Witness the disaster the of ABC and CBS Fall Preview schedule.
Compared to ABC and CBS, NBC’s fall line up is liking having Seinfeld, Cheers, and Friends all back together again. Well, not really, but you get the point. Fox probably has the most anticipated line up with edgy dramas and fanboy wet dreams with Fringe and Dollhouse (coming out this January). Don’t get too excited though, Fox shows are notorious for getting people engaged, only to remove their popular shows because of lack of viewership (i.e. Arrested Development, Firefly). Actually…get excited! ALL OF YOU! Send potatoes or dandelions to Fox Headquarters!
NBC:


Knight Rider: Was I the only one that was excited about the possibility of a new Knight Rider series, only to guffaw my way through the pilot (aka, “TV EVENT”) that aired a few months ago? Terrible writing, inane action, and enough posturing from Justin Bruening that he can have his own special issue of Tiger Beat. (Tiger Beat’s still around, right?)
So enough people must have watched the terrible, TERRIBLE pilot to warrant a reboot of the series. KITT has some modifications and perhaps a more plucky attitude but if the shows writers don’t kick it up a notch with some somewhat interesting plots, Knight Rider will go down in flames…which would actually be kinda cool.
Show will be canceled in: 6 weeks
My Own Worst Enemy: No other show has been as hyped as this one. Which means that no network has more to lose than NBC. Christian Slater’s new TV series about a dual personality hitman/family man (what, the two can’t be the same?) proves interesting on the surface but time will tell if this format will grow annoying to its audience. I like Christian Slater. He has this down-to-earth coolness about him…maybe it’s just because I have a copy of Broken Arrow stuck in my VCR. (It’s been there a while)
Show will be canceled in: 3 seasons
Kath & Kim: I’m a big fan of American rip-offs of British shows. Three’s Company, The Office, Snorks. But for every hit, there’s also Coupling. I’m sure the producers of Kath & Kim, the latest of a long line of UK rooted shows, comes to NBC. The premise shows potential as a twenty-something gal moves in with her mom after her separation from her dear hubby. Hilarity ensues as the two discover that their relationship is not like it was during the roaring ’90s.
Out of all the shows coming out this year (besides Fringe), Kath & Kim shows the most potential thanks to its strong writing, wit, and Selma Blair showing some whale tail.
Show will be canceled in: I think we have a winner.
Crusoe: Hour long drama about Robinson Crusoe. This seems more appropriate somehow on BBC America, Discovery, or maybe The History Channel. The audience isn’t here. It can’t be.
Show will be canceled in: 3 weeks.
Fox:


Fringe: The most anticipated show of the fall schedule, Fringe comes from the mind of JJ Abrahams (Cloverfield, Lost) so it’s sure to pack the punch of a wood elf. Annoying, intriguing, and cute.
After an inbound flight to Boston arrives with all its passengers dead, FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) is determined to discover the hideous secrets stemming from one question: Why? The show will be heavy on science just as X-Files was heavy on nonsense. Featuring a largely unknown cast, Fox is gambling that there’s enough room for TWO weird-ass shows. I think there is plenty of room in that pool.
Show will be canceled in: 3 season
Do Not Disturb: A comedy based in a hotel <stab myself in the face>
Fox will be lucky if this dirge will last more than 2 episodes. Even with Jason Bateman directing the pilot and TV failure/veteran Jerry O’Connell leading this troupe, Do Not Disturb will check out will before 10 am.
Show will be canceled in: 2 episodes
Hole in a Wall: I feel dirty just writing about it let alone watching it. When I first saw a preview of this gameshow, I think I went into shock because I woke up in a pool of Coke Zero and salsa. The premise goes a little something like this:
A hole is cut out on a wall. Based on a Japanese gameshow (of course)Contestants will have to contort themselves into that shape or the moving wall, which is rapidly approaching, them will knock them into a pool… If this show isn’t alarming to you about the state of our society then it’s too late for you. This show screams “Parlor” from Fahrenheit 451. Similar to Wipeout without the laughs, Hole in a Wall (sigh) is destined to be a prime time hit especially riding the shame train after Moment of Truth.