Disclaimer(s): I haven't seen probably even half of the new Fall offerings. I've seen about seven shows. I don't get the premium channels - just no time to watch - so I am not going to comment on some of their offerings of which I understand a terrific new show called "Boardwalk Empire" on HBO has emerged.
And truth be told, I don't have a lot to say about the shows I have watched except that of the seven, I am only still watching one - which took an odd turn in the 2nd episode and intrigued me to a point that I decided to stick around for at least another one or two. That show "Terriers" went in a decidedly dark direction that I thought was interesting and the characters exhibited a bit more depth than I had seen in the pilot. So I'll give it another few eps to see where it's heading. It was decent to begin with, now it's better.
I'm just wondering what's happening to these shows? Where is the amazing concepts, the terrific writing, the unusual characters? I haven't seen "Hawaii 5-0" yet or "Law and Order: Los Angeles" but will there be a reason to? I already am familiar with the concepts - the characters will be new of course but will they elevate themselves? I don't see how given that they are basically retreads of old or established shows. Of course the reboot of "Battlestar Galactica" surprised us all, didn't it?
Last season I got hooked on "Justified." And, of course, the wonderful "Modern Family" and the oft-times funny "The Middle." This season I am afraid of 'The Event" because I'm afraid it will be another in a series of unresolved episodes like
"Lost" and "X-Files." "Chase" was decent but just didn't grab me. Nothing I've watched has really held me maybe that's okay because I am not really the demographic that these shows want anyway.
I don't know how any of these shows will shake out and I hope that they are all hits but I have my doubts. The writing just doesn't seem sharp enough - scratch that - it's really not that - it's a sameness to it all - like we've seen it all before with minor variations.
"Justified" wasn't like that - the same. It was fresh, unique, funny, dangerous - had
characters that had an oddness to them instead of a sameness. It was a short season and some of the time it felt like they were struggling to make the Timothy Oliphant character continue along his designed path but all-in-all it was a solid and unique piece of television. Which I don't see yet this season.
I know how hard it is to come up with something unique and original but isn't that what we need to do as writers and producers? Or am I being naive? Are people not interested in the fare that regularly gets canceled at Fox, our most schizophrenic of networks?
I'm wondering now, what percentage of any new shows make the cut? How many last even one season? I don't think it's a lot. I'll have to check that out someday - it will make an interesting article.
I have enough with new shows to keep me occupied certainly. But it would have been nice to get obsessed with something like I did when "Rescue Me" hit the airwaves. Heading into the final season of that amazing show next year there will be a hole in my viewing life that I'd love to fill. So, maybe the mid-season stuff will be more interesting. We can only hope.
