Clara Bush

Fall TV 2022: CW finally adds more new shows

We’re rounding out the new fall broadcast shows, but nothing will make you run for the couch.

The Winchesters

8 p.m. Tuesdays on the CW

Look, I didn’t watch “Supernatural,” so this prequel series may be a little lost on me.

But the CW knows its brand, and this show fits right in with demons, magic, chasing and more.

The pilot is a little bumpy as it tries to explain a lot in 43 minutes, but I’m guessing it’ll keep course over time.

Try it (with caution)

Criss Angel’s Magic with the Stars

8 p.m. Saturdays on the CW

I doubt this competition show will last since it’s airing on Saturday nights, but good for Criss Angel for getting a TV deal?

But he looks so bored, and the other two judges are uninterested for the most part as well.

It’s another boring, repetitive competition show, just with magic.

Skip it

Lopez vs. Lopez

8 p.m. Fridays on NBC

George Lopez is back on TV…he’s aged a bit, but the jokes are the same.

This hacky comedy is like taking “The George Lopez Show” with 2020s generational differences and jokes, racial conflicts, and way better lighting. They even makes nods to the original theme song.

It’s simple and predictable, but there are some laughable moments (most were in the previews though).

Skip it

Fall TV 2022: October shows

Fall is here, and new broadcast shows are hitting your TV screen.

Just not with a bang, but with a dull roar.

East New York

9 p.m. Sundays on CBS

It’s another cop show, what can I say?

Look, it’s not my type of show, but I can appreciate its efforts on cop-citizen relations, diversity, race and other issues.

Plus the romance so far is very minimal, which I’m hoping stays that way. Not every show needs a romance.

The music could use an update. I get they’re going for different voices to represent East New York, but it feels very out of place on a CBS show with a mostly 40-50+ cast.

Try it (with caution)

This reality show is giving major “Celebrity Dating Game” vibes. Hosts Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell are clearly reading a teleprompter. Romijn has a look of “what am I doing here?” and O’Connell has it dialed to 11.

It’s too bad this show was probably filmed before the latest Bachelorette season, which also took place on a cruise ship. It’s also a total rip on “Bachelor in Paradise” with a bit of “Amazing Race” or “Big Brother” pulled in.

It should’ve at least aired in the summer for the light, fluffy TV season.

Skip it

Alaska Daily

10 p.m. Thursdays on ABC

Hillary Swank and Jeff Perry are definitely holding the star power in this drama, though it’s not either of their best work.

But the pacing is off. It speeds up and slows down, which was jarring.

There is a lot to throw into one pilot episode, but I’m not sure the drama can gain enough momentum in any of them.

Skip it

Walker Independence

9 p.m. Thursdays on the CW

I didn’t mind the original version of this drama, mainly because of Jared Padalecki’s charm.

But this prequel spinoff is terrible. I was so distracted immediately by the 2020s hair and makeup on lead Katherine McNamara (the drama takes place in the 1800s), it was hard to focus on much else.

The show can’t decide whether it’s a period piece or a sexy love and crime show, and neither option is good. It’s so overall dramatic it’s borderline cheesy.

Skip it

Fire Country

9 p.m. Fridays on CBS

To save some head scratching, this show stars the young boy in “The Pacifier.”

This drama kept my attention, even though the character connections are a little too neatly tied.

The pilot presented a lot of plotlines, but it wasn’t heavy-handed.

Try it (with caution)

Fall TV 2022: Here we go again

Fall is here, and it’s time to get cozy.

Though I don’t think these new shows are your next comfort watch, especially if you’re not a procedural fan.

Monarch

9 p.m. Tuesdays on Fox

This drama reminds me of “Filthy Rich,” only this time we get Susan Saradon instead of Kim Cattrall and it’s country music instead of a Christian TV empire.

The music is fun, but at its core it’s a dark family drama. It’s a bit “Succession” lite with more attention to beauty and age standards.

The pilot sets up a “Bunheads” style twist and a murder mystery, which is nothing we haven’t seen before, but it could go somewhere.

Try it

Quantum Leap

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

This is a reboot of a late 80s/early 90s show. The pilot leaps to the 80s, and they definitely want you to watch live (episodes are streaming only on Peacock, but you can find them on the NBC website).

It’s a very run-of-the-mill reboot. Nothing super exciting, just a mission of saving someone in each time the main character leaps to.

Skip it

The Rookie Feds

Tuesdays 10 p.m. on ABC

This spinoff of “The Rookie” stars Niecy Nash-Betts plus a lot of other TV actors you may or may not recognize.

The premiere had a Nathan Fillion cameo to tie the shows together after Nash-Betts guest-starred on the original earlier this year. Plus, it’s great for marketing the ABC show that’s lasted more than two seasons.

It’s another procedural with a strong female lead, but the characters are cliche.

Skip it

So Help Me Todd

9 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

I know Marcia Gay Harden isn’t super A-list anymore, but wow, her character is this drama is awful.

It’s such a bad boomer stereotype, it ruined the affable character of her son, played by Skylar Astin.

Both deserve better than this predictable courtroom plus family drama.

Skip it

Thoughts on the 2022 Emmy nominations

It’s another year of lots of TV, and there is a lot to award.

The 2022 Emmy nominations were announced yesterday, and as always, there are snubs and surprises.

Here are my thoughts.

Lizzo is part of an emmy-nominated show

Lizzo’s reality competition show is on Prime Video, so while I knew it happened, I forgot.

But how cool? She’s making a name for herself, and I’m here for it.

Broadcast nominees

It boils down to 2 shows: “This is Us” getting snubbed and “Abbott Elementary” getting some love.

I appreciate the premise of “Abbott Elementary,” but it hits too close to home for me to enjoy since I know many teachers. It is well-loved by critics, so the network was the only thing that could’ve potentially spoiled it.

Usually, final seasons get a lot of Emmy love, so I’m shocked “This is Us” didn’t get any big nominations (it has one nomination for music). The penultimate episode was so poignant and touching, which is the show’s bread and butter, but I still think about how good that episode was months later.

A lot of nominees

The sheer number of nominees is staggering. There are so many per category, that it seems like they couldn’t narrow it down.

Very few categories have only five nominees, which is typically the norm.

There were more than five nominations in many of the categories last year, but most categories have even more this year.

I’d imagine it would be so hard to pick nominees, especially with the limited categories and bigger casts, but how do you vote or pick a winner?

Some needed changes

Separate the TV movie and limited series category. With the ever-rising number of limited series (most based on true stories, giving them more edge in voting), movies are tucked away.

Make a cast category like SAG. This would help supporting categories, which have too many nominees from the same show, and credits chemistry among casts.

For example, “Only Murders in the Building” deserves an ensemble credit. It would relieve the fact that Selena Gomez was snubbed. Yes, Steve Martin and Martin Short are legends, but she’s holding the show with them and deserves some credit.

Remove primetime from the name. Why are we still calling these the Primetime Emmys? With streaming, prime time isn’t really a thing. Course who am I to judge given my blog name.

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Monday, Sept. 12, on NBC.

The truth about dating reality shows

We all know reality shows aren’t really reality. They’re a contrived environment meant for entertainment.

So what happens when dating shows become a joke? TV networks create even more gimmicks.

Monday is the start of season 19 of The Bachelorette, or The Bachelorettes. Two women will be handing out roses the entire season. Bachelor Nation has done this twice before, but never for an entire season.

The two women, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia, were dumped by last season’s bachelor at the same time (please cue a massive eye roll for how dumb that was). So far, it seems they’ll make it through the journey without drama between them, but will it be dramatic in other ways?

Bachelor producers certainly want us to think so. This gimmick seems like a huge ploy to attempt to get ratings back up after recent declines.

While Bachelor Nation has been going strong for 20 years, its success rate isn’t good. One Bachelor is married to his winner (though two are married to their runners-up after both pulling switcheroos during the finale), and the most recent two are still in a relationship with the woman they chose.

The Bachelorettes have a slightly higher success rate, with four still married to their pick (another final couple announced their divorce in 2020 after eight years together).

The spinoff Bachelor in Paradise could be deemed the most successful in terms of couples staying together, but there’s not a clear-cut formula to mark success for that show.

The Bachelor and Bachelorette have all but monopolized the dating reality show realm. Its tradition of handing out roses, 1-on-1 and group dates, the limo entrances, the fantasy suites, and travel make it seem like such a fairytale.

And maybe early on it was. Who wouldn’t mind a little humiliation for travel opportunities, a swag bag and the chance to fall in love? (Contestants don’t get paid monetarily, but the lead does.)

But in the age of Tinder and other online dating sites, why bother taking unpaid time off work for a person you don’t know and probably doesn’t live in your state when you can just go online and find hundreds of available options?

In a word: influence.

It’s not just 15 minutes of fame anyone; contestants can buoy a 3- or 4-episode run (or a particularly interesting night-one or villain turn) into an Instagram influence deal and verified account.

Tayshia Adams, one of the more recent Bachelorettes, is an influencer and co-host. She was a phlebotomist. She’s not alone in leaving her profession for “lifestyle expert” work.

The romance doesn’t matter on this show anymore; it’s how you can score celebrity status.

Producers know it too. The dates are almost verbatim every season, and manipulation of contestants is fairly obvious. But people seem more than willing to sign up for humiliation at the chance of mediocre fame (ironically, at least one person each season is called out for not being there for the right reasons, aka finding love).

Reality TV isn’t great, let’s be real. It’s mindless entertainment that allows you to turn your brain off and laugh at other people. It’s watercooler TV, even in the age of remote work.

With as many options as there are these days, you can listen to or watch recaps, which typically boil down a 2-hour, with commercials episode into around 20 minutes, instead of watching the actual episode. You lose some of the drama, but you also save time while still staying in the know.

Because we all see the fame opportunities and Bachelor shows still have social and pop culture traction, other TV networks keep trying to find their own version.

This winter, Fox brought back Joe Millionaire with the subtitle “For Richer or Poorer,” but the bits I saw looked so early 2000s, it was almost gross. And neither couple lasted long past airing.

NBC brought “The Courtship,” which felt like Bridgerton meets Bachelor. The winning couple isn’t together anymore either.

The process doesn’t work. That’s obvious. But people love to watch other people crash and burn. And the fantasy of falling in love still rings so true for people, it’s hard to resist. We hope they work out, but deep down we know it’s unlikely.

I just wish the gimmicks would stop, but that’s what goes viral.

I could stop watching (I prefer the recaps more and more), but it’s hard not to watch to see what wacky date or trick they’ll try next.

Hulu’s three true-life stories examined

Truth can set you free…if you can handle it.

Hulu has dropped three miniseries, eight episodes each, based on true events.

Is this OK? Is this good TV? Is this informative in a harmful way? Let’s take a look.

Pam & Tommy

Casting/styling for realistic looks: Amazing

When first-look pictures came out, I was shocked at how Sebastian Stan and Lily James looked.

Accuracy: Iffy

Look, this is about a celebrity couple and their sex tape. It seems like some parts are accurate, like their whirlwind beach wedding, but some things happened but not in the order portrayed.

The show is based on an article (and bits of Tommy Lee’s biography), but this is the type of show where we’ll never know the whole truth, especially without the consent of Pam or Tommy.

Pamela has spoken out on her approval of the show, Lily James seems to have gotten her voice right.

Rating: C

This is a super-stylized show (#iykyk), and it’s not for everyone. The saga of Pam & Tommy is a lot about sex, but they still should have some privacy for their own items.

This was a private tape, and it feels wrong to capitalize on it, even if it’s for cultural context.

The Dropout

Casting/styling for realistic looks: Only the styling

Amanda Seyfried has a unique look, so it’s hard not to see her as herself, and she only has a slight resemblance to Elizabeth Holmes.

But they’ve got the look of her down. The red lips, the messy hair, the black outfits? Check.

Accuracy: Good

This is based on the podcast of the same name, so it has more research behind it. Plus, the story has been in the news for a while.

The imagery of Seyfried as Holmes for her 2017 testimony looks accurate.

The facts are there, from what we know. You’ll never know private conversations, just like we’re still unsure how real the deep voice of Holmes is.

Rating: B-

To help interpret the different years, music is used. But it’s so incredibly distracting, especially in the first two episodes, which cover roughly 2001 to 2007. We get it, the music was different then; it’s fine.

In my opinion, Holmes is a narcissist, and I have more questions about her than answers, even after watching a few episodes.

It’s an interesting story of ambition, technology and capitalism, but it could be harmful for the trust in healthcare.

The Girl from Plainville

Casting/styling for realistic looks: Great for the lead, OK for everyone else

Elle Fanning looks like Michelle Carter for the most part, especially in the later years.

But the supporting characters don’t look like their real-life counterparts at all.

Accuracy: Mixed

There’s fact and fiction in this miniseries based on an Esquire article.

She liked “Glee,” and talked about it often. But the couple didn’t see each other that much before he died.

The key, though, is the text messages are real. They’re part of court record, so they’re detailed exactly as they were typed.

Rating: B+

As much as I found Elle Fanning’s portrayal gritting (probably because she’s playing a vapid 15-year-old at the start), it’s such an intriguing story.

I zipped through the first few episodes and haven’t stopped thinking about it.

It’s a little scary to focus on something dubbed the “texting suicide case,” but I think we see something beyond glamorizing suicide by instead focusing on grief and social media’s influence on society.

All of the episodes for all three series are on Hulu. It’s a lot of true-life stories, but remember TV isn’t real.

Oscars 2022: Did the awards show sink or swim?

It’s the slap seen ’round the world. Not heard…because the audio was cut quickly from the U.S. broadcast.

This year’s Oscars tried some new things, but did it work?

Unfortunately, it’s hard to say since Will Smith slapping Chris Rock after Rock made a pointed jab at Smith’s wife Jada is what everyone’s talking about. I don’t have commentary to add to this moment; none of it was OK.

Here are my thoughts on the 94th Academy Awards:

Did the 3 hosts work?

Hiring three women is cheaper than hiring one man to host was one of my favorite jokes of the night because it’s funny while being relevant.

Amy Schumer, Wanda Skyes and Regina Hall hosted this year’s ceremony. They were announced late and are the first to host in three years.

All considering I thought they did well. They had funny bits, though some ran long (Skyes at the academy museum) and felt thirsty (Hall’s “random” COVID test callout).

The segmentation of one host at a time felt disjointed and rigid over the night’s run. They were best together.

Overall I prefer having hosts to no host. And more than one allows synergy and takes the pressure off.

Did cutting awards work?

Pre-Oscars, the biggest controversy seemingly was cutting eight awards from the telecast. Except they weren’t cut; they were announced early and edited into the show.

Usually, these nominees are stuck in the back of the theater because they aren’t big names. So in a way, it saved filler time by cutting out the part where they have to run to the stage to get the award.

But the point was to reduce the overall run time. And the Oscars still ran for more than three and a half hours.

There were other ways to ensure the ceremony went less than three hours. While the anniversary bits were nice, they could’ve been shorter (especially the Pulp Fiction one since it was a 28-year anniversary, not a milestone year like 50 or 25).

I actually liked that the Oscars were more of a celebration of movies overall, not just this year’s nominees. The nostalgia made it more enjoyable. But it was disappointing to have some of it take away from well-deserved wins.

What news source should you use for your Oscar pool?

I reviewed predictions from Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair, Gold Derby, The New York Times and NPR ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.

The best predictor? It’s a toss-up between Entertainment Weekly and Vanity Fair; the two publications got the most right. Entertainment Weekly got all the craft categories right but missed Best Picture. Vanity Fair got all the top-of-the-line winners correct.

So if your Oscar pool is weighted, you can decide where to go next year.

What were my standout moments?

I think it’s interesting that Billie Eilish won an Oscar before Taylor Swift or Beyonce. Eilish’s reaction was joyous.

I appreciated that during Troy Katsur’s acceptance speech, his interpreter was off-camera so we could focus on Katsur, the true winner.

The In Memorium segment was much livelier than normal, and I liked that it was more celebratory than sad.

I’m glad they added the Best Song performances back into the telecast, along with using movie soundtrack songs for the background scores for various parts of the night.

What did you think of the Oscars?

Winter TV 2022: 3 new shows premiere

OK, more than three shows have premiered, but I’ve got some ideas in the works because new TV shows tend to come in themes.

In the meantime, here are three new shows and my quick takes.

Promised land

10 p.m. Mondays on ABC (now it’s on Hulu)

This ABC drama is nothing like how it was advertised. Bellamy Young, massively advertised because of her work on “Scandal,” is only in two scenes of the pilot.

The show centers on a blended family and its vineyard business; it feels very soap opera-y. There was also a subplot about people crossing the border that made no sense at first until it became a “This Is Us” style flashback.

It’s a lot about family loyalty vs. staying ahead, and what secrets you’ll hide to stay that way.

Skip it

All American: Homecoming

9 p.m. Mondays on the CW

The CW should just rename itself the Greg Berlanti network. He’s again an executive producer on this HBCU-set spinoff of the show “All American,” now in its fourth season.

The college sports drama has a good mix of characters, but they all seem rather catty.

But like “Katy Keene” for “Riverdale,” I doubt this spinoff will last long.

Skip it

Endgame

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

I’m all for a show that centers on two badass women, even if they unrealistically maintain perfect makeup throughout the day.

Starring Morena Baccarin and Ryan Michelle Bathé, these women are both after something. I wish it wasn’t so focused on love, but it’s nice to see female leads.

There’s a lot going on in the heist-crime drama — the flashback in the pilot seemed unnecessary, but the show has more glitz and punch than others like it.

Also, they probably should’ve picked a better name; “Avengers” took over this name on Google.

Try it

Winter TV 2022: As drab as the weather

In the cold of winter, we’d hope TV could provide some comfort.

This season, not so much.

Here’s a quick summary of the new broadcast shows in 2022.

The Cleaning Lady

9 p.m. Mondays on Fox

In Las Vegas, two sisters are trying to make ends meet by cleaning. What path will they take to secure help for their kids?

They’re both undocumented, but the main character is called an illegal at one point, which doesn’t seem like a good look, especially since there’s also a lot of back alley business going on in this drama. Not to mention an insinuation that the FBI is following them.

It’s based on an Argentine series, but I’m not sure the show has anything good or helpful to say.

Skip it

Pivoting

9:30 p.m. Thursdays on Fox

Eliza Coupe, Gennifer Goodwin and Maggie Q star in this half-hour dramedy, which starts off with the vibe of “A Million Little Things” and “First Wives Club.”

I laughed a bit, but the emotional heart of this story, centering around three friends who pivot (get it?) after their friend dies, is a little forced. The three actresses deserve better, but maybe it’ll pick up a bit.

Besides, if anything is relatable, it’s a character trying desperately to fit into her skinny jeans…though in today’s world that’s probably because we’ve worked from home for two years, not just because.

On a funny note, I hope Dave, one of the woman’s husbands, never actually appears, like Vera on “Cheers” or Maris on “Frasier.”

Try it (with caution)

Naomi

9 p.m. Tuesdays on the CW

The CW should really just rebrand as SuperheroTV. In yet another superhero drama, a girl named Naomi is an adopted high school student who runs a Superman blog.

Her adoptive parents and the townspeople may be hiding the truth about who she is and what her capabilities are, but the pilot telegraphs she has some power…once she takes her glasses off.

The special effects are pretty blah for a new show, but I give them credit for putting a Black female hero on the screen.

Skip it (unless superhero shows are your thing)

American Auto

8 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

The pilot for this comedy is so expositional, it’s hard to believe any of it is realistic. It makes no sense that the company would still be surviving after a CEO with zero automotive experience comes in and the executives unveil a new car concept that’s made up in six hours.

Sure, there’s only one white American guy in the main cast, but he’s a complete (choose your swear word here), and the actor is basically playing the same role he did on “Superstore” but with arrogance instead of stupidity.

Skip it

Grand Crew

8:30 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

So two roommates, a married couple, and a brother and sister all hang out together at a wine bar…sound familiar? This comedy is basically “Friends” set in LA.

Everyone feels a little too caricatured, and the narrator concept is overdone, tedious and pointless.

The pilot only sets up the series, and it takes the full episode to do so. I wish this show was better given its cast, which includes Nicole Byer.

Skip it

That’s my Jam

9 p.m. Mondays on NBC

This “new” game show is just “Hollywood Game Night” but with mostly music-focused games, no regular-people contestants and Jimmy Fallon as host.

It’s so silly and not in a fun, hate-watch kind of way.

Can we bring back “Hollywood Game Night”?

Skip it

Abbott elementary

9 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

This comedy/mockumentary is just “The Office” in an elementary school setting.

It can be a funny take on real issues schools and teachers are facing, but that might be oft-putting for some, especially teachers who have really gone through a lot the last two years.

A romance is heavy-handedly foreshadowed, which is probably unnecessary for plot but necessary for a broadcast show.

Try it (with caution)

Good Sam

10 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS

This drama has a bit of a “Scrubs,” but with family instead of friends, in it.

Sophia Bush holds the show, and the pilot does a good job of setting up the show without being all exposition.

It’s still a medical procedural, a concept we already have enough of. There is one plot point that seems a bit too soap opera for my taste, but we’ll see where it goes.

Try it (with caution)

What shows are you enjoying this season?

Golden Globes 2022: A redemption story?

In a world of cancel culture and scrutiny over decisions, the Golden Globes is facing a media crisis.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has been secretive for years, but after last year’s snubs of prominent Black performances following other issues, they got dropped like a hot pancake.

NBC dropped the awards show from its 2022 schedule. Actors returned their awards. Studios disassociated. It was (and is) a firestorm.

And what has the HFPA done? They’ve promised change, updated bylaws and added 21 new members (the pool was less than 100 last year, with zero Black members).

Nominations were announced today (co-hosted by Snoop Dogg for some reason), and it’s tough to decide if they’ve improved and offered a more diverse group of nominees. Let’s take a look.

Movies

Best Picture

In 2021, the dramas were mostly white casts. The comedy nominees had a mix of stories and casts.

In 2022, I count one Black-focused story and one multiracial story amoug both categories.

Ruling: Slide backward

Best Director

In 2021, we saw a record-breaking three women nominated, two of whom are non-white.

In 2022, all nominees are white, but there are still two women nominees.

Ruling: Slide backward

Best Actress

There were two Black women among all the comedy and drama nominees last year.

This year, there is one Latin American nominee among both comedy and drama.

Ruling: Slide backward

Best Actor

In 2021, there were various groups represented in the nominees. We had Lin Manuel-Miranda, a first-generation American; Riz Ahmed, a British-Pakistani man; and other non-white nominees.

In 2022, half of the nominees are non-white.

Ruling: Neutral

Best Supporting Actor and Actress

We saw more diversity in the best supporting actress category this year, but the supporting actor nominees are all white this year.

Side note: Who has heard of “The Tender Bar,” the movie Ben Affleck got a nomination for?

Ruling: Neutral

Television

Best series

On the drama side, we saw some more casts with Black leads this year, plus a cast of Asians in “Squid Game.”

In comedy, there isn’t much diversity either year, but “Reservation Dogs” getting a nomination gives a place for indigenous people.

Side note: I’m curious about “Lupin,” a French thriller that’s on Netflix. I had never heard of it until today, but it has two seasons.

Ruling: Neutral

Best actress

For both drama and comedy, the nominees went from all white in 2021 to including two Black women in 2022.

One interesting tidbit is Tracee Ellis Ross is nominated this year for the first time since her win in 2017. “Black-ish” is ending in 2022 after eight seasons.

Ruling: Step forward

Best actor

Similar to actress, the drama category went from all-white to having two non-white actors, both of whom speak their own language in their shows.

The comedy category has included one Black actor both years, but last year also saw Ramy Yousef among the nominees, though his show “Ramy” hasn’t come out with its next season yet.

Anthony Anderson of “black-ish” is nominated for the first time since 2018 for his work on the ABC comedy.

Ruling: Step forward

Supporting actor and actress

For the actor nominees, we’ve seen a non-white nominee both years.

For the actress nominees, there have been zero nominees of color in the last two years.

Ruling: Neutral

Notable snubs who are non-white include Selena Gomez for “Only Murders in the Building” and Aretha Franklin for “Respect.” But every year it’s a tough pool, and you can make arguments for/against every nominee.

Overall, it’s hard to say for sure if the HFPA has truly taken a turn for the better. You can’t compare two years of movies with the same eye, especially these last two years with the pandemic. To me, it’s not clear based on this information.

Most of the press has suggested the HFPA take a year off, but they are moving forward. We have no idea how the awards will be handed out, but they will be presented Jan. 9, not on NBC.