Wednesday, September 14, 2011
BECAUSE WHEN YOU CAN LINK TO A VIDEO OF KHRYSTYNE HAJE FAKE-PLAYING A SAXOPHONE, YOU HAVE TO DO IT: The new fall tv season begins this week, with NBC's Up All Night and Free Agents debuting tonight. I, like all right-thinking people, am relying on our friends Alan Sepinwall and Dan Fienberg at HitFix.com to highlight the potential goodness that is out there, but, really, does anything excite you? Or, more to the point, does anything excite you as much as these past network fall preview videos I've located, below the fold:
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I met Khrystine Haje in 1990 when I was seeing a Broadway revival of Gypsy. She was very nice.
ReplyDeleteI'm not terribly excited about anything except the return of the shows I usually watch. That is, Community and James Spader on The Office. I have recently given in and watched (and thoroughly enjoyed) Modern Family, so that'll be fun. But I plan to remain decidedly behind the times and maintain my pop culture knowledge through posts here.
Ringer was simply godawful, though I had some hopes for it, and the New Girl pilot (widely avalable for free on iTunes and OnDemand) was underwhelming. Biggest question mark in the "could be good, could be a complete botch" for me is "Once Upon A Time."
ReplyDeleteOh man! TV is the best!
ReplyDeleteI like how it took me a good 40 seconds to recognize anyone in the first video other than Head of the Class people. And I watched (and loved!) most of the other shows.
The first weekend after I moved to New York, I saw Henry Winkler walking down the street. My reaction was NOT in fact to run up to him, loop my arm through his, and kiss him on the cheek. Now I see how wrong I was.
Oh I forgot to say anything about this year's TV schedule.
ReplyDeleteI will give a try or two to: New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Up All Night, Suburgatory, Homeland, and yes I admit it, The Rosie Show.
Excited about the return of a LOT of shows...highlights being Parks and Recreation, ANTM (all stars!), and, of course, Sister Wives!!!
One thing that stood out in a WTF? way on the schedule is that they are making new episodes of Beavis and Butthead?
I'm also interested in the number of existing shows that are going substantial retooling in some way--some are being noisy about it (2.5 Men, which I may sample, less because of Ashton than because they're bringing Judy Greer on as Ashton's ex), some a little quieter (Hawaii Five-0 is getting a bunch of new regulars and recurring characters, most notably Terry O'Quinn), and some evolving (given how Good Wife ended last season, that has implications for a lot of the characters).
ReplyDeleteI'll usualy give just about anything at least one episode. I'll watch the premieres of 2 Broke Girls, New Girl, Up All Night, A Gifted Man, X Factor, Once Upon a Time, Pan Am, The Playboy Club and Prime Suspect. And my Everwood-inspired crush on Emily Van Camp will cause me to watch at least the first episode of Revenge, even though I haven't heard anything good about it. It certainly seems as though many of the best new shows are coming out in midseason. I'm looking forward to Smash more than any of the new shows coming out this fall.
ReplyDeleteThis was the year that I was going to finally give up on my horrifying ANTM addiction. And then they had to come up with an all star season! I'm totally in.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few I'm excited/intrigued by. I actually read the pilot script of Revenge, and that seems like it could be a fun soapy show to watch. I'm truly looking forward to Pan Am, Prime Suspect, 2 Broke Girls and American Horror Story (?) on FX. I will watch at least one episode of The X Factor, but I might be done with singing competitions in general, if I watch it'll be to satisfy my Simon/Paula curiosity. For returning shows, I won't be watching The Office due to my James Spader aversion, but I am VERY happy that they're bringing Parks & Rec back early instead of at mid-season, and I'm looking forward to Modern Family. I haven't watched CSI in years, but my husband wants to see how Ted Danson fits in to the mix, so we'll check out an episode of that.
ReplyDeleteI know. I actually managed to skip this most recent season, I think for the first time since the second. Their timing could not be smarter in terms of sucking me back in.
ReplyDeleteRinger was really bad (especially the green screen work and the annoying mirror symbolism), but I may give it another few weeks to see if it improves, as I like so much of the cast.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try out Pan Am, and I have to watch Playboy Club (long story) but nothing else is interesting me much. I haven't decided if I'll try American Horror Story, my love for Connie Britton notwithstanding. Believe it or not, the show that looks most fun to me this fall is The Secret Circle, though I likely won't bother.
How can the cast of 30Something be dancing? They were always so damned depressed, I'm amazed they could get out of bed for such a promo.
ReplyDeleteThose clips just totally made my day! I wish TV Land would air more '80s sitcoms (or maybe The Hub could add some more). I would love to watch Gimme a Break again. Over the weekend, I was going through the TV schedule to set the DVR for new shows and the only show I'm recording right now is Up All Night. I was overwhelmed by almost everything else. I might watch the new Dallas on TNT, also just to fulfill my nostalgic need. I'm looking forward to the return of Grey's, Modern Family and Raising Hope. I haven't watched Two and Half Men for years, but will probably check out the first episode to see how they introduce Ashton Kutcher.
ReplyDeleteI miss 1984 TV.
ReplyDeleteI used to get really excited about the new fall television season. These days though, if it doesn't involve a ball or a puck I'm generally tuned out.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm willing to give at least an episode each to Terra Nova (dinosaurs!), Hart of Dixie (Summer Roberts!) and Revenge (seems terrible enough to be good). Comedies are always easier to catch up on and nothing strikes me as must-watch, so I'll wait and see if any of them are worth getting into.
ReplyDeleteReally excited for the return of the Thursday night comedies. With FNL and Terriers gone, Mad Men not back yet and still not being fully in on Boardwalk, my DVR schedule is kind of light.
I usually try to catch one or two episodes of most shows. Really regretting that tactic after "Ringer".
ReplyDeleteI am so glad this isn't just me. When I first read about it and saw tey were reaching back all the way to season one, I didn't understand how the "older" girls would have a chance, but I read they are focusing on the "acting/modeling" genre more. And such fun people returning. Very sad not to see Joanie or Elena though.
ReplyDeleteThat was me.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised more people haven't listed Person of Interest (do you all know something I don't?) because I will follow Ben Linus anywhere. Also going to try Pan Am and 2 Broke Girls.
ReplyDeleteMostly I am excited for things to return. I watched all 3 seasons of Parks and Rec this summer, largely due to this blog's love, and I am now fully and properly excited for it to return. Big Bang, Modern Family, HIMYM and Raising Hope are my other comedy picks.
Agreed re: Ringer, and the green screen scene that Alan and Dan savaged on their podcast did not disappoint in the version as aired. Or rather, it did disappoint on the merits. You get my drift. I will give it one non-pilot episode to judge whether there is any improvement or interesting development, but if not, I'm out - sorry, SMG, but life's too short.
ReplyDeletePerson of Interest has a timeslot problem, being up against Grey's, The Office, Bones, and Secret Circle. I'm interested, but the largely lukewarm reviews don't fill me with confidence. Don't know why CBS isn't putting it either Tuesday or Wednesday at 10.
ReplyDeleteAs noted above, tried and disliked the Ringer pilot, but I'm giving it one more episode to show me something good. I'm recording Up All Night and Free Agents tonight, and I'm intrigued for American Horror Story in a "How Batshit Crazy Can They Get" sort of way. Will probably sample 2 Broke Girls, New Girl, Prime Suspect, and Terra Nova too. But I'm forcing myself to have a really short leash this year. Some or all of those new shows are likely Hulu-only (assuming availability) until they make me care enough to find room on the TiVo.
ReplyDeleteAmong returning shows, I still have HIMYM On Notice, and I'm pretty well done with Glee. But I'm excited for the returns of TAR, Survivor, Modern Family, Community, P&R, and Office. I'll continue with Castle until it's lost its charm. And I'll probably start DVRing Fringe Season 4, since we expect to catch up on the 3rd season DVDs by some point before 2011 ends.
And of COURSE John Stamos would be playing the drums in that first video.
ReplyDeleteWatch Charlie's Angels please. I promise it's good.
ReplyDeleteI've seen almost all of the pilots and am excited to continue watching Revenge, 2 Broke Girls, and...I think that's it. I have huge conceptual problems with Person of Interest despite my love for Ben Linus.
Very excited for the premiere of Survivor tonight.
In the 1982 ABC video, I think I spotted old-timey H!ITGs Lou Jacobi, Chuck McCann and Robert Prosky among the "real people" interacting with the ABC stars.
ReplyDeleteLove the fade from the closeup on the piano keys to Mr. T's mohawk in the 1983 NBC clip (which also features the infamous chimp show Mr. Smith and the short-lived but - I thought - quite good Bay City Blues)
I liked the first couple of promo videos, but when you get to the clips-of-shows videos, I say meh.
ReplyDeleteI liked this prognostication of show success:
http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/33722/your-fall-tv-cancellation-forecast
I plan on giving Whitney a shot and possibly Pan Am. Other than that I'm not really interested in any new shows.
ReplyDeleteUntil I read these comments I thought I'd be cutting back on my TV consumption this fall. But with returning shows (BBT, HIMYM, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Castle), plus the two shows I picked up over the summer (Blue Bloods and Switched at Birth), and my guilty pleasure show (DWTS) AND one or two new shows... that's too much TV. I'm a little tired just thinking about it.
TONIGHT?
ReplyDeleteShit. Thanks for reminding me.
I'm wary. On one hand, the surreal promise of the inevitable tie-in to Tyra's "Model-Land" YA novel and the chance to root again for sweet Shannon, too-sexy Sheena, scratchy-voiced Bree, and Brittany-Who-Looks-Like-Janice. On the other: the significant possiblity that the show will dominated by unlikeable drama-chasing wackos like Lisa and self-conscious villainesses like Angelea and Alexandria.
ReplyDeleteMy DVR load is also looking pretty light. I'll try Homeland, American Horror Story (for Connie B. and the Batshit Crazyometry), and Up All Night tonight. Maybe I'm just an Aging Lady Crank who identifies too closely with Liz Lemon, but the slew of Wackydorable Girl shows does not appeal.
ReplyDeleteVery excited for the return of my beloved P&R and the second season of Boardwalk, a show that finally clicked for me about a two-thirds through the first season. And honestly, even if it hadn't, I'd probably tune in to a new season for just the costumes, music, and sets.
I don't think I'm up for any of the new shows, except possibly Up All Night (but probably not). For returning shows, I'm looking forward to Modern Family, Parks and Rec, TAR, 30 Rock (mid-season, did I hear?), Doctor Who (which has already begun), and The Voice, and somewhat less to Office, HIMYM and Glee, which I'll likely still watch. Parenthood is a likely, though it apparently didn't DVR last night so I have to see (also, I'm much more up for comedy right now than for drama).
ReplyDeleteThe Voice really surprised me by how much I liked it, though I didn't need to watch every single episode. The coaching was quite good and raised this far above Idol in our household's view. I'm not even going to bother with Idol or X Factor (which is fine as I have plenty on our DVR already, plus my husband's recording Torchwood and other shows).
Monday nights and Thursday nights seem to be the problem ones for me -- I have a HIMYM/Terra Nova/The Sing-Off conflict where I think I'm going to have to miss the 1st half hour of The Sing-Off while I test Terra Nova out.
ReplyDeleteThursday has the Charlie's Angels/Community/Big Bang Theory conflict. BELLA MAKE THEM MOVE CHARLIE'S ANGELS. Otherwise I think I'll be watching that one on the ABC TV ipad app, which I haven't tried yet, but seems to be my solution. I also won't be trying Prime Suspect because I won't give up Private Practice or The Mentalist.
In general I am attempting, as always, to try a bunch of new stuff and see what sticks, but I know I'll end up ditching most of it. New shows I'm trying out:
The New Girl (I watched the pilot already, liked it more than Matt, and will probably stick with it as good background TV while doing chores and stuff.)
Ringer, although after the reaction last night I'm guessing I won't stick with it.
Terra Nova
Charlie's Angels
2 Broke Girls
Up All Night
Person of Interest
Homeland
A Gifted Man
Grimm
Once Upon a Time
Suburgatory
Apartment 23
X Factor
Enlightened
Some of these don't start till October or November. And I keep a running list of shows to try that have creators/writers/actors I like and I don't even know what half of the shows are that I'm going to try.
Oh, and I was never going to try H8R and still am not, but everyone should read Fienberg's take-down of it if they haven't yet.
ReplyDeleteLinda Holmes's review of Up All Night made me reconsider - I'll definitely watch a couple episodes to see how it is.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me about The Sing-Off! Will be watching that on enough delay to account for commercials, and then probably watching HIMYM on-demand.
ReplyDeleteApartment 23 has me seriously intrigued not just because of the casting of James Van Der Beek as "James Van Der Beek" in the vein of Neil Patrick Harris as "Neil Patrick Harris," but Krysten Ritter as the original titular character (show was originally titled "Don't Trust The Bitch In Apartment 23").
ReplyDeleteI'm dropping Big Bang, at least for the moment Generally, I find it funny without being terribly good, and the Wolowitz material can often be pretty painful.
Three episode mini-season of Archer starts tomorrow.
ReplyDelete--bd
I'm in for Homeland. Damian Lewis seems to pick great roles and the Manchurian Candidate feel could be interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnyone hear Winkler on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" last weekend? He was awesome. And Paula Poundstone told a funny story about how, the first time she saw him, before she could place him, her first thought was "What a happy little man." Ah, 1982: When a short, dark-haired Jew could be the epitome of cool.
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot about Apt 23 - it's hilarious. In for that one.
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean we get a thread about it tomorrow? Pretty please?
ReplyDeleteOh my God, Lisa is coming back?!?!
ReplyDeleteDo you have to watch Playboy Club because they filmed outside the building you live in? Because that is SO why we are watching!
ReplyDeleteWait, when is the new Dallas starting because I WILL watch that. But I thought it was further away.
ReplyDeleteThe link is to something about a music discovery app. Did I miss something?
ReplyDeleteYour list is similar to my try-out list, minus the reality and the sit coms. I'm trying to branch out a bit, and give some of the half hour single cams a shot this year. I have never heard of this Apt 23, however. Probably because I NEVER RECEIVED MY G-D FALL TV PREVIEW FROM EW, STUPID EFFING LOUSY LA POSTAL ASSHOLES. Ahem. Just saw an ad today for Homeland, by which I am now intrigued.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, y'all. Tell me what I missed in the magazine.
I watched the premiere. Looks like it is going to be craazy! Seems like there are a few of us, maybe regular updates?
ReplyDeleteHomeland certainly has an intriguing cast--Lewis, Danes, Patinkin, and Morena Baccarin (who apparently provides the Showtime-required nudity). If I got Showtime, I'd watch, but I can't justify picking up Showtime just for that.
ReplyDeleteNope - can't say why for now, but if it lasts more than two or three episodes, you'll know.
ReplyDeleteHeather, you're right, it's not airing until Summer 2012. There were a few sneak peeks available On Demand, so I thought it was coming sooner.
ReplyDeleteI'll be watching Charlie's Angels for you, Bella.
ReplyDelete