OK, trying something new for TV reviews (yes, again). I’m gonna try a single post at the end of each week, most likely on Saturdays (which is pretty much the one day where no shows run new episodes). This week saw the debut of many shows and new seasons. I’m also including stuff up to this week as well. I won’t be commenting on every show every week, and certainly not as much as this first posting. Some of these shows had their pilot episodes leaked during the summer, which I reviewed earlier. Let’s see, I guess alphabetical order will do for this opening one, given the number of shows that have started.
Back To You (Fox): A moderately amusing sitcom. One that I’d be surprised to see live long (hey, it’s Fox, so that’s 1.67 cajillion strikes against survival). Kelsey Grammer has his funny moments, and is pretty well cast in the role. Patricia Heaton is also pretty well cast for the role. The whole daughter plot feels a bit out of place, though. And hey, Fred Willard is a welcome addition to anything. 1.01 - Pilot (6/10)
Big Bang Theory (CBS): One of the couple new shows about nerds this season, this is the slightly inferior and surely won’t last as long. That’s not to say that it isn’t funny when it wants to be, but it’s overly sitcom in nature and a bit too stereotyped. The aired version of the episode is, as far as I could remember, identical to the pilot I’d seen before. 1.01 - Pilot (7/10)
Bionic Woman (NBC): Potential is definitely the one word that sums up the pilot episode of this show. While this aired version has been fixed up a bit from the pilot I’d seen before, it’s still lacking a little bit. It’s certainly an enjoyable pilot episode, and I look forward to seeing where the series goes. It doesn’t quite hit it out of the park though. I will say that the reworking of the little sister is a welcome change, though I’m still not sure I like what they are doing with the role. The Battlestar casting ties are fun, though, with the likes of Katee Sackhoff, Aaron Douglas & Mark A. Sheppard. 1.01 - Pilot (8/10)
Bones (Fox): The always-great show returns to Fox for its third season, and does so pretty well. The return of Zach is a good story point, as is the dynamic between Booth & Bones (as always). Like Numb3rs, this series proves that CSI had the best lasting effect on the TV landscape than most any other programming fad (science procedurals). 4.01 - The Widow’s Son In The Windshield (8/10)
Chuck (NBC): While not everything in this series’ pilot works completely, I have to admit that it’s a whole lot of fun. There are little things that also score it points in my book. Little things like the Tron poster in Chuck’s bedroom, the “Vickie Vale” riff, the whole “Buy More / Nerd Herd” satire and others. The cast is fantastic. First, Adam Baldwin is always a welcome addition to any cast. Zachary Levi walks the line of nerd and average nice guy very well, and really works in the eponymous role. Relative unknown Yvonne Strzechowski is remarkable, in more ways than one. And Joshua Gomez is a lot of fun as the total nerd best friend. I’ll definitely be staying tuned for this series. 1.01 - Pilot (9/10)
CSI (CBS): The venerable series returns for its eighth season, and shows little sign of stopping. This eighth season premier is less about procedure and science than it is character and style. The script must be interesting, with very little dialog. There’s certainly no lack of excellent cinematography, and the characters are downplayed quite well. The original show is still the crown jewel of the franchise. 8.01 - Dead Doll (9/10)
CSI: NY (CBS): The other good member of the CSI franchise returns for its fourth season with an episode that’s a little bit overly sensationalized, which it does from time to time. Thankfully, it’s not nearly as bad as its Miami counterpart, which I quite watching a couple years ago. Oh, and they made an interesting overhaul of the main title sequence, with an interesting new remix of The Who’s Baba O’Reilly. 4.01 - Can You Hear Me Now? (7/10)
Damages (FX): Of course, the big claim to fame for this show is the fact that it stars Glenn Close. For some strange reason, the show reminds me in small ways of The Devil Wears Prada, but it isn’t as entertaining. It’s a moderately successful pilot episode, and who knows, perhaps the series will work better as a whole. Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan are excellent additions to the cast, and are at least enough to get me to try out a couple more episodes of the show. And, as always, the show has to toss around a bit of language, just because they are on FX. It’s the same kind of thing that drives me nuts about HBO. You’ll never see a show that could actually air on broadcast TV on one of these networks. 1.01 - Pilot (6/10)
Gossip Girl (CW): I know I shouldn’t like this series, but I found it amusing enough to work on some levels. I have doubts about how well it’ll work in the long run, but I’ll continue to give it a chance and see. It’s hardly a great pilot, but it’s better than the subject matter should allow. And hey, it’s got Kristen Bell for the voice-over narration. 1.01 - Pilot (7/10)
Heroes (NBC): This hit-or-miss series returns strong for the first episode of the second season. The stuff with Claire and her family works well. Hiro gets some fun material as well. And hey, a great guest appearance by David Anders (who was always great in his recurring role on Alias as Julian Sark). I look forward to Kristen Bell joining the cast at some point during this season. 2.01 - Four Months Later… (9/10)
House (Fox): This great medical dramedy comes out swinging for the fourth season, after the big shake-up at the end of season 3. So far, it’s the best season opener of the returning shows. The whole “Dr. Buffer” routing was great. I look forward to another great season of the show. 4.01 - Alone (10/10)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS): Season three kicks off with a renewed energy toward the running plot that the series title implies. It’s a moderately good episode with some fun moments (the tattoo stuff in particular). Not a fantastic opener, but still fun. 3.01 - Wait For It (7/10)
Journeyman (NBC): A somewhat lackluster time travel series, with an underwhelming pilot. It’s not bad, but it’s not great or particularly memorable. I’ll give it a couple more episodes to find its footing. This show definitely stinks of people with no sci-fi experience or knowledge trying to pull off sci-fi concepts as a foil for character development. It never quite works. Moon Bloodgood (who was good in the fantastic film Eight Below) is the only cast member who shines. 1.01 - Pilot (5/10)
K-Ville (Fox): A show that just can’t move past the core concept of the plot. It’s just not much more than what was probably in the pitch to the network - “A cop show, set in post-Katrina New Orleans.” The split family dynamic doesn’t work at all. Cole Hauser is the highlight for this show, definitely. I give the series 7 episodes on the air before Fox yanks it. 1.01 - Pilot (5/10)
My Name Is Earl (NBC): This always-hilarious show picks up from the cliffhanger of season 2 with Earl now in prison. The change in setting allows for plenty of great material, though I have doubts about how it’ll work over too much time. I’m guessing they won’t stay with this plot for too long. The season 3 premier was a rare two parter, and works well as an hour long episode. And, while Earl’s incarceration provides plenty of funny material, it’s the plot of Joy taking care of Randy that’s truly hilarious. Jamie Pressly scored herself a much-deserved Emmy award this year, and she’s still at the top of her game. Oh, and Ben Foster comes through with a great guest performance as Earl’s prison bully. 3.01 - My Name Is Inmate #28301-016 Part 1 (9/10) / 3.02 - My Name Is Inmate #28301-016 Part 2 (9/10)
Numb3rs (CBS): The other of the great CSI-inspired science procedurals opens their fourth season with the follow-up to the great season 3 closer involving Colby Granger. As I was kind of expecting, they justified Granger’s character, which kind of undermines the nice twist from the end of season 3. The team is a bit fragmented as the season opens, some of which works. Great to see the Charlie & Amita characters together in a major way. Brothers Ridley & Tony Scott are executive producers of the series, and this episode marks the first time one of the two high-profile director brothers has directed an episode of the series. Tony Scott lends his typical big-action style to the episode. He also brings with him Val Kilmer, a rather big name guest star, who has appeared in multiple movies for Tony Scott. Now, if they could just get Ridley (one of the greatest directors of all time) to direct an episode… 4.01 - Trust Metric (9/10)
Private Practice (ABC): Certainly an amusing enough series, with a pretty good dramatic sense. The pilot is a bit unsteady, but I think it can find its footing as the show progresses. It has a great cast and oodles of potential. It reminds me a bit of a David E. Kelley show, and I have hopes for it. I wonder if it’ll survive long enough to find the audience it has the potential for. And hey, Marti Noxon (one of the primary show-runners on Buffy) is a show runner for the show. 1.01 - In Which We Meet Addison, A Nice Girl From Somewhere Else (7/10)
Reaper (CW): One of the absolute highlights of the new TV season, this comedy (directed and executive produced by Kevin Smith) is loads of fun. It’s creative, has fun dialog and is populated by amusing characters. It’s likely to only lose out to Pushing Daisies as the best new show of the year. This aired version of the pilot is close to the same as the leaked version I had seen. The one key change that was made was recasting the romantic lead character, with Missy Peregrym now in the role. I really look forward to the fun episodes to follow. And, it’s on CW, so it will hopefully survive a while. 1.01 - Pilot (10/10)
Shark (CBS): The fun legal drama shuffles some elements around as it enters season 2. First, it actually added a main title sequence. Not the world’s greatest title sequence, but it’s great they added one. It’s rare for a show that didn’t start with a main title sequence to later add one on. Usually, it’s the other way around. Jeri Ryan’s character has been “demoted” from district attorney to a member of Shark’s legal team. It’s actually a promotion in terms of role, as it makes her a main character rather than a supporting one, which is great as Jeri Ryan is great in the role. The two of them will surely play off each other very well as the show goes on. One other character, Casey, has vanished between seasons. 2.01 - Gangster Movies (9/10)
Anyway, that’s all for now. Actually, it’s quite a bit already. Look forward to my gushing raves for the debut of Pushing Daisies in the next post. And don’t y’all go and miss it when it launches on Wednesday evening. It’s one of the best pilot episodes ever made.
