2011-2012 Fall TV Preview: the New Shows on ABC

Last year was one of the worst years in TV development. Only ten shows received a second season order. Some years, fans campaign to save random shows from cancellation but no one could honestly fight for some of the cancelled shows. The ratings were below average. More importantly, the shows weren't good. Does the 2011-2012 season look any more promising? Well, not really. The shows with the most potential have been relegated to mid-season. Networks want to capitalize on the popularity of Glee, Mad Men and shows involving the supernatural. Unfortunately, as networks issue press releases and debut trailers for each show, I'm less interested in what they've developed. As I embark on the preview of new TV shows throughout the week, you'll be able to decide whether or not the new shows are worth getting excited about.

In the inaugural TV preview last August, I searched for new shows to review on a weekly basis. Ideally, I'd have a number of shows from last year to review but I don't. Every new series I wrote about was cancelled. The two shows left standing in my rotation are How I Met Your Mother and The Vampire Diaries. I'm back at square one, looking for shows to write about each day of every week. Throughout the next two weeks, I'll peruse the ranks of new shows and returning shows to fill out the terribly named 'weekly review rotation.'

Today, I'm looking at ABC. The network developed a number of series during the developmental season. They picked up six series for fall launches. ABC's in need of new hits and fresh blood. They've been successful with their sitcom development in the last few years; however, the drama side's lacking. Their new dramas failed last season. The returning ABC shows aren't getting younger. They haven't had a drama hit since the year LOST and Desperate Housewives premiered. So, what's ABC offering up this year?

Well, Tim Allen returns to prime-time television in one of their shows. ABC picked up a series from LOST alums Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Minka Kelly stars in a remake of Charlie's Angels. And they want their own Mad Men in Pan Am. But read on for a show-by-show preview.

CHARLIE'S ANGELS

Created by Miles Millar & Alfred Gough

Premiere Date: Thursday, September 22

Premise: (from ABC's press release, May 2011) Everyone deserves a second chance -- even a thief, a street racer and a cop who got in a little too deep. After all, the three women who solve cases for their elusive boss, Charlie Townsend, are no saints. They're angels... Charlie's Angels. Set in Miami, this fun, glamorous, action-packed take on the 1970s smash hit series introduces us to three new angels, all fearless detectives, head-turning beauties and close friends.

Thoughts: Charlie's Angels received buzz for predictable reasons--the women. Minka Kelly, in particular, is buzz-worthy by herself. The women will be terrific to watch on a weekly basis but the show seems terrible. The acting might be tolerable but the trailer's all flash with no substance. Beautiful location, beautiful people and beautiful women kicking ass and solving crimes. The premise is dull. Each character utters, "I'm not an angel," at least once in the trailer. The number must be doubled or tripled in the actual pilot. Miles Millar and Alfred Gough developed the re-make. 11 years ago, they brought Smallville to TheWB, and I never watched that show. The show's so easy to. There'll be the case-of-the week. The Angels possess their own flaws and intriguing pasts that could be the B or C story every week, depending on the character. It's just not interesting television for me. There's a chance I'll write about the pilot, though, because I'd like to write about every pilot. We'll see.

Chances of Weekly Review: 0%

LAST MAN STANDING

Created by Jack Burditt

Premiere Date: Tuesday, October 11

Premise: (from ABC's press release, May 2011) Today it's a woman's world, and this man's man is on a mission to get men back to their rightful place in society. Tim Allen returns to ABC in this new comedy from Jack Burditt ("30 Rock"). Men may have built civilizations, invented the locomotive and created ESPN, but they're about to find out that it's not a man's world anymore.

Thoughts: Last Man Standing's one of several new shows about gender roles. Tim Allen launched his career as a man's man and he returns to TV as a man's man who struggles to adapt to a world in which women have flourished professionally, in which women dominate his domestic life. Does it have potential? Sure. Tim Allen's a funny person. I enjoyed Home Improvement. I expect smarter comedy just because of Tim Allen's involvement. I'm always doubtful of any network comedy that freely takes on gender roles--it's usually a disaster. The Allen character seems one-note. He's out-of-touch with today's youth. He'll get the one-liners though.

Chances of Weekly Review: 0%

MAN UP!

Created By Christopher Moynihan

Premiere Date: Tuesday, October 18

Premise: (from ABC Press Release) Three modern men try to get in touch with their inner tough guys and redefine what it means to be a "real man" in this funny and relatable comedy.

Thoughts: Another show about masculine identity and man's role in the 21st century. As you've read, the three main male characters have forgotten what it means to be a man. How will the men attempt to recapture their masculine identity? No idea. The trailer's decent. Dan Fogler's a funny dude. In fact, the cast as a whole isn't bad. SNL and 30 Rock alum Beth McCarthy-Miller is the head director of the program. I just suspect the sitcom will fall into generic trappings in episode two, never to recover. The premise seems more suited for a web series than a network sitcom. I'm not sure how entertaining or original the series can be on a weekly basis with 21 minutes of story each week.

Chances of weekly Review: 0%

ONCE UPON A TIME

Created By Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz

Premiere Date: Sunday, October 23

Premise: (from ABC's press release, May 2011) From the inventive minds of "Lost" executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis comes a bold new imagining of the world, where fairy tales and the modern-day are about to collide. And they all lived happily ever after - or so everyone was led to believe.

Thoughts: First, the controversy--some circles have accused Kitsis and Horowitz of ripping off Fables, a comic book series by Bill Willingham. When asked about the similarities, the writing team were flattered to be compared with Willingham's series but insisted that the two series differ. The premises are nearly identical, though. Damon Lindelof assisted in the development of the series. What about the series, though? It's about a woman who finds herself in Storybrooke, New England when her son finds her ten years after she gave him up for adoption. The boy claims that she came from fairy tales. Storybrooke's a town populated with fairy tale characters who've forgotten who they were. The story sounds completely silly. The trailer isn't spectacular. The series seems suited for Syfy considering how bad the special effects are.

Kitsis and Horowitz have said the right things, though. They've talked up their focus on the characters over plot and denied plagiarism. The cast is compelling. Jennifer Morrison and Ginnifer Goodwin portray primary roles. The show looks lame but it might not be if the story's sound.

Chances of weekly Review: 100%

PAN AM

Created By Jack Orman

Premiere Date: Sunday, September 25

Premise: (from ABC's press release, May 2011) Passion, jealousy and espionage... They do it all - and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in this thrilling and highly-original new series. In this modern world, air travel represents the height of luxury and Pan Am is the biggest name in the business. The planes are glamorous, the pilots are rock stars and the stewardesses are the most desirable women in the world. Not only are these flyboys and girls young and good looking, but to represent Pan Am they also have to be educated, cultured and refined.

Thoughts: Pan Am's drawn comparisons to Mad Men because it's a television show set in the 1960s. As reviews for the show emerge in September, expect many critics to write a paragraph comparing one of the Pan Am actors to Jon Hamm, and how said actor isn't on the same acting planet as Jon Hamm. I, naturally, care little about the Jon Hamm of Pan Am. The trailer, like Charlie's Angels, is flashy. The women are beautiful as is the cinematography. The show's set in the glamorous time when airline employees represented the style of the 60s (or something...press releases are nonsense). On the page, in a press release, the characters aren't interesting. One character's the token female with a mysterious past. Christina Ricci portrays a stewardess who wants to see the world. There's the pilot whose handsome, cocky and sly. Anything in a press release is bland. The trailer didn't sell the show as particularly worthwhile to watch. The show's gotten positive buzz from those who've seen the screener. The females are supposed to represent female empowerment and the 60s are known as a progressive and liberal era, so it's that kind of period show. As always, though, decide for yourself what you'd like to watch. I just provide what you need to know.

Chances of Weekly Review: 8%

REVENGE

Created By Mike Kelly

Premiere Date: Wednesday, September 21

Premise: (from ABC's press release, May 2011) Wealth, beauty and status define the people in this town, but one woman is willing to destroy everyone for the sake of revenge.

Thoughts: Emily Vancamp portrays Emily Thorne, a new resident in the Hamptons; however, she's not new at all. The citizens destroyed her family over a decade ago and Emily's returned for vengeance. I'm a huge fan of Emily Vancamp. She's a terrific actress who wowed me for four seasons on Everwood. I never watched much Brothers & Sisters. I missed her TV movie with Treat Williams; however, I'd like more Emily Vancamp in my week. The premise of Revenge is uninteresting to me. I'm curious about how Emily will portray the revenge-driven character because she's a total sweetheart. Can she be convincingly bad? Fienberg compared Revenge to The Count of Monte Cristo but noted that it's a show by people who never read the book for people who never read the book. I don't think Revenge will blow the minds of audiences with an original take on the ancient revenge story. There's definitely an audience for the show, though.

Chance of Weekly Review: 54%

SUBURGATORY

Created By Emily Kapnek

Premiere Date: Wednesday, September 28

Premise: (from ABC's press release, May 2011) Single father George only wants the best for his 16-year-old daughter, Tessa. So when he finds a box of condoms on her nightstand, he moves them out of their apartment in New York City to a house in the suburbs. But all Tessa sees is the horror of over-manicured lawns and plastic Franken-moms. Being in the 'burbs can be hell, but it also may just bring Tessa and George closer than they've ever been.

Thoughts: The 'fish-out-of-water' angle's always beneficial for a comedy, whether it's for TV or film. The trailer's promising. Tessa, portrayed by Jane Levy, is a smart-ass character with enough spunk to connect with a young female audience. Levy has a knack for comedy. There are ample opportunities for send-ups on suburbia and the cliché suburban child. I hope Kapnek's humor extends beyond the age-old suburbia humor. The heart of the show's the father-daughter relationship, so episodes should be built around that relationship. The series should be a heart-warming and amusing hour of TV, which is just fine.

Chances of Weekly Review: 0%

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