Screening FOX

As I mentioned in my last entry, I received some preview copies of pilots for new and season premieres for returning FOX shows. I would expect my exuberance over Prison Break would qualify me to get any subsequent preview copies. I mean, what better cheerleader are you gonna get than me for any show I like that much?

Of course, the Powers That Be probably won't like what I have to say about the other three previews I've watched so far, so maybe I'm gonna blow my chance for more.

But then, who the hell reads this anyway?

First up: the much ballyhooed return of Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett to television comedy: 'Til Death. He play the husband to former Ellen co-star (and a crush of mine) Joely Fisher as the long-time married couple that imparts its wisdom to their newlywed neighbors played by American Pie's Eddie Kaye Thomas and newcomer (to series TV, anyway) Kat Foster.

The show's got promise, but I really don't think it's gonna take off. I laughed at a number of the gags mainly because after only a few years of marriage under my belt, I "get" the humor in the naivety of the young couple. But, as with most "standard" comedies, everything's hyper-realized with these characters. The older couple is really cynical, and the younger couple is really naive. This will grow tiring quickly-- if you made it through the first episode.

But it is a comedy in a season where very few comedies are even being aired, so it'll probably get a better than usual shot from me.


Happy Hour won't get much more of a chance from me. If I'm not hooked within two more episodes (max), it'll be coming off the DVR schedule. John Sloan plays Henry, a guy who moved to the big city to be with his girlfriend. So, naturally she dumps him and boots him from their apartment. He ends up rooming with Lex Medlin's Larry; one of those lazy, yet very cool-wise guys that only appear on television. And because Larry is such an odd duck himself, he has to surround himself with really overdone friends (the p*ssy-whipped ex-roomate, his ball-busting fiance, and his drunkenly horny boss).

Yeah, it doesn't get better... I should have mentioned this is a comedy-- I just forgot. I think the writers did, too.

[Was that too bitchy? I swear I'm not trying to be one of "those" internet critics-- the show is bad, okay?]


Finally, I watched the FBI hostage negotiators who are lovers show Standoff. Now, I should like this show. It stars the very good Ron Livingston and Gina Torres as well as Michael Cudlitz, who's appeared in most every show ever aired (like last season's Prison Break guard who T-Bag killed after he learned about the escape plot). It's also got a good concept. But the pilot doesn't give me much hope that it'll be on the air long. In fact, TV Guide's Michael Ausiello predicted this show would be the first cancelled for the new season.

A big problem is, like the other two shows I watched, it's so cliched in execution. Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt are lovers (taboo since they're partners). He's a little aloof about the relationship, and she's mad at him for it (seen it just a few times before). In a role wasting her talents, Torres plays the tough boss, every show like this needs, who knows about the relationship, but doesn't want to split them up because they're the best team she's got. That's about it for her part: acting tough/mean and giving disapproving looks . Cudlitz plays every over-eager a**hole foil to our protagonists that ever been seen on TV (he's the the SWAT-type leader; when the negotiations go South, his team rushes in and eliminates the target-- of course, he always wants to "save the day"). And Raquel Alessi plays the super-smart support person in the hostage situation; the woman who can punch a few keys into her computer and have instant, relevant information to help out.

The pilot had a few nice moments, like when Tom Wopat "loses it" in traffic, and brandishes a gun-- with his young boys in the car-- but it felt like I had seen all the story beats before. That's not always bad, but even the extremely likable Livingston seemed to be walking through his lines. If the dude saying the words doesn't seem to be into the show, how am I supposed to be into it? And the biggest transgression, Livingston and DeWitt have been lovers for three months, and I wasn't buying it for a second.

Okay, those are my thoughts on three new FOX shows. Kinda depressing, I know, but what I saw wasn't worth the time.

Of course, there is always a rule I try to follow with brand new shows: give it two-three episodes. Pilots can sometimes be very poor, only to have the subsequent episodes pull it together to make it a watchable show. I'm hoping at least 'Til Death and Standoff find their voices (at least ones I'd listen to) because they have solid premises and good casts. It's a shame when good/great actors get stuck in garbage.

Well, after my ringing endorsements, you're probably itching for me to reveal the premiere dates, so here goes:

'Til Death and Happy Hour: Sept 7 at 7:oo and 7:30 pm CST
Standoff: Sept 5 at 8:00 pm CST


***Speaking of premiere dates, I made an Excel file of the network shows, their air dates, and their premiere dates (the best that I know, anyway). I'll send it to anyone who requests it.

Send an e-mail to teameckblog@charter.net with the subject line "Fall Schedule".