Summer TV Roundup, Week 17

We're nearing Labor Day, and shortly after that the Fall season will begin. We're at the last of the new summer content this week and next, and I'm looking forward to soon getting to the flood of new network offering. But that's in the future. For now, it's time to consider the new shows we have. In these weekly posts I look at the original scripted (and occasional unscripted) content this summer. I review the pilot and second episode. Don't see a new show below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesday Nights:
David Makes Man, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on OWN (Premiered August 14)
About: This latest drama is about a young man trying to make his way, balancing his intelligence and desire for a good education with his socio-economic background and the pressure to join the local drug trade. This is slowly and methodically shot, and it features some good performances. It speaks to a certain background and slice of life. And there's some potential here. I thought the first episode tried to cover a lot, and the second one went into stories that didn't interest me as much. There's strong craft here, and I think there is a good audience for the show, but I'm probably not it. This was a bit too slow for me in terms of narrative and pacing.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Sunday Nights:
The Righteous Gemstones, Sundays at 10 p.m. on HBO (Premiered August 18)
About: This latest from HBO is a comedy from Danny McBride, who co-stars alongside John Goodman and Adam Devine, among others. It's about a family of preachers running a mega-ministry who aren't quite as holy as they appear. The pilot stretched more than 45 minutes, but the regular episodes settle in around a half hour, as the second one did. I like the talent here, and the concept. There will be those that argue it's anti-religious, but I don't think they're portraying the Gemstones as particularly devout, nor does the series try to claim that they represent devout people of faith. This is a comedy, and it pokes fun at something that has been, and continues to be, which is the kind of people that use people's faith as a means of making money. These are snake oil salesman, nothing more and nothing less. And the production here is solid, with the second episode offering a few twists that I think will make for a fun season. Plus, Devine has some of the best throwaway lines in the series, a couple of which had me in stitches on Sunday.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

On Becoming a God in Central Florida, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered August 25)
About: I reviewed the latest from Showtime last week as the first two episodes were released early. This series is set in the early 1990s in Florida, and centers on a pyramid scheme and the woman caught up in it. It features a great performance from Kirsten Dunst, but it's a very uneven series. The first two episodes had their moments, but not sure if this will develop into a great or even enjoyable series.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
This Way Up, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered August 21)
About: This latest comedy from Hulu feels like their answer to "Fleabag," coming from creator Aisling Bea, who stars as Aine, a woman trying to make her way in the world despite some struggles. Sharon Horgan stars as her sister Shona, and the episodes are a brisk 23-25 minutes, with a six episode season. There were some laughs in the first couple episodes and some things I liked, but overall I didn't find myself as taken with the characters and story. There's some potential here, but this one felt a little more tame and niche than something like "Fleabag," and while it had some amusing moments there wasn't enough to hook me in the two episodes I saw.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C