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New shows not doing well, except these |
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Written by Neal Justin, MCT
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Tuesday, 13 November 2007 |
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If the writers' strike continues into 2008, the biggest loser would clearly be yours truly, who will soon be relegated to reviewing the reality rubbish, like "Who Wants to Marry a Organ Grinder?," that will choke the airwaves.
A close second: Anyone associated with a new series just picking up steam, only to be yanked off the air before hooking enough fans that will still care when the show returns.
That's not a lot of folks. No rookie network series has caught fire, and three - CW's "Online Nation," Fox's "Nashville" and CBS' "Viva Laughlin" - have already been put out of their misery.
Still, it's worthwhile to note some marginal winners, if only to get a better sense of what viewers crave (hint: it's not "Heroes, Part Deux," like executives predicted).
Here's a report card featuring the five series that have fared best so far, along with my preliminary evaluations back in September.
• "Samantha Who?" (9:30 p.m. Mondays, ABC)
Rough scores: 13.5 million (viewers a week); 18th (in ratings).
What we said then: "Christina Applegate is a sitcom star waiting for the right vehicle. This probably isn't it."
What we say now: The one-joke premise - an amnesia patient who can't remember that she's a jerk - has more depth than we expected, with Applegate proving she can play kooky without being cuckoo.
• "Private Practice" (9 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC)
Rough scores: 12 million; 24th.
What we said then: "I didn't expect to like this after the mediocre episode of 'Grey's Anatomy' that 'inspired' the spinoff, but now that the show is firmly on its own, I'm fairly impressed."
What we say now: Color me less impressed. It took me two seasons to get tired of "Grey's" whining. For "Practice," it only took me three weeks.
• "Pushing Daisies" (8 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC)
Rough scores: 9.7 million; 36th.
What we said then: "This kind of whimsy plays well in bedtime novels, but rarely blooms on the small screen. Alas."
What we say now: The interest in this quirky adventure is the nicest surprise of the new season, but don't fall too hard for it. Remember, "Twin Peaks" lost its magic touch after only one year.
• "Women's Murder Club" (9 p.m. Fridays, ABC)
Rough scores: 9 million; 41st.
What we said then: "The four Nancy Drews combined don't offer the smarts and sass of one tough cookie on 'The Closer.'"
What we say now: A show with low expectations fits perfectly on a night with low expectations. But give Angie Harmon credit. She's now officially a genuine TV star.
• "The Big Bang Theory" (8:30 p.m. Mondays, CBS)
Rough scores: 8.8 million; 44th.
What we said then: "This fall's most enjoyable new sitcom squeezes every bit of juice from nerd and dumb-blonde stereotypes. Give your brain a rest and enjoy the antics."
What we say now: Still lovin' it. Deserves better than to be sandwiched between flailing "How I Met Your Mother" and overrated "Two and a Half Men." Bring back "The New Adventures of Old Christine"! | Only registered users can write comments.
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