New Fall TV Show Picks

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After reading all the blog-hype this summer and viewing whatever clips/pilots we could find on YouTube, we’ve got our picks for new shows that seem the most interesting/original/well-made/least lame.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, NBC, Monday @ 9pm. On September 18, you can see the pilot. We caught it in early August when it was on YouTube (before NBC took it down), but if you can’t wait a couple of weeks, Netflix has it available for rent. This show is a behind-the-scenes look at a late night comedy show, featuring Matthew Perry and Amanda Peet (among others).

The writing on Studio 60 is intelligent without being pedantic, and overall the pilot is deserving of all the hype. We never caught on to The West Wing, but this show is right up our pop-culture-loving alley. For some reason NBC has two shows this season about the workings of SNL-like shows. This one looks to be the one that will last, or so we hope.
Friday Night Lights, NBC, Tuesday @ 7pm, starting October 3. Filmed in Central Texas (headquartered in Austin), this show focuses on a small-town Texas high-school football team [watch for Mack Brown in this promo]. It stars Kyle Chandler, also known as the guy who got blown up on Grey’s Anatomy, as the coach.
Ugly Betty, ABC, Thursday @ 7pm, starting September 28. Based on a Colombian telenovela (Yo Soy Betty La Fea) and exec-produced by Salma Hayek, this show looks very promising [trailer with Spanish subtitles]. A bespectacled unattractive young lady takes a job at a fashion magazine and we follow her from there. We have high expectations for this show, mainly because the wonderful America Ferrera (Real Women Have Curves) is the star.

Heroes, NBC, Monday @ 8pm, starting September 25. This show looks to have a large cast, and besides the superhero angle [see the trailer], we’re not sure what the plot will be. Still, Greg Grunberg is in it, as well as that guy from Love Jones and that gal from Legally Blonde. We’re intrigued enough to try to catch the pilot.
The Knights of Prosperity, ABC, Tuesday @ 8pm, starting October 17. We were more interested in this show when it was called Let’s Rob Mick Jagger. This other title, well, it’s a lot less exciting. We’ll probably try it out, since it is done by the creators of Ed.

Also Could Be Good:

Runaway, CW, Monday @ 8pm, starting Sept. 25. Ex-New Kid on the Block Donnie Wahlberg stars as a family man who's running from the law.
Brothers & Sisters, ABC, Sunday @ 9pm, starting Sept. 24. Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Sally Field and more star in this show about a messed-up family.

Also see:
[AAS critic Diane Holloway’s fall picks]
[Laurel's TV Picks: Fall 2006 schedule]

* Photo of Studio 60 cast (c) Art Streiber for NBC

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By Elizabeth S. in Other on August 29, 2006 10:50 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

eliz. s.

Those are all excellent points. =)

Perhaps both SNL-themed shows can find an audience and neither will get cancelled. Both of these shows seem dear to NBC, so maybe they will give them both a chance.

I can't recall the ratio of new shows that get renewed to new shows that get cancelled, but it's not a very optimistic ratio.

erikamay

*gasp!*

fwiw, tina fey did not want to act in this show, but the producers insisted that she play the main character (she just wanted to write for it).

again, i think it's taste - i saw the pilot where her chracter has to go track down tracy morgan and thought it was really funny.

plus, its directed by adam bernstein (scrubs, entourage).

eliz. s.

I'm also not a big Tina Fey fan. There! I admitted it!

eliz. s.

The clips I've seen of "30 Rock" have been nothing earth-shattering. If it does well, then good.

I tend to prefer hour-long drama/comedies to run-of-the-mill sitcoms, and unfortunately, this looks like your basic laugh-track-added sitcom.

You'll have to let me know what you think after you see the pilot.

erikamay

i disagree on the Studio 60 vs. 30 Rock pick...i think its really going to come down to what you think is funny (pop culture jokes vs. character driven comedy).

although 30 Rock isnt stocked with the array of marquee names that Studio 60 has (other than alec baldwin and tina fey), it has alot more folks with awesome comic timing, writing sensibilities and the ability to play characters.

i will concede the pro of aaron sorkin in the Studio 60 column.

rabble-rousing about TV! yeh!

Bre

SO excited about Studio 60. Love Perry, love Whitford, love Sorkin. It's been a long time since I've actually looked forward to a new television show.