Tag: CBS

Fall Premieres – Something for Everyone on Humpday

We’re halfway through a heady premiere week and Wednesday brings almost as many series premieres as season premieres. ABC, the network that continued to give us According to Jim even after we kept repeatedly screaming “Uncle!” tries to get back into the comedy game with two new laffers (one I’ve got more faith in than the other, even with the clout of a former Friend) and what might be a laughable attempt at offering a “new” adaptation of a story we’ve already seen twenty years ago in book and movie form. CBS has an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude with its unchanged midweek line-up. NBC gives us something old and something new.

Arresting Possibilities

It’s been some time since ABC has made me laugh (in a non-scoffing way) and it seems to have redeemed itself with half-hour comedy Modern Family, which I am giving the highest TVOYOT honor – an immediate Season Pass. The variety of clips seen in their ads have all provided decent chuckles and a few hearty laughs, which I always take as a good sign that it won’t be one-note. On the surface Family seemed a bit mediocre, average at best (although seeing Ed O’Neill again on a weekly basis in a role that seems like an aging Al Bundy was an intriguing concept). While not being outwardly obvious in its dysfunctional humor, upon further inspection the tone bears a striking resemblance to that of the amazing Arrested Development and the characters as well-developed as the Bluth clan.

And Rebecca Romijn as Cher?

I will admit to being morbidly curious as to how a new vision of The Witches of Eastwick(always an enjoyable repeat viewing, who can resist Nicholson mugging as the devil opposite top-of-their-game Cher and Susan Sarandon)will play as a series. The fact that the first attempt just a few years after the movie was a hit (circa 1987) never took off, classified on IMDb as an “unsold pilot,” is a prime indication that Eastwick might not be long for the television world. Seems like the alphabet network slapped this one together quickly to cash in on the supernatural craze with this yawn-worthy Lipstick Witchcraft Mafia.

Worth a Season Commitment

9/8c – Modern Family, ABC (series premiere)

Checking Out Once (Expect to Be Checking Out Quickly)

9:30/8:30c – Cougar Town, ABC (series premiere)
10/9c – Eastwick, ABC (series premiere)

Not For Me Before, Not For Me Now

8/7c – New Adventures of Old Christine, CBS
8:30/7:30c – Gary Unmarried, CBS
8/7c – Mercy, NBC (series premiere)
9/8c – Criminal Minds, CBS
9/8c – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC
10/9c – CSI: NY, CBS

Fall Premieres – Dramas, Dramas Everywhere

A tidalwave of dramas washes in with tonight’s schedule, led by consummate channel for those settling into their golden years, CBS. Not being anywhere near such a demographic, I initially felt my viewership will be tuned to other networks on Tuesdays, but my interest is piqued with The Good Wife featuring the return of Julianna Margulies to primetime in what is being hailed across the critics’ board as the best new drama of the season. So I find myself in an unprecedented situation (wait for it) – a CBS show could get added to my series watch list! At the very least the premiere will get a chance at proving its worth, and judging by the stellar supporting cast (Chris Noth! Christine Baranski!!) it might actually deliver on its pre-air reputation.

While the premise turned me off (probably the opposite effect the creators were aiming for) being too “ripped from the headlines” with the political scandal involving the titular character’s husband, it’s what follows and is the center of the show – how a wife, mother and woman chooses to stand beside a man of questionable merit who she changed her life for, but most importantly how she proceeds with a new direction after being thrust into this kind of harsh spotlight – that made me reconsider. Granted this series will live heavily in the world of the courtroom considering the wife used to be a crackerjack attorney who returns to her old lawfirm, in addition to dealing with her jailed husband’s wrong-doings. Very rarely do I find myself commiting to the crime & punishment shows, but my Tuesdays at 10 are open to the possibilities.

Meanwhile two other new cops & crime shows premiering couldn’t even hook me with weekly offerings of two of my generation’s heartthrobs – Chris O’Donnell in the NCIS spin-off (following in the steps of its not-in-any-way-related-but-really-isn’t-it sister show CSI) NCIS: LA and Christian Slater in ABC’s The Forgotten.

Giving it a Go

10/9c – The Good Wife, CBS (series premiere)

Eh, Not Even Slick Casting Gets Me

9/8c – NCIS: LA, CBS (series premiere)
10/9c – The Forgotten, ABC (series premiere)

Haven’t Watched Any Episode Yet, Why Start Now?

8/7c – NCIS, CBS

Fall Premieres – The Main Course Day 1

Hopefully we’ve all gotten enough rest this weekend, TV lovers, and cleared schedules and a large amount of digital space because tonight begins a veritable onslaught of premieres. So pace yourselves, kiddies, this is a marathon not a sprint.

COMEDY? ON CBS?

Not to be a snob…oh who am I kidding, let the judgment commence! CBS’s Monday line-up cannot tickle my funny bone even with the natural powerhouse of hilarity NPH. I’ve given both How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory a look on multiple occasions and while they obviously do it for some sect of TV viewers (the former in its fifth season, the latter its third) neither have won me over in the consistent laugh department. And I can’t even stomach flipping past Two and a Half Men in syndication. Perhaps it’s the live studio audience, multi-camera aspect that throws me (not since Will & Grace have I been an avid fan of such a series) or maybe it’s the seemingly average (aka safe) situation comedy that turns me off. Either way CBS’s two-hour block on Mondays has never made it onto the must watch list so I expect the newest series joining the party, Accidentally on Purpose, will follow suit.

Over to the short list of shows that continue to receive my attention, as long as they don’t disappoint (I’m talking most specifically to you Heroes). Dancing with the Stars has an intense three day premiere starting tonight so those sequins and sparkles have a lot of work to do. Heroes will premiere in just one night but with two hours introducing us to volume 5 “Redemption.” Coming off a lackluster finish last year, the only thing that kept me on board was the fantastic possibilities seen in the trailer, including a circus storyline and bringing on board Robert Knepper (aka the man who breathed life into Prison Break‘s memorable T-Bag) as the key villain.

SERIES THAT HAVE A PLACE ON THE DVR

8/7c – Dancing with the Stars, ABC
8/7c – Heroes, NBC

SERIES I’M RECONSIDERING

10/9c – Castle, ABC

SERIES THAT HAVE YET TO IMPRESS

8/7c – House, FOX
8/7c – How I Met Your Mother, CBS
9/8c – Big Bang Theory, CBS
9:30/8:30c – Two and a Half Men, CBS

SERIES I DON’T EXPECT TO IMPRESS

8:30/7:30c – Accidentally on Purpose, CBS (series premiere)

SERIES TO INDUGLE IN WHEN BORED (OR FEELING THE NEED TO MAKE FUN OF DAVID CARUSO)

10/9c – CSI: Miami, CBS

Fall Premieres – Thursdays: Comedy Night Done Right

While tonight’s NBC comedy premieres don’t include crown jewel 30 Rock (that momentous day is October 15th), it does provide enough funny haha’s to cause a swell of joy with the return of The Office, a ho-hum “welcome back” to its spin-off Parks & Recreation and excited anticipation for newbie Community.

That’s What She Said

Consistently hitting the mark whether it’s with absurd, endearing or cringe-worthy situations The Office is continuing to deliver the guffaw goods even as it hits its sixth year. Coming into the new season the show opens three weeks following the events of last year’s finale with Michael Scott re-invigorated by the return to his post as Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, after his brief stint as a small business owner, and consummate couple Pam & Jim dealing with the very unexpected news that they’re expecting.

Having a child is going to make a huge impact on big kid Jim and will be the most interesting storyline that will most likely develop this year, as this life change will propel him towards an attempt to move up the company ladder again. It will no doubt have an effect on Michael as well who will re-examine his own feelings of where his future lies within DM and life overall.

A Great Place to Master a B.S. Degree

If we must wait another month for 30 Rock at least there is a new, promising show that acts as placeholder until Liz Lemon and the TGS gang return. Upon viewing the upfront trailer months ago I fell for Community instantly and knew it would be a perfect addition to NBC’s Thursday night comedy line-up.

Ably led by deliciously devilish Joel McHale (host of The Soup – Friday nights at 10/9c on E!, full episodes on iTunes, clips available at hulu.com), the snarky tone of the show is what pulled me in, plus centering it around community college is rife with potentional hilarity. Hopefully they don’t place too much emphasis on the melting pot aspect (pompous white guy – check; middle-aged, divorced lady – check; young, jock guy – check; socially-awkward nerd – check) and stick to the ace-in-the-hole delivery and presence of McHale to lead the comedic charge.

Meanwhile…dramas have a strong presence on Thursday nights as well and tonight FOX brings back solid offerings with Bones and Fringe (will dedicate more musings on the latest, greatest sci-fi/mystery from JJ Abrams and the Bad Robot team). And for those who still get thrills from the outwit, outlast, outplay game on CBS, Survivor begins a new run with contestants battling it out on the island of Samoa.

SERIES NOT TO MISS

9/8c – The Office, NBC
9:30/8:30c – Community, NBC (series premiere)
9/8c – Fringe, FOX

VERDICT IS STILL OUT

8:30/7:30c – Parks & Recreations, NBC
8/7c – Bones, FOX

NOT AN ELECTION YEAR, CATCH HIGHLIGHTS ON HULU

8/7c – SNL: Weekend Update Thursday, NBC

NOT ON THIS ONE’S DIGITAL RECORDER

8/7c – Survivor: Samoa, CBS

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