Summer TV Roundup, Week 15

We're nearing the end of August, and closing in on the end of original summer shows. But there's still some options out there. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted (and occasional unscripted) shows this summer. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Tuesday Nights:
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Oakland Raiders, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on HBO (Premiered August 6)
About: This is the premier pre-season NFL show, each year taking a look at a new team. This year we get Jon Gruden and the Raiders. The premier, as is often the case, was a bit slow. But there is plenty of fodder for this season with new receiver Antonio Brown alone, so I have high hopes for subsequent episodes. For now, this is a series all football fans look forward to, and this year should be no exception.
Pilot Grade: C

Wednesday Nights:
Bulletproof, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW (Premiered August 7)
About: The CW continues to import content for the summer, this one a British police drama that feels like it wants to be a poor man's "Bad Boys." It isn't quite that interesting or that good, and honestly I found the difference in street slang enough that it was difficult to follow at some points. The cast boasts famous faces like Clarke Peters, but this doesn't feel like essential viewing, and the pilot felt very uneven. Perhaps it will gel better in a future viewing.
Pilot Grade: C-

BH90210, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered August 7)
About: I reviewed this pilot early last week, so I won't rehash the full thing here. It got good premier ratings, but I'll be curious to see who, like me, was put off by the style of the show. I read one critic suggest they tried a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" feel and it didn't work. That feels like it might be accurate. I enjoyed the original series, but I thought this was a trainwreck.
Pilot Grade: D

Thursday Nights:
Two Sentence Horror Stories, Thursdays at 9 p.m. (Premiered August 8)
About: The CW added another new show last week, this one a half-hour anthology series tackling a different horror story each episode. The first two aired back-to-back, each based on a different two sentence set up. The pilot and second episode each went in ways I didn't expect, and I thought at times they were interesting. But this feels like a bit of a tough sell, especially in the dog days of summer. Of all the new content the CW has tried this summer, this feels the best. But it's still not overly compelling.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Friday Nights:
A Black Lady Sketch Show, Fridays at 11 p.m. on HBO (Premiered August 2)
About: HBO has been adding original programming on Friday late nights for a while. This new one is a sketch comedy series from a group of African American women, as the title would suggest. It bounces around with a lot of different pieces, but a few recurring skits and guest stars each week. There's a lot of creativity that goes into this kind of show, and if you're looking for sketch comedy this could well be your jam.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Wu Assassins, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered August 8)
About: Iko Uwais, star of "The Raid," takes the lead here in a series about a mild mannered chef who finds out he's the heir to a legacy of great warrior assassins, hence the title. This first season is 10 episodes, all between 40-55 minutes. The first two were close to the 40 minute mark, and each featured plenty of action as you might expect. To me, while the action sequences weren't bad, this felt like a low-rent version of "Iron Fist," which isn't a compliment. There wasn't anything that hooked me, but those that crave martial arts action will likely be pleased. Hard to see this really developing a following, even on Netflix.
Pilot: C-
Second Episode: C-