If you thought the TV writers’ strike was over and things were back to normal, you’re only half right.
The strike may have ended Feb. 12, but the reverberations continue. That’ll be clear when ABC airs the 60 th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at 7 p.m. today.
The three-hour program has five — count ’em — hosts. All are nominated in the category of top reality / competition host. Viewers endured way too much reality programming during the strike.
Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Jeff Probst and Ryan Seacrest will split the duties for the awards that honor the best of last season’s truncated schedule.
Once tonight’s chore is out of the way, we’ll get to see what effect the strike had on the new fall season, which officially begins Monday.
The main thing the strike did was to disrupt the normal pilot season last spring, meaning there are far fewer new network programs to sample this fall. Maybe that’s a good thing since the networks have gotten into the habit of simply throwing several dozen new shows at the wall to see what sticks.
There are only 18 new scripted series from which to choose — about half the usual number — plus three reality shows.
Getting a jump on the season, Fox and The CW have already rolled out most of their schedules. Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to check them out because it’s now time to fire up the DVRs.
Complicating matters is that many of last year’s freshman shows will have to be treated as if they’re still newcomers because viewers never really had a chance to pass judgment before they vanished with the writers.
Will the networks let the new shows hang around a bit longer to find an audience, or will they shuffle in replacements as soon as they’re ready ? It’ll be interesting to watch.
Here’s a brief look by network at the 21 new programs that have already debuted or will roll out starting Monday.
Also, here’s my first impression of each based on having seen the pilots and / or chatted with the casts and producers on the TV critics’ summer press tour.
ABC OFFERS ONLY TWO Life on Mars Premieres: 9 p.m. Oct. 9. Stars: Jason O’Mara, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol. Briefly: Adapted from the BBC, the series features a detective (O’Mara ) mysteriously zapped back to 1973, an era when police tactics were quite different. Drama ensues. First impression: Brit version rocked, but no preview was available and the series has been almost entirely recast since the summer. Jury’s out. Opportunity Knocks Premieres: 7 p.m. Tuesday Stars: J. D. Roth Briefly: Game show goes to contestants’ homes and asks trivia questions about their families. First impression: Sounds really silly, but don’t they all ?
ABC Midseason The writers’ strike seriously cramped ABC’s early fall development, but look for The Bachelor, Lost, Scrubs (moving from NBC ), According to Jim and the following shows at midseason or sooner if current shows stumble.
Castle: Nathan Fillion is a mystery novelist who helps the NYPD solve murders. It’s supposed to be humorous.
Cupid: A do-over of the defunct 1998 series that starred Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall. This time, Bobby Cannavale is the Roman god and Sarah Paulson is his shrink.
The Unusuals: More comedy / drama inside the NYPD with Harold Perrineau, Amber Tamblyn and Adam Goldberg.
Better Off Ted: Office comedy about a guy (Jay Harrington ) trying to climb the corporate ladder. Portia de Rossi is his boss.
Single With Parents: Sitcom showcasing comedic styling of Alyssa Milano. Annie Potts and Beau Bridges are her divorced parents.
CBS’ FIVE FRESHMEN Worst Week Premieres: 8: 30 p.m. Monday. Stars: Kyle Bornheimer, Erinn Hayes. Briefly: Boy meets girl. Girl gets pregnant. Boy tries to impress future in-laws. Murphy’s Law ensues. First impression: I laughed out loud at the pilot, but what can the sitcom do for episode two ? The Mentalist Premieres: 8 p.m. Tuesday. Stars: Simon Baker. Briefly: Baker plays a former charlatan TV psychic who now uses his skills to help the police solve crimes. First impression: Baker is hunky and, gee, CBS really could use another police show. Gary Unmarried Premieres: 8: 30 p.m. Wednesday. Stars: Jay Mohr, Paula Marshall. Briefly: A recently divorced couple squabble a lot and try to raise their two kids. First impression: I can’t decide between insipid and vapid. Pick either one, this unfunny show won’t last long. The Ex List Premieres: 8 p.m. Oct. 3. Stars: Elizabeth Reaser. Briefly: Comedy / drama where a gypsy tells a young woman she has one year to find her soul mate or be forever single. The twist: She has dated him before.
First impression: Reaser (Grey’s Anatomy ) is a delight. I wanted to see more.
Eleventh Hour Premieres: 8 p.m. Oct. 3.
Stars: Rufus Sewell, Marley Shelton.
Briefly: Special science adviser to the FBI (Sewell ) dashes in at the last minute to solve scientific crimes and save life as we know it.
First impression: No preview available, but buzz is good. Sewell is intense and the ladies like him. CBS midseason: Rules of Engagement.
THE CW SIX 90210 Premieres: Already airing 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Stars: Bright, shiny new faces and several old, familiar ones. Briefly: Spinoff updates Beverly Hills, 90210 for the 21 st century. First impression: Ah, c’mon. An implied sexual act in the first four minutes ? Settle down and give us good ol’ teen angst. Where’s Aaron Spelling when we need him ? Privileged Premieres: Already airing 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Stars: Joanna Garcia. Briefly: Comedy / drama finds earnest Yale grad tutoring two spoiled rich girls.
First impression: Funny and poignant. Garcia (Reba ) has the comedy chops, but will anyone notice opposite the blockbusters on other networks ?
In Harm’s Way Premieres: 6 p. m., Oct. 5.
Stars: None.
Briefly: Documentary series looks at folks with dangerous jobs. Again.
First impression: No preview, but this format has gone super-stale. Wake me when it’s over.
Valentine Premieres: 7 p. m., Oct. 5.
Stars: Jaime Murray, Kristopher Polaha, Robert Baker and Autumn Reeser Briefly: Family of Greek gods (use your imagination ) runs around playing matchmaker.
First impression: No preview, but I’d watch Reeser (The O. C. ) read the phone book.
Easy Money Premieres: 8 p.m. Oct. 5.
Stars: Laurie Metcalf, Judge Reinhold, Jeff Hephner.
Briefly: Drama about a family of loan sharks.
First impression: No preview, but has some quality actors in the cast. Worth checking out.
Stylista Premieres: 7 p. m., Oct. 22.
Stars: Anne Slowey, Joe Zee.
Briefly: Reality show likened to Devil Wears Prada meets Project Runway.
First impression: No preview, but yet another twist on a numbingly hackneyed formula. The CW midseason: Surviving Suburbia is a comedy starring Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson. They’re normal suburban folks until trouble moves in next door. Reaper returns midseason.
NBC’S FRESH QUINTET Knight Rider Premieres: 7 p. m., Wednesday. Stars: A 550 horsepower Ford Shelby GT 500 KR Mustang. Briefly: Action series with a tricked-out Mustang using the voice of Val Kilmer and some humans who save life as we know it. First impression: No preview. Didn’t care for the 1982 original; don’t plan to watch the remake. Kath & Kim Premieres: 7: 30 p. m., Oct. 9. Stars: Molly Shannon, Selma Blair. Briefly: Married daughter Selma moves back in with mom Molly. Hilarity ensues. First impression: No preview, but Blair and Shannon were a scream in the funniest panel on press tour. That’s good enough for me. Note: In real life, Shannon is only eight years older than Blair.
SNL Thursday Night Live Premieres: 8: 30 p. m., Oct. 9.
Stars: The SNL gang Briefly: Striking while the political iron is hot, this brief spinoff will feature the presidential election campaign.
First impression: Only three episodes, but should be a hoot. May last longer than some others on this list.
My Own Worst Enemy Premieres: 9 p. m., Oct. 13.
Stars: Christian Slater, Madchen Amick, Alfre Woodard.
Briefly: Slater has a split personality: Henry is a regular suburban guy, Edward is a killer secret operative. Twist: Henry doesn’t know about Edward, but is starting to suspect.
First impression: No preview, but big names and premise sound intriguing.
Crusoe Premieres: 7 p.m. Oct. 17.
Stars: Philip Winchester, Sean Bean, Sam Neill.
Briefly: Period adventure based on the classic Daniel Defoe novel Robinson Crusoe.
First impression: No preview, no press-tour panel, no nothing. If you’ve seen the trailer, you know as much as I do. NBC midseason: Kings features Deadwood’s Ian McShane in a drama inspired by the biblical story of David and Goliath. Celebrity Apprentice (for some reason ) returns at midseason as do Medium, Friday Night Lights and Law & Order.
FOX’S THREE NEWBIES Fringe Premieres: Already airing at 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Stars: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble Briefly: Drama features plucky FBI agent (Torv ) and her crack scientific team investigating frightening fringe-science stuff. Nefarious conspiracy ? Of course. First impression: Top-notch, thrill-packed adult entertainment here. Do Not Disturb Premieres: Already airing at 8: 30 p.m. Wednesdays. Stars: Jerry O’Connell, Niecy Nash. Briefly: Ensemble sitcom with O’Connell as a womanizing hotel manager. Nash is the feisty human resources manager. First impression: My vote for worst new show of the year. Seriously dreadful swill.
Hole in the Wall Premieres: Already airing at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Stars: Brooke Burns and Mark Thompson co-host.
Briefly: A moving wall with holes in it pushes teams into a pool.
First impression: A smash hit in, where, Japan and Peru ? Zzzz.
Fox midseason Joss Whedon’s highly anticipated Dollhouse arrives in January and stars Eliza Dushku as one of several programmed special operatives whose memories are wiped out between missions. The juggernaut of American Idol also returns midseason as does 24 and the vile and sordid The Moment of Truth.
That’s a brief overview. Good luck. Stay alert because the networks have been known to change their schedules at the last minute.
Also, here’s a time-saver for all those who plan to send me an email that says, “I read your article and didn’t notice (fill in the blank ) on the list. Do you know if it’s returning ?” If you don’t see your favorite program listed here or in the returning shows sidebar, it has been canceled.
I feel your pain. If I had a remote control pointed at my head and forced to pick only one best new show from each network... ABC: Life on Mars CBS: The Mentalist Fox: Fringe NBC: My Own Worst Enemy The CW: Privileged — Michael Storey
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