I'll go down the line Monday-Sunday for shows that have premiered to date.
Monday
*CBS We Are Men- 2 episodes have aired but I've only watched one since CBS.com has a sucky video player that is unreliable at best. The premiere episode of this show (that I was very much looking forward to) was iffy at best. The jokes seemed a little predictable and the cast didn't have fantastic chemistry. I will give the second and possibly third episode a watch before I completely rule it out because of my love for Tony Shaloub and Jerry O'Connell. But sadly, We Are Men is definitely on my chopping block.
*FOX Sleepy Hollow- I am a huge sucker for paranormal shows, apocalyptic shows AND "character out of their element in time" type stuff... this show has all three so I was pretty pumped about Sleepy Hollow. There are a few things that have happened procedurally with the police work that left me saying "really? that happened?" BUT overall it is a good show. I'm an episode behind but I doubt it has tanked this soon and I hear it's been picked up for a 2nd season already, so that's good. I will say that Blue (my 5 year old) watched the first episode and LOVED it- right at the very end there was a very scary looking demon, he didn't say anything about it and maybe it wasn't scary to him. BUT the demon had quite a few re-occurrences in second episode along with a reanimated burned witch body. Needless to say Sleepy Hollow is definitely not appropriate for him and he'll not be watching further.
*CBS Mom- Haven't watched it, not going to... unless someone wants to pay me $100. THEN I'll watch it but still hate it and be richer for it. Any takers? no? no? Okay, moving on.
*NBC The Blacklist- James Spader is phenomenal as Red Reddington, and I also like Agent Cooper played by Harry Lennix (Lock from the Matrix). I have heard some rumblings (online and from the husband) that it's too predictable. Thankfully I don't try to predict what's going to happen when I'm watching TV and movies, I just sit down and watch. The Blacklist has definitely made it onto my nice list for Christmas and I hope that it sticks around.
*CBS Hostages- I'm torn! Dylan McDermott- love him, Toni Colette- love her- but I can't foresee the current plot lasting beyond a single season. Also for any United States of Tara fans out there... I find myself expecting her to turn into Buck and go cuss at someone, spit on their shoe and punch them in the eye, surely I'm not the only one. I think we need to start a petition to RE-UP United States of Tara! But I digress... I'm 50/50 on this show, I am pretty sure that it'll stay on my DVR list but there may come a day when I have to chose which shows to fall behind on and this may be one of them.
Tuesday
*ABC Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.- Last blog I confessed that I haven't seen any of the Avengers movies and quite a few more comic adaptations THEN I lied and said I'd catch up before September... so sue me because not a superhero movie has been watched by me! I did watch the premiere episode of MA SHIELD and I thought it was good- however apparently the comic lovers feel differently. Because my schedule has been jam packed with watching other shows and a week long staycation I haven't actually watched the second episode yet- maybe I'll do that this weekend?? Not making any promises though.
*FOX Dads- SUUUUCKS, and not just because of the stupid much loathed (by me) audience laughter. I think it's pretty bad when I can quote verbatim what the actors are going to say BEFORE they say it. Or maybe that's not a bad thing... maybe I could be the writer of a horrible comedy show? Either way, I watched the first episode because I didn't want to judge a horrible book by it's horrible laugh track ridden cover... but I don't stand corrected because this show sucks-and unfortunately it'll probably be a hit.
*FOX Brooklyn Nine Nine- Andy Samberg- what else can I say? If you like him I don't know how you wouldn't like this show and if you don't like him, you KNOW you will loathe this show with every fiber of your being. I love it! Every episode makes me laugh out loud, there are a few characters that I could do without but overall it's a winner winner chicken dinner. I also just realized that the Old Spice POWER!!!! actor is in this show too... his name is Terry Titties because he used to be fat and have titties, how can you go wrong with that? I'll be super annoyed if this show gets canceled.
*CW The Originals- I am a horrible vampire fan this week and have not yet watched the series premiere of The Originals (Vampire Diaries spinoff) NOR have I watched the season premiere of Vampire Diaries. Fingers crossed that they'll be watched and loved my me shortly. Total TV fail on my part, I deserve to be staked or something.
*ABC The Goldbergs- I have heard from quite a few people and there are a LOT of mixed feelings about this show. It's a new show favorite of mine because it totally reminds me of childhood (since I grew up in the 80's) AND makes me feel better that at least my parents didn't call me a moron. This is definitely a love it or hate it show with no real in between. I think my favorite part of the premiere episode was at the end with real VHS clips of the real family doing and saying what the show had just depicted. I hope The Goldbergs gets picked up for a second season.
*FOX New Girl- In this post I have been writing about the series premiere shows and not well established ones- but I (sadly) feel like I have to defend myself if I convinced any of you to watch New Girl for the first time this season because the premiere episode SUCKED. I have never thought an episode sucked and that one was horrible. So I sincerely apologize for whatever that runaway to Mexico debacle was meant to be, but the other episodes this season have been good- thankfully.
*ABC Trophy Wife- LOVE IT! This is possibly my favorite new TV show this fall. Malin Akerman is great as are Bradley Whitford, Marcia Gay Harden and Michaela Watkins. One thing that is annoying about TV shows in general is when they change out actors after the pilot episode. I realize that often there are chemistry issues or scheduling conflicts or whatever but it's still annoying and I frown upon it. The teenage daughter (who I think did a great job in the pilot episode) was replaced with a pretty perky teenage daughter (barf). If ANYBODY should have been replaced, it's the kid from "This is 40" with the FREAKISH large teeth. I am 99% sure one of his parents is a beaver or a gopher... still waiting on DNA tests. I find it difficult to concentrate on the show when he's on screen, his mouth can't even contain those chompers. I'm sure that sounds judgy and mean but wowza... some people get veneers to give themselves giant horse teeth (Miley, Hillary Duff...) this kid should get a tooth reduction, am I wrong?
*ABC Lucky 7- Didn't watch it, didn't want to and it's already been canceled. I do sometimes wonder how these shows that seem awful even get a pilot. Oh well.
Wednesday
*ABC Back in the Game- This show surprised me, seeing as how the TV commercial for it did NOT make me want to tune in at all. The 5 minute youtube commercial convinced me to give it a try, I'm not convinced that it has staying power but we'll see. I like James Caan, it has fairly good writing and the cast has chemistry.
*ABC Super Fun Night- I love to love funny shows and always hope the best for new comedy series premieres. I wasn't sure what to think after watching the preview for Super Fun Night, it was one of those that seemed like it could be hilarious or a complete dud, it could go either way. I'm leaning more toward hilarious. I did find myself wondering if Rebel Wilson's face was really her face or if there was some fake tv face fat... you know how when they prosthetically make someone fat and it's a little bit plastic-ish? Well after some careful examination of internet photos- her face on the show is definitely her face- case closed. I will certainly keep watching Super Fun Night and fingers crossed- it'll be awesome and get picked up for a second season.
*NBC Ironside- This seems to be a pretty good detective/police show, at least from the premiere episode. Blair Underwood is a great actor and plays a crippled detective with attitude very well. As always in shows where law enforcement is concerned there are definite "that wouldn't happen in real life" moments but overall it's a keeper.
Thursday
*CBS The Millers- Didn't watch, didn't want to. I haven't heard anything about this show at all... either positive or negative so I don't know if that says anything about whether or not it'll stick around.
*NBC Welcome to the Family- Shortened to WTF... coincidence?? I guess technically it'd be WTTF but whatever. From the preview I was not enthused about the show but I also didn't think I'd hate it, probably not the reaction they were going for. I'm still up in the air about Welcome to the Family and will have to watch the second episode to see how I really feel about it. At the very least I can't see it keeping the Thursday slot that it now occupies because that is prime TV real estate.
*CBS The Crazy Ones- I was very unsure about the first episode of The Crazy Ones, it was one of those where they had shown all of the funny parts in the commercial so nothing in the episode was new. But after watching more I honestly like it, this show genuinely makes me laugh. Robin Williams is a welcome sight back on network TV. Sarah Michelle Gellar is ok, she's not fabulous but she's not horrible either, but I'm hoping she gets funnier. And finally, I could do without the actress that plays a dumb slutty assistant(?), I didn't like her in The Mindy Project and I don't like her in The Crazy Ones.
*NBC Sean Saves the World- Predictable. This was another of the shows that I knew exactly what "laugh out loud hilarious" not really funny at all thing they were going to say next. There are no genuine funny moments that I remember from the premiere episode. And since we all know how I loathe audience laughter in my shows to let me know when I should think something's funny... I'm definitely going to pass on watching any future episodes.
*NBC The Michael J. Fox Show- From the commercials I thought this show was going to be fantastic, after watching the first episode I wasn't so sure anymore. It seemed to be missing something, the second episode was ok but not fabulous and finally the third episode sortof brought it all together. I will definitely continue watching and hopefully the show will continue to improve and find its groove. The cast is pretty good... not 100% on the ladies man co-worker but I love the sister-in-law and the youngest son.
Sunday
*ABC Betrayal- As soon as I saw the commercial for this show I wanted to watch it, I KNEW I would love it.... and I was kindof completely wrong. The premise for the show seems great- bored lonely neglected housewife meets handsome stranger, there's some will they/ won't they back and forth... and of course they do because without it there wouldn't be a show. Unfortunately the actor and actress who meet and have the affair have ZERO chemistry and they seem to not be able to act... like at all. I am nobody- and I feel as though I could probably act better than them. After (just now) doing a little digging I think it has something to do with the fact that both of them are foreign- attempting to pull off an American accent. I know these days there are LOTS of actors and actresses who play American roles, I've been shocked by quite a few the first time I heard their "real" accent. But when both of these people speak I can tell that something is "off". Unfortunately it and translates as a lack of acting ability. I'm not sure about the lack of chemistry between the two but it seems painfully awkward and forced. I want to like this show, and maybe they'll get better at American accents and their chemistry will improve, maybe? Probably not.
And THAT is the end of my analysis of the first 2 weeks of New Fall TV shows for 2013. I hope you enjoyed my rambling opinions, if you disagree feel free to share and then shove it... kidding, sortof.
