Welcome to Thursday, the evening that has long been regarded as the king of TV. I don’t know if that is true anymore, but I do know there is a glut of good TV tonight.
Check out the grid:
CBS
The eye made the radical change of moving CSI out of their 9 p.m. slot to replace it with a show from two pretty big entertainment names: JJ Abrams (pedigree too long to list) and Jonah Nolan (The Dark Knight; he also wrote the pilot). Buzz has that this is the show for the die-hard Losties out there. The premise is that John Reese (Jim Caviezel--local Mt. V boy and The Passion of Christ), a former CIA operative now living off the grid (ish) and looking homeless is recruited by the mysterious and billionaire Mr. Finch (Michael Emerson, Lost) to bring vigilante style justice to those who are about to perpetrate some sort of heinous crime, via this machine that spits out information about the crime before it happens. Sounds very Minority Report (back before Tom went couch-jumping crazy), but the pedigree of producers and stars will make me check it out. Worried about the machine concept seeming too crazy? This will be the slow, Lost-like mystery reveal. For those of you in Marysville, I give this my highest J+ rating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68xN_BNYhc4
Their other new show, How to be a Gentleman, is based on the book of the same name. And while I just watched the 4 minute preview and didn’t find it the most heinous thing to ever cross my eyeballs, I wouldn’t call it appointment TV for me either. The cast include Kevin Dillon, Dave Foley and Mary Lynn Rajskub. It is yet another retelling of the Odd Couple, and based on its position on CBS following Big Bang Theory, I’d be shocked if it didn’t last a season. This is the same spot that America let run 22 episodes of Sh** My Dad says, after all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zw6Od0FwRs
The other two shows are returning. Big Bang Theory is in its fourth season, and perpetually on our DVR. It is starting in syndication this fall, so if you’ve never watched and want to get your geek on, I’d check it out.
I’ve always said that The Mentalist is just a sophisticated CBS version of Psych, and I stand by that. I love Psych. I don’t watch The Mentalist, as I only need one fake psychic detective in my life.
NBC
Also offering up two different new shows this fall season, NBC is presenting us with Whitney, a raunchy-ish comedy about a single woman who really is just pleased as punch to have a boyfriend. No need for a ring on her finger. One review I read said this show seems like an off fit for Thursday night NBC compared to the rest of their line-up, but if it doesn’t do well, then they’ll bring Up All Night over before 30 Rock comes back after Tina Fey’s maternity leave. I enjoyed the preview more than I thought I would.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnc2QbRZsDM
Their other new show is the new US version/update/reboot of Prime Suspect, starring Maria Bello, who is pretty much kick-ass in all that she does. I must confess that I’ve never seen the original, despite worshipping Helen Mirren for her general awesomeness in all that she touches. Reviews are solid for the crime procedural, with the only negative press centering around her choice of hat. Whatever. They’d never pick on a man if he wore a hat. If you like crime shows, I can’t see as how you wouldn’t want to watch this one too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUOUrWxIWbs
The other 3 shows have been around for a bit. Community and Parks and Recreation are two of my absolute favorite shows. While I usually watch them on Hulu, that’s just a matter of DVR space and wanting to savor them on the laptop. Joel McHale, also a fake boyfriend, is just part of a great cast in Community, while Parks and Rec also boasts a great ensemble group. It took P&R a bit to find its footing, but now in its fourth season, the crazy town of Pawnee, Indiana is a great place to visit. I also think you can jump into these shows and still find them funny.
The Office went through some huge changes last year, and we still don’t know who the replacement boss is going to be. We do know James Spader will be in and quickly go to corporate, but other than that, they are promoting from within.
FOX
X-Factor results kicks off the night. I do not understand why these shows have to be 60 minutes. (Except for So You Think You Can Dance. That’s worth it.) Anyway, just because it is cheap and easy to produce doesn’t mean that they need to fill the hour with so much unnecessary shtuff.
Bones is tied with Castle as our favorite crime procedural, and for good reason. It is crazy enjoyable. Last spring, Bones found herself preggers by Booth. They are accommodating Emily Deschanel’s real pregnancy by cutting the season to only 13 episodes. Horror. Sadness. Despondence. Bummed. Also, not premiering until after the World Series.
ABC
From executive producer Drew Barrymore comes the latest reboot of Charlie’s Angels. And this cast is ridiculously hot. The latest Bosley does not do the Bosley name justice, as he is too handsome for his own good. The twist this time is that they are a thief, a crook and a bad cop working for/getting redemption from Charlie. So devilish more than angelish. The three leads are familiar faces, but the initial response to this reboot is tepid. No Farrah (rip) spark yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2P_jP76qqI
The rest of their night belongs to Shondaland with Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. If you gave up on Grey’s the season before last, and didn’t tune in last season, it bounced back quite nicely. Private Practice remains a check in show for me. Its not that hard to follow, occasionally they change where people work and who is romancing whom and I have to infer more than I want to on a Thursday night before bed, but otherwise, your standard fare.
CW
Vampire Diaries, despite allegedly having its female protagonist be 18 and still in school, is turning up the sexy factor. If you haven’t watched before, you could really jump in and be okay, but might I recommend enjoying this guilty pleasure from the get-go and getting caught up. Sure, its about Vampires (so 2009), but hello, Ian Somerholder. I need to find a poster. I heart him and his snark.
Their new show is The Secret Circle, where the producers of TVD take on witches. Cassie (Britt Robertson, Life Unexpected) is an orphaned 16-year-old who moves to our fair state of Washington to live with her grandma to find out she is the descendant of Salem (not Oregon) witches. Evil lurks around every corner, pretty teenagers do amazing magical things, adults are not what they seem to be and the CW probably retains its lead-in numbers from TVD so all is right with the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWK0vfwYhqA
Still the best night on television, heir to The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers and Night Court followed by ER or just another good night of boobtubeness in this golden age of television? Not for sure if we can go wrong either way.
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