There are always a bunch of new TV shows -- trial runs to see what will be the next "Law and Order" or "Friends." Most of these shows I cheerfully ignore. For example: anything remotely resembling a "reality" show is off my radar. Any program that claims reality while recording the event with cameras should be referred to the Hawthorne Effect. Anyone who believes the situations contrived by the producers are in any way, shape, or form related to reality must be from another planet.
Another sure sign I won't watch is any comedy show with a trailer that isn't funny. Trailers are supposed to show the best of the program. If the best of the program leaves me flat, think I'm going to watch it? Not a chance.
There are, however, three new shows that I decided I'd try. They are: "Chuck," "Moonlight," and "Reaper," programs that promised something different from the various forensic-based shows.
The premise of "Chuck" is that a typical geek worker at an electronics store has his brain implanted, through some unexplained process, with all of the intelligence secrets of the U.S., which data has been erased from everywhere else. As a result, Chuck is assigned two rival operators for protection, one from the CIA and the other from the NSA. These operators are former lovers as well as rivals, and Chuck pretty quickly falls in love with the woman, much to the delight of his family who are glad he has finally managed to find a girl. Certain events trigger the information in Chuck's brain, which plays out in a series of flashing images that he then relays to his protectors. They turn Chuck into an involuntary, and totally inept, operator.
The premise was cute and the first two shows were fairly entertaining. However, a formula has developed where Chuck has to decide which of the two operators to trust in a given situation. Since he's in love with the girl, one would think he'd tend towards her, but various things, some highly improbably, cause him to question her. In addition, inept Chuck seems to be the better at getting the team out of trouble.
It was cute in the beginning, but unless the writers discover some new situations it's going down the tubes at mid-season.
"Moonlight" is a vampire story. Mick is a vampire and a private investigator who tries to keep predations on the human population to a minimum. For his own nourishment he keeps a supply of instant people, transfusion bags, at the ready. He also investigations murders he suspects are caused by vampires -- all while trying to stay in the background.
Again, this program started out pretty good, with good dialog and even a bit of humor. The humor has pretty much evaporated. More problematic is that Mick must be the worst P.I. ever -- he's constantly behind the power curve and even with his vampire strength and speed has trouble defending himself. Rather than solving the mysteries presented, the show seems to have devolved into a soap opera with Mick and a young female reporter as the stars.
Not good enough to keep.
"Reaper," on the other hand, has promise. Not that this means it will survive. A young man's soul has been sold to the devil by his parents before his birth. When Satan appears to him on his 21st birthday, he's advised that he's expected to "reap" souls for the devil.
This program is saved from mediocrity by the dry humor injected by the writers. Of the three, this is the closest to being a winner, but I doubt if it has the legs for a long run.
Recent Comments