Summer TV Roundup, Week 9

 

We’re racing through June and turning the corner toward July. We’re in the heart of summer programming, which has produced a slower flow. Still, there are some interesting new series being released. What should you see out on these long summer nights? Let this weekly post be your guide as I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Streaming Series:
Glamorous, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered June 22)
About: This series was originally meant for the CW, which passed. It makes sense looking at the glossy look, the youth-centric construct of the narrative and the tight 42-minute episodes. Now, the whole 10-episode season is available to stream. Kim Cattrall plays Madolyn Addison, the queen of a makeup empire. Miss Benny plays Marcos, an obsessed fan who is soon hired as her new assistant. Marcos represents the voice of the people, bringing fresh ideas to keep Madolyn’s company relevant—if only he can navigate the hurdles in his way. The series is something we’ve seen before, this time set in the world of makeup. The performances are fine, but the characters and stories feel cliché. The whole thing has a soapy vibe, too. Your interest in it will likely vary depending on how you feel about this familiar set up. It is a quick, lite and easy binge. I watched two and that was more than enough for me. I can’t see this extending much beyond the initial run.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Skull Island, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered June 22)
About: By now, we’ve seen stories of King Kong a million times. We know what to expect. This latest version adds a new wrinkle by being an animated series. The eight-episode season is now available to stream, each episode around 20 minutes. That makes it a quick binge, meant to explore the titular island that is home to Kong. The voice cast includes Betty Gilpin, Benjamin Bratt and Mae Whitman, among others. The animation here is fine and the story is OK, but a bit familiar. Fans of the world and adult animation will be excited for a return, but I thought the series was just OK. There wasn’t enough of a hook to get me excited to continue in a world that we’ve seen time and again over the last 100 years.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

I’m A Virgo, Now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered June 23)
About: This new series is an absurdist comedy from Boots Riley. The first few episodes premiered at the SXSW Festival earlier this year, now the whole seven-episode series is available to stream. It finds Jharrel Jerome as Cootie, a 19-year-old who, at 13-feet-tall, has been sheltered from the world. Raised by his aunt (Carmen Ejogo) and uncle (Mike Epps), the fear was the world wouldn’t understand and Cootie would be in danger. In the pilot, he’s exposed to the world and the rest of the series sets up as his journey of exploration and whether his aunt and uncle’s fears would come true. It’s a strange and unique narrative. Jerome offers a solid lead performance, but this is the kind of programming, that due to its narrative, will likely have more of a niche appeal. It’s well produced and unique, but I wasn’t as drawn into the story as I’d have liked. Still, episodes are around a half an hour, making it a quick and unique binge.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C