Fall TV Roundup, Week 8
We’re almost to Halloween, meaning November is hot on our heels. Still, we’re getting plenty of new series to choose from on TV. So, what of these series is worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.
Mondays:
Poppa’s House, Mondays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 21)
About: This new sitcom features Damon Wayans and his son, Damon Wayans, Jr., as a father-and-son who are trying to live life together. They are next-door neighbors, but they’re in each other’s lives quite a bit. The second episode picked up the pace a bit. I like the Wayans together and there were some more humorous moments here. It’s not incredible, but it feels like its growing into a solid series.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C
Thursdays:
Mandy and Georgie’s First Marriage, Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 17)
About: This is a spin-off of Young Sheldon, itself a spin-off of The Big Bang Theory. We don’t have Sheldon in this one—in any form—but through two episodes we’ve seen the rest of the cast of the previous series. This is a continuation, focusing on Sheldon’s brother Georgie (Montana Jordan) and his wife Mandy (Emily Osment), a relationship introduced on that first show. The pilot had its moments but felt a little stiff at times. The second episode settled into the characters a bit more. I like Jordan and Osment in the lead roles, and the supporting cast is solid. It will be interesting to see it grow as it moves more away from its parent show. For now, it feels like a solid addition to the CBS Thursday lineup.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+
Fridays:
Happy’s Place, Fridays at 8 p.m. on NBC (Premiered October 18)
About: This new sitcom is about a pair of estranged sisters (Reba McIntire and Belissa Escobedo) who are tasked with running their late father’s bar together. The first obstacle was they didn’t know each other existed. The pilot was about that awkward revelation and feeling each other out. It was also about a very traditional sitcom set up and style that often didn’t quite work. The fish-out-of-water setup grows tiresome here. This comedy feels stiff in the worst ways and the second episode wasn’t a big improvement on the pilot. This will have its fans but even in the sitcom-starved landscape, this wasn’t compelling.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second: C-
It's Florida, Man, Fridays at 11 p.m. on HBO (Premiered October 18)
About: This new series on HBO is a combination of interviews and documentary recreations. It tells the wild stories of Florida and its people. The first episode was about a Craig’s List foray gone wrong. This second episode was about a man and a crocodile. As soon as you see the subject with only one arm, you know where this is going. Is it wild? Yes. Is it kind of entertaining? Also, yes. This series is only going to go as far as the stories can take it but it’s Florida, so that might be far enough!
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+
Before, Now Streaming on Apple TV+ (Premiered October 25)
About: The latest from Apple TV+ is a psychological drama populated by comedians. Billy Crystal is the lead, with a cast that includes Judith Light and Rosie Perez. Crystal plays a therapist who is dealing with the loss of his wife (Light). He still sees her as she haunts his life. He comes across a young boy (Jacobi Jupe) who stumbles into his house. He makes a connection with the boy’s foster mother (Perez) and soon enough finds himself assigned to their case. The boy’s strange behavior takes him on a journey he’s not ready to undertake. This is a mysterious story that’s put together and told well. Crystal does a nice job in the lead role, but the series has an odd tone. The episodes are around a half an hour, so it moves at a nice pace. The first two were engaging, with the rest of the 10-episode series dropping weekly. This has potential but it will require patience from the viewer.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+
Streaming Series:
Beauty in Black, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 24)
About: This new series comes from Tyler Perry. It’s an eight-episode series about two women from different worlds brought together by dangerous circumstances. The first, Kimmie (Taylor Polidore Williams), had a troubled childhood that led her into the world of exotic dance and prostitution. But she’s desperate to escape. The second, Mallory (Crystle Stewart), is an executive with problems of her own. It doesn’t take long for both their lives to spin out of control in the pilot, with things only going deeper into the hole in episode two. The episodes are between 45 minutes and an hour, moving at a decent pace. It’s soapy, violent, and sexual. Knowing Perry, there will be some kind of lesson or shifting in the future. But through two episodes, this is pretty dark. It’s also mediocre. Given the crowded television landscape, it’s not compelling enough to stick with it.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C
Territory, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 24)
About: This is Netflix’s answer to Yellowstone. It’s a bold, six-episode series from Australia that is set on a big cattle ranch where there is a fight for power when it comes to inheritance and keeping the ranch, and the family’s legacy, intact. Colin Lawson (Robert Taylor) owns the largest cattle ranch in Australia, but he’s aging and ready to leave the game behind. When his chosen successor, youngest son Daniel (Jake Ryan), dies it leaves a power vacuum. His oldest son, Graham (Michael Dornan) wants it, but his drinking issues make that near impossible. His granddaughter, Susie ( Philippa Northeast), wants it but Colin leans toward his wayward grandson Marshall (Sam Corlett). Soon, his daughter-in-law (Anna Torv) makes a deal to bring Marshall back into the fold in exchange for Susie getting a share of the power. The series is about the family dynamics, their fight with the rest of the community, and the personal issues that keep them divided. I liked the pacing and the action in the first two episodes. Episodes are about an hour, with six episodes in the first season, making for a quick binge. For fans of Yellowstone, this will be worth checking out.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+
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