Bob:
Of all the networks, I feel like ABC is the one that doesn’t have a very strong identity. You have envelope pushing/American Idol FOX, you have the tween focused CW, the sad sack NBC with its “hip” comedies and not much else, CBS is the procedural/sitcom network (also the old person network), and then there is ABC. My point here is that there doesn’t seem to be a really cohesive mission statement from the alphabet network. It seems like every year they throw up a bunch of interesting and promising new shows and hope something sticks. It worked with Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy and Lost.
This year they have a few shows that have caught my attention (you can check out the full list of ABC pilots here). I was never a huge Desperate Housewives fan, but I am very curious about Marc Cherry’s new show Hallelujah. Yes, my interest is mainly because the villain is being played by Lost’s Terry O’Quinn, but with Donal Logue and Jesse L. Martin on board as well, it has a great cast. Unfortunately, there’s going to be a big musical element, as it seems like a bunch of pilots are trying to cash in on Glee’s success. I have a feeling that will push me away.
Staying with the Lost bloodline, two of that show’s writers, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are heading up a new, high concept show. Interestingly enough, Once Upon a Time, sounds very similar to Grimm over on NBC. I’m really curious to see how they compare and if either can pull off bringing fairytale characters to the small screen.
Poe caught my interest too — with Edgar Allan himself doing private eye work in 19th century Boston. I could see it as being really interesting or a total disaster. I suppose either would be worth watching, at least for a little while. I loved Chris Egan in the dearly departed Kings, but I’m not sure he is right for this role. I hope he can prove me wrong.
Again, I find it hard to tell anything from the descriptions of the comedies, but I’m curious about returns by big names like Tim Allen and Jenna Elfman.
What do you see that is piquing your interest?
Debbie:
I think you’re right about ABC’s lack of identity, though they sure are trying to be the Shonda Rhimes network (ironic that her new pilot has the working title Damage Control)! In the interest of versatility …
I’m with you on Hallelujah, but I’m thinking I’ll embrace the musical piece a bit more than you … Jesse L. Martin and his thousand sweet kisses can serenade me any day.
Julia will probably jump on me for my love of all things nonfeminist, but I adored the original Charlie’s Angels series and I’ll definitely check out the reboot. I’m guessing it won’t have the same impact in this century, but I’m curious.
Seeing as horror dramas have been working for me lately, I’ll give The River a look, as well as Poe (which thrills me in far more ways than the crime drama angle) which reminds me of Caleb Carr’s novel, The Alienist, for some reason. Just reading the description makes me think it will have the same feel as the novel, which is a very good thing.
I’m not excited to see Jenna Elfman again. I wanted to like her, but her more recent shows have sucked and the premise of Bad Mom is horrible; I can almost see her acting out the scenes and I’m cringing for some reason. She’s one-note and I think I’m tired of the note.
Tim Allen, though, could be fun. Home Improvement was one of my favorite projects of his and it sounds like the premise of his new show could be a riot. I get that he’s one-note too, but his note could work for me.
Bob:
I’m far less excited about Tim Allen than you. I’m curious to see if he can still carry a show, but it seems like the day of the “traditional” sitcom is over (at least it is if for me). I have a feeling that if Home Improvement came on the air today it would be a flop. Maybe the public is ready for a return to that, though. I could be wrong.
I don’t know why Charlie’s Angels wouldn’t be considered feminist. It’s about a bunch of women kicking ass. What could be more empowering? I suppose not getting orders from some dude who can’t even be bothered to meet them in person….
Poe does sound interesting, I just have this really bad feeling about it. In order to pull it off, the production value is going to have to be top notch, and it seems like all the best productions are on cable these days.
Debbie:
I’m also wondering if Poe will somehow be like Sherlock, which has such a high production quality that they only make three episodes at a time, but I’ll take what I can get because that show is amazing. Really excited about Poe.
You could be right about Tim Allen, but if you are and we get another According to Jim, then at least CliqueClack will have a new punching bag!
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Mar 17, 2011 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
I’ll probably try ‘My Freakin’ Family’ and ‘Smothered’ (which look from the description like pretty much the exact same show), at least once, as well as ‘Other People’s Kids.’
I’d also like to add ‘Modern Family’ to the list of great shows to come out of ABC (along with the ones you mentioned).
I think I would feel more optimistic about POE if I hadn’t already seen 3 seasons of the very good Murdoch Mysteries about a 19th century detective who uses unconvential means such as ‘fingermarks’ and forensics to solve crimes. Also, contrary to ABC’s description of the show, while Poe is credited with writing the first detective story, unlike Sherlock Holmes or even his creator Arthur Conan Doyle, he was never actually a detective himself so that makes me already leery about the show.
I’m curious about ONCE UPON A TIME because I like the cast (Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parrilla, Robert Carlyle, Rafael Sbarge) but it seems the kind of show ABC would slot into their Wednesday 10 pm time which has killed the last 4 shows they put there (Eastwich, Ugly Better, The Whole Truth, Off The Map).
I don’t know why Charlie’s Angels wouldn’t be considered feminist. It’s about a bunch of women kicking ass. What could be more empowering?
It’s feminist in a male-dominated way. Women doing guy things really well rather than kicking metaphorical ass in women-ways. It reminds me of when women in business had to wear 3 piece suits to imiate being a man. (Very few women can wear those vests and not look stupid.) Fortunately we’ve moved to the point where women can dress like women rather than pseudo men. It may be fun in its campiness but I think the new Bodies of Proof will be more true feminist.