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Pilot Watch: "Viva Laughlin"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:30:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. A lot can change before a show makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: "Viva Laughlin," a musical drama - yes, you read that right - from CBS.

What's it about? A Nevada casino owner battles rivals and tries to support his family, all while spontaneously breaking into song.

Who's in it? Lloyd Owen, Madchen Amick, DB Woodside, Eric Winter, Melanie Griffith, Hugh Jackman (guest star)

The good: The show is based on the British series "Viva Blackpool," and while I've never seen it, I've heard mostly positive things about it - so the concept, at least, is a good one. Jackman has a nice touch with the bizarre singing bits, even though his screen time is limited.

The bad: This show is seriously confused. Is it a campy, fun musical, or is it a murder mystery? The song-and-dance numbers seem half-hearted and poorly placed, but the parts of the show that aren't set to music are even worse. Owen plays off Jackman just fine, but he doesn't command attention on his own - and that's bad, because it's not known how much Jackman will actually be on the show going forward.

Will I watch? I really, really wanted to, but in the end, this isn't even "so bad it's good." It's just "eh." And I'm not sure there's room for "eh" on my schedule this fall.

To watch a couple of preview clips and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Photos courtesy of CBS

Pilot Watch: "Cane"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:18:39 -0700

What's it about? A Cuban-American family in Miami deals with internal struggles and external pressures that threaten their large, lucrative rum and sugar business.

Who's in it? Jimmy Smits, Hector Elizondo, Rita Moreno, Nestor Carbonell

The good: It's a CBS drama that's not another "CSI"! Jimmy Smits clearly knows how to carry a series, and when your supporting cast involves the likes of Rita Moreno, you're doing OK on the acting front. The pilot has an intriguing mix of soapy family drama, politics and mystery.

The bad: No, it's not a "CSI," but it still looks and feels like every CBS drama you've ever seen. And that's not all - as my boyfriend said, "I liked this show better when it was called The Godfather."

Will I watch? I have the same general feeling about it as I did about "Back to You": It's not likely to end up on my must-watch list, but at the same time, I wouldn't recommend against it.

To watch a preview clip and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Photos courtesy of CBS

Pilot Watch: "Carpoolers"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:30:00 -0700

What's it about? Four guys share their daily triumphs and woes on their ride to work

Who's in it? Faith Ford, Jerry O'Connell, Jerry Minor, Fred Goss, TJ Miller

The good: This show is a classic example of the "Reaper" effect: I thought it was going to be awful, and so I was quite impressed when it actually made me laugh. The show is from Bruce McCulloch of "The Kids in the Hall," and the comedy pedigree is impressive, with Second City alum Minor, up-and-comer Miller, and "Significant Others" star Goss. The show has a similar feel to "The Knights of Prosperity," with over-the-top slapstick humor and a rooting-for-the-little-guy sensibility. The entire show does not take place in the car, which is a relief.

The bad: The actual carpooling segments (battling for a parking space, etc.) aren't very interesting. If I were in a prickly mood, I'd take offense at the fact that the pilot centers around Goss feeling emasculated because his wife makes more money than he does.

Will I watch? I wouldn't have expected to say this, but I'm going to give the show a try. It's incredibly goofy, and sometimes that's what I like in my comedy.

To watch a couple of video previews and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "Samantha Who?"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:50:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. A lot can change before a show makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: The show of many name changes, ABC's "Samantha Who?"

What's it about? Samantha Newly wakes up her coma after a hit-and-run accident with no personal memories - which means she has no idea what a horrid person she's always been.

Who's in it? Christina Applegate, Jean Smart, Jennifer Esposito, Melissa McCarthy, Barry Watson

The good: Somewhere between "Married with Children" and here, Applegate has grown up into a funny, appealing leading lady who knows how to sell the show's little moments. The interplay between Samantha and her mother, played by the always-awesome Jean Smart, got a few chuckles out of me. It's a single camera comedy with no laugh track, which automatically makes it less annoying than three-quarters of the comedies on TV.

The bad: The rest of the supporting characters were weak and fairly uninteresting. If the show just has Samantha discovering a new horrible thing about herself every week, it's going to get old very quickly.

Will I watch? I'm not setting a season pass just yet, but I'm planning to check out a few more episodes.

To watch a preview and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "Back to You"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:30:00 -0700

What's it about? A disgraced news anchor returns to the smaller market where he once was a superstar and must work again with his former co-anchor, who's not thrilled to have to share the spotlight with him.

Who's in it? Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Fred Willard

The good: I'm an ex-"Fraiser" fan, and this show reminded me that I really do like Kelsey Grammer. For a traditional sitcom - and, don't get me wrong, it is very traditional - it had more laughs than I was expecting. It feels very professional, by which I mean that you can tell that everyone from the lead actors to the writers to the peripheral cast know what it takes to make a comedy work.

The bad: "Back to You" doesn't break any new ground; I've seen all these jokes and plot lines before. The pilot has a supposedly shocking twist that Fox begged reporters not to reveal, but it's the kind of thing that anyone over the age of 12 could figure out easily.

Will I watch? Doubtful, but not because it's bad, per se - it's just not my style.

To watch a video and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Photos courtesy of Fox

Pilot Watch: "The Big Bang Theory"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:30:47 -0700

What's it about? Two super-nerds have their world shaken up when a hot girl moves in across the hall.

Who's in it? Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco

The good: It's a Chuck Lorre sitcom, which is a plus if you like his work ("Cybil," "Dharma and Greg," "Two and a Half Men"). Galecki and Parsons have a funny dude-chemistry. I chuckled a few times, which is more than I can say for a lot of classic laugh-track sitcoms these days.

The bad: The plot of the pilot involves the vapid blonde neighbor needing to use the guys' shower because hers is broken. She thus must stand around in a towel in their apartment. Meanwhile, the guys go to retrieve her TV from her meathed ex-boyfriend and end up literally getting pantsed. Let's just say the show isn't exactly subtle. Or deep.

Will I watch? Ehhhh. I might catch an episode here or there, but I have much higher hopes for NBC's mid-season "The IT Crowd" to fill my geeks-meet-hot-girl quota for the year.

To watch a video and see a gallery of photos, read more

Photos and video courtesy of CBS

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Pilot Watch: "Cavemen"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:30:00 -0700

What's it about? Based on the Geico caveman commercials, the show centers on a trio of young cavemen combating stereotypes in modern-day San Diego.

Who's in it? Nick Kroll, Bill English, Sam Huntington, Kaitlin Doubleday

The good: "Cavemen" has been reviled, laughed at and critically savaged since the moment it was announced, so the best thing I can possibly say about this episode is that it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. A few of the jokes were even a little bit - wait for it - funny, and some of the little details were clever; I've had a picture of one of the cavemen reading the Economist set as the background on my computer for months.

The bad: Even though it was better than expected, "Cavemen" still wasn't worth watching for any reason other than laughing at its expense. At best, it was a 30-second joke poked and prodded until it was more than 20 minutes long; at worst, it was an awkward, clumsy racial allegory.

Will I watch? ABC has announced a lot of changes to the show since producing the pilot I saw. One of the cavemen has been recast, and the episode I saw won't air as the premiere on TV. Even so, I didn't see anything in the pilot (or hear anything at the TCA tour) that makes me think the show will be better even with the adjustments.

ABC has preview clips online, and to see a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "Big Shots"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:30:00 -0700

What's it about? "Men are the new women" is the mantra of this "Sex and the City" for men, which traces the disastrous personal lives of four high-powered CEOs.

Who's in it? Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, Joshua Malina

The good: It's a strong cast filled with three TV powerhouses (Vartan, McDermott, Titus) as well as nerdy Malina, an Aaron Sorkin favorite. A show like this can live or die by the guys' chemistry, and they play off each other decently well in the pilot.

The bad: Everything else. The most commonly uttered phrase seemed in the pilot seemed to be "we're men" - in case we could forget. It's trite and dull, with stereotypical jokes about demanding women, sexual fetishes, marriage therapy, etc. Also, much as I love Malina, he seems utterly out of place as a powerful businessman.

Will I watch? I doubt it - and, furthermore, I don't think it's worthy of the post-"Grey's Anatomy" time slot.

To watch a preview and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "Aliens in America"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:30:42 -0700

What's it about? A shy, socially awkward high school kid from small-town Minnesota has his worldview turned upside down when he finds a kindred spirit in Raja, his family's Muslim exchange student from Pakistan.

Who's in it? Dan Byrd, Adhir Kalyan, Amy Pietz, Scott Patterson (most recently of "Gilmore Girls")

The good: Of all the half-hour comedy pilots I watched for the fall season, this was the funniest. Byrd and Kalyan are perfectly cast and absolutely hilarious to watch on screen (and the writing for them is stronger than it is for any of the adult characters). It's bold to take on pretty serious race relations issues through the vehicle of a CW teen comedy, and I appreciate the effort and the intention of the show.

The bad: Some of the scenes that call out Raja's religion or outsider status made me feel downright uncomfortable, and I couldn't tell if the writers were being provocative on purpose or if I was supposed to be laughing. A school scene in which a kid tells Raja she hates him because his people wrecked the World Trade Center was particularly squirmy, as was nearly every word out of the suburban mom character's mouth.

Will I watch? Yes. Despite how uncomfortable I felt with some aspects of the pilot, it was funny enough that I want to see where the show goes.

To watch a preview (note: this was filmed before Patterson was cast) and see a couple more photos, read more

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Photos courtesy of The CW

Pilot Watch: "Life"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:15:00 -0700

What's it about? Charlie Crewes, a police officer who was wrongfully convicted of murder and served 12 years of a life sentence, returns to the force after being freed, at least in part because he wants to figure out who made him take the fall.

Who's in it? Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Adam Arkin

The good: Maybe it's because I went to school at Northwestern, home of the Center on Wrongful Convictions, but I think the topic of what the wrongfully convicted do when they re-enter normal life is fascinating fodder for a show. The pilot at least made me interested to find out how prison shaped Crewes and why he decided to return to the force despite a huge settlement that would keep him wealthy for years.

The bad: There's a whole lot of Dr. Gregory House in Crewes, but the writers haven't figured out how to draw the line between "endearingly quirky" and "downright annoying." I mostly found him grating in the pilot - not on account of Lewis, who gives a good performance, but because of the lines and stories he's given. I'm not sure why he couldn't have just been a freed cop instead of a freed cop who happens to also be a tortured, oddball genius.

Will I watch? I can't see this winning a permanent spot on my viewing schedule. Then again, just like "Journeyman," the final scene was good - if more compelling than anything else in the episode.

To watch a preview and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "New Amsterdam"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 07:30:00 -0700

What's it about? Short answer: John Amsterdam is a New York police detective who also happens to be immortal - or, at least, he will be immortal until he meets his one true love. If you want the long answer (and it certainly is long) here's the full description.

Who's in it? Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Stephen Henderson, Zuleikha Robinson

The good and the bad: I had to combine the categories here because, well, here's the thing: While I thought "New Amsterdam" wasn't a very good drama, it was pretty hysterical as a comedy. It's the kind of show that's meant to have a drinking game written for it, with instructions to drink every time Amsterdam mentions a suspiciously large unit of time (he's been sober for 15,000 days), every time he runs into an aging old girlfriend, or every time his image blurs with that of the Native American woman who put the immortality spell on him back in 1642. (Note that I don't necessarily recommend actually playing said drinking game, because you'd be plastered by the end of the pilot. Be safe out there.) Granted, the Lasse Hallstrom-directed pilot is pretty to look at, as is Waldau himself. But everything beyond that is ridiculous. How has nobody ever recognized him? What must his resume look like? How often must he change his name to stay under the radar - and why, oh why, would he pick Amsterdam?

Will I watch? I can't lie: I was pretty entertained, albeit probably not for the reasons Fox was hoping.

To watch a preview for the show and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Photos courtesy of Fox

Pilot Watch: "Bionic Woman"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:30:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: NBC's "Bionic Woman."

What's it about? A remake of the 1970s classic, the show focuses on a bartender named Jaime who is nearly killed in a horrible car crash and is rebuilt with superhuman technology that gives her incredible strength, amazing vision and a whole slew of other powers. With the technology comes a whole slew of new responsibilities - and new enemies.

Who's in it? Michelle Ryan, Miguel Ferrer, Chris Bowers, Will Yun Lee, Molly Price. Katee Sackhoff of "Battlestar Galactica" will also star in several episodes, as will Isaiah Washington.

The good: The show is well-paced and slick-looking, and - though I'm admittedly not a special effects junkie - the effects looked cool to me. For a remake of a '70s show, it feels modern. Ryan makes an appealing main character.

The bad: Ryan might not be enough of a badass to be believable as a woman on a mission to save the world; Sackhoff comes off so much tougher in all the scenes the two share. The entire story line about Jaime's deaf sister has been reconceived since the pilot was shot, so there's a lot I can't judge yet.

Will I watch? I'm curious to see how the show works with a new actress in the sister role and a little time for Ryan to grow into her tough-chick persona.

To watch a preview for the show and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "Pushing Daisies"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:30:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: ABC's "Pushing Daisies."

What's it about? A man who can bring people back to life with a single touch resurrects his childhood sweetheart - but if he touches her again, she will die for good.

Who's in it? Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Kristin Chenoweth, Swoosie Kurtz, Chi McBride

The good: Everything. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but this is my favorite pilot so far. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the pilot thrusts us into Lee's colorful, quirky world, populated by crazy aunts, seemingly immortal dogs, and a restaurant called the Pie Hole. The show comes from the mind of "Dead Like Me" and "Wonderfalls" writer-producer Bryan Fuller, and the show bears his signature surrealistic stamp. ABC is marketing the show as a "forensic fairy tale," and I think it's a perfect description; the show feels like the strangest fable you've ever heard. The dialogue is quick and smart, so full of subtle puns that I wanted to watch the pilot again to make sure I caught them all.

The bad: I'm scared for this show. Fuller has worked on a couple of critically acclaimed series that haven't caught on with the public, and I'm afraid this might be so out there that it won't ever break out of "cult hit" territory. The pilot felt like a movie, and I'm not sure that the show will be able to hit that same level of production and storytelling each week - though I can't wait to watch the cast and crew give it a shot.

Will I watch? Yes, yes, a million times yes. Maybe my hopes are too high, but I thought the pilot was one of the more creative and well-constructed pieces of television I've seen this year.

To watch a preview for the show and check out a gallery of photos, read more

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Photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
Video courtesy of Warner Bros.

Pilot Watch: "Dirty Sexy Money"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:30:25 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money."

What's it about? A lawyer takes over his dead father's job as the personal counsel to a rich, crazy New York family, getting sucked into a world he spent his childhood resenting.

Who's in it? Peter Krause of "Six Feet Under," Donald Sutherland, William Baldwin, Jill Clayburgh, Natalie Zea

The good: Considering the size of the cast, this pilot does an amazing job setting up the dark, decadent world of the Darlings without feeling heavy-handed. Where other pilots rely on expositionary dialogue ("but you're the best-selling author in history!"), "Dirty Sexy Money" has mastered the art of showing and not telling - one of my favorite touches was how the character of each Darling is revealed through a ring tone on Nick's cell phone.

The bad: This pilot does a great job of setting up the world of Nick and the Darlings, but it doesn't give me a great sense of how the show will be structured from week to week. I worry that the wacky Darlings, so amusingly quirky in the pilot, will be tiresome by a few weeks in.

Will I watch? Definitely. Krause alone was enough to get me to give the show a chance, but all the curveballs his character gets thrown in the second half of this pilot will keep me watching.

To watch a preview for the show and check out a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "Journeyman"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 05:30:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: NBC's "Journeyman."

What's it about? Dan, a San Francisco newspaper reporter, discovers he can travel back in time to change the past - and reunites with his long-lost fiancee in the process.

Who's in it? Kevin McKidd of "Rome," Moon Bloodgood of "Day Break," Gretchen Egolf, Reed Diamond

The good: Did you like "Quantum Leap" and/or "Early Edition"? Then you might really like this show, which follows their tradition of questioning what happens when people travel through time and toy with the past. McKidd is a strong leading man, and my favorite moments in the pilot came from his character trying to convince his wife, boss and brother that he wasn't crazy or drugged. I'm intrigued by the love triangle developing between his character's wife and ex-fiancee. I'm also happy to see Moon Bloodgood turn up in a series again, even though it's somewhat odd that it's her second show in a row with someone (first Taye Diggs, now McKidd) going back in time to save her life.

The bad: Like all time travel shows, it's pretty confusing - especially when it comes to the question of how and why Dan begins to travel. The part of the past Dan tries to change in the first episode isn't particularly interesting, and I didn't always understand how he knew what he was supposed to be doing.

Will I watch? I honestly wasn't sure until the last few minutes of the first episode. But there's a nice twist there, and it made me curious enough to come back and see if the show can balance the surreal time travel story with more traditional dramatic elements. And hey, maybe it will fill the void left by "Day Break" last year.

You can watch several clips from the show on NBC's site, and to see a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "Gossip Girl"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 08:30:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: The CW's "Gossip Girl."

What's it about? Based on the popular book series by Cecily von Ziegesar, "Gossip Girl" centers on a group of girls at a ritzy New York private school who have their (mis)adventures with sex, drugs, liquor and romance chronicled by an anonymous blogger.

Who's in it? Blake Lively of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford, Penn Badgley

The good: This is one of "OC" creator Josh Schwartz's two shows making it to air this fall, and if NBC's "Chuck" is the heir to "The OC"'s snappy dialogue, than "Gossip Girl" inherited all of its overwrought teenage drama - which I'm not sure anybody in primetime TV these days does better than Schwartz. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the acting from young cast. The soundtrack in the first episode is fantastic (though as yet there's no Bait Shop equivalent where the bands could perform).

The bad: I had mixed feelings about the narration (done by Kristen Bell of the late, lamented "Veronica Mars"), which was cute for a while and then quickly got old. And though it's all done well, nothing in the pilot really seems new; it's the same old teen crises with the same old characters (the wannabe popular girl, the shy guy, the forgotten best friend, the queen bee). Lively also looks distractingly old, even though she's actually younger than the much-younger-looking Meester.

Will I watch? I'll certainly give it a shot. If there's a way to make the tired teenage stories seem fresh, this show could be a worthy heir to not just "The OC" but also "Dawson's Creek."

To watch a video preview and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Photos courtesy of The CW

Pilot Watch: "Chuck"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:32:18 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: NBC's "Chuck."

What's it about? A nerdy, socially awkward computer geek gets all of the nation's security secrets implanted into his brain.

Who's in it? Zachary Levi of "Less than Perfect," Yvonne Strzechowski, Joshua Gomez, Sarah Lancaster

The good: I was thoroughly entertained by this pilot's quirky premise, witty dialogue, and Seth Cohen-meets-"Alias" main character, who happens to be pretty easy on the eyes. The show comes from the mind of "The OC" creator Josh Schwartz, and his influence is obvious in the show's tone and its better lines ("This is not an X-Box, and you are not an X-Man.")

The bad: There's a fine line between irreverent and incomprehensible, and "Chuck" occasionally ends up on the wrong side of it. Some major plot points - like, say, "How did this guy's brain become a computer?" - aren't really explained.

Will I watch? Definitely. Despite my reservations, "Chuck" was one of the most appealing pilots I've seen so far.

To watch a video preview and see a gallery of photos, read more

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Pilot Watch: "K-Ville"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:30:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: Fox's "K-Ville."

What's it about? This story about police officers in post-Katrina New Orleans centers on Marlin Boulet, a cop whose partner deserted him during the storm, and his new partner, Trevor Cobb, who has come to New Orleans from the Army to get a fresh start.

Who's in it? Anthony Anderson of "The Shield," Cole Hauser, Maximiliano Hernndez, Blake Shields, Tawny Cypress, John Carroll Lynch

The good: Anthony Anderson makes Marlin an appealing main character, a cop with questionable morals and traumatic memories of the hurricane who always seems just on the edge of a nervous breakdown. The New Orleans details are tastefully done and revealing, and it's impressive to see a show tackle a contemporary problem whose ultimate outcome is still unknown.

The bad: So many mysteries were solved and secrets revealed in the pilot that it felt like a movie, not a show; I couldn't imagine what other stories the series could explore. The officers who weren't Marlin or Trevor seemed like afterthoughts.

Will I watch? I'll give it an episode or two, at least.

To watch a video preview and see a gallery of photos, read more

"K-Ville"

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Photos and video courtesy of Fox

Pilot Watch: "The Return of Jezebel James"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 09:29:00 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: Fox's "The Return of Jezebel James."

What's it about? Two estranged sisters - a driven book editor and an alterna-slacker - reconnect when the younger sister agrees to carry the older one's baby.

Who's in it? Parker Posey, Lauren Ambrose, Michael Arden, Scott Cohen

The good: The show is written by Amy Sherman-Palladino of "Gilmore Girls" fame, and the first episode packs in plenty of her signature snappy dialogue. Posey and Ambrose have a great sisterly chemistry, and the plot seems full of potential for at least a couple of strong seasons.

The bad: The production of this show was a huge turnoff for me. It's a half-hour comedy that should be a one-hour drama - or, at the very least, a comedy produced more in the style of "The Office." At least a couple of good lines got buried in the distracting laugh track, and the show felt very sound-stage-y - I'm not sure there was a single exterior shot! The episode also seemed rushed, as though 30 minutes wasn't enough for all the plot and character development the writers wanted to do.

Will I watch? This show has two of my favorite actresses and one of my favorite writers, so I want it to be good. But I have to say, if this show doesn't change a lot before it makes it to the air at midseason, I don't think I'll be watching.

To watch a preview clip and see a gallery of photos from the show, read more

"The Return of Jezebel James"

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Photos and video courtesy of Fox