Murphy’s Law – Boob Tube Breakdown 2010

September 1, 2010 Boob Tube Breakdown, Murphy's Law 5 Comments
Joel Murphy

Joel Murphy

I love September. People stop asking me to go do things out in nature, which saves my pasty Irish skin from the harsh rays of the sun and allows me to sit inside with my one true love, the old boob tube.

Last year saw the end of two shows I really enjoyed, Lost and 24, which means I have room on my DVR and in my heart for a few new fall shows. And, I’m in luck – this month all of the big networks (and the CW) debute their new fall lineups.

Since most of you fine readers have personal lives and don’t have the time to research these shows like I do, I have a full breakdown of all of the new shows in my fourth-annual “Boob Tube Breakdown.” As always, some of these shows will be good, some will be bad and quite a few will be promptly canceled.

It’s an exciting time to be a couch potato, so let’s see what the TV Gods have to offer this year:

Better With You
ABC (Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 8:30 p.m.)

Synopsis: Maddie and Ben have been dating for nine years. They know each other inside and out, a relationship marked by contentment and affection, seeing their commitment to one another as a “valid life choice,” something they proclaim often—and often loudly. Maddie’s younger sister, Mia, has been dating Casey for seven weeks … Mia and Casey are smitten with each other, and thrilled to explore the oh-so-many things they don’t know about each other yet. But when they announce they’re getting married and having a baby, it’s news that throws Maddie for a loop. Surprisingly, the girls’ parents, Vicky and Joel, couldn’t be more pleased. Married 35 years, they have recently adopted a carpe diem sort of philosophy, rather like Mia’s, maybe because they’re getting older and lost a good portion of their savings when the economy tanked. With three very different relationships tightly intertwined in one family, will it be free thinkers vs. over-thinkers, or will each couple begin to see things a little bit differently?

My Take: This sounds a lot like Rules of Engagement (with a little Modern Family mixed in for good measure). If you are ripping off your ideas from shows starring David Spade, you should really look back and try to figure out where things went wrong.

Blue Bloods
CBS (Premieres: Friday, Sept. 24, at 10 p.m.)

Synopsis: Blue Bloods is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) is the New York Chief of Police and patriarch of the Reagan brood, which he heads as diplomatically as he does the force, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry (Len Cariou), during his stint as Chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), a seasoned detective, family man and Iraqi War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases. The sole Reagan woman in the family, Erin (Bridget Moynahan), is a N.Y. Assistant D.A. and newly single parent, who also serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father. Jamie (Will Estes) is the youngest Reagan, fresh out of Harvard Law and the family’s “golden boy.” However, unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and is now a newly minted cop, a career change seemingly supported by his beautiful girlfriend, Sydney Davenport (Dylan Moore), a first year lawyer. Jamie’s life takes an abrupt turn, however, when he’s asked to become part of a clandestine police investigation even his father knows nothing about, and one that could impact the family’s legacy.

My Take: I’d like to see this one succeed. The cast seems solid – Tom Selleck’s mustache will shine in high def, Bridget Moynahan is a solid actress and I’ve always thought Donnie Wahlberg is underrated. Plus, if this show takes off, maybe it will keep Selleck from having to make Three Men and a Bride, which would be a win for everyone (except Guttenberg).

Boardwalk Empire
HBO (Premieres: Sunday, Sept. 19 at 9 p.m.)

Synopsis: From Terence Winter, Emmy Award-winning writer of The Sopranos and Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese, Boardwalk Empire is set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol became illegal throughout the United States.

My Take: There was a time when both Martin Scorsese and HBO were absolute locks for quality entertainment, but those days are sadly over. (I still haven’t quite forgiven them for letting me down with The Departed and John From Cincinnati respectively – both of which showed promise, but fizzled out). Still, I trust Terence Winter, who wrote the bulk of the best episodes of The Sopranos, I love Steve Buscemi and Michael K. Williams and I’m a sucker for Prohibition era gangsters, so I’m in.

Body of Proof
ABC (Premieres: TBD)

Synopsis: Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) was in a class of her own, a brilliant neurosurgeon at the top of her game. Her world is turned upside down when a devastating car accident puts an end to her time in the operating room. Megan resumes her career as a medical examiner determined to solve the puzzle of who or what killed the victims. Megan’s instincts are sharp, but she’s developed a reputation for graying the lines of where her job ends and where the police department’s begins. It turns out her career isn’t the only thing that will need to be rebuilt; Megan’s family has taken a backseat to her ambition, and now she’ll discover there’s a lot of work to do when it comes to dissecting her relationships with the living.

My Take: In some ways it seemed like Dana Delany was auditioning for this role with her short stint on Castle last season (where she shined). This show will probably be watchable, but frankly, the last thing the world needs is another cop show or medical drama and this is both rolled into one.

Chase
NBC (Premieres: Monday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m.)

Synopsis: Kelli Giddish (Past Life) stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a cowboy boot-wearing deputy whose sharp mind and unique Texas upbringing help her track down violent criminals on the run. Starring as the members of Frost’s elite team are Cole Hauser (K-Ville) as Jimmy Godfrey, an East Texas kid who never grew up and is a true American cowboy; Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break) who plays Marco Martinez, a good intelligence guy who loves to talk; and Rose Rollins (The L Word), who portrays Daisy Ogbaa, a weapons/tactical specialist and a woman of few words. Rounding out the cast is Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives), who stars as Luke Watson, the fresh-faced newcomer whose Washington, D.C. upbringing did little to prepare him for the Lone Star State.

My Take: Unfortunately, Justified beat them to the punch on this one. And while Kelli Giddish seems perfect nice, if I have a violent escaped convict I need tracked down, I’m hiring batshit crazy, Cowboy-hat wearing Timothy Olyphant to do the job.

The Defenders
CBS (Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 10 p.m.)

Synopsis: The Defenders stars Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell in a comedic drama about two colorful Las Vegas defense attorneys who go all-in when it comes to representing their clients. Nick and Pete are the local go-to guys with an eclectic client list who are still looking to hit their own jackpot.

My Take: I’m going to be honest – I stopped reading after “Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell.”

Detroit 1-8-7
ABC (Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.)

Synopsis: What does it take to be a detective on America’s streets? Get an in-depth look at some of Detroit’s finest and watch the crisis and revelation, heartbreak and heroism of the cops assigned to an inner city homicide unit.

There’s the damaged but driven Detective Louis Fitch, a wily homicide vet who is the most respected —and most misunderstood — man in the division; Detective Damon Washington, Fitch’s new partner, who finds the first day on the job is a trial by fire, complicated by the imminent birth of his first child; Detective Ariana Sanchez, sexy, edgy and beautiful, who has emerged from a rough background to become a rising star in the department; Narcotics undercover cop John Stone, a streetwise smooth talker, clever and quick with a smile made for the movies, who is teamed with Sanchez — a combustible pairing rife with conflict and sexual tension; Sergeant Jesse Longford, a 30-year veteran struggling with his impending retirement from the force and the city he loves, who, together with his partner, Detective Aman Mahajan — a fully Americanized son of Indian immigrants — form an amusing mismatch of experience and enthusiasm, intellect and instinct, old school and new world, but whose combined skills have never encountered a case that couldn’t be cleared; and all are headed by Lieutenant Maureen Mason, a strong-willed single mom struggling to balance home and work.

My Take: Not only is this yet another pointless cop drama, but it seems like they are trying to cram as many clichés in this show as possible. Unstable homicide detective haunted by his old cases? Check. Inexperienced rookie’s first day on the job? Check. Comically-mismatched partners who work surprisingly well together? Check. Grizzled veteran days away from retirement? Check. Honest cop looking to escape her former life on the mean streets? Check. Smooth talking undercover narcotics cop? Check. I would have loved to hear the pitch for this one: “You know every cop show and movie ever made? This is exactly like all of them.”

The Event
NBC (Premieres: Monday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m.)

Synopsis: The Event is an emotional, high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter, The Class), an everyman who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his would-be fiancée Leila (Sarah Roemer, Disturbia), and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history.

Sean’s quest will send ripples through the lives of an eclectic band of strangers, including newly elected U.S. President Elias Martinez (Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood, In Treatment); Sophia Maguire (Emmy Award nominee Laura Innes, ER), who is the leader of a mysterious group of detainees; and Leila’s shadowy father (Scott Patterson, Gilmore Girls). Their futures are on a collision course in a global conspiracy that could ultimately change the fate of mankind.

My Take: I’ll admit the premise sounds intriguing, but I’m really weary of shows like this these days. When you build a show around uncovering one specific mystery or resolving one specific conflict, there are several potential problems: a) the show gets prematurely canceled and there is never a payoff (like FlashForward last season); b)the show runs out of steam once the issue is resolved (like Heroes); or c) a fan backlash begins when you take too long to answer questions and the payoff seems underwhelming when it finally occurs (like Lost). I think I’ll sit back and see how it all plays out before getting invested in this one.

Hawaii Five-0
CBS (Premieres: Monday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m.)

Synopsis: Hawaii Five-0 is a contemporary take on the classic series about a new elite federalized task force whose mission is to wipe out the crime that washes up on the Islands’ sun-drenched beaches. Detective Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin), a decorated Naval officer turned cop, returns to Oahu to investigate his father’s murder and stays after Hawaii’s governor persuades him to head up the new team: his rules, her backing, no red tape and full blanket immunity to hunt down the biggest “game” in town. Joining McGarrett is Detective Danny “Danno” Williams (Scott Caan), a newly relocated ex-New Jersey cop who prefers skyscrapers to the coastline but is committed to keeping the Islands safe for his eight-year-old daughter; and Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), an ex-Honolulu Police Detective wrongly accused of corruption and relegated to a federal security patrol, who is also a former protégé of McGarrett’s father. Chin’s cousin, Kono (Grace Park), is a beautiful and fearless native, fresh out of the academy and eager to establish herself among the department’s elite. McGarrett vows to bring closure to his father’s case while the state’s brash new Five-0 unit, who may spar and jest among themselves, is determined to eliminate the seedy elements from the 50th state.

My Take: I wonder if they will do an episode where the officers are exhausted after spending all night busting Lost actors for DWIs. This is, of course, a cop drama and a remake, which makes it extra unoriginal. Plus, Daniel Day Kim just isn’t as much fun to watch when he can speak perfect English and doesn’t have to keep warning his friends about the “Udders” attempts to kidnap them.

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