Fall 2011 New Shows Roundup

First up, an overview of the Class of 2011 I checked out:

ABC

Charlie's Angels 

Status:  Cancelled.  As a huge fan of the cheesy but addictive original series and the girlpower infused movie remake (#1 only), plus two Transformers alums (Rachael Taylor and Ramon Rodriguez, who I actually liked in their respective movies) and Victor "Jack Bristow" Garber in the cast to boot, I was really hoping this one would stick.  Unfortunately, it started off quite weak and quickly sank into oblivion.  Still, while the show wasn't superb, I didn't think it was as bad as the critics made it out to be either - not appointment television by any means but fine blind entertainment.  It also seemed to be slowly finding its footing towards the end (or at least earned brownie points for guest spots by my favorite Lois Lane (Erica Durance) and the creeptastic Dr. Christian Shepard (John Terry)).  Alas, too little, too late.  Looks like I'll have to stick with Burn Notice for my fix of the Miami sun.

Once Upon a Time

Status: Full season pickup; 2nd season looking promising. Another show I really REALLY wanted to do well.  Not only am I a fan of some of the main cast (Ginnifer Goodwin from Big Love, Jennifer Morrison from How I Met Your Mother, and Josh Dallas from Thor) and a sucker for fairy tales, the show is created by a couple of Lost writers, and after a dull Lost-less season last year, especially when it comes to genre shows like these, I have decided to forgive them for that imperfect ending.

So far, OUAT has mostly lived up to the hype:

-  The first couple of episodes piqued my interest and imo set the groundwork well for the series.  I had seen all the major twists coming, but props for giving me the chills with the ending shot of the gravestone in episode 2.
-  The third episode completely sold it for me.  Loved the twist to the Snow White/Prince Charming story and loooved kick-ass SW (the original was such a wimpy bore, one of my least favorite Disney princesses).  Prince Charming also won me over and was indeed charming.  Bonus for the David Anders appearance (loved him as Sark on Alias - not even his Heroes character can wipe that goodwill away).
-  The fourth episode was a bit blah for my taste.  I found Cinderella to be really irresponsible, annoyingly naive and generally unlikeable - sounds mean and perhaps even evil, but she sort of deserved what was coming to her ... I was totally rooting for Rumple!  Oh, and her prince was essentially a wooden caricature so no sympathies there either.
-  The fifth episode bounced back though by setting the focus on Jiminy Cricket.  The show had twists, a big reveal (discovery of Snow White's coffin buried beneath Storybrook!), and more importantly, heart, and was very reminiscent of a Lost episode.
-  The last couple of episodes were some of the series' best to date, piling on twist after twist (enjoyable and believable ones at that) and culminating in a heartstopping (literally) cliffhanger, all the while taking care to add layers to and explain the motivations of the characters.
-  Lost Easter Eggs - love and appreciate the nuggets the show throws at us Lost fans.  Favorite to date:  Henry's Apollo Bar!

Bottomline, I'm intrigued where the show will go from here and more twisted retellings of other fairy tales.  I'm especially looking forward to the Belle episode, since she's my favorite Disney princess (followed by Rapunzel and Jasmine), but hopefully the story will do the character justice.  I'll definitely be back for more!

Pan Am

Status:  Eh, effectively cancelled?  I must really love ABC this season, since this is another show I hope would do well.  Unfortunately, despite the cool theme song and retro setting, I found it hard to invest in this show.  The characters are okay - though I only find Kate, Laura and Ted to be particularly likeable (I'm a fan of Christina Ricci, but her character's pretty over-the-top and inconsistent).  One episode - where the crew makes a detour to Haiti - stood out from the general mediocrity, but not in a good way.  The entire episode had me rolling my eyes and thinking "wtf", and the arrogance and self-righteousness of the stewardesses/pilots in this episode got tedious real fast - guess I identify with the passengers more - who wouldn't be upset at having to leave their luggage behind?  Not to mention the only person I liked in that episode ended up dead and left behind on the runway in a strife-ridden country ... and since the entire reason for the Haiti landing was to save his life, this just made the entire ordeal even more pointless.  Bottomline, after that senseless babble for which I wish I had my time back, I probably won't miss this show if it's gone.  For what it's worth, contrary to popular opinion, I do enjoy the spy storylines, though ironically they may perhaps be too realistic to be very exciting.

Revenge

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season looking promising.  Now this was a show that got me hooked from the start - when I saw a sneak preview of the premiere.  I love that the heroine, Emily (whose real name is Amanda), is not "good" per se, and I relish in her take downs of the rich and fabulous.  Emily also has an awkward but awesome genius side-kick by the name of Nolan Ross, who ties Monroe from Grimm (see below) for my favorite character of any new show this season.  Bonuses: seeing Kyle from Roswell on screen again and Thom from Nikita popping up in the Hamptons as a creepy Mr. Ripley.  Bottomline:  Looking forward to the show's return but hoping Emily doesn't lose her edge!  Also hoping that FakeAmanda/Real Emily raises havoc before she's ultimately downed - the girl's disturbed and has no moral compass, but I love it!

Suburgatory

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season looking promising.  A quirky, funny show that mocks suburbanites.  It's not appointment television yet, but it sure has grown on me.  Honorable mention to Cheryl Hines for making a loony plastic suburban housewife actually vulnerable and endearing.

CBS

2 Broke Girls

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season virtually assured.  Honestly didn't think I'd like this show as much as I do, but the cast and especially the main actresses have wonderful chemistry and the jokes are raunchy but work.  Caroline the down-on-her-luck-rich-girl-with-an-actual-brain-and-go-getter-attitude is so refreshingly funny.  Great time-slot pairing with HIMYM.

How to Be a Gentleman

Status:  Cancelled.  Once again, not appointment television, but I watched the episodes On Demand and was entertained while it lasted.  Cool seeing Johnny Drama after Entourage and Chloe from 24 in a comedic role.

Person of Interest



Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season TBD.  How could I not at least check out a show featuring Ben from Lost!?  Turns out, the writing is not to shabby, and the action is pretty bad-ass.  I love on-screen shootouts and moral ambiguities, and this show is dripping with them (for a network show).  Right up there with Once Upon a Time and Revenge as my favorite new shows this season.  Fingers crossed for a second season, especially now that the groundwork for some potentially intense serial arcs have been set.

FOX

New Girl

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season virtually assured.  Hands down the most awkward main character of any show this season, but it's fine for some fluffy lighthearted fun.  It helps that the show has toned down Jess' (Zooey Deschanel) more cringe-worthy quirks, and Schmidt, one of the roommates is a total hoot.  Writing's on the wall though that Jess will have a thing with her other roommate Nick sometime down the line, but at least they have good chem so I will forgive this cliched transgression when it inevitably happens (but let's hope it'll be well-written).  Bottomline:  not really appointment television in terms of quality, but I watch so many there's really no reason to leave this one off the schedule : )

Terra Nova

Status:  1st season complete; 2nd season TBD.  So much promised, so little delivered ...

I thought this show had SO much potential.  It could have capitalized on the Avatar craze (exotic new terrain, time travel, DINOSAURS and even having the main villain from Avatar in the cast to boot!) and remedied a serious lack of science fiction on network TV.  Instead, it somehow turned to this pseudo family-friendly (unless one would consider seeing a character get shot in the face or patricide family-friendly) blob overloaded with inconsistent writing and shallow, unrelatable characters.  Now that the first season is over and done with, I can honestly say this was the most disappointing new show for me - see my separate rant for details.  With better writing and a new direction though, I do believe this show can still be saved (quality-wise).

Bottomline: I can live with not seeing this show come back, but I'm worried what that means for shows in this genre getting a chance in the future.

NBC

Free Agents

Status:  Cancelled.  Caught the first couple of episodes and actually enjoyed it, but not really feeling the loss.  I suppose one could always check out the original for closure.

Grimm

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season TBD.  Though also based on characters from fairy tales, Grimm is otherwise not really comparable to Once Upon a Time.  It is much darker, based on the original Grimm creatures, and is underneath the gloss a police procedural that involves the supernatural characters, with a slight hint of an overarching storyline and "Big Bad".  Still, some great bromances brewing on this show, and the actors/characters are gelling well, especially Monroe the werewolf gone good and adorable, who plays the cello and really loves celebrating Christmas.  The last few episodes had also been more engaging than the earlier ones in the season - hope this trend continues.  Will keep watching.

The Playboy Club

Status:  Cancelled.  Wasn't bad, but wasn't great either.  The only character I liked was the ambitious Carol-Lynne, the bunny mother.  The writing certainly did no favors by having the main girl, Maureen, a new bunny, who is suppose to be smart and savvy despite her provincial background, make a series of stupid mistakes, such as leaving a bloodstained costume that could incriminate her in virtual plain sight.

Up All Night

Love love love Will Arnett and Christina Applegate ... could NOT get into this show at all.  I'm not a parent though, so perhaps that's why a show about keeping up with baby doesn't really strike a nerve.

THE CW

Ringer

Status:  1st season complete (I think); 2nd season TBD.  Sarah Michelle Geller plays twins in this drama-thriller with lots of twists.  I'm not sure I feel for any of the characters yet and was okay with missing an episode here and there, but it is interesting and original enough and plus features Richard Alpert in all his natural eyeliner glory.  Still, let's just say Nikita has all my loyalties if the cancellation bear has to kill one of these.

Hart of Dixie

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season TBD.  I was not planning on watching this show - the premise sounded a bit cliche and to be honest I'm still not sure whether I fully buy Rachel Bilson as a brainy doctor/surgeon.  But a recent trip to Charleston and Savannah infected me with a love for grits and Spanish moss, and I just had to check out any show with such a southern setting.  Surprisingly, I am really really enjoying this show, and I find all the character charming and/or sympathetic in their own way (especially Wade, who I initially didn't think I'd like at all).  It's just so darn cuuute!  As I noted for Ringer though, it'd be a bigger sacrifice with HoD, but if it means giving Nikita another season ... ah, the tough choices to be made in life : )

TV Wrap Up: Nikita, V, Gossip Girl

Some powers unknown must have been making amends for Cupid's failure to shoot an arrow my way this year, because Valentines day led to a glorious week or so of television. Some highlights below.

Just when I thought "Nikita" couldn't top the epic win that was "Alexandra", which gives Michael and Nikita a chance to work together (and sort out some unresolved issues) and, more importantly, explores Alex's background and awakens her inner demons, the show now gave an awesome cliffhanger in this week's episode.  This one's sure to be a game changer.  It's interesting that the CW supposedly retooled this show to be more demographic-friendly (W18-34 is what the network caters to), because I actually feel like it's gotten darker!  I'm loving it though, so shhh, nobody tip off tptb!

Nice to see "V" holding steady in the ratings - is it too much to hope for a miracle renewal?  I still need to check out "Fringe", but until then this is the only Sci fi show that's keeping my interest these days - "No Ordinary Family" is fading fast despite early potential; to say "The Cape" is disappointing would be a major understatement; and the jury is still out on "The Event" (not holding my breath).  In recent episodes, we saw a sleeper V being skinned, the Fifth Column rebels join forces (sadly to a bloody end - drama and future implications galore though) and finally begin to piece together what the lizards in the sky are up to (with Erica becoming leader of the resistance), Chad Decker being of some use (or at least not as annoying), Ryan being gullible and making some bad (possible irredeemable) choices, priest-no-longer Jack finally growing a backbone, Lisa showing more defiance against her mother, Anna continuing to be deliciously villainous (props to Morena Baccarin for making me completely forget Inara!), and a new possible evil on the rise, Diane, the dethroned but obviously still scheming ex-Queen V.  The son Tyler still irks me to no end (and now we know he's not indispensable ...  if only Erica didn't love him so much), and chopping off his hair only made it worse.  On the other hand, there was a blatant spark between Erica and Hobbes in the last episode, which is a pleasant surprise.  I always called chemistry here, but this was an intentional signal for where the story's going - lots of meaty stuff to work with too, considering our resident tough guy is the V "asset" responsible for the bloody showdown that killed Erica's ex(but not really)-husband ... and all because of another woman [cue ominous music and sh*t hitting the fan when she finds out!].  I love Hobbes though, so he better stick around!  Also, more action and making good use of the now-widespread fifth column network would be much appreciated (though where are the actual Vs within this resistance??).

Finally, I am officially back on the Gossip Girl bandwagon, for the duration of the "Dair" (Dan and Blair) whatchamacallit anyway.  The two screwballs have been entertaining me since the show's return last month and are pretty much the only reason I tune in, other than to marvel at how Layla from One Life to Live (Raina) was able to nab a fairly significant role in primetime (though I must say Raina the character is way less annoying and actually admirably rational - brownie points for calling Chuck out on his antics and default "Imma-hurt-you-back" tendencies).  Back to the definitely/maybe new couple on the horizon ...  

I just love their witty banter, the brutal honesty of their snarky observations of each other, their movie dates non-dates (and apparently morning coffee runs to plan for more), and just the fact that they tend to balance each other out (Blair tends to have more of a conscience, and Dan tends to be the one who actually gets mischievous).  For someone who's been criticized as being too judgmental, D certainly tolerates and (perhaps?) even enjoys B's company despite always assuming she's plotting away - he expects it and just lets her antics slide (whoever said being on a pedestal was a good thing?).  They've also both been showing increased concern for the other (B telling off S for the way she was treating D, and in the V-day episode, D hand-squeezing/comforting B, who was once again disappointed by Chuck).The V-day episode culminates in cuteness overload, when the two have a "When Harry Met Sally" moment and end up watching "Rosemary's Baby" (and is also referenced in WHMS) together over the phone.  Not to be outdone, this week's episode has Blair admitting to needing Dan's help (after some prodding of course), and the two end up eating pizza and watching "The Philadelphia Story" in the same room, on same couch, in Brooklyn!  Oh, and she also falls asleep on his shoulder.  So charmed and hoping the writers keep building this up (though the show does go on hiatus after next week - boo).

Shout-out to Ted getting Zoe on "How I Met Your Mother" - even though it will "not end well", I am entertained by the process.  Checked out the two new comedies "Mad Love" (love the 2 friends who bicker constantly, and haven't seen Jason Biggs in a while ... so will give this a chance) and "Mr. Sunshine" (so randomly random ... would absolutely not be watching except I really love most of the actors on this show).  Also, it may be that time has erased some of the bland memories, but I am strangely excited for the return of "The Event" on March 7th.

Here's to more quality storytelling ahead.