I have a theory that ALL pilots are inherently awful. I'm serious. You know how they say, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" (even though sometimes the cover is exactly right?). Well, don't always judge a show by it's pilot. Go back and watch the pilot of your favorite show. It's probably terrible. Because pilots have the daunting task of introducing you to all of the characters, setting the scene, and convincing network heads and then a viewing audience that the show is worth watching, pilots tend to be lame. Even the pilot of 30 Rock was super lame. With this in mind, I give tv shows a 2 or 3 week window to get it together.
SO - Here's my review of this year's new shows:
New Girl - Tuesdays 9pm FOX
New Girl is really funny and comes on conveniently right after Glee. It's wholesome humor and I can totally picture Zooey Deschanel as a dork. Not because she isn't insanely cool and really pretty, but because - I dunno - she's just goofy in this and it translates well. WATCH IT. You won't be disappointed.
Up All Night - Wednesdays 8pm NBC
I wasn't going to give Up All Night a chance. In fact, I didn't even watch the pilot when it aired. A comedy about new parents? Give me a break. Luckily, I was bored at work earlier this week and the past 3 episodes are up on Hulu.com (for free. woot!). This is hands down my favorite new show thus far. The baby thing doesn't get annoying, because it's not that big of a focus and Will Arnett FINALLY has been re-cast as a normal person. Thank God. Maya Rudolph's character is hysterical and there are even cameos by Nick Cannon! (Now you have to watch!) Very good chemistry between the cast - and (I'm not afraid to say it) I closed my office door and literally laughed out loud on multiple occasions. WATCH IT. You'll LOL for sure.
Pan Am - Sundays 10pm ABC
Pan Am has only aired it's pilot so far, but I'm willing to take the risk and put it on my "ones to watch" list. The pilot was interesting!! Sex, Love, Family Drama and SPIES??? Yes, please.
It's no secret that the cable networks are in search of a Mad Men-esque success this year. In addition to Pan Am, The Playboy Club* also premiered, attempting to capture the 60s and all of the glamour of the AMC hit. Pan Am I think may go the distance - it was interesting. It definitely had a "Lost" theme with all the flashbacks, but I can dig it. I'll be watching and reevaluating after the 3rd episode.
*You should not, however, be watching The Playboy Club - what.a.snooze.fest.
Hart of Dixie - Mondays 9pm theCW
Ok, this one may not be that great of a show. Rachel Bilson as a cardiothoracic surgeon? Puh-lease. But I'm going to watch it anyway - for the same reasons that I used to watch The OC (even in it's loony 4th season) and why I currently watch Jersey Shore. The Drama, baby. Also - I'm trying to turn Matt onto this show because the CW is the only channel he gets and every song in the episode I have at some point heard him singing along to in the car. If you like country and you want a mindless, this-would-never-ever-in-a-million-years-happen-but-I-think-Rachel-Bilson-is-a-nice-girl tv show to watch - Hart of Dixie is it. Oh, and they misspelled "Heart" because Bilson plays "Dr. Hart." Get it? Heart? Hart? Cardiothoracics? The double entendres are endless. How could you not watch? I know.
Those are my standout hits. I'm still on the fence about "Whitney" - starring the comedian Whitney Cummings. The second episode airs tonight and I'm hoping the pilot was, well, just a pilot and that we can move on to the good stuff this week.
So what is Kathryn's Burn List? Funny you should ask.
2 Broke Girls - God awful. And I hate Kat Dennings. She's a terrible actress and not funny.
The Playboy Club - For painfully obvious reasons.
Also - with the past 2 weeks' song selections and this obnoxious, "setting a bad example" Quinn story arc, Glee is about to be on my Burn List as well. But I'll bite my tongue.
Happy viewing hikers!
Talk amongst yourselves.
Totally agree. Glee is almost on my burn list. And I love the New Girl and Pan Am!
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