Tag / Nikita

by jim

Post Mortem – Nikita

nikitaAfter 3 decent, but never really good, seasons, Nikita was thought to be a prime candidate for the chopping block last spring.  The CW, however, surprised everyone by renewing it for a final, 6 episode season which kicked off quietly the Friday before Thanksgiving and ended even quieter the Friday after Christmas.  There was so little promotion that I didn’t even realize it had started airing until the third episode.  Thanks to OnDemand, I was able to catch up.

The final season sets Amanda back up as a threat in order for Nikita and crew to just knock her back down again.  Nikita gives up the freedom and clean slate from the government in order to take down Amanda her way, before disappearing with Michael.

This show provided a weekly shot of stupid action, which certainly serves a purpose, but doesn’t really make itself necessary viewing, so I can’t say that I’ll particularly miss the show.  The fact that it survived as long as it did, much like the title character, is a testament to all involved in the show.

 

by jim

The CW Upfronts

arrow-keyart-closeupIt’s hard to say much about the CW’s upcoming fall schedule, considering they only air 10 hours of programming a week and very few of those hours are filled with anything I am interested in.  Arrow remains in its Wednesday slot, Supernatural returns to Tuesdays for its 25th season, and Nikita gets a mini-season send-off at some point.  Beyond that, lots of vampires and other shows aimed at tween girls.

 

by admin

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.

by jim

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.

by admin

Midseason Review – Fridays

Finishing up our look back at the fall television season.

CBS

Blue Bloods – The surprise hit of last season.  A decently solid show with a small mystery that lurks in the background.

Last season’s mystery has been replaced by the occassional undercover plot, but still a consistent, if unspectacular, performer.

NBC

Chuck – The final season kicks off its thirteen episode run in late October.  It will likely be a fun ride to the finish line.

And tonight is the finale.  It will be sad to say goodbye to the Buy More.  A good show that did not deserve the jerking around it has gotten in recent seasons.

Grimm – All I know is that Jennifer Morrison is involved and it has something to do with the Grimm fairy tales.

See, this is what happens when someone steals your Fall TV Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly and there are two shows with similar backgrounds.  Jennifer Morrison, of course, is on Once Upon A Time.  This show is horrible and I’m surprised it is still on the air.  Yet NBC can’t find a place for Chuck or Community on the schedule.

FOX

Fringe – Peter is gone and the two universe’s have merged into one.  I’m not sure what the new season has in store for us, but I’m on board.

You know, for someone who took at lot of grief for her “stiff” acting style, Anna Torv has played 5 distinct versions of the Olivia character and has applied different nuances to all of them.  She really is quite good and it is a shame she will never be recognized for the work she is doing here.  Also a shame is the ratings the show is getting, making it ever more likely that this will be the final season. Continue reading →

by jim

2011 New Fall Season – Fridays

CBS

Blue Bloods – The surprise hit of last season.  A decently solid show with a small mystery that lurks in the background.

NBC

Chuck – The final season kicks off its thirteen episode run in late October.  It will likely be a fun ride to the finish line.

Grimm – All I know is that Jennifer Morrison is involved and it has something to do with the Grimm fairy tales.

FOX

Continue reading →

by jim

Midseason Review – Thursdays

Our penultimate look back at TV’s most competitive night!  October’s thoughts on Must See TV.

7:00

The Big Bang Theory – A lot of nerds don’t like this show, thinking it always goes for the easy jokes about them and their nerd culture.  I disagree.  Consistently one of the funniest shows on TV.

The move from Mondays has worked out for CBS.  There was a slight blip when Kaley Cuoco missed a few episodes after falling off a horse, but it seems to be back to firing on all cylindars.

Community – A pop culture cornocopia that brings the funny every week.  Plus, it has Annie’s Boobs.

Still great, but it may have gone to the wacky theme episode well once too often in an attempt to replicate the glory that was last year’s paintball episode.  Not to mention a return appearance by Annie’s Boobs.

My Generation – This will be cancelled by the end of October. Didn’t even make it the end of September.

Wow.  I had managed to completely forget about this.

Bones – The gang is brought back together to fight crime.  Again, the relationships between the characters trumps the case of the week.

Continues to be enjoyable. Continue reading →

by admin

2010 New Fall Season – Thursdays

Our most competitive night!  It truly is Must See TV.

7:00

The Big Bang Theory – A lot of nerds don’t like this show, thinking it always goes for the easy jokes about them and their nerd culture.  I disagree.  Consistently one of the funniest shows on TV.

Community – A pop culture cornocopia that brings the funny every week.  Plus, it has Annie’s Boobs.

My Generation – This will be cancelled by the end of October. Didn’t even make it the end of September.

Bones – The gang is brought back together to fight crime.  Again, the relationships between the characters trumps the case of the week.

7:30

$#*! My Dad Says – I had originally planned on giving this a shot due to the goodwill William Shatner had built in Boston Legal (Denny Crane!), but that was before I saw a brief preview.  They should shut down Twitter just because it was the source material for this steaming pile of crap.

Continue reading →