Category: New TV

Each season, new shows flood the small screen. Primetime with Clara’s reviews of as many new shows as she can watch.

Fall TV 2017: Try ABC’s ‘The Mayor,’ avoid CBS’ ‘9JKL’

And now we’re on a roll.

Another batch of fall TV shows have premiered, so here’s my take on each new regular series show:

‘Wisdom of the Crowd‘

8 p.m. Sundays on CBS

As much as I’d like to see this show is original, it’s not.

It’s “Bull” but with more with police and crime and less with the law. Even Michael Weatherly and Wisdom’s Jeremy Piven sport the same look in the shows. And they’re on the same network!

Jeffrey Tanner (Piven) believes everyone wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Very true, but it’s not as riveting to watch as one might expect, and there were two plot points that bothered me: the romance between Tanner and his associate was unnecessary, and the hacker issue was solved too quickly.

I appreciate the idea behind it, the idea that a social media network could crowdsource information to help solve crimes. It seems poignant and timely considering how many of us are on our phones 24/7.

Grade: B-

‘Ghosted‘

8:30 p.m. Sundays on Fox

Buddy comedy meets “The X-Files” in this comedy starring Adam Scott and Craig Robinson.

Fortunately for them, the dry humor works well in this sci-fi mystery comedy. Scott and Robinson play off each other while portraying an ex-professor and ex-cop both in low points of life.

Unfortunately, the supporting characters are archetypes, and since they’re the behind-the-scenes brains of the mission, we’ll probably have to deal with the overdone antics and overplayed jokes.

Grade: B

‘9JKL‘

8:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS

By the time the opening credits started, I knew this show wouldn’t be good.

After toughing it out (and I mean that literally, most jokes were awkward or painful), I can safely say this show is terrible.

Full of has-beens and B-list actors (including Elliott Gould, David Walton and Liza Lapira), the premise of a family all living next door in the same New York apartment complex came off way too-over-the-top, and not in a good way.

Grade: D+

‘The Gifted‘

9 p.m. Mondays on Fox

This drama reminds me of “Heroes.”

The pilot focused on one family fleeing after their two children reveal they’re mutants by causing chaos at a school dance.

It keeps your interest as the family goes through many hoops, but the show was cheapened by Stephen Moyer‘s character.

The “True Blood” actor plays a prosecutor specializing in mutant cases, so he’s portrayed as a good-guy-gone-rogue. At the end of the episode, (spoiler) he’s shot, as if that wasn’t expected. His character is overall unsatisfying.

Grade: B-

‘The Mayor‘

9:30 Tuesdays on ABC

This comedy threw me by surprise.

The previews made it seem so chilly, but it’s a nice, actually funny, parallel to the last election cycle. Even David Spade makes a cameo looking a bit like our current president.

Lea Michele‘s campaign manager/chief of staff character is a bit too familiar — essentially a political version of Rachel Barry, her character on “Glee“— but this show has a heart that I’m interested in seeing more of.

Grade: A-

‘Kevin (Probably) Saves the World‘

10 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

Kevin last of the righteous, but he’s not a good person.

Maybe Kevin, played by Jason Ritter with the right mix of confusion, lazy and heart, will learn with the help from Yvette (Kimberly Hebert Gregory), a gift from God who gave up paradise for Kevin.

The casting of JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Kevin’s Amy sister is off — they don’t look anything alike — but this movie-like show has potential.

Grade: B

Fall TV 2017: ‘Young Sheldon’ adorable, skip ‘SEAL Team’

Fall TV is finally here!

Usually a round of shows premiere in the beginning/middle of September, but this year, the only show that’s premiered before the latter half of the month was Fox‘s “The Orville.”

That show, created by and starring Seth MacFarlane, isn’t sure what type of show it wants to be. The pilot had a crazy mix of romantic comedy, science fiction and thriller. It was uneven and predictable. I’m not sure TV was the right medium for it.

But now that we’ve finally hit the first week of new shows, here is my short take on each new regular series show:

‘Star Trek: Discovery‘

8:30 p.m. Sundays streaming on CBS All Access

To boost the CBS version of Hulu, “Star Trek: Discovery” premiered Sunday on CBS. Episode 2 was available during the broadcast.

The sci-fi show definitely has a movie feel to it, including a long thematic opener.

I was definitely out of the loop since I have little knowledge of the world of Star Trek, but it kept my attention.

Compared to “The Orville,” this is true sci-fi. And I can appreciate that there are women in leadership on this show.

Grade: B+

‘Young Sheldon‘

8:30 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

While this show will regularly air starting in November, the spinoff of “The Big Bang Theory” had a special premiere.

This comedy is filled with BBT easter eggs, including a perfect opener with Jim Parsons narrating while a train went around.

The casting of young Sheldon and his mother was perfect (Zoe Perry, the daughter of Laurie Metcalf, who plays Mrs. Cooper in the original, plays her in this show, and she carries a spot-on accent and demeanor). The only casting that bothered me was Sheldon’s dad, only because he played a character on “The Big Bang Theory.”

For BBT fans, this show is not a letdown. For non-BBT fans, it’s still a pretty adorable show.

Grade: A-

‘Me, Myself and I‘

9:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS

Starring Bobby Moynihan, this show focuses on one person in three phases of his life: middle school after his mom gets remarried, post-divorce and raising a daughter, and a just-retired man who just had a heart attack and is figuring out what’s next.

It’s an interesting concept, but very disjointed, even with the small-world moments between the generations.

In one of the last moments, two of the generations crossed over. Not sure if there will be more, but I thought it played well.

Grade: B-

‘The Brave‘

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

Remember Anne Heche? It seems like she pops up on TV shows every year or so, and here she stars in a drama about of team of government officials trying to protect Americans.

From what I can tell, the team will be the focus, and there will be a new story/mission each week.

But what was supposed to be a nailbiter turned out pretty dull. As we learn more about the team, I expect to care more about the characters, but that wasn’t the case in the pilot.

Grade: C+

‘The Good Doctor‘

10 p.m. Mondays on ABC

The pilot of this medical drama surrounds an interview for Dr. Shaun Murphy, a potential new surgical resident at a hospital. Oh, and Murphy (played by Freddie Highmore, who still looks so young even after his run in the sinister “Bates Motel“) is autistic, so his appointment is controversial.

While I think it’s great to show the challenges and misperceptions of the autism, as well as having the chance to discuss autism in a new way, the show seems unrealistic.

In flashbacks, it’s revealed that Murphy and his brother ran away after their father killed a pet bunny, but his brother also dies at a young age. So how the heck did Murphy go to school, especially medical school?

With other drama that’s sure to pan out in the show, I’m not sure we’ll find out.

Also, similarities abound between Murphy and Sheldon on “The Big Bang Theory,” and it was distracting.

Grade: B

‘SEAL Team‘

9 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS

This pilot had an eerily similar plot to “The Brave,” including the third-act twist. And it wasn’t well done.

Between poor audio (it’s like some actors were sick or not mic’ed properly for most of it), shaky camera work (which may have been a director’s choice, but it was hard to tell), and bad acting, it was tough to watch.

The drama focused mostly on the SEAL team, even though ads for the show mentioned that SEAL members have two families. I don’t know what the plan is, but it’s uninteresting.

David Boreanaz (“Bones“) should’ve waited another year before returning to TV; maybe he could’ve gotten a better show.

Grade: C-

What new shows are you enjoying?

SYTYCD vs. World of Dance: Which is better?

Don’t mess with what works. Or at least, not too much.

Jennifer Lopez brought her Fly Girl skills back to TV by starting the reality show “World of Dance” on NBC…12 years after “So You Think You Can Dance” premiered on Fox.

Let’s compare the two shows:

The host

SYTYCD’s Cat Deeley vs. WOD’s Jenna Dewan Tatum

Here’s the thing. Dewan Tatum actually is a dancer (“Step Up” forever!). Deeley is not. We’re talking zero experience.

Dewan Tatum acts as host and mentor on WOD as part of the show’s structure. She can give real feedback to the dancers.

But she’s a bit awkward as a host. She hasn’t gotten her footing yet. I fully believe she can, but her banter is more mechanical than natural right now.

Deeley may not know dance, but she has a natural flair for hosting. She has her lovable quotes (“Here are your…judges!”). And she banters well among the dancers, judges and audience.

Edge: SYTYCD

Judges

Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and more vs. Jennifer Lopez, Ne-Yo and Derek Hough

Both sets of judges have a good amount of knowledge. Not all do; SYTYCD usually brings in a guest judge whose dance knowledge is hit or miss.

Murphy and Lythgoe have chemistry thanks to years of working together. I could take or leave Murphy and her Hot Tamale Train, but I know some viewers eat it up.

I appreciate the range WOD’s judges give. They have experience in more styles, I believe, than SYTYCD’s mainstays. But SYTYCD judges have more range in how they critique performances.

Edge: SYTYCD (ever so slightly)

Scoring

On SYTYCD, most of the scoring is based on viewer votes. In the beginning, the judges choose who goes home from the bottom three after they dance for their life.

On WOD, the judges score based on five categories for a score out of 100. The higher scoring dancer/group moves on.

As a dancer, I appreciate WOD’s method. On SYTYCD, many times a better dancer would get kicked off because they somehow didn’t get enough votes, which always frustrated me.

The scoring on WOD seems to be more fair because it’s more based on technique and ability.

Edge: WOD

I’ll give “World of Dance” credit, it’s definitely better than some other reality dance TV shows. In another season or two, as it gains its footing, I think it could be as good as “SYTYCD.” I’ll keep watching both for now.

“SYTYCD” airs Mondays, while “World of Dance” airs Tuesdays until Aug. 8, which is the first season finale.

Upfronts 2017: 3 takeaways for upcoming TV season

The sun may be out, but I’m more excited to stay in and watch these new shows.

Networks hosted upfronts presentations over the last week, presenting all their new shows and lineups for the fall and midseason.

Here are three takeaways:

‘American Idol’ is back…on ABC

Apparently the singing reality shows aren’t dead yet.

It’s been only one year since “American Idol” went off the air, but it’s being revived on a new network after a reported bidding war among multiple networks.

This move is beyond me, because “AI” had been dwindling in popularity for years, with more focus on the judges than the winners.

If it can go back to its Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood days, great. Katy Perry was the first judge announced, and I can see her vibing with the other judges and singers. Simon Cowell will not be returning, however. He declined, plus he judges NBC‘s “America’s Got Talent.”

CW owns superhero shows

Does Greg Berlanti ever sleep? Or does he live at the CW office?

Berlanti produces multiple shows for the broadcast network, including all of the superhero shows.

CW will gain yet another superhero show in “Black Lightning.” The new action drama will not be part of the Arrowverse, so crossover episodes won’t extend to five.

But still, that’s a lot of superheroes on one network.

Reboots galore

“Roseanne.” “Dynasty.” “Will & Grace.”

After so-called success of “Fuller House” and “Gilmore Girls,” networks are clamoring for that nostalgia glory. I don’t either reboot was that successful, but I get the capture-the-old mentality (even if I also think it’s super risky).

I didn’t watch “Roseanne,” “Dynasty” or “Will & Grace” in their time, so I’m a bit behind. I’m hoping they’ll be on Netflix this summer.

Also, here are 3 new shows I’m excited to watch this fall:

  • “Young Sheldon” (CBS): I can’t deny my love for “The Big Bang Theory,” so count me excited for this prequel about your favorite physicist during his childhood.
  • “The Good Doctor” (ABC): I’m nervous how this show will handle itself since it focuses on a character with autism, but I think it could be a great conversation starter. My suggestion? Take notes from “Speechless.” Also, after his run on “Bates Motel,” I’m ready to see more Freddie Highmore on TV.
  • “Alex, Inc.” (ABC): If this show is three-quarters of what Zach Braff‘s other TV show, “Scrubs,” was in its early seasons, I’ll be happy.

‘Imaginary Mary’ and ‘Great News’: New-ish takes on family comedy

In a world of reboots, it’s nice to see some newer ideas.

Taking on the family comedy genre are ABC’s “Imaginary Mary” and NBC’s “Great News.”

“Imaginary Mary” focuses on Alice (Jenna Elfman), whose imaginary friend Mary (voiced by Rachel Dratch) comes back into Alice’s life when she starts seriously falling for a man with kids.

“Great News” focuses on a mother who becomes an intern at her daughter’s work after a friend dies.

Both shows are full of B-list stars, though “Great News” boasts that it’s produced by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

The comedies are not as revolutionary as “Modern Family,” but at least they tried for something different.

When was the last time you saw an imaginary friend on TV?  And it’s nice to see an older female starring in a TV show about something that is slightly relevant (baby boomers in the workforce)

Yes, there are still some usual tropes: “Imaginary Mary”  has the I-don’t-know-how-to-handle-children mentality and “Great News” yet again focuses on the world of journalism. And yes, neither show is laugh-out-loud funny.

But with all these reboots, I’d give these a shot.

“Imaginary Mary” airs 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC. “Great News”airs 9 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC.

History on TV: Examining ‘When We Rise’ and ‘Shots Fired’

Some shows take us to magical worlds…or at least away from reality. But not these two.

ABC’s “When We Rise” and Fox’s “Shots Fired” take a tough look at relevant issues: gay rights, women’s rights, police ethics and racism.

“When We Rise” is a miniseries based on an unpublished manuscript and starred Mary-Louise Parker and Guy Pearce, among others.

Looking back on history starting in the 1960s, each episode was 2 hours (with commercials), and it aired for four nights over the course of a week.

“Shots Fired” mentions Ferguson, but it’s a black cop who shoots a white teen— and everyone is trying to figure out what happened.

The only super big name star in this 10-part series is Helen Hunt; it airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

The two shows are similar in structure — and ratings.

“When We Rise” ratings dropped each night, and the Dustin Lance Black-produced mini-series wasn’t deemed a success.

“Shots Fired” isn’t doing well in ratings either.

My question is: Why?

Maybe airing 2-hour arcs four nights in one week is too much. Perhaps 8 p.m. Wednesdays is too full of good options.

Or is it because we don’t want to face the reality that these issues exist?

It’s not easy to watch. But in this day and age, the fact is this does still exist. Rips of racism and homophobia still prevail throughout the United States.

Especially, after the election, could it be these shows are too close to reality?

TV and movies for some are an escape from the world. It’s why I enjoy musicals and Disney and not war movies.

But now, especially after a vicious election cycle, is it time to put that aside to relearn some history or see it from another angle?

Black wanted to show another side of the story. The duo behind “Shots Fired” wanted to challenge perspectives.

Is it worth stepping out of the comfort zone and learning something new? What do you think?

James Corden joins late-night talk show circuit with ‘The Late Late Show’

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on March 24, 2015.

Sometimes the only thing decent to watch late at night is a talk show.

But it’ll take a little more time for James Corden, the newest late-night host, to be up to par with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel.

Corden replaced Craig Ferguson, who left “The Late Late Show” after almost 10 years, and started his hosting stint Monday night, March 23. Well, technically, Tuesday, March 24, since it was after midnight.

After a lot of thanking and one choke-up about his parents, Corden poked fun at himself and the idea that no one in the U.S. really knows him and the fact that he’s never been a host.

Basing his first sketch on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” with hints of other movies such as “Whiplash,” Corden got his golden ticket and tips from Meryl Streep, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shia LaBeouf, Allison Janney and, of course, Jay Leno. Because who else?

Honestly, the bit felt like a ploy to get as many celebrities on the show as possible to boost ratings. And after Corden picked up the chocolate bar with the golden ticket that Chelsea Handler dropped, I couldn’t help but wish she wouldn’t have dropped it … even though the bit was fake.

Kudos for getting Simon Cowell to be the greedy celebrity seemingly desperate for a new gig, though.

Corden continued his run of stellar celebrity guests by having Mila Kunis and Tom Hanks be his first interviewees.

The British actor’s interviewing skills could use some work — he talked too much about himself, he struggled to include both celebrities in the interviews (why they did two interview sets together wasn’t clear to me), and he seemed nervous.

He’ll probably improve over time, but it wasn’t enjoyable to watch his first night.

What was fun was an homage to Hanks’ films. It allowed the men to show off their acting chops.

Most people don’t know Corden yet — he’s best known for playing the baker in “Into the Woods” alongside Emily Blunt, but in time, I hope he’ll improve. He has good improv and singing skills, but his interviewing, a key component of late night talk shows, could use some work.

“The Late Late Show with James Corden” airs on CBS at 12:35 a.m. weekdays, after “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Winter/Spring TV 2017: Time, law common themes this season

The new shows keep rolling in.
It seems that more and more networks are constantly airing new shows.
Here’s the latest crop of show reviews, based on the pilot. I also watched “FEUD” thanks to a preview pass on FX’s website, and as much as I’d like to continue watching it, I don’t want to pay another site. So I’m eagerly waiting for it to come to Netflix. The acting is superb, and its take on aging women in the industry is so relevant.
9 p.m. Sundays on ABC
The 2016-2017 TV season is the year for shows about time travel. In this drama, Freddie Stroma (“UnREAL“) plays H.G. Wells, and Josh Bowman (“Revenge“) plays Jack the Ripper.
The two travel from 1893 to present day, and they both navigate the (disappointingly to Wells) distopia that is today’s world (which included references to ISIS and Trump).
A bit of romance with a museum curator and Wells blossomed, and the end was a cliffhanger twist related to time travel.
It’s all a bit cliche, and there’s not really any concern for how traveling in time could affect the past and future (like “The Flash“).
If you want a show about history and time travel, I think “Timeless” is the better option.
Grade: B

“MAKING HISTORY“

8:30 p.m. Sundays on Fox

For real, these time-travel shows may have seemed ingenious, but they all somehow premiered at same time, which makes them seem less inventive and a lot more repetitive. It’s unfortunate.

This version of the time-travel concept is a comedy that’s infused with pop culture references such as Celine Dion, Starbucks and more.

Starring Adam Pally and Leighton Meester, Pally’s character Dan messes up the Revolutionary War during one of his weekend-1700-travel trips.

Minus all the pop culture references, it’s a pretty predictable show. It probably would’ve been better had it been a new concept like it probably planned to be.

Grade: B-

‘CHICAGO JUSTICE’

9 p.m. Sundays on NBC

Out of so many reboots and spinoffs, this one hit pretty middle of the road.

It felt like I was dropped into this Chicago world without any prior knowledge, so I felt a bit lost. Characters from its other shows came into play, but it faded away to its own show fairly quickly.

Unfortunately, its own show is standard to other courtroom shows. But a few characters popped in briefly, and it may be interesting to see them appear again on the drama.

Grade: B

‘TRIAL & ERROR’

9 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

It wouldn’t be unwelcome to have a show poking fun and making light of lawyers and courtrooms…unless most of it is in poor taste.

This documentary-style show is the bad courtroom version of shows like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation.”

Breaking the fourth wall isn’t new. Plotting “gotcha” twists isn’t either. This comedy isn’t worth your time.

Grade: D+

What shows are you enjoying?

Stephen Colbert is no David Letterman

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Sept. 9, 2015.

Can a Comedy Central guy hack it on CBS?

After watching only one episode, I’d have to say … no.

CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” premiered Tuesday night, and Colbert brought his brand of satirical humor to late-night TV.

I get the feeling people will either love or hate this new talk show, based on how they feel about Colbert and his previous show, “The Colbert Report.”

Colbert has an ego; there’s no doubt about it. Unlike James Corden, his CBS late-night counterpart, he’s not humble or gracious about his new gig.

He almost seemed to be poking fun at his job, even making a joke about how he had nine months to make one hour of TV.

The episode felt like a news show, which is not what the show was when David Letterman hosted. That might have had something to do with his first-night guests, actor and activist George Clooney and presidential candidate Jeb Bush.

Late-night talk shows are supposed to be entertaining, but all the political talk may be too polarizing for viewers.

I’m not sure Colbert has broad appeal, and I definitely think there were better options to replace Letterman.

But Colbert did have some funny moments.

There was a bit about Trump and Oreos which was funny for a bit, but like some of his other jokes, it ran too long.

At least Colbert admitted early in the show that you can’t replace Letterman. Because Colbert can’t.

Not right now, anyway. It’s an adjustment, and viewers will have to wait and see how Colbert molds into his new gig.

But I probably won’t be watching.

What do you think of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”?

Winter TV 2017: Another spinoff, another movie reboot

Violence and behind-the-scenes crime-solving seems to be a trend this winter TV season.

Two of these three shows make you think about what strangers may know about you…and one has already seen better days.

Here are my reviews, based on the pilot only.

 

‘THE BLACKLIST: REDEMPTION’

10 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

This spinoff focuses on a set of characters whom all appeared on the original “Blacklist,” but it’s not necessary to know the original to understand this show.

It might help with backstories, but a new mystery fuels this drama.

The show is a little run-of-the-mill, with the usual elements of technology, crime, backstabbing…but there is a twist of family and betrayal that may hook some viewers.

Grade: B-

 

‘DOUBT’

10 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS

I thought this show somhow managed to make law interesting, but I may be alone in that sentiment.

Despite a cast of heavy-hitters( Judith Light, Katherine Heigl, Laverne Cox Elliott Gould and Dule Hill), the CBS show has already been pulled from the schedule.

Centered around the concept of “beyond reasonable doubt,” I appreciated the high stakes without being over the top.

The love story wasn’t necessary, but there were some interesting relationships.

Grade: B

 

‘TAKEN’

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

This NBC drama barely resembles the original 2008 movie with Liam Neeson.

Yes, the main character wants to protect his family, but (spoiler alert) his sister dies within the first five minutes, unlike in the movie when the lead saves his daughter.

I don’t think the show is as interesting as the movie; it doesn’t have the heart or pace.

Grade: B-

 

What’s your favorite new TV show?