Okay, so I will cover my standard favorites another time, but I feel like documenting how I feel about first episodes of a few new series.
Defying Gravity (ABC) - I REALLY want to talk about this one... I am pretty much pissed off that ABC is not giving this show what it deserves. It was sold poorly as "Grey's Anatomy in space", and the show is SO much more than that. No, it isn't fully a drama, but no it also isn't fully a sci-fi. Lots of reviews have said that because it isn't enough of either that it isn't good, but from actually having watched it and LOVED it, I can't stand the fact that it isn't getting its fair shake. If ABC holds on to the remaining episodes and never airs them I might stop watching ABC shows... if they air the remaining episodes and still drop the show just because of ratings I will treat them like FOX and put them on a short leash.
Archer (FX) - The animation is a bit odd for the style of comedy that they are doing, but it could work... it was very funny in the first episode so we'll see how it goes.
Community (NBC) - Amusing enough. I don't know that any of the characters are compelling enough to me for it to be anything more than a time killer, but from the first two episodes it is at least funny enough to watch.
Glee (FOX) - From the Pilot I thought this show might really be going places with the humor of the over-the-top stereotypical characters and music, but the last two episodes really haven't gone anywhere... not giving up yet, but it is disappointing.
Bored to Death (HBO) - A pretty morbid show, but it seems like it could go places. I generally like Schwartzman.
Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - It seems like a chick show... not sure where it is going, but it wasn't particularly funny, but not horrible. Again, we'll see.
The Forgotten (ABC) - If every show focuses on finding dead people and trying to figure out who they are only to reveal to their families that they are dead I don't know if I am going to be that interested in it. Plus cop shows rarely interest me.
The Good Wife (CBS) - Not really sure about this show either... I like lawyer shows more than cop shows, but as far as lawyer shows go this one isn't high on the list from what I can tell... which is sad because I like Josh Charles. Maybe he will have more of a role as things go on and it will be better.
Cougar Town, (ABC) - Not nearly as funny as I think it was cracked up to be... maybe it is because I am male and not over 40, but I found none of it amusing. It was like 2 minutes of funny and 20 minutes of constant reminders that the show was about Cougars.
Eastwick, (ABC) - A blonde a brunette and a redhead walk into a coven... but there is no punchline. It wasn't really a comedy, wasn't really a drama, and wasn't really worth watching.
Mercy, (NBC) - You know, I pretty much had enough of Girl Hospital with Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, and in this show they aren't even the doctors. Yeah, I get that the focus is on their lives rather than the medicine, but still... would it be so hard to get a straight male character on the show that isn't there just to be the temporary object of affection of one of the women? Honestly if the show doesn't do something to break out of that mold I don't know if I will stick with it, although I am shocked that Taylor Schilling hasn't done more work as she seems to be at least a reasonably good actor. We'll see.
Modern Family, (ABC) - Also not as funny as I was expecting. Ed O'Neill was pretty great in a very subtle way, but I really wasn't getting much from the rest of the characters. There wasn't nearly enough comedy to carry even a 30 minute show.
Flash Forward, (ABC) - I actually really like the premise of this show... but since the flash was for 6 months I don't really see how the show can last longer than that... I am sure they will come up with some twist, but watching this episode I wasn't really that into any of the characters or any of the plot enough to think I really wanted to watch it again.
The Beautiful Life (CW) - No. Seriously, no. Bad acting, bad plot, the show really had no redeeming qualities whatsoever... but at least from the looks of things it won't last long.
Trauma, (NBC) - I don't really know what to make of this show... I mean yes it has the action, it has the drama... I just don't know if the characters and plot will really pan out. I don't know if I am up for just another medical drama. Given how much this has been promoted though I think it will make it through the whole season, so hopefully they can write something useful to make it more than just an episode by episode drama that is the same every week.
The Cleveland Show, (Fox) - I will admit it, I really like Family Guy. I was shocked and confused when both it and Futurama were canceled by FOX. Did they seriously think that something else in that time slot would get better ratings? You are generally dealing with football intros for a good chunk of the year and that means preemptions... and plus it is Sunday night... nobody is really watching TV. That said, I am not sure based on the premise if The Cleveland Show will really work, but it is basically just another 30 minutes a week of Family Guy as far as I see it... I can dig it.
Hank, The Middle (ABC) - Okay, I will review these together just because they are very similar in purpose... generic family comedies aimed at trying to get a wide appeal... which from watching them really offers me very little in terms of things to like or dislike. While I really enjoyed Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond I really see none of the same characteristics in these shows that would make me enjoy them so far. With both Frasier and Raymond they had things from the beginning that really had me hooked... namely good writing. Neither Hank nor Middle had much to speak of for writing... or characters... or plot. Generic situational comedies that don't delve into the characters much at all and didn't really have anything to offer beyond generic wide range appeal. I will try them again for episode 2, but it doesn't look like they are going to be much for watching... and it's sad because ABC will probably keep these shows around forever and cancel things like Defying Gravity and Castle that are genuinely great shows. Urgh ABC! Why would you do this.
Three Rivers (CBS) - As far as medical dramas go Three Rivers was pretty standard, but unlike most other medical dramas right now the characters were very boring. None of them had any interesting interaction with one another, and none of them had anything compelling that made me care about seeing them ever again. The first episode was a full fail and makes me have no desire to see it again.
V (ABC) - Well I vaguely remember the original, but I was quite young and didn't get all the imagery... I definitely remember the eating of the guinea pig eating bit... but this is about the new series. The big thing about the new series seems to be the connection to our current situation... the aliens come in offering freedom from our bad economy, universal (pun?) health care, and of course coming in peace... but in reality they are the reptile people (lol conspiracy theories) that have come to cleverly take over and I suppose eat us all. I laugh at all the connections made to Obamania and socialism... not because they are fake but because so many people don't see it. Anyway, it looks good and I will definitely be watching it... at least after the 4 episodes and 4 month break.
And more to update as I see them... no, I won't watch them all, but I will see quite a few.
Will definitely watch again: Community, Glee, Archer, Defying Gravity, Cleveland Show, V
Might give another try: Mercy, Modern Family, Flash Forward, Cougar Town, Bored To Death, The Middle, The Good Wife
Will not watch: Eastwick, Beautiful Life, The Forgotten, Three Rivers, Trauma, Hank
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