That's been my reaction to most of the new shows this season. I was really looking forward to many of them, although part of me was a little skeptical of all the 'supernatural' type shows. Was it an attempt to give the viewers something new and different or just jumping on the Lost and Heroes bandwagon. No surprise. Most of them left me flat.
Bionic Woman while a remake, which is always suspect, does give a better starting premise for how Jamie Somers becomes bionic. And there are some real issues for her to deal with. But Michelle Ryan has about three expressions she uses throughout. And all are overblown. So, no.
Life seemed like a good premise. A cop who was framed for a murder is given life in prison, but is released after his appeal goes through 15 years later. He gets a huge settlement for wrongful imprisonment, but still goes back to work as a detective. Zen aphorisms pour forth throughout the day. But---dun, dun, daaaaaaaaa---he's really spending his spare time trying to find out who framed him. Again, the overacting really ruined this one for me. Damien Lewis mugs to the camera. Now I was predisposed against him since he played Soames in The Forsyte Saga, but he did a great job in that. Just not here. And the spunky, younger, female partner who is assigned to him as a punishment but we all know will end up in love with him is just one cliche' too many.
Journeyman doesn't stay in one place long enough for the audience to connect with anyone. Since the main character doesn't know what's happening to him, we're just as confused as he is. This is an example of why protagonists who are active are more interesting than those who are acted upon.
There are also a lot of non-supernatural shows starting this season, too. A lot of those that I've watched also fall into the eh category.
Big Shots is the male version of Desperate Housewives. Don't care about the 'trials and tribulations' of rich, beautiful women. The men aren't any more sympathetic or interesting.
Kid Nation raised so much controversy that I did give in and watch the first episode because it sounded like it was so different from the Survivor/Big Brother kind of reality show (which I can't stand--no offense meant to those who enjoy them). Nope. While the kids were busy working things out for themselves, the producers kept inserting themselves through books with hints and then having them split up the town into four groups and then having a contest to determine who gets to be in which social class. So, Survivor with children without the voting off.
Cane has another interesting premise. Cuban-Americans running a sugar and rum business in South Florida. Lots of attractive people enjoying their money. Of course there is the ick factor of Jimmy Smits' character being married to his adoptive sister. This one I might actually watch, but I read from nine until ten and it wasn't quite compelling enough to tape and watch on Saturday. Maybe on DVD later.
I don't generally watch sitcoms so I won't be talking about those. And I still haven't watched Viva Laughlin or Samantha Who? so those will have to wait. Stay tuned for the ones I liked--there were a couple.
6 comments:
I think that quite a few of these supernatural premised shows exist, at least in part, to sieze the hole which Buffy and the spin-offs left. Witness: Moonlight. Vampire P.I.. Terrible writing, bad acting, no originallity in each individual episode. The only thing this show has going for it is vampires. And they aren't that well conceived or depicted or whatever else.
Me and my mom watch Craig Furguson on Late Late night TV. He had the P.I. from Moonlight on his show once, and so we saw a clip of it. P.I. guy, looking kind of freaky, jumps a guy, and goes all guard-dog on him. And we thought, "Moonlight? Freaky guy? Werewolf P.I.! Sweet..."
Nope. Vampires. Le blah.
I find Life funny, quirky. Now I can't say I'm addicted to it like I am to Heroes and Ungly Betty, but I don't mind watching it when I catch it. The new show that really caught me is Chuck. I love him. He's the classic dorky-hot guy, and the show is funny, as well as fun. (I tried to watch Viva Laughlin last night, but the "Oh my God is this corney" factor was too much. This makes me sad, because I'm always looking for new reasons to drool over Hugh Jackman.)
Haven't seen a lot of new shows. Chuck is fun, but I'm not quite hooked yet. If it's on when I start watching TV, great. But I'm not recording it yet.
Journeyman's lead just reminded both me and Jenny way too much of Anthony Michael Hall. I mean, build, hair color & cut, etc. Plus the show is a bit schizophrenic.
I haven't even heard of some of your other examples.
Awww, Whittaker. Moonlight is a romance. It's for the hopeless romantic in some of us. Granted, it's not my favorite show, but I don't mind watching the hot vampire detective brood over the young, human reporter.
OK, so first post to your blog, Deb. Been meaning to, but . . . blah, blah, blah -- just excuses. Ignore my blathering.
So, I really don't watch T.V. I haven't watched a single episode of anything, new season or old. Actually, that's a lie. I'll watch Trading Spaces ocassionally. (Is that even on anymore???) I don't know, I find television to be such a wasteland. When we first went dark, I kicked and screamed about it, being addicted to X-Files the way I was, (yes, it has been THAT long!),but as the months have turned to years, I find that living without the tube is actually quite freeing.
So, for a first post to your blog, this is actually a fizzle. Sorry.
Welcome, Bret. I've never been able to completely walk away from television. Too much a part of the tv generation. But you should be glad you're not missing that much.
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