It's the final day of the Upfronts.
This morning I had to miss the CW presentation for an appearance on MSNBC. So, I didn’t get to see their new fall offerings. Then again, I've actually never watched anything on their network (sorry," America's Next Top Model" fans). I did make it in time to catch FOX, who wrapped up the week.
Fortunately, none of my favorite shows got canned. They did announce two more seasons of "24" which is surprising considering how the ratings have fallen off. I'm 14 episodes back on my Tivo watching. I lost interest and gave up less than half way through even though I was an avid watcher for every other season. Hopefully, they will re-tool the show and infuse it with some fresh energy for next year. They also announced that "House" would get the prime slot after the Superbowl next year.
Fans of this show love it and rave about it to me. I'm finally intrigued enough to spend some cash and catch up via DVD.
Here's what's new this Fall...
Back To You - Kelsey Grammar and Patricia Heaton team up in this conventional sitcom. Kelsey's plays a popular LA news anchor whose character falls victim to a You Tube scandal after a video of him screaming obscenities is leaked. He is promptly fired and must return to the town where he got his start as an anchor. Patricia Heaton is his former co-anchor and the two must team up again hence the title. I hate the title because it sounds very cheesy TV movie. I did however like the show. I think Kelsey and Patricia have excellent chemistry together. Plus, it's set in Pittsburgh, my hometown, so it's got that going for it. When I spoke to Kelsey and Patricia, I taught them a phrase that all Pittsburgh locals must know, "Yins Guys." Look for this somewhere in an episode. Maybe I can come on as a consultant. Of course, they won’t be shooting there but the city will be its backdrop. My only concern for this show is that it doesn't feel like a Fox property. Considering Kelsey's long association with NBC from "Cheers" and "Frasier" and Patricia's CBS connection from "Everybody Loves Raymond", I would think one of these networks would have snapped it up. It would have made a great NBC show had the network actually had any conventional sitcoms. They don't. Their only comedies are Thursday night's lineup that is all single camera shows. I hope it doesn't get lost on FOX because I think it could be a hit.
The Return of Jezebel James - This is a sitcom from Amy Sherman-Palladino who created "Gilmore Girls." It's about a career woman played by Parker Posey who can't have children so she asks her quirky younger sister, "Six Feet Under's" Lauren Ambrose to be her surrogate. It might have worked better as a drama. The whole concept fell hugely flat as a half-hour comedy. While the audience laughed and chuckled in all the right spots for Kelsey's and Patricia's show, "Jezebel" was shown immediately afterwards and got not a single laugh from the crowd. Just silence.
The Rules of Starting Over - A comedy from the Farrelly Brothers about thirty-something’s starting over the dating life after divorces. So, expect fart jokes and sex jokes galore. The clips we were shown were actually quite funny in an over the top way. The show has the potential to be smart as well as funny. It's one where I need to reserve judgment until I see the whole show. It does co-star Rashida Jones who plays Karen on "The Office." Does this mean she got the corporate job over Michael and Jim? Don't tell me. I missed the finale last night.
K-Ville - This is a cop drama set in New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina. The show will film on location in New Orleans giving it a platform to showcase its ongoing problems. I think it’s a great idea and I commend the effort. My concern is that the show will over dramatize the city's crime element (it is about two police officers) essentially making the situation look worse than it is. Let's hope that’s not the case because it would be great to have the show be successful and bring New Orleans a great revenue source and hopefully more film and TV productions will return.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles - I like Science Fiction shows. So, I enjoyed this very special effects laden continuation of "The Terminator" franchise. For those who don't know Sarah Connor.. think Linda Hamilton and her very buff arms from the film. She is the mother trying to save her son John. Newcomer Lena Heady ("300") is the new Sarah Connor. She does not have the arms though. She told me yesterday they wanted to start from a different place and that would have been "too obvious." Her son John is played by Thomas Dekker ("Heroes"). When I met him in person, I was quite shocked they were playing mother and son. Lena seemed way to young too be his mother. When you watch the clips though Dekker looks much younger. The show will premiere in January, after baseball, Sunday nights at 9pm. This is the time slot where "The X-Files" became a cult phenomenon. Let's hope X marks the spot for this show too.
Canterbury's Law - Julianna Margulies walked away from a $26 million payday on "ER" seven years ago. She never quite got going the film career she wanted and has been going from part to part ever since, most notably on "The Sopranos." Now she returns to TV to headline her own show as a smart, sassy Lawyer. Are there really no other original ideas out there that we need more legal, crime or medical dramas? I like Julianna. I don’t like the show.
