Fall TV Roundup, Week Six

Fall is in full swing, which means plenty of new shows. But how many are good? That's always the question. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new shows. If you don't see a new show below, please check previous weeks!


Monday Nights:
Jane The Virgin, Mondays at 9 p.m. on the CW (Premiered October 13)
About: This is an American adaptation of a tele novella. It's about a woman who is trying to make her way in life and saving herself for marriage that is accidentally inseminated by her doctor and ends up pregnant. That seems like a wild concept, and it is, but this show was surprisingly sweet and thoughtful. Some early reviews called this the best in family entertainment. I guess by 2014 network standards, that might be true. But I'm not sure this is a great show for kids and teens — though it is on the younger-skewing CW network. Still, there are some interesting ideas to be mined here. And it's interesting to see the issue of an unwanted pregnancy — particularly one that can derail a young woman's life — handled with such care. The idea of upholding the sanctity of life was refreshing, as was the interesting family dynamic between Jane, her mother, and her grandmother. I see a lot of interesting ways this show could develop, and thanks to the good work of star Gina Rodriguez, it could be fun to see how it develops.
Pilot Grade: B-

Tuesday Nights:
Selfie, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC (Premiered September 30)
About: This is the most high concept comedy attempt of the fall — a sitcom that aims to skewer social media and contemporary culture while creating a standard rom-com set up using the plot of "My Fair Lady." On paper it sounds like a disaster, yet the pilot was somewhat interesting. Yes, some of it was hard to watch and didn't quite work. But I believed in stars Karen Gillian and John Cho, and I thought there was some potential. The pilot for a show, too, is often not the best demonstration of its potential and work. So on to the second episode which was … almost a copy of the pilot. It ramped up the social media jokes, often to illogical degrees (how can someone tag themselves as an inanimate object on Facebook? Even by accident? I don't buy it.). It also dialed down the likeability of Cho and Gillian, which was disappointing. The second episode felt like a big step back and, given the flagging ratings, it doesn't offer much hope for a long-term future for this show.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-

The Flash, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW (Premiered October 7)
About: It has been a good fall development season for the CW, which premiered just two new shows. One is "Jane The Virgin," which has some potential. The other is "The Flash," a DC Comics adaptation that rocked in the ratings during its premier episode. And for good reason. Sure, everyone has a superhero show this season, but few have the energy and charisma of "The Flash." The premier set the stage as an origin story, introduced the world, and put the plot into motion. And it was good. This was, much to my surprise, the best pilot I've seen this fall. This show was everything I'd hoped that "Gotham" would be. There is a bit of lightness, more heroism, and more potential for the long run. The show also does a good job of blending its young actors with more established stars, like Jesse L. Martin and Tom Cavanagh. Plus it was a lot of fun. I look forward to seeing how this show develops.
Pilot Grade: A-

Manhattan Love Story, Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC (Premiered September 30)
About: This is another rom-com trying to stretch itself into a full length series. The hook here is that we can here the thoughts of the man and woman at the center of this comedy. That's a tiresome gimmick that grows even more tiresome because of the cliches that are used to fill the stories here. There's not a lot to like. At times I feel like this is one of the most painful shows I've ever seen. But then, there are some moments of genuine chemistry between the leads Analeigh Tipton and Jake McDorman. I don't like this show, and its flagging ratings suggest it isn't long for this season. That being said, there is some charm from the leads, enough to make you wish there were better writing and execution here.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: C-

Wednesday Nights:
Kingdom, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Audience (Premiered October 8)
About: This is the latest foray into original programming takes on the world of mixed martial arts. Frank Grillo plays King, a gym owner and former fighting champion who is trying to coach his youngest son,  Nate (Nick Jonas), to a championship. He's also trying to keep his gym afloat, reign in his out-of-control older son (Jonathan Tucker), maintain his relationship with girlfriend Lisa (Kiele Sanchez), and re-kindle the career of a former champion, Ryan (Matt Lauria), who's fresh out of prison and used to be engaged to Lisa. In short, there's a lot going on here, and a lot of dysfunction. I thought there was potential here, based on the idea and the great cast. However the first episode was slow and brutal — and I'm not just talking about the action in the ring. There was a lot of vulgar language and plot points in the pilot, which was violent and not overly compelling. I think there are some pieces here, but the pilot didn't put them all together in a compelling way.
Pilot Grade: C-

Stalker, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 1)
About: This is the latest from Kevin Williamson, and it's a dark procedural. The cops — mainly Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott — are almost as warped as the people they're seeking. This follows all the formulas of a typical CBS procedural, but of course the cases are a bit darker and more brutal. In that way it is well paired with "Criminal Minds," a show I used to find fascinating that has devolved into something disgusting. Williamson used to be noted for his wit and creativity as a writer, but I don't see that here. This feels an awful lot like the downhill slide of "The Following," his other dark procedural that's on TV right now. The acting is serviceable, but there is nothing special or compelling here. And with so many better options for dark stories — including "American Horror Story" which airs at the same time — there's no real reason to tune in for this.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: C-

American Horror Story: Freak Show, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on F/X (Premiered October 8)
About: Nothing good ever came of clowns. That's an idiom you can take to the bank, and it's apt for this show. By now we know what to expect from "American Horror Story" and its creator, Ryan Murphy. Each season will feature an ever-growing repertoire of players in different roles. Each season will tell a self-contained story. And each will be terrifying. In 1932, Tod Browning delivered a unique — and uniquely terrifying — horror film in "Freaks." It was about a group of odd-looking sideshow performers that attacked a woman, with reason, and it was creepy. It was unique. It's a movie I thought about as I watched the latest installment of "American Horror Story," dubbed "Freak Show." The faces are familiar, but the story and the characters are new. And the pilot episode was plenty creepy — especially Twisty The Clown (John Carroll Lynch), said to be the scariest clown ever seen. I concur. Clowns are terrifying, but this knife wielding monstrosity is even more terrifying. The rest of the set up also seems intriguing. And with performers like Jessica Lange (in what she says is her final installment), Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, and newcomer Michael Chiklis, there's a lot you can do with these stories. I think this is setting up to be one of the most unsettling installments yet, and that's a good thing.
Pilot Grade: B-

Thursday Nights:
Bad Judge, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC (Premiered October 2)
About: NBC is no longer a must-watch destination on Thursday nights. After trying to resurrect "Must-See TV" last fall, the network has imploded it's former comedy night. "The Biggest Loser" kicks off the evening, but the biggest losers might be fans of NBC comedy, because there aren't a lot of laughs to be hard in the one hour of comedy that does exist on the night. That starts with "Bad Judge." The second episode felt like a mild improvement, but I still don't know what kind of show this is supposed to be. Is this a show about a woman who's personal life is a mess, but who does a good job and cares about people? Is it a show about a woman who's life is a mess and that spills into her personal life? The first episode indicated there was a soft beating heart in this show, the second episode seemed to abandon that entirely. It made Kate Walsh's titular judge out to be really shallow and flawed, all while she was passing judgement on a celebrity who suffered from the same problems. Are we really to believe a judge at any level of the justice system could get high, call 9-1-1 in a state of paranoia, admit to having taken an illegal drug, and not face any consequences? Even the sharpest critic of our legal system would likely cry foul. And the worst crime here is that the show drags and lacks humor. This feels more like a bad concept.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: D

Gracepoint, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered October 2)
About: "Gracepoint" is a hollow imitation of the show it's ripping off, the excellent "Broadchurch," and it seems like the audience knows it. So far the show feels like it's following the blueprint closely — though producers have suggested the ending will be different. This show feels bland compared to the original, and bland compared to other new shows, which is saying something. Many were surprised when FOX chief Kevin Reilly stepped down prior to the start of the fall season. Then we saw the new shows, and it's starting to make sense. "Gracepoint" was supposed to be a 10-episode limited series, and I think FOX will air all the episodes, but I don't see this going anywhere, and it certainly hasn't been the commercial or critical success they'd hoped. In fact, I think FOX wishes it would have kept the flagging "X-Factor," which looks good by comparison to the numbers for "Gracepoint," "Red Band Society," and "Utopia." This is a perfectly pedestrian murder mystery, which just isn't good enough.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-

A to Z, Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC (Premiered October 2)
About: This is a romantic comedy that wants to be a weekly sitcom badly. It's going through its ABCs while telling the story of a couple. Since the narrator lets us know exactly how long they will date, we have to presume the relationship ends in under nine months due to marriage, break up, or death. I loved the movie "500 Days of Summer" because it was unexpected, quirky, and beautifully told. This show badly wants to emulate that formula, and it has winning leads in Cristin Milioti and Ben Feldman, but little else. The supporting cast fizzles, for the most part, and the story in the second episode felt a bit weak. I liked the pilot for this show quite a bit — in fact it's been my favorite sitcom pilot so far — but the second episode felt like a bit of a step backward. Given the competition on Thursday nights, this needs to pick up or we'll never get to know how this love story comes to an end.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C

Friday Nights:
On The Menu, Fridays at 8 p.m. on TNT (Premiered October 3)
About: This is the latest reality show, this time giving home cooks a chance to impress chain restaurants and land a new dish on the menu. The best part is the audience can live vicariously by going out to the restaurant the next day and trying the winning dish. The pilot episode saw chefs creating a new burger for Chilis, while the second episode saw them creating a new breakfast for Dennys. I like the format and the idea. I am a sucker for these kind of shows, and the fact I can try the winning items is icing on the cake. Host Ty Pennington and celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse add to the fun as well. This isn't deep, but it's one of the best new shows on TV.
Pilot Grade: B+
Second Episode: B

Cristela, Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC (Premiered October 10)
About: Last Spring ABC debuted a new lineup of shows that featured a trio of comedies seeking to feature under-represented minority groups. "Black-ish," which premiered in September on Wednesdays is a family comedy that also examines what it means to be black in modern America. "Cristela" is a family comedy, too, but you could argue that it examines what it means to be a latino in America. In fact, much of the pilot seemed to traffic in some cliches and race-relation issues. Cristela Alonzo is a popular comedian, and she pours a lot of herself into this show. She has a likable screen appeal, but I thought this sitcom was a bit bland. There were some mild laughs, but at times the show was a chore to sit through. It is probably well paired with "Last Man Standing" on Friday nights, but it's hard to see this show becoming a big hit.
Pilot Grade: C

Sunday Nights:
Mulaney, Sundays at 9:30 p.m. on FOX (Premiered October 5)
About: John Mulaney is a talented comedian, and was a featured writer for "Saturday Night Live." He's tried to create a bit of a throwback sitcom, one that feels a lot like "Seinfeld." And that's all well and good, but the first two episodes have been rough. The presence of Elliot Gould and Martin Short — comedy legends — has done little to boost this series. In fact, the odd second episode was so focused on odd cliches and phobias that I didn't know what to make of it. Worse yet, the show is stuck in a weird time slot, chasing "Family Guy" and its irreverent brand of humor. "Mulaney" feels like a novel attempt to capture a unique comedy voice, but it just doesn't work. This could well be the first show cancelled this season.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: D

The Affair, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered October 12)
About: The latest Showtime drama is a bit of a mystery. It's the story of an extra-marital affair told from two viewpoints — that of the man involved, played by Dominic West, and that of the woman involved, played by Ruth Wilson. Each has a spouse — Maura Tierney plays West's wife while Joshua Jackson plays Wilson's husband. Each has some family baggage and a unique view of events. And often those view of events differ. In the pilot, we see West's point-of-view, and learn more of his backstory for the first 30 minutes. Then it shifts to Wilson's point-of-view, and we see a lot of the same events and interactions painted in a completely different light. All the while the show jumps some time into the future when both Wilson and West are answering questions for the police, recounting their recollection of events. It's an interesting set up, and there is a lot of potential here. The cast is great, too. And Showtime desperately needs a hit. During the summer "Masters of Sex" and "Ray Donovan" flagged in the ratings, and "Homeland" isn't what it once was. That's what made the pilot for "The Affair" a bit of a disappointment. It has potential, but much of that was untapped in the first hour. Due to the shifting perspectives and time jumps, the narrative felt choppy and, at times, confusing. And it also dragged, which is a problem. I think the ship can get righted, or at least more interesting, but the pilot wasn't the greatest presentation for the show.
Pilot Grade: C