The Fall Television Season is officially underway, and here are some of the new shows I've tried watching.
New Shows I love:
The Mentalist (CBS) -- I have been a fan of Simon Baker for quite awhile, and I just can't get enough of him. He is very charming in this show where he portrays a former "psychic" who now uses his skills to work for the CBI (California Bureau of Investigations). He is not really psychic (he says there's no such thing), his real skills are observing and manipulating people to get them to reveal the truth. He constantly frustrates the people he works with, because he is able to read people and instantly know if they are lying or telling the truth, but he can't provide physical evidence to prove them innocent or guilty. He often clashes with the head of the department because he wants her to follow up on leads, even though he can't prove why he believes the way he does. Of course, he's usually right, which drives her crazy. This show should fit in well on CBS, with all of the other crime dramas it has. This one has a lighter tone than the CSI shows, with more humor than most.
Raising the Bar (TNT) -- A legal drama, but what I love about this show is that it's more about the lawyers than the actual cases. Every week we see the various attorneys (District Attorneys and Public Defenders) as they work on their cases, but only a small portion is spent in the courtroom. Instead we see what goes on behind the scenes in the judges chambers, jail cell conversations and office politics. My only complaint is Mark-Paul Gosselaar's hair. Please cut it already!
Do Not Disturb (FOX) -- already canceled. I actually enjoyed the humor of this show, starring Jerry O'Connell and Niecy Nash, but Fox canceled it after only 3 shows, so it's pointless for me to say anything more about it.
New Shows I am Lukewarm about (keep watching, but I'm not hooked):
Fringe (FOX) -- JJ Abrams has a 50/50 record with me: I LOVED Alias, but couldn't care less about Lost. So, I went into Fringe with an open mind. And I'm saddened to say that this show really just hasn't hooked me yet. The storylines are so convoluted, it's hard to follow what's going on and I feel like nothing is accomplished each week. At least with Alias, they would solve little mysteries each week, even as the plot got more and more complicated. I enjoy the humor that Joshua Jackson's character brings in his interactions with his father on the show. And for now, that humor is all that's keeping me tuned into this show week after week. I will keep watching, though, and hopefully it gets better.
The Ex List (CBS) -- I am typically a fan of "cutesy chick flicky" type shows, but this one might even be too cutesy for me. The premise is that a woman goes to a psychic who reveals to her that she must get married within the next year, or she will remain single for the rest of her life. The catch? The man she's meant to be with is someone that she has already dated in her past. So each week she's going to go back through her previous relationships to re-examine them and see if she can find her "soul mate." The problem I have with this show is that it's billed as a "romantic" love story, but you don't really know who to root for! If she's going from guy to guy each week, then you already know in advance that these relationships aren't going to work out. It's only been 1 episode, though, and I believe in giving shows 3 episodes to hook me, so I will keep watching, for now. It's not like there's much else on tv on Friday night's anyways!
Gary Unmarried (CBS) -- This show is really not that great, but it's not bad either, so that's why I put it in this category. It's more of a "background" show, in my opinion, which means I will put it on in the background while I do other things, but I don't feel like I have to pay attention to it. Some of the jokes are pretty funny, but some fall flat, so for now, I give it a "well, I didn't hate it."
Coming Soon:
My thoughts on Privileged, Kath & Kim, and My Own Worst Enemy
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Movies Opening Week of Oct. 3, 2008
This will be a crazy weekend at the movie theaters, because there are 8 movies opening. No matter what the movies are, when you have this many opening all at once, it makes for a very busy movie theater! I don't know that every movie theater has these 8 movies opening this week, but here they are (movie descriptions come from Yahoo! Movies):
An American Carol
A cynical, Anti-American "Hollywood" filmmaker sets out on a crusade to abolish the 4th of July holiday. He is visited by three spirits who take him on a journey in an attempt to show him the true meaning of America.
Appaloosa
When two gunmen, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, arrive in Appaloosa they find a small, dusty and lawless town suffering at the hands of renegade rancher Randall Bragg. Bragg has not only taken supplies, horses, and women for his own, but also has left the city marshal and a deputy for dead. In Bragg they find an unusually wily adversary who raises the stakes by playing with emotions. It is now up to Cole and Hitch to stand against the actions of the renegade rancher, which have already taken their toll on the town.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
A pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique anywhere in sight. Now alone for the first time in her spoiled life, she must rely on some unexpected new friends -- including a street-hardened German Shepherd named Delgado and an amorous pup named Papi -- to lend her a paw and help her to find her inner strength on their incredible journey back home.
Blindness
When a sudden plague of blindness devastates a city, a small group of the afflicted band together to triumphantly overcome the horrific conditions of their imposed quarantine.
Flash of Genius
Based on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns' long battle with the U.S. automobile industry. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants who embraced Bob's creation unceremoniously shunned the man who invented it. Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life's work -- or for that matter, anyone's work -- be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. And while paying the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity, this everyday David will try the unthinkable: to bring Goliath to his knees.
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
Sidney Young, a smalltime, bumbling, British celebrity journalist, is hired by an upscale magazine in New York City. In spectacular fashion Sidney enters high society and burns bridges with bosses, peers and superstars. After disrupting one black-tie event by allowing a wild pig to run rampant, Sidney catches the attention of Clayton Harding, editor of Sharp, and accepts a job with the magazine in New York City. Clayton warns Sidney that he'd better impress and charm everyone he can, if he wants to succeed. Instead, Sidney instantly insults and annoys fellow writer Alison Olsen. Sidney, of course, doesn't stop there, finding creative ways to annoy nearly everyone. His saving graces: a rising, sexy starlet develops an odd affection for him, and in time, Alison whose friendship with him might be the only thing saving Sidney from torpedoing his career.
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Nick frequents New York's indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and playing the bass with his band, The Jerk Offs. Norah is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band's secret show and ends up becoming a first date that could change both their lives.
Religulous
Comedian Bill Maher examines the presence of religion in many of the big news stories of recent years, from Muslim riots over cartoons to the Ten Commandments in front of courthouses, a born-again Christian in the White House and Scientology in the birthing room.
So, you see, there is quite a selection for you to go see this weekend. Just about something for everyone!
Personally, I am looking forward to seeing Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.
According to an insider I have at the local movie theater, the big movie this weekend is Beverly Hills Chihuahua. I guess because it's been awhile since a "kids" movie has been released.
An American Carol
A cynical, Anti-American "Hollywood" filmmaker sets out on a crusade to abolish the 4th of July holiday. He is visited by three spirits who take him on a journey in an attempt to show him the true meaning of America.
Appaloosa
When two gunmen, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, arrive in Appaloosa they find a small, dusty and lawless town suffering at the hands of renegade rancher Randall Bragg. Bragg has not only taken supplies, horses, and women for his own, but also has left the city marshal and a deputy for dead. In Bragg they find an unusually wily adversary who raises the stakes by playing with emotions. It is now up to Cole and Hitch to stand against the actions of the renegade rancher, which have already taken their toll on the town.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
A pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique anywhere in sight. Now alone for the first time in her spoiled life, she must rely on some unexpected new friends -- including a street-hardened German Shepherd named Delgado and an amorous pup named Papi -- to lend her a paw and help her to find her inner strength on their incredible journey back home.
Blindness
When a sudden plague of blindness devastates a city, a small group of the afflicted band together to triumphantly overcome the horrific conditions of their imposed quarantine.
Flash of Genius
Based on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns' long battle with the U.S. automobile industry. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants who embraced Bob's creation unceremoniously shunned the man who invented it. Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life's work -- or for that matter, anyone's work -- be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. And while paying the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity, this everyday David will try the unthinkable: to bring Goliath to his knees.
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
Sidney Young, a smalltime, bumbling, British celebrity journalist, is hired by an upscale magazine in New York City. In spectacular fashion Sidney enters high society and burns bridges with bosses, peers and superstars. After disrupting one black-tie event by allowing a wild pig to run rampant, Sidney catches the attention of Clayton Harding, editor of Sharp, and accepts a job with the magazine in New York City. Clayton warns Sidney that he'd better impress and charm everyone he can, if he wants to succeed. Instead, Sidney instantly insults and annoys fellow writer Alison Olsen. Sidney, of course, doesn't stop there, finding creative ways to annoy nearly everyone. His saving graces: a rising, sexy starlet develops an odd affection for him, and in time, Alison whose friendship with him might be the only thing saving Sidney from torpedoing his career.
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Nick frequents New York's indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and playing the bass with his band, The Jerk Offs. Norah is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band's secret show and ends up becoming a first date that could change both their lives.
Religulous
Comedian Bill Maher examines the presence of religion in many of the big news stories of recent years, from Muslim riots over cartoons to the Ten Commandments in front of courthouses, a born-again Christian in the White House and Scientology in the birthing room.
So, you see, there is quite a selection for you to go see this weekend. Just about something for everyone!
Personally, I am looking forward to seeing Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.
According to an insider I have at the local movie theater, the big movie this weekend is Beverly Hills Chihuahua. I guess because it's been awhile since a "kids" movie has been released.
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