Post Mortem – The Flash

Premiering on The CW on October 7, 2014, The Flash ran for nine seasons and, alongside its progenitor Arrow, built what would become known as the Arrowverse, which included at least six different DC-based programs and multiple crossovers, providing at least 36 seasons of programming for the network.  However, with new owners on board looking to make a quick buck, the end of The Flash looks to be the end of the Arrowverse as well.

At this point, I have not seen most of the abbreviated ninth and final season, which ended earlier this week.  Ever since the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, I’ve been catching up once the season hit Netflix, which I’m sure I will do here as well.  Whatever the actors move on to next, I’m sure I will be willing to give it a chance.  Which is more than I can say for what is coming next on The CW.

Post Mortem – Arrow

Say what you will about Arrow, but it certainly did not fail this network.  Premiering on The CW on October 10, 2012, the show ran for 8 seasons and spawned what would become known as the Arrowverse, which includes fellow DC-based programs The Flash, Supergirl, Legends Of Tomorrow, and Batwoman.  As of today, the Arrowverse has been responsible for 25 seasons of programming on The CW.

The abbreviated 8th, and final, season was a precursor to the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, which not only brought together the heroes from all of the Arrowverse series, but changed the footing underneath them moving forward.  Whatever the actors move on to next, they will always be able to say that, after years of floundering, they gave an identity to The CW.

Midseason Review – Tuesdays

old-tv-set1Continuing our look back at my thoughts on the new fall season, with the offerings that I found myself interested in for Tuesdays.

7:00

The Conners – After a season of nostalgia and a season of curiosity, can the show finally stand on its own two feet? Time will tell.

To be honest, I don’t know how I feel about this show.  I mean, it’s comfortable, like an old robe, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s any good or well worth my time.

The Flash – The gang returns for their sixth season, with Heroes alum Sendhil Ramamurthy onboard as the big bad.

Now that the Flash has survived the Crisis that had been foretold since the earliest days of the series, we’ll see how things change.

7:30

Bless This Mess – After a short run in the spring, Dax Shepard and Lake Bell return for season two, hoping to keep the momentum up for a full season.

I can pretty much take or leave this one, so I guess the decision on whether or not I continue to watch falls on ABC.

8:00

Mixed-ish – Another spinoff of Black-ish, this time focusing on Bow’s adolescence growing up with a white father and a black mother.

Well, I’ve stuck with this longer than I did Grown-ish, but that’s not particularly saying anything.  I think there’s a pretty good show in there somewhere, but I’m not sure anyone, including me, knows how to get it out.

Arrow – The show returns for a short, 10 episode final season, without Emily Bett Rickards.

The Crisis on Infinite Earths is over and, while the multi-verse is safe, Oliver Queen is dead.  If I’m counting right, the show will be wrapping up its run tonight.

This Is Us – The emotionally manipulative hit is back for a fourth season, assuming I ever go back and finish the previous two.

I still haven’t watched since midway through season two.  At what point do I admit that I don’t watch the show and free up some space on the DVR?

8:30

Black-ish – While it is putting spinoffs on the air, I don’t know if moving back to the half hour timeslot is a good sign for a sitcom heading into season 6.

Some weeks, the show still seems like it’s firing on all cylinders.  Others, it seems so tired that you can see all the seams.

Now, let’s see what interesting tidbits are coming this spring:

DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow –  Coming in at the tail end of the Crisis, there will be some additional turnover this year as Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford will be leaving the show this season.

 

2019 New Fall Season – Tuesdays

old-tv-set1Continuing our look at the new fall season, here are the offerings that I may find myself interested in for Tuesdays.

7:00

The Conners – After a season of nostalgia and a season of curiosity, can the show finally stand on its own two feet? Time will tell.

The Flash – The gang returns for their sixth season, with Heroes alum Sendhil Ramamurthy onboard as the big bad.

7:30

Bless This Mess – After a short run in the spring, Dax Shepard and Lake Bell return for season two, hoping to keep the momentum up for a full season.

8:00

Mixed-ish – Another spinoff of Black-ish, this time focusing on Bow’s adolescence growing up with a white father and a black mother.

Arrow – The show returns for a short, 10 episode final season, without Emily Bett Rickards.

This Is Us – The emotionally manipulative hit is back for a fourth season, assuming I ever go back and finish the previous two.

8:30

Black-ish – While it is putting spinoffs on the air, I don’t know if moving back to the half hour timeslot is a good sign for a sitcom heading into season 6.

Midseason Review – Mondays

old-tv-set1We continue our annual look back at the new fall season with Monday night’s offerings.

7:00

Arrow – Season 7 starts with Oliver Queen in jail after being outed as the Green Arrow.

Following the Lost approach of replacing flashbacks with flashforwards.  I imagine the end will be coming sooner rather than later.

The Neighborhood – Max Greenfield and Beth Behrs return as a white family who move into a black neighborhood in LA.

I made it through 2 or 3 episodes before deciding that I had better uses of my time.

8:00

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – The Legends return for their 4th season, one I’m sure to enjoy once I go back and watch season 3.

Thanks to Netflix, I was able to catch up on season 3 and then stay current this season.  It has stopped taking itself seriously in any way, shape, or form, and the show is better off for it.

2018 New Fall Season – Mondays

old-tv-set1We continue our annual look at the new fall season with Monday night’s offerings, which features some returning favorites and a few new shows with some potential.

7:00

Arrow – Season 7 starts with Oliver Queen in jail after being outed as the Green Arrow.

The Neighborhood – Max Greenfield and Beth Behrs return as a white family who move into a black neighborhood in LA.

8:00

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – The Legends return for their 4th season, one I’m sure to enjoy once I go back and watch season 3.

The CW Upfronts

With more shows than spots on the schedule, the CW has finally decided to expand to a 6th night of programming for the first time in 9 years.  Monday gets a brand new look, with Legends of Tomorrow followed by Arrow.  Tuesday remains the same, with the Flash and Black Lightning offering up the second straight night of a double dose of the DC universe.  All American, about a high school football player who moves from Compton to Beverly Hills, follows Riverdale on Wednesdays.

Supernatural returns to Thursday for its 40th season, and will be followed by Legacies, about the next generation of supernatural beings at The Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted.  Friday has Dynasty and the final season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.  The Sunday night offerings are Supergirl and a new version of Charmed, without any of the Halliwell sisters.

The final seasons of Jane The Virgin and iZombie, along with The 100, are on the bench for mid-season.  New shows on tap are In The Dark, about a blind woman trying to get by in the world, and Roswell, New Mexico, a reboot of the former WB and UPN series.

Lost to the sands of time are Hooten & The Lady, Life SentenceThe Originals, Reign, and Valor.

Midseason Review – Thursdays

old-tv-set1Time for our look back at Thursday nights, which has traditionally been the busiest night of the week for my television viewing habits.

7:00

Grey’s Anatomy – The medical drama enters its 14th season, which is astounding considering the number of remaining original cast members.  After the hospital blew up at the end of last season, some changes are bound to be afoot.

Things just keep chugging along at Grey Sloan Memorial.

The Big Bang Theory – The show returns to Thursdays in early November, following the midpoint of the NFL season.

The dynamics have been a little off due to Melissa Rauch’s maternity leave, so hopefully it gets back on track when she’s back full time.

Gotham – I haven’t watched the show since the middle of season 2, so who knows if I’ll even come back to it.

Yeah, I think I’m done.

7:30

The Good Place – After the shocking reveal at the end of last season, Ted Danson and Kristen Bell return to heaven.  Or hell.

I have strong feelings for this show.

Young Sheldon – Is too much Sheldon a bad thing?  CBS hopes not, as this spinoff of The Big Bang Theory goes back to Sheldon’s childhood in Texas.  Will it work?  Only time will tell.

I watched the first episode and saw no reason to return for more.

8:00

Arrow – The team goes through another shakeup after the events of last season.

The strains are starting to show for the original of the CW DC superhero shows.

9:00

S.W.A.T. – Shemar Moore returns to CBS with this update of the 70s show (and 2003 film).

Yeah, I didn’t even bother checking in on this one. Continue reading →

2017 New Fall Season – Thursdays

old-tv-set1Thursday night is traditionally the busiest night of the week for my television viewing habits. Here’s what’s on the slate for this season.

7:00

Grey’s Anatomy – The medical drama enters its 14th season, which is astounding considering the number of remaining original cast members.  After the hospital blew up at the end of last season, some changes are bound to be afoot.

The Big Bang Theory – The show returns to Thursdays in early November, following the midpoint of the NFL season.

Gotham – I haven’t watched the show since the middle of season 2, so who knows if I’ll even come back to it.

7:30

The Good Place – After the shocking reveal at the end of last season, Ted Danson and Kristen Bell return to heaven.  Or hell.

Young Sheldon – Is too much Sheldon a bad thing?  CBS hopes not, as this spinoff of The Big Bang Theory goes back to Sheldon’s childhood in Texas.  Will it work?  Only time will tell.

8:00

Arrow – The team goes through another shakeup after the events of last season.

9:00

S.W.A.T. – Shemar Moore returns to CBS with this update of the 70s show (and 2003 film). Continue reading →

The CW Upfronts

With the least number of spots to fill in their weekly lineup, the CW has added only 2 new shows to their fall slate.  Supergirl returns on Monday, where it will be followed by Valor, a drama about a military team sharing a secret after a botched mission in Somalia.  Tuesday remains the same, with the Flash and Legends of Tomorrow offering up a double dose of the DC universe.  Riverdale moves to Wednesdays, where it will be followed by a re-booted Dynasty.  Supernatural returns to Thursday for its 40th season, and will be followed by Arrow.  Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Jane The Virgin reunite on Fridays.

iZombie will return at mid-season, along with Black Lightning, yet another show from DC, and Life Sentence, starring former Pretty Little Liar Lucy Hale.

Lost to the sands of time are The Vampire Diaries, Reign, No Tomorrow, and Frequency.