Tag: CBS

‘Rush Hour’: Movie chemistry better than CBS TV show

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on April 12, 2016.

Another movie takes a turn to the TV screen.

“Rush Hour” the TV show premiered March 31, more than 15 years after the first movie in the series premiered.

And while the show isn’t bad, it’s not as good as the movie.

Both are advertised as a comedy, but the TV show has more drama edge and doesn’t have the kitsch of the movie.

The pilot of CBS’ “Rush Hour” is mostly a play-by-play of the movie. One big difference is the relationships. In the movie, Hong Kong detective Lee comes to America to protect a consul’s daughter, but in the TV show, he comes to figure out what’s happened to his sister, Kim, who was thought to be dead but actually has joined a group who kills people.

Other relationship differences are at LA cop Carter’s work. I love that a woman (Wendie Malick, “Hot in Cleveland”) is in charge instead of another white male in the TV show. I wish there was a woman out in the field, but hey, it’s a start.

And in the movie, Carter flirts with a woman who works with bombs and has more of a desk job. But on the show, Carter is friends with a woman who used to be his partner (Aimee Garcia, “The George Lopez Show”), but he covered for her when she wanted to move to a desk job for her kid’s sake. I’m guessing that relationship will go somewhere romantically as the series progresses.

The chemistry isn’t quite there between Justin Hires and Jon Foo, the stars of the CBS show. In the original movie, Carter (Chris Tucker) and Lee (Jackie Chan) get into a groove of working together. They poke fun at each other while solving problems.

Hires and Foo have this bossy, who’s-better-than-who vibe that’s not as enjoyable to watch. I thought that would subside after the pilot, but it hasn’t so far.

Chan and Tucker had natural chemistry, playing off each other’s comedic chops. It worked in the movie, which also included jokes and music/dance bits (“War,” anyone?).

In both versions of “Rush Hour,” the Hong Kong detective took some time to adjust — not speaking English right away, etc. But in the TV show, Lee/Foo plays it straight, but it’s so mechanical that it doesn’t come off funny.

CBS’ “Rush Hour” lacks the playful vibe of the movie, which makes the cheesiness of the martial arts extra sounds/slow motion takes seem extra silly. In time, that might change, but I’m not sure I have high hopes for it. Stick to the movie.

“Rush Hour” airs at 10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS.

Winter TV 2017: Try CW’s ‘Riverdale,’ skip Fox’s ‘The Mick’

It’s cold out, so it’s the perfect time to curl up in front of the TV.

Here are my reviews of the winter TV season, after watching only the pilot:

‘STAR’

9 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox

“Star” is another music-focused drama/soap opera from the creators of “Empire.”

Two sisters find each other and run away (and leave the foster care system) to meet their godmother in Atlanta. Oh, by the way, the running away includes a crime.

The two girls form a group with another (rich) girl who’s dad is a musician.

In the pilot alone there was violence, crime, back-door deals, fashion, church, drugs, cat fights…and a snazzy musical number.

Fans of “Empire” will appreciate this side product, but for many it’ll probably feel too much like a soap opera.

Grade: B

‘THE MICK’

8:30 p.m. Tuesdays on Fox

This comedy is a vehicle for “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Kaitlin Olson.

She plays Mackenzie Murphy, a barely-getting-by woman who’s coerced into taking care of her sister’s three kids when the sister and her husband are taken away by the FBI after being accused of an unnamed white collar crime.

Mackenzie doesn’t care a lot, nor does she have a clue about taking care of children, but these three are a handful.

The Fox show is unfortunately full of stereotypes, and the pilot set up only exposition, so I don’t have interest in continuing.

Grade: C+

‘EMERALD CITY’

9 p.m. Fridays on NBC

Viewers, we’re not watching the Judy Garland version of “The Wizard of Oz” anymore.

This dramatic take on the classic tale is much darker. It leaves the musical numbers and adds violence and torture.

It feels more intimate in its storytelling, but the setting feels medieval or old world in style.

If you like darker dramas with some mystery, I’d check it out. But I’ll stick to the movie.

Grade: C+

‘RANSOM’

8 p.m. Saturdays on CBS

If you combine CBS shows “Bull” and “Pure Genius,” you’ll get its new show “Ransom.”

The show centers around a team that solves crises without police by using negotiation, psychology, police logic, technology and knowledge tactics.

There’s a small subplot about the newest member’s mother being involved with the leader of the group, , but other than that, it’s a technology and crime show.

It’s relatively run-of-the-mill, and a bit tense at times, but it piqued some of my interest.

Grade: B-

‘RIVERDALE’

9 p.m. Thursdays on CW

A teen drama mixed with a murder mystery…sounds a little cliche, right?

Maybe so, but this new CW show feels surprisingly fresh.

Yes, the classic plot points of a love triangle, cheerleader backstabbing and parties gone wrong are all in the pilot, but at least this drama feels more real and with the times (“Mad Men” is referenced; so is James Franco.)

Produced by Greg Berlanti (does the man behind all of CW’s superhero shows ever sleep?), this dark take on Archie has enough twists and high stakes to keep viewers interested.

Grade: B+

What new shows are looking forward to watching?

New Year’s 2017: 3 wishes for the new year

New Year’s resolutions may not happen, but I can hope these wishes come true, right?

As we usher in 2017, here are my wishes for TV.

No more crossovers

This might be an unpopular opinion, but these two-, three-, and now four-part crossover episodes are too much.

With the success of The CW‘s superhero shows, I get the marketing behind combining all the shows over a week, with each individual show airing a new episode. But when they started these with “The Flash” and “Arrow,” it wasn’t entirely necessary to watch both shows to keep up.

But the recent 4-part crossover between “The Flash,” “Arrow,” “Supergirl” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” ended that. I didn’t watch the “Supergirl” part. But “The Flash’s” part ended on a cliffhanger, so then I had to watch “Arrow.” And then “Legends of Tomorrow” finished the saga.

That’s a lot of time to spend on one “event.” And I watch only “The Flash” regularly.

Even though they show what’s happened, it’s still confusing. I felt lost keeping up with some of the story lines because I didn’t know the characters. But I’d be confused not watching the episode of “The Flash” because I might miss stuff.

It shouldn’t be a requirement to watch four shows to fully understand one week of programming. It’s like being an outsider on a show you don’t watch…except you do.

Keep shows available online for at least a month

I made a similar plea for this last year, but I still wish for it.

With Hulu for only subscribers now, it’s more difficult to keep up with weekly TV. It’s doable since networks post content on the websites, but some networks still make you wait eight days unless you verify a cable provider.

But most networks give you only two weeks to watch a show. During midseason breaks, you might get the chance to catch up, but it’s not a guarantee.

We all need time to catch up, even with our favorite shows. So give us a break. Especially in a binge-watching culture, some people would rather watch a few episodes at a time instead of week-to-week.

CBS All Access is the next up and coming thing, especially with “The Good Wife” spinoff “The Good Fight” coming exclusively to it in 2017 (though the first episode will air Feb. 19 on CBS), I’m guessing it won’t be long before TV show won’t ever be free online, but I don’t want to subscribe to multiple TV streaming services.

end the revival trend

“Fuller House.” “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.” “The Exorcist.”

So many shows and movies are rebooted, revived, etc. And yes, it’s great nostalgia. But I’m done.

“The Exorcist” was creepy but predictable. “Fuller House” isn’t that good of a show. “Gilmore Girls” filled a need to hear the final four words…and then sent fans into a tizzy over what’s next.

Sometimes it’s better to just let a show end in its time and be good, instead of filling an empty void in our hearts.

What do you want for TV in 2017?

‘The Big Bang Theory’ will survive 3 more seasons if it keeps momentum

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 14, 2014.

It’s hard to keep coming up with fresh ideas year after year.

TV shows have this problem annually. Many second seasons aren’t as good as the first, so much so that shows often are talked about in terms of “sophomore slump.”

“The Big Bang Theory,” a consistent ratings darling, avoided a sophomore slump and has managed to keep the ideas flowing for seven seasons … for the most part.

The show was renewed for three more seasons in March (although some of the actors still remain without contracts), but the question is: Can the show continue to be fresh for three more years?

I’m a fan of the CBS show. It’s nerdy without being too smart and it’s funny without being too stupid.

But as a fan, I did not find the most recent season as exciting as previous ones.

The show didn’t hit a good stride until two-thirds of the way through the season, when Sheldon and Amy kissed on a train on Valentine’s Day.

That’s too long to wait in a 24-episode season.

I also kept wondering if Raj (Kunal Nayyar), who finally was able to talk to a woman without drinking alcohol at the end of season 6, would get a girlfriend.

It happened in season 7, but not until the end.

If a TV show has the potential for character growth, that growth should be played out as soon as possible.

“The Big Bang Theory” needs to take a hint from ABC’s “Scandal” and pick up the pace.

At Comic-Con, producers said viewers would have to wait a while to see Leonard and Penny, who got engaged in the penultimate episode of season 7, get married.

Why wait? The show will lose steam if they don’t get married by the end of season 8.

But at the same time, I don’t think anyone wants to see them break up again. Let’s move forward, not backward.

Can the show last another three seasons? I hope so, but only if the episodes are more like the last eight of season 7.

‘State of Affairs’: NBC’s answer to CBS’ ‘Madam Secretary,’ ABC’s ‘Scandal’

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Dec. 4, 2014.

It’s about time powerful women were portrayed on TV.

But with CBS’ “Madam Secretary,” new this year; ABC’s “Scandal,” which is in its fourth season; and NBC’s “State of Affairs,” which premiered Nov. 17 and airs at 10 p.m. Mondays, it somehow has become one note.

All three of these shows have strong women  — all played by A-list actresses — in Washington, D.C., grappling with life, love and lofty politicians.

But in a time when we should be embracing strong lead roles for women, why are they all so similar?

“State of Affairs” didn’t help itself by premiering after every other fall show. You could say the drama of whether its star, Katherine Heigl, is rude on set has helped garner interest, but that’s another story.

“State of Affairs” feels like NBC’s desperate attempt to plug in to the market of women in politics. It makes sense given the success of “Scandal,” and the drama definitely has plotlines that toe the line of morality.

But with these three shows so similar in idea, it doesn’t make sense to have all three.

I will admit Heigl does good work and her show, of which she is also a producer, so far has been as terrifying as it is tear-inducing. Heigl plays Charleston Tucker, who briefs the president daily on the United States’ top threats. Oh, by the way — the president, played with just the right amount of heart and dignity by Alfre Woodard, is Charleston’s fiance’s mother. And another thing … Charleston’s fiance was killed by a terrorist.

But like “Madam Secretary,” it’s a show that uses current events for plotlines and has a woman trying to solve problems using skill and heart, despite what any man tells her.

Does a strong woman have to work in politics? No. There are strong, confident women in numerous occupations. Doctors, journalists, teachers, social workers, professors, chefs, hotel managers … just to name a few.

Does every confident, powerful man on TV work in politics? Far from it. So why is politics the only field powerful women can work in?

While I applaud seeing women in power on TV, let’s strive for variety. It’s time.

Fall TV 2015: ‘Life in Pieces,’ ‘Blindspot’ worth watching

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Sept. 25, 2015.

And fall TV is rocking and rolling.

So many shows are premiering, so if you can’t watch them all, here are my quick takes on new shows.

For the record, these are my thoughts after watching only the first episode.

‘BEST TIME EVER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS’

8 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC

“How I Met Your Mother” star Neil Patrick Harris has hosted the Tonys, Emmys and Oscars. Now he takes on the variety show, though it plays out more like a staged game show.

The show has stunts, prizes, quizzes and pranks. Some bits were a bit boring, while others were fun.

Overall it feels a little promotional (Harris pranked another NBC show, “The Voice”) and overly filled with celebrities (Reese Witherspoon, Gloria Gaynor, Nicole Scherzinger and Matt Iseman (“American Ninja Warrior”) all made appearances.)

Grade: B

‘LIFE IN PIECES’

8:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS

This family comedy, with many actors viewers may recognize, told its first story in four parts. Moments were cliche, exaggerated and hilarious. So far my favorite couple is the one who just had a baby.

I hope not every episode is told in four parts. The show could be overly cliche, but it also might have heartfelt moments to come.

Grade: B

‘MINORITY REPORT’

9 p.m. Mondays on Fox

What if you could see a murder before it happened?

Based on a Steven Spielberg movie, this futuristic crime show tries to look at that question.

The technology they use is interesting, but the characters aren’t ones you necessarily want to root for.

Plus all the tension between the male and female characters made my eyes roll.

Grade: B-

‘BLINDSPOT’

10 p.m. Mondays on NBC

Who is Jane Doe? How did she end up in a duffel bag in Times Square? What does her whole body tattoo mean?

Hopefully this drama will answer these questions by the end of the season. With all the high stakes in the premiere, I’m guessing it will. And it seems from the first episode that some people do know …

Doe (Jaimie Alexander) is a character I want to root for. Alexander balances the fear and strength she has to portray well.

Grade: A-

‘THE MUPPETS’

8 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC

If you need a laugh, check out this show.

Under the premise of running a late-night talk show, with Miss Piggy as host, of course, this comedy will give you a feel of nostalgia in the best way.

It finds humor that works for adults, but not in a crude way. Plus, they poke fun at celebrities such as Tom Bergeron of “Dancing with the Stars.”

It’s tough to watch Kermit and Miss Piggy now that they’re broken up, but we’ll see how long that lasts.

Grade: A

‘SCREAM QUEENS’

9 p.m. Tuesdays on Fox

The latest Ryan Murphy/Brad Falchuk/Ian Brennan creation starts with a teen pregnancy gone wrong.

Which could be a turnoff, but these three know how to keep people captivated, even if this show has a campy feel.

It’s silly, overdramatized and uses a lot of pop culture and stereotypical sorority references. But that’s what makes it work.

Grade: A-

‘LIMITLESS’

10 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS

Based on the Bradley Cooper movie, this drama stars Jake McDorman (“Greek,” “Manhattan Love Story”) in a modified version of Cooper’s role.

McDorman brings a boyish arrogance to all his roles, which makes him less enjoyable to watch.

Cooper makes a cameo in the pilot, which I’m guessing is to help connect the movie and show (I’ve never seen the 2011 movie.)

McDorman narrates a good portion of the episode, which felt heavy-handed. And the motivation of Brian Finch (McDorman) and FBI agent Rebecca (Jennifer Carpenter) of family seems hokey and unnecessary.

Grade: C+

I’ll continue these quick takes as I watch the shows, so keep an eye out this TV season.

What TV shows are you enjoying this season?

Fall TV 2016: CBS debuts ‘Man with a Plan,’ ‘The Great Indoors’ and ‘Pure Genius’

The last round of shows has hit your TV screens, all from CBS.

Here are the last three reviews of the fall 2016 season:

‘MAN WITH A PLAN’

8:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS

Another “Friends” star is back on TV!

Matt LeBlanc stars in this CBS sitcom as a dad who is now the primary caregiver of his kids after his wife decides to go back to work.

It’s not laugh-out-funny, but LeBlanc will make you smile. He may be able to carry the show, and it’s a good role for him as he continues to grow beyond his Joey persona.

The sitcom has traditional touches, such as musical transitions between scenes, but it still feels updated as the kids are grounded by restricted technology use.

It’s still a fairly typical family comedy, but it doesn’t seem too stale. For now, anyway.

Grade: B

‘THE GREAT INDOORS’

8:30 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

In the realm of transitioning magazines and newspapers into digital media, this comedy hits home, with a battle of millennials vs. old-school at the forefront.

Joel McHale (“Community“) stars as a man raised in the 90s with no digital footprint. He doesn’t know how to adapt after being taken off of field reporting to train a new generation of digital-savvy 20-somethings who have to make work fun..and get trophies for “trying hard.” They’re also rarely seen without technology, even though they work at an outdoors menu (hence the title name play).

It’s all a little forced, but the show has potential to be funny. I’m just not sure I want to wait for that to happen.

Grade: B-

‘PURE GENIUS’

10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

Dometic abuse, premature delivery, comas, life support…the premiere of this CBS drama sure packed in a lot of emotional drama.

Combining medical and technological advances, the staff at Bunker Hill tries to save lives in any way possible.

Bunker Hill is run by a tech app genius, and the doctors around him are skeptical but helpful.

It’s intriguing to watch technology and knowledge combine, but the pilot was overly packed with different plots.

Grade: B-

That’s it for the new broadcast TV shows. What are your favorites?

CBS’ ‘Mom’ shows the crazy side of family life

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 7, 2015, in honor of Mother’s Day. Season 4 of “Mom” premieres at 9 p.m. tonight.

Why do so many TV shows portray messy yet perfect families?

Even “Modern Family,” arguably one of the more realistic family sitcoms in the last 10 years, has happy endings every week.

The old saying is don’t go to bed angry, but is that reality? Not for all.

But “Mom” is different. It shows ups and downs and everything in between. And even though it’s a comedy, some episodes end with sad or frustrated characters.

The CBS show focuses on a three-generation family struggling to survive after the mother, Christy (Anna Faris) and grandmother Bonnie (Allison Janney), finally get sober. Its season two finale aired April 30, and the show was renewed for season three in March.

The former alcoholics are by no means perfect; in fact, they are far from it. They aren’t role models, but they’re trying.

On “Mom,” Christy’s daughter Violet (Sadie Calvano) is hostile toward her family because the two mothers are former alcoholics. Violet had a baby, which she gave up for adoption to give the child a better life, in season 1, and while Christy and Bonnie supported her, she struggled to move on in life. Then, Violet got engaged to an older professor in season 2, much to Christy and Bonnie’s dismay. They want better for Violet, but they haven’t provided enough reason to prove what’s better.

Christy’s son Roscoe (Blake Garrett Rosenthal) decides to live with his dad, who has turned his life around, at the end of season 2, which breaks Christy’s heart after she tried to turn her own life around by going back to school and getting a promotion at work.

Bonnie falls off the sobriety wagon after taking painkillers for a back injury, causing a riff between her and Christy, who celebrated two years of sobriety at the end of season 2.

They’re a broken and exhausted family. But the show provides laughter and heart as the family continues on in life.

They may yell or fight, but with love and support from friends (featuring Octavia Spencer and Jaime Pressly), they remember they are family, and continue to work through life’s challenges together.

So on Mother’s Day, even though it’s not easy, it’s important to remember that no one, not even your mother, is perfect.

Matthew Perry is back on TV; new show ‘The Odd Couple’ worth a watch

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on March 15, 2015.

Could we BE any more excited?

Chandler Bing, also known as Matthew Perry, is back on TV.

The actor has been part of many failed TV shows since “Friends” ended in 2004, but “The Odd Couple,” a new winter TV show airing on CBS, has a good chance of making it past season 1.

It helps that it’s a funny show.

Moments of the first two episodes made me laugh out loud, which is a major success for the show. And Perry’s comedic timing is excellent.

That doesn’t mean it’s a groundbreaking show, but “The Odd Couple” is based on the 1960s play of the same name, so you can’t expect it to stretch the boundaries of plotlines.

The comedy also stars Thomas Lennon of “Reno 911!” fame. Fun facts: Perry and Lennon were both in “17 Again,” and Lennon guest-starred on an episode of “Friends.”

Dave Foley, Lindsay Sloane, Yvette Nicole Brown and Leslie Bibb have also made appearances in the first two episodes.

Do I think “The Odd Couple” is the best comedy I’ve ever seen? No. But it’s definitely an improvement over some of the new shows of the 2014-15 season.

Now, for those of you desperate to see Chandler again, you’re out of luck.

But that’s part of the fun of the show.

Perry’s character, Oscar Madison, isn’t the nicest guy. He’s messy, uncaring and, at times, mean. He’s critical of his new roommate, Felix Unger (Lennon), who’s just trying to figure out his life after his wife leaves him.

“Lovable” is not a word to describe Oscar. But “growing” might be. A major point of the show’s makeup is Oscar and Felix’s friendship, which survives many disagreements. It’s obvious that both characters will grow during the show’s run.

And if you’ve ever had a roommate or lived in a dorm, you’ll probably find some of Oscar and Felix’s spats relatable.

I’ll admit I haven’t seen the play, so I’m not sure if/when the show will surpass the play’s resolution.

But I am sure that I’ll keep watching “The Odd Couple,” even if I’m not watching an older version of Chandler Bing on TV.

“The Odd Couple” airs at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, following “The Big Bang Theory.”

‘The Odd Couple’: Reboot a pleasant upgrade of 1970s comedy

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 14, 2014. Season 3 of “The Odd Couple” premieres at 9:30 p.m. tonight.

In a time of reboots and sequels, “The Odd Couple” stands out.

Because for once, it doesn’t feel like a rehash.

“The Odd Couple,” now in its second season on CBS, isn’t just a modern update on the 1970s sitcom starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. It has a slightly different focus.

Yes, there are similarities. Both shows are comedies about two men who are divorced/separated and live together. Same occupations for these friends, too: Oscar Madison (Klugman in the ’70s and Matthew Perry in the new version) still makes a living in sports, though it’s newspaper in the ’70s and a sports talk show host in the current version; and Felix Unger (Randall in the ’70s and Thomas Lennon in the new version) is a photographer. Oscar is still a slob, and Felix is still a neat freak.

Yes, they shouldn’t get along. And many times they don’t. But that’s where the similarities end.

The 1970s show is almost hyper-focused on the two men and their relationship. There is a set of core characters — a group of men who play poker at the shared apartment, and some lady friends here and there — but the times they’re seen are staggered.

In the CBS version, there are more characters in whom viewers can invest. Oscar’s assistant, Dani (Yvette Nicole Brown), provides some laughs by pointing out the obvious. There’s Oscar’s agent, Teddy (Wendell Pierce), and his friend Murph (Geoff Stults), who are foils to his personality: Teddy is tired of being tied down and Murph is always ready to party or goof off.

Plus, by the end of season 1, Felix has a girlfriend, Emily (Lindsay Sloane), who is also a bit neurotic. In the old version, Felix still spends time with his estranged wife.

Because the 1970s version is so hyper-focused on Oscar and Felix, a lot of the episodes revolve around their apartment.

In today’s version there are multiple apartments and the bar nearby. There’s more of a progressive story, while in the older version you can skip an episode and be fine.

Which is almost my biggest complaint, along with the long intro/theme song and same musical interludes over and over (the update put a funkier spin to the theme song and got rid of the interludes, though most shows don’t have those anymore). The episodes are almost too similar. They fight. They get angry. They make up. Repeat. It gets old.

Today’s characters have growth. Small growth, but still. It makes me care more for those characters; they’re learning how to live differently than before. Oscar even realizes he can’t party forever.

Because of the long gap in when these shows aired, the plots are very different. This concept, which originally was a Neil Simon play, has had time to breathe.

That’s not to say the 1970s version is bad — it was Emmy-nominated. But the shows have a different pace and focus, so it appeals to different people. Plus, there are plotlines and sayings that can be portrayed on TV that weren’t so OK in the 1970s, which Garry Marshall, an executive producer on the old version and an executive consultant on the new version of “The Odd Couple,” noted last year.

So for once, this reboot isn’t so bad. Thankfully.