BuzzSugar

Which New Comedy is Most Likely to Succeed?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:15:00 -0700

Last week, I asked you which new comedy will be canceled the fastest, and the consensus was pretty firmly in favor of "Cavemen." Let's see if the results are as unanimous this time: Which of these comedies is most likely to be a breakout hit?

Which New Drama is Most Likely to Succeed?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:30:00 -0700

Last week, I asked you to predict which of this fall's new dramas would be canceled fastest. That's pretty bleak, so let's focus on the positive for a minute instead: Which of the dramas do you think has the best chance to make it big?

Fall TV Preview: Pilot Watch Roundup

BuzzSugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 08:15:00 -0700

I've told you about the five new shows I'll be watching this fall, as well as five I'll probably skip and five more that I'm not sure about. But that doesn't cover all the new shows heading to TV this fall. All summer, I've been tracking the pilots in my pilot watch feature, and now, if you're curious about a particular show, you can just click on its name below to see my take:

The Comedies

"The Big Bang Theory"

"The Return of Jezebel James" (midseason)

For the dramas, read more

The Dramas

"New Amsterdam" (midseason)

Fall TV Preview: Five New Shows to Watch

BuzzSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:30:00 -0700

All summer long, I've been giving you my first impressions of the networks' new shows. Now, with fall TV upon us, it's time to tell you which shows are deserving of space on your TiVo and which ... well, aren't. Last week I told you about five shows I'll be skipping this fall and five that I think are total tossups. Today brings my favorite of the lists: the five shows that I think are most likely to earn a season pass on my TiVo.

5. "Gossip Girl" - Many of you have already gotten a chance to weigh in on "Gossip Girl," which certainly ranks among the fall's most highly anticipated shows. Like "The OC," which made "Gossip Girl" co-creator Josh Schwartz famous, "Gossip Girl" is all about the plight of super-rich kids who drink too much and make bad choices, and if you're not generally a fan of teen shows, "Gossip Girl" probably won't change your mind. But beyond the soapy exterior lurks an appealing (and generally age-appropriate) cast and an immensely popular book series from which any number of tantalizing stories can be drawn. I'm not sure it's the next "OC" quite yet, but the potential is there.

4. "Reaper" - "Reaper," a dude comedy from two women who earned their chops as writers on "Law & Order: SVU," could become one of the CW's first big breakout hits. Kevin Smith's influence can be felt all over the pilot, which showcases leading man Bret Harrison and hilarious sidekick Tyler Labine as a couple of unlikely heroes who work as bounty hunters for the devil. It's an unlikely premise, but it's got smart execution and humor to spare. But maybe the greatest thing about "Reaper" is the casting of Ray Wise as Satan himself; one look at that creepy smile, and I was sold.

For the top three I'll be watching, read more

3. "Dirty Sexy Money" - Any show starring Peter Krause will always get the benefit of the doubt from me, but "Dirty Sexy Money" didn't need any charity. The pilot episode was one of the strongest I watched. I have faith in the show's creator, former "Six Feet Under" writer Craig Wright, and I suspect that before long, this glitzy story of the high-powered Darling family and the well-meaning lawyer (Krause) who gets caught up in their antics will be must-see TV. In addition to Krause, there are several other standouts among the cast, especially William Baldwin and relative newcomer Seth Gabel.

2. "Chuck" - My words when I finished watching the pilot for "Chuck": "I don't know what that just was, but it was so much fun." It's the second buzzworthy show from Josh Schwartz this fall, and it's certainly the more whimsical of the two. Zachary Levi is instantly magnetic as a slacker who ends up being a key national security operative after the world's spy secrets are downloaded into his brain. The show has a fight scene with a ninja, a car chase involving a Volkswagen Beetle, and - as of last week - Rachel Bilson. If the show can maintain its sense of humor, it will deserve to be a hit.

1. "Pushing Daisies" - What can I say about this "forensic fairytale" that hasn't been said already? "Pushing Daisies," certainly the most-gushed-about pilot this year among critics, is unlike anything else on TV. It feels like a storybook, or a movie, or a particularly vivid dream I had once. Maybe the best word to describe it is "precious" - it's the kind of show that its fans will truly fall in love with. Lead actors Lee Pace and Anna Friel may be little known now, but that won't last for long if people tune into this gem. The immensely quotable script, inventive sets and unique characters should appeal to anyone looking for a little something different on television. It also features numerous shots of delectable pies, and if that doesn't earn it a spot on your viewing schedule, I don't know what will.

"Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
"Reaper" and "Gossip Girl" photos courtesy of The CW
"Chuck" photo Source

Buzz In: Which TV Shows Had Great First Episodes?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0700

The fall TV season is officially upon us, with the first new drama of the season - Fox's "K-Ville" - premiering Monday night. Finally, everyone will get to see the pilot episodes I've been watching all summer! One thing about pilots is that they can be misleading: Some series with bad pilots have gone on to be great shows, while some shows with great pilots never really worked as series.

So, in honor of all the first episodes we'll be watching over the next couple of weeks, I wanted to ask about your favorite first episodes - the ones that really sucked you in and made you know the show would be one for you to watch. Last fall's premiere of "Friday Night Lights" was like that for me, as was the first episode of "Grey's Anatomy," which is still one of my top five sob-inducing TV moments. What are yours?

Source

Which New Comedy will be Canceled the Fastest?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:00:00 -0700

After all the anticipation of the fall TV pilots comes the inevitable bloodbath, when network executives realize that certain series just aren't going to make it. So I'm asking you guys to help me out with a little fall TV deathwatch, predicting which series will get to air the fewest number of episodes before being canceled. Today: the comedies.

Which New Drama will be Canceled the Fastest?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:00:37 -0700

Fall TV Preview: Five Total Toss-ups

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:30:00 -0700

All summer long, I've been giving you my first impressions of the networks' new shows. Now, with fall TV upon us, it's time to tell you which shows are deserving of space on your TiVo and which ... well, aren't. Yesterday, I told you about five shows I'll be skipping this fall, and on Monday, I'll be revealing my top five picks for the season. But today, I'm focusing on the shows that could go either way, just as likely to become megahits as they are to sink like stones.

5. "Bionic Woman" - "Bionic" has seen quite a bit of upheaval since the pilot I saw was filmed. One supporting part (the bionic woman's younger sister) has been recast and reconceived, and - just within the past couple of weeks - one of the executive producers left the show. In the version of the pilot I saw, lead actress Michelle Ryan didn't seem to have the sort of fearless toughness you'd want in an action star, and the whole thing seemed surprisingly low-energy. But now, "Friday Night Lights" producer Jason Katims will be consulting on the show, and NBC has ensured a steady stream of publicity by hiring Isaiah Washington for a guest spot. I'm still not confident about this remake, but I think it has an equal chance of being a breakout hit and a flop.

4. "Carpoolers" - I'm really of two minds about "Carpoolers." On the one hand, the whole idea of inane car banter is why I try not to catch rides with casual acquaintances. On the other hand, this pilot made me laugh surprisingly hard, and I'm finding myself rooting for it. The writing may not be completely there yet, but the comic timing from funny guys like Jerry O'Connell, Jerry Minor, Fred Goss, and potential breakout star TJ Miller gives me hope - as does that Phil Collins video. I'm not sure if I see it getting more than a "Knights of Prosperity"-sized following, but if enough people give it a chance, maybe it will be a small hit.

Three more tossups - plus a brand-new clip of the first few minutes of one of them - so read more

3. "Moonlight" - "Moonlight" is a toss-up in the truest sense of the word because it's gone through so many changes. Virtually everyone except lead actor Alex O'Loughlin has been recast since the spring, and I haven't seen either the old or the new versions of the pilot. I generally suspect this will be a cheesy mix of vampire myth and cop drama, and its Friday night timeslot tells me CBS doesn't have a ton of confidence in it either. On the other hand, CBS has had a good sense of humor in promoting the show - witness this "Interview with a Vampire" clip and the creepy vs. sexy video - and I think there are legions of "Angel" and "Buffy" fans who might latch on to this show.

2. "Aliens in America" - Of all the pilots I watched for the fall, this one about a friendship between a small-town Wisconsin kid and his family's Pakistani exchange student, left me the most conflicted by far. On the one hand, it made me laugh harder than any other comedy pilot, and the two young actors in the lead roles are charming and perfectly cast. On the other hand, many parts of the pilot made me squirm because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be offended or amused. I have no idea where the show will go from here, and - more than that - I have no idea how people will react. Will they think it's sweetly hilarious or blatantly over the line?

1. "Private Practice" - So far, this show is nothing but a giant question mark. It's the only pilot the general public has seen, and so we've all had almost four months to rip the very special episode apart - and nobody's been shy about doing that.
Some critics who have seen the proper first episode of the series say the show has gotten itself together, while others say it's even more inane than we feared. For me, the whole point of Kate Walsh's Addison on "Grey's" was to be sassy, complicated, and tough-as-nails; on the snippets of "Private Practice" I've seen, she seems gigglier and girlier, without the backbone that made her such a gem. Creator Shonda Rhimes has said this show won't be "Grey's 2.0" - but it's too early to tell whether "Private Practice" will be able to capture any of the magic that made that show a hit. Just for good measure, here's the newest preview clip:

"Private Practice" and "Carpoolers" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc..
"Moonlight" picture courtesy of CBS
"Aliens in America" photo courtesy of The CW
"Bionic Woman" photo Source
"Moonlight" photo courtesy of CBS

Fall TV Preview: Five New Shows to Skip

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

5. "Life" - I was into the premise of this show about a detective who gets sentenced to life in prison and rejoins the police force after his wrongful conviction is overturned. But the show itself was such a bundle of cop-show cliches and random quirks that it was already grating on me by 10 minutes into the pilot. Lead actor Damian Lewis gives his best shot, but if the writers want to create a "House"-style misanthrope, they're going to have to do more than make him wax poetic about fruit all the time.

4. "Viva Laughlin" - I once declared this musical drama the pilot I most wanted to see ... but then I actually saw it. What a bummer. I thought it would be a fun, cheesy, over-the-top hit. In reality, the musical numbers that didn't involve Hugh Jackman fell flat, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. I still hold out hope that it could get better, but I doubt it's going to be on the air long enough to improve.

Three more to be wary of, so read more

3. "The Big Bang Theory" - Look! It's smart guys who are too inept to date a hot chick! How revolutionary! I don't claim that every single TV show on the air has to be groundbreaking; sometimes I just want a quick, mindless laugh. But I would prefer that shows stop relying on the same old, tired, geek-vs-hottie, pretty-girls-are-dumb, smart-boys-are-hopeless brand of "jokes," and this show never really gets beyond that.

2. "Big Shots" - How do you screw up a show with three hot guys, one adorable smart guy, and a plum post-"Grey's Anatomy" time slot? You reach so hard for the "'Sex and the City' for men" premise that your characters must reinforce numerous times that they are not, in fact, women. There's just nothing here to hold onto besides trite story lines about adultery, unfulfilling sex and indulgent spending. This one has the star power to be a hit, but it needs some major retooling first.

1. "Cavemen" - I know. Shocking, right? The premise is just so flimsy here, and the joke so one-note, that I'm not sure there's any way this pilot could have overcome all the negative "you've got to be kidding me" press this show has gotten for months. I'll admit that there are funny things about this show (the costumes; the caveman who reads The Economist), but it still feels exactly like those Geico ads - and there's a reason they only lasted for 30 seconds.

"Big Shots" and "Cavemen" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.
"Big Bang Theory" and "Viva Laughlin" photos courtesy of CBS
"Life" photo Source

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

View 11 Photos ›

Photos courtesy of CBS