For the most part, Tuesdays this autumn seem like one of those nights where the TV gets turned on while you're making dinner and answering emails and catching up on phone calls, but nothing to really spend much time paying attention to. Except for GLEE of course.
I'm going to make a bold statement here, one that will surely make my fellow Extra Criticizers wince: I tried to watch ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT a few times and didn't like it. It's not that I didn't 'get it'. Oh, I 'got it', I just didn't think it was funny or interesting. On Tuesdays this fall (premiering September 21st) one of the creators and one of the stars (Will Arnett) from that show will be back with Fox's RUNNING WILDE which also stars late of FELICITY, Keri Russell. There may be something wrong with me that the only reason I'm even marginally interested is the casting of Robert Michael Morris who starred in Lisa Kudrow's show, THE COMEBACK (which lasted, tragically, only one season). Arnett has a solid fan base and combined with all the other niche shows represented, it just might cobble together enough of an audience to stay the course.
I swear that I'd forgotten that PARENTHOOD has already been on the air for half a season, that's how bland and forgettable this show appears to be to me. Even including the incredible Lauren Graham as yet another mom with quick witted dialogue won't really induce me to watch it (although I wouldn't mind catching a glimpse of this former Gilmore girl.(Season 2 premieres tonight).
And then there's NO ORDINARY FAMILY. Now I think the premise is great - a family gets super powers. Great as a comic book and big budget movie (FANTASTIC FOUR, THE INCREDIBLES) but I wonder if it'll quickly wear out it's welcome given that a network show has to put 22 hours on a year and that means less time spent on special effects. And besides, look what happened to HEROES when it tried to cover some of this same territory. And it's executive produced by Greg Berlanti (BROTHERS AND SISTERS) ...and look what a mess that show became once Jon Robin Baitz left. It became EVERWOOD without Treat Williams' beard. (Premieres September 28th). And I almost already hate it because of the constant/insistent bottom-of-the-screen promos for it on every ABC show (including their daytime lineup.. why is it that they never promote their daytime lineup on their prime time shows?).
Other new shows on Tuesdays include the Cloris Leachman sitcom, RAISING HOPE in which a single dad moves home to raise his baby (Fox, Septmber 14th) and DETROIT 187, a crime drama set in, you guessed it, Detroit (ABC, September 21st), and ONE TREE HILL (CW, September 14th), NCIS and NCIS: LA (CBS, September 22nd), THE GOOD WIFE (CBS, Sept 28th), THE BIGGEST LOSER (NBC, Sept 21), and LIFE UNEXPECTED (CW, Sept.14).
And then there's V. I loved the old mini-series and subsequent show - they pulled out all the gimmicks that makes sci-fi great. Unfortunately the new V rushed their first few episodes and I think that hurt the integrity of the narrative of the show. Fortunately towards the end of May, the show seemed to start to find it's footing at long last which culminated in a kick ass season ending cliffhanger. Not exactly gerbil-eating good, but not bad by network show standards. It's no BATTLESTAR GALACTICA but it might just turn out to be decent, especially as the show reports that the original leader of the V from the mini-series, played by Jane Badler, will be making an appearance - as Anna's mother. I suggest one thing to the show: bring back the camp and the viewers will follow. (ABC, returns in November TBA).