New shows premiere during strike-ridden television season
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, January 25, 2008
AMERICAN GLADIATORS -- Pictured: (l-r) Romeo Williams as Mayhem, Hollywood Don Yates as Wolf, Tanoai Reed as Toa, Mike Ohearn as Titan, Alex Castro as Militia, Justice Smith as Justice -- NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth
It was the worst of times. It was the worst of times.
It was the worst of times. It was the worst of times.
That's how Charles Dickens might have sized up the midseason television schedule.
Thanks to the writers' strike, hit shows have exhausted their stockpile of new episodes. Few originals are premiering. And, if there's any buzz, it's going to lower-cost, unscripted reality shows.
"American Idol"? Sure, that's a reason to tune in twice a week. But, then? The "must see TV" curve drops off significantly.
What to watch? Here are some of the new and returning series.
American Gladiators (7 p.m. Mondays, NBC) -- The kitschy syndicated version that aired more than a decade ago had competitions that seemed a bit more daring. Now, the contestants are so trussed up you can't really tell who has the muscle power and who doesn't. (Frankly, we think it just takes speed to win most of the battles.) There's a new crowd of Gladiators (Wolf is our favorite) and a prize that seems chintzy. A chance to maybe become a Gladiator? Bring on the cool million. That's worth fighting for.
American Idol (7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Fox) -- Since "Idol" visited Omaha, we have a vested interest in Season 7. But if the competition isn't any better than what we've seen so far, this could be the weakest year yet. A woman who came from Kelly Clarkson's hometown was too "old school." Fantasia's brother is considered a lock to make the final round. But? But? But? We can only hope for a Paula meltdown. (Randy, by the way, looks great. The dawg lost weight during the off season.)
The Baby Borrowers (7 p.m. Feb. 18, NBC) -- A variety of not-ready-for-parenthood teens get to babysit kids, senior citizens -- you name it -- in an attempt to learn those "Supernanny" lessons.
Big Brother 9 (8 p.m. Feb. 12, CBS) -- You know the networks are in strike mode when a sleazy summer series makes it to midseason. Julie Chen hosts the gang enjoying spring break in Los Angeles. Let the HOH competition begin.
Breaking Bad (9 p.m. Sundays, AMC) -- Bryan Cranston plays a chemistry teacher who turns to meth-matics after he's diagnosed with lung cancer. A wild premise, it lets the "Malcolm in the Middle" dad show yet another hue. Think: "Weeds." It's on AMC, which didn't steer us wrong with "Mad Men."
Cashmere Mafia (9 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC) -- Lucy Liu leads her own team of "Sex and the City" girls. They're hotshot executives trying to make it through the lipstick jungle (oops, wrong network) of New York. The clothes are good. The situations, not so much.
Dance War (7 p.m. Mondays, ABC) -- Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba produce their own version of "So You Think You Can Dance." Shepherding two teams, they go head-to-head in song-and-dance competitions. You get to pick the winner. But, really, where's Len when you need him? The show tries too hard to drum up excitement. You really want second-rate stars dancing for the first time. Come back, Lisa Rinna. All is forgiven.
Eli Stone (9 p.m. Thursday, ABC) -- A lawyer has a "John From Cincinnati" complex. Jonny Miller plays a lawyer who thinks he may be a prophet. Uh huh.
In Treatment (8:30 p.m. Mondays, HBO) -- HBO can't get enough of therapists. After "The Sopranos" bit the dust and "Tell Me You Love Me" ended its season, execs there had to find another shrink. Enter: Gabriel Byrne. He listens to all kinds of troubles, then dishes his own. It's not as juicy as "Taxicab Confessions," but it gets the motor running.
Jericho (9 p.m. Feb. 12, CBS) -- Just when you thought the series was dead, it returns, this time to create a new world and stake a claim to the future. Skeet Ullrich and Lennie James lead the troops into battle. Fan base? The folks were so crazy for this show they sent the head of CBS bags of peanuts. The reason? Ullrich uttered the word "nuts" in one episode.
Kyle XY (7 p.m. Mondays, ABC Family) -- The kid without the belly button is back. Now, though, he's mounting a campaign of revenge.
Lipstick Jungle (9 p.m. Feb. 7, NBC) -- Brook Shields gets to make like Lucy Liu in this "Cashmere Mafia" rip-off of "Sex and the City." Shields plays a movie studio exec who bonds with a magazine editor and a fashion designer. Candace Bushnell, the writer behind "Sex," produces. But, really, who knows this turf best? Darren Star (the man behind "Sex") has the "Mafia."
Lost (8 p.m. Jan. 31, ABC) -- It's baaaaack. But don't expect resolution. That's coming NEXT season -- if there is one. The survivors discover more about their situation and learn losing may be just as good as winning. Matthew Fox (who has a big film coming out) still tries to lead the forces into clarity.
The L Word (8 p.m. Sundays, Showtime) -- The lesbian "Sex and the City" gets involved with the movie business and oil wrestling. Because the cable series has already gone where others wouldn't dare, it's a wonder how much more out there it can get.
Make Me a Supermodel (9 p.m. Thursdays, Bravo) -- We just can't get enough of models, can we? Now, some stunners compete for the right to be the next Tyson Beckford or Niki Taylor. Naturally, they've got names that look like their parents couldn't spell. (I didn't know Tyson was so short.)
New Amsterdam (8 p.m. Feb. 22, Fox) -- Remember the vampire from "Moonlight"? Now, make him a New York cop and give him ties to folks throughout 400 years. You see why this was held?
One Tree Hill (7 p.m. Tuesdays, The CW) -- Who needs college when you can skip right to amazing careers in a dirtwater town? That's what happened to the Hill-ers. At the end of last season, the producers pitched a fast-forward premise and got picked up. Now, the kids are all grown up and dealing with adult problems. (That sure solves that aging problem, doesn't it?)
The Real Hustle (9 p.m. Tuesday, truTV) -- You thought the Impossible Missions Force had problems? How 'bout this bunch -- a group of con "experts" who explain how you, too, can be taken. Lighting in New York, they show how jewelry and cars can be swiped right out from under the owners' eyes. Apollo Robbins, Ryan Oakes and Dani Marco share the tricks of the trade.
Rock and a Hard Place (9 p.m. Wednesdays, 101: DirecTV) -- Meat Loaf hosts a game show pitting music legends and not-so-legends in a battle of useless information. Grand Master Flash, Sheila E and the Pussycat Dolls are among the contestants. Doncha wish your girlfriend was as smart as these?
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (7 p.m. Sunday, Fox) -- Ahnold's nowhere to be found. Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong aren't, either, but Lena Headey (from "300") and Thomas Dekker (from "Heroes") fill in nicely. For TV, the special effects are pretty darn good.
Welcome to the Captain (7:30 p.m. Feb. 4, CBS) -- Raquel Welch is back! She plays one of the tenants in an oddball apartment building. A writer gets the lay of the land when he moves in. Yup, it's a comedy. Chris Klein and Jeffrey Tambor also star.
Welcome to the Captain (7:30 p.m. Feb. 4, CBS) -- Raquel Welch is back! She plays one of the tenants in an oddball apartment building. A writer gets the lay of the land when he moves in. Yup, it's a comedy. Chris Klein and Jeffrey Tambor also star.
The Wire (8 p.m. Sundays, HBO) -- Considered one of the jewels in HBO's crown, "The Wire" wraps it up this season with a series of episodes that take on the media. It shows how a newspaper deals with tough economic times and where reporters fit in in crime investigations. Dominic West and Clarke Peters continue to deliver as the show's stars.
It was the worst of times. It was the worst of times.
That's how Charles Dickens might have sized up the midseason television schedule.
Thanks to the writers' strike, hit shows have exhausted their stockpile of new episodes. Few originals are premiering. And, if there's any buzz, it's going to lower-cost, unscripted reality shows.
"American Idol"? Sure, that's a reason to tune in twice a week. But, then? The "must see TV" curve drops off significantly.
What to watch? Here are some of the new and returning series.
American Gladiators (7 p.m. Mondays, NBC) -- The kitschy syndicated version that aired more than a decade ago had competitions that seemed a bit more daring. Now, the contestants are so trussed up you can't really tell who has the muscle power and who doesn't. (Frankly, we think it just takes speed to win most of the battles.) There's a new crowd of Gladiators (Wolf is our favorite) and a prize that seems chintzy. A chance to maybe become a Gladiator? Bring on the cool million. That's worth fighting for.
American Idol (7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Fox) -- Since "Idol" visited Omaha, we have a vested interest in Season 7. But if the competition isn't any better than what we've seen so far, this could be the weakest year yet. A woman who came from Kelly Clarkson's hometown was too "old school." Fantasia's brother is considered a lock to make the final round. But? But? But? We can only hope for a Paula meltdown. (Randy, by the way, looks great. The dawg lost weight during the off season.)
The Baby Borrowers (7 p.m. Feb. 18, NBC) -- A variety of not-ready-for-parenthood teens get to babysit kids, senior citizens -- you name it -- in an attempt to learn those "Supernanny" lessons.
Big Brother 9 (8 p.m. Feb. 12, CBS) -- You know the networks are in strike mode when a sleazy summer series makes it to midseason. Julie Chen hosts the gang enjoying spring break in Los Angeles. Let the HOH competition begin.
Breaking Bad (9 p.m. Sundays, AMC) -- Bryan Cranston plays a chemistry teacher who turns to meth-matics after he's diagnosed with lung cancer. A wild premise, it lets the "Malcolm in the Middle" dad show yet another hue. Think: "Weeds." It's on AMC, which didn't steer us wrong with "Mad Men."
Cashmere Mafia (9 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC) -- Lucy Liu leads her own team of "Sex and the City" girls. They're hotshot executives trying to make it through the lipstick jungle (oops, wrong network) of New York. The clothes are good. The situations, not so much.
Dance War (7 p.m. Mondays, ABC) -- Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba produce their own version of "So You Think You Can Dance." Shepherding two teams, they go head-to-head in song-and-dance competitions. You get to pick the winner. But, really, where's Len when you need him? The show tries too hard to drum up excitement. You really want second-rate stars dancing for the first time. Come back, Lisa Rinna. All is forgiven.
Eli Stone (9 p.m. Thursday, ABC) -- A lawyer has a "John From Cincinnati" complex. Jonny Miller plays a lawyer who thinks he may be a prophet. Uh huh.
In Treatment (8:30 p.m. Mondays, HBO) -- HBO can't get enough of therapists. After "The Sopranos" bit the dust and "Tell Me You Love Me" ended its season, execs there had to find another shrink. Enter: Gabriel Byrne. He listens to all kinds of troubles, then dishes his own. It's not as juicy as "Taxicab Confessions," but it gets the motor running.
Jericho (9 p.m. Feb. 12, CBS) -- Just when you thought the series was dead, it returns, this time to create a new world and stake a claim to the future. Skeet Ullrich and Lennie James lead the troops into battle. Fan base? The folks were so crazy for this show they sent the head of CBS bags of peanuts. The reason? Ullrich uttered the word "nuts" in one episode.
Kyle XY (7 p.m. Mondays, ABC Family) -- The kid without the belly button is back. Now, though, he's mounting a campaign of revenge.
Lipstick Jungle (9 p.m. Feb. 7, NBC) -- Brook Shields gets to make like Lucy Liu in this "Cashmere Mafia" rip-off of "Sex and the City." Shields plays a movie studio exec who bonds with a magazine editor and a fashion designer. Candace Bushnell, the writer behind "Sex," produces. But, really, who knows this turf best? Darren Star (the man behind "Sex") has the "Mafia."
Lost (8 p.m. Jan. 31, ABC) -- It's baaaaack. But don't expect resolution. That's coming NEXT season -- if there is one. The survivors discover more about their situation and learn losing may be just as good as winning. Matthew Fox (who has a big film coming out) still tries to lead the forces into clarity.
The L Word (8 p.m. Sundays, Showtime) -- The lesbian "Sex and the City" gets involved with the movie business and oil wrestling. Because the cable series has already gone where others wouldn't dare, it's a wonder how much more out there it can get.
Make Me a Supermodel (9 p.m. Thursdays, Bravo) -- We just can't get enough of models, can we? Now, some stunners compete for the right to be the next Tyson Beckford or Niki Taylor. Naturally, they've got names that look like their parents couldn't spell. (I didn't know Tyson was so short.)
New Amsterdam (8 p.m. Feb. 22, Fox) -- Remember the vampire from "Moonlight"? Now, make him a New York cop and give him ties to folks throughout 400 years. You see why this was held?
One Tree Hill (7 p.m. Tuesdays, The CW) -- Who needs college when you can skip right to amazing careers in a dirtwater town? That's what happened to the Hill-ers. At the end of last season, the producers pitched a fast-forward premise and got picked up. Now, the kids are all grown up and dealing with adult problems. (That sure solves that aging problem, doesn't it?)
The Real Hustle (9 p.m. Tuesday, truTV) -- You thought the Impossible Missions Force had problems? How 'bout this bunch -- a group of con "experts" who explain how you, too, can be taken. Lighting in New York, they show how jewelry and cars can be swiped right out from under the owners' eyes. Apollo Robbins, Ryan Oakes and Dani Marco share the tricks of the trade.
Rock and a Hard Place (9 p.m. Wednesdays, 101: DirecTV) -- Meat Loaf hosts a game show pitting music legends and not-so-legends in a battle of useless information. Grand Master Flash, Sheila E and the Pussycat Dolls are among the contestants. Doncha wish your girlfriend was as smart as these?
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (7 p.m. Sunday, Fox) -- Ahnold's nowhere to be found. Linda Hamilton and Edward Furlong aren't, either, but Lena Headey (from "300") and Thomas Dekker (from "Heroes") fill in nicely. For TV, the special effects are pretty darn good.
Welcome to the Captain (7:30 p.m. Feb. 4, CBS) -- Raquel Welch is back! She plays one of the tenants in an oddball apartment building. A writer gets the lay of the land when he moves in. Yup, it's a comedy. Chris Klein and Jeffrey Tambor also star.
Welcome to the Captain (7:30 p.m. Feb. 4, CBS) -- Raquel Welch is back! She plays one of the tenants in an oddball apartment building. A writer gets the lay of the land when he moves in. Yup, it's a comedy. Chris Klein and Jeffrey Tambor also star.
The Wire (8 p.m. Sundays, HBO) -- Considered one of the jewels in HBO's crown, "The Wire" wraps it up this season with a series of episodes that take on the media. It shows how a newspaper deals with tough economic times and where reporters fit in in crime investigations. Dominic West and Clarke Peters continue to deliver as the show's stars.
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Oh Come On Guys wrote on Jan 28, 2008 10:46 AM:
While we TV junkies are finding the pickens' getting slim I guess we're giving shows a chance that we wouldn't even consider looking at before. Uh, not always a good thing. Dance Wars anyone? Where's a gernade when you need it???
But, lest we forget, we always have mindless VH-1 reality. Hey, Scott Baio is preggers!!! Forget that Greys is no longer fertile! Scotty to the rescue. Sigh....... "
Denise in San Diego wrote on Jan 26, 2008 9:30 AM:
Alisha in KY wrote on Jan 25, 2008 10:55 PM:
Michael wrote on Jan 25, 2008 9:19 PM:
John T. Folden wrote on Jan 25, 2008 3:07 PM: