We had a look at ABC’s Life On Mars yesterday and seeing as that’s pretty much its only new drama show, we’ll be hearing nothing more from it for now.
So it’s time to have a gander at CBS’s new Fall shows: The Eleventh Hour, The Ex-List, Harper’s Island, Project Gary, The Mentalist and Worst Week. Observant Brits (and Israelis) will notice a couple of remakes in there…
The Eleventh Hour
Based on the not-desperately good Patrick Stewart/Ashley Jensen vehicle comes this identikit remake from Jerry CSI/Pirates of the Caribbean Bruckheimer. This time it’s the rather good Rufus Sewell – putting on a US accent – hunting down scientists gone bad, aided by Marley Shelton.
Here’s a YouTube video of the new show and a YouTube video of the old show, which should give you a slightly better idea of what’s going on (CBS’s Upfront vids are never that good). Note, I had trouble with the sound on the first vid (as did others), so if you’re having issues, try this one instead.
The Ex-List
Wow. This sounds appalling bad. “Bella Bloom (Elizabeth Reaser), an attractive 30-something successful business owner is surprised to learn from a psychic (Anne Bedian) that she’s already dated her future husband AND there’s a catch: if she doesn’t find him in the next year, she’ll remain alone forever”. Wasn’t that a Time magazine article referenced in Sleepless in Seattle? Still, it’s based on an Israeli show and In Treatment was pretty good, so who knows?
Harper’s Island
This starts off on a high note – a group of friends convene on an island in the Pacific Northwest for a wedding–but quickly heads south when attendees are murdered one by one throughout the season. Jericho executive producer and National Treasure director John Turtletaub will oversee the project. Doesn’t look good and the fact it’s a mid-season replacement probably confirms it. Again, there’s problems with the sound on the YouTube video below, at least at my end, but you can watch a promo over here. You know they cancelled Jericho and Moonlight to make room for stuff like this, right?
Project Gary
More misogyny and misanthropy from the network that brought – and still brings you – Two and a Half Men and Rules of Engagement. Jay Mohr stars as Gary Barnes, a recently single painting contractor who must deal with his controlling ex-wife, Allison, as he faces post-divorce mayhem after 15 years of marriage. If there’s one silver-lining to this, it’s that Jay Mohr has been rescued from life and death in Ghost Whisperer. Probably not for long though.
The Mentalist
Sounding suspiciously like a dramedy version of Psych, The Mentalist stars Aussie Simon Baker (Smith) as Patrick Jane, a detective and independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation and pretending to be a psychic. Also features Robin Tunney by the looks of it. Could be good. Could be awe-inspiringly bad.
Worst Week
Another Brit remake, this time of the painful Ben Miller/Sarah Alexander comedy The Worst Week of My Life. Also not to be confused with the previous remakes, Worst Week of My Life or Hilfe! Hochzeit! – Die schlimmste Woche meines Lebens. Sam Briggs (Kyle Bornheimer) is an entertainment magazine editor who will do anything to please the parents of his girlfriend, Melanie…but instead becomes a one-man wrecking crew whenever he’s around them. Doesn’t look any funnier this time round, even though it does have Kurtwood Smith in it. Here’s a YouTube video trailer for the first part of the original (with a bit of added Dutch as a bonus) and a YouTube video of the (latest) remake.
All in all, not a desperately impressive bunch of new projects from CBS, with The Mentalist looking the best and The Eleventh Hour looking slightly better in US hands than it did in British hands. It’s going to be a slow Fall season for TV viewers if this is the best that they’ve got up their sleeves.
