Greetings one and all as we start the next to last of our discussions on the upcoming new shows on TV. This week I am taking a look at the offerings that the FOX network is giving us (and in the way of new shows, there aren’t many).
Fringe (Premieres 9/9) – When the previews for this show starting airing I had absolutley no clue what it is about. The only thing that we knew is that things blew up, bad things happened to people, and the show was executive produced by JJ Abrams. After seeing the pilot for Fringe (the name comes from fringe science, ie: regeneration, teleportation, etc.) I can tell you that it has the potential to be the successor to The X-Files as the show sets up the premise for good stand alone episodes as well as story arc episodes. The acting is good, the plot holds up, and the first five minutes of the show is truly frightening to watch (after you see it you will also wonder if Abrams and company have something against flying as the pilot for LOST was another example of why people are afraid to fly). FOX has a lot of faith in the show as it is one of the only two shows that they are trying their new “Remote-Free TV” advertising strategy that expands shows to have only 7 minutes of advertising time. I think their faith might be justified.
Hole in the Wall (Premieres 9/9) – When I first heard this show name I thought it was something dirty or a situation comedy set in an old bar. It’s actually a game show where there is a moving wall that comes at contestants. The hole is a different shape that contestants must contort their body to fit through (like a plus symbol or the number four). Can’t fit? The wall will knock you into the pool of water behind it. This is a HUGE game show in Asia, so FOX thought they would try their luck with it here.
Do Not Disturb (Premieres 9/10) – Let out a groan with me as FOX brings us another work place sitcom. This time instead of a news room the show is set at The Inn, a New York hotel voted one of the 10 best places to stay. It’s run by Jerry O’Connell who is dying to find another steady job since Crossing Jordan ended. Niecy Nash from Reno 911! is the head of HR who keeps O’Connell in check. I won’t even bother looking at the rest of the cast as I’m sure they’re going to have eye candy at the front desk, a newcomer to the big city handling bags or room service and the “awkward chick” working some other part of the hotel. It’s a sitcom and it is on FOX. Let’s face it, this won’t rock your socks off. Mind you I haven’t seen it, but I’d lay money on the fact that it will limp through the first season and go no further.
Dollhouse (Mid-Season Replacement) – All right, I admit reviewing the show now is a stretch because it isn’t coming out in the fall, it is slated for January no matter what. Dollhouse however is the other show that will be “Remote-Free TV” so I thought it was worth mentioning. The show is also from TV guru Joss Whedon and features Buffy alumni Eliza Dushku. We’ll talk about what the show is like when we get closer to January, but it is one of the ones that I’m looking forward to.
And on that note, queue the schedule…
MONDAY
FOX – 8:00 PM: Finally we will know how Cameron fared in the Jeep explosion and we get to see where this story will continue to go on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
HIST – 8:00 PM: A computerized rendition of the Zapruder film leads is the basis for two hours of The Kennedy Assasination: Beyond Conspiracy.
FOX – 9:00 PM: I dared them to get better, and they may have just done it. Prison Break has now become Mission Impossible and The Dirty Dozen as the gang is back together and now they have to break in to a facility while in a virtual prison while they find the pieces they need before pulling the big job.
SHO – 10:00 PM: It’s the season finale for Weeds and based on what we saw this season it may be the last episode. For me this season came off as hollow and I’m glad at this point that it is over.
TUESDAY
FOX – 8:00 PM: The hype is over, Fringe is here. Enjoy.
CBS – 8:00 PM: Will the 75 year old former Marine finally leave the Big Brother house? I hope so.
FOX – 9:35 PM: Behold the glory of Hole in the Wall!
CW – 9:00 PM: Yet another show on the CW catering to the younger generation with Privileged. The touching story of a nanny in charge of twin sisters who party harder than the Hilton sisters and Olsen Twins combined.
WEDNESDAY
FOX – 8:00 PM: The show is officially in the crapper when someone is found decaying in an outhouse on Bones.
FOOD – 8:00 PM: Alton Brown takes to the seas saling through the Leeward Islands and on to the British Virgin Islands as he looks for America’s culinary origins and fine Caribbean cuising in Feasting on Waves. How does this guy keep getting Food Network to pay for his vacations?
FOX – 9:30 PM: Do Not Disturb may be the name of the show or what you wish you had done instead of watching.
THURSDAY
There is plenty else on, but even 7 years after 9/11 I still remember the day vividly and I am thankful I am one of the few people I know that did not lose anyone on this tragic day in American history. As such I only wish, for this day, to recommend the following:
HIST – 8:00 PM: Rick Rescorla, the director of security for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, predicts the attack on the World Trade Center and leads 100’s out of the South Tower before dying in its collapse.
HIST – 9:00 PM: 102 Minutes that Changed America – Films, photos and recordings from unique and rarely seen or heard archives chronicle the terrorist attack on New York City’s World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001.
HIST – 10:41 PM: Witness to 9/11 – Interviews with individuals who provided video footage for 102 Minutes that Changes America.
FRIDAY
NICK – 8:00 PM:Â Christopher Meloni proved in both Harold & Kumar films that he has comedic chops. This gives me hope that his playing a coach that has to take a gangly kid from mathlete to athlete to fufill his own dream in Gym Teacher: The Movie will be more than a movie with a catchy title.
USA – 9:00 PM: Monk is trapped acting as a 9 year old child after a hypnosis session goes bad. Same thing happened with my brother when he used hypnosis to try to quict smoking.
FOX – 9:00 PM: Wayne Brady is back for another season of Don’t Forget the Lyrics!
SATURDAY
FX – 8:00 PM: The Wachowski Brothers wrote this film adaption of the Alan Moore comic V for Vendetta. I really enjoyed it, you might to.
NBC – 11:29 PM: Sure he can swim like a dolphin, but can Michael Phelps bring home the gold on SNL tonight? My hopes are not high.
SUNDAY
FOX – 8:00 PM: FOX really wants you to watch Fringe. So much so that they are re-airing the season premiere tonight.
TNT – 8:00 PM: Take in each of the Wilson brothers seperately starting with Owen in Wedding Crashers followed by Luke in Old School.
IFC – 9:00 PM: Not a big fan of Wedding Crashers? You can still get your Owen Wilson on with the very quirky The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
– Will WIlkins is the product of fringe science.
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