NBC’s New Shows: Life Without Chuck?
It’s upfront time. Or, NBC is calling theirs “infronts.” I don’t know why and don’t plan to find out – it sounds about as cute as adding “N’ Stuff” in a store title, so let’s leave it there. [EDIT: okay, I lie, I did go looking, and it turns out they're still having an upfront; they just want to get a headstart with this. Still a silly title]. Indeed, I’m mad at NBC. They haven’t renewed Chuck. In theory, this could happen latter, though with a third of primetime given up to Jay Leno (!), and with renewals already announced for many other shows (yay, 30 Rock and The Office!), real estate is in high demand.
In this supposedly DVR-filled world, schedule still matters a heck of a lot. Try telling any creator whose show got a Friday night slot that it doesn’t. I’m particularly interested, though, in how a show’s competition frames one’s view of it, not just when one is asked to pick sides when shows are on opposing channels at the same time, but also when an axed-yet-beloved show is replaced. Right now, I look at the proposed additions and say, “hmmm… not Chuck,” and if it’s culled, whichever show gets its slot will suffer a dark aura.
Nevertheless, below the fold I introduce you to the contenders:
The only likely contender that excites me is the new show by former Heroes, Alias, and Lost writer, Jesse Alexander. Day One examines a post-apocalyptic world, perhaps created either when God punished America for letting Chuck and Pushing Daisies die, or when a terrorist with great taste in television decided to do the same. Above is some concept art.
Parenthood is also somewhat intriguing. The concept is hardly groundbreaking, especially since it’s the second attempt to convert the film, but its pedigree is pretty impressive, coming from Ron Howard’s Imagine TV, with an interesting cast, led by Peter Krause and Maura Tierney, executive produced by Friday Night Lights’ Jason Katims, and with a pilot directed by West Wing master-director, Thomas Schlamme. And since NBC’s said both that they plan to thematically link their weeknight pairings, and that Heroes will keep its Monday 9pm slot, I can’t see them pairing Parenthood and Heroes, which means I can enjoy the prospect of the show without feeling that I will need to curse it for replacing Chuck. That said, if I was an advertiser and I saw these clips, I’d be signing a deal with CBS or ABC.
The Marriage Ref, a reality show in which celebrities decide who is right and who is wrong in disputes between real couples. But who cares what Katie Holmes thinks of why the Joneses are fighting over the remote?
100 Questions, a sitcom “about a young woman looking for love.” Much of my snide commentary has been removed since I’m clearly not their target demo and because some people actually like Samantha Who? when I think it’s horrifyingly bad. Just watch and see if you laugh, or if you can get to the end, for that matter.
Breakthrough with Tony Robbins, in which the inspiration huckster will be telling us all how to be better people. See Obama, you get good ratings for your infomercial, and now NBC is developing them.
Community has mildly amusing clips, but only mildly so, and it’ll take more than that to stay on air. Chevy Chase co-stars (or is it guest stars?) in a sitcom set in a community college, Welcome Back, Kotter for the midlife set.
And, speaking of community college, Mercy seems like a community college or community theater group’s (think Waiting for Guffman) attempt to do their own Grey’s Anatomy, except this one’s about nurses, Nurse Newbie and Nurse Self-Righteous to be precise. I quote EW’s Ken Tucker: “This show could be insufferable.”
Proving that NBC is suffering some major ER withdrawal, they’re offering a second medical drama, Trauma. I loved what Peter Berg did with Friday Night Lights to start with, and he’s behind this, so perhaps I should give it a chance. San Fran deserves a good show to help it clear its mouth of the taste of Full House too. But these clips are trying too hard. Maybe since the ER writers have gone elsewhere, NBC turned to the dude who used to write the ER promos (“The most spectacular episode you will ever see, the one that will make you believe in the Easter Bunny and call home to your sick mother to tell her how much you love her, join us for the next episode of ER”), and let him write this one?
The premise for Who Do You Think You Are? is laughably silly: “A different celebrity each week embarks on a journey of self discovery, revealing stories that are often linked to events in American history.” I envision Jon Cryer finding out that his mother was Rosa Parks’ partner-in-crime, or Lindsay Lohan finding out that she’s a “winter person,” then reading us a story about the pilgrims’ first winter. Between this and The Marriage Ref, what’s with NBC deciding that anything is good if it includes a celebrity? I blame ABC and Dancing with the Stars.
And finally, of course, there’s the new Jay Leno show. A third of their primetime?! Really? In their defense, NBC noted how many crime procedurals clog up the 10pm slot, saying Jay would offer “100% more comedy and 98% less murder.” That’s 30 Rock, The Office, or … Chuck: Jay’s about as funny as that silly quip about percentages.
Recent Comments