The Fall 2003 TV Preview - PERSPECTIVES - THE COMMENTARY

By Marlon Richmond

Shows you should definitely check out:

The Lyon's Den (NBC) – Rob Lowe's new show.  As on The West Wing, he will play an idealistic lawyer in Washington.  It will be an ensemble show, meaning that if it lasts a couple of years, Robe Lowe will probably whine about not getting enough screen time.

The OC (FOX, CTV) – Debuted in August. The OC already has very good ratings, and they are increasing each week.  Well produced, and having the same mentality as other LA based fox melodramas, it is worth watching only for serial viewing of the mostly young cast.

The Ortega's (FOX) – The only original comedy this year.  It is a hybrid sitcom/talk show about a Mexican family that interviews celebrities.   Also it follows The Simpsons, so even I may check it out.

Jake 2.0 (UPN) – The only science fiction show debuting this fall.  About a computer technician who gets infected with nanites from the NSA, which give him `Superpowers!'.  Not only is it stuck on UPN following the sinking ship Enterprise, it is also at the same time as The West Wing, Angel, The Bachelor, King of Queens, and The Bernie Mac Show (and Gilmore Girls in Canada).  A good chunk of its potential viewers will choose to watch West Wing or Angel instead, meaning that Jake 2.0 will likely get cancelled.

Nip/Tuck (CTV) – Plastic surgery based drama, originally form the American cable channel FX.  An HBO style series, as anything goes.

Shows you should check out if interested:

The Handler (CBS) – Made by the producers of Da Vinci's Inquest, and staring actors from The Sopranos, this could be the season's breakout hit.  But that was also said about Kingpin last year, and many other new shows with just as good potential.

The Brotherhood of Poland N.H. (CBS) – Quirky series from David E. Kelly, in the style of Picket Fences, about 3 brothers living in a small town, which is an improvement over his previous series' about neurotic female lawyers.

Las Vegas (NBC) – About Las Vegas, and the security forces in Las Vegas.  OK, it has Nikki Cox.  Full of glitz and glamour, like any Las Vegas promotional vehicle.

Cold Case (CBS, CTV) – Rip-off of Cold Squad, although the producers (Jerry Bruckheimer being one of them) deny it.  The ads only show the lead female detective standing during a rain storm.  Not quite sure why a show like this is promoting on sex appeal, but I still enjoy the ads.

Miss Match (NBC) – The Alicia Silverstone show, where she plays a character similar to her character in Clueless.  Except instead of her being a valley girl in high school, she's a matrimonial lawyer. Its loosely based on someone will take your money in exchange for telling you who you should date.

A Minute with Stan Hooper (FOX) – The Norm MacDonald show, which likely will be just a bad sitcom.  And yes, the main form of `jokes' will be the differences between urban and rural living.  Why Norm doesn't start hosting a fake news show is beyond me.

10-8 (ABC) – Dramedy about rookie cops and trainees in LA police station.  Maybe similar to The Job, but could also be grittier, like some non-comedic cop shows.  Or it could just be lame.

Arrested Development (FOX) – Supposedly the top sitcom of the season, though its storyline is similar to a typical sitcom.  Made by the people behind Sports Night and 24, so at least it has a good pedigree.

The Newsroom (CBC) – New episodes of Ken Finkleman's pretentious made for Toronto comedy.  It all depends on whether the viewer `gets it'.

Punk'd (CTV) – The show that helped make Ashton Kucher Hollywood's it celebrity.  It's basically just setting nasty pranks on people, and has us laugh at their misery.

Oliver Beene (FOX, Global?) –  Not a new show, but is on this list because FOX has decided to air it in the Sunday 7pm slot of death, where Futurama had been residing.  Futurama got decent ratings, until FOX decided it wasn't worth airing in a decent timeslot, then it cancelled it due to poor ratings.  People don't watch TV early Sunday evening, and Oliver Beene will not get a chance to prove whether it can be a successful show.

Shows worth trying if bored and without cable:

Threat Matrix (ABC) – Got the dreaded Thursday 8pm timeslot.  About an ex-couple who work for the president's terrorism fighting squad.  Is not made by the best producers, but I have sympathy due to its timeslot.

Navy NCIS (CBS) – JAG spin-off.  Stars Mark Harmon for those who drool over Chicago Hope, and Michael Weatherly for those who drool over Dark Angel.  The concept is the same as JAG.

Coupling (NBC) – American version of the British version of Friends.  It is called `controversial' because it explicitly discusses sex on a prime time network comedy.  It will only be successful if the writing is good i.e. Friends or Will & Grace writing, not Good Morning Miami .

Skin (FOX) – Primetime Soap Opera about a porn family.  Will involve another modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet, so those Shakespearean porn fans are in luck.  Most likely it will be bad, but at least there won't be re-runs.

Tru Calling (FOX) – The show specially built for Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Eliza Dushku.  I have seen the pilot and it was awful, but they remade it, so the show could improve.  It needs better writing, or at least a better writer.  The creator used to write for Dawson's Creak, Roswell and American Dreams, which is not a good sign.  The show is being billed as a cross between Run Lola Run and Groundhog Day, but I just think it's a poor mans Early Edition.  Also airs in the dreaded Thursday 8pm timeslot, but since it's a show that will generate a cult audience, it really won't be much of a factor.

Tarzan (WB) – Another Tarzan Show, this one involving Tarzan being moved to New York by his uncle, and having him hang out with Jane as well.  Sorry wilderness and animal lovers, but this is just a fish out of water tale, and it looks dull.

One Tree Hill (WB) – A teen angst drama involving basketball playing brothers who hate each other, and are also after the same girl.  Fits in with the WB's policy of trying not to get a viewer over 30.

Shows to avoid like the Plague (based on my non-viewing impression):

Karen Sisco (ABC) – A TV show based on a Jennifer Lopez movie, with the star an actress from Spy Kids.  If that's not a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is.  (Aha, a cliché!)

TGIF [Back in Kansas and Hope & Faith] (ABC) – 2 new bad sitcoms, and one stars Kelly Ripa.  Do you even need to bother?

Joan of Arcadia (CBS) – Hollywood's original idea this year is to have characters in TV shows see things that aren't there.  This is the least interesting of the bunch.

Luis (FOX) – A character actor, good in minor parts of quirky films, though will likely fall flat on his face as star of a bad sitcom.  Though, at least it shows that FOX is making shows for Hispanic audiences.

Mike Bullard's new show (Global) – A bad Toronto comedian, from a show that never did well in Vancouver.  Also, Global's grand idea is to sell this talk show internationally.  So he would be writing bad jokes that aren't even tailored to Canadians.  Word to Global: Canadians are barely interested, and other countries want no part of inferior talent.  Don't waste time catering to nonexistent international audiences, just stick to Ontario.

The following are the returning TV shows that I will actually watch  (It's doubtful that I will watch any of the new shows, and I'm not particularly interested in dull or poor quality TV, especially sitcoms and reality shows):

The Simpsons (FOX, Global) – Entering its 15th season, it's now the best and funniest comedy on television, since both Futurama and Family Guy have been cancelled.  Season premiere will be in November because of Baseball playoffs and The World Series.  Many fans complain about its late start in the season, but that always means fewer reruns in December, March and April, months usually re-run heavy for most shows.

Angel (WB, New VI, Space) – With Buffy the Vampire Slayer having ended its run, us Buffy viewers will now be devoted to Angel more this season.  The network and the producers are promising many Buffy guest appearances this season, I doubt their will be lots of blue chip guests, but they managed to get the characters of Spike and Harmony important roles on the show. The season's storyline will involve Angel and his Missionaries of Grace working for their old enemies.

Alias (ABC, CTV) – The show all TV critics love.  It has mystery, action, intrigue, good writing and gratuitous sexy shots of Jennifer Garner.  And yes I will watch primary for the contrived yet seductive situations Jennifer Garner gets in.  By the way, last season Sydney (Garner) mysteriously woke up Hong Kong, 2 years since her last memory, with her boyfriend wearing an engagement ring.

24 (FOX, CH) – The most interesting and entertaining show early last season, it then started slipping into more of a wacky political intrigue that involved the President getting removed by the 25th amendment, being reinstated and then supposedly assassinated by a female character not seen since the 5th episode of the first season.  Also, hopefully Kim (Elisa Cuthbert) will get a reduced role.

Gilmore Girls (WB, Global) – The plot and story arcs keep getting worse on this show, plus I am starting to hate the main characters and their moronic actions, but the dialogue and quirkiness are still so good and entertaining.  Also, my favourite character, Paris (Liza Weil) may get an increased role this season.

The West Wing (NBC, CTV) – Like on 24, the president got removed on the 25th amendment last season, except it was his choice based on his daughter being kidnapped, and because Aaron Sorkin wanted to leave on a wacky note.  The show will now enter the John Wells-era with John Goodman as president, and hopefully will kept its clever politics, fast talking and the Josh & Donna non relationship.

Saturday Night Live (NBC, Global) – Now without Chris Kattan, Tracy Morgan or Dean Edwards.  Still the best American weekly sketch comedy show, and since it is performed live, there is no enhanced laugh track (like MADtv), so I don't feel insulted if the sketch sucks.  Plus it's usually topical, and Tina Fey is Hot.

Ed's Night Party (City) – Now that he has ended his Monday music video show on MuchMusic, this is the only regular place to find Ed the Sock for now.  He is still the only guy on TV to tell it as it is, and can get away with saying that the emperor has no clothes.  By the way his real name is Steven Joel Kerzner, though Ed will deny that.

The Daily Show with John Stewart (Comedy Network) – Another guy will poke fun at our society, yet doesn't seem to have as much integrity as Ed the Sock.  Doesn't really matter since he hosts a fake news show, which for many of us, is more reliable than a newspaper.  Unfortunately, he has hosted the Grammy's twice.

Pardon the Interruption (TSN) and Crossfire (CNN) – Two shows where clever hosts such as Tony Kornheiser (PTI) and Tucker Carlson (Crossfire) yell and argue with each other.  Always a fun time in my book.

Six Feet Under (Showcase) – The best melodrama on TV, and Showcase is airing the old episodes before it became a big time melodrama.  Also, it is uncensored, so all kinds of words and visuals can be shown.

American late night talk shows – Leno (NBC, New VI), Letterman (CBS, M), Kimmel (ABC, City), Conan (NBC, New VI), Kilborn (CBS, Global)} - I don't always watch them, since it is mostly pabulum.  Leno tells the best jokes, but is the worst interviewer, and has stupid segments like Jay Walking.  Letterman does silly things mostly, and they are sometimes amusing.  Jimmy Kimmel tells it like it is, and actually has the Johnny Carson like panel, but the show does not contain many jokes.  One advantage it should get, is that it goes up against Jay and Dave's boring interviews.  Conan takes to long to tell a joke, but his bits are hilarious.  Craig Kilborn gets no respect, but can interview pretty well, tells jokes quickly, and can do decent shtick.  If you're up late enough to see Carson Daily's show, go to sleep!