Fall 2009 TV: What I’m Still Watching December 1, 2009

A couple of months ago, I gave an overview of what tv shows I would be watching this fall. Some of them were my returning favorites, while others were newbies that I wasn’t sure about. Now that the fall season is well underway, and most of these shows are about to go into holiday hibernation, I thought I’d give an update on what I’m still watching, and which shows have lost my interest.

Didn’t Make It Past the First Round

At the beginning of the fall season, I watched a handful of pilots out of curiosity, and had a reaction of either immediate disinterest or horror.

• Cougar Town – So bad that it was painful to watch. Poor Courtney Cox – Monica Geller would be embarrassed by her character.
• The Middle – Hidy ho, neighbor! This show was too “hunky dory” for my taste. It came across as a slightly desperate attempt to reach out to middle America. The result was a sometimes funny, but mostly contrived comedy that was a wannabe hybrid of Everybody Loves Raymond and Malcolm in the Middle.
• Eastwick – I may have liked this show if it had a darker, supernatural element to it. Instead, it was mostly soap opera fluff with a dash of magic thrown in. I also found all three main characters unlikable, particularly the married one. I felt little sympathy for her when her husband threatened to seek full custody of their kids when they decided to get divorced. Who could blame him? She struck him with lightning! I wrote this show off by the end of the pilot, and it looks like the network has done the same, since I read they haven’t ordered the back nine episodes.

Still Sitting on the Sidelines

Some shows that I considered watching haven’t even seen any playing time. These are all shows I have watched off and on in past seasons, but so far this season the episodes are just piling up on my Tivo.

• Bones – Actually, I only recorded the first episode of the season, and really only because Cyndi Lauper was guest starring. It’s still sitting unwatched on my Now Playing list. (I lost interest in this show about the time that Angela and Hodgins broke up. That was such a forced story.)
• The Mentalist – I like the characters on this sophomore hit (and I love Simon Baker!), and I’m intrigued by the ongoing Red John investigation, but I just haven’t found the time to watch any episodes this season. I may catch up some in the next couple of months.
• CSI – Ever since Warrick’s tragic departure, and then Grissom’s move to South America (or where ever he went to live in the jungle with Sara), this show has been a little depressing. I’m not a huge fan of some of the newer characters, although I like Laurence Fishburne just fine.  At this point in this veteran show’s run, I only watch the episodes that sound interesting to me. So far this season nothing has sounded too good.
• How I Met Your Mother – I still haven’t finished last season’s episodes, much less gotten into this season’s. I guess this just isn’t Must See TV for me. It really never has been. I’ll probably do what I’ve always done, which is to catch up during summer reruns.

I finally started acting my age and stopped watching Vampire Diaries.

Cut from the Lineup

• FlashForward – I really wanted to be excited about this show. Yet every week something was missing. I didn’t find any of the characters compelling, and wasn’t sure why it really mattered what they saw in the future and what they would do about it now. And it took them forever to introduce Charlie – I mean Dominic Monaghan’s character! In every preview, they would show him, but he didn’t actually have much screen time until several episodes in. By that time, I had already decided to bail. Perhaps this show was trying to do too much with too many characters. What worked for Lost doesn’t seem to be working for it. I have a feeling this one won’t make it past season one.
• Vampire Diaries – All along, I felt too old to be watching this show. I rolled my eyes at all the exaggerations of teen angst, and the absence of authority figures. It seems like most of the grown ups were only introduced so they could be killed off (such as the football coach and the reporter). I was intrigued enough by the family dynamics between Stefan and Damon, and Damon really is a fun character. However, the final nail in the coffin was all the mumbo jumbo about crystals and such, and the secret society who vowed to protect the town from vampires. It was all a little hokey. Why not just stick to the formula of a teen who falls in love with a brooding but good-hearted vampire, who happens to have an evil, trouble-making vampire brother? The show seems to be a hit for the CW, and I am sure many fans will continue to enjoy it. I, however, am relieved that I now have one less show to watch on Thursday nights.

"Modern Family" is one of my favorite shows this season

Second Team

These are shows that I’m still watching regularly, but sometimes weeks after they air. In other words, they aren’t “must see.”

• 30 Rock – Still funny, but I’m not compelled to watch it immediately
• The Office – Continues to be hit or miss. I don’t like the direction the show has taken Jim’s character lately, portraying him as a fish out of water in his co-manager position.
• Community – Community seems to be getting better with each episode. We just watched the Green Week episode, which was hilarious, particularly the montage sequence that had Senor Chang salsa dancing at the “Greene Daye” concert, while Shirley gave an inspiring speech about brownies, and Abed and Troy sang “Somewhere Out There” to coax their lab mouse out of hiding. Comic genius.
• Modern Family – Modern Family also gets better with each episode. I love how it balances quirky and deadpan humor with characters that are actually lovable. I like all the characters on the show, which is very rare on today’s brand of sitcom. On the latest episode that I watched, which had to do with a “stolen” bicycle, toddler time, and the installation of a ceiling fan, I was really touched by the ending. Jay (Ed O’Neill) and Gloria’s wine country getaway plans are spoiled when Manny’s father cancels his plan to take him to Disneyland. Rather than tell Manny the truth about his deadbeat dad, Jay sacrifices his and Gloria’s kid-free weekend, telling Manny that his dad wanted them to take him to Disney World, and that he had sent a limo to take them there. That was really sweet. And like Jay said, the most important part of being a dad is just showing up. Sniff, sniff. This show really deserves a post all its own, so I won’t praise it anymore right now.

Glee remains a joy to watch

My Must-See TV

• SYTYCD – I’m still enjoying this show, although this season’s choreography and performances have been underwhelming, except for a handul of my favorite couples. I’m used to investing more time into this show during its summer runs, but since it’s up against so many fall shows, I’ve devoted much less time to blogging about it. I vote that they return to a summer-only format.
• Glee – I am in love with this show. While some episodes are better than others, and some of the humor is just plain silly, there is plenty to make up for those small complaints. The musical numbers are always fun, Sue Sylvester is the funniest character on tv, and every episode ends on an uplifting note that has me either cheering for the characters or celebrating life itself. Can one little tv show achieve all that? Apparently so.
• V – ABC, why must you be so cruel? Four episodes? That’s it? And now we have to wait until March?! I am disappointed to learn that the ratings have plummeted, and I hope that someone will generate enough buzz to get this show back on America’s radar. It is certainly worth it! I was fascinated by the first four episodes. It was very different from the 1980s miniseries, but that wasn’t a bad thing. I like both versions. In this new version, the acting is top notch, the cinematography and special effects are impressive, and the story is compelling and very applicable to our society’s current concerns (healthcare, vaccinations, terrorism, etc.). Perhaps they should have just made this into another miniseries, because it will be very disappointing if the show gets canceled before we know how it ends!
• Fringe – How strange that this is the only one hour drama that I am currently watching (now that V is on a long hiatus). It used to be that I only watched a couple of comedies, and several one hour shows. Maybe I just don’t have the time anymore, or maybe there are more good comedies than dramas right now). With Lost and 24 scheduled to kick off in the next couple of months, my tv lineup will be more balanced. But for now, I remain fascinated by this scifi/thriller/mystery/drama. Olivia, Peter, and Walter are all characters that I care about, and the mysteries are a satisfying blend of disturbing and riveting. I got really antsy waiting for this show to return during Fox’s baseball playoffs coverage. I’m glad that at least one good new show from last season has continued to be successful.

So there you have it. I now have three must-see shows, plus another four comedies that I enjoy watching. That’s all that remains from an original batch of 15 shows that I was considering watching. Have you lost interest in any of this season’s shows? Which ones are you still loving?

Related Post:

• Fall 2009 Television: What I’ll Be Watching

Glee and Vampire Diaries: Opposite Ends of the Teen Spectrum September 11, 2009

Somewhere in Ohio, high school misfits find a common purpose in a revamped glee club, while somewhere in Virginia, a sad and isolated high school student finds a reason to be gleeful when she hits it off with the “new boy at school” vampire. I had to think really hard to work “vamp” and “glee” into both of those sentences, which just goes to show you how far apart the worlds of these two shows are. One is all inspiration, comedy, and fun; the other is all doom, gloom, and a love that spans centuries. One is more comedy for everyone than teen show; the other is a drama mostly for teens, mostly supernatural, and not funny at all. (Well, I was amused by the cawing blackbird and spontaneous fog, but I’m not sure that’s what was intended.)

I highly anticipated the premiere, post-pilot episode of Glee, and I was cautiously intrigued by the approach of Vampire Diaries. Now that I’ve seen both of these shows, I am prepared to share my initial reactions and opinions.

Overall Impression

• Glee – While the second episode didn’t have the absolute, joyous perfection of the pilot, I was still thoroughly entertained. Some stand out moments included anything involving the principal, anything involving Jane Lynch’s cheerleading coach, and the glee club’s two performances – Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” and Salt n Pepa’s “Push It.” I am not as interested in Rachel’s pining over Finn, or Terri’s spontaneous decision to fake being pregnant rather than telling Will it was a false positive. But if the show continues to find humor in the high school social strata, and if the glee club continues to grow and improve, I’ll keep tuning in.
• Vampire Diaries – I was entertained enough by the pilot that I will watch the second episode, but I’m not yet convinced that this is “must see tv.” While I was watching the pilot, I kept thinking to myself, “I’m too old to be watching this.” I was so not interested in the melodrama of what’s his face wanting to get back together with Elena, or of Elena’s brother Jeremy being all wounded when his summer fling Vicki stopped paying attention to him. And the spooky parts weren’t very spooky. I wasn’t scared during the opening scene when the college kids had a bloody encounter with Damon, nor when Vicki was attacked in the woods. Really the only things I did like were Elena’s narration and diary entries, her friendship with possibly psychic Bonnie, Stefan’s mysterious past and desire to finally return home, and Stefan and Damon’s history as brothers, including their involvement with Elena’s Civil War-era look-alike  (Damon mentioned that he vowed to make life difficult for Stefan a long time ago, but we don’t really know why yet.).

Jane Lynch is my favorite thing about Glee.

The Acting

• Glee – Overall, the acting is excellent on this show, which means that the casting was well done, too. The very best thing about Glee is Jane Lynch as cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester. Lynch has always been fantastic in any role, but she is so completely hilarious and spot-on here, that every expression, every glare, every word out of her mouth is golden. If she isn’t nominated for supporting actress in a comedy category at all the tv awards shows this year, then something is very, very wrong. Matthew Morrison plays idealistic do-gooder very well, and I also love Jayma Mays as germaphobic guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury. So far the teen cast are too caricaturish to evaluate, but given time I imagine we’ll see some sort of development with them as well.
• Vampire Diaries – I observed some rather atrocious acting during the pilot. I hate to name names, so instead I’ll just give credit to those who impressed me or seemed well cast. Well, that just leaves me with the three who received top billing: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder. Dobrev brings a quiet confidence and a no-nonsense air to Elena, Wesley plays “I’m the good one” vampire Stefan as well as one can, and Somerhalder brings some much-needed comic relief (I’m not sure it was supposed to be funny, but I laughed) and passion to the whole proceedings. Somerhalder just has that creepy, evil eye look about him, similar to Cillian Murphy, that makes him well-suited for a role such as this. He will be entertaining as Damon, and will probably be the main reason I’ll keep watching, if I do.

The Soundtrack

• Glee – The music is probably the main reason I watch this show. I enjoy hearing choral interpretations of popular songs, plus I like the quirky, Bobby McPherrinish harmonies that provide atmosphere for many of the scenes.
• Vampire Diaries – In the tradition of many CW shows that have come before it, this vampire love saga is chock full of barely known music from current bands. At least, it’s barely known to me. But I am all for promoting the little guys. In fact, I like how the CW often advertises the music at the end of its shows: “Tonight’s episode featured music from…” That being said, I didn’t absolutely love any of the music in the pilot episode enough to go download it. Maybe next week. Click here for a list of the songs from the pilot.

Vampire Diaries is the land of lost teens, with almost no adults to be found.

Where Have All the Grown-Ups Gone?

• Glee – Well, all the grown-ups are hanging out in the halls of the high school, because most of them are teachers and faculty. The only parent we’ve seen is Finn’s mom, when he flashed back to their fun times on the front lawn with the lawn care guy. And the only spouse we’ve seen is Will’s crazy, self-centered wife Terri (played very well by Jessalyn Gilsig. And for a show about a high school, this is as it should be. Since most of the action takes place at school, there’s no reason to develop the parents at this point.
• Vampire Diaries – Now that is a good question for this show – where are all the grown-ups? We saw one older teacher, who was put in his place by Stefan when he gave the class some misinformation about Mystic Falls’ civil war civilian casualties. And then there was that secretary who Stefan glamored into enrolling him at the school without proper paperwork. But Elena and Jeremy live with their grad student aunt, who doesn’t look much older than 25, and none of the other kids seem to have any sort of parental guidance. (Am I forgetting anyone?) I haven’t figured out the relationship between Stefan and his “uncle.” I’m guessing that’s just a living descendant of the family who is aware of his family’s bloodsucking past. It seems awkward to just ignore all the parents. I mean, a simple mention would do, or a wave goodbye as Bonnie and the gang head to their coffee shop hangout. I am surprised that we aren’t seeing more parents since this show is from Mr. Dawson’s Creek himself, Kevin Williamson. I always enjoyed the parents’ subplots on that show, since real teenagers’ lives are usually mixed up, rather than totally separate from, their moms and dads, grandparents, guardians… Maybe the show will introduce more adult characters in the coming weeks. If not, I’m calling this out as a flaw.

Vampire Diaries reminds me of Roswell, specifically Max and Liz's relationship.

Reminds me of…

• Glee – It’s hard to think of any shows like this one. It reminds me more of Christopher Guest movies, such as Best in Show or A Mighty Wind. Unlike most of what comes on tv these days (lots of revivals, remakes, and spin-offs), this one seems very original.
• Vampire Diaries – This show has nothing in common with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, except that a vampire falls in love with a teenage girl. But I don’t see Elena picking up a sword and vanquishing Damon in the season finale. No, Vampire Diaries is more reminiscent of Roswell. On that show, alien Max Evans fell in love with Liz Parker, and Liz wrote in her diary about how her world was turned upside down the moment she got involved with him. Like Elena, Liz had a friend with psychic connections – as I recall, Maria was somehow in touch with that kind of thing. Aliens, vampires… while there are many differences, both Liz and Elena are drawn to Max and Stefan because they aren’t like the other boys.

In the Great Scheme of Things

• Glee – I am thrilled to have a musical comedy on tv. Amidst all the melodrama of teen romance, the mystery of criminal investigations, and the depressing cases of medical shows, Glee is a breath of fresh air. I just hope the showrunners and cast can keep up with audience expectation for a long time to come.
• Vampire Diaries – This, my friends, is no Joss Whedon show. Buffy or Angel it will never be. The love triangle was always just a part of the story on those shows, with a more epic story arc taking center stage. I’m not sure this show will ever rise above the Stefan-Elena-Damon love triangle and the mayhem that Stefan will try to prevent Damon from inflicting on Mystic Falls. Do I sound skeptical? Well, I am. Perhaps if I continue watching, then after several episodes I will compare Vampire Diaries to other vampire shows of the past, to see how it stacks up. I should at least give it a chance.

So obviously, if I were forced to choose between these two shows, I would immediately select Glee. Vampire Diaries pales (pun intended) in comparison to the more magical, zingier Glee. What did you think of these two shows?

Fall 2009 Preview: The CW’s New Shows September 3, 2009

I will now round out my take on the major networks’ new series with a look at the CW’s new shows. I haven’t watched anything on the former WB since Veronica Mars was canceled two years ago. I thought I would be permanently finished with this youth-skewing network, but they have at least one show that has piqued my interest this season. Let’s take a look.

Not Interested At All

• Melrose Place – I somehow managed to avoid this show in its original incarnation. Well, I was 14 when it started, which probably made me a bit too young to be watching a trashy primetime soap about 20- and 30-somethings living in an apartment complex. Strange, then, that they are reviving said trashy soap on a network geared toward teens. I see no reason to watch this show. I don’t like soap operas, and I don’t know any of the actors, and based on the preview I watched, it doesn’t look like any of these characters are likable. However, I am sure it will find an audience and will provide some good watercooler topics for people who are interested in that sort of thing.
• The Beautiful Life – Description from cwtv.com: “The life of a high-fashion model appears glamorous and sexy, but as every new model quickly learns, behind the beautiful façade is a world of insecurity and cut-throat competition. Two teenage models who are about to discover this world for themselves are Raina Mayer (Sara Paxton, “Last House on the Left”), a stunning beauty with a secret past, and Chris Andrews (Benjamin Hollingsworth, “The Line”), a strikingly handsome Iowa farm boy.” This is another show that simply isn’t for me. I would never watch this show. I have no interest in high fashion, and I am sure this is yet another primetime soap in the making. Kudos to Ashton Kutcher for getting involved with a project that is a somewhat new approach to the genre, by setting it in the world of fashion. I can’t think of another show besides reality-based ones that has had such a premise. Too bad I’m just not interested. The CW was smart to schedule it after America’s Next Top Model. They will probably gain more viewers that way.

Somewhat Interested

• The Vampire Diaries – This is the only CW show premiering this fall that I’m remotely interested in. I always give vampire shows a chance. Sometimes they are great (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel); sometimes they are lackluster (Moonlight). I am guessing this one will fall somewhere in between. I’ve heard the book series upon which it is based is mediocre at best. It seems obvious that Vampire Diairies is the CW’s attempt to capitalize on the huge popularity of all things Twilight. A human girl (played by Nina Dobrev from Degrassi: The Next Generation) falls in love with a mysterious, handsome boy who happens to be a vampire… However, Twilight fans may not be willing to just watch this show because it is about vampires. Most of them are quite obsessed with dear Edward and company, so these new fangs on the block may not measure up. It’s nice to see Ian Somerhalder (Boone on Lost) back on tv, and I also know Paul Wesley from his role on Everwood as Amy’s drug-addicted boyfriend. He was also the star of the short-lived supernatural drama Fallen. It will be hard for me to believe Somerhalder as the villain, but I’m willing to see what he does with his character, Damon the ancient and evil vampire. So, yes, I am skeptical as to whether or not CW can do a vampire show well, after all the shows they have managed to mess up over the past few years. But I’ll tune in as long as it holds my interest (and doesn’t conflict with my other shows).

The CW has two more shows scheduled to premiere at midseason: Blonde Charity Mafia and Life Unexpected. Blonde Charity Mafia sounds terrifying – something about the lives of Washington, D.C.’s most influential 20-something alpha girls. It’s described as a docu-series. I don’t know if that means it’s a reality show, or simply a drama based on reality. I don’t want to find out! The other “coming soon” show sounds potentially decent. Life Unexpected is about a 15-year old teenager, Lux, who decides to become an emancipated minor after spending most of her life in foster homes. During the legal process that follows, she meets her biological father, 30-something “aging frat boy” Nate, and her biological mother, Cate, a local radio celebrity. Cate also has a radio DJ boyfriend, Ryan. A judge grants temporary custody of Lux to Nate and Cate (how cute – rhyming names), and they decide to “make a belated attempt to give her the family she deserves.” It’s nice to see Shiri Appleby (Roswell) back on the WB, I mean CW. She’ll be playing Lux’s mother, Cate. It’s also nice to welcome Kerr Smith back to the network, although I have a hard time seeing Jack from Dawson’s Creek as an aging frat boy. I hope I remember to watch this show at midseason. It could be the next Everwood. Family drama, interesting characters… It at least looks like a step up from One Tree Hill and 90210. That’s something, right?

Will you watch any shows on The CW this season?

Related Posts

• Fall 2009 Preview: NBC’s New Shows
• Fall 2009 Preview: ABC’s New Shows
• Fall 2009 Preview: CBS’s New Shows
• Fall 2009 Preview: Fox’s New Shows
  

Fall 2009 Preview: Fox’s New Shows September 3, 2009

And I thought that CBS had a mediocre lineup of new shows. Fox seems to have put all their eggs in one Gleeful basket this fall – everything else will likely be quickly forgotten. Weak, vague, or annoying premises; unfamiliar actors; and not a lot else.

Not Interested - I can’t even bring myself to analyze most of these shows, since I am completely uninterested in them. If you want to know more about them, go to Fox’s Fall Schedule.

• Brothers – Something about a retired NFL player moving back home to his family in Houston
• The Cleveland Show – An animated show about a guy named Cleveland and his son, a pair of talking religious bears, and some other Simpsons-esque characters.
• Human Target – Something about a mysterious guy named Chance (shouldn’t he be on a soap opera instead?) who is hired by people to be an undercover body guard when their lives are in danger. (Sounds like a pale imitation of one facet of Dollhouse to me.) Poor Mark Valley. He deserves better than this.
• Mental – This show has already started. Something about a psychiatrist who may be as unstable as his patients.
• More to Love – Fox’s description of this show is so ridiculously over the top that I had to share it with you here. From Fox.com: “The dating competition series follows a single average guy with a big waist and an even bigger heart as he romances several confident and secure plus-size women. Each week, the husky hunk will wine and dine a group of curvy women to determine if they have more love to give or if they are truly more than he can handle. As the competition narrows, he must decide if one full-figured lady has what it takes to become his true love.” Could they have found any more excuses to use “big” and “small” words? I am so sick of these dating shows.

• Past Life – This one sounds really hokey. Fox.com describes it as “a new drama series about an unlikely pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before.” Um, ok. Why would it matter?
• Sons of Tucson – Oh, is this going to be Fox’s version of Sons of Anarchy? Not so much. According to Fox.com, this is “a family comedy about three brothers who hire a charming, wayward schemer to stand in as their father when their real one goes to prison. What begins as a business relationship evolves into something more complex and compelling: a family unlike any we’ve ever seen.” Really? Unlike any we’ve ever seen? Such a lofty promise, but I’m just not feeling compelled to watch. Still, this is probably the second most interesting new show that Fox is offering, next to Glee. But there’s a large gap between them. Tyler Labine (Reaper, Invasion) is the big headliner, but I’ve honestly never liked him very much. Still, he has his funny moments and may be a good fit for this sort of comedy. I’ll try to keep an open mind until this show premieres at midseason.
• The Wanda Sykes Show – Wanda Sykes will bring her distinctive humor to the late night talk show format. Fox.com describes it this way: “The high-energy one-hour show will feature biting commentary on topical issues and heated panel discussions with recurring personalities. The series’ unique format will highlight Sykes’ outspoken comedic perspective on current events and will also allow her to leave the studio to shoot segments in the field.” In this instance, I read “high energy” as “loud and annoying.” I guess you could say that Wanda Sykes isn’t my favorite comedian. But it will be interesting to see if Fox will find success in this relatively new (to them) area of late night talk.

Very Interested

• Glee – I’ve been waiting all summer for this show to begin, after watching the pilot in May. I stop what I’m doing every time I see a commercial for it. The music is contagious, the comedy is genuinely funny, the main characters are interesting, and the social satire is spot on. I especially love Jane Lynch as cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, and Matthew Morrison as glee club teacher Will Schuester. They are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. He has a passion for helping his students discover their hidden potential, while Sue only has a passion for keeping everybody else down so that she and her cheer squad can remain the queen bees. After the pilot, the teachers are more interesting than the students, but I’m sure we will get to know the students better, too. I can’t wait!

What will you be watching on Fox this fall?

Related Posts

• Fall 2009 Preview: NBC’s New Shows
• Fall 2009 Preview: ABC’s New Shows
• Fall 2009 Preview: CBS’s New Shows
• Fall 2009 Preview: The CW’s New Shows

Fall 2009 Preview: CBS’s New Shows September 2, 2009

CBS has four new shows this fall, plus one crossover from another network (Medium from NBC). I don’t plan to watch any of these shows. In fact, the only show I consistently watch on the network is How I Met Your Mother, and I occasionally watch CSI and The Mentalist. Despite my disinterest in CBS’s fall lineup, for the sake of a balanced look at all the networks’ new offerings, read on for an overview of the newcomers. I’ve ordered them from least to most interesting.

• Accidentally on Purpose – Description from tv.com: “A San Francisco newspaper film critic becomes pregnant after a hookup with a much younger man and together they raise a nontraditional family. Golden Globe Award winner, Jenna Elfman plays Billie, who after a hard breakup with her boss, James, played by Private Practice’s Grant Show, then gets knocked up by Zack, Windfall’s Jon Foster. They make a nontraditional arrangement to live together platonically and raise the child. But when Zack friends turn her place into a frat house, Billie isn’t sure that the plan can work out.” What a surprise. Yet another bland Jenna Elfman sitcom… I was insulted by how not funny the promo was. Elfman’s character, Billie, was behaving like an idiot hopped up on caffeine pills, and the younger “dudes” weren’t impressing me with their intellect or social skills either. I predict this one will go the way of Elfman’s last show, Courting Alex: nowhere fast.
• Three Rivers – Description from tv.com: “This is the story of an acclaimed transplant hospital and the team, which hold life and death in their hands everyday [...] Every case is viewed from the perspective of the team, the recipient and the donor.” I’m sure there will be some interesting stories – some inspiring, some depressing. But in my opinion, this is an example of a premise that is too specific, much like NBC’s new show The Forgotten. It’s one thing to watch an occasional episode about organ donation on a medical show with a broader scope, but another to watch the same issues play out week after week. I have nothing against a show that reminds us of the importance of organ donation, but that doesn’t mean I’ll watch it. Well, I might tune in to one episode just to see Alex O’Loughlin, who we last saw as vampire Mick St. John on Moonlight. It also stars Julia Ormond, who brings a bit more star power to the table. Bottom line: it seems like this is CBS’s attempt to replicate the success of House, only with much more heart, and much less crankiness. Update: A reader of my blog who is more well-informed about this show than I am let me know that Julia Ormond has been replaced by Alfre Woodard, and while the show will still be set in Pittsburgh, it will now be filmed in L.A. This information doesn’t change my opinion of the show, although it’s a shame that the show won’t have an authentic Pennsylvania setting now.

• NCIS: Los Angeles – Description from tv.com: “The Office of Special Projects (OSP) is a clandestine division of NCIS and is located in Los Angeles, California. They go deep undercover to capture criminals that are threatening national security. They have access to the latest technological developments.” This show only earned a spot ahead of Three Rivers because it stars LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell. What an unlikely combination, and quite a dynamic celebrity duo for a CBS show! And I am sure that the “latest technological developments” will make for some fun investigative techniques. Unfortunately, that’s not enough to make me watch. I’ve never watched NCIS, and I don’t intend to watch this spin-off. My guess is that it will mainly appeal to fans of the original, and people who really love LL Cool J or Chris O’Donnell. I would probably watch at least an occasional episode if someone like David Anders or Bradley Cooper were in it, but they aren’t. Out of CBS’s four new shows, this is probably the only surefire hit. For whatever reason, people are always willing to tune in to slightly different variations on their favorite crime or legal procedurals. It continues to work for CSI and Law and Order, so it will probably work for NCIS. What’s next? How I Met Your Brother?
• The Good Wife - Description from tv.com: “‘The Good Wife’ is a female-driven drama about a politician’s wife who pursues her own career as a defense attorney after her husband is sent to jail on charges of political corruption. Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) will not only have to deal with her career but also with keeping her family together by providing a stable home for her two children.” The previews for this show have not done it justice. They are making it look like a Lifetime movie based on a true story, which it isn’t. Now that I understand the premise, I am at least considering watching the pilot episode. It’s part legal drama, part family drama, and all about female empowerment. (It’s nice to see at least one show with a female lead whose sole purpose isn’t hunting down younger men.) I’m sure Julianna Margulies will do a good job in this role. In addition to Chris Noth, who will appear as her “bad husband,” she’s joined by Matt Czuchry (Rory’s boyfriend on Gilmore Girls, Lyla’s boyfriend on Friday Night Lights), who seems to be playing another slightly conceited but well-meaning go-getter. Another familiar face is Josh Charles, who played Dan Rydell on Sports Night. He will play Will Gardner, a colleague (and perhaps potential love interest?) of Alicia. And finally, Christine Baranski, who is perhaps best known for her role on Cybill, will take on the role of another of Alicia’s colleagues. The interesting cast is there, the potential for some realistic family and professional drama is there, but that special something that holds it all together may be missing, because I’m just not feeling much motivation to give this show a chance. That being said, it’s the closest thing to interesting that CBS is offering this fall, so I will perhaps watch the pilot.

So there you have it. CBS’s mediocre freshman class. Well at least there are no annoying reality shows among them. Are you interested in any of these shows?

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Fall 2009 Preview: NBC’s New Shows August 22, 2009

When I searched for the official fall preview on NBC.com, I was surprised to learn that the peacock network is only premiering four shows this fall. And it is quite a lackluster crowd, save for one that is full of potential.

Will Avoid Like the Plague

• The Jay Leno Show – There was much rejoicing and dancing in the street in my family when Jay Leno “retired” from The Tonight Show. I disliked everything about the show with him as a host. If many Americans feel the same way about him as I do, then NBC’s plan to showcase him in primetime five nights a week is a monumentally bad one. This show is probably the reason that they don’t have more new shows to premiere. Think of all the valuable real estate they are wasting in the 9:00/10:00 hour!

Not Interested

• Mercy – The description from NBC.com: “You haven’t seen inside a hospital until you’ve seen it through the eyes of those who know it best: its nurses.” I haven’t had much interest in medical shows since Grey’s Anatomy became absurdist and House’s original team broke up, and there’s nothing that makes me want to watch this one. If the characters were compelling, or if the nurses vs. doctors theme weren’t so heavy-handed (as it seems from the promo), then it might be going somewhere good. Instead, it’s just another bland looking medical drama. Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) could do better than her role as a rookie nurse. I’ll skip this show all together, unless I’m really bored the night it premieres.
• Trauma – The description from NBC.com: “An action-packed drama looking at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics.” The only reason I would watch this show is that Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) is the executive producer. Well, that and it’s set in San Francisco. But then, it probably isn’t actually filmed in San Fran. But those reasons just aren’t enough. The promo is weak, the premise is too generic, and the cast has a few familiar faces, but none that would make the show must-see. Didn’t they make this show before, and wasn’t it called Third Watch?

Very Interested

• Community – Description from NBC.com: “Community focuses on a band of misfits at Greendale Community College who form an unlikely bond.” I am very excited about this show! The preview made me laugh out loud. A lot. I love everyone in the cast, and I have a special interest in the premise since I teach at a community college. Even though NBC has hit a slump when it comes to one hour dramas, at least they are getting their comedy right. I’ll be adding this show to my must-see Thursday night comedy lineup.

That’s it. Pretty weak for a fall lineup. It’s not like the network has an amazing pre-existing lineup. I’ll only be tuning in on Thursday nights for The Office, 30 Rock, Community, and perhaps Parks and Recreation. There are a few more new shows that will premiere in the spring, out of which Parenthood looks the most interesting. Maybe I’m just not in NBC’s target demographic, but it seems to me that they aren’t trying real hard to come up with interesting new shows. What do you think?

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Fall 2009 Preview: ABC’s New Shows August 22, 2009

A soccer mom, a witch, and an alien walk into a bar… That’s kind of how ABC’s new shows are shaping up – an odd mix of middle America, middle-aged women, and mysterious outsiders. I feel inclined to watch at least the first episode of a few of these shows, but others I couldn’t care less about. Let’s take a look.

Not Interested

• Cougar Town – Description from ABC.com: “In a small Florida town, the center of high society is the Cougars high school football team… which is wildly appropriate since this town is the natural habitat for over-tanned, under-dressed divorcées prowling for younger men.” Um, count me out. First of all, since when is Courtney Cox old enough to be considered a cougar, and second of all, I think that Richard Fish’s girlfriend Whipper was all the cougar I ever needed to see on tv. I didn’t mind a small dose of Dyan Cannon, but a whole show about these women? I’ll pass.
• The Forgotten – Description from ABC.com: “In the United States, the remains of 40,000 people haven’t been identified. When police investigations reach a dead end, civilian volunteers across the country work to name the forgotten.” Oooohhhh… sounds spooky. Not really. Poor Christian Slater. How does he keep ending up with these dead end shows? At least My Own Worst Enemy had an interesting premise, but we really don’t need another “unsolved crime of the week” show. At first I thought maybe there was some strange event that resulted in the simultaneous deaths of all 40,000, but no, that would be too complicated. Instead, this is just another spin on Cold Case, which is just another spin on Without a Trace, which is just… I get all the crime drama I need from the original CSI, thank you very much. I peg this to be one of the first shows canceled this fall.
• The Middle – Description from ABC.com: “Forget about athletes, movie stars and politicians. Parents are the real heroes — but Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton), well she’s some kind of superhero. A loving wife and mother of three, she’s middle class in the middle of the country and is rapidly approaching middle age.” This seems like a feeble attempt to combine the success of Everybody Loves Raymond with the irreverent tone of Malcolm in the Middle. And sadly, it will probably be the most successful of ABC’s new comedies. But just so that there will be a little healthy competition…
• Hank – Description from ABC.com: “Sometimes scaling back is the best way to get ahead. Wall Street legend Hank Pryor (Kelsey Grammer) and his wife Tilly have been living the high life in New York City. That is until Hank is forced out of his CEO job and has to move his family back home to the small town of River Bend.” Since Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton couldn’t find success on the same show, they are going the divide and conquer route. Both shows seem to be aiming for the middle America crowd, but neither looks particularly interesting. Grammer’s show seems to rely on “fish out of water” schtick. I’m not sure viewers are ready to see Grammer in the role of a family man. I know he’ll always be Frasier to me.
• Shark Tank – Description from ABC.com: “From Mark Burnett, executive producer of Survivor and The Apprentice, and Sony Pictures Television, comes Shark Tank, an exciting, new reality show that gives budding entrepreneurs the chance to make their dreams come true and become successful — and possibly wealthy — business people.” So this show actually already premiered, and I saw a few minutes of it. That was enough for me to know it’s not for me. I simply don’t care about these people and their desire to get rich or richer. Plus, it has the same sort of awkward production “values” as America’s Got Talent. Lots of awkward pauses, overdramatic music, spastic camera work. I would be more interested if it were a show about sharks on the Discovery Channel. Then they’d have something.
• The Deep End – Description from ABC.com: “Sterling Law is one of L.A.’s most prestigious law firms. Each year it recruits four new young lawyers from the finest law schools worldwide. It will nurture, guide and shape these recruits into the best damned lawyers they can possibly be — or else.” Even Billy Zane isn’t enough to get me interested in yet another lawyer show.

Mildly Interested

• Eastwick – Description from ABC.com: “Single-handedly, housewives accomplish astonishing things… and together, watch out. In the seaside village of Eastwick, this might just be evidence of their inner-witch rising to the surface.” Based on the preview, this looks like a supernatural version of Desperate Housewives, which could be interesting. The three leading ladies – Rebecca Romijn, Lindsay Price, and Jamie Ray Newman – seem like good casting choices. But the main reason I’m interested in this show is that it is filmed on the same external set as Gilmore Girls at Warner Bros. Studio. It makes sense, since both shows are set in small east coast towns. I toured the studio for the second time in June, and saw what was formerly the town of Stars Hollow looking only slightly different in its new role as Eastwick. Gone was the trademark gazebo, and I can only assume that its empty spot was reserved for the fountain and statue of three women that I noticed in the Eastwick preview. This show may not have enough oomph to keep me tuning in, but I’ll at least watch the pilot.
• Modern Family – Description from ABC.com: “When the Pritchett, Delgado and Dunphy families agree to be interviewed by a documentary crew, they have no idea just how much they’re about to reveal about themselves. This engaging new comedy offers a ‘mockumentary’ view into the complicated, messy, loving life of three unique families.” Now this show has the potential to be very funny, but I wouldn’t say I was super excited after watching the preview – more like intrigued. Julie Bowen’s character, a mom who has a wild past, reminds me of Catherine O’Hara’s hilarious character from Best in Show, Cookie, who was married to a very mild mannered man, but had quite a colorful past that always seemed to come up in conversations. Ed O’Neill, of Married with Children fame, has aged a lot, and seems to be playing a much more low key character than Al Bundy. More like Robert DeNiro in Meet the Parents, perhaps? I’ll give this one a shot. I haven’t had a decent family sitcom to watch since Arrested Development got canceled.
• Happy Town – Description from ABC.com: “For the past seven years Haplin, Minnesota’s lived up to its nickname, Happy Town. Even the air is sweet with the smell of bread from the industrial bakery. Unfortunately, everything is about to change.” This one doesn’t have a premiere date set, which probably means it’s waiting in the wings until one of its predecessors (perhaps The Forgotten?) fails. The preview began with what was supposed to be an impressive statement: “From the network that brought you Twin Peaks…” Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean much since it’s also from the network that brought us Cavemen. Obviously, they are trying to sell us on the idea that this is a network willing to take a risk on a strange show, but based on the preview, this doesn’t look anything like Twin Peaks - unless it’s a dumbed down, squeaky clean version. I am mildly intrigued since the cast includes Amy Acker, Steven Weber, and Sam Neill. This isn’t the type of show that lasts very long, though. I’ll watch the pilot, if it ever airs, but I will have to be very impressed to keep tuning in.

Very Interested

• Flash Forward – Description from ABC.com: “A mysterious global event causes everyone to black out simultaneously for two minutes and seventeen seconds, and each person sees a glimpse of their lives six months from now. When they wake up, everyone is left wondering if what they saw will actually happen.” This sounds like an awfully vague premise to base an entire show on, but it is an intriguing one. Something about it reminds me of the opening moments of the ’90s remake of Village of the Damned, starring Kirstie Alley and Christopher Reeve, when everyone in their small town lost consciousness at the same time. In their case, it was so that the women could be impregnated by aliens or something, so the similarities stop there. The two stars I most recognize are Joseph Fiennes (perhaps best known for Shakespeare in Love) and Sonya Walger, who I’ve loved as Penny on Lost. Flash Forward is written and produced by David S. Goyer, who worked on Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and the short-lived but good tv show Threshold. The production values are slick, the story is mysterious, and the cast looks top notch. These are all ingredients for a winning show, but not necessarily for successful ratings. This may be the show that struggles to find an audience, but if the story stays interesting after that 2 minute and 17 second blackout, then I will stick around.
• V – Description from ABC.com: “Today, the world woke up to find spaceships over every major city. The Visitors claim to have come in peace, bringing gifts of medical miracles and technological breakthroughs. They promise to do no harm. They’re lying.” Ah, I have such fond memories of watching the various forms of V back in the 80s. Ok, so I was slightly scarred by the images of a lizard-tongued baby and mice-eating aliens, but that miniseries is probably what started my interest in sci-fi. That being said, I am sure that if I watched the 80s version now, it would seem very dated, so I am okay with a remake. And based on the preview, it looks like someone is doing it right. It has an impressive cast, including Elizabeth Mitchell (the beloved Juliet on Lost), Joel Gretsch (it will be interesting to see him as a priest since he was an FBI agent on the similarly scifi-themed 4400), and Scott Wolf (who needs a breakout role since The Nine didn’t work out for him). I must say, I am pretty excited about this one. Too bad it doesn’t premiere until November 3.

So there you have it. Out of 11 shows, I am excited about two, mildly intrigued by three, and completely indifferent about six. Check back in the coming days and weeks to see what I think about the other networks’ new shows. And once the new season officially begins, look for my reviews of many of these shows’ pilots. Which of these shows are you interested in, and why? Which ones do you think have a chance for a full season pick up? And which one do you predict will be canceled first?

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