New Projects: ABC
Over the course of the summer I am doing a semi-preview of new series’ slated for the four broadcasting networks, HBO, and potentially a post covering all other new cable series. This is to ascertain if any of these series will get any significant coverage from Grid Effect and to also help you, the reader, determine if a particular show might work its way into your weekly rotation. Today: ABC. I have been relatively harsh on ABC since this blog’s inception, and it hasn’t been unwarranted. Just like chick-lit, we don’t enjoy chick TV. And with the exception of Lost, that is excatly what ABC is. Which is fine. There is obviously a niche market for that audience and ABC caters to it with successful results, just don’t expect us to watch it. These summaries will be fairly succinct, since ABC has neglected to post any information about them on their website.
You can find the overviews for CBS here, and HBO here.
Pushing Daisies: Wednesdays, 8pm et.
Synopsis: A man has the power to ressurect of the dead, but in typical ABC formatting, probably cannot do the laundry.
Initial Impressions: Well, I saw a commercial for it when I went to see the new Die Hard, so it’s already starting in the negative. Barry Sonnenfeld is the marketable name behind this project, and also features a noteworthy case including Kristin Chenoweth, as well as Jim Dale, Anna Friel and Chi McBride. This seems to be the most promising of the shows I am about to cover, but yet I know little to nothing about it because of ABC’s lackluster marketing (save for the movie trailer, of course).
Carpoolers: Tuesdays, 8:30pm et
Synopsis: Several adult men carpool to work, hilarity ensues.
Initial Impressions: Looking at the credentials of the two head writers, Kit Boss and Emily Cutler, I am pessimistic (to say the least) about this one. There highlight is a final season Seinfeld episode written by Miss Boss entitled, “The Maid”, where she was the storywriter. The most recognizable name involved is the preening Jerry O’Connell, whose about the sixth lead.
Again, ABC didn’t find it necessary to promote this upcoming series in any way on their website, so I’ll reserve judgement. But if I had to prognosticate, I would venture to assume virtually all of the men are completely subordinate to their wives, with the exception of one who’s divorced and either a prick or a schmuck. If it sustains six episodes I’d be surprised…. So much for reserving judgement.
Women’s Murder Club: Fridays, 8pm et.
Synopsis: A crime drama, in which all the noteworthy crime solving components are female: the DA, the medical examiner, the reporter and the detective.
Initial Impressions: Now this is the ABC we know and love. Its like Sex and The City, but with murders! Seriously, I couldn’t be more ecstatic. We just don’t have enough domineering, “empowered” women on television. An identifiable cast headed by Angie Harmon, Paula Newsome and Laura Harris would probably lead to a decent Nielsen, but that Friday time slot is setting them back. Maybe if it tests well it will get bumped to a more desirable weekday.
Dirty Sexy Money: Wednesdays, 10pm et.
Synopsis: A lawyer, as lawyers pine to do, represents a wealthy NYC family.
Initial Impressions: This might trump Pushing Daisies as the most promising new ABC series. It is spearheaded by up and coming creator/writer Craig Wright, and has a better cast than most films with Donald Sutherland as the patriarch, Peter Krause as the lawyer, Samaire Armstrong as a daughter, and some guy with the same last name as me (even spelled identically, usually you see the more popular “ble” suffix, as opposed to the superior “bel”). It would be better served in the 9pm slot, but if any of ABC’s new shows will be both a commercial and critical success, this will most likely be it.
Big Shots: Thursdays, 10pm et.
Synopsis: A CEO.
Initial Impressions: The Plot Outline on IMDB reads, “A Inside Look into the life of a CEO”, like the American TV and movie audience hasn’t already been overwhelmed with fictional tales of the lives of the financially successful. I guess the intention is for me to tune in and watch, mouth agape, uttering to myself, “So this is how they actually live, huh?” That probably will not happen, but I’m sure if I did watch I’d me mightily impressed. It is also headed by a decent cast with Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott (finally biting the bullet and returning to television), Christopher Titus and Nia Long. Also directed by Charles McDougall, a guy with a serious reel. But the premise is worn thin and is too similar to the above series, Dirty Sexy Money.
ABC has three other series debuting this fall that I am not summarizing for varying reasons. Cavemen, because I refuse to acknowledge its very existence. Private Practice, because I incidentally made my thoughts on that show abundantly clear yesterday. And Sam I Am, because I couldn’t even find an IMDB page for it. All in all, it looks like a more Grid Effect friendly slate of TV from ABC than usual. Maybe they can give us something presentable so we can stop lambasting them around here.
Have a great weekend, back with more fall previews, links, recaps, etc. on Monday.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:34 am
[...] of strong women. Even with the asinine murder plot (Of course, I might have my own biases, this is what I wrote about the series before an episode even aired). But, I can’t imagine anyone is actually surprised by this development. CBS beat NBC in a [...]