TV Mad Man

Quick takes on tonight’s new fare…

MTV's Skins

Chuck – 8/7c on NBC

We are back! Chuck returns tonight after a way too long hiatus. Tonight, the crew heads to France on a mission, and Sarah gets a little scandalous.

Harry’s Law – 10/9c on NBC

David E. Kelley is back, after this last series Boston Legal left the airwaves in 2008, he has had a string of unsuccessful pilots, but he made it to our screens in 2011, this time, with Kathy Bates. Bates plays Harriet, a curmudgeon patent lawyer, that leaves her job, and starts helping needy people in a law practice/show store along with her assistant (Brittany Snow) and son (Nate Corddry). I have seen two episodes of the series as Kelley does best, the absurd and witty dialogue is high, the emotional depth is not. You might want to give this a one episode trial run to see if its your cup of tea.

Skins – 10/9c on MTV

Another UK import hits the wave tonight’s this time on MTV, which is trying hard to bring original fare. The US Skins’ however is similar to Showtime’s Shameless as it is a exact copy of the original, just changing cities and actors. I loved the British series, so I am very curious to how this comes out.

The Cape – 9/8c on NBC

What did you think of last week’s two-hour premiere, while I was not the biggest fan, upon second look, the series did have a nice edge to it, but I will be sad to say in this new episode where Faraday meets a new villain, things will have to look up quickly to keep this viewer around.

House – 8/7c on FOX

Huddy is back tonight, and I never thought it would this much affect on the veteran FOX drama. House has suffered creatively and ratings wise this year, but tonight’s episode puts a nice spin on the over-analyzing that they are giving Huddy. Candice Bergen is fun, as Cuddy’s mother, but I am really looking forward to when her sister shows up soon, played by “show-killer” Paula Marshall.

Being Human – 10/9c on Syfy

Fan of the UK series by the same name, then you most likely do not want to tune into the US/Canada remake of the series that revolves around three roommates: one ghost, one werewolf, and one vampire. After viewing three episodes of the new series, I can safely say that their is nothing new, or interesting to keep me tuning in for more.

Over the course of this week, I will rundown the shows that I am still watching after chipping away at the shows after premiere week mayhem. But I want to know what you are still watching, and if they line up with mine. Comment!

Mondays are packed, the number two night after the craziness that is Thursday TV and it is bound to get crazier in the spring.

At 8/7c, House and Chuck still are the staples, which the former, moving nicely with new addition Amber Tambyln, although, I do wish Olivia Wilde’s Thirteen would return faster. I am also enjoying Sam Carr (Cynthia Watros) who is a nice companion to Wilson. The latter was on a tipping point for me but after the last episode, Bond brought me back, or should I say Timothy Dalton. Crazy ending, huh, lets hope they can ride it to success. Also in the first hour, How I Met Your Mother is slowing growing for the terribleness it was last year, and after a few seasons off, I added 90210 to my schedule which I have surprisingly, been enjoying. I can’t figure out why though. (more…)

With the new fall season starting, new TV is bring us the good, the bad, and the mediocre, but how do you sort out the good and the bad? Here is what to watch this fall, so you can see the best new friendships, new loves, new action, and new heart. Now, NBC is rebuilding and for Mondays, then are making it or trying to get it to be action-packed, do they succeed?…

What NBC Says about Chase and The Event:

“Chase” is a fast-paced drama from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) and executive producer Jennifer Johnson (“Cold Case”) that drops viewers smack into the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse as a team of U.S. marshals hunts down America’s most dangerous fugitives. Kelli Giddish (“Past Life”) stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a cowboy boot-wearing deputy whose sharp mind and unique Texas upbringing help her track down the violent criminals on the run. Cole Hauser (“K-Ville”), Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”), Rose Rollins (“The L Word”) and Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”) also star as members of Frost’s elite team.

“The Event” is an emotional, high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter, “The Class”), an Everyman who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his fiancee, Leila (Sarah Roemer, “Disturbia”), and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history. Sean’s quest will send ripples through the lives of an eclectic band of strangers, including: newly elected U.S. President Martinez (Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood, “Dirty Sexy Money”); Sophia (Emmy Award nominee Laura Innes, “ER”), who is the leader of a mysterious group of detainees; and Sean’s shadowy father-in-law (Scott Patterson, “Gilmore Girls”). Their futures are on a collision course in a global conspiracy that could ultimately change the fate of mankind. Ian Anthony Dale (“Daybreak”) and Emmy winner Zeljko Ivanek (“Damages”) also star in the ensemble drama.

I enjoy action, I enjoy character, and I enjoy intrigue, and when I read all the pilot scripts last winter, one certainly peaked my interested. Chase. That series eventually went to NBC, and was picked up, and now with the pilot airing tonight at 10/9c, I find myself still enjoying it. Chase is not NBC’s big hope, that honor goes to The Event, which I will talk about in a bit, but Chase is something that takes a over-used subject (U.S. Marshalls) and makes it all about the action, and it is damn good action. Ironically, the “chase” sequences are of movie-like quality thanks to the kickass Kelli Giddish, but the series lacks in one thing, the script was featuring, character. Our lead Annie Frost (Giddish), is nothing more than a eye-piece into the world, and not a woman we know and I can only hope they explore that soon, and more characters I wish they would explore are on the show preceding it.

The Event is this TV season’s new seralized series, last year it was FlashForward and we all know how that turned out, and the future is certainly unclear for NBC’s offering which sure packs a lot in the first 44 minutes. The series lead, Jason Ritter (right), is awesome and nieve, and fun, and the show is a trip. The pilot is created in such a weird narrative structure, jumping time, characters every act, and you have to pay attention to get a glimpse in the world creator Nick Wauters is trying to create. No, the “Event” seemingly does not happen in the pilot, or does it, and it is a mystery the creators promised will be answered early, and if it’s not, then it may not be worth your time.

The Event is certainly an ensemble show from Blair Underwood as the President, Laura Innes as a mysterious detaniee to Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls) as a loving father, and even Emmy-winner Zeljko Ivanek as the CIA director, and the ensemble rocks, as is the same with Chuck, which enters its FOURTH (!!) season tonight at 8/7c.

The season premiere is as Chuck always does, a series-changer of sorts, setting a new structure for the new year, as Chuck, Sarah, and Casey are battling new foes in their personal and professional spy lives. It is a smile-fest. I could not take a huge grin off my face the entire time I was watching, and you will see your favorite characters in a whole new life, including General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy, now a series regular) as well as the staple, Buy More, which is now a CIA/NSA headquarters. Chuck gives us smiles, The Event gives us things to think about, and Chase gives us that action we crave, the new NBC Mondays are one to watch, starting tonight at 8/7c, and for the sake of broadcast television as a whole, lets all hope it works out.

Once again, my weekly DVD post has some returning favorites bringing new seasons to DVD.

Chuck, out tomorrow on DVD, gives us their complete 3rd season, which means all 19 episodes. Chuck is in my top 5 shows of the past season, which included deaths, reveals, and most of all friendship and love coming together into an action packed light-hearted drama.

The box set, includes one of the best blooper reels I have ever seen along with an outstanding mockumentary on the show’s signature band Jeffster. The other feature, a sort-of compilation of the season’s best moments capped by commentary of the cast is the usual but still interesting as three out of the five executive producers have left the show after this season, leaving only the creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak to do the continued good work.

Also out tomorrow, is the complete 5th season of Supernatural. This season marked the only ever addition of a regular cast member to the show about two demon-hunting brothers (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki). The addition was Castiel (Misha Collins) who goes on the hunt with the brothers.

The DVD includes the web-only series Ghostfacers, commentary, and a bunch of unaired scenes. Both of the sets are available tomorrow in stores everywhere!

Thursday was a pretty quiet day in terms of upfront news as it is fast approaching. That statement worked until tonight when the craziness started!

Matthew Perry in Mr. Sunshine

It all started with the report by Deadline.com that the staple Law & Order was cancelled by NBC because of a dispute with creator Dick Wolf. That was quickly called out too soon as reports of troubles are true, but negotiations are still ongoing but unlikely to change by Monday. NBC reversely picked up the David E. Kelly/Kathy Bates starring vehicle Kindreds for midseason and according to THR, the intelligent Garza legal pilot which is a chance for Jimmy Smits to shine. But the best news from NBC, CHUCK IS RENEWED. Enough said. (The other bubble show Heroes, may get a limited pickup to finish the series.)

ABC took to the waves by announcing six new pickups of series following the announcement of the first drama No Ordinary Family.

First up the new comedies, the fantastically written by star Matthew Perry and pals pilot Mr. Sunshine and starring Allison Janney was one of the three laffers. Mr. Sunshine focuses on a sports center manager (Perry) and his friends, think of it as the male-led Cougar Town). Second is Happy Endings, starring Elisha Cuthbert and Eliza Coupe, and centers around an almost married couple and their eclectic friends. I have read the script by David Caspe flows nicely and is a good adult sitcom. The last official pickup is the only multi-cam by the network, Better Together, which features Joanna Garcia and Jennifer Finnigan as sisters who are both in a relationship as well as their parents. Debra Messing’s ABC pilot Wright vs. Wrong is very close to a pickup as well.

The Cast of ABC's Detroit 1-8-7

The new dramas on ABC (more pickups to come tomorrow) include the Michael Imperioli fronted cop drama, Detroit 1-8-7, which had a solid script and a very nice cast including the underrated Aisha Hinds, and The Whole Truth which brings back Joely Richardson to the Jerry Bruckheimer drama, that focus on both sides of the law, with the other side shown by Rob Marrow. Joely is one of my favorite actresses and the script was a refreshing legal concept. The third drama pickup is My Generation (also called Generation Y), written tremendously by Noah Hawley (The Unusuals), focuses on a class of kids that were in a documentary in high school, and now are being looked at once again 10 years later. The class includes actors such as Mechad Brooks, Jamie King, and Kelli Garner.

In terms of current shows at ABC, a personal favorite V has been renewed for a second season, and now multiple sources including EW, are reporting that Better off Ted, Romantically Challenged, Scrubs, and FlashForward, are all cancelled.

CBS picked up their first freshman entry today, Mike and Molly. The pilot about a couple that meets at a meeting for “larger” people is from their favorite creator Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory) and stars the wonderful women Melissa McCarthy and Swoosie Kurtz.

Lastly on the cable side, partner networks TBS and TNT, who are both doing presentations next week, picked up new series. TBS greenlit Glory Daze, which stars a crew of unknowns that play 80′s college students in Wisconsin. Finally in a pilot started at TBS, Franklin and Bash moved to TNT and Lynette Rice at EW is reporting has been okay-ed for series. The pilot about street smart lawyers stars Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

Stay tuned throughout the night, tomorrow, and the weekend for the latest in advance of the Upfronts next week.