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« Roush Dispatch
The New Season: Busy Enough for You?
Masi Oka and David Anders in Heroes by Paul Drinkwater/NBC Photo
Already playing catch-up on only the second day of the official TV season. Geez, how will we ever survive Wednesdays and Thursdays? (Pause here for a silent prayer to the powers that protect my DVRs.)
Anyway, the biggest news on Monday was how Heroes would bounce back from a first-season finale that disappointed many (I was not among them, but then, my expectations for this uneven show haven’t always been all that high). I was mostly enthralled, once I got over yet another tedious Mohinder speech to kick off the season with more blah-blah about destiny and the plague that threatens to eradicate these evolutionary wonder-heroes as “the fate of humanity itself hangs in the balance.” Seriously, they talk that way all the time on Heroes, and don’t I wish Mohinder would just put a sock in it.
But then the story kicks in, and by the end, I’m even in awe of Mohinder, who’s in league with Noah Bennet (formerly HRG) to infiltrate The Company and bring them down. Of course, Mohinder is in Cairo, Noah is in small-town Southern California disguised as a copy-paper drone (loved how he took out his officious punk boss!), and Matt Parkman is back in Mohinder’s Manhattan digs caring for a nightmare-prone little Molly. Heroes has a way of going all over the map, including a climactic reveal inside a storage crate in Cork, Ireland (hi, Peter, we knew you weren’t dead!), and while I worry that the last thing this show needs is to get even more complicated and diffuse, this first episode did convey a steady sense of wonder — and, at times, dread. (Peter’s mom and Hiro’s dad get marked for death, and Mr. Nakamura appears to take a fatal fall — but does anyone really die on this show? Beats me.)
We meet a brother-sister act as they flee Honduras for the U.S., where they hope to get answers about the girl Maya’s strange power, which apparently makes people bleed from the eyes and ears as they die. (This happened to the slimy coyotes extorting them to the border, but unfortunately to the innocent immigrants in the back of the truck as well. Maya clearly needs some Heroes training.)
All well and good, but what we really wanted was more Claire, facing down a snotty head cheerleader at her new school (where she fails to, per her dad’s instructions, be “entirely unextraordinary”) and meeting a hot lab partner who goes all Clark Kent-airborne in his extracurricular time. How long before he sweeps her off her feet?
And the icing on the cake? Hiro, as usual. Transported to 17th-century Japan, where he discovers that his hero of legend, Takezo Kensei, is actually a mercenary English scoundrel (Alias' David Anders, having a ball) whose exploits Hiro inadvertently interrupts, effectively altering one of the essential Kensei myths (something having to do with a swordsmith’s daughter who looks more heroic than either Hiro or Kensei right now). No wonder Hiro is muttering curses subtitled in Japanese.
All in all, a strong if overcluttered start. NBC will be my first-position go-to network for the first two hours on most Mondays, with the delightful Chuck providing a light appetizer for Heroes. Journeyman, on the other hand? A complete waste of time-tripping time. I’ve seen two episodes now, and it makes absolutely no sense. Unlike Quantum Leap, it isn’t even remotely fun. I’m no champion of CSI: Miami, especially after last night's ho-hum start, but Miami deserves to clobber this one. (Personally, I’ll be using the 10 pm/ET hour most weeks to play back stuff I was recording earlier.)
What I love about Mondays is the variety of programming. There’s something for just about every taste, and there should be room for most to coexist.
ABC kicked off its powerful Dancing with the Stars season with another reminder of why the show is just one big, long grin: feel-good TV at its most painless. Jane Seymour at 56, despite her bad back, still has that TV-star magic. Marie Osmond, though no longer a spring chicken either, still has the showmanship that made her and her brother icons back in the day. And where did that Cheetah Girl come from? She could be this season’s Joey Fatone. The guys step up tonight, and I can’t imagine the fan base not turning out. I’ll be surprised if Dancing isn’t a serious spoiler on Mondays and Tuesday this season. I worry most about the impact on the lovable but vulnerable Chuck.
CBS’ mainstream comedies should do OK. How I Met Your Mother got off to a strong and funny start, as both Marshall and Lily fell for Robin’s hot rebound guy (Enrique Iglesias) and Ted found solace, and a “tramp stamp” tattoo, with party girl Mandy Moore. Added bonus: A hint that Ted’s future intended (the “mother” of the title) is out there, just a few random twists of fate away, under a yellow umbrella. Otherwise, I miss The New Adventures of Old Christine (heck: I’m sorry The Class didn’t get a second chance), but The Big Bang Theory could fill the gap nicely. At the very least CBS has discovered a new comedy star in Jim Parsons, the fussier of the two genius neurotics (Johnny Galecki is his roomie) who welcome a gorgeous dim bulb in the neighboring apartment. Broad, silly, sometimes crude: nothing wrong with that. But it’s no Christine.
Over on Fox, there’s still a following, I suppose, for the overheated Prison Break, which at least has the benefit of being in a prison again in this third season. But it's hard to imagine, given all of the competition, that many will choose to keep returning to the gloomy streets of New Orleans for the routine crime drama of K-Ville.
And next week, the CW (I almost typed UPN) kicks in with its comedy lineup, led by the underappreciated Everybody Hates Chris and the promising teen-misfit sitcom Aliens in America.
Like I said, something for just about everyone.
Which brings me to Tuesday, another amazingly busy night. I’ve seen Fox’s one-two punch of Bones and House season premieres, both terrific and worthy of carrying the night. Bones introduces a season-long serial-killer mystery (worked for CSI last season), and House hilariously finds our crabby doctor trying to work without a team. If I were heading into this night without benefit of advance screeners, I’d go with Bones, House and a nightcap of Damages on FX, followed by fast-forwarding through men’s night on Dancing with the Stars for a lark.
Very much worth recording for watching later: the CW’s combo of Beauty and the Geek (tonight introducing the male beauty and female geek, which hopefully won’t wreck the dynamic of what has been one of the more charming reality concepts) and the very funny horror-comedy Reaper. While I’ve always enjoyed Bret Harrison’s light-comedy touch (from Grounded for Life to The Loop), the real breakouts here are Ray Wise as the dapper devil and Tyler Labine as a scruffy sidekick called Sock. Perfect cult fun.
The only other series premiere tonight is CBS’ ambitious Cane, which hopes to revive the Dallas-style family saga with some Cuban-American flavor. I’ve watched the pilot twice hoping it would catch fire with me, and I’ll watch it a few more times to see where the story goes. But despite the star presence of Jimmy Smits and an attractive cast, I found the family intrigues less than involving and all the yammer about sugar, rum and ethanol a sleep-inducing narcotic.
In Cane's 10 pm/ET hour, I expect Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will dominate as usual. And don’t be surprised (given the show’s track record) if Cynthia Nixon earns a guest-actress Emmy nomination for her arresting performance as a troubled woman with multiple personalities. Speaking of Emmy winners, John Larroquette joins the cast of ABC’s Boston Legal tonight in an expanded 90-minute episode. (Oh joy.) Given his success with David E. Kelley as one of the more memorable adversaries on the much superior The Practice, Larroquette’s arrival amid such seasoned hams as William Shatner and James Spader will no doubt be catnip to the show’s fans.
Me? I’m sticking with the twisted antics of Glenn Close, Ted Danson and gang on Damages until its season wraps mid-October.
Happy viewing.
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Sep 25, 2007 11:50 AM
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I really enjoyed Chuck. Adam Baldwin is always fun as a bad guy, and Zachary Levi is adorable. Heroes is off to a very strong start, although I question the wisdom of bringing even MORE people into an already crowded cast. HIMYM was quality as usual, and I love that they're keeping up with the "slap bet." The Big Bang Theory was funnier than I expected it to be, although I wish they'd tone down the laugh track.
Journeyman was kind of a mess. They lost me when he ended up in the same room with his past self and then impersonated him. I can suspend my disbelief pretty far, but that was too much. I did like how he proved to his wife that he wasn't crazy, but for him to so easily accept what's happening seemed really odd.
As for Tuesdays, there's another conflict if you watch Eureka. I got completely hooked on this show when Sci-Fi ran a marathon. It's charming, intelligent, and well written, with a wonderful cast.
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Sep 25, 2007 1:36 PM
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I almost forgot about the new episode of Eureka tonight!! Only 2 more episodes left. Bones, Eureka and SVU, sounds like a good night of tv to me.
I liked journeyman. I was expecting something awful and was surprised that it kept my attention. I'll keep watching.
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Sep 25, 2007 2:03 PM
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Would it not have been a hoot if David Anders' character on Heroes were ol' Mr. Flexible Loyalties, Sark himself? His dose of the Rambaldi immortality potion went haywire and popped him back to Pre-Tokugawa Japan?
He could set up Hiro and the new warrior chick for some nasty betrayal and fall while trying to figure out how to steal Hiro's power. All the time he'd be muttering, "and Chateau Patrouse won't be founded until 1705!"
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Sep 25, 2007 2:25 PM
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Was I the only one who thought that "Chuck" was totally ridiculous? It wasn't fun to me, just dumb. I'll be sticking with "How I Met Your Mother" and the far more hilarious "Big Bang Theory."
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Sep 25, 2007 2:42 PM
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Was I the only one who thought that "Chuck" was totally ridiculous?
I think so. I thought it was fun and funny. Plus, it's got Jayne in it, so...yeah. That was a plus for me before I even saw it.
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Sep 25, 2007 2:51 PM
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Had to have a cheap shot dig at Boston Legal. Only one word for that! Hate.
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Sep 25, 2007 3:17 PM
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Matt, you're so right. This TV season is way too busy! Too much good stuff on. I literally had to sit down with my TV Guide this week and write out a schedule of which shows I'm watching live and which will need to be recorded.
Ah, if only my personal life were this busy. *Sigh* 
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Sep 25, 2007 3:42 PM
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Sigh. No mention of Tuesday's returning Favorites: NCIS and The Unit (or even Eureka). Since you made mention of several returning shows on other nights, it was a bit disappointing, but you can't plug them all, I suppose.
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Sep 25, 2007 4:03 PM
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Monday is almost too much now - just like Thursday have been. Tonight I have three shows on at the same time in the 8/9 slot. It's just crazy. I wish Saturday could go back to the glory days and have some good TV on to watch. People would have to stay home then, I guess, so it wouldn't work. Monday definitely is overwhelming and 24 hasn't even started.
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Sep 25, 2007 4:35 PM
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Monday and Thursday nights are the nights that will put my DVD recorder to the test. I may even have to break it out on Friday nights if Moonlight proves to be any good. That may actually give FNL some unneeded competition.
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Sep 25, 2007 5:46 PM
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Monday night was an NBC night for me. WOW haven't said thta in a loooong time.
Chuck was fun, Heroes was great and I liked Journeyman alot. Cant wait till next week.
I did tape CSI Miami and I must say after last seasons boring finale I found the premiere to be a 100% improvement.
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Sep 25, 2007 5:46 PM
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Thank you for mentioning the very funny season premiere of How I met your Mother. I wish Tvguide had a blog written for last nights episode. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and as usual it was rock solid.
Thank you again.
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Sep 25, 2007 6:47 PM
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i actually didn't think that journeyman was that bad. i went in expecting to hate it, but i thought that the twist they added 2/3 of the way in made it more interesting, and i thought that they did a pretty good job with the ending.
i thought chuck was really good as well.
i wasn't a big fan of the big bang theory. i thought that one of the two of the roomates was somewhat enjoyable (the one with the glasses), but the other was just annoying. and i think that they took the 'socially awkward' thing a little too far.
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Sep 25, 2007 7:11 PM
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I thought Journeyman was ok....we'll see.
But I miss New Christine too Matt!! It is the best sitcom on TV, period (What is cbs thinking?).
Can't wait for House and The Unit tonight.
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Sep 25, 2007 7:50 PM
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