Month: September 2018

Fall TV 2018: Skip it, watch it or give it another chance

I’d say fall TV season is like Christmas for TV enthusiasts, but these shows aren’t that great, so if it does feel like Christmas, it’s disappointing.

Many new broadcast shows have premiered this month, so here’s my short take on each:

(Note: I didn’t include reboots or remakes since those feel like their own category.)

“Rel“

9:30 p.m. Sundays on Fox

Verdict: Skip it

This show feels like a 90s sitcom, and not in a good way. Plus, its identity seems conflicted between the newly single dad main character’s friends and his children, who were unseen in the pilot.

“I Feel Bad“

9:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

Verdict: Give it another chance

While the workplace setting of this Amy-Poehler-produced sitcom is embarrassingly bad, the show has a funny, honest take on being a woman and wife in a time when we’re supposed to have everything at our disposal. It could develop into something funny.

“Manifest“

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

Verdict: Watch it

What could have been a cheesy take on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is actually a poignant look at family, relationships, grief and faith.

“FBI“

9 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS

Verdict: Skip it

Nothing is compelling about this procedural from producer Dick Wolf. While the pilot case was timely, the outcome was predictable.

“New Amsterdam“

10 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

Verdict: Skip it

This drama, unfortunately, feels like it has a white-savior complex that’ll just make you roll your eyes through all the disjointed storylines. And if I heard Ryan Eggold’s hospital director character say “How can I help you?” one more time during the pilot, I might have thrown something at the TV.

“Single Parents“

9:30 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC

Verdict: Skip it

This poorly conceived show filled with stereotypes gives the stars (including Leighton Meester, Brad Garrett and Taran Killam) nothing to work with, except for one scene featuring a “Moana” song. Don’t waste your time.

“A Million Little Things“

10 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC

Verdict: Skip it

ABC’s answer to “This is Us” misses the mark with unlikable characters stuck in a sad story without any uplifting spirit.

“God Friended Me“

Sundays on CBS

Verdict: Give it a chance

It’s too bad Violett Beane picked this show over playing Jesse Quick on “The Flash,” because her earnestness is the only thing that carries this cheesy show that would’ve been better executed as a movie.

“The Cool Kids“

8:30 p.m. Fridays on Fox

Verdict: Skip it

Nothing is cool about this retirement-home-set show, especially with it’s anti-female and homophobic jokes.

Emmys 2018: 3 ways to improve the award show

If the most talked about thing that happened during the Emmys is a surprise on-camera proposal, you’ve done something wrong.

The 2018 Emmys aired Monday night, and no one seemed too interested.

Here are three ways the award show could improve:

stop airing on Monday nights

I’m sorry, but when has it become the norm to air a 3-hour award show on a Monday?

I used to work weird hours, and I watch The Bachelor (for the workout, only, I swear) so I understand that some people can watch a Monday night show without issues.

But many people work normal hours, so they don’t have time to devote to an award show on a Monday vs. a Sunday.

Plus sitting through a 3-hour show that’s not that interesting gets so old, so fast, especially on a weekday.

find good hosts

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are the gold standard. Period. Who’s missing their hosting?

Michael Che and Colin Jost (the current Weekend Update hosts on “SNL”) were fine, but not memorable. No one is raving about their performance.

Hosting can make or break an award show. They typically aren’t around much, but they start and finish the show, so they need to keep viewer’s attention in an entertaining, unique way.

Or hey, do what the Grammys did for a while and don’t bother with a host. The attendees are wired to perform, so producers can figure something out.

No one needs an annoying reminder of a bad host.

Change the voting process

It makes perfect sense that the Emmy nominations are picked by people in the respective peer category (acting, directing, etc.). In your peer category, you can best understand the nuances within that division.

And it also makes perfect sense that nominees submit best work to be watched, and you have to confirm you’ve watched the content to submit a vote.

But if you’re voting for a winner, you can vote in any category, so how easy would it be for the same voter to pick the same show?

It seems too easy, given that the same few shows swept multiple categories Monday night.

If you have to nominate within your peer category, why shouldn’t you vote for winners in only your peer category?

Also, as I’ve suggested before, it may be time to divide awards by cable/streaming and broadcast. Too many restrictions restrict broadcast TV, and it’s causing a discrepancy.