Winter TV Roundup, Week Eight

Winter is here, and so are tons of new shows. Below is reviews of the new shows this winter. I review the pilot and second episode of new shows. If you don't see a new show from this winter below, please check previous weeks.

Tuesday Nights:
Repeat After Me, Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC (Premiered February 17)
About: This is the latest reality show. This time it's a hidden camera show with a twist. Celebrities appear in bits each week while Wendi McLendon-Covey is in the studio feeding them what to say and do. Some of the segments are amusing — depending on the willingness and acting ability of the celebrity — but most of it is harmless and unmemorable. There was a time when there were only four channels, limited options, and shows like this seemed charming and like a good way to spend an evening. There's still nothing wrong with the show, but there are plenty of other options. Given that, it's hard to imagine who would seek a show like this out each week. It's fine, but that's about it.
Pilot Grade: C

Thursday Nights:
The Slap, Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC (Premiered February 12)
About: This mini-series, based on an Australian mini-series and novel of the same name, is about a group of friends and family living in New York. While at a birthday party in the first episode, one of the adults slaps a misbehaving child belonging to another couple. The show is about tracking the aftermath and studying the characters in the show. That all seems well and good, if these were characters worth investing in. The story seems a bit absurd, none of the characters are likable, and the way it's been adapted — using voiceovers throughout each episode to detail a characters inner monologue as would be the case in a novel — doesn't work. There are fine actors here, but this is far from a fine or enjoyable show. Bravo to NBC for bringing back the mini-series — once a television staple — and trying something new, but this hasn't panned out. And judging by the ratings, no one is watching anyway.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: C-

The Odd Couple, Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS (Premiered February 19)
About: This is the latest sitcom featuring Matthew Perry. Once a hot commodity coming off of "Friends," Perry has had a lead or co-lead part in a number of shows that haven't panned out. This time it's a re-make of "The Odd Couple" with Thomas Lennon. This show follows pretty much the familiar formula for Oscar (Perry) and Felix (Lennon), with a modern updating. It has a good supporting cast, too, including Dave Foley, Wendell Pierce, and Yvette Nicole Brown. But this feels a little stale, and a little dated. Perry and Lennon are amusing, and they could be amusing together, but the pilot didn't feel like the best showcase of their skills. Perhaps this will be a show that finds its way thanks to a talented cast, but at this point it feels like another retro mis-fire for a major network.
Pilot Grade: C-