US TV

An archive of articles about US television programmes and production.

The pick of the new US shows

9 October 2009 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

There’s more to come, but I thought I’d give you all a rundown on what I think are the new US shows that are worth watching right now and which you should be avoiding. I’ve included their Carusometer ratings as proof if I made it as far as the third episode.

For UK viewers, I’ve handily highlighted which ones are going to be showing in the UK and when, if there’s an airdate:

Watchable
Community (NBC): Review (Carusometer rating: 1)
Modern Family (ABC/Sky 1 – October 15): Review (Carusometer rating: 2)
Cougar Town (ABC/Living – 2010): Review (Carusometer rating: 2)
The Good Wife (CBS/More4-Channel 4 – 2010): Review (Carusometer rating: 2)
Stargate Universe (SciFi/Sky 1 – already airing): Review (Carusometer rating: to come)

Haven’t made up my mind
Trauma (NBC): Review (Carusometer rating: to come)
The Middle (ABC): Review (Carusometer rating: to come)

Unwatchable
Brothers (Fox): Review
The Vampire Diaries (The CW/ITV2 – 2010): Review
Bored to Death (HBO): Review (Carusometer rating: 3)
The Forgotten (ABC): Review
Accidentally on Purpose (CBS/E4 – 2010): Review  
Eastwick (ABC/SciFi – 2009/2010): Review  
FlashForward (ABC/Five – already airing): Review (Carusometer rating: 3)
Mercy (NBC): Review  
Hank (ABC): Review

What have you been watching this week (w/e October 9)

9 October 2009 Rob Buckley 12 Comments

So, there’s been lots on tele this week – what have you been watching?

As mentioned on Monday, I’ve give up on quite a few new shows this week, including Eastwick, The Forgotten and Mercy, as well as – after nine years – Smallville. Since then, I’ve also decided to give up on:

  1. Hank, on the general grounds the second episode was excruciatingly bad
  2. Oh my God, after eight years, CSI: Miami, on the general grounds that I’m tired of having my intelligence insulted every week
  3. Three Rivers: started on Sunday, I tried watching it, but found after 10 minutes not one good thing about it – it’s Casualty but everyone needs a transplant at the end of it.
  4. Psych – a huge backlog of episodes that we have no inclination of watching is God’s way of telling you a show isn’t entertaining any more. No character development and it’s not even very funny, either. Oh well.
  5. Dollhouse – absolutely rubbish second episode suggests this thing isn’t going to get any better.

That means, beyond what I’ve reviewed this week, I’m still watching:

  • Trauma – a smart-ish programme underneath but with Bruckheimer-level accidents slapped in the middle that are so over the top, you actually laugh out loud. I’m hanging on in there for week three, but I think I’ll be dropping it after that
  • Being Erica – the addition of the new mythos element is interesting, but the overall show is starting to flag a little for some reason – not enough Doctor Tom, I suspect
  • Mad Men – I’m still a week behind, but last week’s (Seven Twenty Three) was a cracker
  • Supernatural – last week’s was a little daft and had an obvious denouement. And Jared P sucked as (spoiler) the devil
  • CSI – The character-building continues and interesting to see them build a story that references things all the way back in season one, to show the consequences of actions nearly a decade later
  • Dexter – A good episode overall, but I’m not sure if it’s got much of a message left to impart. Still enjoyable, though.

I’ve still got a backlog of viewing (Community, this week’s Mad Men , this week’s Supernatural, Micro Men, The Middle, this week’s CSI, the Seinfeld reunion on Curb Your Enthusiasm) – let us know what you think about any of them or anything else you’ve seen this week.

As always, no spoilers unless you’re going to use the <spoiler> </spoiler> tags, please

The CarusometerA Carusometer rating of 3

Third-episode verdict: FlashForward

9 October 2009 Rob Buckley 5 Comments

In the US: Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC
In the UK: Mondays, 9pm, Five

FlashForward is the new Lost. Apparently.

However, I distinctly remember Lost being interesting when it started – you know, having a decent set of characters, that sort of thing. That’s at least one differentiator between it and FlashForward.

Despite my misgivings about the show when it started, I’ve stuck with it. And you know what? My misgivings were right. I still don’t like it.

Continue reading “Third-episode verdict: FlashForward”

The CarusometerA Carusometer rating of 2

Third-episode verdict: Cougar Town

9 October 2009 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

In the US: Wednesdays, 9.30/8.30c, ABC
In the UK: Acquired by Living

I honestly don’t have much to add about Cougar Town since I reviewed the first episode. It’s exactly the same show in every way. It’s pretty funny, but never really reaching any great highs. It tries to address certain truths about being a newly single woman in her 40s, trying to date younger men. It has a decent cast, apart from Cox, who could do with being a bit subtler. It’s very watchable but not addictive.

You’ll like it, you might even like it a lot, you might even empathise with it, but I don’t think you’re going to love it. But whatever episode you watch, you’re bound to enjoy it, at least a little bit, I reckon.

Carusometer rating: 2
Rob’s prediction: Already picked up for a full season. It could continue for as long as Scrubs, but it’ll probably run out of ideas by the end of the second season at the latest.

The CarusometerA Carusometer rating of 2

Third-episode verdict: Modern Family

9 October 2009 Rob Buckley Post a comment

In the US: Wednesdays, 9/8c, ABC
In the UK: Thursdays, 8pm, Sky 1/Sky 1 HD. Starts October 15

Modern Family presents something of a paradox. On the one hand, I want to hate it. It’s a mockumentary dealing in cringe comedy. Like we need another one of those. The male characters aren’t exactly great, the female characters aren’t that much better and the joke count per episode is variable to say the least.

But, it also has flashes of brilliance, of real laugh-out-loud moments that counterpoint some of its more obvious tendencies. 

Continue reading “Third-episode verdict: Modern Family”