November TV Premier Roundup

Though we're more than two months into the traditional TV season, new shows continue to bow. Below is a recap of three new shows that came out last week.

Monday Nights:
Almost Human, Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered November 17 and 18)
Synopsis: Prior to the start of the season, "Almost Human" was one of the most hotly anticipated shows. It comes from producer J.J. Abrams, it was created by "Fringe" showrunner J.H. Wyman, and it stars Michael Ealy and Karl Urban. It also had a cool premise and trailer. Sci-fi geeks, drama geeks, and Abrams devotees were all in on this one. Curiously, FOX announced it would debut on November 4. Then it pushed that debut back two weeks, locked it into a two-night premier behind football, and hoped America would eat it up. The premier drew OK ratings — including a 3.1 in the target 18-49 demographic — but nothing incredible. And there's a reason for that. Despite all the talent and potential, "Almost Human" isn't a great show. There's time to make it work. I trust the talent behind the camera and the two leads, who have developed a strong rapport during two hours. But this isn't what I expected, and that's probably true for a lot of people. I loved "Fringe." It is in the pantheon of my favorite shows of all time, so I figured this would have a "Fringe" vibe. It doesn't have that strong of characters, or that compelling of an overall narrative to this point. Instead, it feels sort of like "Law & Order" with robot cops, a few jokes, and set in the future. That's not an indictment of the show — after all, network dramas need some kind of serialized hook — it's just not what I expected. There is fertile ground to mine here, if the writers can get there, but will the audience stick around? There was little compelling about the pilot episode. I watched the two episodes back-to-back, so I didn't have to spend a day wondering if it was worth returning to, but I'll be interested to see what last night's ratings are as the show settles into its permanent time slot. The supporting cast doesn't offer a lot, and so far the main characters aren't completely compelling. I thought the second episode was a mild improvement — though the case was much more unsettling — but in the snap judgement world in which we live, that might not be enough. With "Sleepy Hollow" getting off to a good start in September and earning a quick second season pick up, "Almost Human" has a lot of work to do if it's going to stick.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C+

Thursday Nights:
Black Mirror, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on Audience (DirecTV)
Synopsis: On the original programming channel for DirecTV you can usually find interesting fare if you know where to look. Sometimes it's previews of upcoming drama and comedy series on pay cable. Other times, it's series imported from other countries. "Black Mirror" is a British series that has been likened to "The Twilight Zone." It has six episodes, and it debuted in the UK in December of 2011. Now the series is getting a run in the United States on the Audience Network. For those who get the channel, you can see the series, but be warned, it's unsettling. The series was created by Charlie Brooker and is meant to show the dark side of technology and life. The first episode — "National Anthem" — certainly accomplishes this goal in an unsettling way. The series takes a look at our quick need for information, the way information spreads, and the way public opinion alters policy. It is meant to be somewhat realistic and unsettling. One of the things you have to admire in British TV, especially in a show like this, is the risk it takes. It's hard to imagine an American version that depicted the President of the United States forced to make the same choice as the Prime Minister does in the first episode. It was difficult to watch, makes you think, and sticks with you after it's over. I found it unsettling and disturbing, but that's the point. Brooker is taking a hard look at where we're headed as a society, and if we're honest — as "Black Mirror" is — we're not headed anywhere good.
Pilot Grade: A-

Ground Floor, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on TBS (Premiered November 14)
Synopsis: Bill Lawrence — who created "Scrubs" and "Cougar Town" — is back with another workplace comedy of sorts. It features a group of money managers who work on the top floor and a group of low-achievers who manage the building and facilities on the bottom floor. The two worlds never intertwine, except that money manager Brody (Skylar Astin) and ground floor worker Jennifer (Briga Heelan) hook up. When that hook up becomes more than a one-time thing, the worlds start to merge. This causes conflict with Jennifer's co-workers, as well as Brody's boss, Mr. Mansfield (John C. McGinley). I liked "Scrubs" and I like McGinley and Astin, so I gave this show a chance. It's OK, but the episodes felt very uneven. I'm sure this was pitched to networks before landing on TBS. It's the kind of light comedy that can work on cable. I was a fan of "My Boys," which was one of TBS' first original comedy series. "Ground Floor" isn't that good yet, but I think it has the potential to get there. The pilot was funny and the second episode was about the same. It's not incredible, but since many of the comedies that debuted on networks have been hit or miss as well, this is in keeping with that model.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+