Tag Archives: series premiere

Raising Hope, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/22 | 1 Comment

'Raising Hope' - 'Pilot'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Tue., Sep. 21, 2010 (9:00 ET)
Network: FOX

I went into FOX’s two new live-action comedies with mixed feelings. I was worried that Greg Garcia would not be able to strike redneck magic twice with ‘Raising Hope,’ while I had high hopes for Will Arnett and ‘Running Wilde.’ Now, I may have reversed my stance. There is a lot of potential in this crazy family Garcia has created, and by exploring the baby-rearing phases of people’s lives, it’s unlikely to tread on familiar ground already covered in ‘My Name Is Earl,’ even if the character archetypes are familiar. Hell, he could even work in a guest appearance if he wanted to.

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Hawaii Five-0, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/21 | Leave a comment

'Hawaii Five-0' - 'Pilot'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Mon., Sep. 20, 2010 (10 PM ET)
Network: CBS

It looks like we’re in for a fairly straightforward procedural here, though with more of an old-school action flair (rather appropriate, considering), which shouldn’t come as a great surprise considering it’s CBS we’re dealing with. But at least it will involve a lot of scantily-clad women (and men for those who prefer their genders a little beefier). In fact, Kono (Grace Park) wasn’t even allowed to join the team until she met them while surfing in a teeny-weenie bikini. And kicking ass while wearing it.

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Lone Star, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/21 | Leave a comment

'Lone Star' - 'Pilot'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Mon., Sep. 20, 2010 (9 PM ET)
Network: FOX

I heard all the accolades going into this one, but I was never so certain about it. It felt more like an FX premise to me than a wide audience network like FOX. The problem, as I saw it, was framing Bob Allen (James Wolk) as a sympathetic character when he has two women and two separate families out there. Who cares that he genuinely loves both of them, or that he now wants out of the con game that put him in this predicament in the first place. He conned people’s hearts, and that’s hard to reconcile for fans.

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The Event, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/21 | Leave a comment

'The Event' - 'Pilot'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Mon., Sep. 20, 2010 (9 PM ET)
Network: NBC

NBC finally got one right. This was a brilliantly organized and taut premiere to what promises to be one helluva thrill ride. Mixing the mysterious and non-linear storytelling from ‘Lost’ and the high-stakes espionage and action of ’24′ created a very satisfying hybrid. I appreciated that it required paying attention to when events were occurring and how people were relating to other people to put the whole story together. I like being challenged intellectually with a television series, and ‘The Event’ looks poised to do just that.

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Boardwalk Empire, “Boardwalk Empire” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/20 | Leave a comment

'Boardwalk Empire' - 'Boardwalk Empire'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Sun., Sep. 19, 2010 (9 PM ET)
Network: HBO

I couldn’t help but notice marginal comparisons to ‘Treme.’ Okay, really it was only the parades and sense of decadence that the boardwalk represented,which probably better compares to Las Vegas than New Orleans. Regardless, any thoughts like that were quickly swept away by one big difference. ‘Boardwalk Empire’ wasn’t boring! Almost immediately, it pulled you in with compelling character, real danger and a very impressively oddball performance by Steve Buscemi as Enoch Thompson. In fact, the entire cast was fantastic, and I felt myself more reminded of the period quality of ‘Deadwood’ and ‘Carnivale.’

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Nikita, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/10 | Leave a comment

'Nikita' - 'Pilot'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Thu., Sep. 9, 2010 (9 PM ET)
Network: The CW

With all the elements of cheesecake and espionage-based action I expected going into it, ‘Nikita’ still managed to surprise me with the depth of its story. Nikita (Maggie Q, ‘Mission: Impossible III,’ ‘Live Free or Die Hard’) manages to be both the suave and capable lead and the drop-dead bombshell that can perfectly fill out a red swimsuit, black bra and panties and a stunning cocktail dress. All that without breaking a sweat. I wasn’t too familiar with Q’s body of work prior to this, but she proved herself very capable of playing cold, manipulative bitch on a mission. The mission itself may prove impossible, but it should make for a great thrill ride.

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Terriers, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/09 | 1 Comment

'Terriers' - 'Pilot'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Wed., Sep. 8, 2010 (10 PM ET)
Network: FX

Well, that’s certainly a different tone than we got the last time Shawn Ryan and FX made a TV series. Granted, Ryan is just an EP on this one, though some reports have that he helped develop the idea with credited creator, Ted Griffin. Griffin is best know (to me at least) as the screenwriter for the recent remake of ‘Ocean’s Eleven.’ And that makes a lot more sense. There’s a similar sense of fun and lightness running through ‘Terriers,’ thanks in large part to the performance of Donal Logue in the lead role of Hank. The industry has been trying to push Logue down my throat for years now as this great television presense, and I never got it. Finally, I understand.

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Hellcats, “A World Full of Strangers” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/09 | 3 Comments

'Hellcats' - 'A World Full of Strangers'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Wed., Sep. 8, 2010 (9 PM ET)
Network: The CW

This series was originally developed under the name ‘Cheer,’ but changed at the last minute. Since it’s about a cheer squad, I guess they didn’t want too many similarities to the FOX hit ‘Glee.’ So now they can at least say the title is way different! Other than that, there are a lot of clear similarities. In fact, a few more than I’m really comfortable with. Shift from high school to college. Shift from a competitive glee club to competitive cheerleading and you’re done. Still, it’s generally harmless fluff if nothing particularly special or dynamic.

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MAD, “Avaturds; CSiCarly” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/07 | Leave a comment

'Mad'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Mon., Sep. 6, 2010 (8:30 PM ET)
Network: Cartoon Network

When FOX announced way back in 1995 that they were going to be producing a live-action sketch comedy series based on ‘Mad Magazine,’ I was skeptical, and when it came out, the only aspects of it that bore any resemblance to the venerable magazine were the animated bits. Why couldn’t they have just made an animated sketch series that captures more completely what the magazine is about. It only took fifteen more years, but they’ve finally done it, and they’ve done it very well.

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Regular Show, “The Power” [series premiere]

Posted on 2010/09/07 | 1 Comment

'Regular Show'Identifier: Season 1, Episode 1
Air Date: Mon., Sep. 6, 2010 (8:15 PM ET)
Network: Cartoon Network

It was a last minute decision to actually record ‘Regular Show’ for me, as it felt like something I wouldn’t really be all that invested in. The series revolves around a raccoon (Rigby) and a blue jay (Mordecai) who work as groundskeepers for a man with a gumball machine for a head (Benson). The cast, for now, is rounded out by a lunatic with an enormous lollipop for a head (Pops), and a yeti (Skips). The series utilizes the nonsense brand of comedy, and for that its fifteen-minute “Adult Swim” run-time works well for it.

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The Middle, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2009/10/01 | Leave a comment

The Middle, "Pilot"(Season 1, Episode 1)

I saw online mention of Malcolm in the Middle when talking about this show. I didn’t read that article, but I can see the connection. And it’s more than just the name. Imagine if that show had been from the point of view of Jane Kaczmerek instead of Frankie Muniz.

I wonder if it’s a coincidence that Patricia Heaton, as the lead in The Middle, is named Frankie on the show. I’m guessing not, as they had to know that comparisons would be made.

Luckily for the creators of this show, it looks like they also share a high level of quality. This episode was framed around Heaton in a superhero costume, and that symbolized her struggle perfectly. Continue reading →

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Hank, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2009/10/01 | Leave a comment

Hank, "Pilot"(Season 1, Episode 1)

When Eureka left, Jack lost his daughter and his girlfriend. It looks like both of them defected to ABC. Tess wound up on Eastwick, while Zoe (Jordan Hinson) can be seen earlier in the night. Now she’s Kelsey Grammer’s daughter Maddie.

Another series responding to the current economic climate, Hank Pryor is a former CEO who lost everything and wound up back in his wife’s hometown in Virginia. It’s been done before and while it’s fairly bland, it’s certainly not bad.

A lot of that has to do with the fact that Grammer is a master at this form of television. On Hank he plays again someone who’s pompous and arrogant, but this time he’s lost everything.

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FlashForward, “No More Good Days” [series premiere]

Posted on 2009/09/25 | Leave a comment

(Season 1, Episode 1)

Well, that was it. The most eagerly anticipated premiere of the season, if early buzz is any indicator. Is it the next Lost? Is it as good as everyone says it was? It can be. As much as I liked this pilot, though, I can’t say that I know for sure how good the show is going to be based on it.

The opening sequence was every bit as epic and awe-inspiring as the opening moments of Lost. Whereas in Lost we had the aftermath of a cataclysmic plane crash on a deserted island, here we had the cataclysmic crash of … everything! They dropped us right into the moments after the global blackout to immediately show us the impact it would have. It was like the opening of a big budget summer blockbuster.

–>to continue reading, follow the link over to the full article on TV Squad

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Eastwick, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2009/09/24 | Leave a comment

eastwick_090924(Season 1, Episode 1)

22 years after the movie bedazzled America, and after two failed attempts before it, the witches of Eastwick have finally made it to television. I find myself thinking the same thing I’ve thought each time they tried to adapt the book/film to the television medium: how can they sustain an ongoing narrative?

That’s not to say that I don’t think the three women are capable of carrying a series, it’s just that the story of Darryl Van Horne has kind of a built in end-date doesn’t it? I guess, after that storyline you can come up with other nemeses for the girls. Continue reading →

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Cougar Town, “Pilot” [series premiere]

Posted on 2009/09/24 | Leave a comment

Cougar Town, "Pilot"(Season 1, Episode 1)

This pilot managed to be disturbing and surprisingly watchable at the exact same time. I expected to like Courteney Cox as the 40-something year old title “cougar,” but I found myself enjoying the show for much deeper reasons. As much as it’s about Cox trying to rediscover her sexuality and sense of self-worth after 40, it seems as much about her son Travis trying to survive her awakening without wanting to kill himself.

Making matters worse is the tool she’d been married to. Bobby looks to be as much an embarrassment to his son as Jules (Cox) is. But, at least he’s not– which brings us to the disturbing part. Continue reading →

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