It’s August 2012 and time for the annual 1-3
sentence review of upcoming “original” programming due out for the 2012/2013
television season.
666 Park
Avenue (ABC)
Combine the eeriness of Lost with the ruthlessness of Desperate
Housewives and you get this adaptation of Gabrielle Pierce's book series. A
melting pot of ABC alums, the supernatural drama stars Dave Annable (Brothers
& Sisters) and Rachael Taylor (Charlie's Angels) as an innocent
Midwestern couple who get hired as resident managers of The Drake, a tony Upper East Side apartment building
owned by Lost's Terry O'Quinn and his wife, Housewives's Vanessa
Williams. The catch: The residents have all made deals with The Devil to have
their deepest desires fulfilled.
This is like that Stephen King Hospital show. Sounds boring, looks boring, not interested.
Animal
Practice (NBC)
Premieres: Wednesday, September 26 at
8/7c
Justin Kirk headlines this comedy about an irascible House-like veterinarian who prefers the company of the four-legged creatures over their two-legged owners. Kirk may get top billing, but the true star of the show — and let's face it, the whole fall season — is Crystal the Monkey (The Hangover: Part II, Community), who plays Dr. Rizzo. Mark our words: It will be the best TV monkey performance since Marcel's arc on Friends.
Justin Kirk headlines this comedy about an irascible House-like veterinarian who prefers the company of the four-legged creatures over their two-legged owners. Kirk may get top billing, but the true star of the show — and let's face it, the whole fall season — is Crystal the Monkey (The Hangover: Part II, Community), who plays Dr. Rizzo. Mark our words: It will be the best TV monkey performance since Marcel's arc on Friends.
In recent
years all the NBC comedies are pathetic and gimmicky this will fit right in
with their soon to be canceled lineup.
Arrow (CW)
Premieres: Wednesday, Oct 10 at 8/7c
This is not your older brother's Oliver Queen. Stephen Amell stars as Queen, aka the Green Arrow, a wealthy playboy by day and a vigilante crime-fighter by night, in a gritty, brooding retelling of the famed superhero. Queen honed his archery skills on a deserted island for five years after surviving a boating accident that killed his father and girlfriend's sister, with whom he was having an affair. He returns to civilization to take down his dad's enemies to clear his family name (how Revenge-like!). Katie Cassidy co-stars as Queen's girlfriend, Dinah "Laurel" Lance, who may or may not be the Black Canary.
This is not your older brother's Oliver Queen. Stephen Amell stars as Queen, aka the Green Arrow, a wealthy playboy by day and a vigilante crime-fighter by night, in a gritty, brooding retelling of the famed superhero. Queen honed his archery skills on a deserted island for five years after surviving a boating accident that killed his father and girlfriend's sister, with whom he was having an affair. He returns to civilization to take down his dad's enemies to clear his family name (how Revenge-like!). Katie Cassidy co-stars as Queen's girlfriend, Dinah "Laurel" Lance, who may or may not be the Black Canary.
I’m a comic book media whore and will
watch this no matter how good or bad it is. If it’s like Smallville or the Cape it will
suck. If the Arrow avoids being like
Smallville and the Cape and all cost then it will be awesome.
Beauty and the Beast (CW)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct 11 at 9/8c
Kristin Kreuk and Kiwi Jay Ryan star in the titular roles, but don't expect dancing candelabras or even a hairy beast. Ryan's Vincent Keller/beast will have nothing more than a scar on his face, though his actions will get "beastlier," as the producers put it, as the series progresses. The show is a remake of the 1987 procedural starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. Hamilton sent Kreuk and Ryan notes and photos wishing them good luck.
Kristin Kreuk and Kiwi Jay Ryan star in the titular roles, but don't expect dancing candelabras or even a hairy beast. Ryan's Vincent Keller/beast will have nothing more than a scar on his face, though his actions will get "beastlier," as the producers put it, as the series progresses. The show is a remake of the 1987 procedural starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. Hamilton sent Kreuk and Ryan notes and photos wishing them good luck.
It needs some Angela Lansbury to really
make awesome status.
Ben and Kate
(Fox)
Premieres: Tuesday, September 25 at
8:30/7:30c
Oscar winner Nat Faxon joins his Oscar-winning Descendants co-writer Jim Rash (Community) on TV, playing the lovably goofy Ben, who moves in with his sister, single mom Kate (Dakota Johnson), to take care of her daughter Maddie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). Ben is based on the brother, a "Ferris Bueller-type," of series creator Dana Fox. Fun fact: Real-life Ben's nickname for his sister is Phlegmer.
Oscar winner Nat Faxon joins his Oscar-winning Descendants co-writer Jim Rash (Community) on TV, playing the lovably goofy Ben, who moves in with his sister, single mom Kate (Dakota Johnson), to take care of her daughter Maddie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). Ben is based on the brother, a "Ferris Bueller-type," of series creator Dana Fox. Fun fact: Real-life Ben's nickname for his sister is Phlegmer.
This has a nice 80s plot vibe to it. It comes off as something that might
be fun to watch.
Chicago Fire
(NBC)
Premieres: Wednesday, October 10 at 10:00/9:00c
Dick Wolf is back with another procedural, this one focusing on the firefighters of Chicago's Firehouse 51 and starring Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney and David Eisenberg. But unlike his Law & Order franchise, this drama will focus on the personal lives of its (often shirtless) heroes. So how long before a New York Fire or a Los Angeles Fire?
Dick Wolf is back with another procedural, this one focusing on the firefighters of Chicago's Firehouse 51 and starring Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney and David Eisenberg. But unlike his Law & Order franchise, this drama will focus on the personal lives of its (often shirtless) heroes. So how long before a New York Fire or a Los Angeles Fire?
I saw this show when it was a movie called
Backdraft.
Elementary
(CBS)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 10/9c
Sherlock is all the rage these days. If you're not getting your fill from the films or PBS' series, CBS' procedural offers a modern take on the crime-solver with Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock, a recovering addict and NYPD consultant. His Watson is his "sober companion," a former surgeon — and a woman (Lucy Liu). Twist!
Sherlock is all the rage these days. If you're not getting your fill from the films or PBS' series, CBS' procedural offers a modern take on the crime-solver with Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock, a recovering addict and NYPD consultant. His Watson is his "sober companion," a former surgeon — and a woman (Lucy Liu). Twist!
Perfect for that 50 and older crowd and a
great fit for the Cop Broadcasting Station (CBS)
Emily Owens,
M.D. (CW)
Premieres: Tuesday, Oct 16 at 9/8c
Mamie Gummer just loves playing doctor. Meryl Streep's eldest, who is also an Off the Map alum, plays the titular character, an awkward, heart-on-her-sleeve-wearing medical school graduate who learns that hospital life is not so much different from high school antics. Justin Hartley and Michael Rady co-star. So how long before Streep guest-stars?
Mamie Gummer just loves playing doctor. Meryl Streep's eldest, who is also an Off the Map alum, plays the titular character, an awkward, heart-on-her-sleeve-wearing medical school graduate who learns that hospital life is not so much different from high school antics. Justin Hartley and Michael Rady co-star. So how long before Streep guest-stars?
Hasn’t everyone gotten their fill of
Doctor shows yet?
Go On
(NBC)
Premieres: Tuesday, September 11 at 9/8cWhat's so funny about grief? Matthew Perry's about to show us. The Friends alum returns to NBC as Ryan King, a sportscaster who turns to a motley crew support group after his wife dies. How eclectic are these guys? The lead therapist, Lauren (Laura Benanti), honed her skills in a Weight Watchers group.
NBC has to stop casting Matthew Perry in
their shows. He’s had so many failed
attempts that I automatically assume it’s going to suck and will not waste my
time watching it. Try moving to Florida to enjoy retirement Perry, or go back on drugs and become funny again.
Guys With
Kids (NBC)
Premieres: Wednesday, September 26 at 8:30/7:30c
As the title suggests, this comedy from Jimmy Fallon is about guys with kids — specifically Jesse Bradford, Anthony Anderson and Zach Cregger. The three pals all live in the same apartment building and are learning the ropes of parenting together. Erinn Hayes (Worst Week) co-stars as Bradford's ex-wife, Jamie-Lynn Sigler plays Cregger's wife, and Cosby Show alum Tempestt Bledsoe plays Anderson's wife. And the kids? Fourteen are used to play seven children.
As the title suggests, this comedy from Jimmy Fallon is about guys with kids — specifically Jesse Bradford, Anthony Anderson and Zach Cregger. The three pals all live in the same apartment building and are learning the ropes of parenting together. Erinn Hayes (Worst Week) co-stars as Bradford's ex-wife, Jamie-Lynn Sigler plays Cregger's wife, and Cosby Show alum Tempestt Bledsoe plays Anderson's wife. And the kids? Fourteen are used to play seven children.
This reminds me of that What to Expect When You Are Expecting
movie that’s trailer looks so terrible I have been writing letters to different
movie studios demanding refunds whenever I am forced to watch the trailer before
viewings of whatever nerd movie I am attending.
It’s probably not similar except for those awesome promotional photos but has really bad timing thus, I am soooo
avoiding this one.
Last Resort
(ABC)
Premieres: Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8/7c
What do you get when you cross Crimson Tide with The Rock? This Shawn Ryan thriller starring Andre Braugher as the leader of a renegade submarine crew that goes on the run after defying an order to fire nuclear missiles. They find sanctuary at a NATO base where they declare themselves the world's smallest nuclear nation. (Yeah, just go with it.) Scott Speedman, Autumn Reeser, Daisy Betts and Robert Patrick co-star.
What do you get when you cross Crimson Tide with The Rock? This Shawn Ryan thriller starring Andre Braugher as the leader of a renegade submarine crew that goes on the run after defying an order to fire nuclear missiles. They find sanctuary at a NATO base where they declare themselves the world's smallest nuclear nation. (Yeah, just go with it.) Scott Speedman, Autumn Reeser, Daisy Betts and Robert Patrick co-star.
I want to
like this show. I want to be interested
in the idea but the more ads I see for it the less interesting it looks. ABC needs to stop promoting it.
Made in
Jersey (CBS)
Premieres: Friday, Sept. 28 at 9/8c
Move over, Snooki! Martina Garretti (played by Brit Janet Montgomery) is a streetwise Jersey girl attorney trying to make it in a big-time Manhattan law firm. And yes, like, Snooki, she sports a bumpit too — CBS and producers have even had discussions about the height of the 'do. But we don't think she has the time to GTL all day long.
Move over, Snooki! Martina Garretti (played by Brit Janet Montgomery) is a streetwise Jersey girl attorney trying to make it in a big-time Manhattan law firm. And yes, like, Snooki, she sports a bumpit too — CBS and producers have even had discussions about the height of the 'do. But we don't think she has the time to GTL all day long.
New Jersey sucks and so will this.
Major Crimes
(TNT)
Premieres: Monday, Aug. 13 at 10/9c
The Closer will (finally) wrap its seventh and final season this summer, but it's never truly going away. Mary McDonnell will star in this spin-off focused on her Captain Sharon Raydor of the Major Crimes division. A bevy of Closer stars will join her too: G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul, Raymond Cruz and Phillip P. Keene. See? The Closer is here to stay.
The Closer will (finally) wrap its seventh and final season this summer, but it's never truly going away. Mary McDonnell will star in this spin-off focused on her Captain Sharon Raydor of the Major Crimes division. A bevy of Closer stars will join her too: G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul, Raymond Cruz and Phillip P. Keene. See? The Closer is here to stay.
Didn’t watch the closer I will not watch this.
Premieres: Friday, Nov. 2 at 8:30/7:30c
Stop us if you've heard this before: Reba McEntire plays Reba, who splits from her husband after she learns that he's cheating on her. No, it's not 2001 and this is not The CW's Reba. So what is different about this one? Well, this Reba will move from Nashville to Malibu to start anew. Lily Tomlin co-stars as her mother and Sara Rue as her new neighbor.
Stop us if you've heard this before: Reba McEntire plays Reba, who splits from her husband after she learns that he's cheating on her. No, it's not 2001 and this is not The CW's Reba. So what is different about this one? Well, this Reba will move from Nashville to Malibu to start anew. Lily Tomlin co-stars as her mother and Sara Rue as her new neighbor.
I am not interested but there are people who
swear by Reba and loved the last show so the remake will gain the same amount
of fans. I really just want her to
reunite with Kevin Bacon for Tremors 5.
The Mindy
Project (Fox)
Premieres: Tuesday, September 25 at
9:30/8:30cThink Bridget Jones' Diary, but less British and with more scrubs. Mindy Kaling, who created the show, stars as the titular character, a single woman whose career is blossoming, but is much less lucky in her love life. Mindy works as an OBGYN, which was Kaling's mother's job, and is a shameless rom-com aficionado. A girl after our own heart!
Just
reading the description made me want to change the channel.
The Mob
Doctor (Fox)
Premieres: Monday, September 17 at 9:00/8:00c
Dr. Grace Devlin (Jordana Spiro) is a thoracic surgeon who has lifelong ties to the South Chicago mob. Sounds ridiculous, right? The drama, from Drop Dead Diva's Josh Berman, is actually based on the nonfiction book Il Dottore, in which a doctor becomes complicit in organized crime. William Forsythe co-stars as Constantine, the head of the mob.
Dr. Grace Devlin (Jordana Spiro) is a thoracic surgeon who has lifelong ties to the South Chicago mob. Sounds ridiculous, right? The drama, from Drop Dead Diva's Josh Berman, is actually based on the nonfiction book Il Dottore, in which a doctor becomes complicit in organized crime. William Forsythe co-stars as Constantine, the head of the mob.
This
sounds awesome. A nice twist on the
doctor show genre by adding some Sopranos into the mix.
Nashville
(ABC)
Premieres: Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 10/9cAh, the life cycle of stardom. So fickle, isn't it? Connie Britton stars as Rayna James, a 40-something country singer whose star is fading. So her record company suggests she open for new teen sensation Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), and you can imagine how well that goes over. Throw in some politics (Rayna's husband is running for mayor) and sexual escapades, and you've got some Southern-grown drama. Let's just hope this ends better than Country Strong did.
This is
just the movie Crazy Heart.
The Neighbors
(ABC)
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 8:30/7:30c3rd Rock From the Sun had aliens moving to Earth, but it will be the reverse case here: A New Jersey family — Lenny Venito, Jami Gertz, Isabella Cramp, Clara Mamet and Max Charles — moves into a gated community populated by aliens. Our advice: move.
Enough of freaking Jersey!!!
The New
Normal (NBC)
Premieres: Tuesday, September 11 at
9:30/8:30c
Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Justin Bartha) hire Goldie (Georgia King), a single mother, to be their surrogate just as she's trying to start a new life for her and her daughter Shania (Bebe Wood). The series already has the (dis)honor of being the first new fall show to be boycotted. Creator Ryan Murphy, however, pays no mind, because he thinks the protestors, One Million Moms, will like it if they watch it.
Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Justin Bartha) hire Goldie (Georgia King), a single mother, to be their surrogate just as she's trying to start a new life for her and her daughter Shania (Bebe Wood). The series already has the (dis)honor of being the first new fall show to be boycotted. Creator Ryan Murphy, however, pays no mind, because he thinks the protestors, One Million Moms, will like it if they watch it.
They should protest not because of the
content but because it doesn’t look interesting at all. It’s gimmicky nonsense. It's also a wannabe Modern Family rip off. It's someone reminiscent of how Bill Gates changed Windows around just enough to avoid copyright infringement from the Mac and thus Microsoft obliterated Apple in the 90s. The big difference here is that Microsoft improved on it's changes and made a better product at the time. The New Normal is amputating the gay couple from Modern Family and hoping that gimmick will be enough to carry a show. Perhaps they never heard of Sofia Vergara.
Partners
(CBS)
Premieres: Monday, Sept. 24 at 8:30/7:30c
Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick give us another pair of straight and gay BFFs, but this time, it's a bromance! However, the tight bond between Louis (Michael Urie) and Joe (David Krumholtz) is tested after Joe proposes to his longtime girlfriend Ali (Sophia Bush). Don't feel too bad for Louis — his boyfriend isSuperman Brandon Routh.
Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick give us another pair of straight and gay BFFs, but this time, it's a bromance! However, the tight bond between Louis (Michael Urie) and Joe (David Krumholtz) is tested after Joe proposes to his longtime girlfriend Ali (Sophia Bush). Don't feel too bad for Louis — his boyfriend is
The bad in this is too painful to talk
about.
Revolution
(NBC)
Premieres: Monday, September 17 at 10:00/9:00c
Leave it to J.J. Abrams (Lost) and Eric Kripke (Supernatural) to come up with a mythology-heavy drama. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where there is no electricity, the series stars Elizabeth Mitchell, Tracy Spiridakos, Billy Burke and Giancarlo Esposito as a group of people struggling to figure out how the technology vanished and who holds the figurative power among the survivors. We don't think this is what people meant by going green.
Leave it to J.J. Abrams (Lost) and Eric Kripke (Supernatural) to come up with a mythology-heavy drama. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where there is no electricity, the series stars Elizabeth Mitchell, Tracy Spiridakos, Billy Burke and Giancarlo Esposito as a group of people struggling to figure out how the technology vanished and who holds the figurative power among the survivors. We don't think this is what people meant by going green.
The advertisements don’t look very good but
the concept is so intriguing I am still going to check it out.
Stars Earn
Stripes (NBC)
Premieres: Monday, Aug. 13 at 8/7c
The godfather of procedurals, Dick Wolf, and the godfather of reality TV, Mark Burnett, team up for a military-style reality series in which nine celebrities (including Nick Lachey, Laila Ali, Todd Palin, Terry Crews and Dean Cain) compete in rigorous challenges adapted from actual military exercises. Prize money will be donated to a military charity of the star's choice.
The godfather of procedurals, Dick Wolf, and the godfather of reality TV, Mark Burnett, team up for a military-style reality series in which nine celebrities (including Nick Lachey, Laila Ali, Todd Palin, Terry Crews and Dean Cain) compete in rigorous challenges adapted from actual military exercises. Prize money will be donated to a military charity of the star's choice.
I’m tired of reality shows.
Vegas (CBS)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 10/9c
Ready for another 1960s period drama? There are no Old Fashioneds or Playboy bunnies, but cowboy hats. Based on the true story of Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, the drama stars Dennis Quaid in his TV series debut as Lamb, a rancher who goes up against a powerful gangster (Michael Chiklis) to help bring order to Sin City. Jason O'Mara, Carrie-Anne Moss and Sarah Jones co-star
Ready for another 1960s period drama? There are no Old Fashioneds or Playboy bunnies, but cowboy hats. Based on the true story of Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, the drama stars Dennis Quaid in his TV series debut as Lamb, a rancher who goes up against a powerful gangster (Michael Chiklis) to help bring order to Sin City. Jason O'Mara, Carrie-Anne Moss and Sarah Jones co-star
This looks so awesome!
It’s network TVs answer to Boardwalk Empire and they might be answering
correctly. It’s got great actors a
clever idea and gives the audience the option to root for the good guy or the
bad guy.
Joseph Ammendolea
"I Like To Play With Toys" Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com
