TV 2012: what’s got me excited?

I’m not a huge TV watcher. Yes, it’s switched on A LOT in our house but mostly it’s background noise to the fun things I like to do.

Like hanging out on Facebook or Twitter or blogging.

It takes A LOT to get me to commit to a series.

For me the promise of a new series is like the anticipation of a first date. You’ve got an idea that it might go very well because you like the sound of your date (and possibly the look of them).

But then there’s that awkward moment at the end of the night (or the pilot episode) where you are left with an uneasy feeling and a realisation that you don’t want to actually see them again.

You wonder whether it was something they said, the way they laughed (or didn’t) but then it clicks: you’re actually just not that into them.

It’s exactly that nervous first-date anticipation that peaks at this time of year.

Australian TV is about to come out of its extended summer holiday and spurt forth a host of new shows (and new series of old shows) in the hope that we do actually want to turn up for a second date, and a third …

It’s also about this time that I start to experience serious pre-new show jitters. We are bombarded with previews of these new shows. What if they don’t live up to the hype?

What if that jingle I couldn’t stop singing in January falls flat in February?

I KNOW: first world problems!

Anyways, here are the five shows I can’t wait to take on a first date (or resume the romance with) in 2012:

1. Young Talent Time. I’ll admit, this one has me worried. I’m an original YTT watcher. I WANTED to be on Young Talent Time. The only problem was that I didn’t actually have any talent. I just thought all the kids were cool (Sally Boyden was my fave – who was yours?). They wore cool clothes, had cool hair and were  … just cool. To a kid from regional Queensland, YTT was my Sunday night (after Countdown) escape. I’ve tried to explain this to my own children. The teens rolled their eyes and the six-year-old started dancing. Maybe he’ll get it. Maybe he’ll LOVE it.

2. New Girl. I LOVE Zooey Deschanel. Ultimate girl crush really. And I love any show that celebrates dork/geek-dom. And did I mention that I love Zooey? This one’s had a great response in the US, so I’m pretty sure I’m going to love it … and buy the boxed DVD set.

3. Mad Men (season 5). I was unbelievably beside myself to hear on Twitter yesterday that this is definitely a goer (going to air in March in the US … no word as yet for pay tv in Australia). I didn’t get my Mad Men fix in 2011 so really can’t wait to catch up with Don, Betts and Joan.

4. Downton Abbey (season 2).  This was a series I had on in the background when it was shown in “real time” but at the start of December I downloaded season one and watched in its entirety. And I’m so glad I did. Season one ended with the announcement of World War I and Matthew telling Mary that he wasn’t going to marry her. Will Bates and Anna marry? Can’t wait to see where it all leads (upstairs and downstairs).

5. Offspring (season 3).  I’m obsessed by Offspring. Obsessed. This is one show that went from a exciting first date to a long-term relationship. Hey, if I could take the relationship to the next level and move in with Nina and Dr Patrick, I would. Speaking of Patrick and Nina … how smokin’ hot is this photo?

Over to you … do you have favourite TV shows you can’t wait to see again? Excited about new ones? Prefer to read or book or be on Facebook?