My Friend Alan Kong stops in to talk TV nerdity!

 How TV allowed me to extend my nerdity

I used to love to read books. Why yes, I did grow up without Cable TV. When I went away  to college and left to my own accord to read textbooks and my channel list expanded somewhere along the line books and my attention span got left behind. I look at one  of my former goals of finishing War and Peace and now think, "I could probably watch all five seasons of "The Wire" faster than I could read that book. "Want me to read  Dickens? Best of times and worst of times? Make up your mind you jerk! Way to put  the dick in Dickens. Oh don't even get me started on One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Do you want numbers or colors?!" These brain teasers are the reasons I often put my brain into  standby mode and watch television instead.  Tuned InAhhh television. As Homer Simpson once said, "Teacher, mother, secret lover." In this day and age you're not restricted to watching TV shows on a television. Jigga what?! What an age we live in! Sometimes I like to stream TV shows on the computer and have a  digital HD over the air channel going on my LG 3D HDTV. It's like a couch potato  threeway. While playing Candy Crush I can hear Jon Stewart make jokes about our inept politicians on Hulu while simultaneously listening to a commercial on TV for "The Purge" wondering why people just don't  head to Canada for that week. My current viewing list is diverse but I don't want to talk about the shows that don't need more promotion  like Game of Thrones or Big Bang Theory or Arrested Development - watch season  4 all the way through before giving up on it btw - I'm here to add sprinkles to your nerdmone levels.  I want to list a few shows that you might not have tested out yet and risk completely  blowing my non established credibility with you.But what is a nerd's show? Is it centered around a nerd or  a group of nerds? It can be but for every Big Bang Theory you have your Family  Matters where people were meant to laugh at Urkel than with him but before you know it he took over the show. Something Screech could never accomplish on Saved by the Bell but I think that's because Screech was more dweeb than geek or nerd. Nerds seem to be drawn to certain types of shows across all  genres. We like that wow factor where the writing really demonstrates that extra level  of detail that nerds appreciate where things tie back together in an awesome, and  hopefully unpredictable, package. We're drawn to cleverness. I think nerds who haven't discovered these shows will appreciate them. Da  Vinci's Demons  - This new Starz drama is a fictional account of a Young Leonardo Da Vinci during the time when his beloved Florence is under siege from Rome and the Papacy. Leo demonstrates his cleverness along with his innovations using his talents to gain an upper hand on his enemies with some help from his apprentices and his complex relationship with the Medicis whom his father works for. The first season has just wrapped up its eight episodes  and a second has been ordered. If you really get into the show the finale may rival the Red Wedding episode of  Game of Thrones in shock value. The season wasn't legen - wait for it - dary but  pretty satisfying for an opening act since you know there'll be another season.Plenty of material for nerds to argue and nitpick about including historical  accuracy, plausibility of his inventions and his sexuality. Be sure to argue your position passionately to show those strangers you've never met how right you are and if you don't like it tell me how stupid I am!Nerd Bonus Points:·         Alexander Siddig, who played Dr. Julian Bashir from Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine, has a recurring role as Al-Rahim.
Sherlock  - I was recommended this BBC crime drama after seeing the American ripoff  known as Elementary. A modern day Sherlock Holmes assisting the police with assistance from military veteran, Dr. John Watson.There have been two seasons each consisting of three ~90 minute episodes based on the stories. I'll admit that a couple of the episodes weren't for me and I probably would've preferred if they were half as long but overall it's a solid series.  The series becomes darker as it goes on and the first episode is a great introduction into how his mind works.Speculation about the ending of Season 2 has been ongoing for quite awhile given the  lengthy break. The third season, which reportedly will start to stray more from the  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, is currently in production so you can find some time  to catch up and conjecture before it airs.Nerd Bonus Points:·         Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness  (Did I mention I've watched every episode of every non-Animated Star Trek incarnation?), plays Sherlock.·         Steven Moffat, who helped revive the Doctor Who series, co-created this series.·         House M.D. was based on Sherlock Holmes. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson  - I'm sure when most people think nerdy talk  shows they think Conan, The Daily Show or Colbert Report - All great by the way -  but mostly because they're probably asleep by the time Craig Ferguson airs.  Thankfully you can catch episodes of this gem for free on CBS.com. Craig is a  Whovian who played Drew Carey's boss, Nigel Wick, on The Drew Carey Show. He had an entire episode dedicated to the Doctor when he had Matt Smith as a guest including one of Craig's infamous opening dance numbers. Aside from  that he's also a huge Mythbusters fan with a sidekick robot, Geoff Peterson, who was  built by Grant Imahara. Having before done shows with not only the monologue,  but an entire show hosted by a hand puppet, he also has his trusty steed Secretariat  which consists of two interns in a horse costume. He also has written very candid  novels of his life detailing his battles with alcohol and drugs. He also is very  proud of becoming an American Citizen but never hides his Scottish roots. He may be  the heir to David Letterman's show.Nerd Bonus Points:·         Craig is also an accomplished voice actor lending his voice to  characters you may know such as Gobber in How to Train Your Dragon, Owl in Winnie the Pooh and Susan Boil in an episode of Futurama.Thanks for reading and stay tuned.