The Best Of Fall TV - Part 5 (Tuesday Nights)

Okay, so I’ve been slacking on the Tuesday TV schedule – so let’s jump in and get through this quick and easy, like pulling off a Band-aid…

1. Fringe (Fox) – (Started September 9th) J.J. Abrams seems to have a pattern for picking his leads: one cute female (relatively unknown) and one attractive male, preferably from some kind of show that had a teenybopper audience – possibly add in a dash of comic relief to spice things up. In this show, the hot mama in question is Anna Torv (playing FBI Agent Olivia Dunham), the hunkey man-type is Joshua Jackson (formerly of Dawson’s Creek fame – playing super-smart Peter Bishop) and John Noble (playing Dr. Walter Bishop – Peter’s father, also ridiculously intelligent, and nutty as a squirrel turd – thus the comic relief). (If you’re wondering what the parallels are, in LOST their counterparts would be Evangeline Lilly, Matthew Fox (previously of Party of Five) and Jorge Garcia (Hurley – not wicked smaht, but equally funny.)) What you’ve missed so far: melting people on a plane, rapidly aging serial killers and psychic lab experiments – oh, and they pulled the eye out of a corpse to do… oh, I forget, but it was pretty gross. What could sink this show? Right now, Fox is actually doing a pretty decent job promoting Fringe, so they’re not a problem – yet. But if they don’t let Olivia get over her dead ex soon and start to crack a smile? Even the crazytown antics of Dr. Bishop won’t be enough to lighten the mood after a while. We need levity injected into a show with such a serious backstory. Final words: the shadowy conspiracy in this mythology series has a name: The Pattern. Oooooh, the evil pattern. Is it the government? The scary corporate scientists? Needlework designs fom Hell? I’ll never tell - XOXO.

2. The Mentalist (CBS) – (Started September 23rd) Patrick Jane works as an independent detective who uses his honed observation skills to assist law enforcement in solving crimes. Add a spunky sidekick in the pharmaceutical biz, a spunky female cop as a love interest and a head detective nicknamed Lassie? Yeah, isn’t this already a show on USA called Psych? Oh, but this one isn’t supposed to be funny? Okay. Worth checking out, but if you have to choose between this and House – not sure how many will tune in…

3. House (Fox) – (Started September 16th) So, Dr. Wilson may or may not blame House for the death of his girlfriend – but he definitely doesn’t want to be friends anymore, so he’s moved away. A character replacement that seems to be working oddly well? The private detective House hired to get background dirt on his patients – oh, and he hired him to spy on Wilson, but that’s really no surprise. And yes, the new team is still intact (Foreman, Thirteen, that guy from Harold & Kumar and the cranky ex-plastic surgeon). Also still going strong – the weekly lumbar puncture, House’s crankiness/general insanity and a steady increase in the amount of gross and gooey procedures. Bottom line: if you don’t know how good House is by now, we may need a psych consult – or another L.P. just to be safe…

4. The Shield (FX) – (Started September 2nd) Whether or not you agree with Vic Mackey’s strongarm politics, he’s always gotten the job done. Granted, he might’ve burnt some people’s faces off along the way, and maybe he stole a truckload of money from the Russian mob – nobody’s perfect. The thing to remember about this show, though? This is one of the cable network successes that proved that original scripted programs could exist beyond the major networks. AND they could be just as edgy as anything on HBO or Showtime. So give this show some love – it’s the final season, and I’m betting they don’t bow out quietly.

5. Eli Stone (ABC) – (Starts October 14th) A mid-season replacement from last year that came out with a success story – a pickup for season 2! And there are few shows as deserving – the quirky dramedy about a lawyer whose George Michael-centric hallucinations turn him into a modern-day prophet is funny, well written and populated with a fantastic cast. Jump on board when it starts up again – I’m sure the “Previously On” voiceover guy will tell you anything you missed – just a hunch.

See you soon for more – but not much more, we’re almost caught up. Again, for the full premiere grid go here.

The Best Of Fall TV - Part 4 (Wrapping Up Monday Night's Schedule)

For a full synopsis of the shows I'm recommending here, use the handy time-travel feature to the right (the archives, silly). I did promos for most of these programs in May and June. For now, let’s focus on what’s coming up for the new season.

1. Chuck (NBC) – (Starts tonight) Here’s the one I’ve been waiting for – just an amazing blend of over-the-top action with zany comedy thrown in. So where did we leave off? Oh yeah, Casey was ordered to kill Chuck once the new Intersect was complete. Jeez, I hope they don’t kill off the main character, huh? On the bright side, it looks like Chuck may get to go on a real date with Sarah tonight – and she doesn’t even have to wear the Wienerlicious outfit. Dang. (For a better description, check out my previous post here.)

2. Life (NBC) – (Starts tonight) Okay NBC, let’s hope you know what you’re doing. They’re taking this sophomore drama, a complex conspiracy theory show interlaced with a weekly procedural, and pumping out two episodes a week for its first two weeks. One episode on Monday and one on Friday, until it switches to Fridays full time on October 17th - where it will hopefully not die a slow death in that dead zone of a night. For now though, a strong premiere episode featuring a new serial killer. This one lets his victims suffocate in trunks, strategically places them around town, and sends a riddle as to their location. Sounds like we might need Batman for this one – or Charlie Crews, since this is his show. (Check this out for a better show description.)

3. Prison Break (Fox) – Okay, this one has been on for nearly a month now, but I’m just getting around to checking things out on Tivo. While it is most certainly a guilty pleasure of a show, Prison Break has done a pretty good job of reinventing itself this season. We’re finally starting to get a glimpse of The Company, the uber-mysterious organization that has been trying to kill Michael and friends from day one. But now, with Michael “officially” leading his team to take down The Company? It’s been a fun ride so far, let’s hope they can keep it up…

4. My Own Worst Enemy (NBC) – (Starts October 13th) Guess what’s taking Life’s spot in the Monday rotation? Yep, this Christian Slater vehicle. I’m sure you’ve seen the ads – Slater plays a character who is unaware that he is leading a double life as both a suburban nobody and a secret agent. Is it schizophrenia? Hypnosis? Will one of the personalities sound oddly similar to Jack Nicholson? I guess we’ll find that out together…

5. Samantha Who? (ABC) – (Starts October 13th) Chronicling the life of an amnesiac (Christina Applegate) who used to be a bitch, but is now (at least temporarily) a sweetheart. This sitcom was a wonderful departure from the usual crappy formula, largely due to the phenomenal cast. Hopefully the second year can live up to the promise of the first. (And obviously, we’re very happy about Applegate’s full recovery this summer.)

Maybe tomorrow I can actually get to the Tuesday schedule. Or maybe I’ll sleep in again. Time will tell…

The Best Of Fall TV – Part 2 (Wednesday Nights)

Okay, on to the Wednesday shows…

Hold on, what the hell happened to the Tuesday shows?
Ummmm… would you believe that the zombie hordes came back and I had to fight them off again? No? Okay, I overslept yesterday – I promise to get back to it soon. Are we okay?
Yeah, but don’t let it happen again. I was sitting in front of the TV all Tuesday night with no idea what to watch, and now my head hurts. But I do like that commercial with the monkey washing the cat!
Who doesn’t? Listen, I’m sorry I broke your brain, but we’ve GOT to move on…

New Shows – Wednesdays Are Slim Pickings

1. Knight Rider (NBC) – Oh boy! A talking car again! Mommy, can we please watch this show?! Yeah, they’ve resurrected another old show on NBC – I guess they didn’t learn from the poorly handled debacle that was The Bionic Woman. From what I hear, though, the Knight Rider TV movie that aired earlier this year (and served as a back-door pilot – tee-hee, that sounds naughty) was very well-received – thus the new show. Still a talking car show, however you cut it. I’m still holding out for that long-delayed crossover remake of Diff’rent Strokes and The A-Team, with Gary Coleman in full Mr. T costume – “What you talkin’ ‘bout, Fool?!”

2. Gary Unmarried (CBS) – Am I mad that Jay Mohr abandoned his comic relief post on Ghost Whisperer? Sure. Am I willing to overlook that slight if this lets him live up to his comic potential? Certainly. I just worry that no show will ever allow him the freedom to be the hilarious a-hole that he was in Action (available on DVD) with his mentor, Buddy Hackett. At any rate, THIS show focuses on Gary as he deals with trying to balance his old life (his ex-wife and two kids from a 15-year marriage) and his new girlfriend. Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s basically New Adventures of Old Christine if the lead was male, add one child. I’m counting on Mohr to spice that up – plus, I’ve had a little crush on Paula Marshall (who plays Gary's ex) since the original version of Cupid hit TV in ‘98…
(*Side note – you do know that Rob Thomas, the genius behind Veronica Mars, is revamping Cupid as a midseason show, right? No, Jeremy Piven will not be back to reprise the title role, but did I mention Rob Thomas?! Fan-frakkin’-tastic news – that might even tide us over ‘til the Veronica Mars movie…)

3. Do Not Disturb (Fox) – I’m just saying that this show is new – I’m NOT endorsing it. Granted, all I saw was a leaked pre-season pilot, but it was B-A-D spells lousy. Ritzy hotel with skinny model-types at the front desk in uncomfortable-yet-sexy attire and high heels, while people in the support department downstairs want to work upstairs - yet might be too “large” to meet requirements. That ongoing battle creates hijinks, and supposedly, hilarity will ensue. Did I mention that Jerry O’Connell was in this wreck – he hasn’t picked an appropriate vehicle since he stepped through his last wormhole in Sliders, so if that says anything…

Old Standards

1. Bones (Fox) – I’m not a huge fan of procedurals, but the fact that I rush home to watch this show should speak volumes. Funny and dark, this show pairs the investigative talents of the FBI – specifically, agent Seeley Both (played by the phenomenal David Boreanaz) – with those of the “squints” at the Jeffersonian Institution in Washington D.C. – led by Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan (played by the lovely Emily Deschanel – yes, Zooey is her sister). Each week, a fairly gross set of bones is found, and the team sets about investigating – generally with a great deal of internal bickering, simmering sexual tension and outright slapstick comedy. And the fact that Boreanaz broke the mold of the dark-and-brooding vampire from his years playing Angel (on both Buffy and his eponymous spin-off) to portray this light-hearted, smiling character is a testament to his abilities, and to the show’s writers. The truth is, Bones has accumulated one of the finest ensemble casts in TV. Luck, coincidence, perfection – call it what you will. Just watch, though – things just seem to keep getting better…

2. Criminal Minds (CBS) – I know, I know – I said I don’t love procedurals, yet I’ve lumped two together in one section for one night. Sue me, I’m fickle! First off, don’t believe anything you read in USA Today – they’re infamous for bashing this show, saying that it’s too dark and violent. Well, for those of us who LIKE the darkness? Let’s not forget that it’s just entertainment, kids. Another fantastic cast, although not quite as amazing since swapping out Mandy Patinkin for Joe Mantegna as team leader. But the dynamics between the rest of the team (especially the silly and fun tech agent, Penelope Garcia) keep the foundational bonds strong. And tonight, we finally get the answer to who got blowed up in the season finale – they showed multiple agents getting into their SUVs, but no clear shot of which one was exploding. While I quietly hate them for making me wait, I NEED to know, dangit!

More soon, people – but for those of you who want a handy chart with premiere dates and fun links, go here.

The Best Of Fall TV - Part 1 (Monday Nights - Yes, Belated)

Fall TV actually started a couple of weeks ago, so why the delay? Well, networks seem to be unfurling their new schedules slowly, possibly due to the writers’ strike having stunted the progress of new shows. At any rate, they’re just tossing out a few new nuggets every week. So, are those nuggets gold or something that came out of Lassie’s posterior? I’ll try to clue you in during the next few weeks – but my Tivo has been smoking and rumbling with the amount of new stuff in the “To Do” list, so be patient!

This week in particular is a big one, so stick with me – I’m taking you onto the front lines:

1. Returning And New Monday Comedies On CBS – You can either try to give your funny bone more Calcium, or just tune into CBS tonight. I can promise that the 8-9pm hour of How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory is possibly the funniest 60 minutes of the week. (Alone, I think My Name Is Earl could probably still kick either of their butts. But together? I’m pretty sure Leonard would trip Earl while Barney taunted him while he was down.) Tonight, we get introduced to Worst Week – which is yet another British remake, and could go either way. The plot seems a bit thin – a groom-to-be makes a (repeatedly) bad impression on his future in-laws. But there have been worse ideas that have turned into great shows, so I’ll try it out – plus, Week features Red Forman (Kurtwood Smith) from That 70’s Show. Who knows?
(Some might question my omission of Two And A Half Men. I’ve never gotten around to watching it, and I simply don’t have time to get hooked on any more TV. ‘Nuff Said.)

2. Monday Is Heroes Night On NBC – Three. Hours. Of. Heroes. Wow. So what’s going on tonight? Well, the first hour is a catch-up clip show. You can’t have a huge conspiracy/
superhero/serialized drama without the ability to catch new viewers up before your new story arc starts - that would just be silly. Will they gloss over the fact that season 2 of the hit drama found them losing viewers because they kinda went off the track, storywise? Will they play down the idea that the strike ending that story might have been the best thing that could have happened? Most definitely on both counts. But that just gave the writers/creators time to sift through fan feedback and retool.
So whats’s up for new stuff? Well, the fact that the name of the new arc is “Villains” should clue you into some of it. At the end of last year’s finale, we saw Sylar regaining power, so you can bet your sweet patootie he’s involved. And there looks to be a slew of big bads we haven’t seen yet.
And Dark Claire. Yeah, they’ve been doing the promo shots implying that the former cheerleader will end up as one of the baddies. But with Peter’s/Hiro’s ability to time travel, we’ve seen that all futures are not destined to be – so we’ll wait impatiently and see. At it’s best, this show had the ability to do what an old Buffy episode did for me on a weekly basis – it left you with a “What the f…?” moment that made you both hate the writers for making you wait until the following week for an answer and simultaneously love them for making you invested enough to need to know. I’m hoping for another season like THAT.

3. Terminator-y Goodness On Fox – (*WARNING - Spoilers ahead*) I know I’ve already talked up The Sarah Connor Chronicles, but it needs to be said again. It’s fun. It’s pretty. It’s pretty fun. Seriously though, the opening montage to the first episode of the second season (yes, it started on the 8th, so sue me) alone is why the show is worth watching. There was no dialogue, only music (the incomparable talent of Shirley Manson of Garbage – who also happens to play the new uber-villain – doing a remake of “Samson & Delilah”). Yet, during that opening sequence, we wrap up the cliffhanger from last season with Cameron walking out of the blown-up Jeep while Sarah and John escape their bonds and defeat their captor. Sounds peachy, right? Did I mention that Cameron accidentally started a house fire on her way in (which threatens to burn our heroes alive), and that she tries to kill John when her damaged processing chip orders her to “Terminate”? Things are never simple for this crew.
And Shirley Manson’s villainous move at the end of the episode? Morphing from a urinal to reveal that she’s a T-1000 style Terminator? Besides bringing a whole new meaning to Porta-Potty, it tells me that this second season has a few new tricks in its bag. (And even more impressive would be how the geeky Brian Austin Green from Beverly Hills 90210 has transformed into grizzled freedom fighter Derek Reese – and has actually been believable.)

That’s all the tidbits for now – there will be more updates from here on, and even more Monday night stuff. Just hold on ‘til then, kids…

What’s New On Tube? – Pilot Season ’08-’09 (Part 2)

Okay, what else we got? These are the last of my picks …

3. The Cleveland Show (Fox – Spring 2009) – Okay, what’s Family Guy going to do without Cleveland? I guess the real question is, what will Cleveland be doing? I’m glad you asked. Now that his wife Loretta is out of the picture, Mr. Brown seems poised to move back to his hometown in Stool Bend, VA with Cleveland Jr. in this spin-off. It looks like he’s starting a new life with his high school sweetheart and her two kids - but will there be more tomfoolery, pop culture skewering and freakish flashbacks a la Family Guy? And maybe a family of bears living next door? You bet your sweet patootie! For an early promo clip, go here.

4. My Own Worst Enemy (NBC – Fall 2008) – It’s categorized as a drama, but this could just as easily be the description for a sitcom: a suburban working dad and an efficient and deadly spy learn that they are the same person, due to a scorching case of multiple personality disorder. Jinkies! Being plugged into a Monday schedule with Chuck and Heroes as its compatriots, I’m assuming that there will be a good deal of tongue-in-cheek as well. And having Christian Slater in the starring role doesn’t hurt for exposure…

5. The Eleventh Hour (CBS – Fall 2008) – Another British remake (you know my mixed feelings about the upcoming Life On Mars remake), this time helmed by the king of CSI (and a slew of cheesy action movies – let’s not forget Armageddon here, folks), Jerry Bruckheimer. The premise: a special science adviser to the U.S. government is sent to save people from the worst abuses of science, with the aid of his spunky female sidekick! Much like my premonitions of the Mars remake, they need to tread carefully or take a bad turn into Hokey-ville. But with CSI as a lead-in, it has a better chance of survival than many.

Worth Mentioning:

90210 (CW – Fall 2008) – Yes, a spin-off of the cult primetime soap. I was more excited while Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars, not Matchbox 20) was attached, but with Freaks & Geeks producers on board, maybe it’ll still be okay. Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling are on board, with more original cast members looking to sign up.

Knight Rider (NBC – Fall 2008) – Is this really worth mentioning? Not entirely sure, but the TV movie did so well last year that it warranted a new series. Everything old is new again – but will The Hoff be able to take time away from his German tour to help out?

Kath & Kim (NBC – Fall 2008) – A sitcom featuring Molly Shannon & Selma Blair.

The Goode Family (ABC – Late Fall 2008) – Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead, Office Space, King of the Hill) brings us the animated tale of this do-gooder family. Their attempts to “Go green!” and do the right thing end up in hilarious misadventures – or so the description says. Sounds good, but outside of Fox primetime cartoons don’t tend to survive for too long - remember Father of the Pride or God, The Devil and Bob? I didn’t think so…).

See you in a couple of days for a Friday The 13th soundtrack...

What's New On Tube? - Pilot Season '08-'09 (Part 1)

Pilot season! Duck Season! Whatever it is, it’s time to start making some new TV for the fall – and pickings are slim, kids. The writers’ strike stalled production on scripts for fall pilots, so the networks only had a handful of projects to choose from. Of those, they picked the safety route – big names at the helm or very recognizable actors were key. Here’s a sampling of what’s to come, starting in the fall and spring of the ’08-’09 season:

1. Dollhouse (Fox – Early 2009) – So Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku walk into a restaurant… Yes, this project started out like the beginning to some bad joke – Whedon (the man who brought us Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly) and Dushku (who played bad-girl Faith in both Buffy and Angel) went out for lunch and ended up with both a show idea and its leading lady. Check, please!
The Dollhouse is a top-secret facility where Echo (Dushku) is one of the “Actives” – people who are blank slates, constantly reprogrammed with new memories for their missions. Since these missions benefit the whims of the uber-rich, an Active could be someone’s escort one week while being an assassin the next. But problems arise when Echo begins to retain memories from previous missions – life as a secret agent marionette just can’t be simple, can it?
The show also features genre vets Amy Acker (Angel) and Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica) as other players in the Dollhouse, as well as producers from previous Whedon projects – so this show is turning into quite the powerhouse. But with Fox’s previous (mis)treatment of Whedon vehicles, fans are already petitioning the network to save the show from cancellation – I’d say that might be going overboard, but I was pissed when Firefly got canned, too!

2. Fringe (Fox – Fall 2008) – Another big-name project, this time from J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias). We follow two FBI agents, Olivia Dunham (relative newcomer Anna Tory, The Secret Life Of Us) and Peter Bishop (Dawson Creek's Joshua Jackson), as they explore the spread of unexplained phenomenon - of the dangerous variety, of course!
Hmmm – two FBI agents checking out spooky happenings in “fringe science” from astral projection to reanimation… Didn’t Fox start out with a show like that? Mulder and Scully ring any bells? Still, the show has a good premise and is in excellent hands. Plus, Fox hasn’t ALWAYS been so horrible to new shows –maybe they can use the same energy and cojones they use for picking exciting new shows and direct that towards actually maintaining and promoting Fringe and Dollhouse. I have a comment ready about unicorns flying out of my butt in mind, but I’m trying to remain optimistic here.

That's all for now, to be continued next time - when we'll preview something from Jerry Bruckheimer and a Family Guy spinoff. See you then…