Spring TV Roundup, Week Five


Spring is sliding away and summer is almost here on the small screen. But before we get to that, here's a look at the new shows of Spring available to watched. I review the pilot and second episodes of new shows. If you don't see a new show listed below, check previous weeks.

Monday Nights:
Star Talk, Mondays at 11 p.m. on National Geographic Channel (Premiered April 20)
About: This new talk series, hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, is based on his radio show of the same name. It's about getting people excited about science and pop culture. The second episode featured an interview with Christopher Nolan about the science in his film "Interstellar." Tyson is a good host and the idea behind the show is sound. That being said, it is a bit of a dry watch. Visually, it looks like watching people film a radio show. And unless you're fascinated by the content, it's hard to imagine tuning in each week.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Sunday Nights:
Happyish, Sundays at 9:30 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered April 26)
About: This long gestating comedy was originally developed — and the pilot was shot — with Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the lead role. Hoffman tragically passed away, but Showtime kept the show alive, putting Steve Coogan in the lead role. I didn't think the pilot was great. It felt a bit awkward, and I couldn't help but wonder if that was a result of a project designed for Hoffman being re-tooled for a different kind of actor and performer in Coogan. But Showtime is in need of some new blood. This show is slotted between "Nurse Jackie," which is ending, and "Penny Dreadful," which is still trying to find its voice in its second season. I remain on the fence about "Happyish." The second episode was better, and felt more like it was fitting the personalities and talents of the cast as it is. It's also possible that this show, while somewhat of a downer in terms of worldview, will continue to find its voice in the weeks to come. It's not an outright hit, but it might become a reliable performer for Showtime.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Streaming Shows:
Chef's Table, Now Streaming on Netflix (Debuted April 26)
About: This is Netflix' first documentary series, and this one takes a look at a different chef each episode. But this isn't about their dishes and their restaurants, it's about the chefs and what makes them unique. You get a feel for their stories, their passions, and their influences — and that helps tell you a lot about the food they make and serve. At its heart, this is a series about deeply personal stories that happen to involved food. I thought the first two episodes were beautifully filmed and told some rich stories.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

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