Fall Television

It has been awhile since I've posted anything here, but it's finally that time of year again. The time for our beloved shows to return with brand new episodes and new shows attempt to gain our attention and garner an audience. Yesterday, "Parks & Recreation" returned, just one of many shows that I watch. A few shows, though none of my real favorites, have already begun.

"Revolution," a new show on NBC has proven to be better than I expected. Getting into a show is tough, though some pilots hook you right away. This show is for anyone who is a fan of "Heroes" because it feels like a cross between that and "Lost." It will hopefully continue to hold my attention and keep being exciting. If it doesn't do those things it will fall into the hole that "Heroes" did, but much much sooner.

Maybe I'm just biased to NBC, but most of the shows that I watch are on this network. Community, 30 Rock, The Voice, Parks & Rec, The Office, Revolution, Go On (another new show that has surprised me for the time being), and Parenthood. That last one has been a guilty pleasure for awhile and I don't know why I like the show. It's just a good show. Then there's Modern Family, the one show I watch on ABC and New Girl and Fringe on FOX for the network shows I watch. Finally there's American Horror Story and Wilfred on FX. And my friends wonder why I don't need anymore shows to watch...

Of the five comedies on NBC that I watch, two are having their final seasons this year (30 Rock and The Office) and two others need to have incredible viewership, and fans ready to fight for them, if they want to stay on the air (Community and Parks & Rec). The two endangered of being cancelled are two of the funniest shows on TV currently. I honestly cannot think of more smartly written sitcoms nowadays. They both have been falling into the rut that Arrested Development had, they are almost too smart for the "common viewer." However as Arrested Development is gaining more attention again I think people are beginning to watch Community and Parks & Rec the same way, if not these two shows are getting a similar viewership.

As shows start up again, so does my quoting and referencing. Parks & Rec had some gems last night and I can't wait to use them to see who really follows these shows too. I can't wait to see what surprises come from these different shows and how the new ones change over the course of the season.

Looking Ahead

Well it's time to talk about these new shows NBC thinks will resurrect the once great network. Instead of keeping shows like Community, 30 Rock, and Parks & Recreation, some of television's smartest shows for full seasons, they're going to try and replace them by following other networks instead of pushing the boundaries they already challenge with smart writing.

Let's start with Animal Practice. It's Doogie Howser plus a capuchin. Great. How long can THAT season last NBC? You're trying to combine a hospital drama and a sitcom. Why? As much as I think Justin Kirk (Weeds) is a great actor I don't think he can carry this type of a show. I have a feeling I'll just end up getting more depressed than laughing because of all the mistreatment of animals this "veterinarian who hates pets owners" has to deal with. Maybe I'll be surprised. I doubt it, but I will always give a show a chance.

Then NBC tries to replace Awake and the veteran (years ago cancelled) Heroes with Revolution. "Oh, I know. Let's get J.J. Abrams to write us a show. Everyone will love it!" As of right now I don't think he has a show on NBC so maybe it'll work for both him and the network. And while I love nearly everything J.J. Abrams (sorry Alcatraz) has done I just don't know about this. He's definitely in his element: dire circumstances (i.e. the end of the world), people surviving in it, and how they try to save the world so I think I'll end up falling for this show. I need something to replace House now that it's all done!

So then we get a rip-off of Modern Family with The New Normal, which comes with a tagline of "A Post-Modern Family." NBC you don't have to get dirty to win the ratings war. Just take some risks in your programming, stop copying other networks. They get some credit for showing that they're ready to fight for a better spot this year and I guess I do trust Ryan Murphy somewhat only because he's responsible for my biggest guilty pleasure on network television, Glee and one of my favorite new shows of last year, American Horror Story. So maybe this can give Modern Family audiences (myself included) something to tide them over from week to week. But with NBCs notoriety of picking bad-ratings-receiving shows it doesn't seem like the right formula for this network.

Guys With Kids (now entitled DILFS) is an obvious (near) copy of the new movie What to Expect When You're Expecting. I get taking a movie and expanding on the characters, but come on. The same year a movie comes out you make a similar show? I think it could have promise simply because it can expand on the lives of these guys as opposed to just giving us a snapshot of their lives like in a movie. They are not the same characters obviously, but everything seems similar. I think a shout-out to Full House should be mentioned because a little girl on the show is played by two twins. Could be worth watching actually.

Then there's Chicago Fire and Go On. The first looks like a watered down version of FX's Rescue Me. I guess audiences have to get their firefighter kick somewhere. I know the least about this show, but if it can somehow keep what Rescue Me had it could be really good, but as NBC does so often it will probably be a very diluted soap opera surrounding fires.

As for Go On, I know it has Matthew Perry in it. I think he's a great actor and can be pretty funny...so long as he doesn't play the always on edge, yet somehow charismatic  guy or the overly depressed, yet somehow charismatic guy. Maybe it's this cookie cutter character he's turned into or maybe it's the fact that the two shows he's worked on since his golden age on Friends (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Mr. Sunshine), but I don't see why networks keep giving him a show. NBCs last attempt with him S60otSS was actually a lot of fun to watch, but really I think it'll be another crash and burn.

So NBC. Keep the shows that are working. I do look forward to your new programming and I hope somehow you can salvage this network. I'll still support you as long as you keep producing smart comedies, endearing characters, and enthralling dramas.

Cleaning House

Many television networks recently decided to clean house of shows receiving poor ratings, poor reviews, and just not doing well. Unfortunately this fate befell many shows that I personally feel just needed more time to take off. You'd think series would pay more attention to the first season so they get a second season and can dive into a deeper story with more character development and more compelling stories, but these shows just didn't do that.

I didn't watch all 17 of the series that were cancelled religiously, but I did see a few episodes of some of the shows. One of the shows was Best Friends Forever. Yes it was sort of a chick flick show, but I really liked the pilot episode. Mainly because they finally put a guy in a role similar to Liz Lemon on 30 Rock. A guy who was just easy going and did his own thing. Someone I identified with. The pilot had me in stitches because a lot of the things the guy on the show would do I do in real life. It was just funny. Then it kind of petered out. Maybe the writing got stale or maybe the premise just wasn't good enough, but I thought this show had some potential to be great!

Another show cancelled from this season was FOX's Alcatraz a weird and somewhat trippy series about time-traveling prisoners of the historic Alcatraz prison. Sounds like an interesting premise, but it ended up feeling almost like an extension of Lost to me. Mainly because Hurley (Jorge Garcia) was one of the main characters and he had to deal with, yet again, time traveling characters and never really understood what was happening.

Harry's Law was a show I actually could have gotten into. Being a fan of Boston Legal this show was in the same vein as that one. Humor and kick-butt lawyering. It was always a fun show to watch and actually did a good job of keeping you on the edge of your seat. Sometimes stretching what should have been one episode into two or more, but it was still a fun show to watch.

Bent was a show unfortunate enough to get a poor time slot. I never got the chance to watch it, but it was pitted against Modern Family and the other shows at the 8:30 timeslot. Almost destined to fail. Which is a little sad because Amanda Peet is a great actress who seems to be trying to break into the television genre, but just hasn't made it through yet.

Among others cancelled (that I didn't watch) were Are You There, Chelsea?, Ringer, Pan Am, Awake, Breaking In, GCB, The Secret Circle, A Gifted Man, Missing, The Finder, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, The Firm, and The River.

Seems that the "The" titles were the big hit (flop) this year. Just an interesting thing to note. With all these cancellations, there is still some great news to report! 30 Rock, Community, and Parks and Recreation are making comebacks in the fall! It may be for shortened seasons (and is 30 Rock's last), but they are bound to be hilarious! If they do well I hope Community and Parks and Rec can get renewed again, but for full seasons!

And while this may be good news, NBC failed. Yet again. Why renew the crap that is Whitney?!?!?! It's AWFUL. No one watches it. No one thinks it's funny. And yet you renew that over Up All Night or even Best Friends Forever. Yeah they both might not be the funniest shows, but I'd watch either one over stupid Whitney and her complaining and annoying voice. Give Community, 30 Rock, and Parks and Recreation (read 'actually hilarious TV shows') full seasons and get rid of that show that no one has heard of and no one watches when both The Middle and Modern Family are on FOX during that time.

Dear NBC. Stop screwing up your great comedy lineup! (You can get rid of The Office now. It's not funny anymore). Listen to the fans and the critics and keep the genuinely funny shows!!

NBC Thursday

This Thursday's NBC lineup was absolutely stellar. Community's Law and Order episode, 30 Rock live again, and Parks & Recreation's debate! Just outstanding.

First up: Community.
Looking past the awesome names of episodes, Community had simply one of its' absolute best episodes of all time. Just incredible.

Following the pattern of a Law & Order episode, we are first presented with a crime: murder of a yam. And then we get to watch as the group tries to solve the crime. Replete (one of my favorite words) with many references to shows and movies other than Law & Order, this episode left me rolling on the floor with laughter.

Troy and Abed were the police officers, Shirley was the all-knowing "DA," Jeff was the lawyer with Annie, and Britta...well. She made pictures look western! AKA turned on the sepia tone on her computer. That was genius writing. The whole story of the murder of a yam and the twists were all great. It makes me so happy to see it getting back to its roots!

Next: 30 Rock
The first time 30 Rock did a live show it was one of the funniest episodes of the season. And I think this year will be the same.

Following the premise that TGS, the show within a show for those who don't watch it, will no longer be a live television show is great! We get a rant from my favorite character: Kenneth. He tells the cast and crew why live TV is the best thing in the world and we get flashbacks, which were hilarious. Some included people in blackface and others involved a spoof of The Honeymooners proving that Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey have some of the best comedic timing in the business.

In the flashbacks and cut scenes we get a slew of cameos from old SNL stars to movie stars to stars from other TV shows. The likes of Fred Armisan, Amy Poehler, Donald Glover, Jon Hamm, and many many more. They do two shows in a row. One for the east coast and one for the west coast. The small differences are subtle, but enjoyable. It is definitely worth watching both of them. You can catch new things and see the differences. It's great!

Lastly: Parks and Recreation
A show that had slow beginnings. Yes, season one was very slow for me, but picked up towards the end. Then once it found its voice it blossomed into one of the funniest shows on TV.

This episode proved that yet again. Leslie had her debate and it was awesome. Seemingly always the underdog she stayed that way for most of the episode. And stupid Bobby Newport was supposedly winning. The cast was perfect as always, each of them fitting their on screen personalities to the T.

And we get some great Aziz Ansari moments as Tom Haverford. My absolute favorite character on the show. Probably tied with Ron Swanson, played by Nick Offerman. Tom always seems to be happy and goofy and just doing his own thing. It's just a lot of fun to watch. And the things he says speak for themselves. If you want more from Aziz, you can get it on the American Express commercials. The best one is with him buying a kayak. He's just hilarious!

If I ever do any work in TV I would want to write for NBC. Any of their comedies on Thursday night. They're all great even though The Office has become less funny than it used to be. But Community, 30 Rock, Park & Rec have all become my favorite shows. Giving me lots of new quotes each week and many many other hilarious situations. The just make me wish my life was a TV show, much like Abed on Community.