Fall 2010 Premiere Week Leftovers
The first week of the 2010 Fall season is just about finished. I've had a lot of thoughts over a lot of the new shows, but there were several shows that just didn't quite make the cut to me.
Be sure to check out the rest of the shows I did like for the Fall 2010 Premiere week
Lone Star
I might watch another episode of this drama, but overall it just moves at a glacial pace with uninteresting characters that with no emotional connection. I might catch another week and see, but I'm not impressed.
Chase
With horrible writing, this show just feels tired and recycled.
Raising Hope
Slightly sweet but overall very laden with cliches similar to My Name is Earl which might be a bit tired by now. It does have a strong Glee lead in, but it's follow on the other hand...
Running Wilde
This horribly written show is dull, uninspired, and generally annoying.
Better With You
This comedy just feels like a lousy version of Rules of Engagement without the charm or humor. It has a superstar comedy cast, but the overall pacing and writing needs to be "better than it is."
My Generation
It's a tedious show about annoying people.
$#*! My Dad Says
Boring script. Boring concept. Boring cast.
Outsourced
This show takes everything that could be funny about life managing a call center in India and leaves it out on the cutting room floor. All that's left is an unfunny, borderline offensive show. Check out the movie [Netflix] instead, which actually is funny.
The Office
While it's a returning I just wanted to mention that I'm glad this is Steve Carrell's last season of this show that should have been canceled at least 2 seasons ago.
All the other crime dramas
I can only handle so much crime drama, as it's not a genre I care for that much. Overall, none of the drama of the week seemed that appealing to me.
Pilot
NBC's new show Undercovers provides viewers with another spy based action drama with touches of comedy which is very similar in the vein to Chuck cross with Mr. and Mrs. Smith. From the currently super hot J.J. Abrams (Fringe, Lost), Undercovers is about a married spy couple Steven and Samantha Bloom that have long since retired from the service that the CIA are reactivating to complete deep black-ops missions that they can't even send their regular agents to do.
Overall, the show is well paced, and has plenty of touches of Abrams style of writing and production, including an assumed tongue in cheek signature lens flare style shot. Watching the show, I felt like it was as if it were a future sequel to Chuck if Chuck and Sarah married and then retired to become caterers. There is a lot of action in the pilot, and plenty of great dialog, but the pacing seems to be very uneven at times as Abrams tries to mix in backstory of our characters with limited success. I think the show would be better paired with Chuck on Monday nights as the demographics would fit better, but considering how much promotion NBC gave this show during the summer, they are banking on the fact that it'll be a strong hit for the fall.
Unfortunately, preliminary numbers show that is pulled equal ratings to the unadvertised Chuck which is not a good sign for it's future.
Other Thoughts
- J.J. Abrams littered the episode with his usual sweeping photography style and light tone, and he even includes an lens flare scene.
- Why..why did they pull the "enhance a digital photo" gag.
- Sexpionage is a cool term. I'm sad I didn't come up with it.
- 'Mr. Hoit, the more you kiss my ass, the less I like you.'
- Loading an RPG while high speed driving and then hitting her target is awesome.
The Big Bang Theory The Robotic Manipulation
The season 4 premiere of Big Bang Theory has a lot of elements that are enjoyable, but unfortunately, they also have an overabundance of cringe scenes. Oftentimes, this show has a peculiar mix of geek and sex, and this episode had more emphasis on the latter than I'd like to see.
Mayim Bialik (Blossom) returns as guest star Amy Farrah Fowler, Sheldon's mathematically calculated soulmate. Mayim has another great performance as Amy, and the chemistry between her, Kaley Cuoco, and Jim Parsons is great. The power of the show to me is the chemistry between Penny and Sheldon, and having another "Sheldon" type character to bounce off of makes for a great exchange of dialog and comedy.
On the other hand, I feel the B story for this episode of Howard and the robotic hand takes the whole episode down a notch. The whole situation with the arm seems very contrived and forced while overall leaving me with an uncomfortable feeling. It's as if the writers were afraid of not writing in a strong opening using the entire cast, and had to use the typical formula of "nerd + robotics + sex" to create a situation that doesn't even make sense. While the ratings are strong against the similarly well written Community, I worry that the quality of the show might be waning if this is a sign of the season as a whole. This show has always been about the extreme geek-ness of it's characters and their interactions with each other.
Other Thoughts
- Sheldon and Amy...or Sh-amy
- 'You have broad hips and a certain corn-fed vigor. Is your womb available for rental?' - Sheldon
- I don't understand how they wouldn't consider just turning the whole thing off.
- 'Penny, to your mind..are you a slut?' - Amy
- Numbers are very strong against Community, but with the dismal failure of My Dad Says, I feel that this show will end up being alone on Thursday very quickly.
Community Anthropology 101
Two things always worry me about shows I like. The first being that a new season might change the formula that made the show so lovable in the first place. The second thing is stunt guest stars. Fortunately, Community does not error on either of these points, and we have another strong example of why this underrated show is so good.
As a quick aside, @oldwhitemansays is a real twitter account. Considering it started over the summer and has been tweeting since last week, I have to almost conclude that it is owned by the show itself and not a fan made account.
Tonights episode brings our study group back from a nice summer break and continues to acknowledge the "I love you Jeff Winger" ending of last season. The episode as a whole moves quickly to redraw in fans to the show while giving a micro-snapshot of all the characters for new viewers. It also introduces guest star Betty White as the insane anthropology teacher, fortunately using her sparingly as merely a crazy teacher and not some type of uncomfortable sex crazed old lady.
The biggest thing I could fault this episode on, though, is the cluttered feeling of the episode as they try to cram and resolve the majority of last season's plots all at once. I'm not sure how well it will do against CBS powerhouse Big Bang Theory, but I hope the NBC executives understand that quality written shows like this deserve to have a long run.
Other thoughts
- "Someone's talking my chang-uage"
- Starburns + hat = girl magnet
- Ahbed's meta-commentary is what makes the show for me.
- The best moments in the episode are the looks of agony by Annie watching Jeff and Britta.
- Jeff and Britta's kiss was the most awkward television kiss ever filmed, ever.
- Then again, the half Jeff half Britta balloons are just plain freaky.
- "Men are monsters who secretly crave young flesh." - Underlying metaphor of Twilight
Fringe Olivia
Well Fringe is back, and it's back in fine form. In tonights first of two season premiers, we see what has happened to Olivia since she was switched with the alternative Olivia (hence referred to as 'Bolivia'). In case you forgot, at the end of the season finale, Olivia and crew were escaping back to their universe where in a mass of confusion, the Bolivia was able to incapacitate our Olivia and take her place on the trip back. Last we saw, our Olivia was left stuck in a cell as Boivia was quietly assuming her role as an infiltrator, using her Olivia level intuition to fool the team.
Olivia picks up right where we left off with Olivia undergoing a chemical based reprogramming to make her act and believe she really is Bolivia. This is part of Walternate's master plan to defeat the "invaders from the other reality bent on destroying our universe." The episode as a whole was quickly paced and really draws you in with a great performance between reluctant cab driver Henry ('Andre Royo') and Olivia. It's going to be very interesting to see if deep down Olivia will break out of her mind control and remember that she's in the wrong place. With the sealing of the opera house and the fact that there is no Massive Dynamics, she's going to have to find a new way to get home as well.
I'm really going to enjoy seeing how the writers cope with the fact that they've committed to two complete and independent (while totally related) story lines. For those who are unaware, all odd numbered episodes are from the "other" side while even numbered episodes are from our side. Next week, we get to see what Bolivia is up to, and I'm sure all of us are going to be on the lookout for some downplayed actions that might reveal her objectives.
Next week, Anna Torv playing Bolivia pretending to be Olivia.
Other Notes
- As noted, odd episodes take place in the alternative universe, while even episodes take place in ours.
- Agent Lincoln Lee isn't dead, but he sure has seen better days.
- Their ID cards are actually called "Show Me Card"
- They have daily flights to the moon via 'GlatterFlug' with the motto 'Don't give her diamonds, give her the moon.' That...is...awesome.
- Tom Cruise has a TV show.
- There is a strong anti-amber movement that's brewing. Ambering is sealing off the rifts locking everything and everyone in stasis.
- "I know I sound insane, but I'm not' - Olivia
- Nanite wraps...cool!
- Apparently Bolovia is an Olympic marksman, and those traits are also part of the reprograming.
- High wheel bicycles are still popular over there.
- Broyles and Walter both know that it's the wrong Olivia.
- Bolivia has changed her hair back.
- President John F. Kennedy is a UN Ambasador
- Martin Luther King and Eldridge Cleaver gave a joint "We Have a Dream"
- Dogs is a smash hit musical.
Glee Audition
The second season of Glee starts out with pretty much the same style as the previous season. This time around though, the group starts out with a strong sense of family and togetherness that was only evident towards the end of the first season. Of course though the psychosis of many of the cast members, this family quickly degenerates into their old ways.
Unsurprisingly, the Glee club is still completely disrespected throughout the student body, but with limited numbers of slushy attacks this time around. Their new goal for this year is to gain more members and build out their club to eventually reach nationals. Two of their potential members are Sunshine (played by Philippine popstar Charice) and Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet). Though of course Rachel's overzealous jealousy and Sam's fear of the new football coach put a hamper on those prospects for now. Considering the number of artists lined up for this season, it seems that the producers are looking to provide a lot of variety to the musical stylings with a rotating group of guest stars.
As for the new coach, Coach Beiste (Dot Jones from Nip/Tuck) is a formidable opponent to Sue Sylvester, immediately getting budget cuts from the Cheerios and Glee club to fund her revived football team. For a while, I was worried that the friendly relationship between Sue and Will would be a permanent fixture this season, but I'm glad to see that Will easily ruins that friendship by his kindness towards Beiste. With three different factions in play now, it's going to be interesting to see how the war zone plays out.
Other Thoughts
- Ok, if they want to get to nationals, wouldn't they have to beat Vocal Adrenaline at Regionals?
- "A female football coach, like a male nurse, is a sin against nature." - Sue
- Sunshine has already been recruited by Vocal Adrenaline's new director, Dustin Golsby. What happened to the old director?
- I don't know how Will allows Rachel's crazy to run so rampant. You'd think he'd kick her out of the group by now.
Songs
- Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (Whole Cast)
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison (Sam)
- Telephone by Lady Gaga (Rachel and Sunshine)
- Getting to Know You byThe King and I (Tina)
- Billionaire by Travie McCoy feat. Bruno Mars (Sam Evans)
- The Power by Snap! (Finn)
- Listen by Dreamgirls (Sunshine)
- What I Did for Love by A Chorus Line (Rachel)
A Deadly Affair
Castle returns from the summer with a bang. The first twenty seconds of the episode revolve around around Castle running for his life inside a warehouse under gunfire, only to run into Beckett. Cue tense standoff between Castle and Becket where they fire upon each other, and then cut to three days prior. It's a pretty intense way to get your fans back into the show, and I think it works well. Of course there's no way that either one would actually shoot each other in the first episode of a season as that'd be a very awkward way to run a whole season. On the other hand, as a viewer, it does compel you to continue watching to find out how they ended up in this situation. There is even a bit of additional support that Castle has fallen from the law with his appearance at a murder scene armed with a gun.
The gang has obviously missed Castle who has spent all summer away writing his latest novel Naked Heat, and the whole episode revolves around the grudging disappointment the gang has against his not calling or staying in touch all summer. As is common in Castle episodes, the emotions of Becket and her crew are simplified and reflected in Castle's daughter Alexis's personal life with her summer boyfriend not calling her after his extended trip abroad. The whole parallel lines work well enough to illustrate to Castle is thoughtlessness, but I sometimes wonder how it's possible that a writer of his caliber is so oblivious to the emotional needs of his friends in the department.
Overall, I'd say it's a decent start to the third season with a lot of signs of sticking to a formula that has served it well the past two.
Other thoughts
- Beckett is now single again.
- No signs of Castle's ex-wive/publisher.
- Castle is a pretty good shot.
Mike and Molly Pilot
Mike and Molly is a sweet natured comedy about two obese people who meet at an Overeaters Anonymous group and become an unlikely pair. I wasn't sure if I would like this show, but I wanted to give Chuck Lorre (Big Band Theory, Two and a Half Men) the benefit of the doubt.
It stars Billy Gardell (My Name is Earl, King of Queens) as Officer Mike Biggs and Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls) as Molly Flynn the school teacher. Gardell and McCarthy have very nice chemistry together, and I did enjoy the self deprecating humor during their OA meetings. Reno Wilson (The Cosby Show) portrays Mike's fast-talking partner Officer Carl McMillan.
I was afraid that much of the humor would revolve around crass and overused fat jokes, but the dialog is actually much more light hearted in nature. All of the jokes come from the OA meetings as they tell their personal stories to the other attendees, and actually has an air of care towards their condition and their desire to change themselves.
The show itself has a Becker feel to it, and I'll continue to watch this show for now as I think it's enjoyable enough for now despite not having too much depth.
Hawaii Five-0 Pilot
Hawaii Five-0 returns in a new incarnation with fast cars, fun dialog, and great scenerey that many viewers came to expect of the reboot.
I had never watched the original show as it ended before I was even born, but despite that I was well acquainted with the concept and was even familiar with the theme song, which they thankfully kept the same. The first episode deals with the events that cause Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) to return to his native Hawaii and form a new elite police team called "Hawaii Five-0." Other members of his team include the reincarnation of Danny "Danno" Williams (Scott Caan), Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim of Lost), Kona "Kono" Kalakaua (Grace Park of Battlestar Galactica). Masi Oka is slated to appear as Max Bergman, the Coroner.
The cast itself is amicable, with decent chemistry between Caan and O'Loughlin. The show itself seems very cut and dry as a procedural action drama where our team goes in and out hunting down criminals that have taken up roots in Hawaii. Whether there will be a overriding story arc and villain like the original series or if the series will survive for 12 seasons like its predecessor is still up in the air, but I have a feeling that fans old and new will enjoy this series for some time.
Other Thoughts
- Both McGarrett and Williams get shot in the first episode, with Williams getting shot on their very first outing.
- Originally, they had rerecorded the theme music with a rock based style, but all of the reviewers and test screeners hated the fact that it was different. They went back in an rerecorded it using the original score.
- The warehouse of the former Honolulu Advertiser building serves as the show soundstage.
- The original series used the letter "Oh" in the title, while this series uses the number "zero."
I Haven’t Told You Everything
"What is the Event?" is the general tagline for this hour long drama, and up until the last 30 seconds of the episode, I generally didn't care what the event was.
The Event employs a style that tries to build suspense and purposely causes confusing among it's viewers. Constantly, the show is jumping back and forward in various flash backs in the same vein as Lost, but in this incarnation, the flashbacks jump back and forward in a relatively small frame of time, with the furthest going back thirteen months and the closest going back a few mere minutes. It's almost as if they wanted to do a near real time pacing similar to 24 but without the split screen style, making it very confusing to understand the continuity without thinking about it. I think it takes every annoying thing about both those shows and puts them into one show all at once. I probably wouldn't have mind so much if they left some type of frame of reference going, but often times, footage would repeat over and over from different perspectives without telling the viewer that they've just rewound the timeline slightly.
The characters so far have not grabbed me in any significant way. From the very start, we have a Sean Walker (Jason Ritter) on a plane in the bathroom looking very nervous, a la Charlie in Lost. I'd love to know how he got a gun onto the plane in the first place. President Martinez seems to be another strong willed mixed heritage president to appeal to the idea America has grown to the idea that America has grown as a country to elect a minority into office.
Overall, the show feels very scattered and they spend quite a lot of time on buildup to start. The one saving grace that makes me want to keep watching it is the the small desire to know what happened to that plane, and how it was seemingly teleported.
Other thoughts
- Who is the organization that is forcing Michael Buchanan to suicide his plane to save his daughter?
- What happened to Lella? What about the other couple they hung out with all night? Are they part of this organization?
- It's nice to see Laura Innes (ER) and Zeljko Ivanek (Heroes, True BLood, Damages) back again
- It's implied in the flashbacks that the Event happened some time ago. In an 13 months ago flashback, they mention it was the reason the Alaska complex exists.
Event Theories
- Aliens (They have a leader, and there are research labs for experimentation)
- Mutants (Same as Aliens)
- Russians (Well, it is in Alaska)