TV: 2012 Fall TV Preview

Well, the fall season is practically upon us. I’m not as excited as previous years. I think I’m becoming more cynical as I grow over. This year, I’m giving more chances to comedies than dramas, but I have a sinking feeling that not all of these will last the full season. We’ll have to see. Anyways, here’s the rundown the fall shows I’ll be trying this year in order of ‘excitement’.

 




 Tuesdays at 9:30pm (FOX) premieres Sept 25

Premise: Comedy about Mindy, who is a OB/GYN who wants to live the perfect romantic comedy life.

People involved: Mindy Kaling (The Office) stars and produces; BJ Novak (The Office) also produces.

Why I’m excited: Kelly has always been one of my favourites on The Office. Now I get to hear her funny comments for a whole show.

Prediction: A great companion piece to New Girl. This one is definitely lasting all season and coming back for more.

Mondays at 10pm (NBC) premieres Sept 17

Premise: An apocalyptic event which wipes out all forms of technology forces a group of survivors to adapt.

People involved: JJ Abrams (Lost), Bryan Burke (Lost), Eric Kripke (Supernatural) & Jon Favreau (Iron Man) produce; Breaking Bad’s Gus Fring stars.

Why excited: Look at the folks behind the scenes. These people know what they are doing to make a long lasting mythology show.  

Prediction: I’m praying that this shows sticks around longer than Terra Nova, Flash Forward and The Event. Hopefully these producers have learned from their mistakes.

Tuesdays at 9pm (NBC) ‘premiered’ Sept 11

Premise: Comedy about a sportscaster who finds solace in  a bizarre therapy group.

People involved: Matthew Perry (Friends) stars; Scott Silveri (Friends) & Todd Holland (Malcolm in the Middle) produce.

Why I’m interested: I have also enjoyed watching Matthew Perry. I don’t care how Chandler Bing-like he is, I’ll still watch him do anything (except crappy feature films)

Prediction: It’ll at least get the full season, because it’s on NBC and they like Matthew Perry.

 




Thursdays at 10pm (CBS) premieres Sept 27

Premise: Drama procedural about Sherlock Holmes in modern day New York helping solve the most impossible cases with the help of his rehab sponsor, Dr. Joan Watson (yes, a woman).

People involved: Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone) & Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal) star

Why I’m interested: I like myself a good mystery. I haven’t watched a procedural in awhile.

Prediction: Procedurals on CBS usually last. It’ll get a season two.

 




Tuesdays at 8:30pm (FOX) premieres Sept 25

Premise: Comedy about odd-couple siblings trying to raise an adorable kid. Hilarity ensues.

People involved: Nat Faxon (wrote The Descendants) stars

Why I’ll give it a chance: Apparently the kid is adorable and the guy is funny.

Prediction: Pretty hit or miss. The main producer wrote What Happens in Vegas and Couples Retreat so the quality is not that good. Maybe could last half a season.

Wednesdays at 8pm (NBC) ‘premieres’ Sept 26

Premise: Comedy version of House, but it takes place in a veterinarian hospital and there’s a monkey in it.

People involved: Justin Kirk (Weeds), Tyler Labine (Reaper) & Bobby Lee (MadTV) star; Community directors and The Sitter makers produce.

Why I’ll give it a chance: I like Justin Kirk. Loved him on Weeds.  

Prediction: Could be like Scrubs or it could be awful. It depends how much they mine the monkey antics. Doubt it will last six months unless the monkey disappears.

Here’s what I’m watching this fall in list form.

SUNDAYS

8pm       Simpsons (FOX) premieres Sept 30

8pm       Amazing Race (CBS) premieres Sept 30

8pm       Boardwalk Empire (HBO) premiered Sept 16

9pm       Dexter (SHOW) premieres Sept 30

10pm     Homeland (SHOW) premieres Sept 30

10pm     The Walking Dead (AMC) premieres Oct 14

MONDAYS

8pm       How I Met Your Mother (CBS) premieres Sept 24

10pm     Revolution (NBC) premieres Sept 17

TUESDAYS

8:30pm  Ben & Kate (FOX) premieres Sept 25

9pm       Go On (NBC) premiered Sept 11

9pm       New Girl (FOX) premieres Sept 25

9pm       Happy Endings (ABC) premieres Oct 23

9:30pm  The Mindy Project (FOX) premieres Sept 25

9:30pm  Don’t Trust the B--- In Apt 23 (ABC) premieres oct 23

10pm     Parenthood (NBC) premiered Sept 11

WEDNESDAYS

8pm       Animal Practice (NBC) premieres Sept 26

9pm       Modern Family (ABC) premieres Sept 26

9:30pm  Suburgatory (ABC) premieres Oct 27

10pm     American Horror Story (FX) premieres Oct 17

THURSDAYS

8pm       The Big Bang Theory (CBS) premieres Sept 27

8pm       30 Rock (NBC) premieres Oct 4

8:30pm  Up All Night (NBC) premieres Sept 20

9pm       The Office (NBC) premieres Sept 20

9:30pm  Parks & Recreation (NBC) premieres Sept 20

10pm     Elementary (CBS) premieres Sept 27

FRIDAYS

8:30pm  Community (NBC) premieres Oct 19

9pm       Fringe (FOX) premieres Sept 28

10pm     Boss (STARZ) premiered in August

SATURDAYS

11:30pm  SNL (NBC) premiered Sept 15

Lots to watch. We’ll see what lasts.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Summer TV Recap, Emmy Awards, Fall Film Preview

Film: The Campaign

GENRE: Comedy
RATING: R for sexual content and language
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 25 minutes
STARRING: Will Ferrell (Anchorman, Talladega Nights)
Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover, Due Date)
DIRECTOR: Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents)
WRITERS: Chris Henchy (The Other Guys)
Shawn Harwell (Eastbound & Down)
PLOT: Two corrupt CEOs get a naïve loser to oust a long-term sleazy congressman in order to gain influence over a district.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 What a fun script! Very timely with the presidential campaign in full force. It’s fun to laugh at American politics.
2 Ferrell and Galifianakis play their roles well. Ferrell is his cocky Ricky Bobby self as a dim congressman. Galifianakis’ Marty channels some of his Due Date persona. They are pros at the ludicrous.
3 Dylan McDermott is actually pretty funny as Marty’s campaign manager. He’s cold, calculating and in charge. Some fine work.
4 A good length for a comedy. It doesn’t overstay its welcome.
5 Punching a baby? Funny!

RECOMMENDATION: Funny but can wait for rental
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Fall TV Preview, Fall Movie Preview

Film: The Expendables 2

GENRE: Action
RATING: R for strong bloody violence
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 43 minutes
STARRING: Sylvester Stallone (Rambo, Rocky Balboa)
Jason Statham (Transporters), Jean-Claude VanDamme (JCVD)
DIRECTOR: Simon West (Con Air, The Mechanic)
WRITERS: Richard Wenk (The Mechanic, 16 Blocks)
Sylvester Stallone (Expendables, Rocky, Cliffhanger)
PLOT: The Expendables are back in business for an easy paycheck but one of their own loses their life, prompting swift and brutal revenge.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 The first Expendables seemed to have some fun introducing their ragtag group of characters. This one seems to have even more fun. Better one-liners and humorous moments throughout. Terry Crews and Dolph Lundgren get more laughs this time around.
2 The story is a little stronger than the first film. Only a little bit though.
3 It’s fun watching Van Damme kick again. I haven’t seen a movie with him in a long, long time. Brought back some memories.
4 The blood splatters a lot in this film. Disturbing at times.
5 Chuck Norris is the man. He even gets to tell a Chuck Norris joke!

RECOMMENDATION: Things go boom work well in theatres
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Campaign

Film: The Bourne Legacy

GENRE: Action
RATING: PG-13 for violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 15 minutes
STARRING: Jeremy Renner (Avengers, Mission Impossible 4)
Rachel Weisz (The Mummy), Edward Norton (The Italian Job)
DIRECTOR: Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton, Duplicity)
WRITERS: Tony Gilroy (State of Play, Bourne Ultimatum)
Dan Gilroy (Real Steel, Two for the Money)
PLOT: A different top-secret operative tries to track down some much needed meds before the government can shut him down.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 Jeremy Renner does a great job playing the new guy, Aaron Cross. He’s always good as the intense loner mixed with sharp action hero. A great legacy indeed.
2 Some very clever incorporation of The Bourne Ultimatum. You don’t have to see that film first to understand what’s going on but seeing it before Legacy will help you appreciate those references even more.
3 Like all Bourne films, there’s a great chase scene. This time on a motorcycle. I'm surprised he didn't run over any bystanders.
4 I liked the intelligence of Renner’s Cross. His travelling under the radar was masterful.
5 Since the Bourne films refuse to kill any of their big players, I’m predicting Renner will do the next one on his own and then do a third one along with Matt Damon returning as Jason Bourne. Double the killing machines, double the fun!

RECOMMENDATION: Great theatre flick
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Expendables 2

Film: Ruby Sparks

GENRE: Romantic-Comedy
RATING: R for sexual language & drugs
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 44 minutes
STARRING: Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood)
Zoe Kazan (It’s Complicated), Chris Messina (Damages)
DIRECTOR: Jon Dayton & Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine)
WRITER: Zoe Kazan (newcomer)
PLOT: A novelist creates a female character that comes to life and is unaware that he willed her into existence.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 Paul Dano is a great actor. I love watching his shock and awkwardness in this film. His chemistry with Zoe Kazan works well but that could also be because they have been dating for a long time before this film was made.
2 Unfortunately, the plot of this film has a bunch of similarities to Stranger Than Fiction. Just imagine Emma Thompson’s character interacting more with Will Ferrell who is clueless that he is just a character in her book. Fiction does this better than Sparks is able to.
3 There is this great sequence where Dano’s writer makes Ruby a little too desperate for him which leads to some co-dependent hilarity.
4 Chris Messina does a great job as Dano’s borther, Harry. I can’t put my finger on why but I guess he just seemed so believable.
5 While the film is pretty light for the majority of the running time, it gets pretty dark and disturbing near the end. Not sure if I agreed with such a tonal shift.

RECOMMENDATION: An okay video rental
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Bourne Legacy