The Best New Shows of Fall 2011

Every year after the hubbub of all the new shows has died down, I like to look back and see which shows liked up to expectations and which ones did not. The networks already did a good job thinning the heard already with The Playboy Club, Free Agents, Charlie’s Angels, How to Be a Gentlemen, and H8R already canceled and being left off the midseason schedules do not bode well for Pan Am, Man Up, and Prime Suspects. With the holiday break fast approaching here are the shows you should be catching up on while everything is in repeats and where you can catch up at.

1. Homeland (Showtime)
Not just the best new show of the season, but the best show currently on television (at least until Justified returns). The crazier Claire Danes gets, the better the show is.

2. Suburgatory (ABC) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
Jane Levy is easily the breakout star of the season even if Emma Stone broke out with the same persona two years ago. And Dalia is easily the scariest thing on television, yes scarier than the zombies on The Walking Dead.

3. Revenge (ABC) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
I basically only started watching this show for Amy Abbott and she remained the only character I actually care about, yet this show is still extremely addictive.

4. Once Upon a Time (ABC) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
When I heard about this show (as well as Grimm) I was hoping for Pushing Daisies with fairytales but unfortunately we just got Lost with fairytales.

5. Two Broke Girls (CBS) CBS.com
Kat Dennings is comedy gold, but the rest of the cast certainly is not.


But who cares what I think, so I asked sometime contributor Doug, who apparently watched as many new shows this fall as I watched total, his thoughts and here is his favorite new shows of the fall.

1. 2 Broke Girls (CBS)
They need to get a new song for in-between songs. I'm already sick of it.

2. Revenge (ABC)
Classic trashy fun.

3. Suburgatory (ABC)

4. Ringer (The CW) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
Have no idea how they can keep this show going longer than 1 season.

5. Hart of Dixie (The CW) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
Cute throwback to the WB days. Hope The CW gives this time to develop.

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 11/20/11

Once Upon a Time: Do they really spoil one of the big mysteries of the show in the promo every week? It has been hinted at never outright said in the show that the Evil Queen knows of the fairytale world, but the preshow promo for the last two weeks comes right out and says she is the only one who remembers. Is this just the promo monkeys gone bad and making assumptions (which happened a couple times on Lost and the writers complained about), or are they actually spoiling the show?
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Once Upon a Time.

The Walking Dead: We finally get a payoff at the farm with the discovery of the Walkers Barn. I take it that is the rest of his family that they are preserving in hopes that there will be a cure, though not as funny as the Shaun of the Dead ending. Which begs the question, when will Zombie Otis show up and join them?
You can stream recent episodes over at amc.com. You can also download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Homeland: The first forty-five minutes of this episode seemed like filler, but boy did they kick it into high gear. First, Carrie come right out and accuses Brady of being a turncoat complete with a Q&A session (though some of answers seemed too convenient to be red herrings like him seeing the head terrorist and lying about it). Then we learn that his partner is actually the POW that got turned. Wow. That is really a long con to throw your scent off someone by putting it on his partner. Cannot wait until the next episode.

Pan Am: The more absurd this show is the better. Landing in hostel Haiti for a heart attack patient: sure why not. Hopefully in the near future there is an episode where someone draws landing gear onto the plane like the Amazing Stories episode.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pan Am on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: The only thing that felt longer than Marshall and Ted’s trip for nachos was how I felt watching this episode. Seriously guys, it’s the comedy law of three not five.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

The Sing Off: Screw you promo monkeys who made me sweat all week thinking Antoine Merriweather might be axed this week. Turns out his group was not even in the bottom two this week. Bad promo monkeys. Of course I knew there was no way the Aires would be sent home after watch the Ignition (Remix) because that was my favorite performance of the season. With the Judges’ Pick next week, my head might exploded if they actually give them Trapped in the Closet.

The Sing-Off Week 7 Power Ranking (change from last week in parentheses):

1. Dartmouth Aires
2. Urban Method
3. Afro Blue
4. Pentatonix



You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download songs from The Sing-Off on iTunes.

2 Broke Girls: This was a show I was really looking forward to, and even though it has been constantly funny so far, I was hoping for more and my disappointment mostly stems from Caroline who remains one note with a borderline annoying voice, but her White-Mariah routine was hilarious.

Parenthood: Is it wrong that I laughed historically at all of Sydney’s hissy fits. Quality entertainment. Though the ending of the storyline was a bit cheesy. But I knew as soon as Adam told Crosby not to hook up with the absurdly attractive receptionist, she would come onto him instead. Hopefully they do not fire her because she can just blame it on the alcohol and seriously Adam, you only escort a girl to her door if you are expecting a kiss.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: Wait, did they actually blow up that one dude? But it looks like they are going to spread out the someone killing Clay out for the rest of the season. I fear every new episode until them will introduce someone new as the potential killer and next season we will be stuck with a Who Killed Clay storyline.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Survivor: South Pacific: It is about time Survivor finally realize that they should go two Tribal Councils per episode after the merge. Hopefully that continues for most of the rest of the season.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Revenge: I have long only liked Amy Abbott on the show, but they finally introduced a second character for me to root for: her alter-ego. She looks to give Claire Danes a run for her money in the crazy department.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Revenge on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: I’m disappointed we were denied seeing Sheldon and Penny actually going on a date.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.

Community: When Jeff came onscreen as the Dean I actually thought that it was really David Cross. And I am sure I have said this before, but more Crazy Annie please.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Community on iTunes.

Beavis and Butt-Head: Having the boys watch other television shows was mildly entertaining to begin with but they get less funny every week. I cannot believe I am actually going to suggest anyone watch Lady GaGa, but how have Beavis and Butt-Head not watched any of her videos yet? I need them to rip her to shreds.
You can stream recent episodes over at mtv.com. You can also download Beavis and Butt-Head on iTunes.

Chuck: Boo, why could they not finally kill off Morgan? And if I could actually live in a world where Indiana Jones was still a trilogy.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

Best of the Week - 10/14/11

Quote of the Week: This is the third Teenage Dream in forty-five minutes; why don’t I just close my nuts in the cashier’s door? (Garrett Morris – 2 Broke Girls)

Song of the Week: Torn – Natalie Imbruglia (as sung by Penny and her mom, Happy Endings)

Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: Hank Williams Jr. Is a Moron and So Is Anyone Who Tries to Despiser His Ramblings: Last week Fox and Friends had country singer Hank Williams, Jr. to talk politics because apparently Dick Cheney was unavailable. Like most people in America, Hank is fed up with our political parties and said about Obama’s golf game with Speaker of the House Boehner was, “Come on! It would be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu!” Naturally this made the talking head head’s explode thinking he compared Obama and Hitler. But really, trying to make sense of what Williams was trying to say only makes you dumber than he is. And to say Williams compared Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler would be like saying he compared John Boehner to Benjamin Netanyahu, which no one is saying but is just as absurd. Now if you excuse, I am going to go watch Fox and Friends because they are going to interview the dude from Wham not named George Michael about the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Free Download of the Week: Ole´ – Pearl Jam (iTunes)

Deal of the Week: Up to 55% Off Hit Movies and TV on Blu-ray (Earnest Scared Straight, Ghostbusters, Dawn of the Dead)

New Album Release of the Week: Beyond the Sun (2CD) - Chris Isaak

New DVD Release of the Week: Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest

Video of the Week: Showtime has released a new teaser for their upcoming show House of Lies and just like the last one that featured AC/DC’s Big Balls, the new one is also balls-centric.

Newton’s Cradle (ouse of Lies Spot)


Next Week Pick of the Week: The Walking Dead, Sunday at 9:00 on AMC: The first season of The Walking Dead is one of those shows that you think it is better than it really is (a staple for AMC). Sure the first season was epic with great characterizations, zombie makeup, and you really felt the sparseness and isolation of the post apocalyptic world. But looking back at the first season, it is hard not to think that the six episodes could have been crammed into just two. There are big reservations going into the second season after creator and showrunner Frank Darabont got unceremoniously canned by the network after the first episode in the new season. But for those that cannot get enough of the show, right after it airs, there will be a new series Talking Dead, a live after-show where Chris Hardwick (you know, the one from Singled Out not named Jenny McCarthy) discussing the episode with fans, actors, and producers (presumably Darabont will not be making an appearance) because why wouldn’t a serious drama steal an idea from MTV? But anyway. For more on the second season, check out the video below where Attack of the Show’s Grace Helbig visits the set of the show.

Game Reviews - E3 2012 - Movies and TV

Musings From the Back 9: New Shows Edition

The Playboy Club

When every critic bemoaned that The Playboy Club was simply just a simple Mad Men rip off, I came to the show’s (and the upcoming Pan Am, look for the review tomorrow) defense saying The Playboy Club was a rip off of Mad Men because they were set in the same time period would be like saying Mad Men was a rip off of American Dreams. But now that I have seen the first episode, Eddie Cibrian (Invasion) completely steal Don Draper’s cadence is really distracting and it is not a good sign for the show that Cibrian’s speech managed to be more distracting than Amber Heard (Hidden Palms) in, or out, of her bunny costume. Sure if there is anyone who can reach Don Draper level of douchebag, it is Cibrian who does not even need to act to pull it off, but he did not need to also copy his speech patterns.

It is also not a very good sign when Heard is your strongest actor on the show. The other bunnies range from bland to over the top to painful to watch. Jenna Dewan-Tatum (Melrose Place) falls in the latter category as a bunny that is dating the bartender who, surprise, is not happy that he has to watch his girlfriend get ogled every night. Laura Benanti (Starved) is the house bunny whose lip syncing was so distractingly bad, I thought I was watching an episode of Glee. Naturi Naughton (3LW) is simply the token black chick who says something sassy at the end of every scene.

Even though she came across as only a caricature of a Playboy bunny, Leah Renee (Runaway) started out by having the only interesting part of the first episode, hiding a deep dark secret from her co-workers. Was she some sort of Gloria Steinem undercover spy? Did she have some vendetta against Hugh Hefner and was using the job to get to him? Nope. Her husband is gay (and she may or may not be a lesbian, it is unclear at this point) and is the leader of some underground gay homosexual society. What?

The Playboy Club airs Mondays at 10:00 on NBC. You can stream recent episodes over at Hulu.com. You can also download The Playboy Club on iTunes.


2 Broke Girls

Ever since they broke up How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory, neither has really shared a timeslot with anything else worth watch. 2 Broke Girls (when it moves to 8:30 next week) looks to break that trend. Kat Dennings (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist) is the queen of snark and if Beth Behrs (American Pie Presents: The Book of Love) can find some subtleties in her socialite character could be the breakout star of the television season. And who knew Garrett Morris was still alive? But they need to find a new cook because dude got annoying quick. Is Vic Tayback available for the role? (Wait, unlike Morris, he actually is dead? Nevermind.) But I really like the running tally of money at the end of the episode and I have a feeling that number will go down almost as many times it goes up.

2 Broke Girls airs Mondays on CBS. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.


Whitney

Whitney Cummings (Comedy Central Roasts) created two shows on the schedule this fall and just based on first impressions only, she clearly chose to star in the wrong show. 2 Broke Girls was filled with laugh and set up an interesting premise for the future. Whitney is a bland relationship sitcom from the nineties that tries to update the format with unfunny crass jokes. The show is also reminiscent of crappy sitcoms that NBC usually orders for midseason but ends up burning off during the summer (100 Questions, Friends With Benefits). The only thing you can get coming away from the show is wondering just how bad is the Chelsea Hander sitcom that Whitney made it to air first is. A couple years back NBC tried to launch a Wednesday comedy block before it moved 30 Rock to Thursday about two weeks later and dropped the other one. I would not be at all surprised is either Up All Night or Free Agents (hopefully the latter) gets the Whitney timeslot before we start handing out candy to trick or treaters.

Whitney premieres Thursday at 9:30 on NBC. You will be able to stream episodes over at hulu.com. You will also be able to download Whitney on iTunes.

The Five Most Anticipated Shows of Fall 2011

Looking at their list of new shows you have to wonder if NBC and ABC did a bit of spying on each other, they both have fairytale based shows and shows about iconic hot chicks of the fifties (there was almost a third of seventies retreat starring Friday Night Lights Alums but the Peacock decided not to pick up Wonder Woman). But only one of each nabbed a spot on my most anticipated shows for next fall.

1. Once Upon a Time (Sundays at 8:00 on ABC) – When I first saw the description for this I was hoping for something whimsical like Pushing Daisies and after seeing the promo I was a bit disappointed with the visuals in the fairytale world but the show still tops the list of shows I most want to see. Plus it will be nice to see Diane Snyder back on free television.



2. The Playboy Club (Mondays at 10:00 on NBC) – Sure it will be easy to call this a Mad Men rip off, Eddie Cibrian certainly gives off that Don Draper douchebag vibe, but I am intrigued by the murder subplot in the promo. And seeing Amber Heard in a Bunny outfit every week does not hurt at all.



3. Two Broke Girls (Mondays at 8:30 on CBS) – Whitney Cummings is executive producing two new shows this fall and she probably choose the wrong one to star in. Whitney looks like a bland retread while 2 Broke Girls is a better bet and looks to be greater than 2 and a Half Men (at least in quality). Really nobody does snark better than Kat Dennings. Hopefully the chick not named Kat Dennings finds her comic timing because she looks a little too ridged in the promo. Though not in the promo below, bonus points for casting Garrett Morris in the role of Mel Sharples.



4. Free Agents (Wednesdays at 8:30 on NBC) – Here is something that really was not on my radar until I watched the trailer, who new Rupert Giles could deliver a punch line?



5. Apartment 23 (Midseason likely during Dancing with Has Been’s and Nobody’s hiatus) – Ever since seeing her go head to head with Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, I thought Dreama Walker had star potential and she is finally getting a starring role on television and looks primed to breakout. And Krysten Ritter is the perfect evil foil. It should make for a great pilot, but I am not entirely sure how they stretch it into a series. And I am not sure how James van der Beek as James van der Beek plays into this all. In the clip that ABC show they reference Paula Cole and a whip cream bikini, isn’t that his whole career? Where do you go from there?



Honorable Mention. Work It (Midseason-ish): I would have put this at number one but let’s face it, this will not air for very long, if at all. But for the three episodes that air I will enjoy it. It has been too long since Bosom Buddies has left the air.



There were some notable changes in network schedules next season, after trying to launch a three hour comedy block, NBC and ABC went back to two hours their signature nights and launch another hour block on Wednesday and Tuesday respectively. As I predicted, Chuck gets shuttled off to the Friday death slot (paired with the other fairytale show Grimm which looks like it may be this years The Cape). But the more surprising move is for the first time in recent memory; a network is airing new scripted programming on Saturdays. Granted it is only for a half hour and it is Rules of Engagement for CBS. But it should be interesting how it does and if any other network follows. Here is what I will be watching next fall:

Mondays
8:00 – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
8:00 – The Sing Off (NBC)
8:30 – Two Broke Girls (CBS)
10:00 – Playboy (NBC)
10:00 – Castle (ABC)

Tuesdays
10:00 Parenthood (NBC)

Wednesdays
8:00 – Survivor (CBS)
8:30 – Free Agents (NBC)
9:00 – Modern Family (ABC)
9:30 – Happy Endings (ABC)

Thursdays
8:00 – The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
8:00 – Community (NBC)

Fridays
8:00 – Chuck (NBC)

Sundays
8:00 – Once Upon a Time (ABC)

Midseason
Awake (NBC)
Work It (ABC)
Apartment 23 (ABC)

Assessing the Fall 2011 Network Pilots

TV Guide recently ran down the pilots, eighty-two in all, which the networks are considering considering for their fall schedule. It is premature to predict what is going to be good or not since we are still two months away from any of these shows from being picked up and six months before any of them premiere. But they did not called me Premature Scooter in college for no reason so I am going to do some predicting anyway. Here are five shows I would like to make it on their respective schedules.

Wonder Woman (NBC) – Sure the scripted has been ripped to shreds online and David E Kelly doesn’t seem like a good fit guiding the show, I would certainly tune in to see Trya Collette don the red, white, and blue spandex every week.

Once Upon a Time (ABC) – Considering this is being described as “A woman travels to a town where fairy tales are real” we may have to wait until this weekend to see how well Red Riding Hood does at the box office to gauge the chances this show has to getting picked up. Though I would be more confident if a show like this came from someone like Bryan Fuller, it was instead created by two writers from Lost who seemed to do a lot of Hurley-centric episode. And it stars Ginnifer Goodwin (Diane Snyder returns to free TV!) as Snow White. NBC will also have their own fairy tale themed show Grimm from Buffy / Angel writers.

Work It (ABC) – I have waited almost three decades for a Bosom Buddies reboot and this may be as close as it gets with two unemployed car salesmen dress in drag to get jobs a pharmaceutical representative. We will also get the bonus enjoyment figuring out which of the two will go on to be Tom Hanks and the other Peter Scolari.

Two Broke Girls (CBS) – Kat Dennings, who is great with passive aggressive dialogue, staring as a waitress co-written by Whitney Cummings, a standout of recent Comedy Central Roasts. Cumming also has her own starring vehicle for NBC from the creator of My Boys.

Playboy (NBC) – Let be the last red blooded American boy on the internet to get excited to hear they are doing a Playboy Club themed show (donning the bunny suits will be the absurdly hot Amber Hear and moderately attractive Naturi Naughton and Jenna Dewan) only to be let down to hear it will be on NBC, not HBO.


And as the great philosopher Butt-Head once told his understudy Beavis, “If it weren’t for things that sucked, how would we know if something was awesome?” And this year looks like there is a bunch of crap that hopefully never makes it to your televisions.

Charlie’s Angels (ABC) – Whenever something is successful is on television it spreads like wildflower (seriously, just count the number of three different couples themed shows that have popped up since Modern Family), and that is understandable. But why do networks continue to reboot show considering every single one in the past decade has failed miserably? And as much as I would like to see Lyla Garrity kick bad guy butt in skimpy clothing every week, I just cannot see this being any good and “from the producers of Smallville” doesn’t help.

Home Base (CBS) – Speaking of failed ideas, was NFL player who goes home already failed recently? Executive producer Marky Mark is also a serious red flag.

Touched (Fox) – Seriously, how does Heroes creator Tim Kring keep finding work? Only Lane Kiffin has fallen upwards faster.

Ringer (CBS) – I hate to break it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans, Sarah Michelle Gellar cannot act. She is only passable when Joss Whedon is putting words in her mouth, and since he won’t and Supernatural writers will, this will be unwatchable.

Grace (ABC) – Nothing could get me to run further from a show than “from Dancing with the Stars judge” but here’s the catch, this show isn’t some crappy dance themed reality show, it’s a drama. Staring Eric Roberts. Of course it is set in the world of professional dance.

Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea (NBC) – Sure Laura Prepon was surprisingly good as Nikki Heat, but portraying Chelsea Hander (who inexplicably will play he older sister) screams unwatchable.

Partners (ABC) – No description made me laugh harder than, “Two female police detectives are fiercely loyal to one another... because they're also secretly sisters.” Actually, I may have to move this to the please get picked up pile because this may be so bad it’s good.