Here am I again
at the end of week 1 of the Fall TV Preview. Look, NBC’s back. Hi, NBC. I hear
NBC’s got bland procedurals and a trite sitcom on the way in late September.
Chicago
Med’s the best shot of the four to earn a second season, because, you know,
Dick Wolf. Blindspot either becomes a surprise like its spiritual sister, The
Blacklist, or it’s quickly cancelled. The other two are screwed.
At TCA, the NBC
president spoke about doing more live events, re-booting old shows, how ratings
affected the image of the company, and the ratings for online streaming
Aquarius vs. the numbers from those watching weekly. NBC’s in a better spot
than it was. The network won the demo battle two seasons in a row. They ordered
an unexciting bunch of shows. Also, HEROES falls under the list of returning
shows. I did not include it below. My emotional reunion with the series comes
next week. By reunion, I mean I’ll watch a trailer, read some stuff, and have
the lowest of low expectations for Tim Kring.
NBC
BLINDSPOT
Created By Martin Gero
Premiere Date: Monday, September 21 at 10PM
Premise: from NBC's press release, May 2015) From executive
producer Greg Berlanti ("Arrow," "The Flash," "The
Mysteries of Laura") comes "Blindspot": A vast international
plot explodes when a beautiful Jane Doe, completely covered in mysterious,
intricate tattoos, is discovered naked in Times Square with no memory of who
she is or how she got there. But there's one tattoo that is impossible to miss:
the name of FBI agent Kurt Weller, emblazoned across her back.
"Jane," Agent Weller and the rest of the FBI quickly realize that
each mark on her body is a crime to solve, leading them closer to the truth
about her identity and the mysteries to be revealed.
Thoughts: “From the executive producer of The
Blacklist.” Well, then. I read that The Blacklist would be terrible without
James Spader. Blindspot burrows in convolution. Jane Doe’s tattoos inform
everything: her identity, weekly crimes, and when unravels the mystery of her
tattoos, seeking revenge could sustain season two. Jane Doe pairs with Kurt Weller
to investigate the crimes—another pairing that’ll hook up. I’m gonna guess a
satellite of the FBI tattooed Jane. Why? Without, Martin Gero doesn’t have a
show. I don’t know. The intricate tattoo thing is a good gimmick for a
procedural. At least it’s less generic, but it retains a certain generic
quality. Greg Berlanti also executive produced the series. He’s never creating
another warm family drama again, is he?
THE PLAYER
Created By John Rogers
Premiere Date: Thursday, September 24 at 10PM
Premise: (from NBC's press release, May 2015) From the executive
producers of "The Blacklist" and starring Wesley Snipes and Philip
Winchester ("Strike Back," "Fringe") comes an action-packed
Las Vegas thriller about a former military operative turned security expert who
is drawn into a high-stakes game where an organization of wealthy individuals
gamble on his ability to stop some of the biggest crimes imaginable from
playing out. Can he take them down from the inside and get revenge for the
death of his wife, or is it true what they say: The house always wins.
Thoughts: Winchester’s character thinks he’s needed to improve a
security team, but he’s needed to make criminals money by stopping criminals
from committing big crimes. The Player may remind one of ANGEL’s “Double or
Nothing.” You don’t? Yes. Gambling, crime, and Vegas don’t work well. Vegas as
a setting for a series never sustains a story. NBC aired a night-time soap set
in Vegas that aired four season (maybe? No?). Generally Vegas can’t prop up a
feeble show if it needs the blandness of Vegas intrigue. I lost interest after
whoever it was revealed the gaming aspect. The protagonist has a motivating
tragic past, but every procedural hero or heroine has that. The Player’s a
stand-alone episode that unfortunately is the premise of a weekly series.
TRUTH BE TOLD
Created By D.J. Nash
Premiere Date: Thursday, October 2 at 9:30PM
Premise: from NBC's press release, May 2015) If you can think it,
they will say it. From producer Will Packer ("Ride Along") and
director Pam Fryman ("How I Met Your Mother") comes this unabashed
new comedy about two diverse couples who are both neighbors and best friends.
As they go through life side-by-side, they can't help but analyze and obsess
about everything. From topics like sex and race, to the fact that the trusted
new babysitter might just be a porn star, nothing is out of bounds for this
wildly outspoken foursome.
Thoughts: I wonder how long the question of the
new babysitter’s porn career lingers. The first episode revolves around the new
babysitter, specifically regarding how the one guy couldn’t sleep with her if
he tried, which leads to humor about marriage and also, and, also, running gags
about pizza box porns. The best friends are white and black. Early in the
episode, a valet makes a crack about white people listening to John Mayer. I think
this show’s already done. Many of the jokes would’ve been ancient in 6-8 years
ago. NBC gave it a crappy night. It leads into a show about detectives fighting
creatures from fairy tales. It’ll compete against Dr. Ken. Dr. Ken has more
potential.
CHICAGO MED
Created By Derek Haas, Dick Wolf, Matt
Olmstead & Michael Brandt
Premiere Date: Tuesday, October 14 at 9PM
Premise: (from NBC's press release, May 2015) Executive producer
Dick Wolf delivers the newest installment of the compelling "Chicago"
franchise, an emotional thrill ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city's
most explosive hospital and the courageous team of doctors who hold it
together. They will tackle unique new cases inspired by topical events, forging
fiery relationships in the pulse-pounding pandemonium of the emergency room,
and through it all, familiar faces from the Chicago police and fire departments
will intertwine as this third team of Chicago heroes hits the ground running.
Thoughts: The lone clips I saw came from the backdoor
pilot (?) from Chicago Fire. A Jihadist blows himself up in the emergency room
while people stricken with a deadly virus waited for treatment. Chicago Med
will fit in with Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. People won’t lack for stakey
medical or cop procedurals this fall.
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