2012 Midseason Preview: NBC

2012 MIDSEASON PREVIEW: NBC

I made a mistake yesterday: NBC would air Awake, not FOX. Anyway, NBC has enough new shows to temporarily fool one into thinking they're launching a fall schedule. Of course, several of their developed series were left off of the mid-season schedule. I included the TBD series' on Monday; however, I'm more inclined to ignoring NBC's TBD shows just like the network did. What's the point of teasing Bent or Betty White's Off Her Rockers if readers will never WATCH the shows? NBC needs their mid-season schedule to perform better than their fall schedule. The fall shows mostly failed (Grimm was the big winner when it scored six-plus million viewers for the premiere). Thus, The Voice premieres its second season immediately following the conclusion of the Super Bowl. The Katharine McPhee-led musical debuts the next night. Might the early part of 2012 be magical for NBC? Also, Community won't return to NBC airwaves until one of their sitcoms fails, but that's been discussed ad-nauseum already.

I might return later in the day with a preview of random midseason shows on cable and premium channels. But read on for individual previews of new and returning NBC shows;

NBC

THE FIRM

Created By Lukas Reiter

Premiere Date: Sunday, January 8 at 8PM (2 hour premiere; The Firm will air regularly on Thursdays at 10PM beginning 1/12)

Premise: (From Wikipedia) THE FIRM is a sequel to the 1991 John Grisham novel of the same name and its 1993 film adaptation. The television adaptation is set ten years after the novel and film.

Thoughts: The trailer promises that the only thing more dangerous than looking for truth is finding it. On January 8, a new chapter begins. John Grisham rose to prominence after the publication of The Firm. The book was adapted into a film in 1993, starring Tom Cruise. Evidently, love for the characters and the world haven't dissipated. The new series doesn't seem special. It'll be part-procedural/part-thriller. Mitch McDeere's finds one case that threatens everything. There are chase scenes, sniper rifles pointed at men in suits, and action scenes set in the pouring rain. I'd be surprised if The Firm's a hit. NBC's recent history in the procedural crime genre's been poor.

Chance of Weekly Review: 0%

ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA?

Created By Dottie Dartland Zicklin & Julie Ann Larson

Premiere Date: Wednesday, January 11 at 8:30PM

Premise: (From Wikipedia) The series follows an outspoken woman, Chelsea Newman (a character based on the real Chelsea Handler and the show's main protagonist) and her circle of working-class twenty-something friends in New Jersey. Through the narration and observations of the fictional Chelsea, most of the situations were inspirations from Handler's book, which is based on her early career in her twenties.

Thoughts: Chelsea Handler portrays the sister of fictional Chelsea Handler. Why? What's the point? Is Chelsea unable to portray Chelsea? Anyway, the trailer's four minutes so I have a decent idea of what to expect: crappy jokes, obnoxious laugh track, stereotypes. Chelsea's neighbor is an awkward cat-lover who bought a joke book. Chelsea's boyfriend is a red-head who she loathes but consents to sleep with regardless of her feelings towards him. Handler vowed to change her life because vodka assisted in her release from prison. She spent a night in prison for driving under the influence. Chelsea likes to say that drinking's not the problem, driving is. Essentially, though, the comedy's about the redemptive journey of Chelsea Handler; how the vodka-loving cocktail waitress turned her life around to become an influential woman in popular culture. The journey probably won't be funny, but it'll be a journey.

Chance of Weekly Review: 0%

30 ROCK

Created By Tina Fey

What Season? 6

Premiere Date: Thursday, January 12 at 8PM

Thoughts: 30 Rock had a quietly strong season according to reliable and trustworthy critics. The 30 second preview showcases a quirky Liz Lemon. Apparently, she's keeping a secret, which her friends and co-workers are determined to uncover. Kelsey Grammer's going to guest star in the season premiere. I have a feeling that real life will meet fiction, and that Liz Lemon's pregnant, but take my opinions with a grain of salt. I haven't watched more than one episode of 30 Rock since college. I don't know the context of the present narrative of the series. I'm not interested enough to find out either.

Chance of Weekly Review: 0%

SMASH

Created By Theresa Rebeck

Premiere Date: Monday, February 6 at 10PM

Premise: (From Wikipedia) The show revolves around a group of characters who come together to put on a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. But before that can happen, the people who will try to bring it all together must deal with their own personal acts. The series will feature original music by composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Thoughts: Smash will draw comparisons with Glee because it's a musical television series. Don't be foolish, though. The shows are different. Smash follows the trials and tribulations of producing a Broadway musical whereas Glee tells bubblegum stories every week, except for the weeks from the writer's lecture the audience about an important issue. The conceit of Smash reminds me of Black Swan. There are two females competing for the same role (Marilyn Monroe). Unlike Black Swan, though, McPhee portrays an aspiring Broadway star, a woman with no experience, but who possesses the talent to become a star. McPhee's done well in her other roles. Smash is a huge platform for her. The preview showcased the different sides of Katharine McPhee, the actress--naive and innocent, sexual and seductive, and mind-blowing talent. Any male AND female should be transfixed when McPhee personifies Marilyn Monroe for one of the casting director's. Personally, I think Katharine McPhee is one of the most gorgeous girls on this earth, moreso when her hair color's her natural brunette. I'll watch the series just for her. Will I have many words to write about the series? Probably not; I should have enough thoughts to write about the pilot.

Chance of Weekly Review: 43%

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