What's On, What's Off and Everything in Between: Part II

What’s Off

CHASE

No TV season would be complete without the traditional and way over rated Jerry Bruckheimer police procedural. Mr. Bruckheimer hasn’t had a TV success story since he brought the CSI team to New York City in 2003 and I don’t think it will be very difficult to chase his latest baby out the door. Chase follows an elite team of US Marshalls as they run around southern Texas fighting bad guys all while baby sitting the original Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald. This show has girl power written all over it as series lead Kelli Giddish kicks some major testosterone in the pilot. With Nikita and the hot chick from Undercovers vying to be this seasons Toughest Chick, I doubt this action packed dud will keep people from flipping the channel to the sandy shores of Hawaii Five-O.

THE DEFENDERS

The original concept for this show was a reality series, think The Apprentice with lawyers. Instead, CBS asked that the show be reformatted into a scripted series about two cocky, male defence attorneys and thus we have The Defenders. Maybe its me but after eight unnecessary seasons of According to Jim are we really ready for more Jim Belushi? Jerry O’Connell has popped up here and there over the past few seasons with forgettable shows like Carpoolers and Do Not Disturb. Remember those? I didn’t think so. I was happy to see that Natalie Zea has found her way onto another fall series, unfortunately she’s latched her star to another a sinking ship. So, will The Defenders be able to fight their way to our season finale and claim the $250,000 prize and a contract with America’s top law firm or will they find themselves facing judgement under the gavel? Find out next time on, The Defenders! That would have worked so much better.

BETTER WITH YOU/RAISING HOPE

ABC had quite the season last year launching a successful comedy block on Wednesday nights where as FOX hasn’t had a sitcom success since Arrested Development (and even that pot of gold couldn’t rein in viewership) in 2003. This year neither ABC nor FOX offers up anything too exciting in the comedy department. With both networks still living off the highs of last years successes Modern Family and Glee, don’t expect too much when Better With You and Raising Hope premiere later this month.
Better With You looked promising when it was unveiled last May at the annual network upfronts. Starring Debra Jo Rupp (That 70’s Show) and Joanna Garcia (Reba, Privileged) this cozy, couples comedy fell short of funny when promo’s began airing last spring. Unfortunately Jennifer Finnigan and Josh Cooke weren’t funny as a couple on NBC’s Committed back in 2005 and they certainly aren’t funny now.
As for Raising Hope, the premise is different (a teenage boy raises his daughter with the help of his trailer park family) but that’s pretty much all this show has going for it other then the occasional laugh from the always funny, Cloris Leachman. Obviously we can’t be blessed with a hit comedy every season, after all, a good laugh is hard to come by, and if its a laughs you're looking for, then these are definitely two shows you are going to want to miss.

To Be Continued...