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RSSThe most wonderful time of the year . . .what should you be watching
I love this time of the year.
My favorite shows start to return (oh how I missed "How I Met Your Mother." I can't wait for you all to see the season premiere). And the new season offers such hope. There's the promise that somewhere out there lurks the next "Lost" or "The Office" or "24."
What are the shows I think you should give your time to this fall? And what shows should you avoid? Here are my picks for best and worst new shows network by network.
ABC
Best New Show: This was a tough call since ABC has the best new fall lineup by several TiVos (they also had the most time slots to fill). I could have easily picked "V" or "FlashForward," but I'm going to go with "Modern Family," because it's simply so wonderful to have a new comedy that makes me laugh instead of cringe. "Modern Family" is smart, clever and hilarious. I just hope I'm not over-hyping it.
Worst New Show: I'm picking "Hank" which I'll concede is a little unfair since the show is undergoing major retooling and has replaced several cast members since the pilot I've seen. What I'm most concerned about is the fact that Kelsey Grammer is playing a version of a character we already know- even if the circumstances are totally different.
CBS
Best New Show: Easily "The Good Wife." The premise of the show (wife of a disgraced politician returns to work) couldn't be more timely, the cast is great and it's about time Julianna Margulies got a starring role worthy of her talent. Plus it's always good to see Chris Noth -even when he's playing the bad guy.
Worst New Show: "Accidentally on Purpose" is not only the worst new show on CBS, it's my pick for the worst new show of the season. Jenna Elfman is beyond grating as a woman who becomes pregnant after a one night stand with a much younger man. I'm having an irrationally angry response to this show - kind of like last year how "The Ex List" sent me over the remote.
FOX
Best New Show: "Glee" - and you already know why - I love that a show is taking so much risk even if it doesn't always succeed and even when its gambles go way too far. Hopefully "Glee" will inspire other networks and showrunners to push the envelope. Plus I'm a sucker for a good musical number.
Worst New Show: Isn't Alzheimer's disease hilarious? Yeah it's simply not. Making fun of a serious ailment is just the first offense the simply awful "Brothers" makes. Wasting CCH Pounder, Daryl Chill Mitchell, and Carl Weathers is the second. And we go downhill from there. Is it worse than last season's dreadful "Do Not Disturb?" It actually is. Fox struggles to get live action comedies right. I'm holding out hope for midseason replacement "Sons of Tucson," which has a lot of potential. Fox definitely should have premiered that show this fall.
NBC
Best New Show: I'm not as big on "Community" as most other people are. But with Chevy Chase and Joel McHale involved, I have to believe the show will continue to improve. Plus any comedy that makes several "The Breakfast Club" references is already getting on my good side.
Worst New Show: "Mercy." Television definitely has room for another show about nurses. But it doesn't have room for another tired medical trauma ripe with clichés and exasperating characters. And if I could just issue a memo to all showrunners , I'm all set, that's right all set with supply room closet sex scenes..
CW
Best New Show: I don't think the CW has a truly great show to offer up this fall, but again since by my own rules, I have to pick a show, I'll go with "The Vampire Diaries" for all the reasons I talked about in Monday's column.
Worst New Show: It's a little unfair to pick "The Beautiful Life: TBL" because the CW declined to send out the full pilot. What I've seen so far isn't great but who knows the show could improve. What I do know is the title is ridiculous. "The Beautiful Life" I would understand. "TBL" I would understand. But "The Beautiful Life: TBL?" Please.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
Kristen recognized Carla Gallo as Peggy's new roommate Karen Ericson on "Mad Men." She plays Daisy
, Sweets's girlfriend on "Bones," and I'll always remember her as Lizzie on "Undeclared." David Selby was Horace Cook, Sr. Selby was Arthur Foster on "Tell Me You Love Me" and Richard Channing on "Falcon Crest" (do not tell my mother that I know this because "Falcon Crest" was definitely on the forbidden TV list but somehow I managed to catch an episode or two). Aaron Stanford was Horace Cook, Jr. Stanford was Will Traveler on the short-lived series "The Traveler."Heidi recognized Elisabeth Rohm was Bitsy, the wife of the married man pursuing Naomi on "90210."Rohm was Detective Kate Lockley on "Angel" and A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn on "Law & Order." We'll see Rohm again soon when she guest stars on "Heroes" this season.
"True Blood" season finale
I love it when a show builds to a massive throwdown of a season finale. It kind of brings me back to the days of "Buffy" where every season would end with Buffy and the gang taking on the season's Big Bad in a final battle. So although there have been times this season that I have found "True Blood" too bizarre, too gory, and too graphic, I'm excited for Sunday night's finale (9 p.m. on HBO). I'm loving Evan Rachel Wood as the Vampire Queen (hard to imagine this is the same girl from "Once & Again," isn't it?) and I'm ready for Maryann to get her colossal comeuppance. How about you?
Quotes of the Week
"It reads like the stage direction from an Ibsen play." Joan to Peggy about her roommate ad on "Mad Men."
"It's like they've all been reading Tiger Beat." Casey to Ashleigh when their dads try to use younger lingo on "Greek."
"I want to be no drama Adrianna." Adrianna to Navid on "90210" after declaring that she's done with drama on camera and off. Now if that were true, there would be no show would there?
"You think Sam could turn into a chicken and lay his own egg? Wouldn't that be weird, eating something that just came out of you?" Jason on "True Blood." Thanks to Debby for the quote.
"I gotta say even with my bag of tricks I can't rewrite Parker's genetic code." Hardison on "Leverage." I thought the show ended its summer run on a strong note, how about you?
Exchange of the Week
"Rachel, did you just throw up? " Emma to Rachel on "Glee."
"I tried, but I guess I just don't have a gag reflex." Rachel to Emma.
"One day when you're older that'll turn out to be a gift." Emma's response. At first, I thought this exchange may be a little to risqué for my column but so many people sent it in, I decided to include it. Thanks to Amber and Rishi who were the first to send in the exchange.
That's all for today. I'm back on Monday to talk about the season premieres of "Bones," "Fringe," "Parks & Recreation," and "The Office." Plus I'll have a review of the new NBC comedy "Community" and the new CW series "The Beautiful Life: TBL." Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week or a topic for discussion? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com or follow me on Twitter. Have a great weekend. Talk to you on Monday.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal®
I know it's a couple of months off, but has anyone heard anything about TNT's upcoming show 'Men of a Certain Age'? I mean, just the presence of Scott Bakula makes me think I'll watch it, but I'd like to hear if anyone else has any tidbits.
Now I really feel old. My younger sister called me to point out David Selby on Mad Men, saying "Hey, Quentin Collins was on !"
He was the first tv werewolf, on Dark Shadows, for you young uns out there.
This will probably have to go in next week's column, but the exchange between Sam and "Wincest" writer Becky on Supernatual last night was by far my favorite quote of the week:
"Um, could you quit touching me?" Sam to Becky, who's groping his chest.
"No." Becky, abruptly cutting him off as she savors her moment. HILARIOUS!
I didn't want to like Vampire Diaries (I really don't understand the whole Twilight/vampire craze), but the show kind of felt like a cross between Dawson's Creek and Roswell from the old-school WB. If the following episodes are as good as the pilot, I'll be sticking around.
Can't wait for your write-up on the Fringe premiere!
I trust your judgment Amy but I'm really disappointed that Brothers is shaping up to be bad. It's rare enough that networks have shows with multiple African American actors and if it's bad they unfairly think twice about scheduling new ones even the ones which have a chance of being more intelligent.
HIMYM, which I love and am eagerly awaiting its return, has no main Black or Asian characters (other than Barney's brother who appears all too rarely) which is just dumb in the supposed melting pot of NYC.
I've seen the pilots of Community which I think is going to be good and Mercy which suffers from trying to be a bit too much like a half-hearted Greys Anatomy but with nurses, the sex scenes aren't hot enough, the head nurse isn't feisty enough and too much was going on all at once - hopefully it'll settle down.
Talk about naive - I had to read the exchange of the week twice before I got why you thought it was too risque, then I laughed my ass off!
I saw an advance screening of "Modern Family" and have to agree with Amy...this is potentially the best new sitcom of the season. Love the characters and the laughs come easily; no cringing here!
As to True Blood, I just finished rewatching the full series in preparation for the finale...I am only slightly obsessed with this show! Eric is officially my favorite character after the whole "teacup humans" dialog...plus they fixed his hair this season and he looks unbelievably hot. My question is WTF happened to Bill's hair? It looked good in season 1 but I am not digging the super straight look.
Okay, I think I got it all out of my system. Happy viewing!
PS - Amy, thanks for using the Jason quote. :)
I have to admit that season premiere month is probably one of my most favorite times of the year, too. I was surprised by how much I liked "The Vampire Diaries". Teen shows are kind of fun when they take themselves too seriously, and this one is no exception. I'm not totally sure why the whole vampire thing has blown up so much in the last couple of years, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying the ride. I'm kind of bummed out that "True Blood" won't be back until next summer!
Thanks for the recs, Amy! I'm so looking forward to Community, Flash Forward and Modern Family.
Re: quotes of the week, I've got to agree with Abby about Supernatural - it was hilarious! "You're so firm! And, you're not what I expected." I laughed so hard! Actually that episode, for a show with such a dark subject, had a lot of truly funny quotes.
Amy, are you sure that was Leverages last episode. According to epguides and imdb there are still 3 more to go.
Hi Darpub,
Leverage returns in January with new episodes --some of them have already been filmed, that's probably why they are already listed on imdb.
Thanks!
Amy