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« Today's News: Our Take
Fall TV Press Tour: CBS' New Shows
Elizabeth Reaser by Cliff Lipson/CBS
CBS was the only network this year to provide screeners for all its new shows, which they presented on Friday. Here's my quick take on them. — Mickey O'Connor
Worst Week
The premise: Sam (Kyle Bornheimer) tries to impress his future in-laws — with disastrous results.
It's like: Meet the Parents — almost exactly like that, in fact, although it's actually based on a British series.
My take: I found the pilot to be very funny, and Bornheimer's comic timing to be excellent, but I wonder how enjoyable it will be to watch Sam demoralize himself on a weekly basis.
Eleventh Hour
The premise: Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell) is a special scientific advisor to the FBI who lends his particular skills to criminal investigations.
It's like: Well, we know what it's not like. "This is a science fact show, not a science fiction show," says executive producer Ethan Reiff (who also wrote Showtime's Sleeper Cell).
My take: Well, Jerry Bruckheimer is involved, which is a good sign, but after watching a short preview, all I came away with is that the villain in the pilot is Noonan from Caddyshack! Noonan!
The Mentalist
The premise: Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) is a former fake TV psychic who now uses his heightened observation skills to work as a private investigator.
It's like: If you threw Baker's performances in The Devil Wears Prada and on The Guardian and Smith and USA Networks' Psych into a blender, you'd end up with this smoothie Patrick Jane. (Get it — smoothie?)
My take: As cop shows go, it seems sharper than most. Baker is charming, and the show has a tart sense of humor.
The Ex List
The premise: A psychic tells Bella Bloom (Elizabeth Reaser, who played Ava/Rebecca on Grey's Anatomy) she has one year to get married, or else she never will. The catch: Her true love is someone she has already dated.
It's like: Your worst nightmare. Imagine having to get back in touch with all your exes?
My take: Despite the insane, high-concept, age-of-Google premise, it's cute. Reaser does a great job handling the show's breezy dialogue, and she plays Bella with such approachable exuberance that you will forget her sad turn on Grey's.
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Jul 18, 2008 8:45 PM
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The Ex List sounds really good. I'm assuming they're going to extend the year she has to find the "one" to a few seasons, huh?
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Jul 19, 2008 12:41 AM
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The Mentalist is BRILLIANT!!!
The first 5 minutes had me absolutely wowed, and it is very rare for a show to capture my undivided attention so quickly. The execution of the remainder of the episode did not let me down and I was entralled right til the end. Whilst the content was quite serious, I found myself thoroughly amused and laughing at the way Patrick (the devine Simon Baker) rubbed people up the wrong way. I absolutely cannot wait to see more episodes. (Even Robin Tunney, who I normal do not like, did not manage to ruin the show for me.) My only concern is that people will not tune in and give this show a chance and may just write it off as 'another procedural'.
Fingers crossed this show is picked up.
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Jul 19, 2008 6:36 AM
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Grey's Anatomy is my favorit show, and i loved Ava/Rebecca( Elizabeth Reaser ) she is such a good acrtess i want to see this show only cuz she is in it!!!
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Jul 19, 2008 10:53 AM
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Simon Baker ruined The Guardian by constantly slipping in and out of his Australian accent (at some points from line to line), so I hold little hope for the success of The Mentalist. Either hire a foreign actor that can maintain an American accent - e.g. Dominic Purcell, Anthony LaPaglia, Alex O'Laughlin (Aussies), Matthew Rhys (Welsh), Hugh Laurie (English) - or use one of the many Americans that would kill to have a lead in a series.
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Jul 19, 2008 1:29 PM
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The Ex-List??!?!?....give me a barf bag RIGHT NOW!!!
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Jul 19, 2008 3:02 PM
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Well, if The Mentalist and Eleventh Hour make it to a second season, I'll check them out then! No point in investing time to watch anything new on CBS...they'll jerk it off the air if I actually like it.
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Jul 19, 2008 3:16 PM
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Worst Week is up against Samantha Who, which is a good show. I'm not sure I'll give up Samantha to give Worst Week a try. Probably not.
Eleventh Hour is up against ER (and its final season no less). As a diehard ER fan I won't abandon ship in the final season. I may however DVR Eleventh Hour or abc's Life on Mars. Haven't decided yet.
The Mentalist is up against two new shows; CWs Privilege and Fox's Fringe. Based on preview info, I'm leaning towards Fringe but the Mentalist is also in the running.
Of the four, the one I will probably most likely watch is the Ex-List. There's nothing else really on Friday's at 9.
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Jul 20, 2008 6:17 PM
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elizabeth reaser better be friggen brilliant in the ex list in order to erase the crazy memories of her horrible ava storyline on grey's. I actually grew to loathe her on my tv so i dont have high hopes for the ex list.
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Jul 20, 2008 11:26 PM
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I thought someone else was going to be starring in The Worst Week, but I can't remember who it was. Please somebody refresh my memory.
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Jul 21, 2008 8:34 AM
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The only one of these shows I will DEFINITELY check out is The Mentalist. Odds are good I'll give Eleventh Hour a shot, but the other two don't appeal at all.
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Jul 21, 2008 8:56 AM
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The Ex List is actually based on an Israeli tv show that was quite successful. I guess American tv execs are running out of ideas, so they're still looking at other countries for inspiration.
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Jul 21, 2008 9:50 AM
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I think the Ex-List sounds good. I am looking forward to seeing the promos. I love Elizabeth Reaser (Yup that's right I loved her on Grey's too) so I would love to see more of her!!
I can't wait for the fall to arrive!!!!
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Jul 22, 2008 9:35 AM
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It's not hard to work out what Eleventh Hour will be like: it's a remake of Eleventh Hour starring Patrick Steward and Ashley Jensen aired in England in 2005-2006. It didn't run for long then, but was interesting while it did. Rufus Sewell is an excellent actor (another Brit import!) and I guess if they are using a younger actor they are planning on adding the obligatory love interest plot line, which was completely absent from the British series.
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Aug 23, 2008 12:28 AM
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