Tag: Fox

Upfronts 2018: Trends for broadcast TV

Making changes but rebooting favorites…that about sums up “new” TV in 2018.

Here are 3 trends from last week’s upfronts.

Reboots galore

The reboots trend will never die at this rate.

Coming off the success of ABC‘s reboot of “Roseanne,” more are coming.

First, “Murphy Brown” returns on CBS, with Candice Bergen bringing her strong newswoman character back to the screen. It’ll air on Thursdays, after CBS hits “The Big Bang Theory” and “Mom.”

Then, there’s “Charmed,” which the CW is bringing back to life. It’ll air alongside “Supergirl” on Sundays, a night that the network hasn’t aired new shows on before.

Lastly, “Last Man Standing” is coming back, on Fox. It’ll be paired with another comedy tailored for an older audience, “The Cool Kids.”

Switcheroos

Speaking of changing networks, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is going to NBC after being canceled by Fox.

“Lethal Weapon” replaced lead actor Clayne Crawford after he was accused of poor onset behavior.

And with Thursday Night Football shifting from CBS to Fox, there are many schedule shifts for that network, which, for a network that is known for comedy, only has two new comedies premiering in the fall (“Rel” and the aforementioned “The Cool Kids”)

Very few new shows

With so many networks vying for viewers’ attention, it seems networks are playing it safe by airing fewer new shows and saving some for midseason, when a series premier typically means half the number of episodes.

This fall, most broadcast networks are airing only 2-4 new shows, with the exception of CBS, which boasts six new fall shows.

Midseason, which used to have fewer premieres, now seems to have a similar number of new shows (though that could change before January).

However, the reboots start in the fall, no doubt because they’ll get the viewer’s interest more easily thanks to old and new fans watching.

Award shows 2018: Do network shows have a place anymore?

At the Golden Globes this year, only one out of 11 TV award winners was a network TV show representative (Sterling K. Brown won best actor in a drama series for NBC’s “This is Us.”)

Tomorrow’s SAG Awards only have five network TV show nominations among all the categories.

Do network shows even stand a chance anymore?

Now that Netflix consistently pulls out award-winning shows, with Amazon and Hulu reaching their stride in quality shows, is it time to separate out network shows from paid services shows?

The way people watch Netflix shows vs. a show on ABC, Fox, etc. is so different. You can binge a Netflix series in a weekend, while NBC draws out one season of “This is Us” from September to April or so (but maybe that’s so we can all take a sobbing break).

Plus, Hulu and those networks have advantages network shows don’t. On a network like CBS, you can’t swear, show nudity, depict graphic violence and other things. Rules must be followed. On online networks, the rules don’t apply. Anything can happen. And it usually does.

Another big difference is network shows play to commercial breaks. They place cliffhangers and plot points in just the right spot to keep you watching. On Netflix, it seems like most original drama episodes end on cliffhangers so you’ll continue watching. And Netflix doesn’t even ask the pesky question “Are you still watching?” when it’s an original show. It can play out like one long, continuous story, and viewers soak it right up.

Network shows just can’t play the same game online networks can. So is it fair to pit them against each other in award categories?

Plenty of quality shows still exist on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and the CW. Should they be recognized in a different way? Or does that just further depict the difference in the TV formats?

It may be time to revisit how award shows handle TV shows.

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?

‘Glee’ unsuccessfully strives to gain viewers back in Fox show’s final season

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Jan. 29, 2015.

Gleeks, rejoice!

“Glee” is back for its sixth and final season. And many of the main actors have returned to the Fox show at McKinley High.

Wait. Back up. How does that work? Wasn’t Artie (Kevin McHale) in film school? Wasn’t Rachel (Lea Michele) on her way to L.A. for a career in TV? Weren’t Blaine (Darren Criss) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) at the fictional NYADA? Wasn’t Mercedes (Amber Riley) about to go on tour?

That’s how season 5 ended … with tons of possibilities.

But that’s all been left behind for season 6. Because as the show lost viewers and focus, it has grasped on to old concepts, which is not a good thing.

After a time jump, Rachel is back leading the new New Directions, which means Sue (Jane Lynch) is back tormenting the glee club. Kurt is back, too. And Quinn (Dianna Agron). And Puck (Mark Salling). And even Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), who, let’s face it, never really had much to give to the show after her character admitted she lied about having a lisp in season 1.

Even stranger? Kurt and Blaine are no longer engaged. OK, that’s not strange considering the characters are around 19, but Blaine is now with Dave Karofsky, an old bully of Kurt’s. The relationship feels forced because, although Karofsky (Max Adler) had an important supporting storyline in season 3, his character didn’t need to come back. But he’s recognizable on the show, so why not bring him back? Almost every other character is back, as per showrunner Ryan Murphy’s not-so-wise plan to return focus to the original characters.

I’ll admit, I’ve seen every episode of “Glee” at least once. But I’ll also admit that somewhere around seasons 3 and 4, it lost its spark.

I hate to say this, but the show was hurt by the death of Cory Monteith, who played the lovable Finn Hudson. Obviously it was a shock. The tribute episode they did for him was stellar, but he was a huge component of the show. And his character’s relationship with Rachel was a key moment to the show’s series finale Murphy had originally planned.

But to go back to the old ways of the show feels stale and backward. Season 6 comes back to auditions, rival glee clubs and weekly themed lessons. The show was progressive in how it handled music and storylines, but now it’s just a rehash of season 1.

This show is supposed to be about dreamers. But with season 6, it’s just starting over with a new cast mixed with old stars who have lost focus. It’s not enjoyable anymore.

They should’ve just canceled “Glee” after season 5. Or found better ideas.

Summer TV: We need to talk about ABC’s Summer Fun and Games

Summer: the time when shorts and flip-flops are everywhere, sangria is a drink of choice and TV hits a lull.

But ABC is hitting advertising hard with it’s Summer Fun & Games lineup. And it’s out of control.

Another networks are airing new reality competition shows (See Fox‘s “Beat Shazam” and NBC‘s “World of Dance“), too, but ABC has a plethora of them.

Returning this season are “Celebrity Family Feud,” “The $100,000 Pyramid” and “To Tell the Truth.” Additionally, new shows “The Gong Show,” “Boy Band,” “Steve Harvey’s FUNDERDOME” and “Battle of the Network Stars” will also premiere in June.

That’s seven reality competition shows. In theory, that’s one for every day of the week, but only Sunday and Thursday evening programming will center around these shows.

Is this really necessary?

All types of shows premiere almost year-round these days. Typically new summer shows are lighter, more soap-opera-style or a competition show.

Admittedly yes, this lineup includes all lighter shows. But they’re probably not interesting.

Maybe ABC is going for nostalgia. After all, “100,000 Pyramid” and “To Tell the Truth” are re-launches, as is new show “The Gong Show.” And “Boy Band” seems like a rip off of “Making the Band” made to fill the void One Direction’s hiatus made.

But substance is lacking immensely in these shows. It’s all about catching attention, especially with all the celebrities that’ll be on the shows, but not really keeping it. Yes, you get celebrities acting silly, but who really cares?

I’m always surprised when competition shows last more than a season. Something about “American Idol” worked for a time, but these shows usually don’t have it.

“The Search for Elle Woods,” a competition focused on finding Broadway’s next “Legally Blonde” star, was one season. “The Glee Project” lasted for only two seasons. One Directioners may watch the new show “Boy Band,” but they’ll probably lose interest too.

I’ll stick to “Hollywood Game Night.” And the “Bachelorette”…for the workouts (another blog for another time)

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.

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?

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?

Winter TV 2017: ’24: Legacy’ feels stale, ‘Superior Donuts’ could do better

The new shows keep coming this winter TV season.

Unfortunately, they aren’t all good. Here are my latest reviews of the winter TV season, after watching only the pilot:

 

‘24: LEGACY’

8 p.m. Mondays on Fox

“24” may have been an exciting show, but without Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland is starring in ABC‘s “Designated Survivor“), “24: Legacy” seems dated.

This reboot/spinoff follows the same real-time, hour-by-hour drama, but you don’t have to have watched any of the original to understand this show.

The plot revolves around terrorism and back-door knowledge, but it’s not as exciting as it might sound.

Grade: B-

 

‘APB’

9 p.m. Mondays on Fox

How technology can change our world seems to be a trend in TV shows this season, and with “APB,” it’s technology meets the police force.

Celebrity billionaire Gideon (Justin Kirk) wants to avenge his friend’s death, so he convinces the mayor of Chicago (Nestor Serrano) to let him buy a whole police district to make it better.

He creates an app to help bring efficiency to the force, but the character doesn’t have much of a heart yet. He comes off as a bored man who knows money talks…and the mayor isn’t happy about having Gideon messing with the system.

Grade: B

 

‘POWERLESS’

8:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC

For a show about superheroes, this one is super boring.

The first TV comedy about superheroes is over-the-top cheesy, and predictable without any sort of high stakes.

All the material should be there. So should the acting, with Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi and Alan Tudyk all starring.

But wow was I uninterested. They need the real Bruce Wayne, but I doubt even that would help.

Grade: C-

 

‘SUPERIOR DONUTS’ 

9 p.m. Mondays on CBS

I didn’t laugh once during this new CBS comedy.

For a half-hour show, they covered a lot of issues: race, police, gentrification, terrorism. But none of it was done well.

Sure there were some touching moments, but it was predictable and slow.

This show may be Jermaine Fowler‘s brand, but it didn’t work on CBS.

Grade: C

 

‘TRAINING DAY’

10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS

If you want to see yet another movie reboot, here you go.

This drama is based on a 2001 movie starring Denzel Washington, but this iteration stars Bill Paxton.

It reminded me a bit of “Rush Hour” without the comedy.

It focuses on undercover police/detective work, but the real reason for going undercover is a little to-be-determined.

I can’t say I’ve seen the movie, but I bet it’s better.

Grade: B-

 

What are your favorites?