With
networks panicking to fill schedules after last year's strike, and with eyes
straying to other forms of entertainment, this year's fall schedule is all
about familiarity and desperation. Remember Knight Rider? It's back, and possibly
dumber than ever. That hit show from Australia? It's here now, but with
American accents. "It's derivative with a twist. That's what they're looking for," Mad Men's
Donald Draper said of a TV pitch in a recent episode. And that certainly seems
to be the case with what's coming up this year.
Still,
derivative with a twist can work. Without it, we wouldn't have The Office, Battlestar Galactica, or, really, Mad Men, which is essentially The
Sopranos,
but with advertising execs instead of mobsters. (Okay, that last one might be a
stretch.) True, we also wouldn't have Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. But the beauty of
television is that while the networks might know what they're looking for, the
viewers get to decide what stays. Here's a list of new shows whose twists on
the familiar might or might not give them power to stick around. (Today: Monday
through Wednesday in series premières. Tomorrow: the other half of the docket.)
MONDAY
America's
Toughest Jobs
When
and where? NBC,
8 p.m. (premières 8/25)
What's
it about? Everyday
schmoes compete to prove that they can handle the kind of life-threatening,
endurance-testing occupations that they've seen on basic cable.
Where
does it come from? Basic
cable. Deadliest Catch/Ice Road Truckers producer Thom Beers is the mastermind behind this
pastiche of his other hit shows. (Here's an idea for Beers' next "extreme
careers" series: I Was A Cameraman For Thom Beers.)
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: The game-show element makes an interesting twist,
but these kinds of shows aren't really "appointment television," are they?
Aren't they meant to be watched in six-hour Sunday-afternoon marathons, while
intermittently napping and snacking?
Worst
Week
When
and where? CBS,
9:30 p.m. (premières 9/22)
What's
it about? A
young, newly engaged couple takes a vacation with the distaff half's parents,
and everything that could go wrong, does. Their wedding may be in
jeopardy—or at least the prospect of ongoing cordial relations with the
in-laws.
Where
does it come from? A
British series called The Worst Week Of My Life, which ran for two
seven-episode series plus a three-episode Christmas miniseries between 2004 and
2006.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: The premise seems limiting, but the creators have
said that, as with the British series, Worst Week will jump ahead to
another awful week roughly every seven episodes. Since Worst Week is part of the powerhouse
CBS Monday comedy block, it stands a good chance of running longer than its
inspiration. (Unless it tanks, in which case it'll be off the air quick and
replaced by Two And A Half Men reruns.)
My
Own Worst Enemy
When
and where? NBC, 10 p.m.
(premières 10/13)
What's
it about? Christian
Slater is a quiet married-with-children type who lives a life with no
surprises. He's also an international super-spy killing machine. The only thing
they have in common is the same body, which confuses both of his personalities.
Where
does it come from? Slater's
personalities are named Henry and Edward, a tip of the hat to the two-sided
protagonists of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr.
Hyde.
There's a good chance that the phrase, "It's True Lies meets Dr. Jekyll" was used in at least one
pitch meeting. Another possible source: Lit's 1999 single of the same name.
Then again, what out there hasn't been inspired by Lit?
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: Not great. Oh, it might be a hit show, assuming
fans of Chuck
have room in their hearts for two ordinary-folks-doing-spy-shit series.
Christian Slater has kept a weird, career-skid charisma about him, and, if
nothing else, the relentless barrage of advertising during the Olympics has
raised awareness. But the likelihood of Slater's character becoming the new
shorthand for split personalities seems a little slim. Here's, let's try it.
"That guy's weird. It's like he's got two personalities inside him. One day
he's Christian Slater as a suburban dad, the next he's Christian Slater as a
globetrotting master of espionage." Nope. Doesn't work.
Raising
The Bar
When
and where? TNT, 10 p.m.
(premières 9/1)
What's
it about? Old
TV pioneers don't die, they just go to basic cable. Raising The Bar is the latest from Hill
Street Blues
and L.A. Law
co-creator Steven Bochco. It is, as its name suggests, a legal drama. Its name
does not suggest, however, that it stars E.R.'s Gloria Reuben, Malcolm
In The Middle's
Jane Kaczmarek, and a newly floppy-haired Mark-Paul Gosselaar.
Where
does it come from? There's
a long precedent of legal dramas. This one's gimmick seems a little thin: Young
lawyers who know each other square off against each other while working for the
Public Defender's office and the District Attorney's office. Could the tension
spill over into the bedroom? Well, could it?
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: With a show like this, it's less about originality
than quality, and Bochco has a long history of working on quality shows, though
they've been slow to take off in the last decade.
TUESDAY
90210
When
and where? CW,
8 p.m. (premières 9/2)
What's
it about? At
this point, everyone who has eyes and ears is aware that there's a show called 90210 launching this fall. In
spite of endless promotions, it's really tough to say what this new 90210 will be like. Will it
emulate its source material? Will it subvert the genre à la The O.C.? Will it bring the nasty
like Gossip Girl?
Will returning cast members Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth play it straight,
or send up their characters? One thing's for sure: It had better do something,
or The CW may not be around by the time the next school year rolls around.
Where
does it come from? In
the early '90s, Beverly Hills, 90210 helped define teen culture with its mix of soapy
plotlines and sideburns. (It was a different time, kids.) It was edgy yet
bland, taking on sex, drugs, gang violence, the ineffable charms of Color Me
Badd, and other hot topics, and wrapping up the plotline with the unconvincing
reassurance of an after-school special.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: Not great, since the original proved remarkably
long-lived, continuing well after most cast members had left or aged into
crows' feet.
Opportunity
Knocks
When
and where? ABC, 8 p.m.
(premières 9/23)
What's
it about? Biggest
Loser
host J.D. Roth pulls up in front of a random family and offers them trucks full
of prizes if they can answer questions about each other in a game show staged
on their front yard in front of their friends and neighbors.
Where
does it come from? The
warmhearted public humiliation suggests the Ashton Kutcher touch (he's one of
the executive producers), but everything else suggests a G-rated variation on The
Newlywed Game.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: It's within the realm of possibility. This seems
like the sort of low-impact, highly sponsor-friendly show that could easily
catch on. Also, does anyone even remember The Newlywed Show these days?
The
Mentalist
When
and where? CBS,
9 p.m. (premières 9/23)
What's
it about? It
wouldn't be a new fall season without CBS trying to make a star out of Simon
Baker. This time out, Baker plays a discredited psychic who helps California
cops crack cases with all the keen powers of observation that once let him dupe
the rubes.
Where
does it come from? If
you want to reach way back, Baker's crime-solving tactics owe a lot to Sherlock
Holmes. In terms of recent TV, though, Baker is playing a House/Shark hybrid stranded in an
episode of Psych.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: Baker's The Guardian lasted three seasons,
though his Smith
was cancelled after three episodes. This one should fall somewhere between. Put the
over/under at three months.
[pagebreak]
Fringe
When
and where? Fox,
9 p.m. (premières 9/9)
What's
it about? Joshua
Jackson plays a ne'er-do-well who reunites with his crackpot scientist father
at the urging of FBI agent Anna Torv, who needs their help investigating
paranormal activity and global conspiracies. monster-of-the-week mayhem
alternates with a save-the-world master plot.
Where
does it come from? The
Twilight Zone, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, The X-Files, Supernatural… take your pick.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: Fringe co-creator J.J. Abrams (he dreamed up the show
with his Alias
partners—and Transformers writers—Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman) has
such a following that the show already has multiple fan sites, presumably ready
to mobilize their Geek Commandos if Fox even whispers the word "hiatus." That
said, some of those Abrams disciples were disappointed by the recent Comic-Con
screening of the Fringe pilot. If Abrams intends this series to be accessible both to
die-hards and drop-ins, he'd better have some knockout MOTW episodes ready to
roll from the get-go.
Privileged
When
and where? CW,
9 p.m. (premières 9/9)
What's
it about? A
recent Yale graduate from a modest background stumbles into the opportunity to
become the private live-in tutor for two of the most spoiled little rich girls
in a city full of them: Palm Beach.
Where
does it come from? Though
it sounds like The Nanny Diaries: Palm Beach, the show is based on the
bestselling teen book How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: With its candy-colored hues and focus on wealthy
teens, Privileged
hits right in The CW's Gossip Girl sweet spot. But unlike Gossip Girl or the new 90210, Privileged shuns the super-soapy
elements in favor of light, somewhat campy comedy. If it can convince The CW's
audience that rich teens don't always have to be so melodramatic, it has a
chance of becoming The CW's answer to Ugly Betty (loveable outsider
infiltrates the world of the pretty people), but without the braces and
ponchos.
Life
On Mars
When
and where? ABC,
10 p.m. (premières 10/9)
What's
it about? Modern-day
cop Jason O'Mara wakes from a car accident and winds up stuck in the early
'70s, trying to solve crimes alongside a police force peopled by sexists,
racists, and thugs. Meanwhile, he tries to learn whether he's in a coma and
dreaming, or he's actually traveled back in time.
Where
does it come from? It's
based on a justly acclaimed British series, though now that ABC has re-shot and
re-cast the pilot episode, it's unclear how much their Life On Mars will resemble its source
material. The good news? The wildly inappropriate David E. Kelley has been
removed as show-runner, and the new cast includes Harvey Keitel as O'Mara's
brutish '70s superior, and Michael Imperioli as one of his new co-workers. The
bad news? October Road producer Scott Rosenberg is now in charge, and ABC has
reportedly asked him to drop the ambiguity about whether the hero is hallucinating.
Goodbye, offbeat, poignant police procedural; hello, maudlin serialized
time-travel show.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: About as likely as finding life on Mars. But if
by some miracle this version is even half as good as the original, it'll still
be worth checking out.
WEDNESDAY
Knight Rider
When and where? NBC, 8 p.m. (premières
9/24)
What's it about? KITT—a sentient,
state-of-the-art sports car, voiced by Val Kilmer—can transform into a
precision-navigated killing machine, with a weapons system to rival a jet
fighter, and more sass than you're likely to get from, say, a Hyundai. And oh
yeah, some half-shaven douche (Justin Bruening) is at the wheel.
Where does it come from? The iconic (or, more to
the point, crappy) '80s television series, starring David Hasselhoff, briefly
made the Pontiac Trans Am into the poor man's Ferrari. The new series got a
test drive with a two-hour movie back in February. It was a huge hit, if you
don't factor in the ratings dive it took in the second hour.
Odds of it outlasting what it's ripping off: Not a chance. It's
staggering to consider the original Knight Rider lasted four seasons and
90 episodes. This version will be lucky to survive two months.
Gary
Unmarried
When
and where? CBS,
8:30 p.m. (premières 9/24)
What's
it about? Jay
Mohr is a recently divorced dad of two with—get this—a controlling
ex-wife! I mean, is there any other kind? Am I right? (This was probably the
exact pitch that got this show made.)
Where
does it come from? It
looks and sounds a lot like Two And A Half Men, although the numbers are
a little different. Gary Unmarried is more One Man, A Half Man, A Half Woman, And
One Crazy Ex-Wife.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: Considering that Two And A Half Men has been on the air for
what feels like a decade, the odds aren't very good.
Stylista
When
and where? CW,
9 p.m. (starts 10/22)
What's
it about? Eleven
contestants vie for the chance to bring Elle magazine's fashion news
director her morning croissant, in this hellish amalgamation of America's
Next Top Model
and The Devil Wears Prada.
Where
does it come from? See
above. It's basically America's Next Top Assistant To The Prada-Wearing
Devil.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: No ANTM rip-off could ever hope to outlast ANTM: The ever-filming,
ever-casting reality competition behemoth that Tyra built will outlast us all.
And in her appearances on Project Runway, Elle fashonista Anne Slowey has been less than
compelling. Still, Stylista should have a good run until everyone realizes
that Slowey's devil act isn't all that great.
Do
Not Disturb
When
and where? Fox,
9:30 p.m. (premières 9/10)
What's
it about? Jerry
O'Connell plays the role he was born to play since he lost all his Stand By
Me
weight: the smarmy, superficial general manager of a hip, five-star NYC hotel.
Niecy Nash of Reno 911 is the hotel's HR director, and just a sassy pot of sass.
Together, O'Connell and Nash represent the always-clashing upstairs and
downstairs staffs that make up this crazy workplace sitcom.
Where
does it come from? The
laugh-track store.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: Do Not Disturb bears a passing resemblance
to the BBC's luxury-hotel drama Hotel Babylon, in that both series are
behind-the-scenes looks at luxury hotels. But Hotel Babylon doesn't have a cliché
sassy black lady, or a cliché blonde anorexic, or the charming particleboard
sets and laugh tracks of all Fox sitcoms. It's also been on the air for four
years, whereas Do Not Disturb's laugh track will probably start to ring hollow
about four minutes into the pilot.
Sons
Of Anarchy
When
and where? FX,
10 p.m. (premières 9/3)
What's
it about? Edward
Winterhalder's books about the biker lifestyle provide much of the meat for
this drama about a second-generation motorcycle-club member who tries to
balance a tricky family life with his responsibilities to the gang and their
criminal enterprises. The tough-to-overestimate Ron Perlman also stars.
Where
does it come from? Created
by a former writer for The Shield, Sons Of Anarchy appears to be very much
in the early-'00s TV vein of The Shield, The Sopranos, Deadwood, and other shows in which
the bad guys are the heroes.
Odds
of it outlasting what it's ripping off: Well, it's on FX, so it'll get to run a full
season at least. But given the premise and the pedigree—and its presence
on a network known for taking chances on edgy material—Sons Of Anarchy has the potential to be
really special. Or it could be gratuitously vulgar and dramatically inert.
Either way, compared to the stacked deck that constitutes the rest of the fall
TV slate, this one looks like a wild card.
Tomorrow:
The second half of the week, with shows including Jerry Bruckheimer's Eleventh Hour, the
small-screen version of the Oscar-winning film Crash, NBC's modern Crusoe, HBO's vampire
update True
Blood, and yes, FX's Testees.