Mid-Fall Check-In

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Well, the fall season is well underway. Some shows have been cancelled, others given a full season, and others are still waiting to hear their fates. I've fallen in love with some new stuff and dropped others like hot potatoes. I figured it would be good to take a look at the original list of things I had hoped would be promising this season.

At the Top:
2 Broke Girls: The premise and the title aren't exactly the same, which is throwing some people. It's doing well with everyone, myself included. While the ridiculous number of sex jokes tends to bother me every third episode, I can see past them to the other humorous bits... as dated as they'll be ten years down the road. My big gripe is that Max and Caroline aren't doing much to save toward their cupcake bakery, but maybe it'll come in spurts or something. CBS really has itself some great comedy. 

Last Man Standing: This has really been a breakout hit in my eyes. I initially tuned in to see Tim Allen in a Home Improvement-esque show, just with daughters. While it's not the funniest thing on television, I really enjoy the interactions between the characters and the personalities of the family members. It's getting plenty of marketing and isn't suffering in the ratings, so hopefully we've got ourselves a winner here!

All-American Muslim: Overall, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I think that they've just got too many families on this show. On the other hand, so much has happened in the first four episodes. I think that the show is doing a good job of fitting the premise - the lives, communities, and customs of those adhering to various degrees of the Muslim faith. And, I think that Dearborn is a good place to film, and that the families chosen have different things to offer the viewers. Still, the show isn't perfect and I wonder if the participants would even agree to film a second season. TLC shows are especially difficult to judge (Table for 12 never got an official cancellation, and that was ages ago!), but I certainly hope that we're going to have more than just the original order for All-American Muslim.

So Far, So Good:
Pan Am: we're only nine episodes into this show, which is floundering. It hasn't had big ratings since the pilot, and only 14 episodes have been promised to the public. The show isn't on ABC's mid-season line-up, so even if it does get renewed, it likely won't be back until the fall. While I won't be happy if it gets cancelled, I won't be as heartbroken as I would if that fate struck some of the other shows I've come to love season. After a while I stopped noticing the fact that it's a period show, which is weird... I thought that would stand out forever. I think that the actors are doing a great job, but I wonder about some of the storylines and where they're going.

Terra Nova: I'm struggling a little bit with this one, which seems to be the general consensus amongst critics. There are only three episodes left in the first season, which will wrap up on the 19th. Terra Nova has not yet been renewed, but given its very long shooting and post-production time, if it does get a second season, we won't see it until at least next fall, if not later. My big problem with this show is that they opened up SO MANY plot lines, then ignored them in favor of single-episode, non-arcing stories, and now everything is tying together pretty darn quickly. I imagine that I'll start a second season if it materializes, but I can't say if I'll finish it...

Suburgatory: This is a show that I came so close to dumping in its opening episodes... but by the time Halloween came around, I really started to look forward to it. I can't stand most of the characters on the program, but the writing brings me happiness. I think it's weird that the premise has been thrown away for the most part... George and Tessa have such a close and open relationship, it's difficult to believe that he'd be so shocked and abrupt when he found condoms in her room. It's been doing pretty well, and reruns in primetime are catching more and more viewers as well. I'm still not 100% sold on this show, but right now it looks like I'll be giving it at least another half-dozen episodes.

The Exes: This is the most difficult program on this list to judge, since the second episode just ran a few nights ago. I was rather disappointed in the pilot, and haven't been struck by Mark Reisman's normal writing brilliance yet, either. The premise is good, the casting seems spot-on, but there's still something missing from having this show be a heavy hitter. I'm hoping that the show gets better, but maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up too high...

Below the Bottom:
Boss: I dropped this episode half-way through its short first season. At first I had a difficult time letting go, but then my mind cleared up... I wanted to love this show because I like Kelsey Grammer. But even your favorite actor can seem totally boring when you're not enthralled with the subject. And, for me, politics is one of those areas that is just better left alone. All of the corruption is what really forced me to turn away from what some people are truly enjoying. My husband, who has run for political office, has enjoyed the show somewhat, though he felt that the bulk of the season was tied up before the finale. Regardless, it's got a second season coming, which I won't be watching.

Hell on Wheels: I couldn't even hang in there for five episodes. The pilot was interesting enough, but the focus on interesting things just kept waning. I wanted to be really into this western drama, but it didn't happen. I struggled with it, as did the few people I know who were really anticipating a great show here. It's doing well in the ratings, however, so for those who are happy with where the show is going, it may end up with a long and healthy run. 

24 Hours in the ER: It was like I couldn't drop this one fast enough! Sadly, this was the most disappointing show for me. I like medical shows (with ER, House, and Miami Medical topping that list) quite a bit, and I also watch a fair amount of reality programs, so I thought that this would really be up my alley. But, it wasn't. It was so far from my alley, in fact, that I was almost miserable watching it. But, bad choices happen. No big deal. Hopefully I'll get into some other BBCAmerica show, as I'd like to give that channel more attention in some way.

Something Different: 24 Hours in the ER

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

I learned about 24 Hours in the ER when I was at the TCA Summer Tour... and it seemed like a really interesting show. When I chose it to make the list of the ten shows I was going to try out this fall season, I was hoping for an educational experience, since the show is set in King's College Hospital in London, which has a very different atmosphere from the US hospitals and the procedures would be unique. Well, I never even got to the "community issues" in the show. Less than half-way into the first episode, I knew I was in for trouble. By the time that episode was over, I felt like I had been sitting there for three hours... and I only made it past three scenes of the second episode before I just completely gave up.

The Garden Productions Ltd.

I didn't find it interesting at all. I watch documentaries on television about once a month... but maybe a "television show format" doesn't work for me. I I did learn some things, like their ER is an "A & E department," and that HEMs are Helicopter Emergency Medics. I still think that the concept (a single day in the ER each episode) is great, and liked how they updated the viewer on the time, plus it started at a random time (12:58pm on a Friday in the first episode). But apparently that wasn't enough to save it. I just can't watch it... it bores me to tears. I took a few notes on the patients of the first episode, mostly planning to comment on how the injuries and care procedures might be similar to the demonstrations we see on American medical dramas like ER, but ended up with nothing of substance.

So, I bid adieu to 24 Hours in the ER, which debuted on September 27th. If you're interested, check out BBCAmerica Tuesdays at 9pm...

The New Fall Shows

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Any true television fan knows that deciding what to watch every fall is a big deal... and it gets more difficult with each passing year. Now that some networks are utilizing 7-11pm instead of 8-10pm, and there's some showing original programming every day instead of just weeknights, there is a LOT out there! And that's not even considering all of the new shows coming to cable networks that didn't used to feature their own programming!

So, today's post looks at the TEN shows that I'm planning to try out this fall. See if you agree and consider persuading me to check out what you're looking forward to!

Sundays:
Pan Am, starting Sunday, September 25th at 10pm on ABC. Set in the 1960s, this drama is based on real Pan Am stewardesses' experiences. The cast and guest star lineup looks pretty promising, plus Jack Orman (ER, folks!) is a writer on the show.

Hell on Wheels, starting Sunday, November 6th on AMC. Set in the 1860s, this western drama is centered around the transcontinental railroad. It will include slaves, Native Americans, and a single woman in the regular cast. Chinese laborers are avoided, as the present episodes focus on the east side of the railroad.

Mondays:
2 Broke Girls, starting Monday, September 19th at 9:30pm on CBS. It will normally hold the 8:30-9pm slot, right after How I Met Your Mother. The basic premise is that two young gals in New York City are living together (think Odd Couple) and working together (in odd jobs and as waitresses... like Laverne & Shirley) who have much larger dreams.

Photo: Michael Lavine/FOX

Terra Nova, starting Monday, September 26th at 8pm on FOX. I've already seen the bulk of the two-hour pilot, and the setting (both in 2149 and in 85 million BCE) certainly grabbed my attention. Dystopias and utopias are favorite genres of mine, so this show attempting to encompass both intrigues me greatly. Short season orders, however, are pet peeves of mine, so it may not work out in the end.

Tuesdays:
24 Hours in the ER, starting Tuesday, September 27th, at 9pm on BBC America. This is a 14-part documentary that was filmed over the course of four weeks in a London emergency room. It's a major trauma center that also deals with community issues, so I think it will be a nice mix. Plus, the clips I've seen show it being rather different than American hospitals, so I think that will be an educational experience.

Last Man Standing, starting Tuesday, October 11th, at 8pm on ABC. I'm drawn to this one solely because of the similarities and differences between it and Home Improvement, Tim Allen's last comedy. In this one he has three daughters instead of three sons. It probably has the worst outlook of the shows I'm trying, so let's see how it goes!

Wednesdays:
Suburgatory, starting Wednesday, September 28th at 8:30pm on ABC.This is another show that isn't getting the best press, but I think the basic idea is cool. After a single father finds condoms in his 16-year-old daughter's room, they move from Manhattan to the suburbs. The daughter must adjust to the new environment while her father takes a whole new perspective on parenting.

The Exes, starting Wednesday, November 30th at 10:30pm on TVLand. I'm already in love with the cast and the clips that I've seen so far (not to mention that Mark Reisman of Frasier fame is a writer for it!). The plot pusher (three recently-divorced men live together in an apartment owned by their attorney) isn't a total win, but I think this show has the potential to be another star for the network. 

Fridays:
Boss, starting Friday, October 21st at 10pm on Starz. Kelsey Grammer as the mayor of Chicago... sounds like a winner to me. While the short episode order is a bit annoying, the bit of mystery that seems inherent in this show just piques my interest enough. 

No Specified Day:
All-American Muslim, date and time TBA (probably starting in November) on TLC. Focusing on five Muslim families in the Detroit area, this show will look at the lives, communities, and customs of those adhering to various degrees of the Muslim faith. Listening to several of the "cast members" really sealed the deal on my interest in this series - I am very much looking forward to this show as bringing the "Learning" aspect back to TLC.

I am working full-force to catch up on The Middle episodes I've missed, as I've decided to pick that up full-time this season. I will also start covering Two and a Half Men, of which I've seen every episode since the Charlie Sheen scandal began early this year. I did consider joining the bandwagon fans on both Parks and Recreation and Mike and Molly, but I've ultimately decided to pass on those. The former is just a little too much like The Office for me, while I still think the latter just doesn't have the staying power to go beyond a few seasons of storylines. And I'm just too late to the game to start on Rules of Engagement, which I enjoyed random bits of here and there last season, and Border Wars, which I just recently found out existed.

There are a few things that won't premiere until mid-season (aka 2012), so I'll check in later with those! Also, stay tuned for my ultimate TV schedule for the fall, coming soon.