Debbie:
I’d like to think of NBC as the “little network that could,” but the “big network that couldn’t pull it back together” is probably more accurate. It’s amazing to me that the network that brought us classics like Magnum P.I., Quantum Leap and Miami Vice is now floundering with the likes of Outsourced and The Cape.
Be that as it may, next season is anyone’s game as the new pilot series hit the air waves and look to find new viewers. If NBC can pull off some quality programming, people will probably watch … funny how that works. I’ve checked out some of NBC’s pilot pick-ups for the fall season, and I have to say I’m pretty excited by some of them.
Against my better judgment, I’ve got to tune in to Wonder Woman. I can’t imagine how anyone can do justice to Lynda Carter‘s awesome Diana, even Ivey‘s beloved Adrianne Palicki, but bullet-reflecting bracelets and a lasso of truth? I’m there.
Some have criticized Ron Moore‘s suspiciously familiar casting for his 17th Precinct, but it sounds like a fun Eureka/Warehouse 13/cop drama.
I’m really loving the cast of Prime Suspect, with Maria Bello and Aidan Quinn, but I’m the one who’s suspect of any UK reboot, especially one that’s starred Helen Mirren.
Yes, David Greenwalt, I’ll tune in to your bizarre fairy-tale world in Grimm, because you worked with Joss, but that is the only reason.
For you, Bob, I want to try S.I.L.A., because I know it’s probably the kind of smart TV you so wish I would embrace, but I betcha I don’t.
The only comedy that is remotely interesting to me is possibly My Life as an Experiment … it sounds original and that’s saying something in this crazy world of reboots, remakes, and reimaginings.
So now, Bob, tell me which ones excite you and feel free to make fun of Smash and Playboy.
Bob:
How can you say no to Ed Begley Jr. at a pilgrim-era theme park? But I agree, most of the comedies look less than stellar, but how much can you really tell about a show from a one sentence write up and a cast list?
I think it works much better for the dramas. I certainly hope that Moore’s 17th Precinct is more in the vein of Battlestar Galactica than Caprica. Those early seasons of BSG were some of the best sci fi to ever grace television, so I will definitely be checking this out.
I’m not sure why you think I would be interested in S.I.L.A. It seems like nothing more than another cop show, as does Prime Suspect, for that matter, regardless of the pedigree.
Grimm could certainly be interesting, and with ABC coming out with a similar show (I wonder if they are all just inspired by Bill Willingham‘s excellent comic series Fables) I’m very curious to see how it will play out. Of course, we have no idea if either of them will get picked up.
I do appreciate that there are some very high concept shows even as the ratings continue to struggle for NBC. It would be real easy to pop out some cookie cutter lawyer/doctor/cop shows and just call it a day, but it looks like they are trying to get some unique visions on the television. I wish them luck, but more and more it seems like that is only really possible on cable.
Debbie:
For you, Bob, I’ll tune into Ed Begley Jr. … since I guess I don’t have to bother trying to like S.I.L.A. I swear, you say these things just to make me look bad. S.I.L.A. sounds like a cross between the movie Traffic and The Wire — I thought you’d be all over that like Charlie Sheen on his porn goddesses (see how I did that, throwing in the Sheen joke … it makes me hip and current, right?).
You’re so right about how hard NBC is trying to give some real original shows a chance … maybe they are the “little network that could” after all.
Bob:
I’m pretty sure The Wire is the only cop show that I ever enjoyed, and calling it a cop show is a grave disservice to its scope and quality. I hesitate to admit it, but I couldn’t even sit through Traffic. I really hated it for some reason, but it was a while ago.
And one Charlie Sheen joke doesn’t undo all that unhipness, Debbie.
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Mar 10, 2011 @ 15:00 EST5EDT
. . . . .
You’re hip to me, Bob.
With or without a Charlie Sheen reference …
NBC brought us Magnum P.I.? On that alone, this round goes to Bob. Perhaps you were thinking of Harper Valley or Mama’s Family, which NBC tried to put up against Magnum. :P
*POST AUTHOR*
You mean Magnum was a different network? Now that you say it, I do think I remember it being CBS, but I found that info right on NBC’s site … hmmmm….
It must have been on the NBC site because the show was produced by Universal studios (which is part of NBC Universal). I imagine they own the rights to it now.
NBC should bit up whatever shows they think suck. :)
Because, you know, Adrianne Palacki would have been a very good candidate to play Maggie Jordan on on Sorkin’s More as the Story Develops:
https://cliqueclack.com/tv/2011/03/07/aaron-sorkin-new-pilot-script/
#justsayin