NEW FALL TELEVISION SHOWS 2012—Part I
I’ve been a TV addict my whole life, so, of course I must weigh-in on the new Fall Season shows once again.
All the new shows haven’t been unveiled yet, but let’s get started with the first ten, in the order of suckage, from worst to first.
[Note #1: I could mostly predict which ones would suck based on cast and premise. But, as an ultimate fan of fairness, I reserved judgement until I had seen at least one episode.]
[Note #2: I apologize to you cable snobs, but, for prime-time, I’m strictly a network girl.]
DREADFUL
Anthony Anderson.
Guys With Kids (NBC)—this one was so dreadful that it took me three attempts to get through. Mr. X gave up in the first two minutes. Do we have to watch babies in every scene? I’m afraid so. Very distracting, nervous-making, and just not fun. And what happened to Anthony Anderson’s teeth? They look like he’s a homeless man! I swear, if Jimmy Fallon wasn’t behind this show, (as creator and exec producer,) it would be yanked in one episode! What was he thinking?!
Animal Practice (NBC)—a writer once wrote a sitcom pilot for me, with my blessing. Until I saw his final draft. It featured a monkey, which is the stupidest thing you can do on a comedy show! (Actually, it would be stupid on any kind of show, that’s not on Animal Planet.) Mr. X and I could barely watch the Friends episodes where Ross had one. Yet, here in 2012, that’s exactly what this show is featuring. And he was actually the best part of it! Does that tell you how bad the rest of it was? Just who would have approved this script to be made into a pilot to being with is beyond me. And, once they saw the finished product, why would NBC’s honchos pick it up? Do they enjoy being in last place? Because that’s where they’ll stay with fare like this inanity.
The Neighbors (ABC)–I already wasted a half hour on this one, so all I can say is it’s beyond dreadful.
The Mindy Project (FOX)—this one has taken us seven sittings, and we still can’t get through it! I couldn’t force Mr. X to stay watching it with me because he said he couldn’t take her awful acting. He, unlike me, was a bit familiar with this woman, (as a sometime The Office-watcher,) and he said he just never got what the attraction of her was. After watching some of this dreadful pilot, I have to agree. (Sorry—I finally realized life is too short to waste another second on this one.) Poor Mindy Kalling is very unattractive, has a horrible, annoying voice, and just is plain not funny! Her show is this year’s Whitney.
NOT GOOD
The Mob Doctor (FOX)—I’m sure this one won’t last long because it’s just nothing. I had seen this lead actress on several other shows, but she’s so forgettable, yet annoying at the same time, that I had to look-up her name and credits. I don’t know how she got a series as the lead. She can’t carry a show, and no supporting actors, or characters are interesting either. Hence, nothing to route for. Unless you’re into the Mob. But, on the positive side, they did get to why she works for the Mafia in the first fifteen minutes.
Nat Faxon.
Ben and Kate (FOX)—this sitcom wasn’t very funny. As I always do, I researched the show and the stars afterwards, so I now know how accomplished the male star, Nat Faxon, is. So, I hate saying anything negative about him, but it is hard to look at his teeth, especially on a big screen. [Note: I actually have a column about that very thing, for all famous people, coming up in the Lists section in a few weeks.] The show tries hard, but the pilot, at least, didn’t cut it for me.
Partners (CBS)—this one’s neither here nor there, so far. But why does every new sitcom have to have a gay couple? I know that’s what’s in now, but it just seems weird.
WILLING TO GIVE IT MORE TIME
The New Normal (NBC)—could they be more obvious is trying to rip-off Modern Family??? But they’re not even close. And it’s so hard to look at Ellen Barkin for more than a second. Especially in hi-def! I did watch the first three episodes, because I had no idea what was going on at the beginning. I do appreciate that they are trying to show us different lives, but they’re trying a little too hard. And it’s called a sitcom, but outside of the little girl’s impression of Edie Beale, (that I got before they said it, rendering me a tad worried about myself,) it hasn’t been very funny. But, it may improve with age. I just hope they stop having the two guys kiss all the time. We get it—you’re a gay couple. Yay. I don’t want to see a straight couple constantly kissing on TV, either, especially on a sitcom.
Revolution (NBC)–Forget the end of the world…in the first minute, they showed a guy driving along, talking on a hand-held phone! Shame on them for that!!! They were saying how old-fashioned his phone is, so they would have been totally justified in being responsible and showing a wired earpiece!!!
Now that that little tirade is over, let’s get to the actual show. I often get interested in these world-starting-over series, but I’m not sure about this one. Mr. X gave up pretty soon after the lead girl came on; he said she annoyed him too much. I think she’s okay, though…a Brooklyn Decker type.
At least there’s a lot of action. And I love seeing no cell phones! I liked the good old-fashioned uneven-numbers fight scenes. And the idea of a male character who embodies both good and bad is intriguing. (Nate, the bow and arrow dude.) I’ll watch more, though, because the end actually left me wanting more. So now, perhaps, shame on me!
[Technical notes: I hate these shows that are about the end of the world, but they all have great boots. With no electricity, nothing could be manufactured, so those boots she had on had to be over fifteen years old. I thought I was the only one with things like that! None of their clothing or supplies looked that old, either. And who’s blowing her hair? And they have this really fat guy walking to Chicago??? Voluntarily???]
AND THE WINNER IS…
Mathew Perry.
Go On (NBC)—Mr. X and I enjoyed this one, until the stupid ending of the pilot. It looked like the writers just got tired of using their creativity and went with the first dumb thing they could think of. But other than that, there were a lot of good laughs, and I was happy to see a show that finally made excellent use of Matthew Perry’s innate charm. We watched the next two shows, and laughed, so we’re in for the season on this one.
Sometime in the next two weeks, I’ll have the reviews of the next group of newbies. And please feel free to share your impressions of the new season in the Comments section below, whether you agree with mine or not.
