NBC is desperate
It’s official. NBC is desperate for a new hit. I mean come on people, they’re still struggling by on Law and Order: SVU and The Office. They even put together an entire “show” about the previews for their new shows. Hosted by one of the comedians who has a new show. Hers…won’t be funny.
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Her name is Whitney Cummings. She appears regularly on Chelsea Lately. Now I hate Chelsea Handler and her show, so I pretty much wrote this girl off immediately. Then I went back and forced myself to watch the preview anyway, and it was exactly as un-funny as I was expecting. But maybe you’re into rude, immature humor that’s poorly delivered. If that’s the case, check out Whitney.
The show I’ve seen them flogging the most is Prime Suspect. In case you hadn’t heard, tough female cops make good TV. I’m not quite sure how this can possibly be better than, say, SVU or Castle, but maybe Maria Bello will surprise me. Honestly they must just be prepping for the end of the Law and Order series.
Similarly, Free Agents looks like just another office romance. They’re sleeping together, but they shouldn’t be, and they don’t want anyone to know. Shocking. Hank Azaria is fresh off years of doing voices for the Simpsons and Kathryn Hahn hasn’t done a TV show I recognize since Crossing Jordan. Still, it could surprise me.
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The new shows I’m actually looking forward to are Playboy Club and Smash. Playboy Club will have to work hard to truly stay fresh. It has a noticeably similar premise to Pan Am (ABC this fall), all the same glamour and mystery of the 1960s, but it does show a little more of drama in its previews. Eddie Cibrian and Amber Heard don’t have much experience, but they both pull off the period looks well, and that’s enough to make me want to watch more.
I’m a sucker for shows like Smash mostly because I love musicals. I also, however, love Katharine McPhee, not because of her American Idol success, but because one of her songs features Zac Levi, star of Chuck (NBC Friday’s) and the movie Tangled. I have high hopes for her and think a showcase of her voice is worth watching in itself.
I highly doubt more than three of the new shows will make it to a second season. If these are the best scripts NBC gets I’m going to start writing TV. Surely there are still fresh ideas out there somewhere.
This post is also on my personal blog, www.getyourcookies.wordpress.com.
Posted in Entertainment, Watch For
September 9th, 2011 at 9:50 am
I agree with you about Whitney. NBC is trying to make her the next big thing, but her show looks awful. I am looking forward to GRIMM and SMASH, as well, though.