REVIEW: Mad Love “Fireworks” S1 E1

Dr Elliott Reid is back on TV!!!!  Raise the roof people!!!!!  I’m a loser, I know.  As much as I was happy to see Sarah Chalke back on TV, I wasn’t sure how this show would be.  But it had promise.  Aside from Chalke it has Tyler Labine and Judy Greer.  Both actors who are incredibly hilarious and have great comedic timing.  Their chemistry in the pilot was terrific and I wouldn’t be surprised if over time, their story becomes more interesting than Ben and Kate’s.  The one down side is Jason Biggs.  I have never been a Jason Biggs fan and so far he is living up to disappointment.  But I can live with him because everyone else rocks!

I have to say, when I first saw the show, Ben (Biggs) reminded me a poor man’s Ted Mosby.  He even looks a little like Ted.  He also the straight man surrounded by all the funny actors.  Although in fairness to Ted, he is having one of his strongest seasons this year.  But I digress.   Apparently though, I am not the only person who made a HIMYM analogy in regards to Mad Love.  I read some other reviews about the show and most reviews compare this show to HIMYM.  Some people also went as far to say that it was a HIMYM knock off or a not a good version of HIMYM.  I don’t know if I would go quite that far but there are some similarities.  Either way, I enjoyed Mad Love much more than I thought I would.

Where I have to agree with some of my fellow reviewers is that the best part of the show is Larry (Labine) and Connie (Greer.)  Maybe it helps that I have always been a huge fan of both actors and they both deserve a hit.  So if for no other reason, I want to see this show do well for Labine and Greer and of course Chalke!  Basically, this show is about the love story between Ben and Kate and their best friends Larry and Connie hate one another.  It’s a very simple premise out of the gate but with the comedy prowess of Chalke, Labine, and Greer, it should be a decent show.  You should check it out.  At this point I wouldn’t say it’s DVR material, but if it’s on, I will definitely watch it.

 

REVIEW: Mr Sunshine “Pilot” S1 E1

I have a comment to the marketing team’s of networks who promote shows…..stop showing 80% of the show in the promos!!!!  I was so excited for the premiere of Mr Sunshine but about half way through the premiere I realized something, I had already, pretty much, seen this.   You know why?  Because all the promos showed so many different parts of the show that I basically saw the premiere and didn’t know it!  All the great one liners and zingers that were in this episode I had already seen a couple of times in promos.  I hate when that happens.   But you know what, I still loved it!!!

Mr Sunshine’s main protagonist is Ben Donovan (played by Matthew Perry), the GM of the Sunshine Center in San Diego.  Ben is just turning 40 and juggling his career, his crazy boss Crystal Cohen (played by the amazing Allison Janney) who owns the Sunshine Center, his fear of his assistant who was known to have set a man on fire, Heather (played by Portia Doubleday), and his love/sex life with Marketing Director Alice (played by Andrea Anders) who has now told him that she is ending with him so she can have a committed relationship with the always in a good mood, Alonzo (played by James Lezure.)  I didn’t lie before when I told you how incredible this cast is!  Ben is a good guy but a little self-absorbed and arrogant.  We see that Ben, while good at his job, is lousy with people.  He doesn’t know anyone’s name (and doesn’t care to remember them) and he is contradictory in his direction to suit the moment.  A clear understand of this is formed when he is talking to Hurley (we never did get his real name and like Ben, I don’t care because Jorge Garcia will always be Hurley to me) about why the ice still isn’t melted so the circus can perform.  He doesn’t know his name, the direction he is giving him is completely different from before, and he has very little patience with Hurley.   Reading this you probably think, “man this guy sounds like a complete jerk.”  If it wasn’t Matthew Perry playing Ben with Perry’s quick wit, incredible charm, and ubiquitous facial expressions, you would be right.    But Perry is able to pull it off and have this narcissist be quite likable.   And can I just say, I am so happy to see Perry back on my TV screen.  I really missed him and this show suits him perfectly!

So far it looks like the character I am going to like the best is Crystal.  She is a riot!!!  I always knew Janney was talented and certainly isn’t the type of actress to be type cast because I have seen her play lots of different types of characters…from CJ Craig on the West Wing, to Juno’s stepmother in Juno, to Violet Newstead in Broadway’s 9 to 5.  But it’s funny to see her play such an off-balance, out of touch with reality type of person.  It must be very strange for people who only associate her with the West Wing.  Crystal likes to have grand gestures showing how wonderful she is…like rounding up a group of ethnically diverse children and having them hand her a trophy.  But it seems these events usually go awry because Ben explains to her that covering up her grabbing a child to shield herself from ax-wielding clowns (she’s terrified of clowns but then again who isn’t) and throwing said child to the ground will cost more than when she kicked the policeman but less than when she sank the mayor’s boat.  She is so thrilled.   I just love how completely oblivious she is to reality.  When she started singing her “ethnic song” at her press conference, my husband and I were crying laughing.  It was very early Michael Scott-ish.  Crystal reminds me of the type of person, and maybe this is just my wishful thinking and knowing how incredible Janney is I think it could work, who will early on come across as a slightly racist, ignorant, dolt, but will eventually show what a truly loving, intelligent, and thoughtful person that she is deep down.  But I can’t wait to watch her again next week and see where this story goes between her and her son Roman (played by Nate Torrence.)

Mr Sunshine looks to be a winner for ABC.   The ratings last night were strong (3.7 rating and 10.57 million viewers.)  Luckily for Cougar Town, it’s already renewed, but Mr Sunshine had the highest ratings in that time slot (the same as Cougar Town’s) since Cougar Town premiered in 2009.  Now let’s not get crazy.  Let’s see what the numbers look like in a few weeks but it is certainly great news for the mid-season rookie!!  Of all the new comedies that have premiered so far mid-season (and I think there are 1 or 2 more to go), Mr Sunshine is the best.  You should check it out!

 

REVIEW: Traffic Light “Pilot” S1 E1

I feel like when it comes to new comedies, I am reviewing the same show over and over again.  Here we have another comedy about 3 couples where the guys are college friends and are working on the balance between keeping their friendships going same as always and dealing with their relationships.    The show follows Mike, Adam, and Ethan.  Mike is married to Lisa and they have a baby.  Adam and Callie are just moving in together.  Ethan is single and uses his British accent to pick up women.  There was a 4th friend, Ben (who loves Chumbawamba’s Tub Thumping), but he passed away.

The characters were fine and there were some laughs here and there but this show seems to be going after the stereotypical laugh.  Meaning, the guys are always trying to find ways to see each other but since their wives/girlfriends are such shrews, they have to make up ridiculous lies and excuses to get out of the house to see each other.  Although, the one girlfriend, Callie, seems ok so I don’t know why Adam feels the need to have to lie to her.  The wife, Lisa, is a total bitch so I can see why Mike has to lie to her.  She apparently is so awful that when his friends call him in the car, he has to set up a code to let them know when she is in the car so they don’t talk in front of her.  In one scene, he promised Adam to help him out with his boss’ son’s Bar Mitzvah but he also told Lisa he would have lunch with her and her boss.  Instead of telling her how he promised to help Adam to keep him from getting fired from his crazy boss, he has to lie to her.  He eventually gets caught in the lie and she is going to make him pay through the ringer for it.  I guess it’s funny but it’s also a little unoriginal.  Plus Lisa is so unlikable that I find it hard to laugh at their scenes.  Instead, I feel bad for Mike that he’s stuck being married to her.

As I always say, I like to give shows a few episodes before making a final decision and lots of times these pilots are just setting up the characters and it gets better over time.  Hopefully that’s the case with this show.  I didn’t think it was awful but maybe I’ve had my fill of shows like this and I’m not giving it a fair chance.  I just hope it gets more creative with the comedy.

 

REVIEW: The Chicago Code “Pilot” S1 E1

Oh look another cop show!  How fun.  Actually, it was.  The Chicago Code (CC) is a fast paced show that introduced us to the main players and set up the main story arc for the year…corruption in the name of Alderman Ronin Gibbons.  This is Shawn Ryan’s first network show since doing The Shield.  I never watched The Shield but have heard amazing reviews about the show and Ryan’s use of story and characters.  So I had high hopes.  And it didn’t disappoint.  Right away, I liked how they set up the main players and what this show (at least at this point) will be about.   Good cops taking down bad, corrupt politicians and the people who support them.  The lines that have been drawn are clear.  You know who is good and who is bad and I like that the show is not sugar coating anything or leaving anything up to interpretation.  It’s clear the show knows what direction it wants to go in and I think for new shows, that’s really important.  If the people behind the show don’t know what’s going on, how am I supposed to?  A show doesn’t always need mystery to work.  A clear vision with a solid cast is usually a blueprint for success.  It seems, at least initially, that CC is using that blueprint quite effectively.

The Chicago Code stars Jennifer Beals as Superintendent Teresa Colvin from the CPD, who is the first woman to hold the position.  My husband hates when shows use voice overs because he thinks they can be distracting.  I don’t mind them if they are used the right way and I think they were used very effectively here.  There was a lot going on in the pilot and the show runners wanted to give you the background on the main players as simply and quickly as they could to be able to set up the main storyline.  I also liked that it emphasized who we should be paying attention to as the main players.  We got to hear how Teresa became a cop and worked her way up the ranks faster than anyone else.  So not only is she the first woman to hold the post, but the youngest.  She’s smart, she’s tough, and she’s experienced.  But being in her position, as who she is, she has a tough road and not everyone is supportive of her.  This is amplified when she has to demote a veteran detective and he threatens her.  It was a short scene but it set up that not everyone is ready to jump in line with Teresa Colvin.  Her ex partner is Detective Jarek Wysocki (played by Jason Clarke.)  When I was first getting to know him, I thought to myself “oh great.  Here’s another detective who always takes chances but is always right and blah blah blah.”  Jarek isn’t like that at all.  He’s a great detective and he is very by the book.  I think he’s a good guy who really loves the city of Chicago and wants it to be a safe as it can be.  He’s tired of the lying.  He’s tired of corruption.  He’s tired of not being able to trust his own people.  It’s probably why he gone through a bunch of partners since Teresa got promoted.  But then he gets assigned a newbie who may work out.  The newbie is Detective Caleb Evers (played by Matt Lauria.)  I instantly like him.  He’s not as experienced as Jarek but he’s smart and seems to have good instincts.  Eventually, Jarek notices this too and tells him they can be partners, even though Jarek’s a Sox fan and Caleb’s a Cubs fan!  The other set of partners we are introduced to are Officers Isaac Joiner (played by Todd Williams) and Vonda Wysocki (played by Devin Kelley.)  If you ask me if Vonda and Jarek are related I may have to throw beer at you.  With a name like Wysocki???  Of course they are!!!  She is his niece.  His brother, who was also a cop, died and Jarek raised Vonda himself.  Needless to say, he is very protective of her and is always giving Isaac the old stink eye.  She denies a relationship with Isaac but that admission comes into question later when they are at the hospital (more on that later) and she is crying in her car.  Isaac thinks she’s crying for her own safety since she was in a tricky situation earlier in the day that could have been very dangerous and Isaac was able to intervene.  She tells him she could care less about her life but she is incredibly afraid for his.  Finally, we meet the Big Bad, Alderman Ronin Gibbons (played by Delroy Lindo.)  Ronin is a corrupt politician with huge power in the city.  People in the past have tried, but failed, at taking Ronin down.  But Teresa and Jarek think they would like a crack at him now and think they have the people in place to do it.  Especially since Ronin was the one who put Teresa in the position of Superintendent, he thinks he has an ally in her…a lackey.  But he is terribly mistaken.

This is one of the best pilots I have seen this year.  I have seen too many shows with a great premise but fail to deliver on interest and succinctness.  The Chicago Code was pithy and impactful.  It even had an element of surprise!  STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED!!!   SPOILER ALERT!!! Near the end of the episode when Teresa is getting out of her car with her aide (I think his name was Anthony), shots rang out and she and Anthony are both shot.  She was hit by the first bullet and Anthony stepped in front of her to take the hit from the other bullets.   Just as I mentioned there are cops who have issues with Teresa, we learn that the cops who are behind her (Jarek and Anthony for starters) are clearly in her corner and would do anything for her…including taking a bullet.  Teresa ends up being ok but her aide is killed.  The weird thing is, when he was meeting with that gang on Teresa’s behalf, I said to my husband “I think this guy is going to die.”  Don’t ask me why, I just had a feeling.  Jarek meets her at the hospital and asks why she was wearing her vest?  She wasn’t wearing her vest, she tells him.  It was Anthony’s and he wouldn’t let me get out of the car without it. SPOILER END!!! I know a show is really good at character development when I have only know these people for about 30 minutes and I am already touched by them.  Or it could mean I am a complete and utter sap, I don’t know.  It’s probably the latter but I am going with the former and giving Ryan and the writers props!  That simple scene with the veteran cop also set up a side mystery…who wants Teresa out?  Is it them?  Is it Gibbons and his people?  Or someone else entirely?   Guess we’ll have to tune in to find out!  I know one thing is for certain, they have found a loyal viewer in me (and my husband!)

 

REVIEW: Fairly Legal “Pilot” S1 E1

I thoroughly enjoyed this show.   This is my first USA show (ducking while people are throwing things at me) and it did not disappoint.  I am a sucker for a good legal show and I like the twist on it with the lead being a mediator and former lawyer who works for her father’s firm which is now being run by Margaret Hamilton, I mean the woman who is the wife of her recently deceased father.

The show is pretty straight forward.  It centers around Kate Reed (played by Sarah Shahi) who is a former lawyer turned mediator and whose father has recently passed away.   She is working at his firm and her stepmother, Lauren (played by Virginia Williams) is now running the firm.   They don’t seem to like each other on the surface but it’s the pilot so I’m sure more will come out about their relationship and will slowly evolve over time.  Kate looks to be sleeping with Justin (played by Michael Trucco) who is an ADA (Assistant District Attorney) and also Kate’s ex-husband.  Since the show opens with them in bed and ends with some very nice words exchanged, they seem to be on good terms with each other.  Her brother Spencer (played by Ethan Embry) is also an attorney but seems to be a stay-at-home dad and doesn’t appear to work at their father’s firm.  Leo (played by Baron Vaughn) is Kate’s assistant and friend.  Finally there is the mysterious Andrew (played by Tim Fellingham) who is Kate’s neighbor (she lives on her dad’s boat in the marina) and potential suitor, maybe?   We’ll see.

Most of the episode is Kate running around like a chicken with her head cut off going from case to case.  One case is court appointed, one case is Lauren appointed, and one case she is just sticking her nose in.  But even as crazy as she comes off in the episode, I never feel like she is out of control.  She appears sporadic and bemused but she is smart, passionate, savvy and completely aware of her clients’ situations and how to handle them.   I would think as a mediator, it’s easy to come across as a know-it-all or condescending.  Kate is neither.  She exudes calmness and thoughtfulness and she truly wants to get to the heart of what is concerning her clients and what is causing them to be at odds.  She also has a great sense of humor.  In one of the opening scenes, she goes to get a cookie and some coffee and the store is being robbed at gun point.  She starts to talk to the gunman and store owner to see if they can come to a compromise.  Normally this would come across as preposterous but Sarah Shahi pulls it off very convincingly.  Turns out the gunman wants money for beer and beef jerky and wouldn’t you know it, the store he is robbing has both.  So Kate asks what his cost is on a case of beer and beef jerky and the owner says $17.50.  ”$17.50?  Really?  Who’s robbing who here?” Kate asks.  But the owner agrees to give the guy $50 worth of beer and jerky and it will only cost the owner $17.50.  My real job is in alcohol beverage industry and I have to say, if that truly is his mark up, he is robbing people.  Wow!!!!   Kate instantly comes off as someone you can root for, which I prefer in a lead protagonist role for my enjoyment.

As for the rest of the cast, they were very likable as well.  I am most curious about Lauren at this point.  It’s easy to assume she would be the bitchy trophy wife but she appears to have a genuine interest in keeping afloat her late husband’s firm (it is losing clients left and right and she is working hard to retain them.)  You also see a solid side to her when she has a drinks with a client she is trying to retain.  When he does agree to give her his business and she promises to go the extra mile to keep him happy, he immediately slides his room key over to her side of the table.  ”What is that” she asks and the dirt bag says “the extra mile.”  Oh Lord please tell me people don’t say things that cheesy or nasty!  She politely declines but thanks him once again for his business.  As she leaves, he shouts “what am I too young for you Lauren?  Should I call my father for you?”  What an asshole.  The look on her face made me want to jump through the TV set and give her a hug and him a swift kick in the groin.  I am also very interested to see how her relationship with Kate will possibly change over time as these two will need to work together to save the firm of the man they both love and respect.

Fairly Legal is on Thursdays at 10pm on USA.  I highly suggest you check this show out because it’s a keeper!

 

REVIEW: Perfect Couples “Pilot” S1 E1

This was not a bad as I thought it was going to be.  I pleasantly surprised that I didn’t hate.   Sounds like a ringing endorsement huh?   I wouldn’t walk away saying I loved Perfect Couples but it was entertaining enough that I will watch again.  Some parts worked well and other didn’t but overall, not too bad.

Dave and Julia

Of all the couples, they were my favorite and the most realistic.  Dave and Julia (played by the very funny Kyle Bornheimer and Christine Woods) are a normal couple who are trying to celebrate their wedding anniversary with some alone time.   Unfortunately their friends don’t really want that to be the case.   Having friends just like that, I completely empathize with Dave and Julia.  Right away I believed in this couple.  You can tell they genuinely care about each other and would do anything for each other as long as their friends didn’t screw it up.  Case in point, they finally have some alone time and Vance calls because he locked himself into their secretary’s bathroom and he needs Dave’s help to get out.  He refuses because he doesn’t want to upset Julia and Julia knows, with Dave being the loyal friend that he is, that it will kill him to not help Vance.  Instead, while she offers to take their dog out, she goes and gets Vance and brings him back to the house.  Dave can’t believe it and while they begin to argue, the creepy friends show up with Vance’s girlfriend and everyone is shouting.  Dave and Julia argue about how she always tries to be the cool wife and he usually plays dumb to when she is really upset.  The scary thing is, it sounded just like an argument my husband and I have had!   She’s pissed at him and he knows just the way to get her to release the anger.   The go to demo a house that a demo team was supposed to do for DAve and Vance’s firm but never did.  So they bash up cabinets and staircases with sledgehammers and bust through dry wall and look to have a really good time.   Two thumbs up on Dave and Julia.

Rex and Leigh

Two thumbs down here.  I didn’t find them funny or charming or even quirky.  I found them to be annoying.  How are these people friends?   I think Rex may be Julia’s brother but I’m not 100% sure.  These 2 are very cult like with their chanting of relationship jargon when they have a conflict.  The one thing that did make me laugh about them was how they always have to be doing something like game night or a wine/dinner cruise.  Again, we have friends just like that but they aren’t as bizarre and Stepford as Rex and Leigh.  I hope they tone it down a bit and luckily they aren’t soooo bad that they take away from the show….yet.

Vance and Amy

As crazy as these two were, they cracked me up.  Their scene during game night where they fought her voice being too awful for American Idol and him crushing her dreams was great!   I guess these two will be the fight-like-cats-and-dogs-but-have-mad-crazy-sex-afterwards-to-make-up couple.   Amy is hysterical.  Vance is fine.  Sometimes he can be over the top (like when he was wearing Julia’s dead mother’s robe and when he was trapped in Isabella’s bathroom) but then he can really funny (the game night scene and the scene where he is heartbroken over Dave choosing Julia over him.)

I will definitely watch the show again.  I wasn’t the funniest 30 minutes of TV but it did make me laugh out loud a few times and certainly wasn’t as bad as Running Wilde.  So I say check it out and see what you think.

 

 

REVIEW: Harry’s Law “Pilot” S1 E1

I’m really not sure where to begin.   There are things I liked, things I was confused by, and things I flat-out hated.  I can’t say I liked the show and I can’t say I didn’t like the show.  I guess I will say the jury is still out (pardon the pun.)  I think I need to see a few more episodes to make a proper assessment.

Harry’s Law is about a patent lawyer, Harriet Korn (played by the wonderful Kathy Bates) who decides to tell her boss that she is totally bored with patent law and is frustrated with her job.  Apparently for the last month, her work hasn’t been up to snuff.  So he promptly fires her while she is watching Yosemite Sam on TV and smoking pot.  This was one of the aspects I was confused by.  You have the best patent lawyer in Ohio who was at your firm for 30+ years.  She has one bad month and is a little disgruntled so instead of talking with her about her attitude and seeing if you can come to a compromise, you just fire her?  Does that make any sense?  At least when Ally McBeal left her big firm for Richard’s, it was for a good reason (sexual harassment from her boss.)   After leaving her firm, in a matter of a few hours, a suicide jumper drops on top of her sending her to the hospital with no injuries and a patent lawyer foe hits her with his car sending to the same hospital with again, no injuries.  In the same neighborhood, where she was almost killed twice in one day, she finds an abandoned shoe store that she decides to convert into her new law firm with her assistant, Jenna (played by Brittany Snow.)  The suicide jumper, Malcolm (played by Aml Ameen) comes to see her and asks her to defend him against a 3rd time drug charge.  He’s going to school and knows he has a problem and needs help but he didn’t want to go to jail and that’s why he jumped.  Meanwhile, the patent foe, Adam (played by Nathan Corddry) has decided to leave his cushy job at a firm to join forces with Harry.  This was another confusing part for me.  Why would you leave a job where you are most likely making $175,000-$300,000 a year to join a firm where the partner can’t afford to pay you, just so you can learn from her?  Ok.  Then comes Damien (played by Johnny Ray Gill) who is the local thug who does “security” for the local businesses for a price.  Basically, he threatens them by saying if they don’t pay him to keep them safe, bad things will happen to them.  Nice guy.  Harry turns the tables on him though by saying he will keep them safe and she will give him free legal representation when he will need it.  And it doesn’t take long when he is arrested for shooting someone.   This is our main cast for the show.

There are 2 cases going on, Malcolm’s and Damien’s.  I guess I am supposed to feel sympathy for both of these kids but I can’t.  I just met these characters tonight.  If I have any empathy it’s for Malcolm who I assume is a good kid because he is going to be a regular on the show and work as a paralegal in her firm.  And he seemed genuinely concerned about finishing school and getting help for his drug addiction.  Damien I have no sympathy for.  He’s a thug who goes around threatening people to get what he wants and not 5 minutes later in the show, he’s involved in a shooting at one of the local businesses.  I have to say, I love the way Harry put him in his place and showed that a punk like him isn’t going to scare her.  But she also showed her compassion by saying that if he doesn’t protect the firm, she will defend him for free.  When we get into the individual cases is when I get to the part of the show I hated.  In Malcolm’s case, the prosecutor is in the middle of cross-examining Malcolm and when he asks a question Harry doesn’t like, she announces her opposing opinion in the middle of the cross.  And instead of objecting, the prosecutor gets into it with her and they start to debate the issue of legalizing drugs (oh and bashing Republicans)…IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROSS EXAMINATION AND THE JUDGE DOES NOTHING!  Seriously?   So I guess this was David E Kelley soap box time instead of Harry’s Law time.  And after the spirited debate, the judge asks Malcolm to step down.  Guess he’s not getting questioned after all.  In regards to Damien’s case, we learn that yes he has an illegal weapon (because it isn’t registered) and runs a shady “security” business but he does it to protect the people in a neighborhood that the cops ignore.  So he’s a nice criminal.  When Adam goes to his arraignment, he only needs to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty….that’s it.  Instead, it’s liberal soap box time again and we get a 5 minute rant on how no one cares about poor people.  Finally the judge has had enough and asks for the plea, which he enters not guilty.   Damien is pumped because no one has ever fought for him like that before and Adam is able to get a plea deal.

I hate talking politics.  Especially when it comes to a fun TV blog.  But when a show runner forces my hand, I have to comment on it.  As I have mentioned on this blog before, I HATE when writers and show runners use their show to vocalize their side of the political spectrum instead of focusing on what I as a TV viewer want and that is entertainment, not propaganda.    If David E Kelley wants to vocalize his belief system, fine.  Then do a show about lobbyists or congressmen and women or campaign managers trying to get candidates elected.  Then those kinds of monologues that Harry and Adam had would make perfect sense.  I don’t purport myself to be a Republican or Democrat because I have beliefs on both sides of the aisle…just depends on the topic.  So I don’t care what the view-point is.  What I do care about is having one of my TV characters going all Keith Olbermann or Glenn Beck on me in the middle of my show.   And if this is what Harry’s Law is going to be about, a platform for Kelley to spew his political agenda on my TV screen, especially in a way that disrupts the flow of the show, I won’t be watching anymore.  I guess what bothers me, is that he could have interjected those views about drugs and the poor in a very simple and believable way in the courtroom…during closing arguments.  Not in the middle of a cross-examination and not at an arraignment.  The way it came across was like “stop the show!!!  David has a view-point he needs to get across here.”  And once the stance was made, it was back to the show.  Don’t you dare preach to me.  I think this show has some potential but not if it’s going to be about using this show as a way to vocalize, quite blatantly, what he thinks the American public should be absorbing. For the love of God, the West Wing wasn’t even that preachy.  That’s why I want to reserve judgement on the show until I watch a few more episodes.  If it gets toned down or is inserted in a more subtle way or in a context that doesn’t take away from the characters, plot, or flow of the show, I’m ok.  But if this continues, I won’t watch it ever again.

Having said all that, I do like Kathy Bates.  I know there are some people who have an issue with her character but I don’t.  She seems to be a complex person I want to learn more about.  I find her to be tough, intelligent, honest, fearless, and no-nonsense.  But I also see a softer side and a woman with a great heart and passion for her belief system.  Also liked Jenna and Malcolm.  Adam, I’m not sure about.  He’s a little over the top for me and if he becomes a Kelley cartoon character, like some of his other characters in his shows have become, I won’t like him.  But it’s still early.  I’m not sure how I feel about the shoe store element.  I reminds me a little of the show “Ed.”  Ed had a law firm in a bowling alley and was referred to as a bowling alley lawyer.  ”I own a bowling alley and I’m a lawyer.   Two separate things” is how Ed used to always correct people.  I think as a source of early revenue to help get her firm started, it’s not a bad idea.  But if the show continues and Harry gets more established, I would be surprised to see the shoe element go away.

What did you think of Harry’s Law?  Will you be tuning in again or checking it out if you haven’t yet?   Let me know!

 

REVIEW: The Whole Truth “Pilot” S1 E1

Wow this show tanked in the ratings!   That I was not expecting and I’m not really sure why it didn’t do very well.  I know it was against Part II of the season premiere of L&O SVU and the new show The Defenders, but wow!  It has a good cast and a good premise so what happened?

Since I’m not an industry member or a TV expert by ANY means, I’m not a good judge at knowing the pulse of the TV viewer.  I would have surmised that most TV viewers like serialized dramas, law shows, cop shows, and investigative shows.   Why else would there be 3 CSIs, 2 NCISs, 2 Criminal Minds (the 2nd is coming in the spring), and 900 Law & Orders?   So I would have thought The Whole Truth, at least out of the gate, would do well.  I don’t remember reading any bad press about the show or heard anything bad from people who saw advanced copies of the pilot so what gives?  I do, however, recall reading some other recaps AFTER the show aired that weren’t very endearing.  But I didn’t have the same opinion.

I really liked this show.  I am very excited to see Maura Tierney back on TV, especially after all she had to survive with her health last year!   I didn’t think I was going to like Rob Morrow’s character after seeing promotions for the show.  But I liked his character much more than I thought I would.  I am a big fan of law shows.  The Practice is my all time favorite.   But usually shows like this give you just one side of the equation.  Or the show is about one side, even though you do see the other, so you are conditioned to root for them to win.  No one wants to see a show about defense lawyers who always lose to the prosecution.  So 95% of the time, they do win.  With The Whole Truth, both sides are the star of the show so in theory, it should always be a crap shoot who wins.  This week’s case, about a teacher charged with the rape and murder of one of his students, was a toss-up.  I really didn’t know who was going to win.  I thought he was guilty.  Then at one point I thought it was either his son or his daughter that committed the crime.  But at the end of the show, the teacher is convicted and the jury was right because the last scene shows the daughter going through her father’s book and finding a key piece of evidence, covered in the victim’s blood, falling on the floor.

I liked seeing the case develop from both sides and seeing how certain conversations come back into play after seeing the defense or prosecution’s side of the investigation.  I know that bothered some people who saw the show but it didn’t bother me at all.  I liked how there is a competition and rivalry between Jimmy and Kathryn but there is also a mutual respect of what the other person has to do for their job.  Sometimes in these types of shows, you don’t get that kind of respect.   There is a hatred more than a rivalry and I think in some of those shows, that’s how the writers want it to be.  In a show like this, you need to make both sides, to some degree, likable and I think the writers did that.  And I thought they did a good job casting.

I shouldn’t get too attached to this show because if the ratings continue like they did this week, this show won’t see Halloween.

 

REVIEW: Running Wilde “Pilot” S1 E1

Running Wilde is about a ridiculously wealthy “man,” Steven Wilde (played by Will Arnett) who is a trust fund kid with no social graces who reconnects with the girl he loved Emmy (played by Keri Russell.)   Emmy was the daughter of one of Steven’s housekeepers and the two of them had a young flirtation that I assume turned into romance before he mother was fired and Emmy moved away.  She is an environmental conservationist who has been living in the African jungle with her daughter Puddle.  Are you freaking kidding me with that name?   Puddle hasn’t spoken in 6 months.   When they come back to the United States because they were invited to an event honoring Steven’s humanitarian work (it’s a self-given award to Steven since he has always wanted to win one) Emmy and Puddle are effected differently.  Emmy is impressed with Steven’s accomplishment until she realizes that Wilde Oil, his father’s company and the company trying to destroy the land where she has been working in Africa, is giving him the award and she puts 2 and 2 together realizing that he is giving himself the award.  She storms out.  Puddle has realized there is real food outside of eating plants and dirt.  She is eating any french fry she can get her hands and is shoving them down 20 at a time!  I would too if I was her.  Puddle is then seen flirting with this boy back and forth, that is until she reaches over and plucks the leaf off a plant and starts to eat it.  When Puddle realizes her mom wants to take her back to the jungle, she sneaks into Steven’s limo and finally talks.  She begs him to help her find a way to stay.   Steven enrolls his next door neighbor, Fa’ad, with whom he constantly has competitions with about who can be more extravagant with their money, to play a psychiatrist and convince Emmy that Puddle needs to stay.  It doesn’t work and Emmy wants to leave.  Puddle tells her mom she doesn’t want to go back.  Emmy is so excited she can speak she missed Puddle’s point.  Puddle tells her it was her idea and not Steven’s to use the rouse on her.  She then goes back in and asks Steven why he didn’t tell her the truth and he says because he didn’t want to get Puddle in trouble.   With that, she decides to stay and change Steven into a “good man.”  While he is going to try to change Emmy into a “bad girl.”

Ugh, I was so disappointed in this show.  I didn’t see Arrested Development and I know people who watched it, RAVED about that show.   But Will Arnett’s character annoyed the hell out of me.  I didn’t find him or the show to be very funny.  Other than the scene with Puddle eating the plant in front of the boys, I didn’t laugh.   I love Keri Russell but I am already pissed off at her character for several reasons: #1 you named your child Puddle, #2 you force your child to live a world with no school, no friends, no hygiene, #3 your work is SO important that with one nice gesture from a guy you haven’t seen in about 20 years and you decide to move in with him, #4 you named your child PUDDLE!

I always like to give a show 4-5 episodes to get their feet under them before I give up and I will do the same here.  But it better pick up in the comedy department fast or I am gone.

 

REVIEW: Mike & Molly “Pilot” S1 E1

There were 3 new comedies premiering this fall that I was really looking forward to and Mike & Molly was one of them.   (Better with You and Running Wilde were the other 2.)  I am happy to say,  it didn’t disappoint!   The only people in the cast I was familiar with were Melissa McCarthy (Sookie from Gilmore Girls and Dena from Samantha Who) and Swoosie Kurtz (really what hasn’t this woman been in.)  Both actress I absolutely love!

The premise is simple, 2 people who happen to be pleasantly plump, meet at an OA (Overeaters Anonymous) meeting and have an instant connection.  Molly is a 4th grade teacher and Mike is a cop.   The supporting cast includes Mike’s partner Carl, Molly’s mother (played by Kurtz) Joyce, her sister Victoria (who stole most of the scenes she was in), and the manager of the restaurant, Samuel.   There were some great lines that had me laughing out loud and since I’m a sucker for physical comedy, the scene where Mike is trying to ask out Molly for the first time and he leans on the table and breaks it (as well as dislocating his finger…which was really nasty by the way) had me in stitches.  Victoria has the best lines so far and Katy Mixon could be a breakout if M&M hangs around.

On a side note, as much as I love intelligent, witty comedy, nothing strikes me funnier than good, physical comedy.  Someone walking into a door, someone getting hit in the head by accident with a bat, someone slipping and knocking someone else over who had a hot cup of coffee in their hand who then in turn burns the person standing next to them….hilarious!!!  This is one of the many reasons I loved Scrubs so much and why I thought the king of physical comedy, may he rest in peace, John Ritter, was one of the funniest people I had ever seen!  I know some people think it’s a cheap laugh.  I don’t care.  Funny is funny and to me physical comedy can be truly gut busting.

I think Mike & Molly has a good chance of lasting.  The one issue I had, and I have confidence that it will subside, too many fat jokes.  Considering the people and the plot, I get it.  But I hope not every episode is going to be filled with fat jokes.  One or two, ok.  But after a while that will get annoying so I hope the writers tone that down.  But I recommend checking out Mike & Molly.