Deebs on TV

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"Enlightened", "American Horror Story" - First Impressions

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:52:46 -0400

Throughout the Fall TV season I will be giving my first impressions on many of the new pilots as they air. Keep in mind that these are not full-fledged reviews. One, writing about TV is not my full-time job (yet), so I simply do not have the time to invest in complete reviews for each and every show that airs this fall. Two, it is very difficult to completely make a ruling about a show based solely on the very first episode, especially when it comes to comedy. Showrunners will make changes, premises will be altered, and time must be allotted to find what works with the characters, flesh them out properly and match them with a proper tone. Bearing this in mind, I bring you my first impressions for two new cable entries: Enlightened and American Horror Story.

Enlightened - HBO (Mondays, 9:30pm EST)

Here’s what I was expecting: a slow, cerebral, funny-but-not-really show about a woman who had a mental breakdown and now needs to readjust to her old life after returning from rehab - maybe like a Wes Anderson Does TV sort of thing. Or like a Showtime comedy - strong female lead taking control of her life in a show that’s labeled a comedy that doesn’t really make you laugh. Well, the result was pretty much spot on, though more underwhelming than I was anticipating. I chuckled out loud maybe once, but the show overall is only just interesting enough that I’ll give it one more episode. I’m sorry this reaction is so short, but it speaks to how much of a response Enlightened got from me - not much at all. The verdict: C-

American Horror Story - FX (Wednesdays, 10:00pm EST)

This show actually premiered last Wednesday and just aired its second episode last night. I purposefully waited an extra week to give my first impression because if I had written this last week, the post would’ve been a jumbled mess of shock, awe and expletives - kind of like the pilot, actually. This show is weird, guys. It’s creepy, it twisted, and at times uncomfortable to watch. A lot of people have written it off as too weird - just horror homages and images crammed into an hour of TV just for the sake of doing it with no real sense of plot or anything else beyond frightening imagery. I even agreed with that assessment after I watched the pilot, in fact. But after seeing last night’s episode, my opinion is changing. There was more about the mythology of the haunted house, including some very shady business with the neighbor, maid and teen misfit who hangs around said house. There is both a troubled past and a plan in action surrounding the house that I now want to know more about. Still, there are changes that need to occur, as with most shows in their early going. The characters need to be stronger - I feel like I’m still watching Tammi Taylor and not Vivien Harmon in Connie Britton’s performance and I have absolutely no emotion either way about Dylan McDermott’s Ben, Vivien’s husband. The supporting cast is pretty good so far, however. The pacing also needs work - AHS covered in 2 episodes what could’ve taken up the first third of the season. Already Vivien has decided to sell the house due to all the weird goings-on, so now what? I hope that this was more a clever play to throw out all the go-to horror tropes early while we still needed to be distracted with shiny objects while taking in the setup that is necessary for new show. I hope that from here on out the plot will exhibit more of a slow-burn, the characters will acquire some substance, and the show can still keep up what it is doing well regarding the history of the house. The verdict: C for the pilot, B for the second episode - I will watch until Ryan Murphy just loses focus completely and comes down with another case of Glee 2nd Seasyndrome - which, with NBC ordering another pilot of his today, is very, very possible - put on your blinders, Mr. Murphy and fix this show while you still can!

"Homeland" - First Impressions

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:20:36 -0400

Homeland - Showtime (Sundays, 10:00pm EST)

Wow, guys. I mean, just, wow. There was a lot of buzz about this show before the premiere - in fact, many critics were naming it the best new show of the fall on cable or network. Let me tell you, Homeland more than lives up to the hype. It’s rare that a pilot can let us into the lives of the characters so thoroughly while also paying close enough attention to story that it still feels like something is happening. And by the end of the hour, I was absolutely captivated. Homeland is about a CIA agent, Carrie (Claire Danes), who tends to go a bit rogue and just may be slightly psychotic, and an American POW, Sgt. Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), who is returned home in the pilot after 8 years in captivity. Carrie had previously heard while on a mission that an American prisoner or war had been turned to the side of the terrorists and she thinks there’s a good chance that Sgt. Brody is that traitor.

From there, we’re off like a shot from a gun. A lot happens between Brody, his wife, and his best friend; between Carrie, her boss, and her mentor; and between Damian, his flashbacks to his captivity, and Carrie’s questions. Subtle curiosities from the beginning (“What’s the deal with the wedding ring?”) were answered down the line without bashing us in the head with to make sure we got it (hey, Terra Nova!). But at the same time, a lot is still being held close to the vest on the part of almost every character we’ve met. The story is moving at a great pace after just one episode, successfully laying out the exposition and laying the building blocks upon which this season will be built without being clunky in the least. And there are a few good “Aha!” moments towards the end of the hour that really move you to the edge of your seat. The verdict: A. The hype has been proven correct and I wish I could watch this show marathon style. More now, please!

"Suburgatory" - First Impressions

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:17:56 -0400

Suburgatory - ABC (Wednesdays, 8:30pm EST)

At this point in the TV landscape, it is very clear that cable is showcasing some of the highest quality dramas of all time on a regular basis. Try as they might, the networks have a very hard time emulating their cousins in cable (a few recent exceptions, of course, FNL and The Good Wife). But comedy? The networks are killing it with comedy. Sure, there are plenty abysmal half hours that are kept on the air (Whitney, our feud continues!), but there are still a surprising number of very well-done, well-paced, smart, quick-witted comedies. Parks and Rec, Modern Family, 30 Rock, Happy Endings, Community, HIMYM, The Office, even Sunday night animation on FOXstill hits from time to time. Add to that new comedies like New Girl, Up All Night and Two Broke Girls, all of which are showing promise. And now, Suburgatory is poised to enter the club after a very solid premiere last night.

I wasn’t expecting to like Suburgatory. It was getting good buzz, but still, I was anticipating a lot of jokes about how the big-city teenager turned suburbia resident, Tessa (Jane Levy, who I was surprised to learn also plays Mandy Milkovitch on Showtime’s Shameless), plays a TV-Juno, looking down on her new neighbors in an effort to remind herself and everyone around her how much smarter and in tune to reality she is compared to everyone else. Instead, the jokes were more about how this displaced teen simply doesn’t understand her new surroundings. And they were funny. Everything is foreign to Tessa, like waking up to the sound of silence instead of garbage trucks and honking horns (a familiar feeling I also get when I return home to Central New York for a weekend). Better, Suburgatory isn’t just about Tessa in a new suburban high school - equal time is spent on her father, George (Jeremy Sisto; Law & Order). He feels equally out of place among his new neighbors and at the local club, where he is suddenly the city-boy every housewife wants to bed. Among these new neighbors is played by Cheryl Hines, who made me nervous portraying the stereotypical neighborhood mom, Dallas, at first, but by the end of the episode she appeared much more human. This gives me hope that the supporting cast will be more than empty stereotypes and will be able to complement an already good chemistry between father and daughter. Bonus points can also be rewarded for featuring Rex “LLOYD!” Lee as a guidance counselor at the school and Alan “Steve the Pirate” Tudyk as George’s first friend. The verdict: B+

PS - watch out NBC Thursday, ABC Wednesday is REALLY turning up the heat with a great Suburgatory-Modern Family-Happy Endings comedy block.

These Sitcoms Are Makin' Me THIRSTY!

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:14:04 -0400

Lots of sitcom news coming in recently! Here’s a quick catch-me-up:

- Happy Endings returns to ABC tonight after Modern Family. It’s the best returning sophomore comedy on TV, so make sure to check it out (if you missed the first season and want some background, check out my original review HERE). Additionally, Suburgatory premieres tonight, also on ABC - the name aside, it’s getting some pretty good reviews - I’ll chime in with some First Impressions tomorrow.

- New Girl, the “adorkable” Zooey Deschanel vehicle on FOX, has become the first new fall show to get its back end filled in…wait, let me rephrase…became the first new fall show to receive a full series order, adding to its original order for 13 episodes with 11 more to premiere add on to the back end of the season. There it is. Maybe a slightly premature call after only two episodes, but one that makes me happy nonetheless (these are my First Impressions from the pilot). The ratings are strong - it won the night in viewers under 50 last night - and it makes me chuckle. Still waiting to outright laugh out loud, but I think we’ll get there.

- NBC is making some moves, but should probably make a few more - NBC announced that it has signed a deal with Dane Cook to develop and star in his own sitcom for next fall. The network has a similar deal in place with Sarah Silverman, so expect even more sitcoms starring stand-up comedians to invade your lineup. But where to put all these shows? If I’m NBC, here’s what I’m thinking: Free Agents is quickly approaching the realm of cancellation based on the ratings - tonight may be its last chance to prove itself, in fact. Soon enough, the general public SHOULD come to their senses regarding Whitney and that will kick the bucket as well. This will leave a slot open for Up All Night on Thursdays, which is a much better fit in that lineup anyway considering the tone and the talent of the show.

- Elsewhere, over in in Cable-land, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is off to a cracking start reminding me why it holds the crown for the most irreverent comedy on TV (do NOT go under the boardwalk!), Workaholics on Comedy Central returned for a second season and continues to be what I would call Sunny-lite, which is not a bad thing at all, and I eagerly await the returns of The League and Bored to Death, two more underrated but very enjoyable comedies in their own right.

"Terra Nova" - First Impressions

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:10:12 -0400

Terra Nova - FOX (Mondays, 8:00pm EST)

SPOILER ALERT - I will be giving away some plot points from the premiere. Read at your own risk.

This one has a LOT to live up to coming into the fall TV season this year. The pilot for Terra Nova has been shot, scheduled, delayed, re-shot and rescheduled several times over the past year and a half, leading to some of the most intense speculation that any series has seen in recent history. Initially slated to premiere in the midseason lineup last year, the pilot was then pushed back to a planned premiere last May, a la Glee from two years ago, but was then delayed once again before landing on the schedule last night. The very big names behind the scenes including a couple 24 vets and most notably Steven Spielberg also add to the allure. So, how was the actual show now that we all finally got to see the finished product? Well, the fine-toothed comb that went through every frame is definitely noticeable, but I gotta say I still enjoyed what I was given. The dinosaurs looked pretty good for a network TV show - and if you want to bitch and moan that they don’t look as good as their movie counterparts, I will ask you to stop it. We all know TV doesn’t get the kind of budget that film does.

The premise is simple, yet effective - Earth in the year 2149 is too polluted and overpopulated for long-term survival, so groups of people are sent back in time 85 million years to attempt a fresh start. We learn that there won’t be any butterfly effect sort of shenanigans as this version of the past is not connected to the future from where these settlers came. How this works exactly, we are not told, but are asked to trust the exposition for now. There is an extended amount of time at the top of the first hour spent in future Earth as we get to know the Shannons (scenes that were not in the original pilot), however it is mostly ham-handed and clunky time I could’ve done without. But once we get to Terra Nova, things smooth out a bit. All in all, there is a little something for everyone in this pilot - a family drama complete with a newly reunited family and daddy issues, some fairly intense dinosaur-driven action-adventure, and even a bit of LOST-ian mythology thrown in for good measure. Some of these elements are played better than others, sure, and striking the right balance will be key to the success of the series. First and foremost, the Shannon family needs to be more interesting. I care more for the HCIC (Head Colonist in Charge), Taylor, but mostly because he’s a badass. The coolest takeaway of the episode was a throwaway line that told us Taylor was the first to cross through the portal and was alone for 133 days before the next people showed up - apparently a mere moment in the year 2149 is half a year 85 million years in the past. As far as the Lost comparisons go - yes, there is a version of the Others known as “Sixers” - people who came on the sixth pilgrimmage and formed a splinter colony - but those developments are handled pretty well and should lead to some great conflict down the road. Not so well-handled are the strange markings left at the waterfalls by Taylor’s son, who disappeared from the Terra Nova colony years earlier. It would’ve been nice to get some slow-burn action with this, but the leader of the Sixers outright tells us at the end that these are the most important thing that explain the whole existence of Terra Nova - so there’s that. The verdict: It’s unlike anything else on TV right now - exotic setting with lots of action, sci-fi, and hopefully a more increased focus on character down the road. The pilot gets a B/B+

Check out the first promo for the new Showtime series House of...

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:34:09 -0400

Check out the first promo for the new Showtime series House of Lies, starring Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell (courtesy of HitFix). Here’s what the Showtime website says about the show:

A scathing, Corporate America-skewering comedy about a self-loathing management consultant (Academy Award® nominee Don Cheadle) from a top tier firm who is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his way with and for his clients.

House of Lies is set to premiere in January. bBased on the talent involved and the tone that Showtime is promoting, it seems it will be more laugh-out-loud funny than the network’s current slew of “comedies” (I hope).

"Pan Am" - First Impressions

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:00:39 -0400

Pan Am - ABC (Sundays, 10:00pm EST)

I have been looking forward to this show since it was announced. Stop, I know what you’re thinking. Really, that other Mad Men knock off not about the Playboy Bunnies? Yes, really. The talent involved is good. Thomas Schlamme, director and executive producer, is a long-time Aaron Sorkin collaborator and has proven to pick good projects in the past and creator Jack Orman has worked on Men of a Certain Age and ER. Plus, we get Christina Ricci’s return to relevance, so there’s that. Anyway, I quite enjoyed the pilot. In fact, I will say that Pan Am is my favorite new drama so far this fall. And the Mad Men comparisons need to stop. Outside of the fact that the show takes place in the 196o’s, there are few other parallels to draw, and this is a good thing. The show is fun in a way that Mad Men simply cannot be. It’s not mindless, per se, it’s more a great escapist show. Toss away the stress of the week and enjoy a great-looking show on Sunday nights that will take you back to a time when flying was still exciting, still a reason to get dressed up nice, and even romantic. The use of flashback was effective and didn’t draw too much attention to itself (except for maybe when it flashed back to the Bay of Pigs…) and I already find myself rooting for most of the characters. The women of Pan Am for sure, though the two pilot-buddies need some work. The one other thing this show needs to do is find a way to mesh the elements that each of the women we will be following brings to the table. One can bring the soapiness, one the intrigue of being a spy, another the trials of just starting at the job, and the last a look into the social change that will grab hold of the decade before long. Finding a way to really weave these story elements together is no small feat, but if it can be done, plus throw in the really sharp look to the series, Pan Am could be a show to continue looking forward to. The verdict: B+. A strong pilot with good characters and a great look. I’m in until it gets taken away from me.

"Person of Interest" and "Prime Suspect" - First Impressions

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:39:55 -0400

Person of Interest - CBS (Thursdays, 9:00pm EST)

This show had a lot of buzz coming in. Created by J. J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan (Batman Begins) and starring Ben Linus (Michael Emerson) and Jesus (James Caviezel) it has a lot of potential that would be tragic to see wasted. After the pilot, I’m not convinced the show is an outright success, but I am still hopeful. Emerson plays a guy who is super smart and helped create a computer program that generates numbers of people who will be involved in violent crimes. The catch? We don’t know if this person will be the victim or the perpetrator. Caviezel is a down on his luck CIA veteran that is given a second chance by Emerson to do some good. The pilot was entertaining enough, with Caviezel proving to be a pretty decent Jack Bauer stand-in, but I’m going to need a lot more than what it shaping up to be a “person-of-the-week” type procedural. Emerson’s character literally says at one point, “The numbers never stop coming.” If we can get some more serial elements thrown in, maybe some more mythology about the machine or a number or two that isn’t wrapped up, open-and-shut, within the hour, then I could see myself getting into this. The verdict: B-. It has my attention for now, but I will leave if things get too formulaic. And on CBS, that is a giant possibility. PROCEDURALS!!!

Prime Suspect - NBC (Thursdays, 10:00pm EST)

Remaking a British original is always tough. NBC is trying twice this fall - first with Free Agents, which is already failing in the ratings - and second with Prime Suspect, which was originally a critically-acclaimed miniseries starring Helen Mirren. Big shoes to fill, sure, but I think the show is making some good first steps (mixing metaphors!). I’ll give the bad first - the whole “beef trust” of guy cops hating on Jane Timoney, the lone female in the department (and played very capably by Maria Bello) is a bit heavy-handed. Though I will say there was a moment towards the end where one of the most vocal guys in this respect makes it known that it may be more of an outsider invading their territory thing more than a strictly male-female thing. So maybe that aspect will have some legs after all. Also, in the pilot we don’t get anything from the plot that we haven’t seen on any other cop show. I like Suspect, however, because we really get a sense for Jane in this first hour. She has a tough-as-nails exterior for sure, but we see her break down a bit after a long day at work. She’s human, dammit! The police-work scenes are good, especially her leveling with the son of a victim and a decent chase at the end. And I already like the back-and-forth relationship between her and her father - they are both trying to quit cigarettes, a struggle I am familiar with. The verdict: B. Again, I’ll stick with it for now until it falls into the realm of a same-old-same-old cop show.

"Whitney" and "Charlie's Angels" - First Impressions

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:04:02 -0400

Whitney - NBC (Thursdays, 9:30pm EST)

Ugh. As far as new comedies go, this one has got to be the worst that I’ve seen. I was already fed up with Whitney Cummings before the show even aired - what with being bombarded with lame posters and billboards around New York City for the last several months, advertisements yelling at me that basically read “If you think women are complicated, then watch this show!” - but I tuned in because I have a strange loyalty to NBC. As my former employer, I really would like for them to bounce back from the basement. But even so, I could not feel even the tiniest amount of good will towards this grating, obnoxious and downright unfunny half hour of TV. The show starts with a snarky comment about how it is taped in front of a live studio audience, but all that served to do was remind me that I hate this format and put me more on guard. From there it was a sea of outdated jokes and rampant over-acting anytime a punchline was uttered. The supporting characters are too broad, Maulik Pancholy deserves better, and even a last-minute appearance by Jane Kaczmarek can’t help this mess. The verdict: D-. Whitney Cummings needs to drop this show as soon as possible, open up that slot on Thursday night for Up All Night (because Free Agents is also on the way towards cancellation) and focus her attention on 2 Broke Girls, her other show that has a far better chance of actually being funny.

Charlie’s Angels - ABC (Thursdays, 8:00pm EST)

See those girls laughing in the picture to your left? They are the stars of the ABC reboot of Charlie’s Angels and they are laughing because they can’t believe their show actually made it to air. This post all-together is starting to feel a bit harsh, sure, but I thought if I were going to write about the worst new comedy I’ve seen, I should pair it with the worst new drama. I like balance, I guess. Angels is mindless, fluff television. Check your brain at the door, suspension of disbelief is mandatory, and you better love awful dialogue - the cheesier the better. I watched mainly because as an FNL fanatic I like to see what my friends from Dillon, TX are up to. Minka Kelly, aka Lyla Garrity, is playing a car thief who in the pilot is found by the two surviving Angels (the third is blown up in a car bomb explosion) and recruited to join. Bosley is there too, being the requisite hunky good-looking guy (speaking of - a taste of that cheese I mentioned earlier? To Bosley while in a pool with bikini-clad women: “C’mon, Bosley, adult swim is over!”) and also playing the role of the IT guy/genius hacker, or as I would call him - the Master of Hack. And Tony Almeida from 24 is this week’s big-bad. Man, where did his career go? Long story short, the Angels are still bossed around by a faceless voice on speaker phone, are dispatched to jobs where skimpy clothing is a necessity, and have access to incredible technology that is almost as laughable as the dialogue (a satellite cam that can give you a shot from a kidnapping victims bedside table?…get the fuck out). The verdict: F. One and done for me and the countdown to cancellation begins against a stacked Thursday lineup elsewhere - sorry Lyla.

Check out the first trailer for Luck, a new show coming to HBO...

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:16:58 -0400

Check out the first trailer for Luck, a new show coming to HBO in January. Starring Dustin Hoffman (!) and Nick Nolte, the show follows a gambler fresh from prison (Hoffman) and a horse trainer (Nolte) as they navigate the world of horse racing. Also attached are director Michael Mann and David Milch, who previously created Deadwood for HBO. Based on the talent involved, Luck seems to be a sure thing.

"Revenge" - First Impressions

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:20:21 -0400

Revenge - ABC (Wednesdays, 10:00pm EST)

I did not expect to like this show as much as I did. It is not a sterling drama by any means, but it drew me right in with its no-nonsense approach and sheer melodrama. Emily VanCamp plays Emily Thorne (formerly known as Amanda in a previous life), a new arrival at the Hamptons out to avenge that life that was taken from her. More than a decade earlier her father was set up and destroyed by the Hamptons “royalty” and she intends to make them rue that day. It’s a pretty straightforward premise that could play out nicely as a serialized concept. At the same time, after viewing the pilot where Emily strikes down one of the people involved, it seems that there might also be a weekly element where Emily plots against one person per episode. Some of the most successful shows are the one that can blend the self-contained adventure of the week with a long, slow burn serial element throughout the series (see: Justified). For Revenge to be a success, though, it needs to maybe not take itself quite so seriously, maybe toss in some dry humor, and also fill us in more about Emily so she’s more than just a revenge-machine hiding behind a fake name. But like I said, the intense relationship between Emily and Victoria Grayson, the Queen of the Hamptons (played by Madeleine Stowe) sucked me in and the take-no-prisoners pacing of the pilot mixed with the flashbacks to Emily’s were intriguing enough that I will be back for more - I especially enjoy a show that can pull off a first scene showcasing a murder in the first few minutes which then goes back months previous to see how this all came to be. Also, kudos to ABC for making the pilot script available for free download on Kindle - it cleared up some things I missed with so much going on with the relationships between these characters after just the first episode. The verdict: B-. Not top-quality by any means, but we all need at least one melodramatic guilty pleasure on our schedule, and I’m not a CW guy, so this will do.

yosafe: Fan of “How To Make It In America”? This should hold...

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:51:40 -0400

yosafe:

Fan of “How To Make It In America”? This should hold you over until the premiere on October 2nd. Luis Guzman.

Thanks Rich.

"New Girl" - First Impressions

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:23:56 -0400

New Girl - FOX (Tuesdays, 9:00pm EST)

Fox has been using the word “adorkable” to promote this new comedy starring Zooey Deschanel. And to be honest, the description isn’t too far off. Jess, Deschanel’s character, is indeed adorable. And she is indeed a dork, right down to the Smeagol reference. New Girl is one of the most anticipated comedy of the new fall season, and while there is a lot of promise, there are also some elements that need some work. Jess is cute and nerdy and everything promised, I’m just worried creator Liz Meriwether will be tempted to pour this on a little thick. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Jess needs to get a little more grounded and we need to see exactly how she got so quirky lest the show develops into the let’s-see-Zooey-make-some-more-cute-faces show. The supporting cast - the three guys with whom Jess lives, could also use some work. The sad-sack, the douche, and the jock, as it were, all seem to have a decent rapport with each other - they have inside jokes and I believe they have lived together for a while - but they need work individually. Coach, played by Damon Wayons Jr., will be sadly missed as he returns to Happy Endings after the pilot and I’m interested to see how his replacement will do. That all being said, I really did enjoy this pilot. These hurdles New Girl needs to maneuver aren’t too daunting - in fact, these are issues faced by almost every comedy pilot in the history of comedy pilots. It’s hard to really get into a rhythm while muscling through the exposition that is necessary in a pilot. I’m glad the show is single-camera, and the use of the flash-sideways has been pretty decent so far. The one thing that CANNOT happen too soon is the will-they-won’t-they between Jess and one of the roommates. It is eventually inevitable, sure, but it will be much more satisfying if they can wait a few years to really build the characters and relationships before trotting it out. The verdict: B. I’m in for the long haul on this one.

"2 Broke Girls" and "The Playboy Club" - First Impressions

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:05:37 -0400

Throughout the Fall TV season I will be giving my first impressions on many of the new pilots as they air. Keep in mind that these are not full-fledged reviews. One, writing about TV is not my full-time job (yet), so I simply do not have the time to invest in complete reviews for each and every show that airs this fall. Two, it is very difficult to completely make a ruling about a show based solely on the very first episode, especially when it comes to comedy. Showrunners will make changes, premises will be altered, and time must be allotted to find what works with the characters, flesh them out properly and match them with a proper tone. Bearing this in mind, I bring you my first impressions of 2 Broke Girls and The Playboy Club, both of which premiered last night.

2 Broke Girls - CBS (Mondays, 8:30pm EST)

Created by Whitney Cumming (who also has Whitney premiering this week on NBC) and Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City), the show follows Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs) as two girls struggling to make a decent living at a slightly run down diner in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Max is the consummate Brooklynite and Caroline the daughter of a Bernie Madoff-esque character recently devoid of a family fortune. Broke is a a multi-camera comedy filmed in front of a live audience, which for me is normally a huge warning sign. But I gotta be honest, these two girls grew on me before the half hour was finished. The characters (if not their supporting class, who are all fundamentally one note and written with a vaguely racist tinge, at least in the pilot) are pretty relatable (especially as a 20-something hustling to make a living and living in Brooklyn) and share a decent rapport with each other. The jokes are funny for the most part and can only get better as we get to know the characters better. Sure, some fall flat, but no comedy pilot is perfect - the writers need to get to know who they’re dealing with just as much as the audience does. The verdict: B. I will continue watching and hope this good start can pick up even more momentum. And also, congrats on being the only CBS show I’m currently watching regularly!

The Playboy Club - NBC (Wednesdays, 10:00pm EST)

In all honesty, it’s not as laughably bad as I thought it was going to be. That being said, it’s still pretty terrible. Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian) is a watered-down Don Draper who distracts more than entertains as the viewer is only thinking how Nick Dalton is so clearly less than Don Draper and why won’t he stop trying so hard? The Chicago mob is already heavily involved in the plot, which is not a good sign. When was the last time a good mob plot was played out on network TV? Chicago Code did a decent job this past year but still couldn’t avoid cancellation. Leave that to the cable shows, guys. Hugh Hefner’s voice over attempts to convince us that the show will enlighten us as to how liberated these bunnies were in the 60’s, but the actual representation we get is a far cry from that - one attempted rape, one sex scene in the club bathroom (classy), a gaggle of girls who lament on how their dream is to live off the sleaziness of rich men at the club, and one bunny in a guy’s button-down while she hides from another girl that guy is already having a relationship with. So they may not be actually on the menu at the Playboy Club, but the women portrayed here aren’t necessarily leading the movement. The verdict: C-. I’m handing in my key and moving on.

Emmys 2011 - Predictions

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:22:43 -0400

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards are this Sunday. Hosted by Jane Lynch and airing on Fox at 8:00pm EST, it is the biggest night in television. So, obviously, I must test my TV knowledge and share my input as to who I think will be called to the stage. I will be making two distinctions for each award, who should win - the choice I would make if I were voting - and who will win - my choice as to who the Emmy voters think is most deserving. Read on to see my picks!

Outstanding Drama Series: Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Game Of Thrones, The Good Wife, Mad Men

We’ll start off with a bang - the biggest award of the night. Five of the six of these shows could feasibly take home the Emmy. Boardwalk is the upstart HBO drama coming off a great awards season filled with wins; FNL showcased great writing and acting for 5 full seasons and is finally getting the respect it deserves with this nod for its final season; Game of Thrones, another rookie HBO drama, broke the bias against the fantasy drama with its nomination, and for good reason; The Good Wife is an industry favorite owing to the fact that it has cable-style quality and pacing but dares to garner success on a network; Mad Med, well, it’s Mad Men - it has been the best show on TV the last few years and the most recent season was the best of of them all. Dexter is the only show out of place here, getting the nomination seemingly out of habit. If it were me, I would’ve put Justified in the spot instead.

Should Win: Friday Night Lights. A phenomenal fifth season sent out the show amazingly. Expertly written, acted and directed - this was my favorite show on TV. I am beyond sad to see it go and will be doing cartwheels if it takes home the big prize. Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose.

Will Win: Mad Men. I am very tempted to put down Boardwalk and I won’t be in the least bit surprised if it wins, but this most recent season has been the best Mad Men has produced. Very, very hard to argue against. If and when it wins, it will tie Hill Street Blues and The West Wing for consecutive wins in the category.

Outstanding Comedy Series: The Big Bang Theory, Glee, Modern Family, The Office, Parks & Recreation, 30 Rock

Parks and Rec is the best comedy on TV. Period. After watching the most recent season, I challenge you to point to one sub-par episode. 30 Rock and Modern Family are Emmy favorites, so their chances are high. Big Bang makes sense on paper, I guess. The Office had an uneven season, but experienced very nice highs when focusing on Steve Carell’s departure. Glee is the odd man out here. Sue Sylvester and Brittany are only two characters on an ensemble show - they alone can’t make it a comedy.

Should Win: Parks and Recreation. Two words: Ron Swanson.

Will Win: Modern Family. The Emmy voters REALLY love this show. I mean, all six main actors on the show are also nominated in acting categories, plus it is the returning champ.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Hugh Laurie, House; Timothy Olyphant, Justified

Should Win: I really want Kyle Chandler to win. And this isn’t simply FNL bias, either. The episode put up for consideration was the series finale, the best of the season. That being said…

Will (and really, if I’m being honest with myself, probably should) Win: Jon Hamm. Which is absolutely fine by me. “The Suitcase”, his episode put up, was his best work all year. The relationship between him and Peggy had been building for years up until and then came to a head in this pivotal episode. Steve Buschemi could give him a good run, considering he has won the equivalent award at The Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, but the leading man in the best episode of television all year will win this award. He has to, right?

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series: Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law; Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights; Mireille Enos, The Killing; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU; Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Should Win: Elisabeth Moss, for all the reasons why Hamm should win in his category. Also putting forth “The Suitcase”, it would be a disservice to give the award to anyone else. (Side note: even though Connie Britton won’t win and probably shouldn’t going up against Moss, I still very badly want her to.)

Will Win: Julianna Margulies. The popular opinion says this is her award to lose. Though I haven’t watched The Good Wife (I know, I know, I’ll get to it), I’m going to have to go with the odds on this one.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Louis C.K., Louie; Steve Carell, The Office; Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory; Matt LeBlanc, Episodes; Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Should AND Will Win: Steve Carell. He hasn’t won an award for his portrayal of Michael Scott after six years. Excuse me?? This seventh has got to be the year he finally takes it. Especially since he was given much more to do as his departure became fully realized and he grew from the man-boy in a manager’s costume to an actual person falling in love with a woman and saying goodbye to his friends, making us laugh while putting a lump in our throats at the same time.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series: Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Laura Linney, The Big C; Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly; Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope; Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation

Should Win: Amy Poehler. If you’ve seen “The Flu”, her submitted episode and one of the best of the season, you really can’t argue. Poehler IS Parks and Rec and if the Emmys won’t give the big award to her show they can at least recognize her brilliance here.

Will Win: Laura Linney. Ugh. I hate that the Emmys love movie-people on TV so much. The Big C isn’t really a comedy, it’s a “dramedy” at best. It will piss me off a bit, but Linney will replace Edie Falco from last year as the another phenomenal actress who is cast in a somewhat-funny show that, because it’s a half hour, is viewed as a comedy and is given the award.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series: Andre Braugher, Men Of A Certain Age; Josh Charles, The Good Wife; Alan Cumming, The Good Wife; Peter Dinklage, Game Of Thrones; Walton Goggins, Justified; John Slattery, Mad Men

Should Win: It’s a draw for me between Peter Dinklage and Walton Coggins. Dinklage was the best part of Thrones, and if the show is going to be awarded anything in the major categories, it is here. And as far as Coggins goes, try imagining Justified without him and see what you get.

Will Win: John Slattery - playing the part of another beneficiary to a stellar season of Mad Men.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series: Christine Baranski, The Good Wife; Michelle Forbes, The Killing; Christina Hendricks, Mad Men; Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire; Margo Martindale, Justified; Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife

Should Win AND Will Win: Margo Martindale. Her portrayal of Mags Bennett was mesmerizing and terrifying. After watching her in action, it would be blasphemy to pick anyone else over her in this category.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series: Ty Burrell, Modern Family; Chris Colfer, Glee; Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family; Ed O’Neill, Modern Family; Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Should Win: Ty Burrell. The funniest of the Modern Family men, especially in “Good Cop, Bad Cop” where he has a lot of fun playing Phil Dunphy being Claire Dunphy.

Will Win: This was my hardest one to pick. The Modern Family guys could split the vote and make room for Jon Cryer and Chris Colfer. Just putting up with Charlie Sheen shouldn’t give Cryer an award, but who knows? Colfer has a chance as a crowd favorite, plus his episode was a great, emotional one for him, even if not a funny one. Gun to my head though, I’m sticking with my gut - Ty Burrell takes it.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series: Julie Bowen, Modern Family; Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock; Jane Lynch, Glee; Sofia Vergara, Modern Family; Betty White, Hot In Cleveland; Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live

Should Win: Julie Bowen just over Sophia Vergara. I almost want to say Kristen Wiig, too, because she is fantastic, and she may get a bump because people will be remembering Bridesmaids, but her SNL characters are played-out.

Will Win: Jane Lynch. Again, not a terribly funny performance, but an emotional one that will resonate with Emmy voters. Plus the advantage of being the returning favorite and the host will combine to create a perfect storm of Emmy-win.

Outstanding Miniseries Or Made-For-TV Movie: Cinema Verite, Downton Abbey (Masterpiece), The Kennedys, Mildred Pierce, The Pillars Of The Earth, Too Big To Fail

Should Win: To be honest, I haven’t seen all of these. But as Downton Abbey just won a Guinness World Record for having the “Highest critical review ratings for a TV show,” it’s gotta get the pick.

Will Win: Mildred Pierce. I did actually see this one. It has the edge over the other HBO entries because it’s longer - strange but true, the Emmys like a grand scale. Plus the allure of Kate Winslet (Movie-people on TV!) will be too much to resist.

Outstanding Variety, Music, Or Comedy Series: The Colbert Report, Conan, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Real Time With Bill Maher, Saturday Night Live

Full disclosure: I happen to work on one of the shows in this category, so some bias may be revealed…

Should Win: The Daily Show. Aaaand bias revealed! But in all seriousness, the episode submitted detailing the struggle to pass the 9/11 First Responders Bill with a roundtable of actual First Responders is pretty legit. That being said, I LOVE Late Night, especially the Bruce Springsteen episode that was put up, so I would be very happy to see Fallon take home the prize as well.

Will Win: The Daily Show. Nine-straight, baby - let’s keep the streak alive!

Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series: Boardwalk Empire - “Anastasia,” Jeremy Podeswa; Boardwalk Empire - “Boardwalk Empire (Pilot),” Martin Scorsese; The Borgias - “The Poisoned Chalice/The Assassin,” Neil Jordan; Game Of Thrones - “Winter Is Coming (Pilot),” Tim Van Patten; The Killing - “Pilot,” Patty Jenkins

Should AND Will Win: Martin Scorcese for the Boardwalk pilot. If there were ever a done deal in any category, it’s this one. Home run. Ball game. See ya later. Honorable mention goes to Tim Van Patten for the Thrones pilot - turning a novel-world with such incredible scope into such a gorgeous pilot is no small feat.

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series:

How I Met Your Mother - “Subway Wars,” Pamela Fryman; Modern Family - “Halloween,” Michael Alan Spiller; Modern Family - “See You Next Fall,” Steve Levitan; Modern Family - “Slow Down Your Neighbors,” Gail Mancuso; 30 Rock - “Live Show,” Beth McCarthy-Miller

Should AND Will Win: Beth McCarthy-Miller. Although the Emmys love Modern Family, the three episodes submitted will split the vote. And when it comes down to it, McCarthy-Miller had the toughest task out of everyone and pulled it off while making it look easy. The ability to turn a quick-moving single-camera comedy into a live broadcast, and to do it twice (one for each coast), deserves the award.

Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series: Friday Night Lights - “Always,” Jason Katims; Game Of Thrones - “Baelor,” David Benioff and D.B. Weiss; The Killing - “Pilot,” Veena Sud; Mad Men - “Blowing Smoke,” Andre Jacquemetton and Maria Jacquemetton; Mad Men - “The Suitcase,” Matthew Weiner

Should Win: Jason Katims for the FNL series finale. You’ve heard enough of my praise for FNL already, so you should know why this is my personal pick. The best episode of my favorite show, for sure, but it won’t win because…

Will Win: Matthew Weiner for “The Suitcase” - the best episode of TV all year.

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series: Episodes - “Episode 107,” David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik; Louie - “Poker/Divorce,” Louis C.K.; Modern Family - “Caught In The Act,” Steve Levitan and Jeffrey Richman; The Office - “Good-Bye Michael,” Greg Daniels; 30 Rock - “Reaganing,” Matt Hubbard

Should AND Will Win: Greg Daniels for Michael Scott’s “Goodbye” episode. Expertly written to elicit tremendous laughs while being heartfelt and fully realizing the progression of Michael Scott over seven years of television.

"Up All Night" and "Free Agents" - First Impressions

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:33:12 -0400

Throughout the Fall TV season I will be giving my first impressions on many of the new pilots as they air. Keep in mind that these are not full-fledged reviews. One, writing about TV is not my full-time job (yet), so I simply do not have the time to invest in complete reviews for each and every show that airs this fall. Two, it is very difficult to completely make a ruling about a show based solely on the very first episode, especially when it comes to comedy. Showrunners will make changes, premises will be altered, and time must be allotted to find what works with the characters, flesh them out properly and match them with a proper tone. Bearing this in mind, I bring you my first impressions of two new NBC comedies, Up All Night and Free Agents.

Up All Night - NBC (Wednesdays, 8:00pm EST)

I had high expectations for this show leading up to the premiere. While it didn’t disappoint, it definitely has some work to do before it gets up to cruising speed. The comedy stars Will Arnett (Arrested Development) as Chris and Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?) as Reagan, former party animals adjusting to a new life with their infant, Amy. Maya Rudolph (SNL, Bridesmaids) plays Ava, the host of a talk show on which Reagan is a producer. While I did laugh a handful of times, the pilot was not as straight-forward funny as I thought it would be. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. Many of the gags were given away by the promos, but there was also some heart showing through that I wasn’t quite expecting, but welcomed anyway. The characters are very appealing (it’s nice seeing Arnett not emulating Gob Bluth for the first time in a long time) and I look forward to seeing how showrunner Emily Spivey (SNL, Parks and Recreation) keeps them relate-able while building the laughs as the show progresses. As several other critics have noted, it seems like there are two different shows happening at the same time. The show at home with Chris, Reagan and baby Amy seems much more heartfelt, eliciting comedy from the real struggles of raising a newborn for the first time. Alternatively, the show at “Ava”, the daytime talk show where Reagan works, is more in line with what we’ve come to expect from the standard workplace comedy - zany situations and big personalities only spurred on by Rudolph’s larger-than-life portrayal of the talk show host - but not as good. For this show to reach the quality of its network’s Thursday-night counterparts, it will need some time to get to know the characters and find a tone that meshes the two worlds a little better. The verdict: I give the pilot a solid B and will no doubt continue to watch.

Free Agents - NBC (Wednesdays, 8:30pm EST)

NBC is once again trying to remake a British series - the original actually will begin airing on BBC America in October. It has received very mixed reviews going in, though I would say the general trend leaned on the negative side. Still, I was intrigued by the premise - more often than not a sitcom will play the will-they-or-won’t-they angle with the main pair, but Free Agents puts it all out there with the first scene. Co-workers Alex (Hank Azaria) and Helen (Kathryn Hahn) are shown in bed together right at the outset. Alex is recently divorced with two kids while Helen’s fiance has recently passed away. They are both damaged people, clearly surprised by what just happened with their relationship. For the rest of the pilot, Alex is nothing more than a sad-sack, constantly crying about his wife and kids while Helen seems pretty poised and realistic about the whole thing, that is until we see her breakdown towards the end of the episode. The humor was spotty at best throughout. The leads and supporting cast (Al Madridal, Natasha Leggero and Anthony Head reprising the boss role he played in the British series) are great and are placed in good hands (Jon Enbom of Party Down), but I think the show needs to work on its tone. Is it a goofy workplace comedy with lots of iffy sex jokes or will it be a darker comedy about two damaged people as they find out what this turn in their personal lives means in conjunction with their work lives? The verdict: the pilot gets a C, but I will give it another handful of episodes to get out from under the thumb of its British predecessor and find its own rhythm. After all, it took The Office a good stretch to complete the same task.

"Entourage", "True Blood" and "Curb" - The HBO Finale Fest

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:13:28 -0400

This past Sunday was a day for closure on HBO. Entourage aired its series finale while both True Blood and Curb Your Enthusiasm completed their seasons. One was great, one was OK, one was everything I thought it would be…horrible. Care to guess which is which?

SPOILER ALERT - do not read on if you haven’t seen these finales.

Let’s start with the great: Curb Your Enthusiasm. The season ended with a very good episode after a run of both very good and simply fantastic ones. I mean, Larry teaches a “pre-gay” 7-year old about Hitler and Swastikas and gets in a battle with Michael J. Fox over whether his slights towards Larry are “pissed or Parkinson’s”. This episode landed squarely in the category of fantastic episodes this season along with “The Divorce”, “Palestinian Chicken” (the best of the season), “Vow of Silence” and “The Bi-Sexual.” I won’t say much more because it would mostly be repeating great jokes from this season - I suggest hitting up OnDemand and catching up on this season if you haven’t watched already. And let’s all hope that Larry David feels feels motivated and gets to work making another season sometime in the near future, else we may have experienced a series finale instead of simply a season-ender.

True Blood comes next in the HBO finale power-rankings. Honestly, it wasn’t great, but there was just enough good to make is passable as a finale. The whole business with Marnie was settled rather quickly - Marnie/Lafayette kills Jesus to obtain his Brujo-magic and puts Bill and Eric on a burning stake, but all is undone in a matter of minutes. Marnie’s ranting means she can’t pay attention to Holly sprinkling salt around her and circling up with Sookie and Tara to cast a spell. They raise the dead, which, since it’s Halloween is a no-brainer, and Gran and Antonia convince Marnie to move on to the Great Beyond. The rest of the just episode plods along. Most notably, Sookie breaks up with both Bill and Eric, and it is tough to watch. Not because of the emotion, of which I felt none at this point, but because it drags on FOR-EV-ER. Also, Pam has the best line of the night (per usual) as she yells her frustration about everyone’s obsession with Sookie: “I am so over Sookie and her precious fairy vagina and her unbelievably stupid name. Fuck Sookie!”

Then the last 7 or so minutes show up and things finally get interesting. Reverend Steve Newlin from season 2 arrives at Jason’s house and reveals himself to be a vampire (which gives meaning to his disappearance, as noted by the local news earlier in the season) - of course this could all be taken care of in 30 seconds if Jason simply does not invite him in or if his fangs are revealed to be a Halloween costume. I wouldn’t put it past you, True Blood. Russell escapes from under the cement where he lay for the last year-plus. We don’t actually see him, but Alcide finds a glamored worker, a big hole in a parking garage floor, and some silver chains. Nan is fired from the AVL and the Authority - she says she is marked for the true-death and Bill and Eric are next unless they can help her lead a revolt. She reveals she knows about Sookie being a faerie to blackmail them, so Eric decapitates all three of her guards and Bill stakes her. Best scene of the evening. Sam seems hap and at-peace with Luna and Emma after Tommy’s funeral, but is promptly confronted by a werewolf the last time we see him. We don’t know the identity of the wolf but I figure it must be Debbie because…

Debbie then shows up at Sookie’s house, shotgun in hand, hell-bent on revenge. She looks to be at the end of her rope, which I hope means she just came from losing a fight with Sam. She aims at Sookie, but Tara jumps in front of the bullet (YAY! Like the Tea Party contingent at the CNN debate said: “Let her die!”) and her head is blown half off. Sookie gets on top of Debbie, points the gun at her head, and shoots. Booyah! The season ends with Sookie holding Tara, sobbing and yelling for help.

Now a couple things could happen - Tara could die right there, which I think is what most of us are rooting for - she has been dead weight for a long time now and I despise almost every scene she’s in - OR Bill and Eric will sense Sookie’s plight, run on over and heal Tara like it never happened. It will become one of the many, many story lines that get forgotten by the show, never to be brought up again (this season alone: Jason and the werepanthers in Hotshot, the faeries - both the battle at the beginning of the season and Andy’s sex-encounter last episode, Bill fucking his great-great-great-great-great granddaughter, and how Tara used to be a lesbian). Or, and this might be the only acceptable option, Tara might be turned into a vampire in order to “live”. That might be interesting, and could possibly play into what will hopefully be a vampire-centered 5th season. No more witches, no more faeries, only a select few shifters and werewolves, and all the rest we can leave to the vampires. I mean, c’mon, Russell Edgington is back and Eric and Bill are outlaws that are going to need to mount a resistance to the AVL and the Authority. That much I can get down with.

Finally, we have Entourage. In a word: Ugh. The sad part is that I knew this was the way it was going to go. Everyone gets exactly what they always wanted because nothing really bad ever happens in Entourage-land. The guys stick up for the guys and in doing so convince Sloan to get back with E. Ari realizes family is more important than success (because he already has a tremendous amount of it) and quits his job to be with his wife, and Vince gets married. Yeah, I know, he actually gets married. See what I mean - this stupid show! They took one of the only female characters that actually seemed to have a head on her shoulders instead of a few bikini-straps, one who is smart, driven, and could see right through Vince’s BS, and they reduce her to another girl that Vince wins over - though we don’t actually really see him do it on their magical 24-hour date - and then Vince buys her a million-dollar ring. Because the moral of Entourage is that it’s OK to be money and fame-obsessed as long as you do it with your bros. Oh, and Drama and Turtle were there, too.

So Entourage is finally over, but wait! Everyone attached to the show in any capacity is straight-up guaranteeing a movie - Mark Wahlberg is even willing to fund it himself to make it happen - so we’re not done with the crew just yet. So we’ll see whether Vince is still married, where E went on that plane with Sloan, and if Ari ditched his new-found promise of a simple life with his wife in Italy for a year to take the offer to run a network and studio parent-company. Oh, and Drama and Turtle will be there too. If you ask me, this would’ve been the better ending.

2011 Fall TV Lineup w/ Deebs and JKJ

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:29:49 -0400

PHOTO: http://www.tv-links.eu/

Guys, this is the most exciting time of the year. Can you feel it in the air? The Emmys are one week away (my Emmy Picks are coming later this week, no worries) and the new Fall TV schedule begins rolling out TOMORROW.

As this is such a highly anticipated time of the year and there are a literal shit-load of shows to preview, I am working together with my good friend Jenna Kim Jones, a local NYC comedian and fellow TV-lover to give the low-down on everything you should be watching. Good shows, bad shows, newbies and returning favorites - we cover it all.

If you like Jenna and think she’s funny, check out more really good stuff at her blog http://www.jennakimjones.com/

The full lineup available after the jump!

(Listed by premiere date; new shows in bold)

Tuesday, September 13

- Ringer - CW

Deebs: Wait, a show on the CW not including vampires, witches, or rich girls? Oh, Sarah Michelle Gellar stars – now I get it. The show doesn’t seem great to me, but considering the current stable of programming at the CW, this could be there highest quality show if it sticks around.

JKJ: SMG (that’s Sarah Michelle Geller—the less popular Sarah with three names) has been out of TV for so long, she gave herself two roles playing twins. Does that mean she gets two paychecks?

- Parenthood - NBC

Deebs: I LOVE this show. Coming back for a third season, I am more excited for this than any other returning network drama. It’s like if Modern Family were a drama, with a showrunner fresh off Friday Night Lights (which is true).

JKJ: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Wednesday, September 14

- H8R - CW

Deebs: This show is an affront to the human race. Mario Lopez thinks Internet bullying of celebrities is such a huge issue that it needs to be brought to our attention with this awful show. Hey kid, you find Snooki mildly annoying and want to make fun of her online? Keep it up and we’ll let you meet her on TV – problem solved!

JKJ: H8R as in HATER. I know, so annoying. If this is how you text, this show is obviously for you so go ahead and set your DVR. Call me a hater but for heaven’s sake spell it right!

- Up All Night - NBC

Deebs: Starring Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, and Christina Applegate, produced by Lorne Michaels, and created by Emily Spivey, former writer for both SNL and Parks and Rec. In a word: YES.

JKJ: Sitcom, Will Arnett, Christina Applegate, Maya Rudolph and baby humor. My. Dream. Show. COUNT ME IN!

- Free Agents - NBC

Deebs: I really like Hank Azaria, so I’ll give it a shot. It could be a good companion to Up All Night – I’m very interested to see how well this new Wednesday comedy block on NBC if going to work.

JKJ: Kathryn Hahn, finally getting the leading role that she deserves. You’ll recognize her as the best friend in every other romantic comedy out there. Tune in to see if she can hold her own.

Thursday, September 15

- It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia - FX

Deebs: I’m a long time fan and always excited for the return of one of the most irreverent comedies on TV. Also, Mac gained 50 lbs purely for comedy. So, there’s that.

JKJ:Mac gained 50 lbs this season so they could make fat jokes. How much do I love fat jokes? MORE THAN CAKE!

Monday, September 19

- Two and a Half Men - CBS

Deebs: I didn’t watch with Charlie Sheen, I won’t watch with Ashton Kutcher. Chuck Lorre, I just don’t understand you, or why people like your shows so much.

JKJ: With Ashton Kutcher as the half man!

- 2 Broke Girls - CBS

Deebs: I’m think it’s funny that Whitney Cummings co-created this show, but almost no one knows it. Her other show premiering this fall is going to suck, while this one doesn’t look half bad. You also have Kat Dennings joining the club of movie-people trying out TV.

JKJ: A television show about me and my roommate? Might hit too close to home but I’ll give a shot.

- The Playboy Club - NBC

Deebs: NBC, I like you a lot. I used to work for you and had a great time doing so. But I must say, for your own good, cancel this one preemptively. It’s a Mad Men knock-off (the lead looks like he could be related to Jon Hamm) done badly. Enough said.

JKJ:If you live in Utah, you won’t be seeing this show. Instead you’ll see What’s Up Utah! Or you’ll change the channel.

Tuesday, September 20

- Glee - FOX

Deebs: At the end of last season I was watching this more out of habit than anything else. Then The Glee Project came along and gave me 4 new characters to root for and I’m actually excited for this new season. Well done, Ryan Murphy. Well done indeed.

JKJ: How about I watch something else. #anythingbutglee

- New Girl - FOX

Deebs: The second comedy that I am really looking forward to this Fall. Zooey Deschanel is adorable (at the TCA panel, one critic actually asked her when she first knew she was adorable – true story), and funny, and the supporting cast looks good too. Plus the post-Glee scheduling should help with the ratings and keep this one around for a while.

JKJ:Pretty, charming, “nerdy” girl breaks up with bad boyfriend and is forced to live with 3 hot men? Whoa. That’s rough.

- Unforgettable - CBS

Deebs: I say forget about it – I will not be watching this contrived procedural about a woman who can’t forget anything…except the one thing that has haunted her forever. Give me a break.

JKJ: Another cop drama except this cop has perfect autobiographical memory which means she can remember EVERYTHING. Forced to work with ex-husband. Also it’s set in Queens. OH MY GOSH, it’s SO depressing.

Wednesday, September 21

- The X Factor - FOX

Deebs: A big, heaping pile of rating, coming up! I was never much for the televised singing competition…and then I got really into The Voice. To be fair, I will give this one a week or two.

JKJ: Paula Abdul’s second chance to convince America that she isn’t completely high all the time. X!

- Modern Family - ABC

Deebs: The 6 adult actors are all nominated for Emmys in the supporting actor/actress categories. I want all 6 of them to win. This show is the second best comedy on TV and I eagerly await its return. Oh, and Lily has been recast as a toddler, so that will be fun.

JKJ: Fairly sure that Phil is based off of my brother-in-law. Amazing show. Can’t wait for the return.

- Revenge - ABC

Deebs: I am so curious about Revenge. It could be a cheesy ABC-soap, or a well-written drama based on The Count of Monte Cristo. And I gotta think ABC loves the writing of this new show – they made the pilot script available on Kindle weeks before the show airs. Weird.

JKJ:Talk about a show for Real America! The lead returns to her wealthy past life in the Hamptons to take revenge on the catty women that ruined her life.

Thursday, September 22

- The Big Bang Theory - CBS

Deebs: Again, Chuck Lorre, why do people like you so much? I much prefer to watch Johnny Galecki playing an asshole-ish version of himself on Entourage, sorry.

JKJ: Apparently this show is hilarious?

- Charlie’s Angels - ABC

Deebs: Like Playboy Club, this is one of those shows that is going to be so bad that I think I need to watch just to see how low it can go. Also, full disclosure, I’m in love with Lyle Garrity – I mean Minka Kelly – so that’s another reason to tune in.

JKJ: Charlie may have given his angels a 2nd chance but here’s hoping the show is canceled after the 2nd episode.

- Community - NBC

Deebs: The show that is not afraid to take risks. I say, keep it up. Refreshingly goofy and straight-up funny – plus guest appearances from John Goodman and Michael K. Williams (aka Omar/Chalky White) make me excited.

JKJ: Who thinks Donald Glover should have own show? Just me? Alright, well, enjoy this season’s paintball episode. I’m sure it will be a delight.

- Parks & Recreation - NBC

Deebs: THE best comedy on TV. I wish Pawnee were real so I could go visit. Oh, and Ron Swanson. That is all.

JKJ: Looking forward to more DJ Rumba.

- The Office - NBC

Deebs: So who’s gonna be the new manager, right? Apparently we’ll know before the cold open ends on the premiere, so that’s something. And Kathy Bates is out and James Spader is in as the new boss at Sabre. Lots of changes, let’s see if the veteran comedy can make it all work sans Steve Carell.

JKJ: This is still happening?

- Person of Interest - CBS

Deebs: As much as I want a show about Ben Linus and Jesus using a mystery-machine to stop crimes that haven’t happened yet to be good, I don’t think this one is going to pan out. With CBS as a home, it will fall victim to its master and become another lame procedural that millions of people watch.

JKJ: J.J. Abrams production means I love it already.

- Whitney - NBC

Deebs: Hurry up and get cancelled so we can have 30 Rock back. Thanks.

JKJ: Giving it a shot but jumping ship after the first comparison of lady problems to a leaky faucet.

- Prime Suspect - NBC

Deebs: I love me a gritty cop drama, and Prime Suspect is about to tryout for that slot in my TV lineup. I also like that this is a British re-make – those seem to have a pretty good track record, especially on NBC – right, Ricky Gervais?

JKJ: Tough as nails lady detective has to fight to get a little respect with the men she works with. I’m bored.

Friday, September 23

- A Gifted Man - CBS

Deebs: Two words: CBS procedural. Pass.

JKJ: Quickest way to sum up this show: I see dead people or just my dead ex wife.

Saturday, September 24

- Saturday Night Live (w/ Alec Baldwin, Radiohead) - NBC

Deebs: With this appearance, Baldwin moves past Steve Martin as the all-time leader in guest hosting. Will it be a funny season? Maybe. Will I watch and hope for the best? Always.

JKJ: I love you, SNL but I’m not IN love with you. Good luck this season.

Sunday, September 25

- Boardwalk Empire - HBO

Deebs: Bring it on, Boardwalk, I’m ready. As far as cable TV goes – this is right up there with the best of the best.

JKJ: A show about prohibition? Sign this Mormon up! But for real: this is a sleazy show about the mob in Atlantic City that some how makes Atlantic City look better than it does today. I applaud you.

- Pan Am - ABC

Deebs: Call me crazy, but I think this is going to be good. Yes, it happens to take place in the 1960’s so it will draw comparisons to Mad Men, but I think it will be able to separate itself from those early comparisons and prove to be a fun drama. At the very least it will blow Playboy Club out of the water.

JKJ: Before we had to call them flight attendants, there were sexy stewardesses.

Monday, September 26

- Gossip Girl - CW

Deebs: I defer to Jenna on all matters relating to Gossip Girl…

JKJ: I have a feeling this season will the demise of GG. Say goodbye and tell us who the heck Gossip Girl is already!

- Terra Nova - FOX

Deebs: This might be the most highly anticipated show of the fall lineup. With Steven Spielberg as an executive producer, think Jurassic Park meets Avatar meets LOST meets Back to the Future.

JKJ: Lost meets Jurassic Park meets Avatar meets Alien meets Lost in Space. Show with identity crisis or…amazing show? Can’t wait to find out.

Wednesday, September 28

- Suburgatory - ABC

Deebs: As lame as the name is, it still caught my attention. Strictly based on the promos it seems like this show might be able to put a nice spin on the tired trope of how much the suburbs are different from city life. I just hope this doesn’t turn into Juno 2.0.

JKJ: The previews make this show look dangerously cliché but I have a feeling they aren’t doing it justice.

- Happy Endings - ABC

Deebs: My vote for best returning sophomore comedy. Consider it a more modern friends, but in Chicago instead of NYC and single cam instead of multi cam. A great cast led by Adam Pally and Casey Wilson (SNL) with some sharp, smart writing makes this a must-see.

JKJ: Do I dare say it? Yes I do. Happy Endings is BETTER than Friends!

- How To Be A Gentleman - CBS

Deebs: Johnny Drama tries to teach Rickety Cricket how to be a real man. Plus there’s Dave Foley, Chloe from 24 that guy who played Murray on Flight of the Conchords. It’s not a great concept but such interesting casting that I’m going to have to check it out.

JKJ: Uptight how-to columnist learns how to be the opposite of a gentlemen with the help of immature man-boy. Trust me, it looks better than it sounds. If you like sitcoms, it might capture your heart.

Sunday, October 2

- Dexter - Showtime

Deebs: Dexter says in the trailer for the new season, “I’m feeling like my old self again.” Let’s hope so – last season was a bit of a lull considering the high water mark that previous seasons have set. Regardless, I always look forward to Dexter, and this season is no different.

JKJ: Never seen it. But we all know a serial killer or two. I wonder what the serial killer who worked at Blockbuster down the block is doing now that he’s unemployed.

- Homeland - Showtime

Deebs: Widely regarded as the best new drama this fall TV season. Especially considering that I’m writing this blurb on the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, a show about an American POW that returns to questions of whether he has been turned by a terrorist cell seems especially poignant.

JKJ: If I could afford Showtime I would SO watch this show. Terror, intrigue, conspiracy, Claire Danes. Yes, please!

- How To Make It In America - HBO

Deebs: This is like Entourage but in NYC and 10 years younger. It’s also better, funnier, and is actually about something. Go catch up on season one before it returns for a second season.

JKJ: I have a hard time trusting scripted shows that look like documentaries. But what do I know.

Monday, October 3

- House - FOX

Deebs: I hate that I still watch this show. I really don’t like it – it sits on my DVR until I literally have nothing else to watch. I wish FOX would just tell us this is the last season already, but they won’t. Maybe putting House in prison for the first few episodes will spice things up like when he was in rehab a few years ago, but that will all be undone when he returns to Princeton Plainsboro and that status quo is resumed.

JKJ: I’m not sure this series could get any worse and yet I watch it like it’s life or death.

Wednesday, October 5

- American Horror Story - FX

Deebs: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (co-creators of Glee) cast Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton as leads (aka Tammi Taylor from FNL) and move from the choir room to a haunted house. The promos are creepy as all hell, that’s for sure. I’ll be watching with the lights on.

JKJ: A SCARY TV SHOW? JOIN ME IF YOU DARE.

- South Park - Comedy

Deebs: I stopped watching a few season ago and I feel like a bad person for doing so. This might be the season that I get reacquainted with an old friend.

JKJ: Yeah, yeah, yeah. South Park is funny. We get it.

Thursday, October 6

- The League - FX

Deebs: During the lockout, I was worried about the fate of the NFL this season, for sure. But I was more worried about the fate of The League. Paired very well with Always Sunny, it’s a good show deserving of its spot on a packed comedy-Thursday.

JKJ: It’s hard to get into a comedy about a fantasy sport that makes absolutely no sense in my brain. Made for men but I’m sure there are women out there who pretend to love it too.

Monday, October 10

- Bored to Death - HBO

Deebs: Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis make this a wonderful little show. Like How to Make It, it’s a very well done half hour on HBO that should be brought to your attention.

JKJ: Unbeatably charming cast. Almost makes me wish I paid extra for HBO.

- Enlightened - HBO

Deebs: It’s a half-hour show on HBO. As such, I will watch. Oh, and Luke Wilson has a beard.

JKJ: A story about mid life crisis or mid life enlightenment. Either way, you end up alone living in your mom’s basement.

Tuesday, October 11

- Last Man Standing - ABC

Deebs: Remember when Tim Allen was on Home Improvement and he made that macho-family man character popular? Well, it’s not 1992 any more, buddy. Get the hell off my TV screen with lame jokes about how hard it is to be a man in a woman’s world. How about be a man and do something outside our dated comfort-zone.

JKJ: Oh Tim Allen, I so don’t want this to suck but…I have a feeling… #tragic

Wednesday, October 12

- Psych - USA

Deebs: I don’t watch this show. But every time I see a promo I think “Hey look, its Charlie Young! But where’s President Bartlett?”

JKJ: As long as Shawn finally drops that stupid puka shell necklace he’s been wearing the last few seasons, I’m looking forward to Psych’s return.

Sunday, October 16

- The Walking Dead - AMC

Deebs: The Walking Dead has a lot of controversy and expectations surrounding it – it was the highest rated show on AMC during its 6-episode first season, but then its showrunner quit and it is premiering the second season as its network is floundering all over the place. And we just learned the second season will be split up in two sections – I mean c’mon AMC, you do want to keep some of those viewers, right?

JKJ: Never seen it but have a feeling I’ll be Netflixing it in the near future.

Tuesday, October 18

- Man Up! - ABC

Deebs: Another in the stable of new shows about guys learning what it is to be a guy while they do guy things and their families/girlfriends/kids look on. Ugh, no thanks.

JKJ: 3 man-boys have to learn to Man Up. I have a few guy friends who could use a lesson or two.

Friday, October 21

- Chuck - NBC

Deebs: The little show that could returning for its final season. While I don’t watch myself, I have much respect for Chuck. I wish you well on your final voyage.

JKJ: I didn’t know they put canceled shows on TV anymore.

- Grimm - NBC

Deebs: The chances I’ll be watching this show? They’re looking pretty, well, you know… I’m already trying one new fantasy show, I don’t need another. Plus they’re making it a procedural? Ugh, no wonder it’s scheduled for Friday night.

JKJ:Modern day Grimm’s fairy tales. Just as messed up as they were back then and brought to us by the same Executive Producers as Buffy. Oh I’m watching it.

- Boss - Starz

Deebs: I might be overly excited for this show. It’s a departure from what Starz has been known for recently – period-pieces with lots of sex and violence – and stars Kelsey Grammar as a corrupt and terminally-ill mayor of Chicago. One review said it is like an Aaron Sorkin show but if David Mamet took the reigns. I like that.

JKJ: Good luck watching Kelsey Grammar in this without singing that stupid Frasier theme song.

Sunday, October 23

- Once Upon A Time - ABC

Deebs: From two former writers of LOST, this show is all premise at the outset. Two different worlds – one where fairytale characters live and the other where they have been banished without any memory of their true selves. I’m hoping these scribes can emulate their old show – give us some strong characters that can carry an out-there premise.

JKJ: Doesn’t look like anybody lives happily ever after in this version.

Thursday, October 27

- Beavis & Butthead - MTV

Deebs: It’ll be like they never left – except this time they’re making fun of Snooki and 16 and Pregnant. Bring it on, Mighty Cornholio!

JKJ: Didn’t care when I was 5, still don’t care when I’m 25.

Sunday, October 30

- Allen Gregory - FOX

Deebs: Skinny-Jonah Hill lends his voice to a precocious, animated 7-year old. Sure, why not?

JKJ: A cartoon about a comedian who went from fat to skinny and freaked everybody out. Oh no, sorry. That’s Jonah Hill’s story who happens to be one of the voices in this new animated show. My bad.

Deebs on Fall TV and the Emmys on The Graham Anderson Show

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:09:49 -0400

Graham Anderson and I break down the new network shows we plan on watching, discuss some returning favorites, touch on some notable cable entries, and give our picks on who should and who probably will win at the Emmys. The breakdown:

New Network Shows - (00:00 - 28:00)

Returning Shows - (28:00 - 40:00)

Cable Spotlight - (40:00 - 45:00)

Emmy Picks - (45:00 - 1:00:00)

Listen on Graham’s site HERE or bring it to your iTunes HERE