CliqueClack’s mid-season report card: the networks

Believe it or not, we have reached the mid-point in the 2009-10 television season. Well, the fall portion; the winter portion is just getting started. Unlike the past few years, this season may turn out to be one of the most successful, thanks in part to some new, and old, comedies.

After years of shunning comedy scripts for procedurals and serialized dramas, the networks have filled their schedules with some laughs rather than sobs. The result is refreshing, if not surprising. Oh, then there’s Glee, which is in a glorious section all its own.

With the help of some of my CliqueClack colleagues (who I bribed with cheap wine and Hanukkah gelt), we’ve put together a report card of sorts on the network shows, both new and old. Please feel free to agree or disagree. And, don’t worry, we’ll have the mid-season report card on your cable favorites soon enough.

New Shows

Accidentally on Purpose (CBS)

Brett Love – It’s better than I expected, and Abby (Lennon Parham) is one of the best new characters this season: B

The Cleveland Show (FOX)

Brett – I think I would have preferred Midnight Q as a spin-off: C-

Community (NBC)

Aryeh S – I’ve been watching this on Hulu and have yet to laugh. I just don’t get it: F

Bob Degon – Has greatly improved over the course of the season, as all the characters have been worked more into the action and less focus has been placed on the Jeff/Britta non-relationship. Plus, Chevy Chase falls down: A-

Julia Haas – A few awkward moments, but a truly great comedy that deserves serious props: A-

Ruby T – Community surprised me by being really funny. The friendship between Abed and Troy provides a lot of great moments: A-

Cougar Town (ABC)

Brett – Much better than I expected and a great companion to Modern Family: B+

Bob – Minute for minute this show gives me the most laughs of any new show. The cast is great and the characters really shine. And hey, it’s not just about sex: A

Debbie McDuffee – This show’s all about the men for me, and I probably laugh out loud more on this show than any other: A-

FlashForward (ABC)

Bob – So much potential, and most of it has been wasted. The writing and pacing are just not tight enough, as the slide in ratings has shown. I’m still hoping that everything is pulled together in an amazing final few episodes: B-

Ivey West – Great potential, horrible execution. Fiennes is snoozeville and, at this point, I’m less sure it’s the actor, which was my first thought. But really, the character kind of blows. Dominic Monnighan has been the saving grace: B-

Jen Creer – I like Joseph Fiennes and Sonya Walger a lot, and I actually like all of the supporting characters too. Of course, given Journeyman and New Amsterdam, this show will probably be canceled: A 

The Forgotten (ABC)

Aryeh – While enjoyable enough to continue tuning in, there’s no pop: B-

Glee (FOX)

Bob – For all its faults, it’s still one of the best new shows of this year … and I hate musicals: B

Ivey – The gold standard for new shows this season.  I’m about as sold as you can be on a show: A

Julia – There are a few stumbles here and there plot-wise, but the musical numbers are stellar: B+

Keith McDuffee – Sorry, not an A. It’s just OK for me now. It’s getting old and heading toward B- territory soon: B

The Good Wife (CBS)

Aryeh – I’ve definitely been enjoying most things about this; my biggest problem with it is that I think Alicia is doing wrong by her and her family by sticking with Peter: A-

Bob – My favorite new drama of the season, which was a surprise to me. Julianna Margulies is phenomenal as Alicia Florrick, the best new character on television, and the writing and production is top notch. Far more than just a legal drama: A+

The Jay Leno Show (NBC)

Brett – An “F” out of principal. I’ve yet to watch even a second of it: F

Melrose Place (CW)

Brett – There are so many things wrong with the new Melrose, but they do gain some points for putting Katie Cassidy on my TV: C-

Mercy (NBC)

Ivey – I think the show is better than it’s being given credit for, but not by much. Newcomer Taylor Schilling has impressed, and Michelle Trachtenberg has been pretty good, but the rest of the cast falls flat: B-

The Middle (ABC)

Aryeh – Amazing cast, writers, and show. Best comedy of the season: A

Bob – A nice surprise with loads of quirk: B

Debbie – Someone on the writing team knows my kid and has modeled Brick after him, so I can’t help but laugh. It’s the only “typical” sitcom I can tolerate right now: B+

Modern Family (ABC)

Brett – Best new comedy of the year, perfectly cast: A+

Debbie – The subtle humor of this show is what captures me. Because they script the situations so perfectly, it’s nearly unquotable at times, which is fun: A-

Julia – What every family sitcom should aspire to be: A

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)

Brett – It  feels more like a Fastlane sequel than an NCIS sequel, but that’s not a bad thing. Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J are really good together: B+

Ivey – Really has done nothing to draw me in. Has an interesting enough cast, and I do like O’Donnell and LL Cool J, but it has none of the magic that NCIS has: C

Three Rivers (CBS)

Ivey – I tried to give it a chance. It was worse than Moonlight, and it’s a shame, because I think O’Loughin has a lot of potential. Airing the first two episodes out of order didn’t help, but I don’t think it would have made a difference: D

Trauma (NBC)

Ivey – Why people aren’t watching this show, I don’t know. Cliff Curtis and Anastasia Griffith have great chemistry, and the character dynamic is incredibly well written. Sure, the show is expensive as hell to produce, but I still think it’s got great potential. I’m glad it’s getting (a little bit) of a second life: B+

V (ABC)

Brett – I’m still penalizing them for that horrid haircut: B

Bob – It started slow, but definitely became more intriguing as the season went on. But with only 4 episodes under its belt, the jury is still out: Incomplete

Ivey – I don’t have the problems with Mitchell that everyone else seems to, but I don’t think the writers have found the sweet spot with the character yet: Incomplete

Keith – Even though I watched the original, I don’t remember too much about it. However, I know that this reboot has kept me interested, and I’m definitely curious to see how it plays out: B

The Vampire Diaries (CW)

Debbie – I’m so very embarrassed to give this show this rating, but it is truly my guilty pleasure and the show I most enjoy reviewing. They aren’t afraid to murder major characters, which is very cool in my book: A-

Keith - For a CW show, it’s better than I thought. Even with what seems to be an interesting storyline, it’s too girly for me: C+

Old Shows

30 Rock (NBC)

Aryeh – Surprisingly doing better than The Office for me, although Tina Fey is still extremely irritating: B-

Julia – When is this show not an “A”: A

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Bob – Nerds are funny: A-

Bones (FOX)

Ivey – Too much of this season has been spent dealing with the after-effects of last season. Booth needs to be Booth again, now and not later. That being said, I think the show has been superb: B

Julia – I thought that I would never forgive the brain tumor cop-out of Booth and Bones not really getting together, but I was totally and completely wrong. This show never fails to be utterly delightful: A+

Castle (ABC)

Debbie – Stepped it up this season, and just pure fun from beginning to end, with some really 3D characters that keep getting better: A-

Fringe (FOX)

Ivey – This show ended brilliantly, and then didn’t spend enough time dealing with what happened there. There’ve been a couple really good episodes, especially the Observer-centric episode, and the one that dealt with William Bell. More mythology is the best thing this show can do: B-

Heroes (NBC)

Bob – Man, this show has plummeted. Even though there have been some improvements over the last season, it is still a horrible disappointment in comparison with season one: C

House (FOX)

Debbie – I love House and I’ve loved this season — I’m not one of the bashers. House’s growth has been interesting, and I liked not having so much of Taub and Thirteen on screen: B+

How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

Brett – I no longer have any interest in the mother, and think the show would probably be better off with a “very special episode” where Ted and Robin died in a tragic Zamboni crash so Barney, Marshall, and Lily could find some new friends: C

Julia – As delightful as ever, but the Barney and Robin relationship was completely mishandled, which put a damper on the beginning of the season: B

The Mentalist (CBS)

Brett – Still very good, but I want to see a real showdown between Jane and Red John by the end of this season: B

Debbie – I didn’t think this show could get any better, but somehow they’ve stepped it up this season: A+

Parks & Recreation (NBC)

Aryeh – I continue to watch because I should be enjoying this; it just isn’t funny: F

Julia – The most improved award goes to…: A+

The Office (NBC)

Aryeh – Finding some sparks after the finalized pairing of Jim and Pam, Jim’s promotion, and Pam’s move into sales debacles. Let’s hope they can pull it out: B-

Bob – This show has been a total disappointment this year. Jim has lost all of his funny charm with his promotion, and more often than not the show has fallen over the line of absurdity: C

Julia – The wedding was pretty great, as were the Subtle Sexuality webisodes, but everything else has been a dud: C-

Keith – Season has stunk so bad that I can’t believe I’m about to give it up: D

Scrubs (ABC)

Aryeh – I like the idea of rewiring this show, and JD and Elliot were the worst parts, so good to see them go. But the new lead sucks: B-

Brett – I like the new girl well enough, but Scrubs is the new According To Jim. It really should have just been canceled: C

Ivey – The first two episodes were a mixed bag. I actually like the new lead, but I know she’s not the most popular among fans. But the cast and the writers are still bringing the funny, and that’s more than enough to keep me coming back for more: Incomplete

Smallville (CW)

Ivey – The one show that I keep watching, even though I don’t know why. Major Zod has been the best addition to the show in a long time. But the whole future vs. present thing is a bit confusing to me, and I generally like that kind of story line. Clark/Tom Welling continues to be the most boring lead on TV: B-

So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)

Julia – Dullest. Season. Ever: D+

Supernatural (CW)

Debbie – The best show on television, hands down. Just when I think it can’t get any better, it does. I was satisfied with the buddy-brother show of season one, yet Kripke has managed more organic character growth than any show I can think of, while still retaining the basic elements of why we all love this show so much. The best part? They don’t take themselves too seriously, which is why I think it works: A+

Ugly Betty (ABC)

Ruby – The whole “Community of the Phoenix” story line was crap: B-