Fall
entertainment | tv preview
Television Preview
infographic dillon mitchell and josh shi photos used with paid permission from mctcampus
Most Anticipated
Literally Nothing
Least Anticipated
New Girl
Fox is hardly the worst network (CBS takes that award, with its 500 CSI’s and that fat person-exploitation comedy Mike and Molly), but Fox has nothing at all redeeming this year. Their dramas are tired and cliche, the comedies are surprisingly unfunny and the reality shows are, well, reality shows. Fox only has 14 TV shows this fall, which might be why the schedule looks so barren and dull. But it’s more likely that Fox is actually just trying to cater to the idiotic masses.
New Girl is nothing more than pure exploitation of America’s sick obsession with manic pixie dream girls (in this case, Zooey Deschanel). Deschanel’s character, Jess, is hardly even a person, let alone a 20-year-old. For example, one episode of the first season involved her not being able to say the word penis, because it made her feel uncomfortable. The second season looks to be another unfunny collection of Deschanel’s quirkiness.
Revolution
Animal Practice
Revolution could be re-dubbed as “least likely to survive past one season,” which is a real shame, as it showcases actual storytelling and originality, two traits found almost nowhere else in NBC’s barren lineup. Produced by J.J. Abrams, the show follows the Matheson family as they try to survive in an America set 15 years after all power was cut off. If the Abrams stamp of approval isn’t enough, there are also crossbows.
Animal Practice almost seems too stupid to exist. Like if Dr. Dolittle was a TV show and wasn’t sort of funny. Also, it isn’t the 90’s anymore, so this kind of tomfoolery in a TV show is both unwarranted and unforgivable. Starring Justin Kirk, best known for his portrayal of Andy on Weeds, Animal Practice goes beyong just being a low-quality comedy. It’s symbollic of NBC’s death, a suffocation by being weighed down by screwball comedies. It’s a voluntary suffocation though, as NBC tries desperately to get anyone to watch it’s network.
The Middle
666 Park Avenue
The Middle is a quaint comedy about an average family living in Indiana. The best part about The Middle is that it never tries to over do anything. Comedies nowadays are flashy and vapid most of the time, but The Middle is just funny by being relateable (let’s face it, we’re all from average families). It’s also a plus that the Janitor from Scrubs (Neil Flynn) plays the blue-collar father. The Middle is one of the few comedies that hasn’t become diluted to pure garbage (cough, Modern Family, cough).
FX’s American Horror Story works for a lot of reasons. One is its campiness (it can be hilariously bad in the best way), but the biggest factor is the gratuitious sex and violence. 666 Park Avenue looks to be jumping on the horror-thriller genre of TV popularized by American Horror Story. Only this is on ABC, so everything good (like nudity, and blood shed, and profanity) is going to be missing in action. Which makes 666 Park Avenue, which focuses on a couple that moves into a haunted apartment building, pointless and boring.
Vegas
The Big Bang Theory
Vegas could be a hit-or-miss show. It’s set in the 60’s and focuses on Dennis Quaid’s Ralph Lamb, a sheriff in the early days of Las Vegas. As the city begins to develop, Lamb comes to conflict with Vincent Savino (Michael Chiklis), a Chicago gangster. Vegas has potential, namely its star-power, but it also has the possibilty to end up like ABC’s failed Mad Men-wannabe The Playboy Club. But it could use its high level of campiness to its advantage.
50 | Spark | Oct. 5, 2012
The Big Bang Theory is insulting to watch. It’s a bunch of stereotypes, from the quasi nerds in their super hero shirts and to the blonde with which they’re all smitten. The Big Bang Theory has never been funny, so the fact that it’s on its sixth season is astounding. What’s really confusing is where CBS finds the idiots that find this show funny enough to put them in a live audience.