Summer TV Roundup, Week Twelve

In this space each week I review the new shows of summer. There have been many, but it's a mixed bag. I review the pilot and second episode of new shows. If you don't see a new show from summer listed here, please check previous weeks.

Tuesday Nights:
Food Fighters, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC
About: I'm just going to be upfront — I can't be impartial about Adam Richman, who gave the world "Man vs. Food," or food shows in general. I like seeing the dishes and thinking about what they might taste like. And I like Richman as a host. So It was pre-ordained that I would watch this show — which pits home cooks against celebrity chefs. They cook the home cooks recipes, then an impartial panel judges the final product and the home cooks hope to win money. It's an interesting twist on the cooking show premise, which is fun, and it's also about a lot of fascinating recipes. I was also excited that this show was fun, well put together, and fascinating. It could be my Richman/food show bias, but I thought it was one of the best new shows of the summer. Of course, this kind of show can vary greatly based on the personalities of the contestants, but so far I think this is a hit.
Pilot Grade: A

Wednesday Nights:
The Divide, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on WE
About: Every network is jumping into the fray when it comes to original programming. The latest is WE TV, which is airing its first original drama, "The Divide." It's about lawyers who work for the justice project, a group that seeks to make sure death row inmates aren't wrongly convicted. To this point, it appears the first season will center on a single case, and how true justice can prevail. The cast is led by Marin Ireland, who plays Christina. She still needs to pass the bar exam to become a full-fledged lawyer, but she's passionate and driven, in part because her father sits on death row. Christina is convinced he's innocent, but thus far she's been unable to free him. So she channels her energy — and her anger — into helping others. This show comes from Tony Goldwyn and Richard LaGravenese, who have crafted an interesting world with some good characters. There is a lot going on in this show, and that's a good thing. It's interesting that, along with "Rectify" on Sundance, this is another show that calls into question the justice system, particularly as it pertains to the death penalty. There is a lot to chew on here, and a lot to think about. It's a well acted, well-crafted show. For their first foray into drama, WE has hit on something with "The Divide."
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B

Thursday Nights:
Rush, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on USA
About: USA is clearly trying to shake up its brand and image, and "Rush" accomplishes that. It's "Royal Pains" without the humor or compassion. As a main character, Rush (Tom Ellis) may be a great doctor but he's kind of a jerk. He's also not sympathetic. Each of the first two episodes has seen him do illegal and immoral things, copious amounts of drugs, hurt those closest to him, and not really care about or suffer any consequences. Anti-hero is a fine place to start, but there has to be a redeeming quality or a compelling reason to watch and care. Dr. Gregory House made us angry, but he also saved a lot of people and cared for those around him more than he let on. That's why we invested in "House" for years. Rush is a cad who revels in being a cad and whores his medical skills out to the highest bidder, no matter who they are. Sure, he felt bad at the end of the pilot — channeling that disappointment into beating a man with a baseball bat. That's not heroic. Some might consider that just, but I don't. And the rest of the show around him is nothing to write home about, either. "Rush" may be an attempt to expand the typical brand, but USA would be better served to find a good show, not just one that pushes boundaries. "Rush" isn't that show.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: D

Satisfaction, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on USA
About: USA's other attempt at brand shake up is dark and uncomfortable, but at least seems to have a larger point. "Satisfaction" is about a long married couple living the American Dream — at least to those who view them from a distance. Up close, Neil (Matt Passmore) and Grace (Stephanie Szostak) are desperately unhappy in their own ways. In the pilot, Neil tries to quit his job and discovers his wife is seeing a male escort. He never confronts her, but instead decides to moonlight as an escort himself. That seems to bring a bit of a spark back to their marriage, and the second episode — where again they never talk to each other about their real problems — seemed to imply that both needed that time with others to help heal their marriage. It's an unsettling suggestion. There is also a weird element about the scored male escort and how he's trying to get back at Neil and Grace. At times in the second episode I felt a strong "Unfaithful" vibe from the show. I think this show is much better executed than "Rush," and it also has more likable and compelling characters. They're flawed, sure, but there are some reasons, and some signs of growth or an openness to growth. That being said, this is a hard and depressing show to watch. I think it comes down to a matter of personal preference, and my preference is to steer clear of this kind of story, and what it says about marriage. The people behind the show suggested this was an honest look at the state of marriage in 2014. Maybe that's true, but it shouldn't be. This is not a reality I want to embrace, especially on a weekly basis.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C

Dating Naked, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on VH1
About: We have nearly exhausted our reserve of ideas for reality shows, so all these new shows are basically twists on a familiar premise. This is a dating show, in the tradition of so many dating shows on TV. Contestants go on dates with three different people in three days and hope to find "the one." The twist here being they are on an island and all the dates are done in the nude. That sounds like a funny and interesting premise for a show, and it is for about five minutes. Then it just becomes another sad dating show. There is little original here — except for maybe the contestant's tattoos — and thus no compelling reason to tune in week after week.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: D

Married, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on FX
About: "Married" is a show that showed vast improvement from its pilot to episode two. That sounds like high praise, but it's not. In the pilot, "Married" took two incredibly likable leads — Nat Faxon and Judy Greer — and consigned them to completely unlikeable characters and a ghastly plot. I was disturbed by the crass nature of the first episode, and how it treated its main characters. But I read some reviews that suggested the pilot might be an outlier for the series. This happens from time to time. Sometimes the pressure of being original, or a direction you think will work, doesn't pan out in the pilot. Often, the pilot can end up being the worst episode of a successful sitcom. Maybe that will be the case with "Married." The second episode was by no means great, but it was an improvement. Faxon and Greer were allowed to be somewhat charming, they had better chemistry among their characters, and there were genuine moments of comedy. It was still kind of weird, sometimes dark, and a little down on the concept of marriage, but it was better. I don't know if this is a show that will work, but the second episode was encouragement that it might be better than it was that first night.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C

You're The Worst, Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. on FX
About: On paper, this seems like a mean show and a tough watch. At times it is. It's about two acerbic people who hook up, thinking that's all it will be. But it turns out their dour approach to life might make them perfect for each other. But this isn't a show about soul mates, easy pairings, or even traditional romance. However, leads Aya Cash and Chris Geere make the show interesting. It has an edge, but it also has some heart, which is something you might not expect. I thought this would be a rough watch, but I was pleasantly surprised by the way the first two episodes worked. I don't know what this show will be like going forward, but for now it's probably the most interesting and most watchable of the all the new shows that debuted two weeks ago on Thursday nights. And that's a surprise.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Sunday Nights:
The Lottery, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Lifetime
About: This show has a similar story and premise as the P.D. James novel "Children of Men," which became an excellent film in 2007. One of the people who worked on that film, Timothy J. Sexton, created this show and looks to expand on the themes and the world. In theory I'm high on that idea. I loved "Children of Men," and I loved the potential for what could happen with a bigger film that expanded the world. However, this show feels like political maneuvering and nefarious government plots. The characters and story have yet to coalesce, and worse yet I'm not that interested. There was plenty of potential here, and I still like the idea, but in practice "The Lottery" has been a disappointment.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-