TV Diary
a) "100 Questions"
I always have a morbid curiosity about doomed shows that networks dump into their summer schedule, partly because there isn't a whole other slate of competing new shows to worry about. And this one, which NBC quietly put on Thursdays the week after all the regular shows had their finales, is pretty dire. But in a weird way, I swear it's a total "How I Met Your Mother" knockoff, which is funny enough considering that show doesn't seem big or old enough yet to inspire imitators. But really, the high concept framing device, the constant flashbacks, the style of humor, even the laugh track added to the pre-taped show format (which "HIMYM" is probably the only show to successfully pull off), all echo it. Of course, "How" has a great cast and this really doesn't, especially because of the deeply funny British female lead, but David Walton, who was also really funny in Fired Up!, is the show's one redeeming factor. Hopefully he'll get in on something better the next pilot season.
b) "The Good Guys"
Bradley Whitford was always the most game to tip the comedy on "The West Wing" into slapstick territory, and dude was in friggin' Billy Madison, so it's not shocking to see him in a goofball FOX show like this, but still a little amusing. I enjoyed the pilot, but honestly this kind of cop show satire is so overdone, and not particularly fresh here, that this exact same show could've been done with a different cast at just about any point in the last 20 years and look/feel more or less identical. And it would've been short-lived in any of those imaginary past iterations just like it'll probably be short-lived now. For the time being, though, nice to see the incredibly hot Jenny Wade from "Reaper" back on TV.
c) "Treme"
It's weird, even though I can't say I love this show so far, I'm glad it's been picked up already for a 2nd season, because I feel like it's gonna need a while for the actors and writers to really sink their teeth into those characters and get shake off some of this freshman awkwardness. It's such a low key, character-driven show that they just need to find a groove and actually feel like a low key, character-driven show instead of a kind of lethargic follow-up to "The Wire."
d) "Parenthood"
This show ended up having a pretty solid, promising first half-season. I kinda hated where they took the plot in the last few episodes with the two cousins fighting over a boy, though, it felt kind of sudden and forced compared to the show's other slow-burning storylines.
e) "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Pretty rough that Wanda Sykes just got 2 shows cancelled at the same time, although I think I was one of the only people still watching and enjoying this one, which kinda puttered along for 5 seasons (while only making 88 episodes) after initial Emmy nominations and hype about Julia Louis-Dreyfuss breaking the 'Seinfeld curse.' This show really had a nice, unique rhythm and kind of ruthless attitude towards its own characters that I liked, though. If it doesn't get picked up by ABC, which is apparently a possibility, I hope Hamish Linklater and Clark Gregg get some good career opportunies now.
f) "Lost"
I was never one of the super analytical "Lost" fans who wanted every question answered, but man, they really didn't even try with that finale, did they? I probably would've been more mad, but that Alison Janney island origins episode was one of the worst hours of television I've ever seen a major series air, and really pretty much broke my spirit and gave me some pretty low expectations for the end (which it still didn't live up to, but still). I still feel pretty good about the show as a whole and may re-watch the first 5 seasons again someday, but this year was pretty much a wash.
I always have a morbid curiosity about doomed shows that networks dump into their summer schedule, partly because there isn't a whole other slate of competing new shows to worry about. And this one, which NBC quietly put on Thursdays the week after all the regular shows had their finales, is pretty dire. But in a weird way, I swear it's a total "How I Met Your Mother" knockoff, which is funny enough considering that show doesn't seem big or old enough yet to inspire imitators. But really, the high concept framing device, the constant flashbacks, the style of humor, even the laugh track added to the pre-taped show format (which "HIMYM" is probably the only show to successfully pull off), all echo it. Of course, "How" has a great cast and this really doesn't, especially because of the deeply funny British female lead, but David Walton, who was also really funny in Fired Up!, is the show's one redeeming factor. Hopefully he'll get in on something better the next pilot season.
b) "The Good Guys"
Bradley Whitford was always the most game to tip the comedy on "The West Wing" into slapstick territory, and dude was in friggin' Billy Madison, so it's not shocking to see him in a goofball FOX show like this, but still a little amusing. I enjoyed the pilot, but honestly this kind of cop show satire is so overdone, and not particularly fresh here, that this exact same show could've been done with a different cast at just about any point in the last 20 years and look/feel more or less identical. And it would've been short-lived in any of those imaginary past iterations just like it'll probably be short-lived now. For the time being, though, nice to see the incredibly hot Jenny Wade from "Reaper" back on TV.
c) "Treme"
It's weird, even though I can't say I love this show so far, I'm glad it's been picked up already for a 2nd season, because I feel like it's gonna need a while for the actors and writers to really sink their teeth into those characters and get shake off some of this freshman awkwardness. It's such a low key, character-driven show that they just need to find a groove and actually feel like a low key, character-driven show instead of a kind of lethargic follow-up to "The Wire."
d) "Parenthood"
This show ended up having a pretty solid, promising first half-season. I kinda hated where they took the plot in the last few episodes with the two cousins fighting over a boy, though, it felt kind of sudden and forced compared to the show's other slow-burning storylines.
e) "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Pretty rough that Wanda Sykes just got 2 shows cancelled at the same time, although I think I was one of the only people still watching and enjoying this one, which kinda puttered along for 5 seasons (while only making 88 episodes) after initial Emmy nominations and hype about Julia Louis-Dreyfuss breaking the 'Seinfeld curse.' This show really had a nice, unique rhythm and kind of ruthless attitude towards its own characters that I liked, though. If it doesn't get picked up by ABC, which is apparently a possibility, I hope Hamish Linklater and Clark Gregg get some good career opportunies now.
f) "Lost"
I was never one of the super analytical "Lost" fans who wanted every question answered, but man, they really didn't even try with that finale, did they? I probably would've been more mad, but that Alison Janney island origins episode was one of the worst hours of television I've ever seen a major series air, and really pretty much broke my spirit and gave me some pretty low expectations for the end (which it still didn't live up to, but still). I still feel pretty good about the show as a whole and may re-watch the first 5 seasons again someday, but this year was pretty much a wash.
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