If only this were called Friends With A Better Show. This had a lot of pluses going into it: James Van Der Beek, following a career reviving turn in Don’t Trust The B in Apt 23, Zoe Lister Jones, who was one of the bright spots on Whitney, Brooklyn Decker, who is drop dead gorgeous, and Majandra Delfino, who I have been waiting for a starring role since Roswell went off the air back in 2002. Sadly, this show quickly squandered all of the good will I had for it and I was done after 2 episodes. America must have felt the same way, as CBS cut its losses and axed the show a month and a half after its debut.
Tag / Whitney
Post Mortem – Whitney
Whitney was one of two network television shows created by Whitney Cummings to premiere during the fall of 2011. It also was the one that she also starred in, and was the one that got cancelled after 2 less than stellar seasons.
This show was a surprise renewal after its first season and, after a retooling that dropped one character and turned another one from a cop to a bar owner, struggled through a second season before being put out of its misery. The one bright side, at least to my mind, was Rhea Seehorn, who has also appeared on TNT’s Franklin & Bash. Besides her, the show was mostly a mess and it certainly will not be missed.
Midseason Review – Fridays
It’s time to wrap up our look back at my thoughts on the new fall season’s slate of Friday shows.
7:00
Whitney – There were some good things about this show last season, but I’m honestly somewhat surprised that it got renewed. Of course, being dumped on Friday nights doesn’t show much confidence on NBC’s part that the show will be able to grow an audience. Speaking of a network having no confidence…
NBC scrapped their Friday night plans early on and Whitney never aired in this timeslot. It did eventually return on Wednesdays following the demise of Animal Practice. The show dropped a character, added a new one, and gave the gang a new bar to hang out at.
7:30
Community – I’m shocked, but pleased, the Community is coming back for a fourth season, even if it is without creator Dan Harmon. This has been one of my favorite shows over the past few years, but it remains to be seen if it can keep up without its singular voice running the ship.
Again, Community never aired in its Friday timeslot. It is currently scheduled to debut next month after 30 Rock wraps up its run.
8:00
Made In Jersey – I’m not sure if I’m going to give this one a try, but star Janet Montgomery did impress during the second season of Human Target.
I did manage to give it one episode, which was only one less than CBS, if memory serves. The only thing it had going for it was Janet Montgomery’s attractiveness, which wasn’t worth an hour commitment.
Fringe – The 5th, and final, season is slated for 13 episodes and picks up after last season’s trip to the future, a future where Anna Torv’s Olivia is no longer amongst the living.
The show wraps up its run with tonight’s series finale. I must admit that I didn’t dig this season’s jump into the future as much as I did past seasons.
Nikita – The third season finds Nikita back with Division after taking down Percy last year.
I’m not sure why this show is still on the air, but it chugs along in relative obscurity, neither exciting me or disappointing me.
9:00
Blue Bloods – Year 3 of CBS’s dependable, if not spectacular, police procedural.
Another procedural from CBS that just is what it is.
The only new Friday show I’m somewhat interested in is Banshee, thanks to the good folks at Cinemax.
2012 New Fall Season – Fridays
It’s time to wrap up our look at the new fall season with Friday’s slate of shows.
7:00
Whitney – There were some good things about this show last season, but I’m honestly somewhat surprised that it got renewed. Of course, being dumped on Friday nights doesn’t show much confidence on NBC’s part that the show will be able to grow an audience. Speaking of a network having no confidence…
7:30
Community – I’m shocked, but pleased, the Community is coming back for a fourth season, even if it is without creator Dan Harmon. This has been one of my favorite shows over the past few years, but it remains to be seen if it can keep up without its singular voice running the ship.
8:00
Made In Jersey – I’m not sure if I’m going to give this one a try, but star Janet Montgomery did impress during the second season of Human Target.
Fringe – The 5th, and final, season is slated for 13 episodes and picks up after last season’s trip to the future, a future where Anna Torv’s Olivia is no longer amongst the living.
Nikita – The third season finds Nikita back with Division after taking down Percy last year.
9:00
Blue Bloods – Year 3 of CBS’s dependable, if not spectacular, police procedural.
Things I Love
In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are some things I love.
Community has been off the air for a few months now, and I still miss it every Thursday night when it isn’t on. I understand that people have a problem following a sitcom that doesn’t follow the normal tropes of the genre, but that doesn’t make it any easier to take when NBC continues to air the likes of Whitney, the silly Chelsea Handler show, and Grimm. The cast is phenomenal, especially Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, and Alison Brie. Speaking of whom…
Aside from her role on Community, Alison Brie also appears on Mad Men and made a big screen appearance last year in Scream 4. Continue reading →
Midseason Review – Thursdays
Nearing the end of our look back at the fall television season.
CBS
Big Bang Theory – The nerds return for more fun.
This show has wisely mixed things up, with the focus nearly equal between the guys and the girls. The additions of Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik to the cast have made a strong show even stronger. There was one occassion where the show fell victim to the main charge of its critics, where it laughed at nerds instead of with them. Hopefully that was a blip and not a tonal shift.
How To Be A Gentleman – This looks to be horrible. I doubt it lasts through November sweeps.
And it didn’t.
Person Of Interst – Michael Emerson’s first post-Lost series. That alone is enough of a reason to give this a chance.
This is not really a bad show, but it isn’t really a good one and it seems like a total waste of Michael Emerson’s talents. It looks like they may be mixing things up a bit by bringing Taraji P. Henson into the fold, so maybe that will help.
The Mentalist – Based on the premiere, it will be more of the same from The Mentalist. It’s a good enough show, but I can see it burning out quickly if they don’t shake things up sometime soon.
More of the same indeed. The addition of one of the kids from the new Melrose Place as the new boss is kind of weird, but beyond that, nothing really new.
NBC
Community – Back for a surprising third season. John Goodman has joined in a recurring role, and, so far, looks to have brought his A-game.
Well, John Goodman only appeared 2 or 3 times, but this season has been bizarrely brilliant. Of course, this means that NBC has pulled it from the schedule, claiming it will return at some undetermined point in the future. I know 3 seasons is more than most series see, but losing this show will hurt more than most. Continue reading →
Midseason Review – Wednesdays
Time to look back on our thoughts regarding Wednesday’s television slate from the fall.
CBS
Criminal Minds – Last season saw A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster written out of the show and replaced by Rachel Nichols. Someone must have realized it was a mistake, as this season Rachel Nichols has been replaced by A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster. As it enters its seventh season, it may not be the best move to return back to the old status quo.
Well, we certainly are back to the status quo. It is still entertaining, but I don’t know how long you can keep beating this horse before he dies.
NBC
Up All Night – Two espisodes in and it has been decent so far, with the appeal of Christina Applegate cancelling out the annoyances of Will Arnett. The scenes at home with the baby have far surpassed those at work to this point.
This has turned into a pretty decent show, and has been rewarded with a move to Thursdays. Christina Applegate has been her usually charming self and I have even come to enjoy Will Arentt’s performance in this. Continue reading →
2011 New Fall Season – Thursdays
CBS
Big Bang Theory – The nerds return for more fun.
How To Be A Gentleman – This looks to be horrible. I doubt it lasts through November sweeps.
Person Of Interst – Michael Emerson’s first post-Lost series. That alone is enough of a reason to give this a chance.
The Mentalist – Based on the premiere, it will be more of the same from The Mentalist. It’s a good enough show, but I can see it burning out quickly if they don’t shake things up sometime soon.
NBC
Community – Back for a surprising third season. John Goodman has joined in a recurring role, and, so far, looks to have brought his A-game.
Upfronts Day 0
NBC jumped the gun and released their schedule for the upcoming fall season a day early. Chuck returns for a 13 episode final season, moving to Friday nights. 30 Rock gets bumped to mid-season due to Tina Fey’s pregnancy. Harry’s Law gets a surprise renewal and moves to Wednesdays.
New dramas in the fall include Prime Suspect, starring Maria Bello as a homicide detective fighting her way through the boys club. The Playboy Club tries to follow in the footsteps of Mad Men and goes back to the 60s at the legendary Chicago club. Grimm tries to follow in the footsteps (notice a pattern here?) of Supernatural, following a group of hunters going after the creatures from the Grimm fairy tales. Awake (finally a somewhat new premise) is a drama about a man who wakes up from an accident to find out he is living in two parallel worlds, one where his wife died in the accident and one where his son died.
On the comedy front, Whitney is a starring vehicle for roast sensation Whitney Cummings. Up All Night is “a modern take on parenthood.” Free Agents is based on a cult UK comedy and returns Anthony Head, TVs Giles, to America’s shores. Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea is inspired by the book from late night host Chelsea Handler and stars Laura Prepon. Best Friends Forever looks at best friends who promise to support each other. Bent is about a couple who are attracted to each other despite not having much in common.