Pilot Roundup, Week 9


Thus, we have come to the end of the new fall shows. This will be the final pilot roundup for the fall, but once new shows come out again in January, I'll pick up the reviews again. Below is the final weigh in on "Hell on Wheels," which is awful, and my picks for the three new shows I like the best.

Sunday Nights:
"Hell on Wheels," 10 p.m. on AMC
Synopsis: This show is trying to revive the Western. It's also trying to trade on AMC's reputation for quality. For me, this show falls into the realm of many of the AMC shows in that it feels painfully slow and boring. Add to that the fact that the point is muddled, the characters lack definition and clarity, and there seems to be no point. I've watched two full shows and can remember the names of just two characters. I can actually remember more names of actors in the show than characters featured in the narrative fabric... that's a problem. I like Westerns and I am a huge Civil War geek, yet this show couldn't have been less interesting to me. That's not a good sign. This was an ambitious project, but I think it's a fail.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-

Fall's Best New Shows:
1. Homeland, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime
This show, from some of the producers of "24," has proven to be one of the most engaging new shows, and the most intriguing drama. Great performances from Claire Danes, Damien Lewis, and Mandy Patinkin. This show has been a fascinating character study with plenty of drama going on, not the least of which is a battle to prevent the next terrorist attack. The show mixes some of the best elements of "24" and does it in a less melodramatic way. This show is proof that, in terms of drama, Showtime is quickly catching up to pay cable's gold standard, HBO.

2. The New Girl, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX
2011 has been labeled the year of the resurgence of sitcoms. I've seen many of them and, frankly, I don't get it. There's tons of new comedies on TV, but most of them haven't been that good. The one exception is "The New Girl." Zooey Deschanel is very personable, and this show has been consistently funny. This show had the pilot I liked the best of all the pilots I've seen, but Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield are also great rounding out the cast. This show makes me genuinely laugh throughout it's half hour each week, which is no easy feat. If 2011 is the year of the sitcom, this is the crown jewel.

3. Person of Interest, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on CBS
I had high hopes for this show heading into the fall season, but I was thrown a bit by the pilot. I didn't think it was great, but the show has improved with every episode. I feel like the show is continuing to grow, and the team of Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson are great in the lead role. This is a hybrid of a procedural and serialized show. They have found a middle ground, approached both in a different way, and done a great job with it. This show is fascinating and moves in each episode.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more