Summer TV Roundup, Week Eleven

Here's a look at the new shows rolling out this summer. In this weekly space I review the pilot and second episode of new shows, of which there have been many. If you don't see a new show below, please check previous weeks.

Monday Nights:
Seed, Mondays at 9 p.m. on the CW
About: This is a TV show that aims to mine some of the territory covered in "Delivery Man." It's about a slacker who donated to a sperm bank and then, years later, was found by some of the children he fathered. Now he's trying to be involved, at least to some extent, in the lives of the kids and their parents. But where as in "Delivery Man" Vince Vaughn's character used the experience to help in practical ways and to grow up a bit himself, that doesn't seem to be the focus of "Seed." The pilot was mildly amusing in spots, though not really compelling. The second episode felt like a giant step backwards. It wasn't funny or well-executed, and if anything the central character appears to be having a negative impact on the kids and their families. It almost feels like "Seed" is trying to cultivate a bit of the feel of "About A Boy," but it's going about it all wrong. There is little likable about the central character, and little memorable about the supporting characters. This is one of the first forays into comedy for the CW, and it's a miss.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: D-

Backpackers, Mondays at 9:30 p.m. on the CW
About: This is the CW's other comedy, and it's much worse. That seems hard to believe based on "Seed," but it's true. "Backpackers" is easily the worst new show I've seen this year, and by far the worst new show of the summer. It feels like a college video project gone awry. This show started as a digital short, which might explain the poor story, choppy feel, and odd production. It is a complete mis-fire with no redeeming qualities.
Pilot Grade: F
Second Episode: F

Wednesday Nights:
Extant, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on CBS
About: This is a high-concept drama, featuring Steven Spielberg as a producer and Halle Berry — and Oscar winner — in the lead role. The show has tried to squeeze in a lot of possible story, a lot of characters, and the portent of a lot of evil in its first two episodes. But what it hasn't done is create any compelling characters or a clear story arc. I'm not totally sure what this show is about or where it's going, and that's a problem. In addition it's been strange and boring. This was a big swing for the fences for a lot of those involved, including CBS, which is seeking to explore different genre programs that might work to change its brand. I applaud the ambition of the project, but the show is mediocre at best. The first two episodes didn't provide any compelling reason to keep watching, nor did they suggest a direction the show is heading. It's an interesting idea, but the execution is lacking.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Thursday Nights:
Rush, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on USA
About: USA has spent a long time cultivating its brand. It's about characters, and it usually provides shows that mix comedy, light drama, and sometimes a little action. Its new Thursday night lineup looks to shake that up a bit. "Rush" is a show about a doctor who works as a "medical fixer," in other words he works off the books to meet your medical needs. Whereas USA staple "Royal Pains" took a light-hearted approach to a doctor that caters to the rich in their homes, "Rush" is taking the dark approach. In the pilot his cases were dark, dangerous, and sometimes illegal. Rush, himself, is very troubled. He has a drug habit, he's kind of a cad, and he doesn't really seem connected to anyone. He wasn't a likable character, and the show felt a little boring — though it was certainly trying to play itself up as dangerous. USA is obviously trying to expand its brand, but "Rush" doesn't feel like the kind of show that will help get them there.
Pilot Grade: C-

Welcome to Sweden, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC
About: This comedy comes from Greg Poehler, and is loosely based on his life. It's about a New York City accountant who quits his job and moves to a country where he doesn't even speak the language in the name of love. Poehler — the brother of Amy Poehler — has some charm as a leading man, and he's using his Hollywood connections to land big name guest stars for his sitcom (the second episode featured Will Ferrell). This isn't a terrible show, in fact it has some amusing moments. It's just not particularly great or compelling. During summer when there's so many options — including a lot of out door activities — it's hard to see how this will hold and audience. It's an OK show, but that's just not good enough.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C

Working the Engels, Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC
About: This is NBC's other new sitcom — this one a co-production with Canada. It's about an oddball family that, after the patriarch dies, is forced to come together to save the family law practice and erase the family debt. This is the kind of wacky premise — and quirky characters — that have long been a staple of sitcoms. There is potential in the premise and in the characters outlined in the first two episodes, but it doesn't work in this show. There aren't many laughs to be had during "Engels," and there is little reason to tune in each week. Unlike "Welcome to Sweden," this show didn't show any improvement in its second episode. If anything, it was a little more boring.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: D

Dating Naked, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on VH1
About: At this point, there is very little ground left uncovered when it comes to reality TV. So it seems the latest trend has been to take all these familiar premises and add nudity. That about sums up VH1's new reality dating show, "Dating Naked." The title literally tells you what the show is about. Six singles come to an island — three men and three women. Over the course of three days they go on a series of dates, all completely nude. Then the focal couple — a man and woman — must come to a naked gathering and decide who they want to continue dating. The supposed idea is that if they start their dating relationship without clothes they'll be more vulnerable, open, and honest with each other. That feels like a forced goal, and the pilot of the show didn't really support that idea. It felt like a weird combination of a typical dating show and MTV's "The Real World." In theory it seemed like it would be more interesting and funny than it was in practice. VH1 gets credit for originality, and maybe with different people it would be more interesting, but this essentially feels like more of a curiosity than a good show.

Satisfaction, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on USA
About: Three shows about relationships, and two about marriages, debuted on Thursday night. All of them seem ugly. "Satisfaction" might be the most depressing of those shows. It is about a long-married couple that hit a rough patch, not just with each other but with life in general. Neil (Matt Passmore) has made work the focus of his life for a long time. The problem is he really hates his job. Instead of talking about it with his wife and family, he trudges along until he snaps, freaks out on an airplane, and gets fired. He feels liberated by the experience and goes to tell his wife, Grace (Stephanie Szostak), about it. He finds her having sex with another man. Instead of confronting his wife, Neil chases after her lover, only to discover the man is a high-end male escort. Through a trick of fate, Neil ends up with the escorts phone. Instead of confronting his wife and the real issues he needs to face, Neil answers the phone and moonlights as an escort himself. It seems to bring passion and excitement to his life the same way Grace gets passion and excitement from her time with a male escort. The stars and creator of the show have suggested that this is a profound exploration of American marriage in 2014. Maybe that's true. But it's still depressing, and more than a little icky. Perhaps as the series moves forward Neil and Grace will actually talk to each other. But the pilot, if anything, suggested that each will continue to live their secret lives as the only way they can make their marriage work. That is a depressing premise for a show, and a depressing view of marriage. This is a rough show to watch for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the content. It is also a show that feels out of place on USA.
Pilot Grade: C-

Married, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on FX
About: This is a comedy about a married couple that is struggling to make it work. The pilot was ugly and a rough watch. Essentially it was hard to tell what the couple — played by Nat Faxon and Judy Greer — have in common, or why they are even together. And since Greer's character comes off as cold in the pilot, she suggests that her husband meet his needs — discreetly — by finding someone to have sex with him, because she can't be bothered. That sets up a series of uncomfortable misadventures that don't culminate in Faxon's character stepping outside his marriage, though not for lack of trying. There weren't a lot of laughs, and the pilot seemed to waste the like ability of its two leads. Sometimes the pilot for a comedy is one of its worst episodes. Some critics have suggested that the tone and relationship between the leads improves in subsequent episodes. If so, the show may have some potential because of its leads. But through one episode, this feels like another show that props itself up by portraying marriage as a sentence you can't escape. That feels like a very cliche view, and one I hope "Married" sheds quickly.
Pilot Grade: C-

You're The Worst, Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. on FX
About: The other half of FX's Thursday night relationship comedies is about two toxic singles — played by Chris Geere and Aya Cash — that somehow find each other. In fact, they meet at a wedding that neither really wanted to attend. They engage in some vigorous sex, and believing it's a one-time thing reveal some ugly truths about themselves. Somehow its what both of these sad people really need, and that does of truth draws them back together by the pilot's close. This has some racy content, even by FX standards. The pilot is beyond edgy at times, but it thinks more of its lead characters than other series. It doesn't apologize for their flaws, but it doesn't revel in dark story lines either. It has some amusing moments, and Geere and Cash play off each other well. I wouldn't say I loved the pilot, but after seeing a host of, mostly, depressing new series on Thursday night, this felt a little more watchable. I am curious to see how it develops.
Pilot Grade: C+

Sunday Nights:
The Strain, Sundays at 10 p.m. on FX
About: It's been a busy summer for FX. The network has original series airing on four nights each week, few more highly promoted than "The Strain." This campy take on the vampire genre was meant, in some way, to be the FX answer to "The Walking Dead." If that's the case, it's a big swing and a miss. Based on the novels by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, and run by TV veteran Carlton Cuse, this show has plenty of potential. It doesn't go the teen dream vampire route made popular by "Twilight," nor does it go the steamy sexy route of "True Blood." Instead it goes the virus route, setting up vampirism as a plague that's about to sweep through New York City. The focal character is Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), a virologist from the CDC that is tracking the outbreak. Stoll is a good and likable actor, but he's not given a lot to work with here. The supporting cast also includes some good actors, including "Lord of the Rings" veteran Sean Astin, but so far the series hasn't really exploited its talent. The pilot seemed to try and make a mark through its creature effects and gross-out sequences. That didn't really work. The second episode dialed that back and focused more on characters and story. That didn't really work either. There is still potential with "The Strain," but so far it hasn't developed into much of anything.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

The Lottery, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Lifetime
About: Everyone is jumping into serious dramatic series on cable, and this is Lifetime's foray into a more edgy sci-fi concept. It's set in 2025, and women have stopped having babies. A scientist (Marley Shelton) has found a way to fertilize 100 eggs. Since the youngest people in the world are six-years-old — and there are only six of them — this is great news to the government, which seizes the project and sets up a lottery for 100 lucky women to carry these potential children to term. The discovery offers the potential to save the human race. This show is a take off on the premise of the P.D. James novel "Children of Men," which was made into a feature film starring Clive Owen and Julianne Moore a few years back. The creator of "The Lottery," Timothy J. Sexton, wrote the screenplay for that 2006 movie. It's clear he had more ground he wanted to explore with the concept, and he's doing that with this show. The pilot introduced the world and the players. It was efficient in setting up the concept, but it wasn't totally compelling. There is a lot of directions this show could go, and there is a lot you can explore with this premise, but it remains to be seen how Sexton will go with "The Lottery."
Pilot Grade: C