Is your favorite show’s proverbial pale, skinny neck on the line? Here are some alternatives that you can start DVRing now!

If you like Reaper…try Chuck. (or vice versa).
Both shows posts similarly interesting concepts - reluctant super geek unrealistically wins the affections of the incredibly hot leading lady while living a 007 kinda life. While every nerd gene in me wants to like both of these show, they haven’t even made the DVR cut and it’s a toss up. But if you like one, chances are you’ll like the other. Chuck airs Mondays on NBC at 8, Reaper airs Tuesdays at 9 on the CW.

Here are the pros and cons:

Reaper Pros:
Taylor Labine plays sidekick “Sock” with the comedic genius of Chris Farley and the political correctness of Gregory House - hysterical. The show is scheduled for a full 13 episodes, so you won’t be caught on a cliffhanger. The aforementioned love interest is much less annoying than her counterpart. Ray Wise (previously a VP on 24) plays an excellent satan.
Reaper Cons:
Call me old fashioned, but I like my superhero-ish type people to retain their secret identities. Here, everybody but Mom and Girlfriend know - ain’t that how it always is? Lead, Bret Harrison just isn’t a good actor and his character is written rather whiney.

Chuck Pros: Leading man Zachary Levi is more charming than his counterpart, there is considerable less whining from this character and he is a better actor.

Chuck Cons:
All the whine in this program comes for sidekick “Morgan”. The female lead is unbelievable and annoying. The show’s premise of information implanted into Chuck’s brain is theoretically more plausible than Reaper’s dealings with the devil, so why do I believe it less?

If you love Heroes…you might like Pushing Daisies.
These two shows have only a vague commonality in that they both deal with the “supernatural”. If you’re not up to date on Heroes, then you should immediately flog yourself and then go here. Good, moving on…
Pushing Daisies has stolen my cold dead heart. Its tender love story, quirky mysteries and Technicolor landscapes make for a phenomenally well crafted show. Supporting characters are just as interesting as the leads and the overall good-hearted themes are endearing and refreshing. Daisies has been picked up for a full season, but you’ll have to DVR the repeats until the strike is over.

Pushing Daisies airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8pm.
If you like Dancing with the Stars…you’ll need to leave now. No, seriously, get the f#ck out and go watch some Next Top Model or some other sh#t, cause you’re in the wrong place.

If you like any of the CSIs…you’ll love Criminal Minds.
I think most people agree that the original is always the best. Now, with the departure of our first original CSI, Sara Sidle, we’re at risk of having someone decidedly grating to replace her. The jury is still out on the new chick - we’ll see. If you haven’t been watching CSI: NY, check it out again, they’ve really gotten their stuff straight since Season 1, but if you’re already watching both and you’ve missed Criminal Minds, start watching this show NOW! This is not on my DVR lists because it’s just too good to pass up and I have previously touted the merits of this show. One of the best aspects of any crime drama is the psychological motives behind the very bad things that these very bad people are doing. If you’re thinking Criminal Minds would be too mundane or cerebral for you consider this: this past week’s episode was about a cannibal who ended up serving soup to the search party of the girl that he had killed. Guess what was in the soup? OH yeah baby, the girl that they were searching for. Criminal Minds kicks it up a notch - BAM!

Criminal Minds airs Wednesdays at 9pm on CBS.

Other good bets:

Women’s Murder Club - based on my favorite James Patterson novels, women will love the dynamics between these characters, men probably not so much. Fridays, ABC 9.
Numb3rs - great casting and characters make this show good. Fridays, CBS 10.

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