Fox Adds More Family Guys

Tonight on Fox you can see Rob Lowe as a returning brother on The Grinder or John Stamos as a returning father/grandfather on Grandfathered. Of course, there are other differences as well, such as Lowe's career as a pretend lawyer and Stomos's career as a restaurateur.  But it seems a little odd to pitch two returning family man shows on the same night and same network?

I have not seen Stamos in a while, but I enjoyed Lowe's last television foray on Parks and Recreation where he played a compulsive yet lovable city manager. His long career in television surpasses his movie credits in my opinion.  I think he is ready to be the main character in his new show, not that the experienced yet long-absent Fred Savage is unable to hold up his end of the show. 

With all the cops and thugs on TV these days, a few regular guy comedies are welcome.  I plan to tune in.

Update:  I enjoyed the pilots of both shows, though maybe The Grinder a little more due to Lowe's very lost yet likable character.  Stamos also put on a good show and the pilot threw out a few hints of what's to come, keeping it all the more interesting.  

Second Update: Fox has requested additional scripts for both shows, which is a very positive sign and surprising in this cut-throat environment. Both shows have earned the extra interest.

Trevor Noah Take the Helm of The Daily Show

Tonight is the night.  Trevor Noah gets to take on his role as the host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show.  Are you ready for a 31 year-old, South African, stand-up comedian to comment on America's crazy politics? I know I am.  And while he may speak seven languages, Mr. Noah will find our candidates for president have trouble with one language (unless the language is money). 

Born into an illegal relationship in South Africa, since his white Swiss father was not allowed to have a relationship with a black African woman under apartheid, he has not necessarily come to America's shore from a peaceful youth.  And I'm not even going into how his mother was shot multiple times. 

But it's about the humor, right? Well, maybe so, but some real world experience can only help. I am eager to see the new direction of the show. And the few times I've seen Mr. Noah I have been impressed. So let the show begin!

Update: The first slow was slow and worrying. By the time Gov. Christy showed up for the third show I did not feel much better. It is too much like the old Daily Show, which only makes you miss Jon Stewart. I am hoping Mr. Noah can make it his own show, and quickly.

Sunday Shows: North Dakota and Quantico

Tonight you can catch the return of a few favorites, such as the third season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, though the Brooklyn precinct will be very different now that Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) has been replaced by a new captain played by SNL's Bill Hader. Or you might want to try one of these new shows on ABC:

- Blood & Oil:  It seems Dallas has shifted north to North Dakota.  Don Johnson and Chace Crawford star in this new drama about the drama associated with one family in the middle of the energy boom.  Here is the blurb from ABC (and the trailer):

Billy and Cody Lefever dream of a new life and move to "The Bakken" in North Dakota, booming after the biggest oil discovery in American history. They’re soon pitted against a ruthless tycoon who forces them to put everything on the line, including their marriage.

Chase plays the gullible Billy and Don Johnson gets to play the tycoon, or should we say overplay the tycoon?  I did not really watch the first Dallas, or the remade Dallas, so I am not sure I have time for North Dakota. 

- Quantico: If the energy industry is not your thing, you always have the FBI and terrorists (yes, over and over again).  This new series starts with a new FBI class and a terrorist attack on NYC.  If it sounds familiar it is because we always have investigators and even super heroes discussing 9/11 and NYC.  But here we go again with the ABC blurb and trailer:

A diverse group of recruits has arrived at the FBI Quantico Base for training. They are the best, the brightest and the most vetted, so it seems impossible that one of them is suspected of masterminding the biggest attack on New York City since 9/11.

That said, the trailer was intriguing as it shows the FBI academy training as the Hunger Games that leads to plot that takes down trainee Alex Parrish, played by Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra.  I am intrigued and may add this one to my list.  

Tonight: Heroes and Players

NBC is broadcasting two new shows tonight if you are still eager for something else to watch.

- Heroes Reborn: The old Heroes has been reworked after fading away years ago. I had enjoyed the first season way back when and then the show tested my patience and I moved on.  

Does the show deserve another chance? You can determine this for yourself, starting with a two-hour premiere. There is also a six part prequel online - yes, homework. 

The rebooted show has an all new cast, which makes one wonder if we really need another set of superheroes at this point.

Here is the (long) story about the show from NBC:

A year ago, a terrorist attack in Odessa, Texas left the city decimated. Blamed for the tragic event, those with extraordinary abilities are in hiding or on the run from those with nefarious motives.

Two such vigilantes include Luke (Zachary Levi, "Chuck") and Joanne (Judith Shekoni, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2"), who are seeking to avenge a tragic loss.

Noah Bennet, aka HRG (Jack Coleman, "Heroes"), has gone off the grid, but conspiracy theorist Quentin Frady (Henry Zebrowski, "A to Z") finds him and opens his eyes to the truth behind the Odessa tragedy.

While in hiding, some are discovering their newfound skills. Awkward teen Tommy (Robbie Kay, "Once Upon a Time") just wants to be normal and win the girl of his dreams, Emily (Gatlin Green, "Criminal Minds"), but normalcy is virtually impossible after learning of a new ability that terrifies him. Coming from a very sheltered upbringing, a bold and ethereal teenager, Malina (Danika Yarosh, "Shameless"), has been told she is destined for greatness. In Tokyo, a quiet and unique young woman, Miko (Kiki Sukezane, "Death Yankee 3"), is trying to track down her missing father while hiding an extraordinary secret that will make her a force to be reckoned with. Elsewhere, a different type of hero is emerging through former soldier Carlos (Ryan Guzman, "The Boy Next Door").

Meanwhile, Erica (Rya Kihlstedt, "Masters of Sex"), the head of the highly successful tech conglomerate Renautas has an agenda of her own.

For better or for worse, some are fated to cross paths with assorted heroes of the past, including Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka), Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg), Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and the Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis), among others. Yet, together, their ultimate destiny is nothing less than saving the world and mankind.

- The Player:  I'm not sure about another show from the creators of The Blacklist set in Las Vegas, but I am sure some people will tune in when you combine gambling and  "former military operative." I have seen too many shows die in Las Vegas, but you can always con someone new to try again.

 Here is the NBC (thankfully short) story:

The series co-stars Wesley Snipes as the pit boss and Charity Wakefield as the dealer for a high-stakes game, where an organization of wealthy individuals gamble on the ability of former military operative turned security expert Philip Winchester ("Strike Back," "Fringe") to stop some of the biggest crimes imaginable from playing out. Can he take them down from the inside and get revenge for the death of his wife, or is it true what they say: The house always wins.

Another Busy Night: Screams, Puppets, and More

Prepare for another varied night of horror, adventure, and comedy. And we are just getting started. Here is what you can expect to see tonight:

- Scream Queens, Fox: Are you ready for another Ryan Murphy series, or has Glee and American Horror Story been enough? As with MTV's Scream, you get to watch the elimination of annoying teens, though this time they are in college at the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority. I still think teen vampires or werewolves add a fun dimension, but if you are looking for simple murder then this is your show.  Here is a trailer for the new series.

- Limitless, CBS: This is the the second movie remake in two nights, the last being Minority Report.  Is this really necessary? It is another show for teens, though this time the secret to great grades is a pill rather than studying and getting some rest. Been there, done that. Can it really sustain a series? See for yourself via this trailer.

- The Muppets, CBS: If you grew up with The Muppets, you may be very happy to see the whole gang back (check out this trailer).  Or maybe not.  One Million Moms is already encouraging a boycott of the show because of the language used by these little guys, stating 

It is not the show it once was. ABC has ruined "The Muppets." How many parents want to explain the punchline of sexually charged jokes to young children?

And the moms are not alone.  Here is what The Guardian had to say about the rebooted puppets:

This version of Kermit is absolutely unrecognisable from anything that’s ever come before. This Kermit badmouths fellow celebrities, openly discusses his sex life and, at one point, describes his life as “a living hell”. That’s not who Kermit is. Kermit is the perennial wide-eyed optimist, the figure who grounds the chaos around him in sincerity. Kermit is the dreamer who believes in the power of people. He’s the one who sings The Rainbow Connection. He is most definitely not the stress-eating, coffee-drinking executive that The Muppets paints him as. It physically hurts to see what ABC have done to him.

Update:  I enjoyed the pilot episode of the Muppets and thought the humor was appropriate for all age levels.  It appears the Million Moms are more like the two old men in the audience always complaining yet always coming back for more.  Give it a rest, Moms. 

The Start of the Fall Shows: Sci Fi and Family Issues

Tonight will be a very busy night on television, with Fox's Gotham returning and three news shows trying to get some attention.  Here is some additional information on the new shows:

- Minority Report, Fox: This series is based on the Phillip K. Dick story and should be entertaining, though I'm not sure we needed a whole series after seeing Tom Cruise's take on the tale. I am much more interested in seeing Dick's vision of Nazi-occupied America, The Man in the High Castle, premiering later this season on Amazon. 

- Blindspot, NBC: A woman is found naked in Times Square (nothing odd there) with tattoos all over her body referring to the future. It sounds like SyFy's Dominion minus the angels.  And of course now everyone needs to solve crimes. I may pass. 

- Life in Pieces, CBS: In this new sitcom, a fair number of talented actors and actresses help to dramatize short stories common to many families. Birth? Yes. Death? Yes. Boredom? Not intentionally. 

Update: I fell asleep watching Minority Report, while Life in Pieces was okay but I cannot commit. I have no time for Blindspot.

Black Mirror is Coming to Netflix

Has Netflix committed to a third season of the UK series Black Mirror? That's what some are saying and I hope it is true if that is the option versus ending the series. The eclectic and dark science fiction/fantasy series is a late import from overseas but a welcome change to the regular television lineup. Whether providing unique punishments or reviving the deceased, each episode is a quick view of a very different world. Think of it as an updated Twilight Zone. 

Only seven episodes of the British series have aired over the years - two seasons of three episodes apiece and a special episode starring Jon Hamm. It was worth the wait for each season and I only hope Netfix can keep the quality even if it picks up the pace. 

Unfortunately, I think this will be a U.S. series set on this side of the Atlantic. That is unfortunate and will probably destroy some of the appeal. While I will check it out if it ever comes into being, I already miss the British version.