Summer TV Roundup, Week 12

 

We’re rapidly moving through the summer and with the ongoing writers and actors’ strike, we’re seeing a slowing of content. That normally happens during summer, but this is likely the start of a trend that will impact the balance of 2023 and possibly longer. Still, what of these new shows should you make time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series and select unscripted series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Mondays:
Miracle Workers: End Times, Mondays at 10 p.m. on TBS (Premiered July 10)
About: The fourth and final season of this anthology series takes the action to the end times. We have the same core cast—Daniel Radcliffe, Geraldine Viswanathan, Jon Bass, Karan Soni, and Steve Buscemi—this time in a dystopic future. We get something like Road Warrior at the beginning as Sid (Radcliffe) and Freya (Viswanathan) meet, fall in love, get married and move to a dystopic suburb. Can they make it work? That’s some of the question for this fourth and final season. I’ve enjoyed some of the seasons of Miracle Workers a lot. It’s a strong cast and the anthology format from Simon Rich has been interesting. This season leaves something to be desired, at least at the start. It’s one of the few scripted shows left on TBS and those who’ve been in from the beginning will want to see it end, but this hasn’t been as strong a concept yet.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Thursdays:
Full Circle, Streaming Thursdays on Max (Premiered July 13)
About: The latest mini-series from Steven Soderbergh centers on a kidnapping plot gone wrong. Why was the kidnapping happening? Who are all these players? Where is this all going? Those are all questions you might rightly be asking yourself during the first two episodes, which dropped Thursday. The series is set to be six episodes, making it a short commitment, with subsequent episodes dropping weekly. It’s got a strong cast that includes Clair Danes, Zazie Beetz, Timothy Olyphant, Dennis Quaid, CCH Pounder, Jharel Jerome, and Jim Gaffigan, among others. But there are a lot of characters and a lot happening in the pilot without a lot of context. Then we’re into the kidnapping, which doesn’t go according to plan and we’re off. The pilot was something of a rough watch. The second episode was more straightforward but still didn’t totally make sense. There are the pieces of something interesting here, but the first two episodes were a bit flat. There’s time to pick up and threads that could make the overall production more engaging but it’s not there yet.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Quarterback, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 12)
About: This series from Peyton Manning takes you behind the scenes of the 2022 NFL season to see life from the perspective of the quarterback. In this case it’s Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, Kirk Cousins of the Vikings and Marcus Mariota of the Falcons. The series picks up before the season and rolls through the season. We know how it’s going to end, but as a fan of the NFL it’s fascinating to see behind the scenes and the process. The series also brings in the players’ teammates, coaches and families. It’s a unique perspective that carries you through a season. For fans of the NFL, this is going to be a welcome addition to the landscape that should leave you primed for the next season. It’s an eight-episode season, each around 45 minutes to an hour. It’s a quick and fun watch that I hope we get to see repeated in the future with other players.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: B

Survival of the Thickest, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 13)
About: The latest from Netflix is a sitcom about a newly single woman, Mavis (Michelle Buteau), who is trying to find a way to get her life and career back on track. The season is eight episodes, each under a half an hour, which makes for a quick binge. It hits a lot of the sitcom tropes and moves at a decent pace. Your interest in it will likely hinge on how you feel about the genre and the characters. I thought there were some decent characters and a fine story, but it lacked the kind of hook that would keep me engaged. Still, for those looking for a simple comedy to binge, this will hit the spot. I did enjoy Buteau in the lead, as she felt relatable and engaging. I’m excited to see what she does next.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Project Greenlight: A New Generation, Now Streaming on Max (Premiered July 13)
About: Making a film is hard. That’s what the Project Greenlight experience is all about. We’ve seen a few iterations of this series in the past, but now it’s back on Max with a new set of mentors—Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani and Gina Prince-Bythewood—working with a first-time filmmaker to make a feature. In this case it’s Meko Winbush, who is working on making the feature film Gray Matter. The 10-episode series takes you behind the scenes through pre-production, shooting, post-production and the premiere. The film is also now available to stream on Max as a companion to the series. I love going behind the scenes in the filmmaking process and this one was a lot of fun to go through. I actually binged the series so I could go through and check out the film. For those that love learning more about what goes into making a film, this series is worth seeking out.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+