Saturday, September 26, 2009

Fall TV So Far: Some reviews



Glee

I'm on the fence about this show. It has it's funny moments, but I'm not feeling most of the characters. Two episodes in and the kids in the Glee Club all still feel like stereotypes and clichés. The main character Will is supposed to be this nice guy, but he's creepily flirting with another teacher who's desperately in love with him even though he's married and - as far as he knows - has a baby on the way.

I've got three reasons for sticking with it for a while though. Jane Lynch is as hilarious as she always is, Victor Garber plays Will's dad, and Kristin Chenoweth is supposed to be in an upcoming episode or two. I'll watch Victor Garber in anything and I'm still not over my crush on Kristin Chenoweth from Pushing Daisies. And it's not like it's an awful show or anything. I'm just not sure I'd stick with it if not for those three actors.

The Office

Bullet proof. Things are changing around Dunder Mifflin, but as long as I keep laughing like I have been, I'm not worried.

Community

I laughed once during the pilot episode, but that was because someone was quoting The Breakfast Club. I'll always laugh at Breakfast Club references, if only out of fondness. And there's a certain Breakfast Clubness to the concept too: a diverse group of students getting together to study and survive their community college experience. That could be interesting, right? I thought I should give it a second week to see if it got funnier.

Didn't make it through ten minutes of the second episode. So not funny it hurt me.

House

Oh wow, did I love the season premiere. I only have one concern, but it's a big one. I'm not sure how they can top it. It was so beautiful and perfect that it felt like a series finale, not a season opener. Honestly, that's how I imagined the show should end and I'm seriously afraid to keep watching for fear of ruining the feeling I have about it right now.

On the other hand, I have a lot of faith in the people running the show and I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes. I'm just looking forward with a great deal of fear and trembling.

Big Bang Theory

Also bullet proof. Just keep Sheldon the same and you can screw around with Leonard and Penny's relationship all you want.

Castle

It's come to my attention that some people don't like this show. Those people are crazy. This is Nathan Fillion playing exactly the kind of character he was born to play, Stana Katic is a fantastic actress and - oh by the way - inconceivably beautiful, and the two are very funny together and have a ton of chemistry. The mysteries are also fun and interesting. It ain't CSI, but that's such a good thing.

My only gripe is that Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn don't get enough to do as Castle's mom and daughter. They're around mostly to ground him and accidentally offer just the right piece of advice to help him crack the case and/or fix whatever's wrong with his relationship with Detective Beckett this week. But I like the two actresses enough that I'll happily take whatever I can get from them.

NCIS: Los Angeles

I've never watched an episode of NCIS, so I don't know what the rest of the world loves about that show. I caught the last half of the pilot for NCIS: LA though and I liked Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J enough in it that I'll be back for more. I really don't think I need another mystery show, but we'll see.

The Forgotten

TiVo insists on spelling it the forgotten like the show's logo does, but I can't make myself do that. The show's pretentious enough as it is.

When I was looking for promos to embed in my Fall TV Premieres post I found an old promo of The Forgotten that had another actor in what's now Christian Slater's role. I can only imagine that ABC saw how ridiculous the show was and thought, "Well... maybe if we put a movie star in it, no one will notice." It's a shame too, because I like Christian Slater and I think he should get a good series. I want to watch him in one.

But the pilot for The Forgotten had a crappy mystery solved because of wild logic jumps and sheer coincidences by people speaking cheesy dialogue in order to deliver a sermon that absolutely no one needs to hear. Is anyone really enlightened by the message that unidentified corpses have loved ones somewhere who are worried about them? Did we not know that? Does anyone benefit by being pounded over the head with it for an hour?

Eastwick

It's been a while since I've been able to get into a really good chick show. I think this is going to be one. The plot's intriguing, but what I really love is the cast. This looks like it's going to be a lot of fun.

FlashForward

I was very prepared not to like this. The next Lost you say, Ms. Network Marketing Person? I'll be the judge of that.

Well, I don't know if it's the next Lost (or if it even wants to be), but it is really freaking good. The first episode was thrilling, suspenseful, creepy, funny, touching, and I liked all the characters. Easily my favorite new show so far.

Modern Family
Grey's Anatomy
The Mentalist


Haven't watched these yet. Got 'em TiVoed though, so I'll let you know.

5 comments:

snell said...

What Community made me think:

Someday, aliens will be combing through the decaying mementos of our lost civilization, and will ask each other with great puzzlement: "Wait, these guys actually thought Chevy Chase was funny? No wonder they're extinct."

Wings1295 said...

Glee is good, I am enjoying it. Wish they would dump the baby storyline. Ugh! But yeah, Jane Lynch is AWESOME, as always. And the mere possibility of Chenoweth appearing will keep me tuned in.

The Office is good. But man, Michael is such a suspension of belief now it isn't even funny.

Community is okay. Gotta give it time to find its legs!

Never watched House.

Big Bang Theory is sweet. Love Sheldon and see too much of myself in his quirks.

Castle is fun, my wife really likes it.

NCIS: LA is another my wife wants to check out. I am meh about it.

The Forgotten is one I have DVR'd, along with Eastwick, FlashForward and Modern Family. Gots ta spend some time watching this weekend!

The Mentalist is always fun, I just hope the new guy doesn't throw off the rhythm already established.

Fun stuff! Lots to watch this season!

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

Glee I am enjoying. Such an odd mix of personalities exactly like high school REALLY is.

A little of the Office goes a long way with me. I think I have stopped caring. Could and should be the last season.

Big Bang can do no wrong. Strong strong cast and awesome writing that never lets me down.

NCIS - GREAT moment that made me feel good about all the doubts about Gibbs being hard core badass.

NCIS LA - Linda Hunt is great and I like LL and O'Donnell's damaged past.

I could do with something changing with the Mentalist. Maybe more Van Pelt...always more Van Pelt.

Scott D. Parker said...

Glad someone else enjoys Castle. I've decided to write a weekly recap on my blog every Tuesday. I also have some links to various Castle-related sites. And I agree that the mom/daughter need much more screen time.

Michael May said...

...always more Van Pelt.

You ain't lyin.

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