Junebug takes on Fall TV

If I wasn’t planning the 1st birthday party of the century and nursing a broken pinky toe, I would have posted a month ago my thoughts and updates on the Fall TV season like I do most years.  Shrug.  Seriously you try finding an outfit to match this beauty…

I rest my case.

Deja Vu was my thought as I watched all the previews.  I know I am an average stay at home mom who watches TV and analyzes it like I get paid the big bucks but in reality I’m a nobody.  A nobody who loves TV.  My opinion is just -> an opinion.  It is my humble opinion that just like we need to clear out all bloody politicians and go back to real people running the country because they have a stake in the outcomes and not to get rich, we, also, need to clear out most TV executives and get back to originality in TV.  This preview season is one of the worst I’ve seen.  Lawyers -> been done.  Best Friends of opposite personalities -> been done.  Doctors -> been done.  The mob -> been done.  Why did shows like Lost, Modern Family, MASH, Doctor Who, Get Smart or Love Boat succeed?  Because when they came out they were original.  They went places we hadn’t gone before or introduced us to unknown fabulous actors we could love.  I see so many shows meant to be a vehicle for this actor or this actress.  What is more important?  The vehicle? or the Actor?  How many shows have they tried shoving Christian Slater or Matthew Perry in the past few seasons?  I want to knock on someone’s forehead and say, “Hello?  McFly?”  I am just a nobody SAHM who loves TV.  What does my opinion matter?  It doesn’t but I’m going to share it anyway.  I’m sassy like that.

Monday

Notes on returning shows:  Every year I say I’m going to stop watching DWTS(ABC) but every year something drags me back.  This year I can sum it up in three words Apolo Anton Onho.  Oh yeah!  I love Blake Shelton on The Voice(NBC) but he isn’t enough to tear me away from Apolo or Bones(FOX).    Speaking of Bones – I have one to pick with FOX.  Please stop moving my bloody shows around!!!  I swear Bones has switched nights more often than J Lo has switched men.

New Shows:

Partners – CBS – On first glance, I’ll admit I felt the same way I did last year when I watched 2 Broke Girls -> Ugh! This has been done to death!   However, Broke Girls won other people over so perhaps Will and Grace 2.0 will.  I do love both the lead actors and have always enjoyed their shows.  I seem to have a thing for nerd-esque Jewish boys.  Perhaps I should discuss this with my therapist.

Revolution – NBC – They call it Lord of the Rings on the American highway.  I call it my next heartbreak.  The kind of show I love but gets cancelled after half or all the season because the small diehard audienece it grew just wasn’t enough to keep the lights turned on.<- Pun Intended.

The Mob Doctor – FOX –  A slightly new twist on the mob show.  A doctor stuck between her job and helping the mob to protect her brother.  It was one of the better promos I watched.  However, this is FOX and it is the time slot of my beloved Alcatraz.  I’ll tape it and watch it only if it gets renewed.  FOX has burned me too many times.

Tuesday

Notes on returning shows:  Happy Endings and Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23 are moving here from Wed.  Looks like CW switch 90210 to Monday and Hart of Dixie to Tuesday.  Cougar Town is headed to TBS.

New Shows:

Vegas – CBS – A cowboy and a mobster walk into a Vegas casino.  The bartender says, “How many TV shows can we set in Vegas?”   They reply in unison, “As many as we can and still make money.”  Ok.  It is not a comedy and I’m not funny.   I’m now wondering what are the top ten cities where TV shows have been based?  I bet NY is in the top if not number one.

Emily Owens, M.D. – CW –  The CW really needs to work on their promos.  They are horrible.  What I got was a girl just starting at a new hospital runs into her high school nemesis and I know all this because she was talking to herself in her head.  Not enough to make me want to watch it people.  I didn’t get to see any personality of the characters.  I don’t know who to like or hate.

Go On – NBC – I fully admit group therapy is not a new concept, even Charlie Sheen is trying it on FX, but this preview was actually funny.  What number vehicle is this for Matthew Perry in the past few seasons?  I still found it funny.  Did I see the only part of the show which is funny?  Time will tell.

The New Normal – NBC – Take 1/3 of Modern Family, add NeNe Leakes and extend it to its own show.  I guess you can’t say being on Celebrity Apprentice didn’t help a few “stars” get more gigs.  I get what they were going for a mixture between Modern Family and Glee (both ratings winners) but they are missing something.  I can’t quite put my finger on what is missing – wait – I know what it is missing ->being funny.

Ben and Kate – FOX – The goofy irresponsible older brother comes to town and disrupts the life of his responsible single mother little sister to a freaking adorable little girl.  So predictable and yet… I laughed.  I teared up. (I blame my hormones) I think it was my favorite comedy preview this season.

The Mindy Project – FOX – I liked most of the supporting cast.  I’m not sure I liked Mindy.  I mean I like Mindy but I’m not sure I liked her in this role.  It came off as confused like they were still figuring out the exact direction they wanted to take the show.

Wednesday

Notes on returning shows:  X-Factor (FOX) added Hot Mess Britney.  They really don’t want me to ever watch that show.

New Shows:

The Neighbors – ABC – I’ll admit the ads for this one drive me nuts!  ”Going where no show has gone before.”  Ummm….ok.  Let me think.  Right off the top of my head. Aliens – Alf, Mork and Mindy and Third Rock from the Sun.  Just to name a few.  Alien neighbors is not new.  Shoot I would even classify half the Housewives shows as aliens.  Have you seen that freaky Miami woman?  She makes me laugh (a nervous scared laugh) but this preview did not.

Nashville – ABC –  It hits some good notes.  Older but talented woman versus younger but auto-tuned chick.  Obviously it is a soap opera…errr…I mean night time drama.  While watching it I thought of Knot’s Landing.  Odd.  I am so tired of mean girls.  I might check out a few episodes and see if my heart can take it.

Arrow – CW –  Wow another winner promo.   A dude working out in a warehouse(on a salmon ladder for the Ninja buffs), makes an arrow, shoots lots of tennis balls with the arrows, I have no idea who pissed in his cornflakes or why I should care.

Animal Practice – NBC – Scrubs set in a Vet practice.  <- I think I’m getting good at guessing the original show this season’s new shows “borrowed from”.  The air quotes is a thing from the preview I watched.  Yea, it wasn’t funny on the preview either.

Guys with Kids – NBC – As a babywearing mom, I cringe every time I see this ad with them wearing the baby facing out.  It is such a bad position for the baby.  Some people choose to wear their child facing out even after they hear the facts and it is their choice, however, I find it irresponsible to show it unless it is accompanied with the possible physical implications for the child.  (stepping off my soap box)  Honestly I can’t get past the bad babywearing.  I did giggle a few times in between my cringes.

Chicago Fire – NBC – Rescue Me with no cussing or Magic Mike with more dialogue.  This could be gone in a few weeks or be the next ER.  I couldn’t tell from the preview.  Worth a view even if only for the eye candy.

Thursday

Notes on returning shows:  Anyone notice Glee(FOX) has moved to Thursday? What FOX moved another show to a different night?  Yep, I’m not shocked either.  They are the Queens of the old switch-a-roo.

New Shows:

Last Resort – ABC –  When I saw the title I honestly thought it was another show where people are stuck on a resort island eating bugs and hooking up with each other.  I got it partially right.  They start on a Navy sub but take over an island where I’m sure they eat something and hook up with each other.  I might have the last part a little wrong.  I get the premise but I don’t know how long it can last.

Elementary – CBS – I want to like love this show.  I love mystery.  I love Sherlock.  I love Lucy Liu.  So far I like the changes they have made to the original story line while staying true to what is most loved about Sherlock and Watson -> mainly Sherlock’s genius and the bond/relationship between him and Watson.  Please don’t disappoint me!!!

Beauty and the Beast – CW –  Most worthless preview I watched.  It told me nothing about the show except a woman was saved from a bad situation by an ugly dude who really is cute?  ((cough))

Friday

Notes on returning shows:  ANTM(CW) was moved to Friday from Wednesday.  NBC is moving Whitney and Community to lead Grimm.  Odd choice?  I love Community and Grimm so it works for me but not sure it will work for the majority of the world.   FOX kept Touch but moved it to Friday.

New Shows:

Made in Jersey – CBS – Another lawyer show.  Granted it does have Kyle McLaughlin who I am currently crushing on after watching Twin Peaks over the summer but that is not enough for me.  Pro – Kyle.  Con – Lawyer show.  Smart girl from the wrong side of the bridge making it to the big business.  Think Ugly Betty  only bigger hair and drop dead gorgeous.

Saturday

Notes on returning shows:  The Dead Night!  I do like NBC plays reruns of shows from the week because sometimes my DVR messes up or I can’t record more than two shows at once.  I spend my Saturday nights cuddled up to BBC and Doctor Who when it is on.

New Shows:  Yeah! Right!  Like that has happened on this night since 1991.

Sunday

Notes on returning shows:  The Mentalist(CBS) has been moved here in CSI: Miami’s old slot.  The slot where shows go to die?  I love Once Upon a Time (ABC) and even more so since I heard my beloved Jorge Garcia will guest star this season.  Squeal!  Want to guess who he will be playing?  I would tell you but I hear it is a giant of a secret.    After football season, NBC is bringing back Fashion Star to lead into Celebrity Apprentice.  I thought for sure Fashion Star would have been axed simply for the fact I liked it.

New Shows:

666 Park Avenue – ABC –  The devil is in the details or in this case in 666 Park Avenue.  I’ve seen Terry O’Quinn in so many shows recently I feel I should add him to my Christmas card list.  It is a dark show about getting your deepest desires.  If it worked for me, right now the doorbell would ring and I would have a fresh hot pizza in my hands.  Sadly my desires take a backseat to the whole no gluten/wheat thing.  Sigh.   I might need to move to 666 Park Avenue or stay put and keep my soul.  Choices.  I can’t really talk about the show because the preview left me more confused and with lots questions.

Notes:

Coming later in the season is my most anticipated show on FOX, The Following, starring my man Kevin Bacon.  Granted it is an FBI show which goes against my rantings of originality, it does present a nice twist to the usual bad guy.  Loved the preview.  Can’t wait!

My predictions:

I checked last Fall’s predictions and my inner eye must have been wearing an eye patch.  I was way off.

My vote for biggest breakout hit:  I’m torn between Elementary and Nashville.

My vote for the first show to be cancelled:  The Mob Doctor or Vegas

Show I will love but will be immediately cancelled sending me into a rant about incomptant execs who don’t know whether to scratch their clocks or wind their ass:  Revolution

Show I will hate but will last forever just to torment me: Made in Jersey

First show to be picked up: Nashville or Elementary

Show most likely to become my dirty little secret (like Pretty Little Liars): Ben and Kate or Go On

What show are you looking forward to the most?  Did your favorite not return this year?