Forget challenging, innovative dramas like Lost, expensive sci-fi gambles such as Terra Nova or quality Broadway extravaganza's like Smash. Get set for more cops shows, doctor shows or even cowboy shows. Forget ground-breaking, award-winning comedies such as The Office or 30 Rock, both lurching into final seasons. Welcome shows featuring monkeys, guys with babies or aliens.
It's hard to work up even snark for many of the 2012-13 pilots. Some feel like shows I saw 10 or 15 years ago, only not as good. When they remake Beauty and the Beast, and the problem I have with it is not that the Beast is no longer a beast but a hunky Australian with a scar, but that Kristen Kreuk is just not credible as even a Rookie Blue-style cop, then what is left to say to The CW? Thanks for no more vampire shows?
Anyway, here's your 2012-13 Fall Preview. There are no game changers here, including CTV's pickup of Charlie Sheen's new FX comedy Anger Management. Don't say I didn't warn you.
SUNDAYS
Over the Rainbow
Premieres Sunday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. on CBC
The producers of a Wizard of Oz musical search for an actress to play a new Dorothy. There are also auditions to find a new Toto, too! Daryn Jones (The Rick Mercer Report) hosts.
Along with an actual dog breeder, husband and wife comedians Deb McGrath and Colin Mochrie are among the doggie judges, which is smart--a little Fred Willard-like Best in Show nonsense could make the dog hunt the most talked about part of this talent show.
Premieres Sunday, Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. on ABC and City
The Drake is New York's most seductive address, where residents have every wish fulfilled--for a price. Terry O'Quinn (Lost) and Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty) star as the creepy building owners. Rachel Taylor and Dave Annable play a couple of mooks from the sticks tricked into managing this Trump Tower of Doom.
Plenty of room for anthology-style shenanigans as different tenants get terrorized every week. But, given ABC's standards and practices, kids used to Scary Movie-style thrills and gore will find this less frightening than Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair.
MONDAYS
Partners
Premiering Monday, Sept. 24, 8:30 p.m. on CBS and City
Sophia Bush, David Krumholtz, Brandon Routh and Michael Urie (above, l-r) star. Real life showrunners David Kohan and Max Mutchnick (Will & Grace) think their lives as life-long best friends and business partners--one gay, the other straight--would make a good sitcom.
This isn't it. The actors all give it their best, but the pilot seemed very seen-it-before. Plus, for the first time ever, multi-camera director/Yoda Jim Burrows (Cheers, Friends) seems like yesterday's man.
Monday, Sept. 17, 9 p.m., Fox (CTV has it Sundays at 9 p.m. in pre-release)
Jordana Spiro (above, centre) plays Dr. Grace Devlin. Her family owes money to the Chicago mob, so she's stuck sewing up Paulie Walnuts and friends. William Forsythe (third from left) makes sure she does it right, see?
The jokes write themselves: Take the canolli, leave the scalpel. Take two bullets and call me in the morning. Mother of Mercy--is this the end of Rico's small intestine? Make me an offer for medical insurance coverage I can't refuse. Say hello to my little friend--the anesthesiologist...
Revolution
Monday, Sept. 17, 10 p.m. on NBC, City
It's lights out as all energy, everything electrical or mechanical goes dark on earth. Planes drop from the sky. Cars screech to a halt. This blog ceases to exis...hey, wait a minute!
Jump ahead 15 years and Earth has become a war zone. It's every man and woman for him or herself as military leaders stake their turf. Only Charlie Matheson (Winnipeg-native Tracy Spriidakos), her brother and other family members can find the answers in this new drama from J.J. Abrams.
With Jon Favereau (Iron Man) also in the production mix, Revolution has the power pedigree. The pilot had its moments, but if my son and his buddies are any indication, nerds will pick it apart for brown outs in logic and credibility. Still, if you're looking for your Lost fix, this is as close as it gets this year.
TUESDAYS
Ben & Kate
Premieres Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 8:30 p.m. on Fox and City
A brother and sister who are kind of an odd couple find themselves living under one roof. She (Dakota Johnson) needs help making ends meet and raising her five-year-old daughter. He (Nat Faxon) needs help raising himself.
There's a warmth to this show, thanks mainly to the appealing leads. It is based on creator Dana Fox's own relationship with her oddball brother, so it seems authentic. Could it be funnier? That would be yes, but points for shooting part of the pilot at the Pasadena hotel where critics gather each winter.
Emily Owens, M.D.
Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 9 p.m., The CW, CTV TWO
What if your first job as a doctor at a hospital was just like high school? OMG, right? ObGyn OMG!!
Meryl Streep's look-a-like daughter, Mamie Gummer, raises this deal a notch, so if you're a 13 year old girl and already bored with Grey's Anatomy, this show is for you.
Go On
Premieres Tues., Sept. 11 at 9 p.m. on NBC, Global
A smart-ass sports radio talk show host (Matthew Perry), still reeling from the death of his wife, must attend group grief counseling sessions before his boss (John Cho from the Harold & Kumar movies) will let him back to work.
Perry shines opposite a Cuckcoo's Nest supporting cast in a sitcom that is a lot warmer than Mr. Sunshine. Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) is all grown up as part of the group. Episode Two found Perry trying too hard in a story about too many cats. Better was the sweet B-Ball finale. Go On will have to go slowly to find the funny.
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Anger Management
Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. on CTV
Charlie Sheen returns as a therapist who treats cranky, kooky patients. Very loosely based on the 2003 feature film. The first ten episodes of this series reached enough viewers over the summer on FX that an automatic order for 90 more kicked in.
If you liked Two and a Half Men, you'll like this series. Neither is for critics, but fans will find Charlie as winning as usual. Sheen's dad Martin joins the sitcom as his dad; Brett Butler (Grace Under Fire) is rehabilitated as a bartender. Canadian Daniela Bobadilla plays Sheen's teen daughter.
The Mindy Project
Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 on Fox and City
Midy Kaling from The Office plays a 30-ish woman doctor whose personal life is on life support.
While it wasn't perfect, the pilot had moments of fantasy and bursts of originality that makes it stand out from other sitcoms this year. Look for a couple of Saturday Night Live players among the supporting cast in the pilot. A good fit behind Fox's New Girl.
Perry shines opposite a Cuckcoo's Nest supporting cast in a sitcom that is a lot warmer than Mr. Sunshine. Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) is all grown up as part of the group. Episode Two found Perry trying too hard in a story about too many cats. Better was the sweet B-Ball finale. Go On will have to go slowly to find the funny.
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Anger Management
Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. on CTV
Charlie Sheen returns as a therapist who treats cranky, kooky patients. Very loosely based on the 2003 feature film. The first ten episodes of this series reached enough viewers over the summer on FX that an automatic order for 90 more kicked in.
If you liked Two and a Half Men, you'll like this series. Neither is for critics, but fans will find Charlie as winning as usual. Sheen's dad Martin joins the sitcom as his dad; Brett Butler (Grace Under Fire) is rehabilitated as a bartender. Canadian Daniela Bobadilla plays Sheen's teen daughter.
The Mindy Project
Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 on Fox and City
Midy Kaling from The Office plays a 30-ish woman doctor whose personal life is on life support.
While it wasn't perfect, the pilot had moments of fantasy and bursts of originality that makes it stand out from other sitcoms this year. Look for a couple of Saturday Night Live players among the supporting cast in the pilot. A good fit behind Fox's New Girl.
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With Ryan Murphy (Glee) stirring the pot, NBC thinks this is edgy and bold and can't miss. I found it off-putting and un-funny--which, this season, does seem to be the new normal.
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