It’s the weekend before all the new shows of the fall start to appear on the TV schedule, and so I decided to sit down and watch the ABC Fall Preview episode. Since I started my medication Tom lessen my obsessive tendencies, I watch a lot less TV than I used to. I figure this preview will allow me to prejudge a few shows and maybe not fall up my whole PVR with the pilots.

I like to watch the first episodes of shows, sir even if I decide to add them to my rotation later on because of peer feedback, I’ll at least have seen the ep[is ode where they introduce everyone and their relationships.

I don’t actually like watching ANY show, except from the start, but now that I don’ obsessive so much, I think I could handle it. Still, I suspect I’ll be recording a lot of pilots this week and next. There seem to be quite a few shows this year I’m at least interested in.

Sadly, my tastes don’t always mesh with the masses, and the shows I most like often get cancelled just as I’m getting hooked. With Today’s TV environment in stiffer competition, the landscape has changed a lot in the last few years. Let’s hope that means network TV is trying harder.

First Show Up. Blood and Oil.

This show stars a few people we don’t know, and Don Johnson. It appears to be a mixture of a romantic comedy couples will enjoy, and the ruthless oil business that did quite well with the Dallas remake. It’s an hour long drama, and it’s probably not I one I’ll watch. I like Don Johnson, and would like to see him have success. I loved his cop drama barely legal with Tom Hanks’ son, but apparently, nobody else did.

The preview starts right off in bed. A couple making love before they leave what is known, and enter a new world like romantic fish out of water.

It also seems to have the entitled son father relationship. If I remember, this is pretty much what I remember episode 1 of the new Dallas was, but it turned very soap opera sale fast. I think this may follow that model.  Sex, action, dirt and rich.  Some people will like it.

Quantico is a new series with an new hottie. Her half second glimpse in the TV commercial made me think it was actually Selina Gomez for a moment, but it’s just another hot sexy Latino.

The last few years were filled with civilians and police agencies teamed up to solve crimes. Everyone from the local cop, through fictional CSI agencies and the FBI and CIA all hired on experts of various skills to solve crimes. In one, the FBI even worked with the police in a small town. Everybody needed help. It seems they may have gotten away from that with Quantico.  It’s an FB show about the FBI.

A friendship of cast FBI recruits, much like Rookie Blue, except with a bigger budget and more mystery. I can’t quite tell if it is serial with an new story each week, or one story about her getting blamed for a crime she didn’t commit.

I’ll watch it till I find out if it holds me.  I usually prefer single episode shows, but serials keep more viewers I suppose, so they’re be opening more the norm for 1 hour drama shows. Now that people have PVR’s you can actually watch every week without having to rush home from the kids football practice.

Tuesday night have the Muppets back on ABC, which I’m excited about. Regardless of my no-kids status and age, I’m still a fan. I liked the original theme of the Muppet show actually being a show, It seems this time, they seem to be going a bit more towards The Osbornes, where we’ll see a reality show of their lives. I’m not sure how it’ll work because scripted reality sows sometimes miss, but I’ll be watching.

It might be closer to Larry Saunders, which worked. I love the idea that Muppets exist in the real world normally. It’s better than the way they Handle Brian on Family Guy.

If nothing else, I suspect each episode will have several actual laughs. That’s all I can ask for from a light half hour comedy with puppets. I’ve always been a fan of puppets. I have a few on my shelf.

Wicked City is a show set in the 80s’ in Hollywood which gives us some extra things to laugh at and tell our children; “Oh I remember those”. I’m not sure if we get to call 80’s shows “period pieces” or not, but it has potential to get pilot views just for the nostalgia.

Billy Idol plays live in the preview clip, as a classic example. The show seems to have a very rock and roll vibe.  Too bad all the guest stars will have to be played by young actors. Don’t expect Rock Idol cameos from 80 year old Rod Stewart, although I could be wrong. They made the Terminator look young… kinda.

It appears to be a copy show, but with a known serial killer adversary, so I guess we’re not trying to solve anything each week. The sow is more about the lifestyle of the 80;s and how deceives were different, but not as different as the Life on Mars cops of the 70s’

From the preview, the story seems to be more about the in love psychopathic serial killers, like Bonnie and Clyde. It looks like a complex crime drama that may be new and popular.

I will not watch it. tension and psychopathic negativity and crime is not for me. I can’t even watch Criminal Mind.

During a commercial break, I was fast forwarding and happened to see Aston Kitchen may be one of the sharks on Shark Tank. That is great casting, because we’ve all heard he’s some kind of tech genius and has invested in lots of business, but we kind of know him, so watching him in that environment could be fun. I stopped watching Dragons Den last year but only because I cut back lots of shows. I still love the format of pitching.  I actually invented the Dragons Den/ Shark Tank show in my mind decades ago.

Doctor Ken is a new sitcom that stars the wacky Asian from THE HANGOVER who was also the too-wacky to be believable actor on Community. I usually judge my acceptance of sitcoms on how believable or annoying the stupid character is. Most sitcoms have one… some have many.  Few have the stupid actor being the main character, and very few of the make it past the first season.

I have not even watched the preview for Doctor Ken yet as I type this, but based on his hosting of this entire episode, I’m fairly certain it isn’t for me. I don’t like opening egotistical characters, and Ken has been overacting the stupid all show.

is ensemble cast includes a sterile fat black woman receptionist, and I have not yet heard her speak, but I sincerely hope she doesn’t wave her hand and snap her fingers. His boss is Kids in the Hall great sitcom star Dave Foley. My appreciation for him is hit and miss. I like him, but he does seem to be cast in some stinkers.

It seems very punchline based, but he seems to be trying to be a good family / work sitcom. It could be good, but it’s hard to tell. It could equally be awful.  The preview isn’t enough to decide.  I’ll record it and check it out for a few weeks.

It certainly eels more watchable than FRSH OF THE BOAT.

I don’t instantly hate Ken Jong in it, which is good, but I kind of hate him in other roles.  I loved Community, but hated his scenes and storylines.


So that is the ABC preview.   Some I’ll look forward to.  More news and reviews as I watch them.

EDIT: I found out Shark Tank will have guests this year, and Ashton Kitchen is a guest, not a regular shark.  Too bad.