As is tradition in upfronts week in the US, following on from NBC’s typically inept content, today we have trailers for Fox’s largely competent but stupid and soul-less productions. As there’s quite a few of them, join me after the jump for:
- Grandfathered, in which ageing Peter Pan playboy John Stamos discovers that not only does he have a son, he has a newborn granddaughter, too
- The Grinder, in which Rob Lowe, who’s an actor who plays a lawyer on TV, helps his brother Fred Savage to become a better real-life lawyer, whether Savage wants him to or not
- The Frankenstein Code, which is the very definition of a ‘loose adaptation’ of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
- Lucifer, an adaptation of the DC comic, in which the devil gives up his day job, and decides to help solve crimes
- Minority Report, a spin-off from the Tom Cruise movie
- Rosewood, in which a Miami private pathologist with his own lab solves crimes the cops can’t
Only one of these looks any good. Can you guess which one?
Grandfathered
In a supposed comedy, restaurant owner, bon vivant and eternal playboy John Stamos is visited by the son he never had, who brings with him Stamos’ newly born granddaughter. Stamos has to learn how to be not only a parent but a grandfather, becoming a better person while also teaching his son how to woo the mother of his baby. About the only thing good I can see about this one, though, is that Paget Brewster, who’s currently being wasted over on Yahoo Screen’s Community, actually gets a chance to show off her comedy chops.
The Grinder
Rob Lowe is the star of long-running legal TV show The Grinder. His brother (Fred Savage) is a real-life lawyer, as is their father William Devane. Unfortunately, while his brother knows the law, he’s a terrible public speaker. When Lowe’s show is cancelled, he visits his brother and decides to help him become a better lawyer. The question is: what will the both of them do once this is cancelled?
The Frankenstein Code
A retired sheriff gets killed in a break-in and two scientists bring him back to life, rejuvenated and stronger, where he tries to solve his own murder. About all this has in common with the book is the name of one of the scientists. And the fact it’ll soon be ancient history.
Lucifer
Tom Ellis carries on where Rush left off, by being a charming old devil – literally. Deciding to abandon Hell, he moves to LA where he suddenly acquires a sort of conscience and decides to run a nightclub – and start help solving crimes. DB Woodside pops up as an angel sent by God to encourage Lucifer to return to Hell. It sounds rubbish, but actually bits of it look quite interesting and Ellis, who was of course in Miranda, is very funny.
Minority Report
Futuristic thriller that sees one of the ‘pre cogs’ from the Tom Cruise movie decide he’d quite like to keep preventing crimes before they happen, so takes the law into his own hands with the help of a police detective. Largely a cash-in on the movie, rather than anything that actually innovates in any way.
Rosewood
Morris Chestnut is a flamboyant, rich Miami pathologist who investigates crimes the police can’t solve. It’s an odd-couple affair, since Chestnut is optimistic and outgoing, while he’s partnered with Jaina Lee Ortiz, who’s miserable and ‘hard ass’ the whole time. Unfortunately, it’s generic stuff and will probably be going the same way as The Mob Doctor before too long.
