Our picks and items of interest for the upcoming season
The major television networks announced their 2008-2009 schedules this past week. The good news: several very good shows that didn’t have time to develop their audience before the writer’s strike last fall are getting a second chance. So if you’re a fan of Life or Terminator: The Sara Connor Chronicles, congratulations. The bad news is that a lot of other 2007 premieres are not: goodbye Journeyman, Carpoolers, and many more. Some established shows, such as CBS’ Shark and NBC’s Las Vegas, are also signing off.
But each new fall sees fresh hope on the schedule, including a few bright spots that have us interested. There’s no ranking or hierarchy to the shows listed below – we just think they might be worth 24 – 44 minutes or your time once a week, minus commercials.
Dollhouse: Geek Caesar Joss Whedon’s return to network television stars Buffy The Vampire Slayer alum Eliza Dushku as Echo, a secret agent whose skill sets and identities can be downloaded, erased, or changed at the will of her shadowy superiors. Former Angel cast member Amy Acker plays one of Echo’s scientist caretakers, while Battlestar Galactica’s Tamoh Penikett plays her FBI agent love interest. So it’s like: Johnny Mnemonic meets Alias. It could be a hit because: plenty of people miss Buffy and Alias, and this is kinda like both. On the downside: It’s been a long time since Whedon really amazed us, and Fox’s patience with sci-fi – including Whedon’s own Firefly – is notoriously short. Premieres midseason on Fox.
Life On Mars: David E. Kelley adapts this cult BBC drama for American audiences, in which an injured police detective finds himself inexplicably transported back in time to the 1970s. Irish actor Jason O’Mara (Band of Brothers) plays the cop, while Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Colm Meaney plays his hardboiled 70s partner. So it’s like: The Practice crossed with your David Bowie CD’s. It could be a hit because: Kelley’s presence means the show is likely geared to those viewers old enough to remember the 70’s, lowering the kitsch factor and keeping the focus on character development. On the downside: American translations of British television don’t always retain the originals’ quality – for every The Office, there’s a Cracker. Fall premiere on ABC.
The Cleveland Show: Cleveland Brown, The Family Guy’s mellow pal to Peter Griffin, moves to Virginia and starts a new family with his high school sweeheart, his son and her daughter. Their new neighbors in the quiet town of Stoolbend include a British family stuck in the Victorian Era and a clan of talking bears. So it’s like: The Brady Bunch meets Family Guy. It could be a hit because: Cleveland’s one of the more loveable denizens of Quahog, and creator Seth McFarlane is likely re-energized after finalizing a long-running negotiation with 20th Century Fox. On the downside: Cleveland was probably no fan’s first choice to launch a spinoff; McFarlane’s other toon, American Dad, hasn’t exactly set the world afire. Premieres midseason on Fox.
Crusoe: A big-budget adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s classic novel about an Englishman marooned on a desert island. The NBC drama reportedly retains the book’s 17th Century setting, meaning don’t expect helicopter rescues, GPS, or Wilson the volleyball. So it’s like: Lost meets your Seventh Grade summer reading list. It could be a hit because: Star Philip Winchester (Flyboys) has Next Big Thing all but written across his forehead; it’s different enough to be an out-of-left-field success. On the downside: It’s scheduled to air in the Fridays at 8pm Death Slot. Fall premiere.
Untitled The Office Spinoff: NBC is keeping mum on this project, though they’ve revealed it will debut following the Super Bowl next January. We’re still hoping for The New York Office, in which Jim gets Ryan’s job at corporate while Pam attends design school, but earlier rumors specify the cast will be all-new. So it’s like: The Office meets CSI. Maybe Dunder Mifflin: Miami? It could be a hit because: Really, the show only has to air to be a hit – at least through the first season. On the downside: Office fans are a ferocious bunch, and could turn on the new show if they feel it doesn’t live up to the beloved original.
- Michael Kabel
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