PUSHING DAISIES (ABC, Wednesdays, 7pm)In the words of my sister, you will either love this show or think it is too weird for a primetime slot. I chose the former. I LOVE THIS SHOW. In the realm of reality tv and mediocre dramas, it is nice to know that people in Hollywood still have a creative streak in their ratings-induced veins. From the moment you step into this Moulin Rougemeets Tim Burton’s cheery subconscious, you know something special is happening here. It helps that its creator is a Heroesalumni, and it shows with its witty writing and fabulously unique characters. Basic premise: a piemaker (yes, the first episode was named “Pie-lette”) discovers his unique ability to bring back to life a dead person for only a minute…just enough time to figure out how the poor sap was murdered…and then he sends them back to their former dead self. With the help of a detective (played by The Nine’sChi McBride), they are able to collect rewards for solving murder cases. All this changes though when the piemaker revives his childhood sweetheart from the dead and keeps her alive…but cannot touch her…which makes for tension-ridden scenes of innocent love (see the scene where they are sleeping together…touching hands through the wall…so cute), and also intrigues the mind with where this story will go. With the witty and quirky writing and the subtle but powerful acting ability of the main characters, I am looking forward to Wednesdays again.
BACK TO YOU (FOX, Wednesdays, 7pm)
The pilot was funny. The rest was not. There is only so many times you can kill a goldfish without going over the joke line.
LIFE (NBC, Wednesdays, 9pm)
Basic premise: a cop wrongly accused of a murder is acquitted and adjusts to life outside the bars as a detective. His partner is an alcoholic who is getting punished by her boss by being partners with the cop. And the cop got a sweet deal so he is living in the lap of luxury while trying to figure out who sent him to jail in the first place. It’s a clever mix of zen-like cop stories with a great character study…which might make people think…which may not be what people want at 9pm on a Wednesday night. This type of style and writing really belongs on the “Characters Welcome” timeslot in between Monk and Psych, which, as luck would have it, was exactly where it was yesterday afternoon (USA I am assuming is owned by NBC). I dont know if it will last against ABC’s new drama Dirty Sexy Money(havent reviewed yet) and CSI: NY(we love our Gary Sinise) but it is still TiVo-worthy.
Oh Thursdays, how I love thee. In the world since Seinfeld and Friends ruled the NBC Thursday lineup, it’s been a while since we have had such a productive Thursday nights. But they are back…this time on ABC (with a shout-out to that oh-so-funny 30 Rock)
UGLY BETTY (ABC, Thursdays, 7pm)
I was not a Betty-lover in the beginning. I thought it was a tad too over-dramatic, a tad too stereotypical, a tad too overdone. But I have been converted. Maybe its the complex character study of backstabbing with a conscious, or America Ferriera’s brilliant portrayal of UGLY Betty, but I have grown to love this show. The second season is off with a shot, and the only thing I see as a future problem is the fact that there are a lot of storylines that don’t always intertwine, which might make the average Ugly Betty saying, Huh? But the major characters (see Betty, Vanessa Williams, guy from OC) mixed with the funny funny assistants, keep us laughing…which is probably good, considering the melodramatic but still lovable Grey’s Anatomy follows it.
GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC, Thursdays, 8pm)
Oh, Meredith and Derek, I am a little sick of your storyline. Oh Christina, show some emotion already. And Bailey, where is the wit we loved in season one through three. Yes, we have introduced some new characters (see Meredith Grey’s sister, that gal from Reunion) but the storylines remain their same dull self…Meredith and Derek are broken up…again…George and Izzie are admitting that all the tension in season three was ACTUALLY their real feelings (how did Izzie get over Denny so fast?)…Christina is still reeling from Burke’s departure (but he shows up in Bionic Woman, so watch that if you miss him)…and Alex is still Alex, but this time with facial hair and interns. Don’t get me wrong, I love Grey’s. It is starting to become what ER was to me in ’97…but it will become like ER (after the days of George Clooney *sigh* and Noah Wyle) if they don’t introduce a new character or have another “Denny” or “Ferry Crash” storyline. It makes me nostolgic for Season 2…that sophomore season filled with Denny and McVet and McSteamy…oh, yeah for major tension and storywriting…but with Shondra Leavy now half-heartedly writing Private Practice, I only hope that Grey’s will pickup…but I’ll still be watching.
30 ROCK (NBC, Thursdays, 7:30pm)
Tina Fey has another winner with this comedy. Alec Baldwin is fabulous, and Jerry Seinfeld fell flat during this pilot. But it doesnt matter, cause Alec and Tina keep this show afloat. Watch it, live it, love it.
That’s the scoop for now. Looking forward to Viva Laughlin, Samantha Who? and Men In Trees.
