As my mom always used to nag, "Judge not, lest ye be judged!" Okay, fine. I'll judge myselfâand THEN I'll judge the crap out of everyone else! Now that the fall season is underway, I'm gonna offer my very strict judgments on a few of the new shows... but first? I'm going to judge myself just as harshly. Let's begin.
Hmmm. Okay, at first glance... I'm awesome! Sure, I've got a receding hairline, and a little extra junk in my ba-dunk-a-dunk... but who cares, when I'm practically squirting raw sexuality. Seriously, wear a raincoatâunless you prefer to be covered in gooey, unbridled S-E-X (and, from experience, I know some of you do). But let's delve deeper, shall we? Let's peer into the darkest recesses of Wm.⢠Steven Hump-me's psyche to find what's really buried beneath all that bravado.
Hmmm. Okay, still just a bunch of awesome! I'm not kiddingâmy soul is a delightful stew of cotton candy, Totino's Pizza Rolls, sex juice, and just a weeeee bit of bile... just to keep things interesting. So! What's my final, very objective self-judgment? It looks like I'm a walking two-liter bottle of awesome sauce! Hooray! NOW. ON TO JUDGING OTHERS. In particular, some of the fall season's new shows!
Trophy Wife (ABC, Tuesdays, 9:30 pm). The name of this show makes me want to vomit into my shirt pocketâand yet? This sitcom about a young wife trying to fit into a new extended family (which includes not one, but two vengeful ex-wives) is turning out to be one of the most charming shows of the season. Like New Girl, Trophy Wife boasts quirky scripts that snap, crackle, and pop alongside a very strong ensemble (including kid actors you don't want to slap in the chops). Judgment: YOU ARE NOW FREE TO WATCH THIS SHOW.
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, Tuesdays, 8 pm). While Trophy Wife may be the most annoyingly named show of the new season, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is hands down the most annoying to type. (Normally, I just cut and paste it, because... A.N.N.O.Y.I.N.G.) Unfortunately, the show is just not as good as creator Joss Whedon and the rest of us had hoped. Ratings have been steadily slipping since episode one, and it's because S.H.I.E.L.D. (cut 'n' paste) just doesn't have the emotional center that Buffy and Firefly possessed in truckloads. Frankly, it's just another tired-ass action showâwhich is fine, if you like reruns of MacGyver. Judgment: YOU MAY NOW STOP WATCHING THIS SHOW.
Masters of Sex (Showtime, Sundays, 10 pm). Love Mad Men's style, but hate its oblique plots? Try Masters of Sex, which not only NAILS the cool visual style of the 1950s (Dr. Masters's home makes me want to PUKEâwith envy!), but has a very specific and worthwhile focus... sex and feminism. Dramatizing the challenges faced by pioneering sex researchers Masters and Johnson, Masters of Sex homes in on what it was like to be a woman in the '50sâwielding varying amounts of power in the office (none to a little) and the bedroom (none to lots). The acting and the scripts are great... and did I mention it has a LOT of sex? Judgment: YOU WILL START WATCHING THIS SHOW.
And just to make sure... let me check the mirror one more time. YUP! Awesome sauce! 
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30
10:00 FX AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
When their safety is threatened, the Salem witches decide to fight fire with fire. (DO YOU GET IT?!?)
10:00 FXX ITâS ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA
Tonightâs episode: âThe Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 6â. No further explanation is necessary.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
9:00 CW REIGN
A prince offers to help Scotland if Mary dumps Francis. (Maybe she should ask her Facebook friends what to do?)
10:00 ABC SCANDAL
Get ready for a super secret twist thatâs so crazy, youâll say, âOkay⌠wow. Now that was crazy.â
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
9:00 NBC GRIMM
Captain Renard stops complaining about escalating crime rates when heâs faced with escalating zombie rates.
10:00 IFC COMEDY BANG! BANG!
Scott and Reggie drool over drool-worthy guest Jessica Alba. DA-ROOOOOL.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
11:30 NBC SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Hosted by Scandalâs Kerry Washington! This will either be fantastic or TERRRRRIBLE.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
9:00 AMC THE WALKING DEAD
Conditions at the prison worsen when Rick is unable to find clippers to take care of a nasty hangnail.
10:00 SHO MASTERS OF SEX
Masters flies to a Miami hotel to rest, but is disturbed (and aroused) by the humping couple next door!
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4
9:00 FOX SLEEPY HOLLOW
Abbie has a vision that the Headless Horseman is returning to townâand âsomething, something about wanting a head?â
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5
8:30 FOX BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
When the fire marshal (Patton Oswalt) accuses a restaurant owner of arson, Jake uncovers a âbackdraftâ of evidence. (DO YOU GET IT?!? I DONâT.)
9:00 FOX NEW GIRL
Coach (Damon Wayans Jr) returns to the loft and is PISSED that it isnât exactly the same as when he left!
Follow, lest ye be judged. @WmSteveHumphrey
