Fall TV Preview

In case you were itching to find out what Russell thinks of the new fall lineup of TV shows, your prayers are finally answered!

Monday – The “Worst” Day of the Week!

CBS – “Worst Week” – Sam Biggs, and unlucky young man in the game of life, has to tell his girlfriend’s parents that they’re getting married and she’s three-months pregnant.

Russell’s Take – This sounds like a single episode, not a series. Really, it sounds like one scene of one episode. Boring.

NBC – “My Own Worst Enemy” – Christian Slater stars as both Henry Spivey, an efficiency expert, husband and father, and Edward Albright, a dangerous spy. When the carefully constructed psychological wall between them breaks down, Henry and Edward are thrust into unfamiliar territory where each man is dangerously out of his element.

Russell’s Take – This might be the “Journeyman” for this year: the show that Russell thinks is supercool, which gets cancelled after thirteen episodes.

Tuesday – The “Newest” Day of the Week!

ABC – “Opportunity Knocks” - The instant that host JD Roth knocks on a family's front door in Anywhere, America, the mobile Opportunity Knocks team will be there in a semi-truck filled with prizes. They will literally set up shop on a family's front lawn. It's there that an audience made up of neighbors and friends will be cheering them on.

Russell’s Take – Wow! That’s great! I’ll watch… when someone I know or care about is the contestant. Until then, not so much with the watching.

CBS – “The Mentalist” – Simon Baker stars 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.

Russell’s Take – So, it’s “Monk” (or “Psych”, if you prefer), just without the funny. Snore.

NBC – “Kath & Kim” - Kath Day is the mom. She's a foxy, 40-something divorcée who finally has time for herself and her valiant search for love. Kim Day is the daughter. She's a self-absorbed princess, recently separated from her husband, who finds consolation in stuffing her face. When Kim decides to move back home, Kath reluctantly agrees.

Russell’s Take – I’d be all about the “Snooze” review, if it weren’t for the fact that this is Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, who I like. But even that might not be enough for me to watch.

Fox – “Fringe” - When an international flight lands at Boston's Logan Airport and the passengers and crew have all died grisly deaths, FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham is called in. During the investigation, Olivia searches frantically for someone to help, leading her to Dr. Walter Bishop, our generation's Einstein. There's only one catch: he's been institutionalized for the last 20 years, and the only way to question him requires pulling his estranged son Peter in to help.

Russell’s Take – Okay, fine. It’s not exactly “The X-Files”. But it’s really close. I figure I’ll give it a shot, anyway.

CW – “90210” - An edgy, contemporary spin-off of the iconic drama "Beverly Hills, 90210," the new "90210" looks at life through the eyes of Annie Wilson and her brother Dixon, whose first day at West Beverly Hills High School leaves no doubt they're not in Kansas anymore.

Russell’s Take – Never watched the first one. Won’t be watching this one.

CW – “Privileged” - Twenty-three-year-old Megan Smith has a Yale education, a relentlessly positive attitude and a plan to conquer the world of journalism, despite the fact that she is currently slaving away at a tabloid rag. Megan's plan is thrown off course when, in one whirlwind day, she gets fired, meets cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges (Anne Archer) and becomes the live-in tutor for Laurel's twin teen granddaughters in the heady Palm Beach world of wealth and power.

Russell’s Take – Sweet! It’s “The Nanny Diaries: The Series”! Didn’t see that movie; won’t watch this show.

Wednesday – The “Least Original” Day of the Week

CBS – “Gary Unmarried” – Jay Mohr stars as Gary Barnes, a recently single contractor with a controlling ex-wife.

Russell’s Take – Premise is flimsy, but I like the cast (which also includes Jaime King and the always enjoyable Paula Marshall). I’ll give it a shot.

NBC – “Knight Rider” – (Like you even need to see a summary…)

Russell’s Take – The TV movie was diverting, though entirely predictable. If I were twelve again, I’d probably watch. Since this premiere’s after my 40th birthday, I think I’ll give it a pass.

Fox – “Do Not Disturb” – “Do Not Disturb” is a hilarious workplace comedy set at one of New York City's hottest and hippest hotels: The Inn. Named one of the Big Apple's "10 Best Places to Stay," The Inn is just that - the "in" place to be, with its chic decor, stylish staff and celebrity clientele. Behind the scenes, however, the upstairs/downstairs dynamic tells quite a different story.

Russell’s Take – The upside? Jerry O’Connell. Love that guy. The downside? This seems like yet another foolish attempt to Americanize “Fawlty Towers”. Give it up! It won’t work! Try Americanizing “Good Neighbors” instead. No, really. Please. Someone. That would be really good. (No pun intended.)

CW – “Sylista” – If “The Devil Wears Prada” were a reality show, it would be “Stylista”.

Russell’s Take – Wait! Stop. You need not go any further. Reality show meets fashion? Where are those Four Horsemen when you need them?!

Thursday – The “Highest Concept” Day of the Week

ABC – “Life on Mars” - Where were you in 1973? NYPD Detective Sam Tyler finds himself suddenly hurtled back in time when he's ripped from 2008 after being hit by a car while chasing down a criminal. He's trying mightily to understand what has just happened to him and how he can get back "home."

Russell’s Take – Oh, I don’t know. Could be cool. Could be a huge waste of time. I’ll watch the pilot, but that’s all I can promise.

CBS – “Eleventh Hour” – “Eleventh Hour” from acclaimed producer Jerry Bruckheimer follows Dr. Jacob Hood, a brilliant biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, as he investigates scientific crises and oddities.

Russell’s Take – I like Rufus Sewell (the lead), but this seems awfully “Numb3rs”-ish.

Friday – The “Last” Day of the Week (for new shows, anyway)

CBS – “The Ex List” – Bella Bloom, an attractive business owner is surprised to learn from a psychic 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.

Russell’s Take – Well, on the one hand, the premise seems to imply that the show will either end, or change its name, after one season. (Unless they handle time like “Lost”.) All in all, not too interesting to me.

NBC – “Crusoe” – Following the novel, this thirteen-part series will remain faithful to the author’s original classic story.

Russell’s Take – All kinds of sweet. And if it sucks, who cares! It’s gone before Christmas!