posted
It's that time of year again. Last year, I grabbed a whole bunch of pre-air pilots and reviewed them. The ones I've been able to find this year are:
Fringe (FOX) X-Files meets Milo Rambaldi. I reviewed this one over here.
Do Not Disturb (FOX) A show about a hotel with a bunch of quirky employees. I don't think it's worth downloading, frankly. Not from that description.
Leverage (TNT) A crew of high-tech crooks attempt to steal from wealthy criminals and corrupt businessmen. Okay, and it stars Timothy Hutton. The only reason I might take a look at this is that it also stars Christian Kane. That's Lindsay MacDonald, last seen getting a bullet put in him by Krevlornswath of the Deathlok clan.
Life on Mars A cop gets hit by a car and wakes up in the 70s. I'm not sure why this has a chance when they killed the terrific Journeyman (other than the fact that the British version did well).
Pretty/Handsome (FX) A married father of two tells his wife and teenage sons that he is transsexual. Yeah, I think I'm going to have to give that a try. The last time they tried to put a transperson in primetime, Max Bickford got cancelled.
True Blood (HBO) Set in small-town Louisiana, series follows the world of vampires, who are able to co-exist with humans by drinking a Japanese-manufactured synthetic blood. While spooky, the show also contains a dose of humor alongside the horror. The only upside I can see is that Anna Paquin stars as a telepathic waitress (who falls in love with a vampire - yawn).
Raising the Bar (TNT) A lawyer show where everyone sleeps with everyone. Ick. I think I'll pass on this one as well.
In any case, I'm in the process of grabbing True Blood, Leverage, Pretty/Handsome and Life on Mars. I've never seen the British version of Life on Mars, and Stephan already started a thread about it here, in case you're interested.
I saw a couple dozen new shows that are coming out for NBC this year, I remember talking about that on a thread.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I added the channels, and where I could, links to pages about the shows. Having read a little more about Pretty/Handsome, I'm actually going to have to steel myself to watch it. It sounds like it's going to be something like that movie Normal, which I haven't seen, deliberately.
It looks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and CW are keeping their pilots under wraps.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm most curious about USA. Of all the stations that have regular programming, USA lately has had the best ratio of awesome to crap in their lineup.
I'm awaiting the assault of advertising for new Fall shows, 90% of which won't survive the first six episodes. Does anyone really get that excited for new shows anymore? Anyone who has been watching the devolution of TV in the last couple years has to know that most of these shows won't survive the Fall, let alone long enough to get renewed.
Lisa -
Out of curiosity, do you have a link to a site where I could see a list with short summaries of all the major networks' Fall lineups?
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey, thanks Lisa. I will take a look at the various pre-airs too.
quote:Do Not Disturb (FOX) A show about a hotel with a bunch of quirky employees. I don't think it's worth downloading, frankly. Not from that description.
There's a wonderful British show called Hotel Babylon which is about a five-star London Hotel, if anyone is interested in a quality show in the same vein.
quote:# True Blood (HBO) Set in small-town Louisiana, series follows the world of vampires, who are able to co-exist with humans by drinking a Japanese-manufactured synthetic blood. While spooky, the show also contains a dose of humor alongside the horror. The only upside I can see is that Anna Paquin stars as a telepathic waitress (who falls in love with a vampire - yawn).
And this is different from Blood Ties and Moonlight how? I agree that the concept is pretty yawn-arific, but I'll probably take a look at the pilot nevertheless.
I reviewed Fringe in the same thread as Lisa.
The British Life on Mars is good. I'm interested to see the American one, although I find the concept of replicating shows in other countries a bit odd.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox) sounded mildly interesting until I saw that it was animated.
Merlin (NBC) sounds like an interesting premise, plus it has Anthony Head (of Buffy fame) in it. I like the source material, so I'll at least give it a try. It'll be a midseason replacement for Football when it ends. It's a miniseries.
Kings (NBC) also looks interesting. It too will be a midseason replacement for Football. Both it and Merlin will air on Sunday, which is odd because Sunday is usually a throwaway night for programming, which is why I expect the show to fail rather miserably. Despite the fact that I'd probably watch this under normal circumstances, I work Sunday nights, and if they really cared they wouldn't put it on Sunday anyway. It won't make it to the Fall.
The Cleveland Show (Fox) is a spin-off of Family Guy. I think that brand of animated comedy is already supersaturated.
Monday
Worst Week (CBS) looks dumb. It's based off a show where the whole thing takes place in a week and a guy has a slew of embarrassing things happen to him in front of his future in laws. Don't we have enough shows with a guy playing a total idiot? Even if we didn't the premise of this one sounds thin.
My Own Worst Enemy (NBC) is about a guy with multiple personalities. One is a trained killer and the other is a family man. Sounds like Mr. Smith meets Fight Club. I can see how this would be appealing to people, but I don't see how this show goes on and on.
Dollhouse (Fox/Joss Whedon). Alright, it sounds like an interesting premise, and Fox might even be serious by giving them the lead in to 24, with relatively little competition from surrounding networks (except for the wildly popular Dancing with the Stars). The thing is, Whedon, oh Whedon, I love your shows, but you can't let me enjoy them. Whenever I start to love them, you dig a knife into me and twist it a few times. You did it several times with Buffy, you did it with Serenity, and I've little doubt you'll do it again. I'll watch, but I'm ready to be, in some way, shape or form, disappointed. I'm hoping that he can branch out a bit, dialogue wise, from his past few shows, which have seemed like, in many ways, carbon copies dialogue wise. It's cool when it's new and unique, but then you want something ELSE new and unique.
Tuesday
Opportunity Knocks (ABC) is pretty much American Idol and America's Got Talent. People can do neat tricks, sing, and play instruments. We get it!
The Goode Family (ABC) is a PC version of King of the Hill. Nuff said.
90210 (CW). What, Gossip Girl wasn't enough? But thank God for this one. There's been an OC shaped hole in my heart for months now. It's nice to see it's been updated with every stereotype imaginable, and is much more racially diverse.
Survivig the Filthy Rich (CW). Forget what I said, THIS is the heir to the OC. Out of her element girl comes to richy rich SoCal and enters into a quartet of social problems? Huzzah! I give them real credit for pairing this with 90210. Anyone who watches the first will stay for the second.
Fringe (Fox/JJ Abrams). Scant details. $10 million for the PILOT? Sounds like a revamped X-Files only with even more secrecy than LOST. This is one of those shows designed to be soooo mysterious and clever but usually has me pretty annoyed by the end of the first season. If it lasts to a second season, I'll just wait for people to tell me how it is and I'll get it from Netflix. After LOST, I'm not in a hurry.
Wednesday
Project Gary (CBS) actually looks intriguing. Details are vague, but the premise is that a divorced man has to pick up the pieces after his marriage falls apart. I'm looking forward to a show that possibly gives serious attention to the flipside of a coin that I don't think we often see. Everwood was the last look I think we had at something similar, but even that was more about the kids half the time. We'll see.
Stylista (CW) is another perfectly placed show. It's basically Project Runway from the looks of things, and it comes right after America's Top Model CW seems to be cornering the market at pairing shows that are a double threat to very very specific demographics.
Do Not Disturb (Fox) is a show about hotel employees at a hotel in NYC in decline. I'm hoping for a sort of American version of Fawlty Towers, but I'm betting we'll get something closer to Kitchen Confidential or The Office. But I'll probably try and catch the pilot to see. Knowing Fox, it'll be dead by Summer.
Knight Rider (NBC) I might give a try. I used to love that show with the really cool Viper that was like a fancy Batmobile from back in the day (that was itself a KR knockoff). I doubt I'll get super INTO it though.
Thursday
Life on Mars (ABC has no details that I could easily find, but it has Colm Meaney in it, so I'm interested. But it's a cop show, so, that's a minus.
Eleventh Hour (CBS) is apparently some sort of sci-fi cop show? The main character goes around trying to stop different bad guys from misusing scientific gains. I think I'd rather watch Eureka.
Secret Millionaire (Fox) looks to be a sort of reality show. It's based off a British show where millionaires spend time in inner cities and rundown poor neighborhoods and then give away some of their own money to people in that neighborhood later. Must be great for TV execs to get the wealthy to help finance their shows. I think it'll be a little popular at least since people love watching rich people in regular surroundings to see how out of place or foolish they can look. But I'm hoping this sort of show would avoid the Paris Hilton aspects and might lean more towards Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days, where people really have an eye opening experience and everyone comes away from it with something seriously gained.
SNL Thursday Night Live (NBC) looks like Weekend update upgraded to a 30 minute show, mixed with The Daily Show and the Colbert Report. Depending on who the "anchors" are, it could be pretty funny, but I wonder what they'll have to offer that isn't already better covered by Comedy Central's "fake news" duo.
Kath & Kim (NBC) doesn't have much of a plot, but it's starring Molly Shannon. I'll pass.
The Office Spinoff (NBC) looks like it is playing with fire. The Office is awesome, and a lot of people like it, but trying to replicate that? I dunno. I assume they won't steal any characters from The Office, though one wonders how much longer Jim and Michael will be around with Krasinski and Carell's careers in the movies taking off. I think The Office has a bunch of very unique characters with very quirky actors playing them, and replicating it will blow up in their faces, but I could be pleasantly surprised.
Friday
The Ex List (CBS) is about a woman who has to search through past relationships to find her soul mate after a psychic tells her she's already met her future husband. Given some decent writing and a good cast, it sounds like it could actually maybe be a little funny. Frankly it sounds like something Amy Sherman Palladino would be excellent at writing. And something that Lauren Graham would be great at acting, but it's also possible that I've just seen too much Gilmore Girls.
Crusoe (NBC) looks cool. It's a retelling of the adventures of Robinson Crusoe, and looks to maybe be a fun action adventure comedy type series. It'll hinge on the actor playing Crusoe, obviously, but it's a decent premise.
Now I'm off to find Sci-Fi, Discovery Channel, USA and TNT.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:which is odd because Sunday is usually a throwaway night for programming
From what I've seen Army Wives is doing pretty darned well and it's on Sunday night. Of course my info is mostly from the fact that just about every woman on my birth board watches it. Dang that show is good.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
Other than Extreme Home Makeover, there's nothing on the Big 4 networks on Sunday night. The only other shows put on Sunday nights are on networks like USA and Lifetime.
Lifetime has Army Wives, and USA has the new show In Plain Sight.
If you consider 8pm to 11pm to be the primetime slots, and there are seven or eight serious networks, the Big Four plus CW, Lifetime, TNT and USA, that's 24 hours of television being filled with three or four shows.
Army Wives has extremely good ratings on Sunday nights, and from what I can tell women across the board seem to love it. I think that if Sunday programming looked like Wednesday night programming, it'd get hit pretty hard, but women seem to love it so much that I think it'd survive. In Plain Sight is an awesome show too. Mary McCormick is a great actress and pulls off the tough as nails but still vulnerable woman thing better than any actress I've seen in awhile. And I like Extreme Home Makeover.
Certainly there are a few great shows on Sunday night, but considering the schedules that are shown Mon-Fri, the weekend is pretty bare.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Life on Mars (ABC has no details that I could easily find, but it has Colm Meaney in it, so I'm interested. But it's a cop show, so, that's a minus.
Unfortunately, I just saw this on Watch With Kristin:
quote:Phil in Elk Grove, Calif.: Do you have any updates on the cast of Life on Mars, ABC's new fall drama? I heard recasting was in the works. Please tell me Lenny Clarke, Rachelle Lefevre and Colm Meaney from the original pilot haven't been canned! Not sure about Lenny Clarke, but as of last week Rachelle Lefevre's role of Annie Cartwright and Colm Meaney's role of Det. Gene Hunt are back on the open market. Sorry.
quote:Crusoe (NBC) looks cool. It's a retelling of the adventures of Robinson Crusoe, and looks to maybe be a fun action adventure comedy type series. It'll hinge on the actor playing Crusoe, obviously, but it's a decent premise.
I find this hilarious. I guess my impression of Robinson Crusoe is so heavy with religion and such that the idea of making it into an action-adventure series is like a hilarious joke.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
The idea of Kings intrigues me. It's Saul and David, updated to modern day.
I watched Pretty/Handsome last night. They clearly have someone on the writing staff, or an advisor at least, who's been through what the main character is going through. No one who hasn't could have written that.
I'm nervous about it being made by the same guys who made Nip/Tuck, but if the show is anything like the pilot, I'll definitely be watching it.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:Crusoe (NBC) looks cool. It's a retelling of the adventures of Robinson Crusoe, and looks to maybe be a fun action adventure comedy type series. It'll hinge on the actor playing Crusoe, obviously, but it's a decent premise.
I find this hilarious. I guess my impression of Robinson Crusoe is so heavy with religion and such that the idea of making it into an action-adventure series is like a hilarious joke.
What religion is there in Robinson Crusoe?
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Robinson Crusoe the character runs away from his family and is a sailor before getting cast away on the island. He regards his earlier sailor past as sinful and his time on the island as providential, to redeem him or to give him time to reflect. Over the course of the book he becomes considerably more religious.
His name, "Crusoe", is described as being derived from "Kreutznaer" and generally interpreted as being close to the German for 'cross' (Kreuz) and the English 'cross'. Man Friday's name is also Christianly chosen when he converts to Christianity.
By "and such" I meant Crusoe's slow stratification of the island. Alone he maintains the 'country gentleman' ideal. With Man Friday and Man Friday's Father, he establishes a colony on the island, self-styling himself as 'Generalissimo' and 'Gouverner' and such.
This comes back to religion when he says specifically that he allows his little colony to be very tolerant of various religions (as, he notes, God has not stuck down the cannibals, let alone the Catholics), and yet it is Crusoe who comes out on top as the Protestant Governer, and the converted Friday as his closest friend, if never his equal.
Sure there is the shipwreck, and the cannibals and THE FOOTPRINT (attributed by Crusoe to the devil, btw) and such, but much of the story is taken up with this kind of self-improvement.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
That sucks that Colm Meaney isn't going to be Gene Hunt. I thought he was pretty good in the preair and would have gotten better with a script improvement and better directing.
Posts: 1336 | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Okay, I've watched the US and UK Life on Mars together now. I agree with solo's implicit comment that the script and directing are severely lacking. I thought that Colm Meaney did do a decent job and that the weakest link was Jason O'Mara, playing Sam Tyler.
They did not add anything of their own to the pilot, and rearranged things unnecessarily that stripped the original of its vitality.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: SNL Thursday Night Live (NBC) looks like Weekend update upgraded to a 30 minute show, mixed with The Daily Show and the Colbert Report. Depending on who the "anchors" are, it could be pretty funny, but I wonder what they'll have to offer that isn't already better covered by Comedy Central's "fake news" duo.
(emphasis mine)
They'll be on network TV. Believe it or not, there are still people out there who don't have cable... Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
| IP: Logged |
I just watched Life on Mars. I'm not sure why, because that kind of change of cast is liable to be huge. I may just download the original and watch that.
The most distracting thing was at the end, when they had those safety cords attached to the back of their clothes. I guess this went out before they did post-production processing things.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
You don't need cable to watch the Colbert report or the Daily Show. They're on Hulu for free now.
Posts: 796 | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
That was odd. And a little off-putting. There's too much sex and violence for my taste, and... did I mention that it's odd?
I will say that the guy playing Bill the Vampire was born to play Roland Deschain. Watching him talk with Sookie (the telepathic waitress), I thought I was watching Will Dearborn talking to Susan Delgado.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I agree with your review of 'Fringe' ... pretty generic stuff, unfortunately. 'Leverage' is dumb fun -- I probably won't watch, it's a little bit too unrealistic, I can't turn my brain off enough to accept that kind of handwavium on a weekly basis. I did think the characters were interesting, though. I actually sort of liked 'True Blood', in a what-in-the-world-am-I-seeing kind of way. It's just so bat-guano weird, I'll probably watch at least the first few episodes. From there, maybe I'll get hooked, and maybe I won't.... But anything that bizarre, I have to give a chance, just on general principle. The vampire sex tape, though, was quite disturbing, and probably not for the reasons they intended.... 'Pretty Handsome' definitely wins it. Very fascinating first episode. A little corny, in places, but I like what they're trying to do, and I hope they succeed.
'Do Not Disturb' was HORRIBLE.
I didn't watch 'Raising The Bar' or 'Life On Mars' ...
Posts: 2267 | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm not planning on watching either Raising the Bar or Do Not Disturb. I am, however, watching the UK version of Life on Mars, and it's a million times better than the US version. For one thing, the main character isn't carved out of wood.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have to say, though, watching the UK Life on Mars, that this "unarmed police" thing is completely weird.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:I can't turn my brain off enough to accept that kind of handwavium on a weekly basis.
What a tragic kind of world you live in .
Lisa: They're more armed than they used to be. And it's presumably because they don't have a constitution that allows for this kind of thing.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
There are two more pre-air pilots out there. One of them... I apologize in advance to anyone who doesn't have the self-control to stay away from this stinker. It may actually have replaced that horrid Wonder Woman pilot as the worst thing I've seen in my life.
East Bound and Down This is HBO, but even HBO doesn't have to be this disgusting. I'll be honest with you: I swear. I use bad language. The s-word and I are no strangers, and f-bombs are pretty much just another word to me, given the proper situation. But this thing... honestly, I think every other word was one of those two. And it was nasty.
The pilot is only a little over half an hour, but I couldn't get more than about 10 minutes in before I had to turn it off. Honestly: disgusting.
For the record, though, it's about a major league baseball prodigy who is one of the vilest human beings to walk the planet, and manages to make himself hated by everyone. And loses his pitching arm and winds up back at his old high school teaching gym.
I can deal with Saving Grace, even with the language and the sex, because I don't think Grace is a bad person. But this guy... if Earl showed up, he'd try and punch his lights out, I expect.
The other one is called The Mentalist. From the description (it's not fully downloaded yet), it seems like a version of Psych that's not a comedy. Straight drama, with a mentalist helping out the cops. I'll let you know if I think it's worth watching.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
The Mentalist Very nicely done. I think I'll be watching this one. Psych is cute, but this is more to my taste.
"The kingdom of God is a real place, Mr. Jane. And you have an immortal soul."
"Oh, I do so hope you're wrong."
The dialog is crisp, the interactions between the characters are fun, and it's all around a good, solid show. They've already set up Patrick Jane's background and given him a nemesis -- sort of a Moby Dick kind of thing. And I like smart characters. Patrick Jane is really, really smart.
posted
Do Not Disturb My first impression was right. I shouldn't have downloaded it. Its one saving grace is that it's only 21 minutes long. And I do mean "looooong".
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
Raising the Bar (TNT) A lawyer show where everyone sleeps with everyone. Ick. I think I'll pass on this one as well.
I take it back. This is a wicked cool show. It is not a sex-fest. There's a DA office and a public defender's office. Most of the ADAs and PDs are friends from way back. One of the PDs has a serious Don Quixote complex, and not enough of a governor on his mouth. One of the ADAs is Gunn from Angel. And the DA is a sexist pig. Oh, and one of the ADAs is a Katherine Heigl lookalike. And one of the PDs is a rich kid who wears cufflinks and a suit that probably costs as much as a car (as his boss points out to him).
I actually recommend this one.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I don't have a lot to add about the other movies mentioned above, but I believe I know a little about this one:
quote:Kath & Kim (NBC) doesn't have much of a plot, but it's starring Molly Shannon. I'll pass.
Good call, passing. It's based on an Australia show of the same name. It's about a trashy, suburban mom and daughter combo. My Australian friends made me watch it when I was over there as part of my "Australian Education." Don't watch this one. It can't be good.
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
.
