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Time to find the thermometer and take Fall TV's temperature. Who's got a fever?

SONS OF ANARCHY - I'm not sure if the show has ever been better. This year is playing like it's a series finale and all bets are off. Things are so extreme right now and behaviors have grown so divisive that I literally have no idea how they'll manage to keep these characters together for another season. Way to raise the stakes, guys. I'm on the edge of my chair.


HOMELAND - Running wild in its first season and already renewed, Homeland is fascinating. One great big rotting onion of conspiracy layers and pseudo-truths, many a dangerous game appears to be in play and the cast and scripts are top-notch. 24 with brains and very addictive.

HELL ON WHEELS - The pilot owed a lot to Deadwood but it was creative, nicely staged and never dragged. Supporting players like Colm Meaney, Ted Levine and Tom Noonan keep the atmosphere ripe and authentic. Hoping they build momentum and pull this off. Much better than initial reviews would have you think.






THE WALKING DEAD - Uh, what blog are you reading, anyway? Post-Darabont Dead is dynamite and gets more intense each week. Superb series you are crazy not to watch.

FRINGE - Friday's episode was stupendous! The 4th season is going great guns and anything but predictable. Fringe goes on fall hiatus after this next Friday's episode then returns after the holidays in mid-January 2012. So you better drink your fill on the 18th!


AMERICAN HORROR STORY - Word has it this show is getting better, but I just got turned off by the pilot. Too depressing and smug to keep me tuned in.

PRIME SUSPECT - Loved, loved, loved this show at first. But it's almost like they decided to "fix" it when the ratings weren't strong enough. New "upbeat" and smile-filled opening credits, more emphasis on Jane's wacky gang of male fellow detectives - is this a Lowenbrau commercial? Lots of ham-fisted comedy and Jane's dad is all Eugene O'Neal Irish weepy now. He was cool at first! One more sprinting foot-chase of a suspect and I'm out of here. This show came out of the gate smart and unique. Now it's turning into non-dairy creamer. Reverse course, NBC!


GRIMM and WHITECHAPEL - Missed both of these and am thinking I need to revisit as word is strong on both these shows. Grimm is filmed right here in Portland, fer cryin' out loud! Sounds like it's got a cool tone and some interesting ideas. Whitechapel is on BBC America and is getting lots of attention for it's dark, London revisit of Saucy Jack's old stomping grounds in modern times. How did I miss that?!