TV: New Series Review

It’s time to take stock of the new shows that have debuted this fall. Most are only a couple episodes old but I’ve already made some snap judgements. Here’s what I’m watching (in order of likability so far) and what I’m ignoring.

WHAT I’M WATCHING THIS YEAR

New Girl
Tuesdays at 9pm (FOX) – already picked up for a full season
1 Zooey Deschanel is so freaking adorable with her bizarre sense of humour and constant need to sing little tunes to herself
2 The other guys are pretty funny. Loved the douchebag jar in the pilot. I miss Damon Wayans Jr. but the new black guy will have to do.
3 The humour reminds me of Happy Endings, another fine show.

Up All Night
Wednesdays at 8pm (NBC) – already picked up for a full season
1 Christina Applegate and Will Arnett have great chemistry together.
2 Maya Rudolph’s Oprah-esque Ava has its ups and downs.
3 The baby is not too distracting so far. Just a cute prop.

Person of Interest
Thursdays at 9pm (CBS)
1 Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel intensely work well together
2 Love the surveillance footage stuff.
3 While a lot happens in each episode, I’m more interested in Emerson’s back-story as opposed to the case of the week.

Suburgatory
Wednesdays at 8:30pm (ABC)
1 Great writing on this show! Jane Levy’s voice over is spot on.
2 Wonderfully quirky characters with mean girl mentality
3 Nice to see Rex Lee as the guidance counsellor

Terra Nova
Mondays at 8pm (FOX)
1 More compelling than I thought it would be. Kind of Lost-like.
2 The CG is pretty good so far, for a television show.
3 I’m pretty interested in the relationship between Jim and Taylor

Homeland
Sundays at 10pm (SHOWTIME) – have to download it
1 Only seen the pilot but it had a nice twist at the end.
2 Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin are pretty wonderful
3 Don’t know if the premise can last all that terribly long.

WHAT I’VE GIVEN UP ON

FREE AGENTS
1 Some funny moments but not incredibly funny throughout
2 Some great fast-talking but not connected to the co-workers
3 Anthony Stewart Head seems like he’s bored in this show

PAN-AM
1 Storylines are pretty boring and predictable
2 Like the espionage but not the actress performing it
3 Not a fan of the glorified airline travel of the 60’s

HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN
1 David Hornsby’s high pitched voice is pretty annoying
2 Kevin Dillon is just doing a sadder version of Johnny Drama
3 David Foley used by funny (Kids in the Hall, Newsradio). I think the poker commentary sucked the funny out of him.

RINGER
1 Sarah Michelle Gellar doesn’t get to be funny, at all
2 The premise is stretched a little too much for my liking
3 Not at all interested in any of the characters. Too bad.

THE PLAYBOY CLUB
1 Only David Krumholtz was interesting and that’s not enough
2 Didn’t get any sense of female empowerment
3 Thank goodness NBC cancelled the series already

What’s your take on the new shows this year.