The Foot: The Hellcats Announcement

At the 2010 upfronts, The CW's motto was "Everything Old Is New Again." I have no idea what those words should mean. Does it mean they are re-making old movies or television shows? Essentially, yes. I kept thinking of a "If It Isn't Broken, Don't Fix It" motto for the network. No, The CW isn't successful but the network didn't suffer any huge losses, and they've found some successful shows like Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries; however, the network has a number of veteran shows on the schedule that will leave the airwaves in May. One would think the network would devote more time to developing new shows. There is always the upcoming developmental season. The CW features three new shows for the 2010-2011 season. Is that a smart business plan for a small network like The CW? I understand NBC developing many new series because NBC is a sinking ship. The CW is either supremely confident in their new shows or prepared to give One Tree Hill a 17th season.

As for FOX, the other network in the spotlight today, the network seems smarter now than eight years ago when they cancelled every quality show as fast as possible. They have solid hits with House, Bones, The Sunday Animation Lineup, Glee and Hell's Kitchen. Critics seem pleased with the new shows FOX developed for the fall season. Plus, they brought back the Arrested Development guys this season. I am optimistic about a FOX show getting the review treatment here.

Let us dive into the world of The CW, a channel I haven't watched in five years. FOX will follow.

THE CW

Hellcats



Premiere Date: September 8, 2010 at 9PM

Creator: Kevin Murphy

Premise: (From The CW Press Release) HELLCATS is a coming-of-age story about Marti Perkins, a young, pre-law student at Lancer University in Memphis, Tennessee. Marti is cool, hip and alt, but her world flips upside down, literally and figuratively, when she loses her scholarship, and realizes the only way she can stay in school is by reigniting her dormant teen gymnastic skills to win a place on Lancer's legendary cheerleading team, The Hellcats. Against her every instinct, Marti goes for it and makes the squad, and is thrust into a world of camaraderie, backstabbing and the intersection of sports, backroom academia and big money. Marti's new roommate, Savannah Monroe, a petite, peppy Texan, is among the diverse cast of athletes, undergrads, family and friends, all set on the sprawling campus of a powerhouse college football program in the deep South.

Thoughts: I watched the 6 minute sneek peak that is linked above. I did enjoy the  attractive girls dancing in cheerleading outfits. I think the lead actress, Aly Michalka, has potential. The entire show seems like a cross between Glee and Bring It On. I'm not the biggest Glee fan nor the biggest fan of Bring It On. I think I can accurately predict every beat of the season as well. But you know what? The Foot needs a hook and this is a harmless 42 minutes television. I don't think any professional television critic will touch this show on a weekly basis so I will take one for the team and REVIEW this every week. I reserve the right to opt out of the weekly review at any time though.

Chances Of Weekly Review: 100% (yes I lost my mind)

Nikita



Premiere Date: September 9, 2010 at 9PM

Creator: Craig Silverstein

Premise: (From The CW Press Release) When she was a deeply troubled teenager, Nikita was rescued from death row by a secret U.S. agency known only as Division, who faked her execution and told her she was being given a second chance to start a new life and serve her country. What they didn't tell her was that she was being trained as a spy and assassin. Ultimately, Nikita was betrayed and her dreams shattered by the only people she thought she could trust. Now, after three years in hiding, Nikita is seeking retribution and making it clear to her former bosses that she will stop at nothing to expose and destroy their covert operation. For the time being, however, Division continues to recruit and train other young people, erasing all evidence of their former lives and turning them into cold and efficient killers. One of these new recruits, Alex, is just beginning to understand what lies ahead for her and why the legendary Nikita made the desperate decision to run.

Thoughts: I have an irrational disdain for the Nikita franchise. I remember La Femme Nikita in the mid-90s on USA and, for some reason, it annoyed me that the show followed Monda Night Raw. I was a child then and thought wrestling was the greatest thing in the world. No, I will not watch Nikita on The CW. Yes, I'm the guy who just guaranteed Hellcats reviews weekly but I draw the line at one CW show every five years. Why is McG a producer for this show?

Chances Of Weekly Review: 0%

FOX

Lone Star



Premiere Date: September 20, 2010 at 9PM

Creator: Kyle Killen

Premise: (From FOX Press Release) a provocative soap set against the backdrop of big Texas oil. ROBERT/BOB ALLEN (newcomer James Wolk) is a charismatic and brilliant schemer who has meticulously constructed two lives in two different parts of Texas. He's juggling two identities and two women in two very different worlds - all under one mountain of lies. As "Bob," he lives in Houston and is married to CAT (Adrianne Palicki, "Friday Night Lights"), the beautiful daughter of CLINT (Jon Voight, 24, "Midnight Cowboy"), the patriarch of an ultra-wealthy Texas oil family. More than 400 miles away in the suburban west Texas town of Midland, he's "Robert," living a second life with his sweet, naive girlfriend, LINDSAY (Eloise Mumford, "Mercy," "Law & Order: SVU"). In Midland, he plays the perfect boyfriend while secretly bilking local investors of their savings. In Houston, he's a devoted husband, charming Cat and her family to cement his position in the rich family business he aims to clean out. Bob has lived both lives successfully for years without arousing any suspicions...so far. While one brother-in-law, DREW (Bryce Johnson, "Popular," "The Mentalist"), admires Bob, his other brother-in-law, TRAMMELL (Mark Deklin, "Nip/Tuck," "Desperate Housewives"), is suspicious of his motives. Bob begins to fear his secret lives may unravel. With the cons closing in on him, Bob is divided by his love for two women; his loyalty to his father and mentor, JOHN (David Keith, "An Officer and a Gentleman," "The Class"); and his respect for his father-in-law, Clint. Now as he tries to hold his two lives together, while fending off angry investors and the suspicions of those around him, Bob puts it all on the line hoping he can beat the odds, leave the schemes behind and keep two separate relationships afloat.

Thoughts: Many critics expressed concern about the long-term quality of the show. The reviews for the Pilot are great and the trailer sells the show well. I'll definitely catch the pilot but I don't foresee this being a show I'll review weekly. I'll leave the many other critics of the interweb to write about this show. I also have the gut feeling that it'll be cancelled. Marc Webb directed the Pilot. He's the guy who helmed (500) Days Of Summer. The word "soap" in the FOX press release killed much of my interest in the show but I'm not writing it off. I just won't write about it.

Chance Of Weekly Review: 0%

Raising Hope



Premiere Date: September 21, 2010

Creator: Greg Garcia

Premise: (From FOX Press Release) At 23 years old, JIMMY CHANCE (Lucas Neff, "The Beast") is going nowhere in life. He skims pools for a living, parties every night and still lives at home with his family. Jimmy's life takes a drastic turn when a chance romantic encounter with LUCY (guest star Bijou Phillips, "Choke," "Almost Famous") goes awry once he discovers she is a wanted felon. Months later, when Jimmy pays a visit to the local prison, he discovers Lucy gave birth to their baby, who he is now charged with raising. At home with his new daughter, Jimmy's family is less than enthusiastic about a new addition to the household. His parents, who had him when they were 15, never knew anything about raising a child and have no interest in trying again. If Jimmy can work up the nerve to ask her out on a date, he might get some help from SABRINA (Shannon Woodward, "The Riches," "ER"), a sardonic checkout clerk he met at the supermarket. Cousin Mike is only concerned about how the baby is going to affect their social life, and out-of-touch Maw Maw is no help either. But Jimmy is determined to take care of his baby - whom Virginia thinks they should name HOPE. With very few useful skills but their hearts in the right place, will the Chance family be successful when they step into the unpredictable and immensely challenging world of parenting?

Thoughts: The first sitcom listed. ALLRIGHT! Greg Garcia brought the world My Name Is Earl five years ago. Raising Hope looks very good. The trailer is very promising. It looks like the series will have a lot of heart and some good laughs. Some of my favorite sitcoms include Boy Meets World and Scrubs. Those were shows with tremendous heart and fully developed characters. Garcia's not a guy who will half-ass his characters like other sitcoms do, mostly ABC sitcoms. I think the show has a high chance of weekly reviews. I won't commit 100%. No real reason for that but expect Raising Hope to be in the rotation.

Chance of Weekly Review: 93%

Running Wilde



Premiere Date: September 21, 2010 at 9:30PM

Creator: Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely & Will Arnett

Premise: (From FOX Press Release) From the Emmy Award-winning creator and the star of the critically acclaimed FOX series "Arrested Development" comes RUNNING WILDE, a romantic comedy starring Will Arnett ("Arrested Development," "30 Rock") as STEVE WILDE, a filthy-rich, immature playboy trying desperately to win (or buy) the heart of his childhood sweetheart, EMMY KADUBIC (Keri Russell, "Waitress," "Felicity"), the uber-liberal humanitarian who got away - all told through the perspective of a 12-year-old girl.

Thoughts: I will watch anything the Arrested Development guys write because of the brilliance of Arrested Development. I won't know what to make of Running Wilde until a few episodes in. The trailer isn't great and I wonder if Will Arnett can handle being the lead on a sitcom. The role is good for him because no one plays rich, obnoxious and aloof quite like Will Arnett but I wonder how things will go when Steve Wilde undergoes a change of heart and all that. I like the Will Arnett characters to be like Gob Bluth. No apologies at all. Keri Russell is terrific. I'm intrigued by the 'all told through the perspective of a 12-year-old-girl' angle. I'll resist making comparisons to Arrested Development. AD is, perhaps, the greatest comedy America has produced.

Chance Of Weekly Review: 80%

Tomorrow is NBC.

THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK