Fall TV New Series Part 2 - The Good and the Almost Good

In Part 1, I talked about the new series pilots that I thought were bad (and very bad) and those I thought were disappointing.  Part 2 takes a look at not the series that I'm predicting will all be hits, but rather those I liked and think have potential (if only their host network promotes them properly and gives them time). 

As I say at least a few times every season, it's much easier to predict a flop than a success.  The big-time hits almost always come out of nowhere and surprise all the pundits.

Here are the new shows I think are the best of the new crop of fall series.

The Good

Revenge (ABC Wednesday 10-11)

Good old fashioned soap opera with a twist of revenge.  Large-scale soaps have not worked in recent years, but this one has potential.  Good cast with Emily Van Camp as the women who moves to the Hamptons to get revenge on the woman (Madeline Stowe) and her friends who ruined her family when she was a kid.

How this will be stretched over the course of the season is key. May make a better mini-series than weekly series.  Following a weak lead-in (Happy Endings), and being up against CSI and Law & Order: SVU, will make it tough to make headway.

Once Upon a Time (ABC, Sunday 8-9)

Fairy tales and the modern world collide, in this innovative and fun fantasy series focusing on a young woman who may or may not be the missing daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming - you see, the evil Queen cast a spell banishing them and other fairy tale characters to the real world with no memory of who they really are, and...

In a time period that strangely has no competing dramas, I hope this finds an audience.  It's one of the few dramas that can be watched by and with the whole family.

Pan Am (ABC, Sunday 10-11)

ABC should nourish this one.  The cast (including Christina Ricci and Kelli Garner) is excellent.  Full of sexy entanglements, handsome pilots, gorgeous stewardesses, and the cold war, there seem to be numerous juicy storylines to tap.  The pilot was real good.

Person of Interest (CBS, Thursday 9-10)

The pilot was compelling - Jim Calviezel is a former CIA covert operative recruited by a mysterious billionaire (Lost's Michael Emerson) to prevent violent crimes by using their own brand of vigilante justice.  CBS is so high on this one, it moved CSI to another night to make room.

Prime Suspect (NBC, Thursday 10-11)

Maria Bello is charismatic as a female homicide detective transferred to a new precinct where the fraternity of male cops is not very accepting.  She will, of course, gradually win them over.  The supporting cast, led by Aidan Quinn, is also very good.  The pilot started off slowly, but it grew on me as it progressed.

 Terra Nova (FOX, Monday 8-9)

The pilot was excellent. It set up the premise and introduced the major characters pretty quickly. Has the makings of a great mini-series, but we'll need to wait and see if it makes a good weekly series. This type of show can develop a very loyal niche audience - appealing to a broader base is more difficult for a sci-fi series. I think this definitely has the potential - as long as the special effects are used to enhance the story, not the other way around.

New Girl (FOX, Tuesday 9-9:30) 

This is the best new comedy of the season, and it's getting the enviable post-Gleetime slot.  Zooey Deschanel is perfect in the role of a young woman becomes roommates with three single guys.  Along with her childhood girlfriend, the five of them form a dysfunctional family.  One caveat, however, is that much of what made the pilot funny, won't exist by episode 2.  So whether the comedy can be maintained on a weekly basis remains to be seen.

 Secret Circle (CW, Thursday 9-10)

Witches and bitches will fit in just fine following Vampire Diaries.  New girl in town discovers that she is not only a witch, but part of a secret coven - and, of course, the key to unlocking a centuries-old battle between good and evil.

The Almost Good 

Last Man Standing (ABC, Tuesday 8-8:30)

Tim Allen will try to recapture the magic he had in this time slot with Home Improvement.  He plays a similar character.  The pilot was funny, but the show would have a better chance if it wasn't up against NCIS and Glee.

2 Broke Girls (CBS, Monday 8:30-9)

Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs are a female odd couple.  The pilot, which focused on their meeting for the first time, was funny, but I'm not sure it can be maintained on a weekly basis.  It should fit in well with CBS's Monday comedies, but sitcoms have been interchangeable here.

 Hart of Dixie (CW, Monday 9-10)

Hard to buy Rachel Bilson as a cardio-thoracic surgeon.  But when she inherits a medical practice in a small town filled with quirky characters, this fish out of water story does have some charm.  Seems like a good family drama, but not really compatible with its Gossip Girl lead-in.

Ringer (CW, Tuesday 9-10)

  Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will tune in for Sarah Michelle Geller in her return to TV after a seven year absence.  They may not stay, however, when they see how different her role is here.

Her portrayal of a woman on the run, who assumes the life of her wealthy identical twin, whose seemingly idullic life is just as dangerous as her own, is compelling.  I'm reserving judgment until I see a few more episodes.

Comments

[בגדי מעצבים]

Yes I agree with you. They are the very powerful and successful personalities. They can do smart work and hard work also to achieve the success.

[Shefa]

AS I SEE IT STEVE THE BRITS ARE THE PINNACLE OF STORY WRITERS (DR WHO ANYONE) THE SHOWS CANNED LATELY DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO BE BORN ONE SEASON IS NOWHERE ENOUGH TO START A FAN BASE WORLD WIDE HERE IN AUSSIE LAND WE ARE USUALLY THE LAST TO GET THESE SHOWS BUT BY THAT TIME THEY ARE CANNED THE CABLE NETWORKS ARE CHARGING A FORTUNE FOR A SERVICE THAT HAS 3 STATIONS WORTH WATCHING OUT OF 40 PLUS AND WE DO NOT GET TO CHOOSE ITS A VERY GOOD THING THE ONES IN POWER NOW WERE NOT THERE DURING STAR TREK STAR WARS DAYS AND THE LIKE I THINK THESE WERE BRILLIANT BUT THEY TOO WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE ARSE BECAUSE ALL THEY WATCH IS THAT F G REALITY S T hey guys the problem here is i don’t think the cotprraoe big wigs even watch the shows they canso until they do i say leave them going at least 5 seasons this will give the public what we want at the end of the day it’s us who need a major break from all the reality ,cop ,law and game shows these are so 70s get with the timeswe pay for tv now and with all the canned shows now its not worth the raping my wallet gets each month i feel my self and all si fi fans should boycott the networks who do not have the balls to take a small loss in the beginning to reap the rewards laterbring back these shows and start a network that shows only these and i feel you will be on a winnerbecause if these shows die it means a buttload of writing for me iv’e just finished 2 books one for sliders to end it and one for space ubove and beyond two shows that could have ended with a tele movieim also in the middle of my own si fi series called (invasion at rygaria) because im sick of the non original crap that is being pushed our way at the momentso if we all band together and show the fat shirts that we are the ones who eventually pay for these shows they might see things differentlyBRING THEM BACK AND SAVE ME A BUCKET LOAD OF WORK

[Kinana]

AS I SEE IT STEVE THE BRITS ARE THE PINNACLE OF STORY WRITERS (DR WHO ANYONE) THE SHOWS CANNED LATELY DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO BE BORN ONE SEASON IS NOWHERE ENOUGH TO START A FAN BASE WORLD WIDE HERE IN AUSSIE LAND WE ARE USUALLY THE LAST TO GET THESE SHOWS BUT BY THAT TIME THEY ARE CANNED THE CABLE NETWORKS ARE CHARGING A FORTUNE FOR A SERVICE THAT HAS 3 STATIONS WORTH WATCHING OUT OF 40 PLUS AND WE DO NOT GET TO CHOOSE ITS A VERY GOOD THING THE ONES IN POWER NOW WERE NOT THERE DURING STAR TREK STAR WARS DAYS AND THE LIKE I THINK THESE WERE BRILLIANT BUT THEY TOO WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE ARSE BECAUSE ALL THEY WATCH IS THAT F G REALITY S T hey guys the problem here is i don’t think the caprorote big wigs even watch the shows they canso until they do i say leave them going at least 5 seasons this will give the public what we want at the end of the day it’s us who need a major break from all the reality ,cop ,law and game shows these are so 70s get with the timeswe pay for tv now and with all the canned shows now its not worth the raping my wallet gets each month i feel my self and all si fi fans should boycott the networks who do not have the balls to take a small loss in the beginning to reap the rewards laterbring back these shows and start a network that shows only these and i feel you will be on a winnerbecause if these shows die it means a buttload of writing for me iv’e just finished 2 books one for sliders to end it and one for space ubove and beyond two shows that could have ended with a tele movieim also in the middle of my own si fi series called (invasion at rygaria) because im sick of the non original crap that is being pushed our way at the momentso if we all band together and show the fat shirts that we are the ones who eventually pay for these shows they might see things differentlyBRING THEM BACK AND SAVE ME A BUCKET LOAD OF WORK

[Lighting]

I always used to study post in news papers but now as I am a user of web therefore from
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[Essie]

Brian SheridanThe Destroyers are a real mixed bag. The creators poicltial views to get in the way too much for my enjoyment (the 3rd book has Remo raping a woman and she enjoys it). The movie wasn't as good as it could have been either but neither were the Bond movies of that time.I find it offensive they cast Joel Grey as an Korean martial arts master, not once but twice! Jeff Meek in the TV pilot was much better in the martial arts TV series Raven. Love the blog! Keep up the great work.Brian

[Nakedi]

Hi, and thanks.I've seen your site as well and I see you've made quite a bit of prsroegs.PM has prob been around the longest and their stuff seems really stable. BTW Reality-XP has some nice GC gauges, but as you maybe know they haven't gotten around to porting to FSX yet. It's the closest thing to the Primus stuff that I've seen so far. The Lear seems to be getting more popular as a pit.I don't have the exact dimensions you're looking for, however, I've got some tech drawings from the Bombardier brochures that I am using to extrapolate that info using the dimensions I do know. I'll be sure to let you know when I come up with something.I'm trying to find a Lear pilot who's willing to do some measurements. Bombardier isn't exactly friendly with anyone who isn't buying a plane from them.Plane Plastics (planeplastics.com) sells Lear 25 interior shells. I was hoping they would have expanded their stock to the 45. Nothing yet.I'm experimenting with 1 projector and a home-made collimation system. I have no idea if this will be successful. My experiments seem to work on a smaller scale, but I haven't found anyone else who has come up with a decent solution using fairly inexpensive components that works. So I'm skeptical of my prsroegs too. Ideally, I would like to have 3 projectors as well.I've gotta run, but feel free to hit me up if you have questions or suggestions.