. There’s people on it. There’s a monster on it. There’s “Others” on it and Kate and Jack may or may not love each other. And now they’re going to go try to find the island that has disappeared.

Can’t wait!

Good on ya, Tony.I totally feel your anger and your pain. But don’t give up. It pays to stay on the side of the good. Being a traitor is bad. Evil. I would never be a traitor like my brother is.

Last night’s episode actually kept my attention. So good to see Chloe again!!

2. We’re looking forward to the return of Lost. Last season was great with the flash-forwards and the “disappearing” island. And, frankly, I miss Hurley.

3. I watch Biggest Loser on DVR. Which means I tape it and then fly throw it for just the good parts. I admire the people in what they are doing to turn their lives around and I like that it’s based on diet and exercise. And if you fly through it, you don’t have to watch any of the crying.

4. 24. I drive Mr MIP crazy by doing my version of Mystery Science Theater 3000 during this show (Do you miss MST3000 like I miss MST3000?). But last night’s episode was good…except for the overblown praise of the driver to Jack. Gag.
And right here, let me present the evidence as to why I don’t think Tony’s really, actually renegade, but just very very angry and probably a little ticked about DeRosa’s trade (note his mug):

Edited to add: Another show I like, but DVR so I can speed through is Food Network’s Ultimate Recipe Showdown. Anyone can enter and if you’re recipe is chosen, you have a showdown on air. The recipe that wins is put on the TGI Friday’s menu. We had last week’s winner’s recipe at Friday’s yesterday and it was good! (I feel like that was a complicated sentence!). It’s also cool that the show is posting all the recipes online at their site. Click here to link to the show’s site.
What shows are you watching this season?

Anyway, my friend sent me a recap of the series in an 8 minute video which is very good and sums it up (yes, Cindy, you should watch it). I watched it. But then realized the season premiere isn’t until tomorrow night! I thought it was tonight. I was envisioning a nice evening of watching what happens with Jack and Kate and Sawyer with a nice, hot drink. (We DVR shows so we can watch late at night.) I’m so bummed.

So I did what I always do when I’m bummed. I put the Carpenters’ best of album on my iPod and I’m cleaning the kitchen, making up sorrowful new lyrics to Karen’s singing.

“I’ve been standing here waiting so patiently, Please Mr Postman, look and see if there’s a Lost episode for me. Wahhhhh wooooo. So many days have passed me by, so many tears have been in my eyes. Mr Postman, woo yeah, please, please, Mr Postman, why don’t you check it and see, if there’s any news from poor Charlie. Woooo…c’mon”

However, there is one show I watch fairly consistently: Man vs. Wild. Bear Grylls is the host of the show and the whole premise is that he shows you how to survive in different situations. For instance, in one show he was dropped off in the Florida Everglades, and his goal is to get to a highway and escape from the Everglades. He only has a flint and striker, canteen and his clothes with him. The hour long show follows him as he gives survival tips and attempts to escape. From the Everglade show, I learned that you want to follow the direction the water is flowing, however, the Everglades are slow moving (of course!), so the way to tell where the water is going, is to tie your canteen to a tree and let it drift in the water – after about a half hour, it will be drifting in the direction you should follow. He’s been in the jungles of Ecuador, the Alaskan wilderness and the desert.

Seeing as how riding bikes on a busy road is heart stopping to me, it’s fascinating to watch somebody survive in the wilderness!

Upon further research into Bear, we found out he was the youngest person from Britain to climb Mt Everest at the age of 23. (This record only lasted about a year.) So, we ordered his book about this feat and I’ll let you know if I recommend the book. Also, this last winter he set a world record in flying over Everest in a powered glider!
Anyway, good show to watch in the lazy, hazy days of summer.

Here’s a link to his Discovery Channel site: Here 

It was obvious in the end that the scenes with Jack weren’t flashbacks, but were what were happening in the future (or, maybe what was happening currently, and the island scenes are all flashbacks!).

Loved Hurley driving the VW van through the trees and onto the beach to come save the day! What a scene! Very in character, but also helped bring a little humor into the heavy episode.

But let’s talk about Charlie. I have always always liked Charlie, and have liked the episodes that feature his flashbacks. Last night and last week when he was considering sacrificing his life for the lives of others were terrific. Great performance by Dominic. (I’m just wondering if he’s really dead, how will he and Evangeline carry on their real-life romance?)

So, now everyone’s asking: who was in the coffin (we think it’s Ben)? who is the “he” Kate referred to (Sawyer?)? what happened to everyone else?

We only have to wait until 2008 to find out!

Now that we’ve watched them:

*I’m impressed by how skinny and tall Julie is! Since these were selected episodes, in one she was pregnant, in another suddenly they had twins and she was her skinny self again!

*John Travolta was the most familiar face to me. It was a bit strange to see him discuss his Roman Catholic faith and trying to talk Arnold out of being in a cult – and think of Travolta now in real life, being so involved in Scientology.

*I was not/am not that familiar with Gabe Kaplan, but at the end of the episodes, he always tells Julie or the principal a joke. Our favorite was: Q:what did the one fly say to the other fly while they were hanging on the wall?

A: Your man is open!

All in all, I’m glad to get the song out of my mind – I listened to the full song at the opening of each episode and at the end. I almost have it memorized, here are the lyrics in case you don’t remember them:

Welcome back,
Your dreams were your ticket out.

Welcome back,
To that same old place that you laughed about.

Well the names have all changed since you hung around,
But those dreams have remained and they’re turned around.

Who’d have thought they’d lead ya (Who’d have thought they’d lead ya)
Back here where we need ya (Here where we need ya)

Yeah we tease him a lot cause we’ve got him on the spot, welcome back,
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

(Btw, this song was by John Sebastian, and was a hit in 1976. Sebastian was the lead singer for the “Lovin’ Spoonfuls” and, according to an article I read online, Sebastian was writing music for animated films like Strawberry Shortcake and the Care Bears, in the late ’80s.)

Doc Jensen’s post at EW

Billie Doux’s reviews are always great – her Lost page is here

As for me, I’m willing to suspend deep analysis and just watch and enjoy.

Here are the things that have been better this season:

*The humor: Sawyer has had some great lines that have brought humor back into the mix. Even Ben has had pulled some good sarcastic punches.

*The Kate/Jack/Sawyer triangle

*I’ve always loved Sun – what a great character. Her backstories have added depth to her character this season. (And she’s gorgeous!)

*Juliet is intriguing and has really added a lot. You have to wonder why Jack is buying into her and trusting her implicitly. Is she for real?

*And Ben… ah, Ben. We love to hate him. He has to be THEEE creepiest character ever. Those buggy eyes, that way of talking.

*And good for the powers that be that have decided Lost will go off-air in 2010. That leads to a conclusion and a chance for the show to leave when it’s still good.

Lost was losing my interest, but lately things have picked up. Give us some answers! I like the Juliet plotline – what a great actress…

24 is definitely losing my interest. And now Audrey’s back. Ick.

Amazing Race: Still rooting for my favorites, the blondes! Go, Girls!!

American Idol: My favorite has always been Melinda Doolittle and I loved her on Tuesday night. Hope she wins, but, no, I still haven’t voted! I keep forgetting…