At the less than stellar time of 11:30pm tonight, The League starts with the first episode of its first season. While the first episode is a little clunky, there’s a few decent gags in it. It is, however, a show that quickly finds its feet and is now one of the most dependable (and downright filthy) comedies currently airing on US TV.

The League is the brainchild of former Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld writer Jeff Schaffer, who, with his wife Jackie, crafted this partially improvised comedy about a group of fantasy football enthusiasts. While much of the series is about fantasy football culture, it’s accessible to non-sporting viewers (like myself) and is downright funny as all heck.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The League airs Tuesday nights at 11:30pm.

While in Sydney, I did embark on a mid evening TV tour of the Sydney with the highlight being watching the Drum being recorded in their Ultimo studio. It was actually an interesting TV experience to see it being recorded as the Studio is automated, without camera operators. Very surreal to see host Steve Cannane and the panel present the show alone in the Studio room.

TV Broadcast Spotlight

Anna Pihl (SBS1, 8:30pm), Metal: A Headbangers Journey (ABC2, 10pm).

TV should make for some decent channel surfing tonight, but offers little in the way of appointment TV. Worth noting for Glee fans is that Glee should catch up to the US screening with some repeats scheduled in the US in coming weeks. White Noise reader Todd commented the other day that “By Nov 9/10 Ten will have caught up with Glee due to FOX having two random weeks off too (Oct 19 and Nov 2), works out well.”. Thanks Todd.

Fresh Downloadables

The Good Wife, Caprica, Hawaii 5-0, Weeds, The Event, Mad Men, Bored To Death, How I Met Your Mother, The Inbetweeners.

The season 4 finale of Mad Men was very strong, but not wildly exciting. Tonight also yields the final ever episode of The Inbetweeners.

Assigned Reading

• James packers bid for Channel Ten dominates all worthy reads today. There’s some decent articles in the AFR, but they are paywalled. The Australian reports that Packer disagrees with recent Ten initiatives like the 2.5 hour news block and its digital channel One. And what does David Gyngell think of Packers investment?
• In the US, Variety magazine have made a number of changes internally and to its print & online publications to try and deal with the threat of online publications like Deadline Hollywood. They’ve basically doomed Variety to irrelevancy as a result. The Hollywood Reporter, however, have recently put in place a new editorial team and are relaunching their publication on November 3rd. It all looks very promising. Today has come news that the quite excellent TV critic Tim Goodman is joining the publication as their Chief TV Critic.

On the Tube

I’m increasingly obsessed with The League, currently in its second season in the US. Yes, it’s about fantasy football. But, it’s pretty easy to look past that and enjoy the show for what it is: the meanest and funniest TV show currently on the air.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Broadcast TV Spotlight

Wallace & Grommit (ABC2, 8pm), Breaking Bad (ABC2, 9:30pm), Critic’s Choice (GEM, 11pm).

Nothing all too exciting on the schedule this evening. Breaking Bad is always reliable, but many have already seen this series despite its first-run on FTA telly here in Australia. Critic’s Choice on the new HD channel GEM should prove to be an entertaining way to wind down on a Friday night.

Fresh Downloadables

The League, My Generation, The Big Bang Theory, Community, 30 Rock, $#*! My Dad Says, Fringe, The Office, Outsourced.

The massive week of US telly continues with several returning favourites and a few new shows. $#*! My Dad Says is a must-see show, if only for the shows origins and (of course) Shatner. That said, it will be terrible. Likewise, Outsourced remains a curiosity and is thus worthy of a look. As great as it is to see 30 Rock back, The League has proven itself to be a weekly highlight despite a lacklustre series return last week.
Assigned Reading

• Goodfellas the TV show? Say it isn’t so! Alas, it may very soon be a reality.
• Liz Smith is reporting that Mel Gibson has met with Matthew Weiner about an appearance in Mad Men. File this one under ‘will never happen’.
• Michael Emerson proves that he is Terry O’Quinns constant as NBC pick up a pilot starring the two of them.
• The AV Club has a really good interview with Dan Harmon about his show, Community.
• The AV Club deliver once more with Bored To Death creator/writer Jonathan Ames.
• Jon Stewart announces that he’ll never run for public office.

On the Tube

Maybe the problem with advertising in Australia is simply that the advertisements are not engaging enough.

Click here to view the embedded video.