Reviewing New Series

Here's my take on the new shows that I've checked out. Listed below are shows for which I saw the second episode or new pilots that aired this week. Shows are listed by day.

Sunday:
Boardwalk Empire (B+) — The show, which airs on HBO, follows gangsters in Atlantic City, New York City, and Chicago in the 1920s during prohibition. It's well crafted and well-made. The show has good potential and slides into that "Sopranos" type role. It's not for everyone, but for those that are looking for a more serious HBO crime drama, this fits the bill.

Monday:
Hawaii 5-0 (B+) — This show, which airs on CBS, is nothing like the original, and that's a good thing. The ensemble cast is strong — Scott Cann, Daniel Dae Kim, and Grace Park are all good. The lead, Alex O'Loughlin, is a little stiff, but the show appears strong enough to work around that.

The Event (C) — This show, which airs on NBC, is supposed to be an engrossing, serialized drama. The pilot was too vague. The second episode allowed the producers and writers to play their hand a little more, and what I saw wasn't great. The big reveal — which I won't ruin here — was a little lame. There is potential for this show to round into being a little better, but so far there's not much here.

Lonestar (C-) — This show, which aired on FOX, was the first to be cancelled this season. And for good reason. The show had likeable performers, but the premise was untenable. Bob (James Wolk) could never really be a likeable character because of the shell games he's playing. I think that's what proved to be a turn off for viewers.

Tuesday:
No Ordinary Family (B-) — This show, which airs on ABC, is an attempt to capture the "Heroes" market. The show has a good cast and had a some what interesting premise, but the execution in the pilot episode left something to be desired. There is some potential, but it will depend on how the subsequent episodes go.

Running Wilde (C-) — This show, which airs on FOX, has a good pedigree. The second episode was a little more amusing, but I just don't see it working long term. Unless there are some major story upgrades, it is hard to see where this show is going.

Detroit 187 (B) — This show, which airs on ABC, made great strides in its second episode. I wasn't wild about the pilot, which I felt tried too hard to be gritty. The second episode was much more balanced and, I think, gives a good impression of how the series will develop.

Wednesday:
Undercovers (B) — This show, which airs on NBC, is light and fun. It hasn't got great depth, but it is entertaining. I think the cast and the overall premise works, although it could get repetitive. For now, I remain largely positive on the show.

Friday:
Blue Bloods (C+) — This show, which airs on CBS, has a good cast, but has been a little weak in the story department. It's somewhat entertaining, but the second episode didn't really improve on the flaws of the pilot. Hopefully the show runners will figure out how to make better use of this cast.

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