Fringe

A brief look at what TV viewers will be look at

[9 September 2008]

By Rick Kushman

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

Here’s a look at 23 new network and cable shows coming this fall. The Rickster Scale ratings - 1-to-4-stars - go only to shows with episodes available for preview. You’ll notice way too many weren’t available, and I really wanted to trash them. I still can later.

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SUNDAY

“In Harm’s Way”
When: 7 p.m. on CW. Premieres Oct. 5.

What: Reality-style documentary following people with dangerous jobs.

What’s what: Sounds like another version of all those “Dirty Jobs,” “Deadliest Catches,” and “Ice Road Truckers” out there. It’ll depend on your appetite for this sort of thing.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

“Valentine Inc”
When: 8 p.m. on CW. Premieres Oct. 5.

What: Greek gods are on Earth in mortal form, and their job is to help real mortals connect to their true loves.

What’s what: The show’s a nice idea and it’s got a good heart, but it’s so stiffly and obviously done, it makes “Love American Style” look like Hamlet.

Rickster Scale: 1.5.

“Easy Money”
When: 9 p.m. on CW. Premieres Oct. 5.

What: They call it a dramedy - part drama, part comedy - about a family running a high-interest loan business. They also call it a Dickensian tale.

What’s what: Hard to find any Dickensian-like tones. It’s even harder to find the “edy” part. It’s just a dull, slow moving, cliched story.

Rickster Scale: 1.5.

“True Blood”
When: 9 p.m. on HBO. Premiered Sunday.

What: Vampires are “out of the coffin” and living in society, thanks to readily available artificial blood. And in a backwoods Louisiana town, one waitress (Anna Paquin) - who’s innocent, plucky and can read minds - befriends a vampire named Bill when he walks into her joint.

What’s what: It’s a well-done mix of wit, eccentricity, romance and Southern Gothic mystery. Plus pay-cable sex and violence. It’s also loaded with genuine surprise and atmosphere. The vampire crowd will love it, but it’s more than just a niche series.

Rickster Scale: 3.5

MONDAY

“Worst Week”
When: 8:30 p.m. on CBS. Premieres Sept. 22.

What: Sam is a decent guy in love with Melanie. Her parents don’t particularly like him, and he becomes a train wreck around them.

What’s what: Sam and Melanie are both sweetly earnest, but either you like comedies where everything goes predictably, horribly wrong, or you don’t. And if you don’t, this is excruciating.

Rickster Scale: 2.

“My Own Worst Enemy”
When: 10 p.m. on NBC. Premieres Oct. 13

What: NBC’s highest profile new show - Olympic TV viewers saw Christian Slater more than Michael Phelps’ - with Slater playing a regular suburban guy who’s also a killer spy. Neither personality knows about the other (long story), but the divide is unraveling. Action ensues.

What’s what: It sounds complicated. The explanation from producers was even more tangled. Slater is engaging and clips look promising, but there have been behind the scenes troubles, so it’s a question mark.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

“Raising the Bar”
When: 10 p.m. on TNT. Premiered Sept. 1

What: Young, attractive prosecutors and public defenders battle by day and mingle (wink, wink) at night. And there’s a crazy judge.

What’s what: It’s from groundbreaking producer Steven Bochco (“Hills Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “N.Y.P.D. Blue”), but this is anything but original. No one is particularly likeable and everything feels stale.

Rickster Scale 1.5

TUESDAY

“Opportunity Knocks”
When: 8 p.m. on ABC. Premieres Sept. 23.

What: Quiz show that comes to people’s homes and asks family members and friends questions about each other.

What’s what: It’s a game show that surprises its contestants. Otherwise, it’s a game show.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

“The Mentalists”
When: 8 p.m. on CBS. Premieres Sept. 23.

What: Simon Baker plays a former fake TV psychic now using his observational skills to help state cops.

What’s what: A classic CBS crime show: decent plot, good chemistry, sleek look, charming star. Baker plays it with a nice mix of twinkling eyes and self-loathing.

Rickster Scale: 3.

“90210”
When: 8 p.m. on CW. Premiered Sept. 2.

What: A do-over of “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Same ZIP. Same soap. Same silliness. Even more meanness and sex this time.

What’s what: It is what it’s supposed to be, which is a pop music video with purposely cheesy story lines. It’ll probably hit it’s intended young audience, but good luck caring about anyone more than you would music video characters.

Rickster Scale: 2.

“Fringe”
When: 9 p.m. on Fox. Premieres Tuesday.

What: Something mysterious and deadly - and possibly otherworldly - happens on a plane, and we’re off and running on a wild investigation with an FBI agent (Anna Torv), a semi-crazy scientist (John Noble), and his cocky/belligerent son (Joshua Jackson).

What’s what: It’s not about the plane, which is good news, because this is from J.J. Abrams, who made one great mystery show (“Lost”) and one insanely complex one (“Alias’). Although there’s a running, long-term puzzle, Abrams promises a more solid, often closed-ended series. From the high-energy but inconsistent pilot, it’s hard to tell whether to expect smart, tense plots or ridiculous twists. However, the cow - there’s a cow - is good.

Rickster Scale: 3 (Conditional high rating based on producer’s promise).

“Privileged”
When: 9 p.m. on CW. Premieres Tuesday.

What: A plucky young Yale grad has a social conscience and she wants to write. When she gets fired, because this is TV, she takes a job tutoring spoiled Palm Beach teenage twins - think two Paris Hiltons, but with less class. Did I mention she’s plucky.

What’s what: The bad news: it’s another CW pitch to young women that being rich makes you fabulous. The good news: there’s a sense of humor, occasional charm, and at least something of a heart. Star JoAnna Garcia could be straight from “Gilmore Girls” – fast talking, ironic and pop-culturally aware. Call it a pleasant diversion and one of the least creepy rich-people shows around.

Rickster Scale: 2.5

WEDNESDAY

“Gary Unmarried”
When: 7:30 p.m. on CBS. Premieres Sept. 24.

What: Gary (Jay Mohr) is getting divorced, his ex (Paula Marshall) got engaged to their former marriage counselor, and they’re trying to get along. Yes, you have heard this before.

What’s what: There’s nothing new, but Mohr can deliver a line, and it turns out surprisingly funny.

Rickster Scale: 3.

“Knight Rider”
When: 8 p.m. on NBC. Premieres Sept. 24.

What: First there was the 1980s series, then there was a lame TV movie this spring. So, for some reason, NBC decided to make another series.

What’s what: Well, this time KITT the car can change shapes, so that’s something.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

“Stylista”
When: 9 p.m. on CW. Premieres Oct. 29.

What: Reality contest to win a job at a fashion mag by working as the assistant to a thoroughly awful excuse for a human editor.

What’s what: Based on clips and the press conference, this comes from people who don’t know that Meryl Streep was the villain in “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review, but pray for whomever wins.

“Do Not Disturb”
When: 9:30 p.m. on Fox. Premieres Wednesday.

What: Oh, the hijinks behind the scenes at a small, upscale hotel.

What’s what: Bickering, pratfalls, stereotypes. How do they think of this stuff? I won’t resort to bad hotel puns, like say, the show needs some serious housekeeping, because that would just encourage them.

Rickster Scale: 1.5.

“Sons of Anarchy”
When: 10 p.m. on FX. Premiered Sept. 3.

What: Simplest description: Motorcycle gang version of “The Sopranos.” It’s the story of the gang as family and all the complications families bring.

What’s what: It’s still finding some rhythm after two episodes, and it has neither the wit of “The Sopranos” nor that show’s deft use of violence only for shock value. But intriguing characters are emerging and the show is loaded with potential.

Rickster Scale: 3

THURSDAY

“Hole in the Wall”
When: 8 p.m. on Fox. Premieres Thursday.

What: A remake of a Japanese game show. It puts contestants on a mat pulling them toward a foam wall with people-shaped holes. If players contort right, they squeeze through and win. If not, it’s splash into a pool.

What’s what: Promos look simple and slapsticky, which could make it a “Wipeout”-like success. Or it could just be dumb.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

“Kath and Kim”
When: 8:30 p.m. on NBC. Premieres Oct. 9.

What: American remake of a popular Aussie comedy. Fortyish Kath (Molly Shannon) has a new love and is acting like a teen. Then her daughter, Kim (Selma Blair), leaves her husband and moves back with mom. She acts like a teen, too, only more self-involved.

What’s what: Who knows? It’s a huge hit in Australia, but transporting comedy across borders is tricky, and this one’s had re-shoots and behind the scene confusion. That’s rarely a plus.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

“Eleventh Hour”
When: 9 p.m. on CBS. Premieres Oct. 9.

What: A biophysicist helps government good guys fight crimes of science. Whatever those are. Cloning is involved in one episode. Maybe later someone turns into a fly.

What’s what: Based on a British mini-series. Only highlights were available and it looks like lots of action for a science show, which is either good or bad, depending on whether you’re into science or action.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

“Life on Mars”
When: 10 p.m. on ABC. Premieres Oct. 9

What: A modern day detective is somehow transported by a car crash to 1973, when there was no Starbucks or cell phones, people dressed embarrassingly bad, and cops solved crime without Google.

What’s what: Another British import, and the BBC show was slick and smart. This one sounds promising, but it’s also another show with re-shoots and off camera issues. Fingers crossed.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

FRIDAY

“The Ex List”
When: 8 p.m. on CBS.

What: Bella goes to a psychic, who seems good at her job. She says Bella needs to marry in a year or remain forever alone. Plus Bella’s already met the man she should marry. So Bella starts re-thinking her ex-boyfriends. Get it? “Ex List?”

What’s what: Elizabeth Reaser is mostly charming, though sometimes whiney, as Bella; her three roommates are fairly likeable, if predictable; and the whole thing is done with the fast-talking, semi-witty, pop-culturally-aware patter that’s now the chic young dialogue. It’s agreeable enough, and has a few nice moments.

Rickster Scale: 2.5.

“Crusoe”
When: 8 p.m. on NBC. Premieres Oct. 17.

What: As in Robinson Crusoe. This is a re-telling of Daniel Defoe’s classic survival story and it’s also a period piece set in the 18th century.

What’s what: It appears to be a big-canvas, ambitious show. Low-rated Friday nights might be a tough haul for it.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

 
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