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Let the 2013 TV midseason forever be known as the season of the sensitive serial killer, because it seems like everywhere you turn, there's a new show about the joys of slicing victims open for fun (or about learning about those joys). Fox's hollow The Following features a literary-professor-turned-eyeball-collector and a cult of dimwitted followers. A&E's Bates Motel has turned back the clock to tell a passable coming-of-age story of a young Norman "Psycho" Bates. And now NBC has Hannibal, a prequel of the Silence of the Lambs prequel Red Dragon. 

But is Hannibal a killer new series or just a copycat that'll give me a chance to murder a bunch of terrible puns? I've seen the pilot episode and I'm here to answer your questions in another edition of "Hey TV.com, Should I Watch [This Show]?"  

Hannibal? What is this, some sort of Silence of the Lambs prequel? 

Yes! But, as I said above, it's even more prequel-y than that! Hannibal is set before the events of Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon, and stars Hugh Dancy (The Big C) as socially awkward FBI profiler Will Graham. After taking time off from hunting serial killers to lecture at the academy, he's brought back into the fold by the agency's head of behavioral sciences Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) when a particularly nasty man in Minnesota starts killing young women. Crawford eventually recruits Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, Casino Royale), who *spoiler alert for those of you who were just born three seconds ago* secretly likes to kill people and eat them, to help Graham catch other serial killers, and voila! You have yourself a TV show.

What kind of twisted mind is behind Hannibal? 

One of the best in the business, Bryan Fuller. The Wonderfalls, Pushing Daisies, and Mockingbird Lane creator gets a little more serious here, but his panache for morbid imagery and sharp dialogue is present even when he leaves his normal fancifulness at home.

When does Hannibal serve its first course?

Hannibal debuts on Thursday, April 4 in the 10pm death slot on NBC. The first season is a firm 13 episodes long, and I won't be surprised if NBC has a long leash on this one. You can probably watch it without fear of it being canceled early.

What kind of audience will lap up Hannibal? 

There's a cable sensibility to Hannibal, and that's immediately apparent in the opening scene, which uses half of the episode's fake-blood budget in just a few minutes. But wanton violence isn't the only draw here. Hannibal is for the Hannibal Lecter in all of us, the type of person who embraces gore and violence from an intellectual level. With strong characters and gruesome crime scenes, there's a bit of Sherlock and Dexter rolled into one show.

What makes Hannibal work?

First and foremost, tone. Between Fuller's creepy imagination and director David Slade's (Awake) eye for darkness, Hannibal is total eyeball candy for those of us too old to paint our fingernails black anymore. Hannibal's score—which is mostly effective, buzzy electronic tones and chirps that sound like someone fell asleep on the keyboard—punctuates the schizophrenia of its central characters. But what really makes Hannibal so much better than the aforementioned midseason slaughterhouse shows is its attention to the psychology of killing (rather than just blaming it on Edgar Allen Poe), mostly conveyed through Graham's ability to reenact horrific murder scenes within his supremely empathetic imagination by virtually placing himself in the killers' boots. And acting! These dudes can totally act, particularly Dancy as the hinge-less, angry, and uncooperative Graham. Mikkelsen's Lecter is nicely subdued, too.

What won't we like about Hannibal?

As with all FBI profiler series, things feel reverse-engineered to fit the allotted time of network television, but that's more of an inherent problem with the genre than with this particular show. Sticklers will also question some of the procedures, like how Graham and Lecter end up pursuing killers alone despite the fact that Graham is an unstable agent and Lecter isn't even an agent at all. And of course there's the big question of sustainability, which comes from knowing that Lecter won't be exposed as a serial people-eater despite working directly with one of the FBI's best profilers. 

Well, should I watch it or not?

I'm going to go ahead and say, "Yes sir/ma'am/gaseous cloud of extraterrestrial energy." Hannibal is a much more complete show than The Following, and one of the better new offerings NBC has put out in the past year.

Can I see a trailer?

Sure!

What should I drink with my viewing of Hannibal?

The easy answer is Chianti, but I'm going to say HUMAN BLOOD. With rum.

Hannibal premieres Thursday, April 4 at 10pm on NBC.

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A quirky, non-traditional family works together to raise a precocious child with some help from their off-beat friends, including awkward co-workers and non-threatening exes. Sounds a lot like Raising Hope or The New Normal or the late Ben and Kate, all of which have obviously influenced ABC's new midseason comedy How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life), right down to the sexual grandmas (and great-grandmas) and the indulgent (usually-in-a-good-way-but-sometimes-in-a-creepy-way) parents.

Single parents navigating the waters of child-rearing with a little backup from their zany families and friendlies aren't anything new to television, but unlike police procedurals and Grey's Anatomy wannabes, I don't think we can necessarily have too many of them because, you know, different strokes and all that. But how will this one measure up? I've seen the pilot and I'm ready to tell you just that.

Obnoxious title aside (we'll get to that in a few), what's HTLWYPFTROYL about? 

Scrubs alum Sarah Chalke plays Polly, an uptight mom who left her lovable loser husband Julian (Jon Dore of The Jon Dore Television Show) to move back in with her free spirit parents, Elaine and Max (Weeds' Elizabeth Perkins Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett, respectively). Along for the ride are Polly's scared-of-everything daughter, Natalie (relative newcomer Rachel Eggleston), and Polly's twenty-something co-worker/bestie, Jenn (Friday Night Lights' Stephanie Hunt). Polly wants to be a better mother to Natalie than Elaine was to her, but the debate over what actually makes a good mother is one of those debates that is clearly meant to be a theme of the show.

Who decided that a series with a title that's harder to remember when it's shortened was a good idea?

Claudia Lonow, primarily known as Diana Fairgate on Knots Landing, but who also claims producing credits on Less Than Perfect and Cashmere Mafia, created the series and serves as an executive producer alongside Brian Grazer (Arrested Development, 24, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood) and Francie Calfo (The Playboy Club, Scoundrels).

When does HTLWYPFTROYL air?

Wednesdays at 9:30pm, starting April 3 on ABC.

Will I like HTLWYPFTROYL?

If you like Raising Hope, you might like How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life). It's the latest in a long line of goofy-but-has-a-heart sitcoms about an entire village of oddballs getting together to raise a cute kid. Weeds fans will definitely see flashes of Celia in Perkins' Elaine. Chalke's Polly is basically Elliot with a kid. There are raunchy lines combined with situations to accommodate your saccharine family moments, so it's not a complete cheese-fest. It's just one of those shows that if you like that sort of show, then you'll probably like it. If quirky family sitcoms make you want to scream, I'd spare your vocal chords and steer clear.

What's good about HTLWYPFTROYL?

The casting is solid, boasting a strong ensemble of comedy and dramedy veterans, so chemistry, delivery, and all the other good things that make a cast fun to watch aren't really an issue. The writing (at least in the first episode) is strong. Everybody is pretty lovable, including the supposedly horrific parents Polly moves back in with. The pilot balances funny sitcom stuff with the heavier family themes pretty well. If the show can maintain that balance, I think How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) might eventually overcome its awful, cringey title. Or maybe the title will work in the show's favor; I went in expecting crap and was pleasantly surprised to get something better.

What's bad about HTLWYPFTROYL (other than the title)?

No, actually we need to talk about the title because the mouthful is so ridiculous and cumbersome that I think it could easily repel potential viewers with its impressive ridiculousness. How to Live With Your Parents alone might have sufficed, and honestly, that's what I personally call it when I'm not trying to masochistically sound out something resembling a word when forced to resort to an acronym that looks like it might actually be the name of some sort of new pharmaceutical drug. But even How to Live With Your Parents on it's own doesn't fully convey what the show is about. It's not about a grumpy teenager who rebels against her curfew and cries because Daddy didn't buy her an iPhone 5 as soon as it came out. It's not about twenty-something recent grads forced to bunk in Mom's basement because the job market blows and, in retrospect, majoring in Napoleonic French history with a concentration in poetry and a minor in Sociology probably wasn't the wisest career move.

There are also visual references that pop up throughout the pilot in the form of arrows pointing to new faces, with nifty introductions and explanations of who they are and what they do. Personally, I think they're a cute way to avoid getting bogged down in exposition, but I can see how they might get annoying in the long run (if they last). The shortcut can also be frustrating if you're not the type of viewer who parks it on the sofa and doesn't move for the entire duration of an episode since they kind of require you to, you know, pay attention.

And finally, I don't know how long Polly's anal-retentive, clingy, helicopter parenting can go on before it turns her into "the annoying one" in the cast. 

Do you recommend watching HTLWYPFTROYL?

I'd give it a shot. I've only seen the pilot, so I can't vouch for long-term enjoyment, but I enjoyed the pilot. There's nothing particularly groundbreaking here, but it's a seems like an enjoyable series if you like types of shows it's descended from.

Where can I sample this hellish acronym action for myself?

There are some clips on Hulu, and here's a trailer: 

What beverages should I have on hand if I decide to tune in to HTLWYPFTROYL?

Elaine suggests a morning tequila and Max claims that the blue pills are the fun ones. I would stick to one or the other unless, you decide halfway through that you don't want to remember what you're watching.

How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) premieres Wednesday, April 3 at 9:30pm on ABC.

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Stop me if you've heard this one before: CBS is about to debut a new police procedural! This time it's called Golden Boy , and it's one of the few midseason entries The Eye has planned for this half of the TV season. But c'mon, is it another run-of-the-mill CBS cop show or is it the next mind-blowingly awesome genre-bending water-cooler-crowding living-room-couch-seatbelt-needing SUPER TV ART PIECE? Well, pal, I've seen the first two episodes and I'm about to answer some of those questions. Here we go!

The hour-long drama centers on Walter William Clark, Jr. ( Bedlam 's Theo James, another Brit trying to crack the U.S.), a self-made man from a rough background who is shooting up the ranks of the New York Police Department faster than a precinct captain can take down a glazed donut (cop humor!). In fact, we know that in seven years he'll be the youngest police commissioner in the history of the NYPD because the pilot tells us that right in the beginning! Yup, Golden Boy shows us the end (seven years later) before it shows us the boring middle point, and that's part of its gimmick. In the future, Clark is police chief and explaining how he got there. In the past, where we spend the bulk of our time, he's a beat cop who just got promoted to detective. So I guess that makes it kind of like How I Met Your Police Commissioner ?

Nicholas Wootton, who previously wrote and produced some serious copper shows like N.Y.P.D. Blue and Law & Order , as well as Chuck . Prolific producer Greg Berlanti ( No Ordinary Family , Dirty Sexy Money , Arrow ) is also on board.

Golden Boy debuts in a special slot on Tuesday, February 26 at 10pm on CBS. Then it'll air Episode 2 on Tuesday, March 5 before moving to Fridays at 9pm (right in front of Blue Bloods ) on March 8.

CBS isn't rocking the boat too hard here, delivering a procedural that will keep its preinstalled audience happy. But there is a bit of trickery at play, designed to make Golden Boy slightly more than what you're used to, and there's also a heavy character-driven part of the series that's trying to keep pace with cable dramas, draw in younger viewers, and stock trophy cases with awards. If you can't get enough of, "FREEZE! This is the police!" then this will be right up your alley.

It's slightly more than a procedural, with some opportunity for some great characterization if the show goes where I hope it goes with Clark and the other detectives (please go there, show!). Some of the action scenes are very solid, and the show knows how to do high-intensity very well. And the gimmick about jumping forward seven years in the future has lots of potential if it's used right. If the first two episodes are any indication, it looks like each season will move in a linear fashion. But could they surprise us and jump around across the timeline? The possibility for time travel is there (though it might be a bit much for CBS to go very far with it). Also, can Chi McBride be in every television show? The man is awesome, and he's his usual fantastic self in Golden Boy as Clark's mentor and partner. It's nice to see Holt McCallany ( Lights Out ) back on TV as well.

Here's the thing about Clark: He's kind of a dick. His drive and determination are admirable, but he isn't exactly happy-fun-times to hang out with for an hour. But that's not necessarily a deal-breaker because Clark the Dick is the character the show wants to explore. He's not a nice guy, but we're supposed to root for him anyway. And because we spend time in the future we know the fates of some of the characters in the past. Depending on your particular tastes, that could ruin the surprise. Aside from the gimmick and a larger focus on character, Golden Boy is fairly standard as far as police procedurals go.

This is one to keep an eye on, so if you're a fan of the genre, give it a look with medium expectations. At worst, it's a decent network procedural that echoes Southland but in the Big Apple. At best, it uses its time-jumping technique to great effect and really brings its characters to life, possibly reshaping the police drama.

Hmmm... okay.

Vodka. Rocks. And be mean about it.

Golden Boy premieres Tuesday, February 26 at 10pm on CBS.

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Groping its way out of a schedule that was becoming a little reality show/Hitler/alien heavy, the History Channel found success last year with its first ever scripted miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys. So now audiences get to be entertained by Vikings, the nine-part tale of legendary Norse hero Ragnar Lodbrok and his rise to the throne of medieval Scandinavia. That’s all well and good, but will the show send you to the paradise of Valhalla, or pillage your brain and put it on a pike? The wise and powerful Odin revealed to me the pilot episode, and here are my thoughts...

What is Vikings?

History’s first “stab” at serialized drama (there are stabs in this show). Our hero Ragnar’s not like other vikings (for one, he’s portrayed by Travis Fimmel, WB’s Tarzan/one of Australia’s 10 million stud actors); instead of raiding the east like his corrupt lord and ruler Jarl Haraldsan  (Gabriel Byrne from In Treatment) keeps commanding him to, Lodbrok longs to travel west, across the ocean, to discover new civilizations. Along for the adventure is his brother Rollo (Clive Standen from Robin Hood and Camelot), and a gaggle of other asymmetrical haircut-sporting familiars. In the romance department, Ragnar’s wife Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick from Bones and holds a 3rd degree black belt) even gets to kick her share of butt as an equally legendary mythological lady warrior (real-life Xena?). Toss in a Skarsgard (Gustaf, the Clint Howard to Alexander’s Ron), some gorgeous Irish nature, and references to Norse gods, and you’ve got a recipe for good times.

Who created Vikings?

Michael Hirst, the writer and creator of Showtime’s The Tudors and a producer of The Borgias. This guy likes doing historical fiction, so History seems like a natural fit.

When does Vikings premiere?

Tomorrow! Sunday, March 3, at 10pm on the History Channel.

What audience is Vikings even for?

Oh you know, dads, dudes, metal heads, and history buffs. Anyone who likes seeing hunks being grimy, screaming brutes and getting impaled, as well as discussions of “fealty” over mugs of mead.

Huh, well what is the best thing about this show?

Its source material: In an age of repurposed, updated old stories and fairy-tale adaptations, it’s refreshing for a regular Norse saga to get a pretty normal treatment. Also, there's some capable folks on the production side of things, with Breaking Bad's Johan Renck directing the first three episodes, and Swedish electronic musicians Fever Ray offering up the credits song. This isn't just some extended dramatization, there's personality here! Also, Fimmel's a charismatic and relatable lead surrounded with an equally dedicated cast and high production values. With Byrne bringing his A-game, there could be the potential here for a super small scale Game of Thrones, albeit without the fantasy element.

And how about what isn't the best?

Since Vikings airs on the History Channel, you can never quite shake the feeling that tons of actual facts about viking life are being seeded into the dialogue (e.g. decrees about feasts, a court scene that explains laws about how many houses a murderer may pass). While fascinating at first, after a while lines like, "Odin gave his eye to acquire knowledge" pull you out of the drama a tiny bit. Also Ragnar's basic trajectory already seems familiar, without any risks being taken through storytelling or innovative character turns. Not every show has to be Enlightened, but if you don't have the patience for slow, straightforward stories, then maybe this ain't your battle to fight.

So, do I watch this, or eavesdrop on my neighbors and their problems?

Hell yeah watch it! If you’re anything like me, then a successful Sunday means cooking up a nice steak, cracking open a craft beer, and watching some muddy-ass sword fights. Vikings isn’t going to change TV as a medium, but makes a strong case for dramatizing a people that've so often been referenced, yet rarely featured.

Can I see a trailer?

Of course!

What beverage should I pair with my viewing?

Mead. Definitely mead.

Vikings premieres Sunday, March 3 at 10pm on the History Channel.

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You know and I know that an unidentified flying object landed in the Nevada desert in the late 1940s. You know and I know that crab people live on the moon and the government covered it up. And we're absolutely positive that President Obama is a socialist alien who's pushing an anti-gun agenda so his people can enslave us when we're unequipped to fight back. However, the greatest conspiracy of all is on ABC's new drama Zero Hour! But can your mind handle it? I watched the pilot episode twice, and I'm here to tell you one thing: PUT ON YOUR TINFOIL HAT AND PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ZERO HOUR!

The better question is what isn't Zero Hour about, because it's a globetrotting trip on Insanity Airlines that includes clocks, Nazis, Rosicrucians (an ancient religious secret society), and so much more that I can't even mention here because I want you to feel the raw power of having your mind blown. But what I can tell you is that Anthony Edwards (Goose!) plays Hank Galliston, the head of a skeptics magazine whose clock-making wife is kidnapped as part of an ages-old plan for the Nazis to take over the world I think? Hank's employees Arron (Scott Michael Foster a.k.a. Greek's Cappy!) and Rachel (Addison Timlin) and a very sexy FBI agent (Carmen Ejogo) tag along to help him.

The madman behind Zero Hour is Paul Scheuring, the creator of Fox's Prison Break. He hasn't done much since that show, mostly dabbling in unaired pilots. It's also worth noting that Taken director Pierre Morel helmed the pilot episode and is an executive producer. Also, I think some crazy homeless person on bath salts might have been involved.

Nothing says romance like a conspiracy thriller involving Nazis, so treat your Valentine to the premiere of Zero Hour on Thursday, February 14 at 8pm on ABC. If he or she hasn't walked out by 8:30pm, you've got yourself a keeper. Or a homicidal maniac.

People who liked The Da Vinci Code will want to give this a chance, as will every member of the Anthony Edwards Fan Club. The show might have some science-fiction elements to it, I'm not sure. But it's more FlashForward than [insert decent-to-good sci-fi property here].

The show certainly is imaginative! That's a nice way of saying that Zero Hour is all over the place, and for those of you who enjoy watching a series that makes little sense and just goes for it, you'll strike gold here. Zero Hour is loaded with twists and turns, some of which actually land, and there are a lot of appropriately shouty and sinister European actors. Also, this shouldn't be a series that drags out its big questions, as it's expected to wrap up the main mystery within its initial 13-episode order and reset things if it gets a second season. Edwards is so out-of-place as a TV hero that the disconnect actually works in the show's favor; you want to root for this guy!

"Good" is a relative term with this show, because really, it's all terrible—the dialogue, the acting, the plotting, all of it. But isn't that what can make it good? I mean, this show is so bonkers and bad that it's kind of fun to see how far it will go. Nazis! Possibly Nazi zombies! Maybe even weird babies and eternal life AND the threat of the end of the world? And lots and lots of clocks! I've seen the pilot twice and I have no idea what's going on. This is like the Double Dog Dare of television, see how long you can watch before going insane.

Oddly enough, yes, but only because you need to see it to believe it. As far as actually watching it and enjoying it? Nope, not a chance.

Here ya go!

Oops, wrong one. This is the guy you want:

Nothing! Don't you know your drink can be poisoned by the spooks who are watching you from that van across the street? The government puts brain-washing nanobots in the water supply, and bottled water is a money-grab orchestrated by Big Plastic! Don't drink anything EVER except your own spit!

Zero Hour premieres Thursday, February 14 at 8pm on ABC.

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Cult is The CW's newest attempt at a mind-blowing serialized thriller (RIP, Ringer) with lots of twists and turns and dimly-lit sets, and it premieres this week. But should you watch it? I've already seen the pilot, so please—allow me to advise!

Cult is a television show that airs on The CW about Cult—a television show that airs on The CW. The fictional Cult series has become a massive hit with legions of dedicated fans, and like every large fanbase, has its share of those who take things just a mite too seriously. Or a lot too seriously. Or they aren't crazy at all, but rather agents of a mysterious leader with ties to the TV show, which begs the question: Which came first? Did the cult spring up around the TV show or did the cult CREATE the TV show? Disgraced journalist Jeff Sefton (Matt Davis of Legally Blonde and The Vampire Diaries) tries to answer that and other questions when his little brother disappears after getting waaay too obsessed with his new favorite show. Jeff is joined by Skye Yarrow (Jessica Lucas from Cloverfield), a member of the show-within-a-show Cult's production crew who senses her TV show isn't JUST a TV show. Rounding out the main cast are Alona Tal (Jo from Supernatural) and Robert Knepper (Heroes, Prison Break) as the stars of the breakout series-within-a-series.

Cult was created by Rockne S. O'Bannon who also gave us Alien Nation, seaQuest DSV, and Farscape. O'Bannon also has another series debuting this spring, Syfy's heavily promoted (and anticipated!) Defiance (which also looks kind of cool, IMO). Busy dude! Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl, Chuck, The Carrie Diaries) is a producer, as are Stephanie Savage (Hart of Dixie, The O.C., The Carrie Diaries) and Len Goldstein (Hart of Dixie).

Cult premieres Tuesday, February 19 at 9pm on The CW.

I can't very well say the audience of The Following since the two shows' debuts are so close that it's doubtful either series is trying to steal the other's thunder, but if you like The Following (or at least the *idea* of The Following), you'll probably dig Cult. You migh also enjoy the show if you liked the conspiracy and mystery in last season's flop Ringer, but didn't care for the ridiculous soapy elements (join the club!).

I was expecting cheesy and campy, so I was delighted that most of Cult was actually kind of creepy—especially Knepper as charismatic cult leader Billy Grimm. However, if it's cheese that you want, there's enough silliness to keep things from getting too dark and scary. The story itself, once you get past the initial WHERE-AM-I-WHAT-IS-HAPPENING feeling, is actually pretty tight so far, and the pilot raised just enough of the right questions that I'm excited about future episodes.

Not every mind-blowing twist is all that amazing—some of them are pretty obvious, actually. Also, I spent most of the beginning of the pilot just trying to get my bearings straight. Even with a handful of official descriptions and a trailer or two under my belt before actually tackling the pilot, I found that I was hitting rewind fairly often through the first half of the episode because what the eff is going on? Cult likes to blur the lines between the fictional Cult and the actual Cult, with mixed results. Sometimes it's a neat artistic decision. Sometimes it's important. But sometimes it's just confusing. This is a series that could very quickly hang itself with its own twists if the writers aren't mindful. Still, it's kind of awesome. I promise. I won't say that it all makes sense in the end but I think that it MIGHT make sense, and I think it's possible for SOMETHING to make sense in the future, and for now, that's good enough for me.

In a word, yes! If it sounds like your thing, then yes, absolutely. Come for the crazy, stay for the plot. The pilot is exciting and the writing is sharp. Billy Grimm is creepy. The show-within-a-show thing has been done before, but it's fun, and The CW never seems to be taken seriously, so if nothing else, I'm willing to give this a chance. <3 you, C-Dubs (though I'm not sure why)!

BETTER: The whole pilot is currently available on Hulu. But here's a trailer anyway:

Kool-aid, of course!

Cult premieres Tuesday, February 19 at 9pm on The CW.

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Southland S05E01: "Hats and Bats"

It's a little crazy that Southland still exists in 2013. After a decent but brief first season on NBC, the show fell victim to former network president Jeff Zucker's plan to cut all typical 10pm programming and replace it with the now-immortal Jay Leno Show (seems forever ago, don't it?). Once it was picked up by TNT, the show's budget was slashed once or twice and the ratings never really popped (they've remained steady around 2 million viewers an episode for a few years now).

Yet here we are, with the show beginning its fifth season. The production team turned the negatives into positives, trimming the cast and focusing on a quartet of strong performers. No other show on the air replicates the realities—the horrifying, the stupid, and the mundane—of being a police officer in a major city like Southland. There are barely procedural cases (more like snippets from day-to-day procedure), and the characters rarely get any "wins" as executives like to say. This is a show about being a cop, whatever that might mean on a given day.

When I encourage friends or folks on Twitter to watch the show, I sometimes struggle with a more succinct way to describe how Southland is not like all of the other cop shows out there. Thankfully, I will never have that problem again thanks to a great line from Michael Cudlitz's John Cooper in last night's Season 5 premiere, "Hats and Hats." When asked by new trainee and former war vet Gary about how he deals with all the horrors and stresses of the job, Cooper calmly said, "It's a circus." In this episode alone, Cooper and Gary were called to a low-grade horror-movie-in-progress and a full-blown, violent riot on a major street. Ben and Sammy, the characters played by Ben McKenzie and Shawn Hatosy, attended an awards ceremony, texted while driving, found an old woman in a pool of her own blood, and almost got shot in what ended up being a partially fabricated drug deal perpetuated by Internal Affairs.

Yeah, I'd say "circus" describes this life pretty well.

What's so great about Southland is that it manages to tell all these tonally distinct stories within in one episode, week after week, without ever overdoing it. The show's on-the-ground vérité style expertly weaves little pieces of the officers' days together, oftentimes letting the tension between those in the car simmer until one or both of them can't take it anymore. In what was really the only "season premiere" signifier of the episode, "Hats and Bats" let us see just a little bit of the character's personal lives in the morning before a shift. Cooper's boyfriend wants more from him. Sammy's drugged-out ex-wife is trying to get more child support and/or full custody of a child that might not even be his. Lydia is miserable with her newborn baby. Ben prepares to be awarded for saving Sammy's life by getting a new haircut.

While none of these scenes were particularly evocative, they set the stage for another episode's worth of realistic inner personal drama between characters. Cooper and new guy Gary butted heads because Gary is a little messed up from the war but also doesn't particularly care to be a cop, something that offends the lifer Cooper. Sammy, on edge because of his ex's nonsense and a little jealous of Ben's award, couldn't help but pop off at any little thing throughout the day. And Lydia, always in dogged pursuit of whatever case she's working on, pushed even harder because she doesn't particularly want to go home to mess with her baby or her mother.

This kind of tension isn't new, for television, or for this series. Although this was Southland's 34th episode, its characters haven't changed much. However, the show doesn't need them to; it backs them into new corners and makes them face slightly different challenges, both of which bring out minor variations out in the characters. This storytelling is simple, but effective. While we always know what part of their lives characters are bringing into the car each shift, we also learn a lot about how the job impacts their lives once they get out of the car as well. McKenzie and Hatosy were tremendous together last season as new partners, and that continued last night, as some of the raw emotions between them have been replaced with more brotherly sparring. Cudlitz and Regina King do great work with whomever their partner is at a given time and in the premiere we saw how their veteran characters deal with—or in Cooper's case, ignore—big changes in their lives.

And even when the moderate character development isn't there, the on-the-job set pieces, or the circus-y elements, if you will, make Southland a worthwhile experience on their own. The show captures intensity and danger in shaky cam'd sequences like the mini-riot that Cooper and Gary drove into last night, but also nails the boring nature of a routine arrest in the park when a perp keeps complaining that he has to use the bathroom. Of course, one of those scenes was more traditionally enthralling. But for Southland, both were necessary because both situations are major parts of this job. And it's because the show gets the innocuous police work scenes so right that it can afford to blow it out with big, intense shootings, riots, and chases and keep the show on the same plane of reality.

Southland earns its action sequences because we know that the story will always come back to the quiet moments, as it did in "Hats and Bats." All four characters ended the episode alone: Cooper's boyfriend moved out, Lydia couldn't bring herself to face the baby or her own mother, Ben had to flee the parking lot of a strip club where a dancer had just fired off a few rounds, and Sammy decided to clean up the blood of the old woman who'd almost died earlier in the day. Both the good and the bad news is that they'll all be back in the car, at the center of the circus, very soon.

If you don't watch Southland, you should.

– Chad Michael Murray is doing a mini-arc on the show has a dirtbag cop. I don't know what I'm more excited for, that CMM and McKenzie are bringing their mid-aughts heart-throb powers together, or the former's epic cop mustache. I think it's the mustache. It's so amazing. He also plays a great scuz, which probably shouldn't be much of a surprise to any of us.

– I'm happy Lucy Liu is making that network TV money on Elementary, but I kind of miss her on this show. She and Cudlitz worked well together. Cooper's new partner is okay enough, I guess.

– I appreciate that this episode showed us that cops also text while driving. I respect what you do, officers, but I SEE YOU.

View the original article here

Dissociative Identity Disorder doesn't need to do any fun runs or bake sales to raise awareness for the affliction, not when there's TV. The latest television show to center on a character with a split personality is NBC's drama Do No Harm, which debuts Thursday. I've seen the first two episodes, and I'm here to tell you and you whether it's worth either or both of your time in this edition of, "Hey TV.com Tell Me What to Watch!"

In Do No Harm, a talented surgeon named Jason Cole (Steven Pasquale) has a bit of a hang-up: Every night at 8:25pm Jason Cole goes away and Ian Price, Cole's dangerous alter ego, comes out to play until 8:25am, when they switch back. Cole is a good guy, like Boy Scout good. Price is dangerous, like Pervy Boy Scout Leader dangerous. It's the classic Jekyll and Hyde story about a man battling his own demons, where "own demons" means "occasionally being a total asshole." There's also a heavy medical procedural element, as Cole performs his day job.

You can watch Do No Harm on Thursday, January 31 at 10pm on NBC. Thursdays at 10pm on NBC during the midseason... wasn't there another show about a guy with a split life in this time slot?

This one comes from David Schulner, whose previous credits include What About Brian, The Event, Kings, and Desperate Housewives. However, to my knowledge, this is his first show he can call his own.

Mostly people who like a wild ride from the comfort of their own couch. Fans of the medical genre won't get enough scalpels or panic for their taste, and those looking for a Jekyll-and-Hyde tale will wonder why the show becomes a medical drama every once in a while. This is going to be an interesting experiment, actually. Maybe it will find an audience, maybe it will alienate everyone. If I were betting, I'd take flop over hit.

It isn't dull, that's for sure. Whether Jason and Ian are engaging in a war over one body or Jason is tickling someone's brain as Dr. Jason, Do No Harm rarely takes a deep breath and that's the point. The show wants to be reckless and fun, it doesn't want to win Emmys or be Breaking Bad. And the diurnal battle between Jason and Ian is hilarious; Jason may hide his credit cards before he turns, but Ian will always find some way to make Jason's life miserable at night. Pasquale also looks like he's having a lot of fun in the role(s), especially when he can puff out his shoulders and furrow his brow as Ian, so he's fun to watch. He's no Bryan Cranston, but he has two unmistakable modes.

Okay, fine. This isn't a good show, per se. In fact, it's kind of hilarious. Whether that's the intention or not is up for debate (but should it matter as long as it's hilarious?). The medical aspects of the series seem to be there in order to satisfy NBC's studio notes and to make the show less ambitious and more standalone, and they don't really fit in among the rest of the madness.

When you don't know whether a show is good or bad yet you're still entertained by it, it's time to stop wondering and just enjoy it. You should watch Do No Harm while your brain takes a nap. If you do that, you'll find it fun and I'm pretty sure the show wants you do that anyway. If you don't do that, you'll hate it. And yes, there's a decent chance you will hate it. Personally, I liked it, though I wouldn't run around telling everyone to watch it even though I guess that's what I'm doing right here. Hey, don't blame me if you hate it!

Hey! I thought you said the last question was it! Here's your trailer:

And if you like the trailer so much that you just can't wait, here's the whole first episode:

Now I'm outta here!

White wine spritzer in one hand, pint of whiskey in the other.

Do No Harm premieres Thursday, January 31 at 10pm on NBC.

View the original article here

Netflix begins its REAL push into original programming this weekend with House of Cards, the first in a wave of new releases designed to transform the DVD-delivery and streaming-video subscriber service from a treasure trove of old media into a treasure trove of old media with some sparkly new stuff. This new initiative isn't going to be an overnight success, but the first major launch (outside of Lilyhammer, which Netflix quietly and exclusively released in the U.S. last year) is kind of a big deal for the business's future. But is House of Cards worth forking over the $7.99 a month? I've seen the pilot episode and am here to help you make that decision by answering a few of your questions.

UPDATE: If you're looking for a more in-depth take, here's my full review of the pilot.

A remake of the 1990 BBC miniseries of the same name, Netflix's version is set in contemporary USA and follows Majority Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey, on TV!) as he attempts to dismantle the new presidential regime that passed him over for Secretary of State. There will be shady deals with reporters, the blackmailing of Congressmen, and plenty of ass-kicking and ass-kissing. Kate Mara, Robin Wright, and Michael Kelly also star.

The first season will pop up on Netflix on February 1 at 12am Pacific / 3am Eastern (Thursday night/Friday morning). Under the Netflix model, all 13 epsiodes will be released at once, so you can finish the whole season in a day if you want. Netflix has already ordered a second season.

Playwright Beau Willimon gets into TV for the first time. He wrote the play Farragut North, which became the basis for George Clooney's The Ides of March. David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac), one of the best directors out there, also has a big hand in the project. Fincher directed the first two episodes. The show is produced by Media Rights Capital, the same group that tried to rent the weekend from The CW a few years back.

People who liked Season 5 of The Wire, but who didn't care for the drug dealers and cops. People who like the nitty-gritty intricacies of politics. People who watch C-SPAN and read Politico for fun. People who liked Starz's Boss.

If this is the future of television, sign me up: Netflix's model is a fascinating one, but who knows whether it'll work or not. On the production side, House of Cards doesn't look like a TV show thanks to Fincher's eye—this is staggering, movie-quality stuff here and there isn't a shot that doesn't pop. The writing and tone are also more akin to HBO and Showtime (or even British miniseries) than network TV's previous attempts at heady stuff; this wouldn't even get looked at by the major broadcasters. The show also paints Washington as a town full of adulterous, power-hungry, morally absent assholes, which is exactly how I imagine it.

One of the most jarring elements of the series is Underwood's breaking of the fourth wall as he speaks directly into the camera at the audience, much like Don Cheadle does in House of Lies. Personally I hate that, and I don't know if playfully talking to viewers matches the series' grave tone. If you don't like politics, you might feel lost. Some of the dialogue, especially in Spacey's monologues to the camera, probably looked better on paper than it sounds on the screen, as his bulldog barks come off as carefully thought-out stage-play speeches rather than spontaneous tirades. Though he's an interesting and intelligent character, the conniving Underwood isn't necessarily a likeable fellow. But the biggest problem with the series is it never really grabbed me (though I will admit politics isn't my thing). I'm probably just too dumb.

If you already have Netflix, then it wouldn't hurt to give this a shot. But be prepared to go all in, if you do, as House of Cards isn't the sit-back-and-relax type of television. This is a series for the patient, and the more time you invest in it, the more it will reward you as danger thickens. And if you have dreams of heading to D.C. and backstabbing everyone, you'll probably be into it. If politics aren't your thing, wait for Netflix to build up its library of originals before spending an extra eight bucks a month, then come back to this.

Right here:

This is a single-malt scotch type of show.

The entirety of Season 1 of House of Cards premieres Friday, February 1 at 12am Pacific on Netflix (for subscribers only).

View the original article here

We've already seen the first few episodes of a show you probably don't even know exists (unless you committed our most anticipated new fall shows list to memory): Cinemax's Hunted. But is this a show that should stay forgotten, or is it a program to get in on early so you can tell your friends that you were first to see it? Let's find out!

Yep! Hunted is a co-production between Cinemax and the BBC that's already gotten a two-week head start in the U.K. It's stars Melissa George (Alias, Grey's Anatomy) as Sam, a not-too-shabby-looking female spy who works for an independent agency in London. While on a mission in Tangier, she's double crossed, shot, and left for dead. Over a year later she returns to England and the job, much to the surprise of her co-workers, to take on a new assignment and figure out who set her up. Plus, it has Stannis Baratheon (actor Stephen Dillane) in it! And Mr. Eko (actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), too!

If you're a Cinemax-subscribing Yank, Hunted debuts Friday, October 19 at 10pm on Cinemax. If you're from jolly old England, it's already started, mate!

The X-Files' Frank Spotnitz created and wrote the series with Spooks (a British spy drama) producers Stephen Garrett, Jane Featherstone, and Christopher Aird.

Hunted's suspense, action, and cinematography will appeal to fans of the Bourne movie franchise, so we're looking at a heavily leaning male audience that's after more than just shootouts and high-speed boat chases. However, espionage fans of all genders should dig this one.

At least early on, the series is split into two stories: one dealing with the mission at hand and another concerning Sam's quest to figure out who set her up. That leads to a constant sense of tension as Sam slips further and further down the throat of the enemy while undercover, and then that tension is doubled as she's taking orders from people who also might be the ones who tried to kill her a year ago. The gorgeous look and feel of the show is purposefully unglamorous, which serves the story and tone well; you won't find a bright color or studio lighting in the eight hours of the first season and let's face it, in a program about hot-headed revenge, would you want to? There's also a really creepy assassin who has an eye-opening method of killing his victims, and more double crosses than an OCD priest. And have I mentioned how delightful Sam is to look at?

This thing is deliberately paced, and it's in no rush to sprint to the next plot point; coupled with the dreary grays of London, it's a show that needs to be watched while on Adderall or 10 hours' worth of 5-Hour Energy for those who've got a tendency to let their minds wander. I was also under the impression that the London mission was going to be wrapped up in the first episode and we'd be going on missions-of-the-week, but that's not the case. The opening hour was fantastic, but I saw some hints of dragging in the second episode, which I fear may carry over to later installments. Maybe this should have been a two-hour movie instead? The concise dialogue results in some clunkers at times, which drag down the apparent quality of the show. And as pretty as Sam is, she does make some funny faces that can be distracting (normally I wouldn't even bring something like that up, but trust me, it's worth noting).

This one is really going to be a matter of taste and opinions will vary from person to person, but I'm going to go ahead and say yes, especially if you're a fan of the long game. Hunted is well put together, and the side-by-side goals of Sam play off each other to create some thick paranoia. But don't compare Hunted to Homeland like the British press did (the two series were released over there on the same weekend); it's an entirely different flavor.

Can I see a trailer?

Right here! And take note: We'll have the full series premiere available to view on TV.com this weekend... just keep an eye on our episode page.

Chill some gin, put it in a martini glass, and sip. And who cares if it's shaken or stirred?

Hunted debuts Friday, October 19 at 10pm on Cinemax.

View the original article here

Dearest besties, we've already screened the pilot of Nashville, ABC's sudsy new drama about the happenings in and around Tennessee's glitziest city. So is it worth your time? Here's a quick FAQ to help you decide.

Nashville is a sprawling story centered on fading country superstar Rayna James (Friday Night Lights' Connie Britton), her stay-at-home husband Teddy (Now & Again's Eric Close), her industrial baron father Lamar Wyatt (Deadwood's Powers Boothe), and especially her new rival on the country scene, Juliette Barnes (Heroes' Hayden Panettiere). When Rayna's record label informs her that they won't support her new album unless she agrees to be the opening act for Juliette, it creates the type of tension you might expect from two seasoned divas who dislike each other. Meanwhile Nashville's storytelling tapestry also includes subplots involving Teddy's mayoral aspirations and up-and-coming songbird Scarlett O'Connor (Home and Away's Clare Bowen), whose collaboration with her dreamy accompanist Gunnar Scott (Episodes' Sam Palladio) could be the next big hit.

Nashville debuts Wednesday, October 10 at 10pm on ABC.

Screenwriter Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise) brings her Oscar-winning, female-centric perspective to the project while executive producer R.J. Cutler (The War Room, The September Issue, American High) brings a documentarian's sense of nuance to the proceedings.

One might be tempted to look at the big-haired leads and suggest this is a show for women, but the fact is, Nashville is as much for women as Friday Night Lights was for men. Not really!

Britton and Panettiere are genuinely fantastic and Khouri's script is immersive and compelling. Plus there are so many things going on that it's hard to be bored for any stretch of time. As for the music (all original compositions), country fans might enjoy how good the songs are while non-fans will appreciate that the songs are pretty short.

If you are absolutely allergic to Southern flair, you may not love Nashville. And admittedly the political subplot is nowhere near as fun as the rivalry between two divas. But what in life is?

Yes. Even if Nashville is not your particular flavor of TV, you won't feel as though you've wasted your time.

Do you have a clip or a trailer I can take a look at?

Would the entire pilot suffice?

Whisky, wine coolers, or both at the same time.

Nashville debuts Wednesday, October 10 at 10pm on ABC.

View the original article here

The CW is branching out into medical shows, and by medical shows, I mean Grey's Anatomy clones for younger viewers! Yes, after screening the network's new doctor drama, Emily Owens, M.D., I have to say it seems eerily similar to Grey's... but that doesn't mean it doesn't have its own merits. However, is it worthy of a spot on your personal viewing schedule? Let's discuss...

What is Emily Owens, M.D.?

Emily Owens, M.D. is a CW drama about a recent medical school grad—the titular Emily Owens—who spent her high school years being dorky and awkward. Now that she has a surgery internship, she's ready to put her past behind her start acting like a cool adult... until she realizes the hospital has its own high-school-esque dynamic that makes her feel just as dorky and awkward as she used to. It doesn't help that her tormenter from high school is one of her new peers.

When can I see it?

Emily Owens, M.D. premieres Tuesday, October 16 at 9pm on The CW.

Who's behind it?

Emily Owens, M.D. was created by Jennie Snyder Urman; this is her first time executive-producing a television series. She was a co-producer on Gilmore Girls, so that's good, but she was also a co-executive producer on 90210 and a supervising producer on Lipstick Jungle. Ouch.

Who's in it?

Emily is played by Meryl Streep's daughter, Mamie Gummer, who looks a lot like a baby Meryl Streep. She even has the same charismatic glow. Justin Hartley, the Green Arrow from Smallville (but not the new Arrow series) plays Mamie's fellow intern Will, who she's been mooning over since they started medical school together.

Who's the target audience?

The CW seems to be going after the younger side of the Grey's Anatomy audience. But based on the pilot, Emily Owens, M.D. will be less edgy than Grey's with less steaminess, so I'm guessing this is actually going to appeal to a slightly older crowd. I can definitely see my mom enjoying it.

What's good about it?

It's funny and cute, with a sweet sense of optimism, and Gummer's Emily is genuinely likeable and charming. This seems like it'll be a good show to watch when you're feeling low and just want to believe the world can be a happy place.

What's not good about it?

If you don't enjoy feel-good shows, this probably won't be your cup of tea. The show's definitely got a sense of humor, but it's more on the side of "a few chuckles here and there" rather than laugh-out-loud funny. The writing also definitely isn't as tight as it is on some other dramas.

Soooo... should I watch it?

I'd say give the pilot a try, but if you don't like Emily's opening monologue, change the channel because you're not going to like the rest of the episode. I found the first episode delightful, but I know a lot of people will find it trite.

Is there a trailer I can take a look at?

If you missed out on watching the full pilot during its online sampling period (The CW has since taken down the video), here's an extended trailer:

Can you recommend a beverage pairing for the series premiere?

Something sweet, like a strawberry daiquiri or really cheap white wine.

Emily Owens, M.D. premieres Tuesday, October 16 at 9pm on The CW.

View the original article here

Are you skeptical about a firefighter procedural? Do you love Dick Wolf but find yourself wary of his adventures outside of New York? Are you here to check out a soccer score? After watching the pilot for NBC's Chicago Fire, we're prepared to help you decide whether you want to dedicate your time to the boys (and few gals) of Firehouse 51. Read on and decide.

When you think of your typical procedurals based on things six-year-olds want to be when they grow up, firefighters are woefully left out of the mix. Enter Chicago Fire, where we follow the men and women of Firehouse 51 in Chicago as they laugh, love, bicker, and walk into burning buildings. Professionally.

Chicago Fire premieres Wednesday, October 10 at 10pm on NBC.

The man, the myth, the legend Dick Wolf has his name all over the show. For those of you who haven't taken a course in lupine urology, Wolf is also responsible for Law & Order and all of its incarnations. The credited creators of Chicago Fire are Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, better known for writing movies like Wanted and 3:10 to Yuma. And 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Jesse Spencer trades in his lab coat, accent, and House Duckling status for something more fireproof as the head of the Truck Squad. Beyond him there are some people who have popped up for stints in other programs, like Taylor Kinney (Trauma—a similar-feeling NBC series about paramedics from a while back), Monica Raymund (The Good Wife), Eamonn Walker (Oz), and David Eigenberg (Sex and the City). Steve! I know!

This is a really broad show, so probably NBC is angling it for that 18-49 demo. But who will like it? Men who don't want to watch Nashville, women who are bored with CSI, anyone who likes pretty people. Also people who like fire, people who miss Dr. Chase, people who are curious about what firefighters do in the truck before going to risk their lives in a burning building (sometimes it's reading the paper), people who get tricked into thinking NBC picked up The Chicago Code (poor bastards).

There are a lot of pretty people. So, it has that going for it. Fire is interesting.

There are a few more of these. The cast is pretty much a sausage party except for the two paramedics, Shay and Gabriela. If you're looking for a firefighter procedural, you'll quickly discover that fire emergencies don't lend themselves very well to a "case of the week" formula (which isn't so much a bad thing about the series as it is something different than what you might be expecting). There are a few more storylines than the show actually needs. The action feels really slow (there's a lot more walking around than you'd think). And, probably the worst part, it doesn't get any better (at least in the first three episodes).

Only if you're bored and/or looking for eye candy. Otherwise, watch Nashville instead.

You can watch the entire pilot on NBC.com or Hulu right now. But if you're not willing to surrender an hour until you can see the show in HD, here's a trailer:

Something on fire. A Flaming Moe?

Chicago Fire premieres Wednesday, October 10 at 10pm on NBC.

View the original article here

Hey guys, we've screened the pilot of Beauty and the Beast, The CW's new reboot of the 1980s sorta-classic that once starred Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman as interspecial lovers. So is it worth your time? Here's a quick FAQ to help you determine this information.

What is Beauty and the Beast?

Beauty and the Beast is about a tough, orphaned cop named Catherine Chandler (Smallville's Kristin Kreuk) who forges an uneasy alliance with the handsome man-thing (Terra Nova's Jay Ryan) that once saved her life. As they bond over their common goal of destroying local hoodlums, Catherine begins to discover the sad/shocking truth about Vincent's condition (hint: It involves 9/11!) and may just fall in love with him along the way.

When does it premiere?

Beauty and the Beast debuts Thursday, October 11 at 9pm on The CW.

Who's behind it?

Writers/executive producers Sherri Cooper and Jennifer Levin both previously worked on Unforgettable and Brothers & Sisters. Gary Fleder, the director of the pilot, used to make movies (Kiss the Girls) but now works on literally any TV show that will have him (Vegas, The River, Life Unexpected). But I must point out that despite being fundamentally different in several baffling ways, Beauty and the Beast is based on a 1987 Linda Hamilton-starring TV series created by Ron Koslow.

Who's the target audience?

Women ages 10-14.

What's good about it?

Kristin Kreuk is pretty. Jay Ryan is pretty (his "beast" is more like a shapeshifter, so he looks hunky 98 percent of the time). That's about it.

Are there any not-good parts I should know about?

Almost all of them? Putting aside the very obviously stupid things about this premise, casting, and writing, Beauty and the Beast also traffics in some extremely troubling messages—including an implicit endorsement of women putting up with male rage—as well as a callous reference to 9/11 that truly proves 11 years was still too soon.

Okay, but seriously, should I watch it?

No. Unfortunately the whole thing is too boring to qualify as "so bad it's good." This thing is so bad it's bad. If, in the future, Beauty and the Beast takes a turn for True Blood-style ridiculousness, then it might be worth revisiting. But as is, this pilot is an embarrassing low point for The CW.

Do you have a clip or a trailer I can take a look at?

Drink of choice for my Beauty and the Beast viewing experience?

A soda fountain suicide. (A little bit of every soda mixed together and it all just tastes like garbage.)

Beauty and the Beast debuts Thursday, October 11 at 9pm on The CW.

View the original article here

We've seen the pilot for Arrow, The CW's newest live-action superhero story. Will it fill the void in former Smallville fans' hearts? Will it draw the male viewership The CW desperately seeks? And most importantly, should you watch it? Here's a quick FAQ that might help you decide.

Based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, Arrow chronicles the story of Oliver Queen's return to his home of Starling City after a shipwreck leaves him stranded on a deserted island for five years. As he begins to reconnect with the loved ones who long presumed him to be dead, he creates the secret identity of Arrow. Armed with a bow, arrows, lots of money, and a list of names supplied by his late father, Oliver sets out to return his city to its former glory by wiping out corruption through vigilante justice.

Arrow premieres Wednesday, October 10, at 8pm on The CW.

If you have any doubts about Arrow, you might find comfort in the creative forces behind the show. The series was developed by Andrew Kreisberg, who's worked on The Vampire Diaries, Fringe, and Justice League; he also wrote Green Arrow and Black Canary for DC Comics. Then there's Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim. Berlanti's the mastermind behind Everwood and the co-creator of Jack & Bobby; he and Guggenheim previously worked together to create Eli Stone. And in addition to his TV work, Guggenheim has written extensively for comics, including The Flash and The Amazing Spider-Man.

The regular cast features Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Arrow; Katie Cassidy as Laurel, a lawyer and Oliver's ex; and Colin Donnell as Tommy, Oliver's long-time best friend. There's also Susanna Thompson as Oliver's mother Moira, David Ramsey as Oliver's loyal bodyguard, Willa Holland as Oliver's younger sister, and Paul Blackthorne as Laurel's dad (and a detective who wants to bring down Arrow).

With Arrow, The CW seems ready to expand beyond its (perceived) identity as a network for teen girls. That the production is making sure people know about the various DC characters slated to appear (including Huntress, the Royal Flush Gang, and Deadshot) would seem to indicate that Arrow wants comic-book fans (and former Smallville viewers) to tune in. However, the pilot shows promise for lots of romance, interpersonal conflict, and soapy melodrama (all of which are things that Berlanti excels at). If it hits the bullseye, Arrow could be the best of both worlds.

The pilot features some solid action sequences, thanks in no small part to David Nutter's direction (he also directed the Smallville pilot). Stephen Amell is engaging and brings some real credibility to the weight that rests on Oliver's shoulders (and his abs should get their own screen credit, wowza!).

Despite his strength on-screen, Amell's voiceover work is not great in the pilot. His voice is stiff, and he's struggling to find much to do with the clunky and overly expository writing. Beyond that, the CGI is pretty wretched, and hopefully it'll be scaled back. The entire premise could be too cheesy for some.

Yes. The pilot's heavier on the action side, but with a romantic triangle and Oliver's mother plotting against him, there's the potential for Arrow to have something for everyone.

But of course.

Oliver (jokingly) mentions that he really missed tequila during his five years on the deserted island. So do a shot of tequila with a dash of green food coloring (for thematic consistency!) every time you hear the whoosh of an arrow.

Arrow premieres Wednesday, October 10, at 8pm on The CW.

Arrow Photos

View the original article here

Guys and gals, we've screened the pilot of 666 Park Avenue, ABC's new supernatural mystery thriller about a super old apartment building with the devil for a landlord. So is it worth your time? Here's a quick FAQ to help you decide.

What is 666 Park Avenue?

666 Park Avenue is all about the goings-on in and around The Drake, a swanky apartment building on Manhattan's Upper East Side. When mysterious owners Gavin and Olivia Doran (the scenery-chewing Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams) roll out the welcome mat for the distractingly beautiful, naive new building managers Jane and Henry (Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable), the newcomers come to experience unexplainable phenomena in their lives and the lives of their neighbors. Are these odd events all figments of their imaginations, or is the building literally owned by THE DEVIL? (Spoiler: It's the latter.)

When does it premiere?

666 Park Avenue debuts Sunday, September 30 at 10pm on ABC.

Who's behind it?

Most importantly, 666 Park Avenue is produced by Alloy Entertainment, the same evil-genu behind The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, The Secret Circle, Pretty Little Liars, and The Lying Game. Like those shows, it's based on a series of books. Series creator David Wilcox previously worked as a co-executive producer on Fringe and Life on Mars.

Who's the target audience?

Women; people who enjoy just a touch of horror in their primetime soaps; Revenge viewers too lazy to change the channel.

What's good about it?

The cast is straight-up incredible. Though none of the characters make much of an impression in the pilot, Terry O'Quinn could read a phone book and it'd be worth your time. Additionally, the interiors of The Drake are as opulent and attractive as you'd expect from a building that people literally sell their souls to reside in.

Are there any not-good parts I should know about?

The pilot is astonishingly boring, particularly if you've grown accustomed to the quicker storytelling of something like The Vampire Diaries (or even True Blood). From the laughably uninteresting cold open "teaser" to the slow-as-molasses unveiling of the truth about The Drake, this was one of the most disappointing pilots of the fall season for me. But I have to admit, there's a chance this thing could get better in the future. Remember the TVD pilot?

Okay, but seriously, should I watch it?

[Long sigh.] If you must.

Do you have a clip or a trailer I can take a look at?

Drink of choice for my 666 Park Avenue viewing experience?

Non-alcoholic wine. (I know, right?)

666 Park Avenue debuts Sunday, September 30 at 10 pm on ABC.

View the original article here

There's no escaping the billboards for Elementary and Benedict Cumberbatch has already lambasted the Colonists for daring to make an American version of Sherlock. So should you tempt the fates and watch it? Let's discuss.

What is Elementary, my dear?

CBS's new drama is an updated re-imagining of legendary crimesolver Sherlock Holmes, only it's set in New York (although Sherlock is still a Brit because Americans refuse to believe they are as smart as British people). More accurately it's also an (unsanctioned) Americanization of the BBC's excellent Sherlock that premiered in 2010 starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

When does it come on?

Tonight, fool! Thursday, September 27 at 10pm on CBS. Besta recognize!

Who did this to us?

This is a CBS show. CBS is the home of many procedurals I would rather put a chopstick through my eye than watch, but this is different. It is. It's floating and arty and thoughtful. Rob Doherty—who also worked on Medium, Ringer, and Star Trek: Voyager—is the executive producer.

Who's Elementary geared toward?

People with good taste and sharp brains! It's a procedural for easily bored folks who don't usually like procedurals, ya feel me?

What's good about it?

Everything, basically. Lucy Liu is a superior form of human being. The twist on Sherlock Holmes—he's an eccentric, an addict—makes him more accessible than the original character, who is kind of nebbish and hateful. Also, in trying to be so edgy Elementary deconstructs the Sherlock Holmes mythos enough that the main themes get through in a very cool, original way. The satisfaction of the series lies in the promise that truth coats every human interaction like a tangible residue, waiting to be detected. (Such a comforting conceit, so much more cozy than our real-world consensus that truth is as elusive as any other ideal.)

Watson (a female) has a much cooler reason for tailing Holmes. Watch it, you'll see.

Also this series is set in New York, and while I love London and would pretty much rip off my left arm to live there, this show seems to genuinely film in New York and that energy is certainly infectious and gives the show a level of grit that's very enjoyable.

What's stupid about it?

People who are enamored of the British series will be quick to punch holes in this version, resenting the liberties taken with Sherlock and Watson. Don't listen to the killjoys! Although know this: One is not a substitute for the other. Watch both. BBC's/PBS's Sherlock should not be missed if you like great acting and mysteries being solved.

Okay, okay, cut to the chase: Watch or don't watch?

Absolutely watch it. It's smart, and sexy, and restrained, and all those things you like about TV. And engrossing. And kind of arty in a video-art circa 2005 way. I mean that as a HUGE compliment.

Can you show me a clip? Because I don't know if I trust you, stranger.

Use your powers of observation to deduce from the trailer below whether or not this series is worth the inestimable boon of your time and attention! (It is, but enjoy the preview.)

What should I drink while I watch it, my dear?

Methadone, because Sherlock Holmes is an addict. WAIT JUST KIDDING. Sheesh, cool it, don't call up the clinic! They got real problems. Fix yourself a delicious traditional British cocktail like a Pimm's Cup or a gin and tonic, then Instagram yourself pouring it down the toilet (because you will enrage your British friends, much like the Americanized Sherlock Holmes iteration has enraged Benedict Cumberbatch). Then settle down with some whiskey, neat, to enjoy this lovely series.

Elementary premieres Thursday, September 27 at 10pm on CBS.

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We're previewing as many of the season's new shows as we can in a little feature we like to call "Hey TV.com, Should I Watch [show name]?" This afternoon that [show name] belongs to ABC's new comedy The Neighbors. Should you watch it? Read on to find out, or for those of you who are in a rush, NO.

Tell me about The Neighbors!

What would happen if a gated community populated by a bunch of aliens disguised as humans welcomed a regular human family into its cul de sac? The Neighbors, that's what! This single-camera sitcom takes the joke of culture clash into orbit until it's burnt out upon re-entry, and then relaunches it into space again. And again. The same joke. Over. And over. It stars Jami Gertz, Clara Mamet, Lenny Venito, Simon Templeman, and Toks Olagundoye.

When does it premiere?

The Neighbors makes its series debut Wednesday, September 26 at 9:30pm on ABC. (Note: It will move to its normal time slot of Wednesdays at 8:30pm on October 3.)

Who created the show?

Dan Fogelman, the writer of Crazy, Stupid, Love, Cars, Tangled, and Bolt, scraped The Neighbors of the bottom of his shoe and sold it to ABC.

Who's the target audience?

That's an interesting question.

What are the bright spots of the show?

Sight gags, all them revolving around how aliens do things differently! Dogs? Heck no, these guys walk their alpacas! Washing the car? Nope, try a UFO, brainiac! Crying with their eyes? Wrong again, they drip green ooze out of their ears! There's actually a good heart at the center of the series that tries to show how family and love transcend galaxies, and the soundtrack dusts off oldies to create a timeless suburban vibe similar to that of old-timey shows like Leave it to Beaver. The Neighbors is being wildly panned as the worst of the new comedies this dreadful season, but it's not! It's only like the second or third worst. And yes, it's better than Work It.

What are the cons?

There's one joke here: Aliens are weird. And that joke is played out repeatedly in the pilot, which is to be expected. But Episode 2 falls into the same trap, indicating that the humor won't evolve that much. In The Neighbors' defense, one-joke comedies with worse ideas have been successful in the past. The biggest problem here is that no one in the cast is even close to funny, except maybe the alien kid, and it's just because he's a weird-looking kid.

Okay, final decision time: Should I watch or not?

No, I don't think you should.

Can I see a clip to judge whether it's as bad as you say it is?

You bet.

What should I drink while watching this?

Whatever it is, make sure you've got a lot of it. Maybe one of those giant glasses full of dry ice and weird straws to set the mood? Also, put on your favorite theremin CD!

The Neighbors debuts Wednesday, September 26 at 9:30pm on ABC.

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Fellow TV watchers, we've already screened the pilot of Ben and Kate, the new Fox sitcom centered on a struggling single mom and her ne'er-do-well older brother. So is it worth your time? Here's a quick guide to help you figure out whether it's your kind of show.

What is Ben and Kate?

Ben and Kate is a semi-autobiographical, half-hour, single-camera sitcom written by Dana Fox about her unconventional relationship with her troublemaking older brother. Kate (Dakota Johnson) works at a local bar struggling to pay the bills for her young daughter while irresponsible older bro Ben (Nat Faxon, screenwriter of The Descendants) moves in and both creates and haphazardly solves various problems.

When does it premiere?

Ben and Kate debuts Tuesday, September 25 at 8:30pm on Fox.

Who's behind it?

Creator Dana Fox gained most of her TV experience as a producer on New Girl, but has worked as a screenwriter on the feature films Couples Retreat and What Happens in Vegas. Producer Peter Chernin used to be the big bossman of Fox, and currently produces Touch, New Girl, Breakout Kings, and the next Planet of the Apes movie.

Who's the target audience?

Ben and Kate was seemingly grown in a petri dish to appeal the same people who enjoy New Girl.

What's good about it?

The cast is sharp and talented (particularly Kate's British co-worker BJ, played by Lucy Punch), and the vibe is positive and heartfelt without getting too annoying. Kate's 5-year-old daughter is pretty darn cute also.

Are there any not-good parts I should know about?

So far Ben's very difficult to like; his irresponsible ways verge on Rain Man-esque mental problems. Ben's best friend Tommy (Echo Kellum) is a non-presence. And at least in the pilot, the story is incredibly predictable. All three of these problems could be easily fixed in future episodes.

Okay, but seriously, should I watch it?

Why not? It's likable. And seriously, Lucy Punch alone is worth the price of admission. Superstar in the making.

Do you have a clip or a trailer I can take a look at?

Here's BJ (Punch) giving Kate some VERY useful tips on sexiness:

Drink of choice for my Ben and Kate viewing experience?

Cheap beer: Nothing fancy, but it does the trick.

Ben and Kate debuts Tuesday, September 25 at 8:30pm on Fox.

View the original article here

By now you've seen the promos for Last Resort and thought, "Dang, that looks interesting! But is it interesting enough to watch?" Well we've seen the whole pilot, and we have some advice for you.

What the heck is a Last Resort, anyway?

Last Resort is an action-stuffed, nerve-racking thriller about the U.S.S. Colorado, a nuclear submarine in the waters of the Southern Hemisphere. But the sub's status turns to "It's Complicated" when its captain (played by Andre Braugher) receives an order to fire on Pakistan from a back-up channel that's only supposed to be used when Washington, D.C. has been smoked. Confused, the crew asks for an official order direct from the proper authorities, gets attacked by U.S. forces, and takes refuge on a tropical island that also serves as a NATO outpost, where they sit with a dozen-and-a-half nuclear missiles ready to fire.

When does it premiere?

Last Resort debuts Thursday, September 27 at 8pm on ABC.

Who's behind it?

This comes from trusty TV-maker Shawn Ryan, who brought us The Shield, Terriers, and The Chicago Code, so let's all cut the guy some slack and accept that this will be good.

Who's the target audience?

Mostly people who are tired of boring television. But there's enough here for both the flag-wavers and the Wall Street occupiers, as the program is more about honor than patriotism or defiance. And though ABC is now known for fairy-tales and Hamptons excess, PEOPLE OF THE MALE GENDER YOU WILL LIKE THIS!

Who is in it?

A lot of great actors: Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman, Autumn Reeser, Dichen Lachman, Daisy Betts, Camille de Pazzis, Jessy Schram, and Robert Patrick.

What's good about it?

This isn't just a thriller because it needs to fit into a genre, it's genuinely thrilling! And even though crazy stuff is happening all the time, Ryan's keen eye has managed to also give us fantastic characters, led by the incredible Braugher as sub captain Marcus Chaplin. And the special effects! When is a missile launching out of the water NOT cool? I could go on and on, but I'll save it for my full review.

What about the bad parts? There's something bad about it, right?

To me, no. But I could see some people having problems with the technical and military jargon. And could people being too attractive be a problem?

I need a final verdict. Watch or don't watch?

Watch watch watch. Best network pilot of this season. Worth it alone just to see Andre Braugher be Andre Braugher.

Do you have a clip or a trailer I can take a look at?

You can actually watch the full pilot episode online, but you might want to wait until you can see it on your massive 90-inch screen in HD. Here's the trailer.

What should I drink while watching Last Resort?

Fill the bathtub up with Scotch and get out your snorkeling gear. Or just put it in a glass.

Last Resort debuts Thursday, September 27 at 8pm on ABC.

View the original article here