Here it is – the end of season tally sheet for new network shows for 2016-2017 pilots! I must say…the networks waited for it but are being far more ruthless this year, all told…or maybe not ruthless enough!
Also, stay tuned for the Progress Report discussing long-running shows covered by this blog!
Thanks as always to TVLine for helping a girl out.
24: LEGACY, Fox
WHO: Corey Hawkins (The Walking Dead), Ashley Thomas (Black Mirror), Jimmy Smits (Sons of Anarchy), Miranda Otto (Homeland), Teddy Sears (The Flash), Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal), Anna Diop (The Messengers), Coral Pena (Blue Bloods), Charlie Hofheimer (Mad Men), Sheila Vand (State of Affairs)
WHAT: Featuring an all-new cast of characters, the series centers on a military hero who encounters a troubled return to the U.S., compelling him to ask CTU for help in saving his life, and stopping what potentially could be one of the largest-scale terror attacks on American soil.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass for now. Well, we don’t start the 2016-2017 preview well out of the gate, do we? Hear me out. I was incredibly devoted to the original 24, and I also watched 24: Live Another Day, which revived the 24 concept for an additional thirteen-episode event series. As I said in the latter review (click on the links), what made 24 work for this viewer in the end was one element: Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. 24 became what it was because of its charismatic lead, who played a character besieged by personal complications fighting for balance against his impulse to honor country and to save lives. Without Kiefer, and despite the “real time” ticking clock gimmick, I felt pretty certain that I would have stopped watching 24 long before it ended. The writing was, at times, all over the place, the catastrophes and dangers were increasingly more preposterous, and the tension without Kiefer was flat, as evidenced by the first few episodes of “Live Another Day,” which were largely Jack-less.
So, now we have a new 24 after a year or more of rumors that a reboot was coming. There’s a new conflicted lead and a few other familiar faces, like Jimmy Smits and Eowyn. But there is absolutely nothing new about this show other than the sheer lack of Jack Bauer. From what can be viewed of the previews, Corey Hawkins, despite his Walking Dead cred, does not offer the same engagement that Kiefer Sutherland did. He’s just another guy, besieged by personal complications fighting for balance against his impulse to honor country and to save lives. Will he be as good as Kiefer? Arguably, no. Kiefer did it first and did it well. Who would want to top it? And if they are not going to top it, what’s the point of watching it?
Perhaps, the trailer wasn’t well put together. Or, perhaps people need their ticking clock fix. I’m not ready to jump on board another 24 hours of terrorist plots and gunfire without a solid reason to do so, and I’m also reasonably grumbly that nothing original in Hollywood seems to be the status quo, though the lack of originality largely avoided television for a time. I guess that time is over.
If buzz or ratings give me a reason to doubt, I may reconsider. Right now, this just seems like a stale rehashing with new folks. Thumbs down (for now).
STATUS: Officially canceled! Fox ultimately canceled this half reboot, half revival after struggling ratings on June 7, 2017. The series finale aired on April 17, 2017 – full 12 episode season aired. Reports are noting that the network plans to attempt another reboot of 24, effectively creating a miniseries, as “Legacy” ultimately became, at a later time.
CPU! STATUS: Status change to Pass outright. Who watched this reboot? Are we being too hard on this series, given our initial misgivings and its (now confirmed) cancellation? Convince us otherwise in the comments below.
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AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, ABC
WHEN: Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c
WHO: Katy Mixon (Mike & Molly), Carly Hughes, Ali Wong (Black Box, Are You There, Chelsea?), Diedrich Bader (Veep), Julia Butters (Transparent), Johnny Sequoyah (Believe), Daniel DiMaggio (Supergirl)
WHAT: A family comedy narrated by Katie, a strong-willed mother, raising her flawed family in a wealthy town filled with “perfect” wives and their “perfect” offspring.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick-Up. I am not currently a wife, and I don’t have children. Traditional “family” sitcoms and other safe comedy fare tend to turn me off. Based upon the strength of the trailer for this show, however, and the excellent comedic delivery of Katy Mixon, I actually think I might test the suburbs of American Housewife. It checks off a few TV tropes, including the rich/skinny girls versus less endowed/fat girl motif, but it also mixes a few formulae together, seemingly, which might yield a new formula of fresh and funny. Then again, it could be one of those jokes that wears thin if told too often, but I won’t know until I watch. The “spanx” diatribe alone made me smile, though, so it’s worth a look-see.
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season finale aired on May 23, 2017, with a total of 23 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.
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A.P.B., Fox
WHO: Natalie Martinez (Secrets and Lies), Justin Kirk (Weeds), Ernie Hudson (The Secret Life of the American Teenager), Eric Winter (Witches of East End), Caitlin Stasey (Reign), Taylor Handley (The O.C.), Tamberla Perry (Boss)
WHAT: A tech billionaire purchases a troubled police precinct in the wake of a loved one’s murder, but can this eccentric and enigmatic figure’s cutting edge approach fix the broken ways of these blue blooded veterans?
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick-Up. Maybe I’m in a generous mood on the day I reviewed this trailer, but this show is mildly intriguing. While I think it has the potential, as all cop shows do, to veer into procedural territory, the lead character is incredibly charismatic, and the gimmick involves him introducing an app into the Chicago streets that allows normal citizens to report crimes on the spot. Coupled with the futuristic, expensive technology he brings in, there is actually potential for this show to be at least somewhat engrossing. How long can it sustain, though? Will it be told episodically, with story lines resolved after each hour of rich boy hi-jinks and cop resistance like a procedural/”crime of the week” show, or will there be an underlying thread pushing it forward? My guess is, since the premise includes the lead character becoming involved with the police because his friend was gunned down, that there will definitely be a connecting thread. How strong that thread is will depend upon how they balance the premise with the hi-jinks.
STATUS: Officially canceled. Fox let this one go on “Bloody Thursday,” i.e. May 11, 2017. The series finale aired on April 24, 2017 – full 12 episode season aired.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed but will still view, at least for a couple of episodes.
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THE BLACKLIST: REDEMPTION, NBC
WHO | Famke Janssen (How to Get Away With Murder), Ryan Eggold (The Blacklist), Edi Gathegi (The Blacklist), Tawny Cypress (Unforgettable)
WHAT | Undercover operative Tom Keen joins forces with Susan “Scottie” Hargrave, the brilliant and cunning chief of Grey Matters, a covert mercenary organization that solves problems governments don’t dare touch. While on the hunt for Liz’s attacker, Tom secretly discovered that Scottie is actually his biological mother. Now, as they team up to employ their unique skills and resources in a dangerous world of deadly criminals, Tom begins his own covert mission to find out more about his shadowy past.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass for now. The Blacklist has been on my “to-watch” list for some time now. I have a few members of my inner circle who are devoted fans and praise it highly, and I do plan to watch it someday (and maybe even to cover it at CPU!). Since this new entry is a spin-off of The Blacklist, however, I am not prepared to watch or cover it until I watch the original series. If that happens in this next season, we’ll keep you posted.
STATUS: Officially canceled! The series finale aired on April 13, 2017 – full 8 episode season aired.
CPU! STATUS: Status change to full Pass, given that the spin-off was a non-starter, and I still haven’t watched the original – though the original Blacklist remains on the watch list.
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BULL, CBS
WHEN: Tuesdays at 9/8c
WHO: Michael Weatherly (NCIS), Freddy Rodriguez (The Night Shift), Geneva Carr (Law & Order: SVU), Christopher Jackson (Broadway’s Hamilton), Jaime Lee Kirchner (Mercy), Annabelle Attanasio
WHAT: A drama inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw as the founder of one of the most prolific trial consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology, human intuition and high tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys, witnesses and the accused tick.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Part of me wants to like this show, featuring a charismatic Michael Weatherly as an arrogant psychologist who can read juries and other court personnel in order to suss out cases, a character loosely based on Dr. Phil (yes, that Dr. Phil). On the other hand, I was also somewhat turned off by the fact that he is an arrogant psychologist going toe to toe with arrogant defendants and arrogant attorneys. This show seems to offer a formulaic courtroom premise with a fancy gimmick, a shrink who can read people (and an algorithm of his making) to sway the outcomes of cases. Since shrinks aren’t always better than lawyers, and since the premise seems thin – along with the likability of the main character – I am inclined to let this one go by. If the show gains buzz, accolades, or steam, I may reconsider. But even as there were some enticing moments in this trailer, most of it rubbed me the wrong way.
STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The season one finale aired on May 23, 2017, for a total of 23 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: I (still) have heard literally nothing about this show since its premiere, either from the CPU! regulars or from the media, to convince me or CPU! to start watching. If you like “Bull,” tell us in the comments and why. For now, it stays passed.
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CHICAGO JUSTICE, NBC
WHO: Philip Winchester (The Player), Carl Weathers (Rocky), Joelle Carter (Justified), Ryan-James Hatanaka
WHAT: Just like their brethren in the Chicago P.D., the State’s Attorney’s dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators navigates heated city politics and controversy head-on while fearlessly pursuing justice. As they take on the city’s high stakes and often media-frenzied cases, they must balance public opinion, power struggles within the system and their unwavering passion for the law.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. There is no trailer, which is not a good sign. In any event, this seems to be another procedural in the grand tradition of NBC produced procedural TV like Law and Order, and this viewer does not enjoy watching procedurals; or, it’s another courtroom drama resting on that formula. Give me fantasy! Give me escapism! Don’t give me dramatic re-tellings with a realistic twinge. If I hear something new, unusual, or enticing about it prior to its premiere, I’ll let you know, but this is not the kind of thing I normally watch, and there is nothing convincing me to start watching it. Moving on.
STATUS: Officially canceled! NBC canceled this latest “Chicago” entry on May 24, 2017. The series finale aired on May 14, 2017 – full 13 episode season aired.
CPU! STATUS: While the Chief CP does not plan to view or to blog/podcast about this series, we do have at least one CPU! contributor interested in possible blog coverage of the “Chicago” gaggle of programs. Stay tuned for further developments.
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CONVICTION, ABC
WHO: Hayley Atwell (Marvel’s Agent Carter), Eddie Cahill (CSI: NY), Shawn Ashmore (The Following), Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead), Manny Montana (Graceland), Merrin Dungey (Alias, Once Upon a Time), Daniel DiTomasso (Witches of East End)
WHAT: Tells the story of Carter Morrison, the brilliant but ne’er-do-well daughter of a former U.S. president, who is blackmailed into taking a job as the head of Los Angeles’ newly created Conviction Integrity Unit. She, along with her team of lawyers, investigators and forensic experts, work together to examine cases where there’s credible suspicion that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Let us all take a moment to get our pop culture bearings. Agent Carter is some sort of devil-may-care type who is bribed by Tag, Rachel’s young boyfriend on Friends, to head some fictional agency investigating the wrongfully accused. Phew. Okay. After watching the trailer, this viewer was unimpressed by something that seems to have a message but little else going for it. The premise feels somewhat schmaltzy, manipulative even, and quite thin, and the concept behind the premise screams procedural with some sexy television antics on the side for, you know, reasons. Honestly, as I watched, I felt like it had all been done before. So, I can’t see doing it again. Also, it just makes me want to watch Agent Carter more, which I haven’t yet been able to see. The television obsessed never has enough time. Anyway, sorry ABC and the folks behind this show. If the ratings or the buzz suggest otherwise, I’ll take a gander but not until then.
STATUS: Officially canceled. The series finale aired on January 29, 2017 – full 13 episode season aired.
CPU! STATUS: If what came through in the teaser trailer was essentially the norm for all episodes, the fate of this show is unsurprising. I hope Hayley Atwell finds a home somewhere, but this vehicle seemed to be a poor quality one, at least judging by the trailer, which is like the network’s sales pitch for the show. Of course, I am not certain that the Alphabet should have canceled Agent Carter, but that’s another story.
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DESIGNATED SURVIVOR, ABC
WHEN: Wednesdays at 10/9c
WHO: Kiefer Sutherland (24), Maggie Q (Nikita), Kal Penn (House), Italia Ricci (Chasing Life), Natasha McElhone (Californication), Adan Canto (The Following), LaMonica Garrett (Sons of Anarchy), Tanner Buchanan (The Fosters)
WHAT: Centers on a lower level United States Cabinet member who is suddenly handed the presidency after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union address kills everyone above him in the presidential line of succession.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick up. So, THIS is why Kiefer Sutherland can’t be on 24: Legacy! He’s too busy being a Designated Survivor…The trailer boasts high moments that create chills (mushroom clouds over DC!) and low moments that create squinty faces (Kal Penn’s character telling Kiefer to quit), but because the premise has, to this viewer’s knowledge, never been done before (a low level Cabinet member who must suddenly be president), and based upon the fact that Kiefer is so supremely watchable, and further acknowledging the fact that he has moved on from 24, I feel like this could be a very good program to choose for viewing in the coming season and possibly better than the aforementioned 24: Legacy, given that Jack Bauer is in this one. I mean, I know that’s not his name, but that’s what I choose to think. The trailer leaves me with the feeling that this is movie quality television, at any rate; hopefully, it doesn’t descend into melodramatics.
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season 1 finale aired on May 21, 2017, with a total of 21 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.
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DOWNWARD DOG, ABC
PREMIERE DATE: May 17, 2017
WHO: Allison Tolman (Fargo), Lucas Neff (Raising Hope), Mo Collins (Parks and Recreation), Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Barry Rothbart
WHAT: Based on the web series of the same name, it follows a down-on-her-luck woman named Nan whose devoted dog speaks its mind in confessional-style interviews.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. I think this might be my um…no of the season. As much as I like Allison Tolman (her turn in Fargo was quite good, don’tcha know?), and as much as I related to a lonely thirty-something woman with a pet, I feel strongly that those who would find this show funny are dog-lovers who enjoy those weird anthropomorphized mouths on animals. I love dogs but not enough to watch a whole season of a dog’s commentary, no matter how heartfelt, and I think the show MIGHT be racist to cats (I have a cat). There were a couple of funny jokes in the trailer, but most of it landed with a thud. It’s an animal buddy comedy; I don’t see how it could be funny after more than a few episodes (or roughly the number of episodes equivalent to a standard movie length). Also, who is running the alleged web series – and who is watching it?
STATUS: Currently airing; the sixth episode of eight confirmed and ordered episodes airs on the day this post goes to publication. There is no word yet on whether or not this series will be renewed.
CPU! STATUS: The critics seem to favor this sleeper mid-season entry on the Alphabet network, but I stand by the initial verdict, especially since no one I know is talking about it.
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EMERALD CITY, NBC
WHO | Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil), Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck), Florence Kasumba, Adria Arjona, Oliver Jackson-Cohen
WHAT | The “event” series is a modern and dark reimagining of the classic tale of Oz that includes lethal warriors, competing kingdoms, and the infamous wizard as we’ve never seen him before. A headstrong 20-year-old Dorothy Gale is unwittingly sent on a journey that thrusts her into the center of an epic and bloody battle for the control of Oz.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. This show has been delayed two seasons, but at least this time, we have an actual promotional snapshot and what looks like a cast. I’ve picked it up for the past two falls; I will keep picking it up until if and when it gets dropped or finally airs. Let’s hope it’s the latter, as CPU! will remain committed to this dark re-imagining of Oz for as long as it’s a possibility. Let’s make it happen, NBC! Third time’s the charm!
STATUS: Officially canceled! The Peacock swung the ax toward the troubled Oz adaptation on May 4, 2017. The series finale aired on March 3, 2017 – full 10 episode season aired.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but several CPU!ers have voiced support for this series, so a podcast will likely eventually be recorded and published, most likely in a “Looking Back” episode or possible new feature format likely to be rolled out this summer. Stay tuned!
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THE EXORCIST, Fox
WHEN: Fridays at 9/8c
WHO: Geena Davis (Grey’s Anatomy), Brianne Howey (Scream Queens), Hannah Kasulka (The Fosters), Alfonso Herrera (Sense8), Ben Daniels (Flesh and Bone), Kurt Egyiawan (Beasts of No Nation)
WHAT: A modern reinvention inspired by William Blatty’s original 1971 book, the propulsive, serialized psychological thriller follows two very different men tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession, and confronting the face of true evil.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Though horror is a tricky genre for me (I have acute overactive imagination syndrome) and though I managed to avoid The Exorcist film until I was an adult, as I think it’s still a scary idea and premise, the original film influenced many excellent horror movie and TV tropes that are still used and reused today. So, why not transfer the original concept to the small screen? The only question is whether or not such a concept, originally distilled to the two hours or so for a film, can sustain over the course of several episodes, much less several seasons? There is only one way to find out. I am ready to confront these demons, along with their updated special effects. But will be there be rotating heads and the vomiting of pea soup?
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season finale aired on December 16, 2016, with a total of 10 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.
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FREQUENCY, The CW
WHO: Peyton List (The Flash, The Tomorrow People), Riley Smith (Nashville), Mekhi Phifer (ER), Lenny Jacobson (Nurse Jackie), Anthony Ruivivar (Banshee, American Horror Story), Devin Kelley (Resurrection), Daniel Bonjour (The Walking Dead)
WHAT: In this reimagining of the New Line Cinema film, a female police detective discovers she is able to speak via ham radio with her estranged father, also a detective, who died in 1996. They forge a new relationship while working together on an unresolved murder, but unintended consequences of the “butterfly effect” wreak havoc in the present day.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass For Now. To be honest, the trailer is pretty compelling, and despite the fact that I am not a fan of Peyton List (I have watched or watch both The Tomorrow People and The Flash and have been turned off by her both times), even though the CW sure seems to be, I am reserving the pick up until I see the original film, which I never have. I have a video game based on the film which I have never played either. So, like Limitless, I feel that I need at least the baseline before giving the television show serious consideration. Once I see the film, Ms. List aside, I will revisit the idea of watching the show.
STATUS: Officially canceled! The CW did not pursue a second season order for this big to small screen adaptation as of May 8, 2017. The series finale aired on January 25, 2017 – full 14 episode season aired. The CW also released an epilogue, to tie off loose ends to the story, exclusively to its website.
CPU! STATUS: I do still want to watch the movie and may check into some of the episodes at a later date depending upon how that goes; the Chief CP still doesn’t love Peyton List, though, for the record.
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THE GOOD PLACE, NBC
WHEN: Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c
WHO: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), Ted Danson (CSI: Cyber), Manny Jacinto (The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story), William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D’Arcy Carden
WHAT: Follows Eleanor, a New Jersey woman who comes to realize that she hasn’t been a very good person. She decides to turn over a new leaf by learning what it actually means to be “good” or “bad,” and then trying to make up for her past behavior.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. On the strength of the trailer, and the fact that Veronica Mars/Ana from Frozen is playing the lead with Kristen Bell’s best comedic timing, I think anyone would be remiss to pass on this new sitcom. The premise is unique, casting Ted Danson as the “Good Place’s” resident bureaucrat is inspired, and frankly, I had to stifle laughter every few seconds as I sat awkwardly in a public waiting room watching the trailer. The substitute uses for various curse words as delivered by Bell warrant the look-see alone. More than any other show on this list so far, I am quite excited to check this one out! Hopefully, cancel-happy NBC will allow this one the chance to find its groove – though, arguably, the groove will be there from the pilot, if the trailer is any indication.
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The first season finale aired on January 19, 2017, with a total of 13 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed but really want to as soon as possible.
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THE GREAT INDOORS, CBS
WHO: Joel McHale (Community), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Kick-Ass), Stephen Fry (Bones), Susannah Fielding, Shaun Brown, Chris Williams, Christine Ko
WHAT: An adventure reporter must adapt to the times when he becomes the boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of the magazine.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Oh look. The first real sitcom to make fun of the generation gap between Gen X/Y and Millennials, and CBS of all networks grabs onto it. Which means that most of the CPU!’ers will relate to the Joel McHale character, but many of them will find the supporting characters clueless and annoying. Like I do. Or, the Millennials in the audience will laugh along with their TV representatives at how antiquated ideals like spending time in the outdoors and using pen and paper to write stories, rather than Twitter and Tweets, are. Or, the Millennials in the audience will be offended by the exaggerated depictions of their generation, unless they are open to seeing the humor. I’m sure this will probably find an audience, but I just can’t see being in it (and the canned laughter didn’t help its cause). Also, I guess this means we won’t be seeing McHale on another season of The X-Files anytime soon.
STATUS: Officially canceled! The series finale aired on May 8, 2017 – full 22 episode season aired – though the show received the cancellation ax blow a few days later.
CPU! STATUS: Still not interested. The Chief CP is generationally offended, ok?
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GREAT NEWS, NBC
WHO: Briga Heelan (Undateable), Andrea Martin (Difficult People), Adam Campbell (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Mixology), Kimrie Lewis-Davis (Scandal), John Michael Higgins (Wilfred), Horatio Sanz (SNL)
WHAT: An already inseparable mother/daughter relationship becomes more complicated when mom accepts an internship at her daughter’s workplace.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Aside from the fact that no trailer exists to even attempt to convince viewers that the premise is potentially funny and not so recycled, the premise is so recycled and potentially rather unfunny! A codependent mother and daughter team spend even more time together at work. That’s what this is about. Add to that very few recognizable names in the cast (weirdly, Horatio Sanz is the most familiar to me, and that’s not necessarily a good thing), and what you have is an easily avoidable sitcom. Also, NBC, the most cancel happy of all the networks currently, has been especially unkind to its new sitcoms in recent years. There is literally no reason to invest in this one based purely on a photograph, a cast list, and an extremely precarious sitcom foundation. Someone talk me into it. It’s the yearly challenge!
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season 1 finale aired on May 23, 2017, with a total of 10 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: The Chief CP is probably going to opt for less great news, but there is some interest from the CPU! core concerning this show. Stay tuned for further developments.
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IMAGINARY MARY, ABC
WHO: Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg, Growing Up Fisher), Stephen Schneider (You’re the Worst), Nicholas Coombe (iZombie), Matreya Scarrwener (Canada’s Detective McLean: Ties That Bind), Jillian Bell (Eastbound & Down), Erica Tremblay and the voice of SNL vet Rachel Dratch
WHAT: Centers on a thirtysomething bachelorette whose life is turned upside-down when she finally meets the love of her life — a divorced father with three kids. This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend she created as an only child suddenly reappears in her life to help her navigate the transition from single girl to a woman ready for a family.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Though the premise of this sitcom seems a bit more clever than some of the other offerings of this pilot season, my reaction still falls into the “pass” category. First, I only laughed once at the trailer, and it was most certainly not at the imaginary friend but at the husband when he was talking to his kids about Dharma when Dharma wasn’t there. Second, I’ve never been wild about Jenna Elfman – Dharma & Greg was saccharine and lacking something to which this viewer could relate, so I never watched more than a few episodes. While the character of Mary may be different than Dharma, there is still an infused essence of Elfman that leaves me feeling “meh” about the proceedings. Also, honestly, though there might have been entertainment potential to the later-in-life confirmed bachelorette finding true love with a family man motif by itself, adding the tiny imaginary friend creature made me think the character would be more sad than funny and potentially in need of some good counseling. Sorry, Dharma. On with the list.
STATUS: Officially canceled. The Alphabet reduced the episode order from 13 to 9 and then swiftly canceled the series on May 11, 2017. The series finale (and ninth episode) aired on May 30, 2017.
CPU! STATUS: No change in our initial “pass” verdict.
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KEVIN CAN WAIT, CBS
WHEN: Mondays at 8:30/7:30c, moving to 8/7c on Oct. 24
WHO: Kevin James (The King of Queens), Erinn Hayes (Childrens Hospital), Taylor Spreitler (Melissa & Joey), Ryan Cartwright (Alphas, Bones), Lenny Venito (The Neighbors), Gary Valentine (The King of Queens)
WHAT: A newly retired police officer looking forward to spending more quality time with his wife and three kids discovers he faces much tougher challenges at home than he ever did on the streets.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Um…no. This is the definitive “um…no” of the season. Unless there’s more than one. Anyway, first, let’s rap about the enigma that is Kevin James. Someone somewhere out there obviously finds him funny. I never have. Not once. Not even a little bit. Second, let’s pause for a moment to appreciate just how similar this new show is to James’ star-making sitcom, The King of Queens. Did CBS air that one too? I don’t remember. Be that as it may, this version does not have Leah Remini, which is the only reason The King of Queens was ever funny, and, frankly, the odds of funny happening on the previous show were arguably slim. I think The King of Queens lasted as long as it did because of the chemistry between Remini and James. Erinn Hayes doesn’t quite cut the mustard in terms of appealing chemistry with the wisecracking but stout every-man, at least from the extended trailer available. Which means James is left hanging out there to carry the comedy by himself, and, frankly, I just don’t think such a feat is possible for him. Of course, lots of people found Two and Half Men funny, even when Charlie Sheen was still on it. I believe fans of that sitcom will find something to like here. Unfortunately, I didn’t like that one or The King of Queens, so I’m really left with one choice. Next, please.
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season finale aired on May 8, 2017, with a total of 24 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Um…no? Did you not hear me the first time? Plus, no one I know is watching it. Prove me wrong!
EDIT: Why God…why?!
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LETHAL WEAPON, Fox
WHEN: Wednesdays at 8/7c
WHO: Damon Wayans, Sr., Jordana Brewster (Dallas), Keesha Sharp (American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson), Kevin Rahm (Mad Men), Clayne Crawford (Rectify), Johnathan Fernandez (Younger, Girls), Chandler Kinney
WHAT: When Texas cop and former Navy SEAL Martin Riggs suffers the loss of his wife and baby, he moves to Los Angeles to start anew. There, he gets partnered with LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh, who, having recently suffered a “minor” heart attack, must avoid any stress in his life.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass for now. Would you believe that I have never once seen a Lethal Weapon movie? It’s true. No particular reason for it; I just haven’t found myself in a position to watch or to want to watch any of those movies, of which there are several. Now, the films had Mel Gibson (pre-crazy times) and Danny Glover. This show has Damon Wayans and some charming Southern gentleman filling those rather hefty boots. Before this viewer would feel comfortable with this selection, I feel I have to wear the original boots first before trying on the newfangled pair. If buzz and accolades and steam swarm around this TV remake, I will, of course, make arrangements to get caught up. If it’s enjoyable, let CPU! know (that’s why we have a Guestbook!).
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season finale aired on March 15, 2017, with a total of 18 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: The Chief CP still wants to watch the original movie first. I know, I know, I’m so behind the times. I own it.
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MACGYVER, CBS
WHEN: Fridays at 8/7c
WHO: Lucas Till (X-Men), George Eads (CSI), Justin Hires (Rush Hour), Sandrine Holt (House of Cards)
WHAT: A re-imagining of the television series of the same name, following a 20-something MacGyver as he creates a clandestine organization where he uses his knack for solving problems in unconventional ways to help prevent disasters from happening.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. What the hell? Oh, CBS. Say it ain’t so! That’s two remakes in a row! At least, insofar as Kevin Can Wait seems to be a remake of The King of Queens. So, in order for this show to be successful, anyone older than, say, 30 will have to be okay with a MacGyver that is not played by Richard Dean Anderson. And anyone younger than 30 will have to be taken in by the premise of a man who is so resourceful, he can get himself out of most sticky wickets with a mere paper clip and some chewing gum. As one of the over 30 crowd, I am somewhat turned off by this entry into CBS’ lineup. I was no die hard fan of the original MacGyver, but I am pretty sure that half the appeal was Anderson’s crooked smile and rockin’ 80s mullet. He was resourceful AND charismatic. Lucas Till, TV’s younger face of this older character, doesn’t offer much in the way of charisma. Either that or the trailer was edited terribly. I don’t think it’s the editing, though, and, therefore, I don’t think this will end well. On the other hand, and surprisingly, Hawaii Five-O survived for a while. Someone convince me, and maybe CPU! and this viewer will reconsider. Not until then.
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season finale aired on April 14, 2017, with a total of 21 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: We can’t even, as the kids are saying. There has been no buzz in CPU!’s circles, and I fully believe we’d miss Richard Dean Anderson too much; one CPU!er checked in and was less than flattering about it. Do you watch MacGyver? Tell us about it in the comments.
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MAKING HISTORY, Fox
WHO: Adam Pally (The Mindy Project), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Yassir Lester (The Carmichael Show)
WHAT: Three friends find a way to travel through time for truth, justice, and riches, which complicates their lives in 2016. They visit some of the greatest moments of the past as they try to resolve their personal problems, while history and pop culture comically collide.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Okay…this has the potential to be exceedingly stupid. On the other hand, it could ultimately be sheer creative genius. The time machine is a giant duffel bag. There is somewhat of a Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure edge to the proceedings, but the main characters are college professors. And one of them is played by Adam Pally, the erstwhile Peter from The Mindy Project, a character who grew on me thanks to the winning bro-ski comedic timing of Pally himself. Plus, the premise is extremely original, or mostly original, at least for network TV, so I think it’s worth giving it a shot. Fox – you be good to this one! Unless it’s stupid. I’ll let you know.
STATUS: Officially canceled. The series finale aired on May 21, 2017 – full 9 episode season aired (I believe the episode order was reduced…or never increased…anyway, the reason is obvs).
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but I still kinda’ wanna’…and probably will…and will probably regret it…
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MAN WITH A PLAN, CBS
WHEN: Mondays at 8:30/7:30c
WHO: Matt LeBlanc (Episodes), Matt Cook (Clipped), Grace Kaufman (The Last Ship), Jessica Chaffin (Episodes), Hala Finley, Matthew McCann
WHAT: A contractor whose wife goes back to work starts spending more time with his kids and discovers the truth every parent eventually realizes: His little angels are maniacs.
—
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. I…um…hm. So, first of all, I think the Eye network is panicking. Most of its mainstay sitcoms have either ended or are probably nearing their end (case in point, The Big Bang Theory and the afore named Two and a Half Men), as many of the sitcom entries on this list so far have been CBS pickups.
Now…the problems. The cast list above glaringly omits the presence of Jenna Fischer, none other than Pam from The Office, herself. Which isn’t saying much because she is clearly the straight man in the comedy and offered nothing funny in the trailer. So, then we have Matt LeBlanc. I’m sorry to have to be the one to say this, Matt, if you’re reading. I’m a big fan of Friends, which may be coloring my perspective of what I saw, but to me, Matt is playing the “grown up” version of Joey. As in, what if Joey had quit acting and was put in the position of being the primary caregiver for his three children that he had with a nice, normal wife in the interim since Friends ended? The line delivery is more deliberate; the motions more affected by age (LeBlanc should be around 50 by my estimation), but to me, it’s Joey. He’s Joey. This is Joey, in 2016, with a family. Which might be okay if we didn’t already know that Joey by himself is not as effective as Joey with the rest of the Friends – which the spin-off Joey taught us. I love Matt LeBlanc and Jenna Fischer, but this TV show, aside from it being another saccharine family sitcom, is Joey with kids. I can’t do it. Someone talk me into it? I want to be talked into this one. Out of my love for Matt LeBlanc.
EDIT: It was pointed out to me by a CPU!er that Jenna Fischer is not in the above cast list because her part was recast due to lack of chemistry with Matt LeBlanc. Unfortunately, no updated trailer exists; hence, the confusion, as the original trailer still has Jenna in it. Also, the recast occurred recently (and I start compiling this article over the month of July). So! The recast doesn’t convince me to start watching it, however. The trailer largely focused on Matt and his character…and I still don’t think it will work based upon the fact that he brings the Joey as noted above, but thanks birdie on my shoulder, all the same!
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season finale aired on May 15, 2017, with a total of 22 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Who’s watching? How’s Joey doing? How YOU doin’? We need feedback.
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MARLON, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: August 16, 2017
WHO: Marlon Wayans (In Living Color), Essence Atkins (Are We There Yet?), Bresha Webb (Truth Be Told), Diallo Riddle (Silicon Valley)
WHAT: Loosely inspired by Marlon Wayans’ life, this multi-camera comedy centers on an inappropriate but loving father (Wayans) committed to successfully co-parenting with his polar opposite ex-wife.
—
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. From the skeletal thin premise, what I’m reading is one part My Wife and Kids (oh hey, older brother Damon, already doing some stuff, only the wife was married to him on the show); one part The Bernie Mac Show (father not uncle, but close); and one part every Wayans brother comedy ever made. I have no trailer to entice, and I’m positive there will be people sold on the concept of this one, but I, once again, pass. Sheesh – there are so many sitcoms coming out this year. And not very good ones, mostly and seemingly.
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THE MICK, Fox
WHEN: Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c
WHO: Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia), Sofia Black D’Elia (Gossip Girl), Carla Jimenez, Thomas Barbusca, Jack Stanton
WHAT: A hard-living, foul mouthed woman moves to affluent Greenwich, Conn., to raise the spoiled kids of her wealthy sister who has fled the country to avoid a federal indictment. She quickly learns what the rest of us already know — other people’s children are awful.
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Another sitcom?! And this one doesn’t bring charm like Making History, the other Fox comedy offering reviewed so far. I think this show is meant to give Kaitlin Olson a chance to capitalize on a strength she cultivated on It’s Always Sunny. The problem is that there was not a single funny moment in the trailer. This is another version of the poor person in a rich world trope, and this viewer predicts that the joke will get old very quickly. It didn’t even sustain in the trailer’s three minutes. Thumbs very much down here.
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season finale aired on May 2, 2017, with a total of 16 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: No one at CPU! is talking about it. No buzz is swarming around the show from the Chief CP’s trusted circles. Are you watching The Mick? Let us know and why in the comments.
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MIDNIGHT, TEXAS, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: July 25, 2017
WHO: François Arnaud (Blindspot), Dylan Bruce (Orphan Black, Heroes Reborn), Sarah Ramos (Parenthood), Arielle Kebbel (UnREAL), Peter Mensah (Sleepy Hollow), Jason Lewis (Sex and the City), Parisa Fitz-Henley, Yul Vasquez, Sean Bridgers
WHAT: A journey into a remote Texas town where no one is who they seem. From vampires and witches to psychics and hit men, Midnight is a mysterious safe haven for those who are different. As the town members fight off outside pressures from rowdy biker gangs, ever-suspicious cops and their own dangerous pasts, they band together and form a strong and unlikely family. Based on Charlaine Harris’ best-selling trilogy.
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Charlaine Harris’ brand of southern pulp fiction strikes again, this time on network TV. Fortunately or unfortunately, however, this viewer has a predilection toward vampires, in all my pop culture sprinklings. I am positive this show premise screams “guilty pleasure” and may be something of a shadow of Ms. Harris’ other book-to-TV inspiration, True Blood, but pickins’ seem to be slim this year, and as long as the vampires don’t sparkle, I always have to see what the vampire shows are about. This is a roll of the dice, but it may be pulpy, turn-off-your-brain, sexy TV, and there’s always more room for that kind of TV in this viewer’s diet. At least, the kind of TV featuring vampires. Have I mentioned vampires?
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NO TOMORROW, The CW
WHO: Tori Anderson (The L.A. Complex), Joshua Sasse (Galavant), Amy Pietz (The Nine Lives of Chloe King), Sarayu Blue (The Real O’Neals), Jesse Rath (Defiance)
WHAT: When a risk-averse female procurement manager at an Amazon-like distribution center falls in love with a man who lives life to the fullest because he believes the apocalypse is imminent, it leads to comedic and poignant results as they embark on a quest to fulfill their individual bucket lists.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Dear the CW, you are my everything. I watch nearly all the shows you have, and this – yet another – new sitcom will be no exception. Galavant found a new home, which is a very good thing; he’s dreamy, English, and funny, which is about all this viewer can really ask for in the end. The premise for this new comedy is intelligent and potentially poignant, even touching, and every actor in the trailer offered multiple laughs. It’s also created and/or produced by those who made Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and though I haven’t watched that one yet, I’ve heard nothing but good about it. There was a lot to like and to laugh at and to be endeared by in this trailer, and so I’m wholeheartedly picking up what is finally a fresh comedy geared toward the youths that doesn’t smack of trying too hard. At least two of the five major networks need to look to little brother CW and get with the program. I’m kind of excited for this one.
STATUS: Officially canceled! The CW canceled two of its freshman series this year. The series finale aired on January 17, 2017 – full 13 episode season aired. The CW released an epilogue to tie off loose ends to the story exclusively to its website.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed but will still check out in support of Joshua Sasse, who can’t seem to elude the Cancellation Bear.
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NOTORIOUS, ABC
WHO: Daniel Sunjata (Graceland), Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs), Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), J. August Richards (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Ryan Guzman (Heroes Reborn), Kevin Zegers (Gracepoint), Kate Jennings Grant (Alpha House), Sepideh Moafi (Black Box)
WHAT: Inspired by the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, the series is a provocative look at the unique, sexy, and dangerous interplay of criminal law and the media.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. The trailer link is not working at TVLine or YouTube, so I have to assess based on premise alone. This viewer is unaware of the true stories being referred to in the premise description, but the premise itself feels very close to procedural in its format. It’s also important to note that this is yet another offering in the legal drama genre. So, basically, the trend of the 2016-2017 season is either sitcom or legal drama. The only enticing actor in the cast is J. August Richards, thanks to his prior affiliations with the Whedons, so, basically, this viewer is left with a shrug of the shoulders and a reminder to CPU! readers at large that if there is buzz, accolades, and/or steam, CPU! will reconsider the initial pass. For now, I will notoriously move on to the next candidate.
STATUS: Officially canceled. The Season 1 finale aired on December 8, 2016, with the show’s tenth episode.
CPU! STATUS: It wasn’t appetizing when a consideration during the fall previews; now that it’s canceled, there is no reason for CPU! to go against its first instincts. Notoriously.
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PITCH, Fox
WHO: Kylie Bunbury (Twisted), Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Franklin & Bash), Ali Larter (Legends, Heroes), Mark Consuelos (Kingdom, Alpha House), Mo McRae (Murder in the First, Sons of Anarchy), Meagan Holder (Ringer), Tim Jo (The Neighbors), Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years), recurring guest star Bob Balaban (The Good Wife)
WHAT: Follows a young female pitcher who defies the odds when she becomes the first woman to play in the major leagues.
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass For Now. I have actually viewed the trailer or a teaser trailer when watching other shows for this new drama. Pro: the lead actor’s first name is Kylie (shout out!). Con: this is a sports drama. CPU! and your Chief CP are open to reconsidering a pick up if the show gains traction, but, for now, because it is a sports drama, I am not as interested in it; I’m just not so up with the sports’ing, and there are so many sports dramas on big and small screen alike. For the record, the trailer is well put together, and I think it could be potentially very good. I also hope young, athletic girls like it because it seems like it would be inspiring to them. CPU! will keep an eye on it because I think it has potential to hold onto an audience, but, for now, we’ll focus on other offerings.
STATUS: Officially canceled! Fox ultimately screamed “you’re out” at the freshman sports series. The series finale aired on December 8, 2016 – full ten episode season aired.
CPU! STATUS: Status change to full pass. I don’t need the sports, and the network isn’t supporting it for traction’s sake. We have enough to watch around here. If you think we should give it another chance, let us know.
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POWERLESS, NBC
WHO: Vanessa Hudgens (Grease: Live), Danny Pudi (Community), Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory, Firefly), Christina Kirk (A to Z)
WHAT: Set in the DC Comics universe full of superheroes, villains and people just like us, an office comedy about the exceedingly average employees at an insurance company and their quest to find their own power.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. I wish there was a trailer, but I’m prepared to dive in head first without one. The premise of this sitcom (another sitcom!): an office comedy about the ordinary people living in the DC Comics Universe. The ones who have the potential to be endangered by Lex Luthor and saved by Superman, for example. You know how this viewer loves an original concept: well, this takes two unoriginal motifs (workplace comedy; comic book adaptation) and mashes them together to make an original primordial goo that could either work or be highly disappointing; I honestly think there’s not much of a potential middle ground here. Plus, there is the added benefit of the presence of Alan Tudyk (WASH LIVES). Also, it’s in the DC universe, so if you’ve been paying attention to date, that’s pretty much a free ticket to ride here at CPU! Still, it’s on NBC. Oh…oh I hope it works. PLEASE DON’T CANCEL IT AFTER THREE EPISODES LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO. Unless, you know, it’s really bad. Again, we’ll let you know.
STATUS: Officially canceled! The Peacock pulled this series from its schedule before the ordered season fully aired following episode 9; the official cancellation was reported on Bloody Thursday. There is no word on whether remaining ordered episodes will be allowed to air at a later time.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed but will still do so with all of the DC love, just to see if I should write angry letters (or record my best Batman-impersonating threats to send to the network).
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PRISON BREAK, Fox
WHEN: Tuesdays at 9/8c, starting in spring
WHO: Original stars Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Sarah Wayne Callies, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Rockmond Dunbar, Paul Adelstein, plus Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains) and recurring players Inbar Lavi (The Last Ship), Augustus Prew (The Borgias), Rick Yune (Marco Polo), Steve Mouzakis (I, Frankenstein), Amin El Gamal
WHAT: A limited, 10-episode continuation of the hit series, which picks up years after “escape artist” Michael Scofield’s apparent death. Sara Tancredi has moved on with her life, raising her and Michael’s child with her new husband. But when clues surface suggesting that Michael may be alive, Sara teams with his brother Lincoln to engineer the series’ “biggest escape ever.”
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass For Now. This just in: Fox reboots another of its properties. Unlike 24 and The X-Files, however, your Chief CP has never seen a lick of the original Prison Break. It’s been on the watch list for a long time, but everyone who has watched it pretty much says the same thing: the first one or two seasons are great, compelling TV. The remaining seasons go off the rails, in the weeds, over the river, and out to pasture. Anyway, I feel strongly about watching the original before a revival event series (or a spin-off or a reboot). If I catch up on Prison Break this season and feel ready for a revival, CPU! will keep you posted. Also, I guess that means Wentworth Miller won’t have time to be Captain Cold over on the CW…unless he filmed this during his hiatus. I hope so because he’s a supremely watchable Captain Cold.
STATUS: The (season/series?) finale aired on May 30, 2017, with a total of nine episodes. Fox has not yet announced whether it will be renewed or canceled.
CPU! STATUS: There is some CPU! groundswell for a Prison Break series inclusive of the original four seasons! Stay tuned for further developments.
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PURE GENIUS, CBS
WHO: Augustus Prew (The Borgias), Dermot Mulroney (Shameless), Odette Annable (The Astronaut Wives Club), Brenda Song (Scandal, Dads), Reshma Shetty (Royals Pains), Ward Horton (One Life to Live), Aaron Jennings
WHAT: Follows a young Silicon Valley tech titan who enlists a veteran surgeon with a controversial past in starting a hospital with a cutting edge, “new school” approach to medicine.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. Watching the trailer, I was on the fence and had to think about this one for awhile but decided in the end that it was worth a look. It’s yet another medical drama, but there is an added Scorpion like spin with a highly motivated genius type who is looking for a cure for something that will potentially ail him in the short term while simultaneously questing after better health for those his cutting edge medical community serves. I also enjoy Dermot Mulroney; he’s a mixed bag as an actor but ultimately likable and watchable (and handsome). Thus, this show seems like Scorpion mixed with something like ER. I like Scorpion (I have watched a few episodes), and though this viewer usually shies away from medical dramas, I decided to at least try it out and see what it has to offer. It could be very manipulative in the end – or, it could be compelling television depicting the challenges of modern-day medicine. We’ll see.
STATUS: Officially canceled! The series finale aired on January 26, 2017 – full 13 episode season aired.
CPU! STATUS: Eh…they aired the full season. I’ll watch a few episodes and see how I feel, though I was really hesitant. It’ll probably be a while, though.
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RIVERDALE, The CW
WHO: KJ Apa, Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody), Lili Reinhart (Surviving Jack), Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210), Mädchen Amick (Witches of East End), Marisol Nichols (Teen Wolf, 24), Camila Mendes, Ashleigh Murray, Madelaine Petsch, recurring guest stars Ross Butler, Daniel Yang and Cody Kearsley
WHAT: Set in present day and based on the iconic Archie Comics characters, this surprising and subversive take on Archie and friends explores the surrealism of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. There isn’t much to go on here, but the premise is intriguing: Archie Comics comes to life with something dark and weird underneath the wholesome? The sheer curiosity factor behind that premise leads me toward the “pick up” option. Plus, the CW makes the kinds of shows I like, and there is a respectable cast of some fairly proven names. I would like to see what will be done with this particular idea. CPU! wants to know what’s going on in Riverdale.
STATUS: Officially renewed for Season 2! The season finale aired on May 11, 2017, with a total of 13 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.
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SHOTS FIRED, Fox
WHEN | Wednesdays at 8/7c, starting in spring
WHO | Sanaa Lathan (Love & Basketball), Helen Hunt (Mad About You), Richard Dreyfuss (Madoff), Stephen Moyer (True Blood), Stephan James (Selma), Aisha Hinds (Under the Dome), Tristan Wilds (90210), DeWanda Wise
WHAT | An expert investigator digs into a series of shootings in a small Tennessee town. Alongside a special prosecutor sent to the town by the Department of Justice, she must navigate the media attention, public debate and social unrest that comes with such volatile cases.
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Oh wow. I was actually lukewarm to the description above and was unsure about this show until I watched the trailer. This show is remarkably, and poignantly, timely and relevant and deeply personal for me given my day job that some say I should not quit. The shootings in the small Tennessee town stem from the racial tension between blacks and whites and involve police officers, including officers of color. Add to this potentially controversial but altogether timely subject matter such a high caliber cast, including a fiercely charismatic Stephan James and Oscar winners Helen Hunt and Richard Dreyfuss; the producer cred in Brian Grazer; and given the fact that it is an “event series,” i.e. a self contained series that may or may not be renewed but will ultimately be resolved within its allotted number of episodes, you have the makings of an explosive drama that may create quite a lot of dialogue, around the water cooler or otherwise, after each episode airs. I predict that this will be the sleeper hit of the season, depending upon how well received it is.
STATUS: The Season 1 finale aired on May 24, 2017, with the show’s tenth episode. The network has not yet made an announcement related to renewal/cancellation.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.
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SON OF ZORN, Fox
WHO: The voice of Jason Sudeikis, Cheryl Hines, Tim Meadows, Artemis Pebdani, Johnny Pemberton
WHAT: Centers on an animated Barbarian father who comes home for the first time in 10 years to his live-action son and ex-wife. He finds that reconnecting with his family, struggling through his mundane office job and dealing with the banality of suburban life is much harder than waging actual war in his distant, animated world.
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. Honestly, sheer morbid curiosity upon viewing the trailer will have me tuning in based upon the originality of the concept – I mean, it’s been awhile since we’ve watched animated and live action elements mixed together into a spunky sauce. Yet, I can tell you that some of the humor is pretty tired and a bit stale in this one, at least from what I saw in the trailer. I mean, it’s a family or workplace sitcom plus one cartoon character voiced by Jason Sudeikis. I also immediately have questions upon perusing premise and preview. Why does Zorn look like He-Man? Why is the son not half animated and half live action? Why did Zorn bother coming back when he’s a warrior from a distant animated land? Where did Zorn and his ex-wife meet? How the heck did Tim Meadows jump on board this one? There’s definitely a possible SNL connection there, but I’m not sure the producers are previously affiliated with the long-running variety show. See? Curiosity. I must answer the questions; if I’m not laughing by the time I get the answers, well…I’ll be wielding my own trusty sword, if ya know what I mean…
STATUS: Officially canceled. The series finale aired on February 19, 2017 – full 13 episode season aired.
CPU! STATUS: Haven’t watched it yet but probably still will because, frankly, curiosity may yet kill this cat. I need the answers to my initial questions. Once I get them, I may be satisfied. Or lying in a pool of my own drool. We’ll see.
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SPEECHLESS, ABC
WHEN: Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c
WHO: Minnie Driver (About a Boy), Mason Cook (Legends), Cedric Yarbrough (The Goldbergs), John Ross Bowie (The Big Bang Theory), Micah Fowler (Labor Day), Kyla Kenedy (The Walking Dead)
WHAT: A family with a special-needs child is good at dealing with the challenges it faces and excellent at creating new ones.
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick-Up. I must be feeling generous today. To be fair, I did watch About a Boy (review to come) and found Minnie Driver funny; she has a natural gift for comedy trussed up by a posh accent. I think I’m also somewhat wooed by the fact that, for the first time in a long time on network TV, we see an honest to goodness actor with a disability playing a character with a disability. ABC remains committed to its diverse set of comedic offerings by shining a light on the trials and tribulations of a family with a special needs child and how these dynamics affect all of its members. This could descend into a maddening sense of the saccharine quickly, but there’s something that intrigues me about it just the same. Let’s see if the show deals with its subject matter in a skewering but delicate way, in which the audience can laugh but also be informed without being offended (and without fanning the flames of certain political candidates…don’t worry, that’s as political as we’ll get here at CPU!).
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season finale aired on May 23, 2017, with a total of 23 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.
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STAR, Fox
WHEN: Wednesdays at 9/8c, starting midseason
WHO: Queen Latifah, Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order), Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny, Brittany O’Grady
WHAT: Centers on three young women who form a musical act with the hope of making it big.
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. What do you get when you cross Nashville with Empire? This show. As much as I enjoy Queen Latifah and am pleasantly surprised to see Lenny Kravitz expanding his acting chops outside of The Hunger Games movies, with the Lee Daniels eye for the entertainment complex behind it, this feels a little bit more like a retread of Empire with a different “family” at the center of it all (and, you know, girls). This also feels like the type of TV show that normally MTV would be into nowadays, what with its lack of playing music videos and everything. If this show gets buzz, accolades, or steam, I will reconsider, but it feels too recycled to entice. Then again, CPU! may have a member or two who will be interested in it. We’ll keep you posted.
STATUS: The Season One finale aired on March 15, 2017, with a total of 12 episodes. Officially renewed for Season 2!
CPU! STATUS: Though the Chief CP passed on the possibility of viewing this program, at least one CPU!er has expressed interest in possibly reviewing it. Stay tuned for further developments!
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STILL STAR-CROSSED, ABC
PREMIERE DATE: May 29, 2017
WHO: Clara Rugaard, Grant Bowler (Defiance), Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Torrance Coombs (Reign), Zuleikha Robinson (Homeland, Lost), Wade Briggs (Home and Away), Sterling Sulieman (In Time), Dan Hildebrand (Sons of Anarchy), Ebonée Noel, Medalion Rahimi, Lashana Lynch
WHAT: A period drama that picks up where Romeo & Juliet left off, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate. Based on the book by Melinda Taub.
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick-Up. I am hesitant because the trailer link is broken on YouTube, so I cannot fully assess the premise here, but given that most of your CPU! members, your Chief CP included, are theatrical types, this one’s going to be a draw. I hope it’s not painfully melodramatic or too modern in its use of language. There’s a delicate dance these period dramas have to do. If it follows a formula established by Reign, it could be one of the guiltier but more interesting pleasures of midseason. In any event, it will be interesting to see how these creators envision the post-Romeo and Juliet aftermath to the lovers’ star-crossed families. I’m guessing there’s going to be a lot of war. I mean, others died besides the young lovers, you know.
STATUS: As of the publication of this post, the show has aired three of ten potential episodes. It is too soon to consider renewal possibilities by most measurement sticks.
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed.
—
__
PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass For Now. Another big to small screen treatment/adaptation and another instance of a movie franchise that I haven’t really watched. So! When I take in the Taken movie(s), I will reconsider this small screen prequel. If it lasts that long. The to-watch list over here is quite expansive, as you might imagine.
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season one finale aired on May 1, 2017, with a total of ten episodes.
CPU! STATUS: As with other film to TV franchises, the Chief CP would (still) want to watch the film first…but now the intrigue is greater…
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THIS IS US, NBC
WHEN: Tuesdays at 9/8c
WHO: Mandy Moore (Red Band Society), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), Justin Hartley (Revenge), Sterling K. Brown (The People v. O.J. Simpson), Chrissy Metz (American Horror Story), Susan Kelechi Watson (Louie), Chris Sullivan (The Knick), Ron Cephas Jones (Mr. Robot)
WHAT: The hourlong dramedy centers on a group of people born on the same day, including a married couple expecting triplets in Pittsburgh and a handsome television actor growing bored of his fly bachelor lifestyle.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. To be honest, this looks to be a straightforward family drama about life, with the only interesting twist being that some of the main characters were born on the same day. But, I do enjoy Milo Ventimiglia, one of the only reasons I stuck with Heroes so long, and Justin Hartley, the erstwhile Green Arrow once upon a Smallville, so I will check it out for their hotness alone (though I’m not a big fan of Mandy Moore…I don’t know if their hotness will be enough to overcome that particular aversion).
STATUS: The Series One finale aired on March 18, 2017, with a total of 18 episodes. The Peacock officially renewed this series for Seasons 2 AND 3!
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, but the show’s received “thumbs up” type approval from CPU! regulars. This show is a guaranteed podcast candidate in the coming months. Stay tuned!
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TIMELESS, NBC
WHEN: Mondays at 10/9c
WHO: Abigail Spencer (Rectify, Suits), Matt Lanter (90210), Malcolm Barrett (Better Off Ted), Goran Visnjic (ER), Claudia Doumit (Scandal), Sakina Jaffrey (House of Cards), Paterson Joseph (The Leftovers)
WHAT: An action-adventure series in which a mysterious criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America as we know it by changing the past. Our only hope is an unexpected team: a scientist, soldier and history professor who must use the machine’s prototype to travel back in time to critical events.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. I was not overly impressed by the acting in the trailer, but hey, all of the science fiction seems to be at the end of the alphabet. Your CPU! cadre is largely comprised of big nerds, and there were some very convincingly cool shots of the Hindenburg in the story-based past here, so I think this show is worth looking into; hopefully, the story here will sustain because it does feel somewhat encapsulated and more suitable for a shorter length, such as a film. CPU! will stay on it and let you know if it wows.
STATUS: Officially canceled! NBC stopped time for this show on May 10, 2017. The series finale aired on February 20, 2017, full season of 16 episodes aired…
…WAIT! STOP THE PRESSES! In a miraculous showing of thirteenth hour support for fans, NBC UN-canceled “Timeless” and renewed the series for a ten episode season 2!
CPU! STATUS: Not yet viewed, though some CPU! regulars have recommended this one, so this will most likely be a podcast candidate in the future! And with this kind of resurrection, we probably should take a look at it.
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TRAINING DAY, CBS
WHO: Justin Cornwell (Chicago P.D.), Bill Paxton (Big Love), Drew Van Acker (Pretty Little Liars), Katrina Law (Arrow), Julie Benz (Defiance, Dexter), Lex Scott Davis (Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart)
WHAT: A crime thriller that begins 15 years after the events of the feature film, about an idealistic young police officer who is appointed to an elite squad of the LAPD where he is partnered with a seasoned, morally ambiguous detective.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. I am pretty sure I saw the original Training Day movie, and I am pretty sure I didn’t like it all that much. It was well made and well performed by Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, but exploring the fine line or moral ambiguity amongst law enforcement in Los Angeles simply felt like a subject to which I could not relate, for many reasons. This television version takes the old/young and black/white and reverses them; Bill Paxton tries on Denzel’s shows, and Justin Cornwell wears Ethan’s, but the same basic premise is there. The older cop has learned to compromise ethics to get the job done, while the young, idealistic cop sees the world as more black and white – or should I say night and day – than gray or, um, twilight. If you liked the original film and the sultry sounds of Bill Paxton’s voice (when he’s not talking about how the Titanic sank), you will probably like this show. I didn’t care so much for the movie, so I walk on to the next entry on this list.
STATUS: Officially canceled! CBS canceled this program the week of May 15, 2017. The series finale aired on May 20, 2017 – full season of 13 episodes aired.
CPU! STATUS: Unchanged. The show ended with the tragic early death of star Bill Paxton, so there’s no reason to pursue it.
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TRIAL & ERROR, NBC
WHO: Nick D’Agosto (Gotham), Steven Boyer (Broadway’s Hand to God), John Lithgow (How I Met Your Mother), Sherri Shepherd (How I Met Your Mother), Jayma Mays (Glee), Krysta Rodriguez (Smash)
WHAT: A serialized comedy following a young big-city lawyer and his oddball defense team during a high profile murder trial in a small southern town.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. As much as I enjoy John Lithgow and find him hysterical, the premise is uber-thin and yet another legal something or other in a season awash with them. Also, it appears that Harvey Dent (or the future Two-Face) has been benched on Gotham. Well, that’s just fine. Without a trailer, and so little to go on, there is nothing to pique my interest beyond Lithgow’s presence, and what I learned from 3rd Rock from the Sun is no matter how much you may be carrying the rest of your cast, sometimes the show is too much for just one person (although, admittedly, 3rd Rock got funnier as it moved along). So, if this show gains buzz, accolades, and/or the proverbial steam, we’ll revisit this pass. Not for now, even when pilot-shopping is full of trial and error.
STATUS: Officially renewed for season 2! The season one finale aired on April 17, 2017, with a total of 13 episodes.
CPU! STATUS: Unchanged. CPU! has heard nada about these error-full trials. Are you watching? You know what to do!
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The next Progress Report will cover long-running series actively (or potentially) covered by CPU! as well as (new this year) a reproduction of the list of renewals and cancellations for all major networks and some cable outlets, sans the freshman series covered here. As always, stay tuned!!
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