Photo credit: NBC
SHOW: People Are Talking, comedy
WHO: Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Franklin & Bash), Tone Bell (Bad Judge), Bresha Webb (Grey’s Anatomy), Brooke Ishibashi
WHAT: Examines sex, race and everything else your parents told you never to talk about.
WHEN: Fridays at 8:30 PM EST
WHERE: NBC
BOTTOM LINE: Well, first, it’s certainly a pretty show. Talk about great genes. In theory, I would like for this to be a good show that attracts a loyal fan base. In actuality, I doubt that will happen. Vosselaar and Bell seem to have a good chemistry and conceptually, I like… but I’m not sold yet. Friday night for a new comedy series is questionable. Airing right after a live comedy series (Undateable in going live on Fridays at 8 next season) could be a great thing for it. We will have to wait this one out. If the writers do a good job, it will help…
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
Photo credit: NBC
SHOW: Heartbreaker, drama
WHO: Melissa George (The Slap), Dave Annable (Red Band Society), Shelley Conn (The Lottery), Don Hany (White Collar), Maya Erskine (Betas), Jamie Kennedy (Ghost Whisperer), Joshua Leonard (Bates Motel), J. Louis Mills, Rudy Martinez, D.L. Hughley
WHAT: Inspired by the life of Dr. Kathy Magliato and based on her book of the same name, Heartbreaker is a medical soap that follows the outspoken Alex Panttiere (Melissa George), one of the rare female heart transplant surgeons. Alex brings an innovative eye to treating patients week to week while also balancing the complications of her professional and romantic life.
WHEN: Tuesdays at 9 PM EST
WHERE: NBC
BOTTOM LINE: Well… sigh. It’s like they were trying to channel the pilot of Grey’s Anatomy, with the walk-and-talk (especially across the bridge)… reminded me of Bailey and her first litter of “chicks and ducks.” And when you consider that George was once on the show, I guess they were trying to blatantly evoke that memory. I don’t blame them; Grey’s is about to start its 12th season. But… God, I hated that trailer. We’ll see what happens, but this just did nothing for me.
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
Photo credit: NBC
SHOW: The Player, drama
WHO: Wesley Snipes, Philip Winchester (Strike Back), Charity Wakefield (Mockingbird Lane), Isiah Adams (recurring)
WHAT: In the high stakes world of Las Vegas, a former sniper turned security expert is drawn into a mysterious conspiracy that forces him to complete a series of heroic challenges in order to save innocent lives.
WHEN: Thursdays at 10 PM EST
WHERE: NBC
BOTTOM LINE: I quit paying attention – twice – during the trailer. I’m sure there is an audience for this show: Wesley Snipes + action + it’s from the team behind The Blacklist + Thursday at 10PM time slot. I’ll be watching How To Get Away With Murder and won’t lose a bit of sleep over it.
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
Upfronts 2015: First Look at NBC’s Blindspot (video)
Photo credit: NBC
SHOW: Blindspot, drama
WHO: Jaimie Alexander (Thor), Sullivan Stapleton (Strike Back), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without a Trace), Rob Brown (Treme), Audrey Esparza (Black Box), Ukweli Roach (The Royals), Ashley Johnson (The Killing)
WHAT: A beautiful woman, with no memories of her past, is found naked in Times Square with her body fully covered in intricate tattoos. Her discovery sets off a vast and complex mystery that immediately ignites the attention of the FBI who begin to follow the road map on her body to reveal a larger conspiracy of crime while bringing her closer to discovering the truth about her identity.
WHEN: Mondays at 10 PM EST
WHERE: NBC
BOTTOM LINE: It feels like The Blacklist and Memento had a baby, with Alias as the egg donor, and Blindspot is the end result. There’s definitely an interesting conceit here – and NBC’s audience is more apt to be interested than, say, CBS’ – so it has a chance. Especially airing in that plum post-Voice timeslot. Plus, it’s exciting to see Oscar nominee Jean-Baptiste in anything.
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
Upfronts 2015: NBC Unveils their New Schedule
NBC chief Bob Greenblatt, following in recent tradition, announced the 2015-16 TV schedule Sunday morning ahead of Monday’s official upfront presentation to advertisers. Some notes: Undateable will air live… on Fridays? Saturday is still a wasteland. Also of note: Chicago Med and Hot and Bothered (previously Telenovela) with Eva Longoria are not on the schedule until mid-season.
Photo courtesy of NBC.
MONDAY
8-10 p.m. — The Voice
10-11 p.m. — BLINDSPOT
TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. — The Voice
9-10. p.m. — HEARTBREAKER
10-11 p.m. — BEST TIME EVER WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS (through November)
10-11 p.m. — Chicago Fire (premieres in November)
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. — The Mysteries of Laura
9-10 p.m. — Law & Order: SVU
10-11 p.m. — Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY
8-9 p.m. — HEROES REBORN
9-10 p.m. — The Blacklist
10-11 p.m. — THE PLAYER
FRIDAY
8-8:30 p.m. — Undateable (live)
8:30-9 p.m. — PEOPLE ARE TALKING
9-10 p.m. — Grimm
10-11 p.m. — Dateline
SATURDAY
8-10 p.m. — Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
10-11 p.m. — Saturday Night Live (Classic encores)
SUNDAY
7-8:20 p.m. — Football Night in America
8:20-11 p.m. — Sunday Night Football
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
First Look: The Walking Dead Season 5 (trailer)
Ahhh, Comic-Con. Thank you for being a friend. With each year, the annual geek-fest (written with true love and appreciation) in San Diego grows. And with each bit of growth comes more and more shows trying to show off their goodies. And we love you for it. The Walking Dead, arguably the most hot-button show on TV (have you seen those ratings?) debuted the first trailer for season 5 at the fest just today and… yeah, it’s going to be bananas.
photo courtesy of AMC.
Without further ado, here’s the clip. The show premieres on Sunday, October 12 at 9PM.
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
Summertime Fun: The Under the Dome Drinking Game
Under the Dome has become my weekly hate-watch show. It’s horrible. But I can’t stop from tuning in… so drinking will make it better. Here’s the best way to watch the show:
The Under the Dome drinking game.
1. Take a shot every time you see the cow split in half – the first image they show in every episode.
2. Take a shot whenever someone references what the dome “wants them to do” or the “dome’s plan.”
3. Take a shot whenever the guy who plays Joe displays his horrible acting skills.
4. Take a shot whenever Norie rolls her eyes.
5. Take 2 shots whenever Norie’s remaining mom actually gets some screen time.
6. Take 2 shots whenever Julia and Barbie discuss their relationship as if it’s NOT only been 2 weeks since they met.
7. Take 2 shots whenever Julia makes some super-human moves (like getting shot, then swimming out into the middle of a lake and pulling a previously dead girl to safety).
8. Take 3 shots whenever you see someone driving – WHERE DID THEY GET THAT GAS???
9. Take 3 shots whenever the high school science teacher builds a windmill or knows how to do any given task that is WAY ABOVE HER PAY GRADE.
10. Tip the bottle back whenever someone says that something is too out of the ordinary to happen, but aren’t shocked by this DOME THAT IS COVERING THE ENTIRE TOWN.
11. Kill the rest of the bottle whenever something stupid happens. You’ll do that often.
And there you have it, folks. Cheers!
Upfronts 2014: CBS’ The McCarthys (First Look)
The McCarthys. CBS.
SHOW: The McCarthys, comedy
WHO: Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne), Jack McGee (Common Law), Tyler Ritter, Joey McIntyre (Boston Public), Jimmy Dunn, Kelen Coleman (The Newsroom)
WHAT: A comedy about a big Irish Catholic, sports-crazed Boston clan and the gay son whose greatest sin is not his sexuality but his desire to spend less time with his family.
WHEN: Thursdays at 9:0PM EST
WHERE: CBS
BOTTOM LINE: Mmmmm…. I love and adore Metcalf. The comedy looks like it will be a good fit with The Millers, but that’s not saying a lot. It should do well though. I’ll give them that.
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
Upfronts 2014: CBS’ Madam Secretary (First Look)
Madam Secretary. CBS.
SHOW: Madam Secretary, drama
WHO: Tea Leoni (The Naked Truth), Tim Daly (Private Practice), Bebe Neuwirth (Blue Bloods), Geoffrey Arend (Body of Proof), Zeljko Ivanek, (Revolution) Patina Miller, Erich Bergen, Evan Roe, Katherine Herzer
WHAT: Explores the personal and professional life of a maverick female Secretary of State as she drives international diplomacy, wrangles office politics and balances a complex family life.
WHEN: Sundays at 8:o0PM EST
WHERE: CBS
BOTTOM LINE: In theory, this will be one of the best shows of the new season. I think they want to be The West Wing so badly, but I don’t see the gravitas of The West Wing. And, while Leoni has a good look for TV, she is the lowest-energy actress on the planet. Oh, what Alfre Woodard could have done in this role… That being said, of course, I’ll be tuning in, hoping for the best.
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
Upfronts 2014: CBS’ Stalker (First Look)
Stalker. CBS.
SHOW: Stalker, drama
WHO: Dylan McDermott (Hostages), Maggie Q (Nikita), Mariana Klaveno (Devious Maids), Victor Rasuk (How To Make It in America)
WHAT: A psychological thriller that centers on a pair of detectives who handle stalking incidents for the Threat Management Unit of the LAPD.
WHEN: Wednesdays at 10:o0PM EST
WHERE: CBS
BOTTOM LINE: Not my cup of tea, but there’s an audience who will be there week in and week out.
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Not yet following me on Twitter? Get on the sofa: @josephrileyland
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