Fall TV: Capsule reviews of all the new shows - San Jose Mercury News
By Chuck Barney
Contra Costa Times
Crank up those DVRs. A crushing barrage of fresh TV fare is coming your way -- a barrage featuring everything from dinosaurs, witches and fairy tale folk to sexy "bunnies," crime-fighting women and a couple of broke girls.
Yes, it's mind-boggling, but we're here for you. Presented below are our bite-sized takes on all the major new shows debuting this fall on the networks and cable:
"Terra Nova" (8 p.m., Fox, Sept. 26): TV goes prehistoric with an epic adventure that whisks a family of the future back to the era of the T. rex as part of an experiment to save the Earth from extinction. Bottom line: The season's boldest gamble is crammed with awesome CGI effects, luscious Australian scenery and plenty of dino-might.
"2 Broke Girls" (8:30 p.m., CBS, Sept. 19): A couple of waitresses -- one earthy and streetwise (Kat Dennings) and the other an ex-socialite (Beth Behrs) -- form an unlikely bond. Bottom line: Odd-couple pairings aren't new, but this tart comedy benefits from risque humor and a solid chemistry between the young stars.
"Hart of Dixie" (9 p.m., The CW, Sept. 26): A Manhattan doctor (Rachel Bilson) reluctantly moves to a small Southern town and becomes the proverbial fish-out-of-water. Bottom line: Bilson a brainy surgeon? We weren't convinced for a second.
"The Playboy Club" (10 p.m. Sept. 19, NBC): A Hef-hearted drama that delves into the lives of 1960s-era women who
donned skimpy costumes and bunny ears at the legendary Chicago nightspot. Bottom line: What could have been a nuanced period piece about sexual politics is marred by starchy dialogue and a ludicrous crime plot. "Mad Men" it ain't."Enlightened" (9:30 p.m., HBO, Oct. 10): After a messy workplace meltdown, a fragile executive (Laura Dern) logs three months at a Hawaiian treatment center and tries to pick up the pieces. Bottom line: Dern shines as usual, but "Enlightened" needs to lighten up on the drudgery.
"Last Man Standing" (8 p.m., ABC, Oct. 11): A disgruntled man's man (Tim Allen) bemoans what he perceives to be a world filled with girlie guys. Bottom line: Gay jokes. Lame one-liners. An annoying laugh track. ... Looks like it's retool time.
"Man Up" (8:30 p.m., ABC, Oct. 18): Three sensitive, video-game playing buddies try to vanquish their inner wusses. Bottom line: A sitcom with laugh-out-loud moments that will have guys everywhere ditching the body wash.
"Ringer" (9 p.m., The CW, Premiered Sept. 13): A troubled woman (Sarah Michelle Gellar) goes on the run from shady creeps and assumes the identity of her wealthy twin sister. Too bad Sis's life is just as scary. Bottom line: A nice blend of sudsy melodrama and Hitchcock-like suspense.
"New Girl" (9 p.m., Fox, Sept. 20): A lovable geek (Zooey Deschanel) flees her cheating boyfriend and winds up living with three unruly dudes. Bottom line: Say hello to our latest TV crush.
"Unforgettable" (10 p.m., CBS, Sept. 20): A former police detective (Poppy Montgomery) with an amazing memory is drawn back into crime-fighting. Bottom line: Unfortunately, "Unforgettable" isn't.
"Reed Between the Lines" (10 p.m., Oct. 11, BET): Carla and Alex Reed (Tracee Ellis Ross and Malcolm-Jamal Warner) balance their busy professional and personal lives in a family sitcom with "Cosby"-like vibes. Bottom line: Unavailable for review.
"H8R" (8 p.m., The CW, Premiered Sept. 14): Host Mario Lopez brings celebrities face-to-face with people who despise them. Can the celebs win them over? Bottom line: We'll just say "L8R" to "H8R.
"The X Factor" (8 p.m., Fox, Sept. 21): Simon Cowell returns, along with Paula Abdul and others, in a reality show that yearns to be bigger and glitzier than "American Idol." Bottom line: We're skeptical that TV can sustain yet another blockbuster singing contest, but Simon figures to project plenty of "X" appeal.
"Up All Night" (8 p.m., NBC, Premiered Sept. 14): "Hip" new parents (Christina Applegate and Will Arnett) adjust to life with a baby while trying to prove they can still rock out. Bottom line: A winning chemistry between the leads, a refreshing irreverence and comic support from Maya Rudolph make this one a diaper dandy.
"Suburgatory" (8:30 p.m., ABC, Sept. 28): A rebellious teen (Jane Levy) struggles to adjust after her well-meaning single dad (Jeremy Sisto) abruptly moves them from New York to the boring 'burbs. Bottom line: There's a nice blend of snarky wit and squishy heart. Levy is a star-in-the-making.
"Free Agents" (8:30 p.m., NBC, Premiered Sept. 14): Co-workers and occasional friends with benefits (Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn) try to rebound from past relationships. Bottom line: Feel free to avoid this tedious sitcom.
"I Hate My Teenage Daughter" (9:30 p.m., Fox, Nov. 23): Two single moms and former high school outcasts (Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran) do battle with their bratty kids. Bottom line: They may hate their daughters, but not more than we hate this show.
"Revenge" (10 p.m., ABC, Sept. 21): A seemingly friendly newcomer to the Hamptons (Emily VanCamp) is actually a pretty little liar obsessed with wreaking havoc on the uppity snobs who screwed over her family. Bottom line: There's potential for lots of devilish fun, but the hit list could get old fast.
"American Horror Story" (10 p.m., FX, Oct. 5): A fractured couple (Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton) move to Los Angeles seeking a fresh start, only to discover their new home is a freakin' nightmare. Bottom line: Teeming with sex, gore and macabre mayhem, it should be the most polarizing show of the season -- and maybe the most thrilling.
"Charlie's Angels" (8 p.m., ABC, Sept. 22): A new generation of sexy, butt-kicking babes (including Minka Kelly) puts the beatdown on bad guys in sunny Miami. Bottom line: All that yummy eye candy can't offset a dismal pilot. These angels have yet to earn their wings.
"How to Be a Gentleman" (8:30 p.m., CBS, Sept. 29): A metrosexual magazine writer (David Hornsby) hires a buffed-up gym rat (Kevin Dillon) to de-wimpify him. Bottom line: Lots of stereotypes, not enough laughs.
"Person of Interest" (9 p.m., CBS, Sept. 22): A mysterious billionaire (Michael Emerson) with futuristic technology teams up with a troubled ex-CIA agent (Jim Caviezel) to help prevent impending crimes. Bottom line: It's all adequately moody and foreboding, if somewhat ponderous. Can it hold our interest?
"The Secret Circle" (9 p.m., The CW, Premiered Sept. 15): An orphaned teen (Britt Robertson) moves to a small town and discovers that she's a witch who holds the key to an ancient battle between good and evil. Bottom line: The potent combo of teen angst and supernatural intrigue make it a good match with "The Vampire Diaries."
"Whitney" (9:30 p.m., NBC, Sept. 22): A happily unmarried couple (Whitney Cummings and Chris D'Elia) do their best to avoid "relationship boredom." Bottom line: This uneven comedy hasn't completely won us over, but Cummings has an earthy charm that is hard to resist.
"Prime Suspect" (10 p.m., NBC, Sept. 22): Maria Bello steps into the shoes of the great Helen Mirren in a remake of the beloved British crime series. Bottom line: Bello is certainly arresting, but it may not be enough to make this show stand out among the glut of cop shows.
"A Gifted Man" (8 p.m., CBS, Sept. 23): A brilliant, and arrogant, surgeon (Patrick Wilson) questions his humanity when he begins to talk to a dead person -- his recently deceased ex (Jennifer Ehle). Bottom line: The premise is far out, but this has the potential to be a thoughtful, compelling character study.
"Grimm" (9 p.m., NBC, Oct. 21): A drama inspired by the Grimm's Fairy Tales about a cop (David Giuntoli) who learns that he's a descendant of an elite group of hunters who fight to keep the world safe from supernatural beasts. Bottom line: Grim, indeed. And dark and bizarre -- not in a good way.
"Boss" (10 p.m., Starz, Oct. 21): A ruthless big-city mayor (Kelsey Grammer) copes with a degenerative brain disorder. Bottom line: Grammer chomps into his hammy role with malicious gusto, but it's not enough to overcome the show's bloated sense of itself.
"Once Upon a Time" (8 p.m., ABC, Oct. 23): Fairy-tale characters such as Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Rumpelstiltskin are trapped -- and frozen in time -- in the modern world. Holding the key to the curse is a woman (Jennifer Morrison) who might be the long-lost daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Bottom line: A whimsical saga that makes for fun family viewing. But can it produce a happily-ever-after in the Nielsens?
"Allen Gregory" (8:30 p.m., Fox, Oct. 30): An animated comedy about an erudite 7-year-old (voiced by Jonah Hill) who allegedly has composed operas, written novels and dated Chlo Sevigny, but struggles to fit in at grade school. Bottom line: Not available for review.
"Pan Am" (10 p.m., NBC, Sept. 25): A high-flying drama that delves into the personal and professional lives of stewardesses (including Christina Ricci) and pilots during the 1960s jet age. Bottom line: All the sexy melodrama and retro romance has our head in the clouds.
"Homeland" (10 p.m., Showtime, Oct. 2): A CIA operative (Claire Danes) suspects that a recently released POW (Damian Lewis) may have been turned and is prepared to aid the terrorists. Is she right -- or just crazy? Bottom line: A relentlessly gripping thriller that prefers mind games over gunplay.
"Hell on Wheels" (10 p.m., AMC, Nov. 6): Western about post-Civil War America that focuses on a Confederate veteran (Anson Mount) who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who killed his wife. Bottom line: A gritty, gut-wrenching saga for those who miss "Deadwood."
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