Summer TV Roundup, Week 1

In this space I look at the pilots and second episodes of new shows each season. This week we begin summer shows. Why, you ask? In Colorado Springs it's still snowing, how can it be summer. The simple fact is the regular TV year is ending, and it felt like the right time to transition. So here goes… for the next 10-15 weeks.

Monday Nights:
24: Live Another Day, Mondays at 9 p.m. on FOX
About: "24" was a popular series on FOX that debuted in 2001 and lasted eight seasons. Hero Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) kicked butt, took no prisoners, and saved America from terrorists on countless occasions. His methods were brusk, violent, and sometimes dubious. So it seemed fitting that Jack exited TV just about the time we got a new Presidential administration in real life. But in this era where everything old is new again, FOX revived "24" for a limited, 12-episode run this summer. The pilot episode, which could be considered two as they ran in a long block, got the gang back together, introduced the new players, and set some things in motion. It's a different world, so it's possible we'll get a slightly different Jack. It didn't happen in the pilot, but it could happen. Either way, this is the kind of action-oriented show that seems fitting for summer fare. It's easy to slip back into it, even if you didn't follow the original series. (In full disclosure, I watched the first season but none of the subsequent seven during its original run). It has some decent actors rounding out the world, and it feels like a kind of fun event series. Depending on how the ratings go, this could be back again in a limited fashion. We'll have to see how the story develops, too. So far, if you enjoy this type of show and liked the original, you'll be pleased with the new "24."
Pilot Grade: B-

Sunday Nights:
Penny Dreadful, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime
About: This is another limited series. It's creepy and looks to bring together a lot of familiar horror story characters and arcs in a new way. The pilot had a moody elegance and the performances — led by Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, and Josh Hartnett — worked well. This could be an edgier, more cerebral version of what F/X has done with "American Horror Story." Unlike shows on those type of cable networks, there are no boundaries to brush up against on Showtime. The pilot alone featured all the things you'd expect to see from show runners embracing the freedom of cable. That's all fine and well, but you also have to have an interesting story. The pilot episode had the right tone and the right elements, but I wasn't sold on the world. I'm intrigued, but not sold. We'll have to see how it develops from here, and it should develop quickly since it's only slated for an eight-episode run. If it works, it will return for another go-round. This feels like a worthwhile gamble for Showtime, and a series that could be a fascinating delight for fans of the genre.
Pilot Grade: B-