Grid Effect

With the fall television season kicking off in a couple weeks, we figured it was time to finally knock these out, and we have admittedly been procrastinating, with the FOX and also the ABC preview. We haven’t enjoyed a series on either of these networks in quite a while. In fact, with the exception of Arrested Development, we haven’t watched a series on ABC or FOX since we were too young to screw. But this is the last of these, and for that I couldn’t be more thankful.

Click on the links to read the previews for NBC, CBS, ABC and HBO.

Today we are previewing FOX. A network that has three staples (American Idol, House and 24), then fills up the rest of its primetime airing with crappy dramas nobody watches (Bones, Standoff, etc) comedies that have seen much better days (Simpsons, Family Guy) and trash reality TV (too many to name). Needless to say, FOX could stand to diversify their portfolio.

Note: I couldn’t find starting times for any of these series’ anywhere so my apologies for that, you’ll have to periodically scroll through your digital TV guide. Also, like all the network previews before it, these are just guesses, as none of these shows have aired, nor have they been sent to me.

When Women Rule The World
Synopsis: Several men have to appease several women or face being shunned and voted off. The “last man standing” wins some sort of award. I’m assuming that means he to keeps his genitals intact. Literally, not figuratively.

Initial Impressions: Well, it doesn’t get much trashier than this, and not much else really needs to be said. It’s like FOX’s version of CBS’s Kid Nation minus the parental negligence, violation of child labor laws and the intrigue. My guess is this series sinks like a stone and is prematurely cancelled. Audiences generally do not go for these gender baiting gimmicks, I don’t see why this would be any exception.

Canterbury’s Law
Synopsis: A woman is a defense lawyer, she is morally conflicted.

Initial Impressions: Not exactly an original concept, but it stars Julianna Marguiles and is produced by Dennis Leary and others, so it definitely has a high ceiling. Never the less, if Chris Moltisanti doesn’t come back from the dead and start lacing up with Julianna, then I’ll probably take a pass. Just watch Boston Legal if this is your sort of thing, and go rent The Wire’s first season if you want to see a superior crime-drama.

K-Ville
Synopsis: A cop series set in New Orleans post-Katrina. Said protagonist cop must adjust to a new partner since his former one ditched him for greener pastures.

Initial Impressions: Certainly a new modification of the buddy-cop genre, though it might be rife with controversy given the setting and whatnot. It stars Cole Hauser (the guy from that awful Mel Gibson Paparazzi movie) and Anthony Anderson (the large, gregarious black guy from everything, also has dramatic acting history on The Shield, so he should feel comfortable with this material) so the faces will be recognizable. But I just don’t know if the post-Katrina novelty will be enough to keep this series afloat. Plus, that may delve into socio-political issues that most FOX viewers aren’t accustom to. If it isn’t a man wrestling an alligator or a Brit slamming nervous high school kids about their inept singing abilities, then most of the networks regular viewers won’t be terribly interested.

New Amsterdam
Synopsis: A man is made immortal after saving a Native-American woman but reverts back to a mere mortal after meeting his future wife. Its kind of like that Stephen King movie, Thinner. Except instead of being cursed to lose weight uncontrollably by a gypsy after killing a gypsy woman, he is blessed with immortality after saving a Native American woman. Then gives it back. So nevermind, it’s nothing like Thinner, but it did come to mind.

Initial Impressions: Unlike the other two series’, I don’t recognize any of the names in the cast. That generally doesn’t bode well for pilots nowadays. It’s really at the point that a series needs a failed/aging movie star to spark the public’s interest. Personally, after K-Ville and Canterbury’s Law, I’d think that this might be one too many cop/lawyer shows, regardless of the variations. This series seems like it could benefit without a laugh track, but FOX is probably scared to death over the concept since Arrested Development-gate.

Back To You
Synopsis: Kelsey Grammar plays a successful anchorman forced to return to his old job after a faux-pas on air. Only to discover Patricia Heaton, his old on-air partner, resents his homecoming.

Initial Impressions: One of three comedies the netowrk has coming out and it has all the makings of a successful sitcom, but the genre seems to be on its deathbed and there will need to be some serious buzz after the show’s debut for it to last. As you can tell, the cast has two television vets and also includes Fred Willard (best known for his work in Christopher Guest films A Mighty Wind, Best In Show and For Your Consideration). This show, more so than any other I’ve profiled, is hevaily dependent on its writers.

The Rules For Starting Over
Synopsis: People struggle with dating after failed long-term relationships.

Initial Impressions: A relationship show! Thank goodness, I was begninning to think FOX had missed the boat entirely on this genre. Rashida Jones is the lead, so if you want to know why Jim and Pam got together on The Office…now you know. At the very least, it’s a Farrelly brothers project, so it will be raunchy, but will probably be limited by FCC restrictions to meet its inevitable early demise.

The Return of Jezebel James
Synopsis: Parker Posey is the run of the mill television career woman who is incapable of conceiving. And asks her scatter-brained sister to do it for her.

Initial Impressions: Despite how bleak the synopsis sounds, this is a comedy. Posey, after a string of successful indie flicks has decided to go for a payday in television. Given its potentially devastating material and Posey’s penchant for the melodramatic, I’m not sure how this is going to thrive at getting laughs. If it does, it will certainly demonstrate Posey’s range.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Synopsis: A spin-off from the Terminator character. Expect a bevy of barely-veiled references to the films.

Initial Impressions: This is one exception to the “needing a failed movie star for a scripted television show to succeed” rule, is just adapting a film concept for television This doesn’t star Linda Hamilton (Lauren Heady is the protagonist), but features everything about the character and the movie that people enjoyed (minus the masculine physique). Personally, this is something I’ll veer away from because the Terminator movies were something I enjoyed, but was never obsessed with (I always enjoyed Total Recall more when it came to Schwarzenegger movies), but this series is a stone cold lock to be a ratings monster.

So, there you have it. FOX’s new slate in a nutshell. Or rather, a seven series third-hand preview nutshell. Its new roster is so deep that it could alter my opinion of the lowest-brow broadcast network, but it probably won’t. Look for series reviews in the oncoming weeks.