- Mar 11, 2009
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I have the dumb luck of viewing most all network TV pilots before they air. So here goes some thoughts on what I've seen, my impressions. These are generally in order of preference and if I think they'll succeed, from good to bad. I haven't seen everything, but quite a bit, so here goes.
Person of Interest - This is an almost certain hit and success. It's a very good set-up with a lot of potential, and Jim Caveziel is terrific as the lead. Some of the other pilot episodes I liked a little more, but this was a very good pilot and the show should have a lot of staying power.
Unforgettable - A very intriguing concept, and the pilot was very well played out, about a woman who remembers almost everything she sees or hears...almost. This one also seems to have a lot of potential and I think could be a hit.
Revenge - This ABC show has a great shot at being the next Harper's Island. I can't see it lasting past one season, but that may not matter, as there could be enough material here to make one terrific series of 20 (or so) episodes. Really slick looking, good story development with great characters. Out of ever show I watched, this one had the greatest sense of immediate involvement.
PanAm - I'm biased towards it because I was a boy in the jet set age and was fortunate enough to fly PanAm a few times, and am very nostalgic about those times. I did like the show quite a bit though. It looked wonderful, and had a story that moved along well. ABC has a history of pulling the plug on series that are costly and don't perform quickly, and that would be the one thing that could kill this.
A Gifted Man - The teaser trailers for this look much less than the pilot actually was. This was maybe the very best pilot I saw. It was very touching, moving, smart, and looked like the writers spent a lot of time refining it. But as excellent as the pilot was, I don't know how much staying power the series has. It almost seems like this would have been better as a 2-hour movie, or mini-series. Still, I hope you all can catch the pilot.
Prime Suspect - New Maria Bello show. This too was good, has promise. But it's also cliched. Newcomer woman into an old-boy's club of NYC detectives, and she solves the crime they couldn't. But she was very good, the look and feel of the show was good, the pacing of the story was good, and it felt like real New York in many ways.
Ringer - Sarah Michelle Gellar show that moved very well, a lot of intrigue to it. Great set-up, and I think a fair amount of room to develop. Should be a real hit I think.
The Playboy Club - NBC's answer to PanAm (or the inverse) perhaps. Eddie Cibrian (from CSI Miami, others) and David Krumholz (from Numb3rs) are both good in this and help carry it. Amber Heard is of course adorable. It held my interest, but it didn't quite have the same sense of wonder and authenticity that PanAm does though. There are sub plots at work, but not quite on the level you'd expect. For fans of Numb3rs, Krumholtz has one great line in it that will make you laugh out loud. I was expecting something more grand, but that may come with time.
Alcatraz - This FOX show apparently won't premier until mid-season. Rumors are FOX felt it was just too weird and may be re-tooled, but I liked it okay. It had a great opening scene, and an interesting, if strange concept involving the Alcatraz prison (then and now), time travel, transmigration of the soul, and a shadow government agency!
Hart of Dixie - CW show about a doctor moving to Alabama. Think "Southern Exposure", though it didn't look like it had that charm to be honest.
Secret Circle - Another CW show, this one about teenage witches in a small town. Moved along okay, I think it will appeal to people much younger than me.
2 Broke Girls - I'm not really into sitcoms, but this one had a good set-up, characters, and some laughs. Could be a hit.
Last Man Standing - Another sitcom, and this one really made me laugh at times. I see potential here too.
Man Up - The missus liked this one a lot, but it was too silly for me.
The Finder - Light hearted answer to The Mentalist. Looked nice, but too silly for me. Still it moved well and may catch viewers.
Suburgatory - I didn't think this looked that good judging from the previews, but it wasn't bad. Jeremy Sisto (Law & Order, many more) does a very good job and there was a fair amount going on with some good characters in amusing scenes.
Grimm - Unique, but a little disappointing. Shot in my home town, and I know at least one person on crew and have talked to some talent that are extras. But the show didn't do much for me. Looked like it needed another draft or two of writing, and I don't see how this can last a long time as a series.
New Girl - Okay, I watched it, can't remember what happened. Not a good sign, huh?
How to be a Gentleman - Meh. Okay I guess.
Charlie's Angels - Wow. Really bad. Could hardly make it through it. Hot girls, but that's about it.
And now for the very bottom, the one show that was so absurd, and painful, I couldn't even make it through the pilot:
The River - I can't even explain how difficult it was to watch this. Maybe because it had Spielberg and Oren Peli's name attached my expectations were too high, but the whole thing was just absurd, recycled, cliched nonsense.
I left a few off, but this is what I remember. If any more come to mind, I'll make another post or just edit this one.
Shows start airing next week, so get your remote ready and TiVo programmed!
Person of Interest - This is an almost certain hit and success. It's a very good set-up with a lot of potential, and Jim Caveziel is terrific as the lead. Some of the other pilot episodes I liked a little more, but this was a very good pilot and the show should have a lot of staying power.
Unforgettable - A very intriguing concept, and the pilot was very well played out, about a woman who remembers almost everything she sees or hears...almost. This one also seems to have a lot of potential and I think could be a hit.
Revenge - This ABC show has a great shot at being the next Harper's Island. I can't see it lasting past one season, but that may not matter, as there could be enough material here to make one terrific series of 20 (or so) episodes. Really slick looking, good story development with great characters. Out of ever show I watched, this one had the greatest sense of immediate involvement.
PanAm - I'm biased towards it because I was a boy in the jet set age and was fortunate enough to fly PanAm a few times, and am very nostalgic about those times. I did like the show quite a bit though. It looked wonderful, and had a story that moved along well. ABC has a history of pulling the plug on series that are costly and don't perform quickly, and that would be the one thing that could kill this.
A Gifted Man - The teaser trailers for this look much less than the pilot actually was. This was maybe the very best pilot I saw. It was very touching, moving, smart, and looked like the writers spent a lot of time refining it. But as excellent as the pilot was, I don't know how much staying power the series has. It almost seems like this would have been better as a 2-hour movie, or mini-series. Still, I hope you all can catch the pilot.
Prime Suspect - New Maria Bello show. This too was good, has promise. But it's also cliched. Newcomer woman into an old-boy's club of NYC detectives, and she solves the crime they couldn't. But she was very good, the look and feel of the show was good, the pacing of the story was good, and it felt like real New York in many ways.
Ringer - Sarah Michelle Gellar show that moved very well, a lot of intrigue to it. Great set-up, and I think a fair amount of room to develop. Should be a real hit I think.
The Playboy Club - NBC's answer to PanAm (or the inverse) perhaps. Eddie Cibrian (from CSI Miami, others) and David Krumholz (from Numb3rs) are both good in this and help carry it. Amber Heard is of course adorable. It held my interest, but it didn't quite have the same sense of wonder and authenticity that PanAm does though. There are sub plots at work, but not quite on the level you'd expect. For fans of Numb3rs, Krumholtz has one great line in it that will make you laugh out loud. I was expecting something more grand, but that may come with time.
Alcatraz - This FOX show apparently won't premier until mid-season. Rumors are FOX felt it was just too weird and may be re-tooled, but I liked it okay. It had a great opening scene, and an interesting, if strange concept involving the Alcatraz prison (then and now), time travel, transmigration of the soul, and a shadow government agency!
Hart of Dixie - CW show about a doctor moving to Alabama. Think "Southern Exposure", though it didn't look like it had that charm to be honest.
Secret Circle - Another CW show, this one about teenage witches in a small town. Moved along okay, I think it will appeal to people much younger than me.
2 Broke Girls - I'm not really into sitcoms, but this one had a good set-up, characters, and some laughs. Could be a hit.
Last Man Standing - Another sitcom, and this one really made me laugh at times. I see potential here too.
Man Up - The missus liked this one a lot, but it was too silly for me.
The Finder - Light hearted answer to The Mentalist. Looked nice, but too silly for me. Still it moved well and may catch viewers.
Suburgatory - I didn't think this looked that good judging from the previews, but it wasn't bad. Jeremy Sisto (Law & Order, many more) does a very good job and there was a fair amount going on with some good characters in amusing scenes.
Grimm - Unique, but a little disappointing. Shot in my home town, and I know at least one person on crew and have talked to some talent that are extras. But the show didn't do much for me. Looked like it needed another draft or two of writing, and I don't see how this can last a long time as a series.
New Girl - Okay, I watched it, can't remember what happened. Not a good sign, huh?
How to be a Gentleman - Meh. Okay I guess.
Charlie's Angels - Wow. Really bad. Could hardly make it through it. Hot girls, but that's about it.
And now for the very bottom, the one show that was so absurd, and painful, I couldn't even make it through the pilot:
The River - I can't even explain how difficult it was to watch this. Maybe because it had Spielberg and Oren Peli's name attached my expectations were too high, but the whole thing was just absurd, recycled, cliched nonsense.
I left a few off, but this is what I remember. If any more come to mind, I'll make another post or just edit this one.
Shows start airing next week, so get your remote ready and TiVo programmed!
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