Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Questions, Comments, and Concerns: Fall TV Preview

Questions:

Networks, why do you do this to me

So you care if people are watching TV live, right? Even though that's stupid, and they won't be at all soon, and maybe you'd like to come with the rest of us into the future where we all have DVR's and the internet (Surprise! That's now!) -you keep making a big deal out of it. So logically, the thing to do is to make it impossible for people to watch your show live.

ABC and NBC decided to have a timeslot war with FOX's giant hit New Girl, running Happy Endings and Go On (the new sitcom starring Matthew Perry)- two shows that are clearly aimed at the same demographic- at the same time. How do you think that's going to help you out? I mean, sure, people in that demographic have DVR's or watch online, but you keep bitching about how that doesn't matter! God knows the Nielsens don't seem to notice. 

Why are you allowed to make your own decisions?

And god, NBC, I know I pick on you, but for real? 

Are you kidding me?

A remake of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Guess you better pray that super-expensive and plot-intensive JJ Abrams post-apocalyptic thing is gonna work out for you!

Spoiler alert! It's not. 




Comments: 

There's good news for ABC in that they left the Beauty and the Beast remake to the CW, where it will join their actually-impressive looking Arrow, and because they only picked up two of their more heavy-plot genre type shows - luckily neither of which were the Roland Emerich one.

See! Sometimes Satan loses a bet! 


I'm really looking forward to The Mob Doctor with Jordanna Spiro (My Boys)- the plot seems not only interesting, but sustainable, and I'm interested to see her sink her teeth into something meaty; as well as Nashville, which I predict to be the breakout hit of the fall season- Connie Britton is a badass, and its soapy premise will make it next year's Revenge

I'm also giddy with excitement at the return of Will and Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan with Partners, which I hope lives up to my sky-high expectations, even though they seem to have just replaced Grace with David Krumholtz.

They certainly have the same office. 


Unfortunately, I'm less excited about the new show from HIMYM creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas. The Goodwin Games, despite the fact that I really like Becky Newton and Scott Foley, just seems to have a really unsustainable premise (estranged siblings must endure a series of trials in order to earn their inheritance). Of course, I may have said that about HIMYM on spec too. (Or a little bit now.)

You know what is sustainable? Hatred. 



Complaints: 

Four out of the six shows I was excited about on the Pilot Preview were not picked up for series. Dammit, TV! I was particularly disappointed by the loss of Gilded Lily's, a period soap starring Madeline Zima and John Barrowman. I really thought that had potential.

Yep. Potential. 


But no, ABC, let's do a new sitcom starring Reba freaking McEntire and give Private Practice thirteen more episodes. There's no way that will be boring or repetitive! 

I'm very sad that my fall TV schedule will not feature Portia de Rossi, Judy Greer, Zach Levi, or John Goodman.

Also, with the exception of the previously mentioned Matthew Perry sitcom, all of NBC's other new sitcoms look really stupid. And like they are just trying so hard. There's a show about an animal hospital.

There's a freaking monkey.

But by all means, shelve Community in the Friday wasteland with Whitney.

Good plan!




Coming soon- the latest installment of Ask The TV Freak - so get your questions in via email, Facebook, on Twitter, or in the comments below!