Believe it or not but there are several fall TV premieres happening this week. Snuck up on me too. Rather than waste time going over returning favorites that you probably know more about than I, I’m highlighting some new shows. By highlight I don’t mean give a synopsis, but rather point out my observations from the promos and information I’ve come across. If you absolutely have to look up solid information on them, then by all means use Google. So let’s look at what the big four have to offer in terms of free entertainment.
ABC
Charlie’s Angels
“From executive producer Drew Barrymore” is less a sign of quality and more a threat.
Last Man Standing
Tim Allen, fresh out of lame film roles, attempts to rekindle the magic of the misguided manliness of Home Improvement. Look for every joke to center around his character’s emasculation.
Once Upon a Time
This could be interesting. A town is full of storybook characters who can’t remember their true identities, but the real kicker is the Lost connection and ABC’s superior production value when it comes to high concept dramas over the last decade.
Pan Am
This appears to be the more family friendly alternative to The Playboy Club.
Revenge
Sick of these repetitive ads. Exacting revenge over a murder is a film plot, not something fit for a TV series that is planned to last more than a season. Audiences will tune out of this at a geometric rate as the padding out becomes increasingly obvious.
Suburgatory
Now that we can’t get by with racism, we can still alienate the classes. This has pompous big city poking fun at others written all over it. Besides, the commercial clearly show rows of neighbors watering their lawns through a hose while the V/O says automatic sprinklers.
CBS
2 Broke Girls
One of two new programs involving comedienne Whitney Cummings, but the one I expect to have the longer life. CBS does very well with sitcoms where the other networks haven’t found success with the classic live studio audience format of late.
Person of Interest
A few keywords here should sell this. Minority Report. Christopher Nolan’s brother, who writes his movies. Jim Caviezel (The Thin Red Line, The Passion of the Christ).
Unforgettable
There are just too many TV shows presently airing that feature a protagonist with a perfect memory. The title hints at irony.
FOX
New Girl
Emily Deschanel (Bones) calls in a favor at Fox and scores a sitcom for little sis Zooey. She essentially plays herself, but she has to move in with some bachelors who then assist her in re-entering the dating scene. Somehow I doubt however talkative and eccentric her character could be would prevent her from getting a date.
Terra Nova
For whatever logic some people end up back in time to hang with dinosaurs. You’ll notice Stephen Lang in the cast as he was one of the evil militaristic humans in Avatar possibly playing up the same image here.
NBC
Grimm
A detective battles the incarnations of fairytales that cross over to the real world. Seriously? Do I have to make fun of this?
The Playboy Club
With talk of a saucier version hitting with the DVD release or possibly on another network, then there doesn’t seem to be much reason to tune in. Why bother getting the Playboy name if you aren’t going to deliver what Playboy is best known for… the articles.
Prime Suspect
If the deep-voiced narrator at NBC can’t kill a show with his promos, then surely another tough female cop in NYC can do it.
Up All Night
Couple has crying baby that keeps them awake. The bean counters think you’ll relate to this and therefore you must enjoy it. Common sense tells me you aren’t fond of loud noises.
Whitney
The co-creator of the aforementioned 2 Broke Girls stars in her own show. Not seeing a lot of new ground here.
If memory serves, there were very few new shows from last fall that were renewed. Does this group look any better to you? Has network TV thrown in the towel? Let me know with a comment below, and do share this on your social networking site of choice.
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