Friday, June 10, 2005

Weekend Box Office Predictions

Sorry, no new TV reviews today. Look for some more on Monday. In the meantime, here's my predictions for the top three movies this weekend. Leave a comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

1.) Mr. & Mrs. Smith - Duh...
2.) The Honeymooners - The next best new release
3.) The Longest Yard - Beat by Madagascar last weekend by Total Gross, but it had a better per-theater average, so I think it will scoot ahead this weekend.

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Thursday, June 09, 2005

A New NBC Drama

Inconceivable (NBC) - Drama
Daring. How else you do you describe a show about a Fertility Clinic and Test Tube babies in an era of raging debate over embryonic stem cells, abortion rights, and ethical science? This show will certainly drum up a lot of controversy, almost guaranteeing a strong opening. In the pilot, a white couple discovers that their surrogate has given birth to a black baby, instead of theirs; a minister and his wife try to implant embryos; a test-tube son begins to ask his mom about his dad; a single woman wants to adopt; a gay couple gives birth via surrogate; and a spurned lover (an office assistant) seeks revenge against the womanizer who used her (the fertility doctor). I was once told that good art doesn't meet a need, it's creates a need. This show has created a need for me to think further and more deeply about these issues, so I guess that makes it good art. But in this case, I'm still not sure whether that makes for entertaining television. Anyway, you should probably watch this show at least once. As far as quality performances, technical proficiency, or compelling writing, there's nothing to make this show stand out from any other drama. The subject matter overshadows it all. (B)

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

More New Shows on Fox

Bones (FOX) - Crime Drama
"CSI: Washington, DC" starring Laura Croft, the Tomb Raider. A relationally inept forensic anthropologist obsessed with skeletons solves murders along side an FBI agent. Despite it's dark subject matter, the show has many humorous moments. Honestly, the show felt like one cliche after another. The music was particularly wearisome, so I hope what I heard was a temp track just for the preview disc. But with the popularity of the Crime Drama genre right now, this show may do well. It definitely has a 'younger' feel than the CBS skeins, as should be expected from a FOX show. But ultimately, there's nothing new or particularly interesting here. (B-)


The War at Home (FOX) - Family sitcom
Speaking of nothing new... A middle-aged couple struggles with the trials of raising three teenagers. One is permanently attached to his Playstation. The daughter is boy-crazed, and the other son might be too, or so Dad fears. Why does every new sitcom's pilot feature gay themes? The gay people I know aren't that funny, and they certainly aren't 25% of everyone I know, as it seems to be in TV-land this year. I laughed a few times; mostly I didn't. The best moments were cut-aways to narration in an empty-white-room set. Generally, just another set of cliches. Looks like Fox used up all their creativity and skill on "Prison Break." Watch that one instead. (B-)

More New Show Reviews

I've got a bunch more to add today, including some of my favorites, and my first look at new NBC programming. Learn the curve to my grading scale here.


The E-Ring (NBC) - Political/Military Drama
A combat veteran comes home to take a desk job at the Pentagon. There he fights to overcome the politicking of the war room and get the job done. In the pilot, a covert operative in Shanghai must be extracted before time runs out. A very well put-together show. It reminded me of "J.A.G." in some ways, which is a good thing for me. I admired the hero and despised the adversaries. But I didn't feel the victory as much as I should have. The ending was entirely as expected, and that's a pretty big flaw. Hopefully future episodes won't suffer from that problem, because this show has a lot of potential. But all in all, I did like it. The title is misleading; this has nothing to do with the internet. (B+)


Emily's Reasons Why Not (ABC) - Sitcom
Fun, quirky, and generally entertaining. This year's sitcoms seem to make excessive use of voice over, but this one usually pulls it off well. In the pilot, Emily on-the-rebound wonders if her new boyfriend is secretly gay. So far, the characters are nothing special, so this show will hang on how well they are developed in future episodes. I'm waiting for more before I pass strong judgment. (B-)


Love, Inc (UPN) - Sitcom
Love, Incorporated is a professional dating service. But they are much more than just match makers - these foxy ladies will go with you to the bar and be your 'wingwoman,' setting you up with the perfect opportunity. This show was, in my opinion, much better than the previously reviewed UPN comedy. One, it was funny. I laughed. Several times. What a concept! Two, It has a good, original concept for a TV show. Three, the characters are memorable and each generally stands on his or her own. (The dorky photographer, the Latin seductress seeking her green card, the professional who know everything about relationships except her own.) If the writers can continue to come up with original and funny material, this show could last. It's not a "Friends" or "Fraiser," but it's certainly entertaining. Better acting & writing for the minor characters would have got this in the (A) range. It might get there with further episodes. (B+)


Prison Break (FOX) - Drama
Lock me up and throw away the key - I'm hooked. This is by far the best drama I've seen yet. A man robs a bank at gunpoint in order to get himself sent to prison so he can break-out his brother, a death-row inmate. His chances would be slim, except that he worked for the architectural design firm that renovated the prison. He's got a plan, he's making connections, and he's got the brains and the passion to pull it off. And I can't wait to see how he does it. Even the subplots to this show hook you in and make you care about the characters. Still, another trend for this new season is becoming apparent - built-in endings. Like "How I Met Your Mother," once the event described in the title occurs, the show is effectively over. Oh well, I guess that's what spin-offs are for. (A)


My Name is Earl (NBC) - Comedy
In one day, he looses a $100,000 lottery ticket, is hit by a car, and divorced by his wife. Now, trailer-trash-scumbag-extraordinaire Earl is enlightened about the realities of karma, and decides that all the bad in his life is the result of his past wrong-doings. Earl makes a list of every past sin and ventures forth, with his dead-beat brother and a motel maid, to set right what once went wrong. In the pilot, he tracks down the victim of his childhood bullying (played by the Dell Taco guy!), and determines to help him find love, or at least get laid. Most of the laughs in this show are inspired by the main characters' stupidity. Still, they were laughs. But I wonder how long that can last. I would tune in for another episode, but if that disappoints, I don't think I'll stick around. (B+)

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

How to get an Agent

I know, I link to this site way too much, but it's got so much good material. I can't help passing along good stuff. Those of us trying to make it in this crazy business can never have too much good advice.

Good Advice from Agents

New on UPN

UPN is really growing up and starting to become a serious contender in the broadcast marketplace. Unfortunately, this is represented in varying degrees in this fall's new programming.


Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) - sitcom
This show is narrarated by Chris Rock and based on his experiences as a teenager in Brooklyn in the 80's. Of the news sitcoms I've seen so far, this one seems to have the most potential, but the pilot sure wouldn't make you think so. There's quite a buzz about it, and it's upfront sales are doing incredibly well, I understand. But the first episode just isn't that funny. I had one good laugh, and just a couple chuckles besides. ("Like Rock & Roll, school shootings are another thing black kids invented that white kids stole.") But the premise and the characters set it up to be something like a black "Malcolm in the Middle," so if UPN can get people to tune in for a second episode, the show might survive. But the pilot didn't hit me, so I have to grade it down. (B-)

New CBS Comedies

Both of these new shows will air on Monday nights on CBS.


How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - sitcom
The story, told through flashbacks from the year 2030, of one man's adventures in dating. This was as good as any of the comedies I've seen so far. Once again, the basic premise seems to spell trouble for longevity, but I'm sure the writers will come up with ways to stretch the story (and your suspension of disbelief) as long as necessary. In any case, the pilot provided what a sitcom should - lots of laughs, relatable characters, and a surprise ending to bring you back for more. One technical note: It looked to me like this show was shot on lower quality video cameras, but I watched a not-final preview copy, so it may be subject to some further color-correction and such. (B+)


Out of Practice (CBS) - sitcom
It looks like this show may have had a recent title changes, as the preview copy I saw had a title card reading, "Flesh & Blood." The new title, "Out of Practice", is an improvement, but it's not enough to make this show hit-worthy. The plot centers on a 30-year old marital counselor, the only member of his family who is not an M.D. . Mom and Dad are divorced, sister is a lesbian, and brother is a prick. A few laughs here and there, but the characters were very cliche'. They tried to turn it sentimental at the end, but I really didn't care about the characters' woes. Some people will probably connect to this show; I didn't. (C)


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Monday, June 06, 2005

New TV Shows

While I've tried to keep the focus here more specifically on Movies rather than television, I've been given the opportunity to watch most of the new network TV shows for this coming year. So this will begin a series of brief reviews of the new programming. On my grading scale, a (B-) is middle-of-the-road. Better than that means I liked something about it, less than that means I didn't. I'll try to balance my reviews to factor both my personal taste, and my predictions for the show's long-term potential, but these two might not always match. Shows I like get cancelled. Shows I hate succeed. Let that serve as a disclaimer about my credentials. I don't watch much TV, so I am generally judging these in comparison to each other, not to what is currently on the air.


Kitchen Confidential (FOX) - sitcom
A very funny half hour sitcom about a recovering alcoholic chef who is trying to restart his career. The pilot takes advantage of the recent Wendy's chili scandal, but that joke ended up more like a groan than a laugh. But there were plenty of good laughs besides, and some nice interesting supporting characters portrayed superbly. However, I'm not sure the concept is broad enough to support a long run, so we'll have to see how the sub-plots and secondary characters develop to judge whether this will last. (B)


Invasion (ABC) - Sci-Fi/Drama
While the pilot wanted to leave you wondering, the title makes it completely unambiguous: the aliens are coming. It left me wanting more (it must be a 2-part introduction really), so if enough viewers tune in for the first episode, I predict a successful early season. But these types of shows seem to have a hard time surviving their first season, and I haven't yet seen anything to make this one stand out from the crowd. (Remember "The Visitor" ?) (B+)


Just Legal (WB) - Drama
The worst thing about this show is the title. I decided to watch it because it features Don Johnson, and I used to enjoy his "Nash Bridges." Sadly, now Don is just an old, burned-out actor, which works great, because he plays an old, burned-out trial lawyer in this show. But ignore him. The highlight of this show is the kid, (I can't remember his name right now...). He's an 18-year prodigy, just out of law school at the head of his class. I'll let you wait to watch it for the plot details, but it was a surprisingly good show. Call it, "Doogie Howser, J.D." (A-)


Hot Properties (ABC) - sitcom
Three sex-crazed friends work together as Real Estate Agents in New York. ("I'm not slutty, I'm easy. There's a difference!") This show really wants to be the next "Sex in the City," but it's really not. It feels a bit more like "Just Shoot Me," but I liked that show better. Funny moments, but mostly forgettable. Just the kind of drivel that might get a second season. (D+)