Now that I've had a while to think through the new CBS fall schedule [0], I have some thoughts on which news is good, which is bad and which is still a little baffling. Take a spin through my list, then let me know what you think. (Don't forget to look at my thoughts on the ABC [0] and NBC [0] schedules, too!)
- Could this be the year I actually watch CBS? (Sign No. 2 of the apocalypse, right up there with Friday TV being good. [0]) I've rarely gotten hooked on a CBS show, and a lot of you say [0] it's your least-watched network too. And yet, I'm finding myself excited about a couple of the shows they announced this morning, specifically "Viva Laughlin" (at right) and "Swingtown."
- Speaking of "Viva Laughlin," I think it has an equal chance of being a disaster and of being completely brilliant. It's based on the BBC series "Viva Blackpool," which I've never seen, but YouTube has some clips [1]. Anyone here seen it? What do you think?
- A point raised by Phil [2]: Will "Shark" being on Sunday nights hurt "Brothers & Sisters" on ABC? I've never seen "Shark," but I hear good things about it. Could their audiences overlap?
A few more thoughts, so
- Regarding "Swingtown," I think the show sounds a little edgy for the network's typical baby boomer audience — and that's exactly why I like it. It sounds a little like a TV version of The Ice Storm [3], and it's got "Six Feet Under" producer Alan Poul behind it.
- On the other hand, "The Big Bang Theory" sounds pretty bad — and honestly, I haven't found a comedy yet this week that sounds amazing (besides, possibly, NBC's "The IT Crowd"). I wonder, though, if comedies just don't translate well on paper, because so much has to do with the writing and the acting and the actual jokes.
- I haven't watched much "How I Met Your Mother," but all of your comments in support of the show have convinced me to give it a try. I know what DVD set I'll be renting this summer!
- "Kid Nation": Intriguing social experiment or cheesy reality show? Discuss.
Photo courtesy of CBS [4]