One of the new shows that has at least a hint of freshness is Life. We’ve had detectives who have done time before, Jim Rockford springs to mind, but that was the private kind, in Life the central character returns to the force after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. The closest thing to it is probably Blind Justice which featured a blind detective returning to active duty, but Life has the added bonus that our hero is looking for the man who really committed the crime he did the time for. This should allow for both a crime of the week story as well as a bigger picture that will develop as the series unfolds. Far from the best of the new shows, this still did enough to get me back next week and if it does that it’s done its job.
The worst pilot award goes to Big Shots, it manages to waste a great cast on a badly written piece of fluff. Many shows have crossed the Atlantic; some go one way, some the other, The Office and Cracker being two that made the trip to the US. I’ve seen Big Shots compared to shows like Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City but what it’s really closest to is the British TV comedy Manchild (already remade for US TV but as yet unaired). Taking Manchild’s core idea of four friends sexual misadventures, it reduces the ages from approaching 50 to straddling 40, expands the running time from 30 minutes to an hour, adds more drama and removes most of the humour (actually this latter I think was the result of bad writing rather than planning). Having said that this will probably go on to run for six or seven seasons, but even if it does I’ll have no interest in watching it.
In Part 2 I’ll spout forth on the returning shows on my must watch list – C.S.I., Criminal Minds, and the two best shows on TV – Heroes and Dexter.
Article comments
1 - Rohan
Gah, someone called Heroes the best show on TV, are things really that bad?
If all you're counting is what's running right now, The Office beats Heroes in writing, acting and overall consistency. I know, I know, apples and oranges, but have you seen the premiere of Heroes? The writing has gotten even looser and more 'melo'. At least Nikki/Jessica didn't show up.
And make sure you don't put-off Pushing Daisies for later, it's a great piece of Television.
2 - Ray Ellis
I'd disagree with you on one point. "Big Bang Theory" is the worst pilot I've seen. I'd give it a three-episode run, tops. Still CBS sandwiched it between some other comedies, so it could have a slightly longer life. I wouldn't anticipate a box set, though.
3 - Ron
You are out of your mind on The Big Bang Theory :
Good Ratings For The Big Bang Theory In week 2 Again !!
The show finished # 2 in its time slot behind the mighty Dancing With the Stars, and it built on its How I Met Your Mother lead in by 13%. It also beat NBC's critically acclaimed Chuck by a whopping 14 %.
The Big Bang Theory is thriving !!
4 - Ray Ellis
We'll see. . .
5 - Ty
"While plenty of the new shows are interesting there doesn’t seem to be a surfeit of originality on display. In fact, almost all the newbies I’ve watched feel like throwbacks to the past, although one does have the excuse of being a remake."
And what is your take on "Aliens in America?" Critics are saying that the show is very un-CW like in that it is actually good and not campy.
6 - Chris Beaumont
Aliens in America was surprisingly decent. It still needs a couple of eps to get a grip of itself, but it could turn out well.
Big Bang Thory is medicore at best, and it slipped in its second week, as did Chuck which I like.
Cavemen and Carpoolers are likely early cuts. They are both awful.