Grid Effect

With the announcement of so many new series slated for the upcoming summer and fall, I figured making it a weekly feature to express our initial impressions for unreleased series: the anticipated and unwelcomed. Over the course of the next couple weeks we’ll tackle NBC, FOX, ABC and CBS with the intention of giving a brief synopsis and our expectations for each show set to debut. We might get to cable networks like FX and Bravo if they have enough combined series’ coming out to warrant a post. For now, since I have a running credo to give every series on HBO a chance, we’ll start with them today.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee : Premieres May 27th, 9pm et.

Synopsis: The title is fairly self-explanatory. It recalls the aftermath of the Sioux victory at Wounded Knee. Anna Paquin, whom you may recall from the X-Men series and one of my favorite Spike Lee films, 25th Hour(where she looks fantastic, on another note, Senator Clay Davis from The Wire is in this as well, ssshhhhheeeeeiiiitttt), has a line in this that is permanently ingrained in my cerebral cortex, “It is easy to kill a man, it is much harder…to break him”. Someone missed there calling to be in Sin City.

Impressions: This is a original movie from HBO and while I tend to relegate the site to TV series’, I have seen the promo for this at least five hundred times in the past three months so I feel compelled to write about it. Essentially, it looks remarkably depressing. Whatever glory the Sioux may have felt after their victory was eventually countered with massacres akin to the ones experienced before the defeat of General Custer. Anyhow, I wouldn’t expect a dud here, this film has Emmy(’s) written all over it (HBO tends to be a mainstay in the best original film/miniseries categories).

John From Cincinnati: Premieres June 10th at 10pm et.

Synopsis: It’s just like the movie Airborne, except instead of the protagonist going from LA to Cincinnati to rollerblade, he goes from Cincinnati to LA to surf.

Impressions: There really isn’t much to take away from the promos. It looks decently acted and written, but I hate reading too much into promos that are designed to make a series look as intriguing as possible. Additionally, I’m not sure if a series that revolves around surfing can really hold my attention. Its been tried in films such as Blue Crush and Point Break, but those were nothing more than caricatures of dimwitted surfers, I trust HBO to not invest in such a project. Honestly, if it were on any other network other than Showtime or potentially FX, I wouldn’t even do a double take on this.

Flight of The Concords: June 17th at 10:30pm et.

Synopsis: Two men from New Zealand make up a folk rock band coping with the arduous process of attempting to break into the mainstream in New York City. Based on the premise alone it sounds like a comedy, and it looks like a comedy in the commercials, but I could be wrong. One of the leads is Jermaine Clement, who stars in the upcoming film Eagle Vs. Shark that I have every intention of seeing.

Impressions: My expectations for this are formidable. HBO needs a good dramedy to counter the loss of Sex and The City from a couple years ago and in three weeks The Sopranos is sent off into the sunset. This looks to have talent in front of and behind the camera, with a great premise. Hopefully its all I expect it to be and it takes with the HBO audience.

John Adams: 2008

Synopsis: A mini-series chronicling the life and times of John Adams as played by Paul Giamatti, and Laura Linney as his wife, Abagail; Produced by Tom Hanks.

Impressions: This looks unseemingly dramatic. While John Adams might seem like a peculiar historical figure for an exposition, I think that’s what makes it all the more appealing. I feel like I know enough about the mainstays: Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, Van Buren, Cleveland; but John Adams… he seems to fall by the wayside more often than not. I also like the casting of Giamatti, it adds a tinge of realism to the role. And also proves my point that while typically a film actor accepting a role for television is considered a step down, HBO is the one exception. Between Cinderella Man, The Illusionist, Sideways and American Splendor, this guy is hardly struggling to find work.

Wide Awake: Premieres May 23rd at 8pm et. (Tonight!)

Synopsis: Insomnia and individuals who struggle with the affliction.

Impressions: I am a self-diagnosed insomniac, and might be able to learn and apply some tactics they may be suggested. Of course, I’ll probably end up watching this at 3am, so it will be somewhat counterproductive.

In addition to new seasons of ongoing HBO series’, this is what you have to look forward to. Speaking of which, we’ll be back with a Sopranos synopsis tomorrow.