How about some short takes on several of the new fall television series?
Accidentally On Purpose (CBS 8:30 p.m. Mondays) is a cross between Cougar Town (more on that series in a later post) and Knocked Up (a film about Peter Pan men and the women who nag them) with more likeable characters and less raunchiness. Jenna Elfman plays a 30-something who gets pregnant after a one night stand with a 20-something, but the pacing is off in the series as well as for Elfman’s character. I gave it two episodes…but that’s about it.
The Good Wife (CBS 10 p.m. Tuesdays) feels a little like a cross between LA Law and Law & Order but producers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott capitalize in a good way on recent sex and/or political scandals to make the series feel both fresh and familiar. Great cast with Julianna Margulies as the humiliated wife who dusts off her law degree after her cad of a husband is kicked out of office and into jail following a series of tawdry revelations. Chris Noth, Josh Charles, and the incomparable Christine Baranski round out the cast. After two episodes, I’m ready to give it a chance – slick and entertaining but with heart.
Okay. I’m sure a small screen rip-off of the Twilight franchise seemed like a good idea – and who knows? teenagers may watch – but The Vampire Diaries (CW 8 p.m. Thursdays) is no improvement on the tepid original. (Note: I’ve been trying to read the first novel in the Twilight series while using the elliptical, and it’s damaging my workout by not proving diverting enough!)
As you have already gathered if you read the first post, I’m crazy about Glee. Of all the new shows I’ve sampled (and there have been a lot of them!), Glee (FOX 9 p.m. Wednesdays) is the most delightful. I just hope it stays this good – the fifth episode airs tonight. Imagine high school, social stratification, music that even folks who don’t like musicals will find engaging, quirky characters, and clever writing, and you get a dramedy-musical that is definitely worth watching. If you have not become Glee-ful yet yourself, record it tonight and catch up online. Start with the first episode!
More TV takes to come in future posts…