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.

Sunday Emmy Awards

If you watch awards shows, be sure to set your DVR for the Emmy Awards on Fox this Sunday. It should be better than usual with Andy Samberg hosting the affair. 

The list of award categories and nominees is endless, but the category I care about is Outstanding Drama Series, which this year includes:

-Better Call Saul, AMC

-Downton Abbey, PBS

-Game of Thrones, HBO

-Homeland, Showtime 

-House of Cards, Netflix

-Mad Men, AMC

-Orange is the New Black, Netflix

Once again the major networks did not have a single nominee (I don't consider PBS a network on the proper sense and Downton Abbey is a British import anyway).  AMC and Netflix are already the big winners based on their nominee counts. However, my vote is for Mad Men. And I hope Jon Hamm takes the best actor award as well. We have time to award the other shows, but Mad Men will not return even though I would have followed the series for many more years.

Update:  The results are in.  While Game of Thrones took the best drama award, it was great to see Jon Hamm take the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award after seven long years.  

What a Name! - The Bastard Executioner

Expect it to be really, really bloody.  That's what I keep reading about FX's new 14th century warrior series The Bastard Executioner.  Of course, we have seen blood in Game of Thrones and Vikings. Yet I suspect the blood here may be more gratuitous, which is unfortunate but not surprising with every show desperate to stand out.

The show starts tomorrow night (September 15th). And what is the background to this bloody tale? Read on (at least the network is clear about "blood-soaked" in the first line):

The Bastard Executioner is a blood-soaked, medieval epic that tells the story of Wilkin Brattle, a 14^th century warrior, whose life is forever changed when a divine messenger beseeches him to lay down his sword and lead the life of another man: a journeyman executioner. Set in northern Wales during a time rife with rebellion and political upheaval, Wilkin must walk a tight rope between protecting his true identity while also serving a mysterious destiny.

Guided by Annora, a mystical healer whose seeming omniscience keeps Wilkin under her sway; manipulated by Milus Corbett, a devious Chamberlain with grand political aspirations; and driven by a deepening connection with the Baroness Lady Love, Wilkin struggles to navigate political, emotional and supernal pitfalls in his quest to understand his greater purpose.

Warriors? Mystical healers? Devious Chamberlain? All the ingredients for a good tale, even if variations of this story have been told many times before. 

The 10-episode series, created by Kurt Sutter from Sons of Anarchy, has used Wales and the UK for most of the filming and the features a cast primarily from Great Britain.  It sounds like an expensive production and I would not be surprised if it is picked up for a second season shortly.

I also expect the network to tone up or down the blood based on audience feedback. While teenagers may be seeking gore, one can only help a decent story emerged from the conflict. I can put up with some gore if it advances the story. Otherwise, I have plenty of other shows on reserve I am eager to watch.

Update: The pilot was pretty bad and the gore ridiculous.  I'm moving on to my collection of past shows. 

Walt Disney Comes to PBS

Over the next two nights - September 14th and 15th - you can learn much more about Walt Disney, the creator of dreams, on PBS's American Experience.  PBS calls it an "unprecedented look" at the man, and featuring

... rarely seen footage from the Disney archive, scenes from some of his greatest films, and interviews with biographers, animators and artists who worked on his early films, as well as the designers who helped turn his dream of Disneyland into reality, this two-night, four-hour film reveals the makings of the man who would leave an indelible mark on our nation’s cultural history.

The American Experience website itself is full of images and films that go deep into Mr. Disney's past.  We are all a little richer living in Disney's world, even if the word "Disney-fied" is now a derogatory term.  There is no question he was an amazing dreamer, creator, and business man, though he has also been accused of antisemitism and racism, and he worked with the FBI and the House Un-American Activities Committee against union cartoonists.  Many have claimed these charges of antisemitism and racism are unfair and it will be interested to see how the program deals with these issues.  I am already hearing that some of this may have been air-brushed out.  I hope not.  American Experience has reliably told the whole story in the past, and I hope this program is no different.

Craig Ferguson's New Show

Stephen Colbert isn't the only one to return with a show this week.  Our friend Craig Ferguson is back tonight with his own new comedy special Just Being Honest on Epix.  I have missed Craig and I expect his new show display more of his outlandish energy and warped view of the world (from a Scottish perspective, of course).  Here is a short clip of his show.  Now we just need to get Craig into a more permanent gig so that we get to watch him grill today's celebrities and politicians.  I hope he lands somewhere soon.

Thank You Netflix for Bringing Back Longmire

I thought it was gone, but Netflix had the good sense to bring back Longmire for another season. A&E had a great show on its hands and it tossed it overboard to find a younger audience. Well, I haven't seen anything this good on A&E since.

Executive producer John Coveny is very happy with the show's new home at Netflix, noting in an interview with the Los Angeles Times:

It was a great feeling to be like at the terminal and they say, “Um, your flight's canceled and you’re never going to get another one.” And then the guy on the next shift comes up and says, “By the way, we found another flight. It’s a private jet, all first-class seats.” Greer has been doing this slightly longer than us. We had a former life and a world to get out of, which was advertising. But to have a show come out of cancellation is one thing. But to have an upgrade to Netflix is an entirely other beast, and it’s utterly fantastic.

You may recall the last season ended last summer with a gunshot and unknown victim. Well, you can watch new 10-episode fourth season on Netflix starting tomorrow and learn what happened.  I expect to stretch out my viewing of sheriff Walt Longmire and friends over a series of weeks rather than one weekend sitting. The show is too good to rush. And now I am hearing that Netflix is planning a fifth season. It keeps getting better.

Colbert Tries To Be Himself

Are you ready for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert premiering tonight?  Mr. Colbert has plenty of talk show experience, but always as a pretend character. What will the real Colbert be like? And is he someone we want to watch every night? It remains to be seen. 

I also read he is bringing over his entire team from The Colbert Report.  I wonder if that is very wise. They wrote for a different man on a different show. Making the transition could be tough.

Television premieres, like life, can be unpredictable. As Mr. Colbert noted in his book "I am America":

Life is chaotic and unpredictable. If a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world, it could cause people at the opposite end of the globe to watch a Discovery Channel special on butterflies.

Update: The first night's show had plenty of energy, even if it was a little over-planned.  I'm not sure if Jeb Bush was the best candidate to kick off the show. I thought Colbert moved beyond politics in his new seat, but old habits die hard. And even a joke cadidate like Huckabee would have been more interesting than Mr. Bush. He was crumbling under the lights and came off like someone's father trying to be cool yet not understanding he was part of the joke (yet not on on it). And George Clooney was glowing as always, but he wasn't given much to do (that was the point, but it become too painfully clear). The ending song finally lifted me, almost literally, so all was not lost. But I am less interested in the show now than I thought I would be. I guess I need to give Mr. Colbert some time to warm up or calm down.

Peele & Key Leave Too Soon

Just as the presidential campaigns get interesting, our friends Key & Peele have decided to hang up their comedy act after five season on Comedy Central. The last episode is this Wednesday night (September 9).  As a result, audiences will be deprived of a necessary palliative to this strange country and its daily insanity. 

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, both raised in mixed race families, were able to channel this nation's strange obsession with race into hard-hitting comedy sketches that illuminated the issues and educated the audience while also being pure fun.

In a recent article in The New York Times, Jordan Peele stated:

People need to be talking about the ways the system is skewed.  We want to use our ability to make people laugh to allow them to talk about it. 

President Obama may miss Luther most of all (shown below). With more than a year to go in his administration, I expect the Republicans will continue to block him at every pass. Luckily, President Obama seems to be finding his own inner Luther these days now that he can see his pending departure. 

The Civil War in HD

This Monday (September 7) is your chance to see the HD version of Ken Burns' The Civil War on your local PBS station.  It is hard to believe 25 years have passed since the initial broadcast of this amazing series. 

I know the summer schedule is busy, so maybe you can put it on your DVR for now.  That way if the fall TV line-up is horrible you have something worthwhile to watch.

A Talk with Lily Tomlin

Speaking of Grace and Frankie, the Wall Street Journal interviewed Lily Tomlin the other week about her role of the Netflix television series as well as her new movie Grandma.  As a 75 year old actress, she is seeing a whole new set of options roll her way.  She is already working on the second season of Grace and Frankie with her friends Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston.  

In addition to discussing her new movie and marriage to Jane Wagner, her partner of 40 years, Ms. Tomlin also discussed a salary battle on her Netflix series.  She noted:

I was sort of pleased about what we were making, and then I heard the guys were making the same. And I said, “Well, I don’t think the guys are playing that much”—of course they turn out to be in almost every episode. Anyway, I said that to an interviewer, never thinking it was going to cause a big flap. And Jane and I have a bit of a backend [share of series profits]. 

I guess money is a point of contention whether your husband is running off with his law partner or a fellow actor is seeking similar compensation.  Don't worry - Ms. Tomlin received a well-deserved raise for the second season.  If you have yet to check out the show I recommend you do so.  

The End of The Dome and More

I am not sorry to see the end of Under the Dome.  After three seasons, CBS has decided to let it end.  I barely hung on for the first two season, but decided to skip the third season after the rambling story lost its way and the acting continued to deteriorate.  I am not sure what happened in Stephen King's book, but it could not be this.  The master or horror needs to write a new book about the series that will not end as executives stretch and massage an okay story into a meaningless, meandering mess.  

So what else is dead?  It appears the NBC has killed the revival of Coach.  The original show ran from 1989 to 1997.   Surprisingly, the main start Craig T. Nelson will still be paid for all 13 episodes even though the project is over.  The last show I watched with Nelson was Netflix's first season Grace and Frankie where he played Jane Fonda's boyfriend.  I hope to see more of Nelson even if he is no longer the coach.  

And one more show to add to the cancelled list - SyFy's Haven.  This is another show that started out well concerning a small town in Maine (actually Nova Scotia) where the residents have unique and dangerous powers known as "the troubles."  Once again, the show went on too long and slowly traveled from fun to droll.  I let the show sit on my DVR for a long time during season four and zoned out during season five.  I appears everyone else did as well.  Another good show gone bad.