August 29th, 2007
MONDAY
Chuck (8 p.m., NBC; premières Sept. 24)
The concept: Ordinary computer nerd Zachary Levi has a cache of state secrets downloaded into his brain by his former college roommate, who now works for the CIA. While continuing his perpetual quest to develop some kind of romantic life, Levi also aids the government in terrorist-fighting.
Likely pitch: "The demo reel will kill at ComicCon!"
Why is this on the air? The Office, Heroes, and Superbad prove that geeks are chic.
Will it be any good? The O.C. mastermind Josh Schwartz is one of the creators, so expect Chuck to be one of the most addictive shows on TV for its first season, then never that good again.
The Big Bang Theory (8:30 p.m., CBS; premières Sept. 24)
The concept: A band of brainiacs deals with a sexy, friendly female neighbor, as Two And A Half Men producer Chuck Lorre goes for his next traditional sitcom hit.
Likely pitch: "You've got a Monday-night lineup, and we've got three cameras we aren't using. Let's do this!"
Why is this on the air? Either the networks are run by nerds these days, or they assume America is.
Will it be any good? Sitcom director extraordinaire James Burrows helmed the pilot, which means this will either be the next Friends, or the next The Class. Based on the pilot, in which the sexy neighbor uses the nerds' bathroom after her shower breaks down, this sounds like the big hit of 1981.
Aliens In America (8:30 p.m., CW; premières Oct. 1)
The concept: A Midwestern stay-at-home mom, worried that her teenage son doesn't have any friends, signs up for the student-exchange program and gets sent a Pakistani Muslim. Culture clashes yadda yadda.
Likely pitch: "It's Fez from That '70s Show in a post-9/11 world."
Why is this on the air? Since no one watches the CW anyway, the threat of fatwas from offended Muslims should be manageable.
Will it be any good? There's a glimmer of hope in the title's telltale plural, which implies that the show is about generalized adolescent disaffection, not just a wacky foreigner.
K-Ville (9 p.m., Fox; premières Sept. 17)
The concept: Brash, dedicated NOPD veteran Anthony Anderson and his secretive new partner Cole Hauser navigate a far-from-recovered post-Katrina New Orleans.
Likely pitch: "How can we make a cop drama more dramatic? Location, location, location!"
Why is this on the air? Home to a successful medical drama (House) and a successful counterterrorism-unit drama (24), Fox is looking to follow in the footsteps of its cable counterpart, FX's The Shield, with a (hopefully) successful police drama.
Will it be any good? Any show shot in New Orleans runs the risk of skimming the surface and turning into a Zatarain's commercial, but the previews seem to indicate that K-Ville will include the city as a character, not just a backdrop. The gritty look is also promising.
Samantha Who? (9:30 p.m., ABC; premières Oct. 15)
The concept: After a hit-and-run accident, a young woman (Christina Applegate) awakes from an eight-day coma with retrograde amnesia, which lets her function just fine, but leaves her with no personal memories. She was a bad-girl type in her previous life, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise.
Likely pitch: "Regarding Henry. Memento. Paris, Texas. The Bourne Identity. Is there anything funnier than amnesia?"
Why is this on the air? Something needs to air between Dancing With The Stars and The Bachelor. Might as well make this the meat of a reality-show sandwich.
Will it be any good? Applegate knows her way around half-hour comedy by now, and she’s surrounded by seasoned vets like Jean Smart and Kevin Dunn. On the other hand, ABC is to comedy what CBS is to shows appealing to anyone under 70.
TUESDAY
Cavemen (8 p.m., ABC; premières Oct. 2)
The concept: Based on the insurance pitchmen that were mildly funny three years ago, three cavemen battle the prejudices of the more evolved in a racism allegory that is itself pretty damn racist.
Likely pitch: "It's a bold, complex study of how people internalize and adapt to the constant stream of mediocrity in our culture, and… You know what? Fuck it. Let's just make a show about those cavemen who hate GEICO."
Why is this on the air? The built-in Q-rating that comes from three years of commercials was too great to pass up. Plus, the one-joke premise means scripts practically write themselves, which will come in handy if that writers' strike happens.
Will it be any good? Early pilot reviews and a "major retooling" bode poorly, and given how well the last commercial-turned-sitcom worked out (Baby Bob? Hello?), it seems unlikely that this will surprise anyone. Though maybe GEICO will finally stop airing those ads. That'd be good.
Carpoolers (8:30 p.m., ABC; premières Oct. 2)
The concept: Four guys commiserate about their lives while carpooling.
Likely pitch: "The Office, but in a car!"
Why is this on the air? ABC's comedies generally fall into two categories: broad, conventional, unfunny sitcoms (According To Jim, George Lopez), or hour-long dramedies that Emmy voters think are hilarious (Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty). Carpoolers is a single-camera sitcom that actually looks funny, so it doesn't fit the pattern. Maybe ABC had a temporary bout of amnesia and thought it was NBC?
Will it be any good? Bruce McCulloch of Kids In The Hall is writing it, and two of the minds behind Arrested Development will produce and direct, so Carpoolers promises to be sharper than its premise.
Reaper (9 p.m., CW; premières Sept. 25)
The concept: A slacker's parents sold his soul to Satan before he was born. On his 21st birthday, the devil (Ray Wise) demands he come help collect evil souls that have escaped from Hell.
Likely pitch: "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure meets Ghostbusters meets Josh Schwartz's NBC show Chuck, which pretty much sounds like the same sort of thing."
Why is this on the air? After scoring its one real original-series hit with Supernatural, the CW returns to the well with another show that combines supernatural and comedy elements as effectively as former WB/UPN cult favorites Buffy and Angel.
Will it be any good? The first episode, from guest director Kevin Smith, was one of the season's more celebrated pilots. And casting Twin Peaks' Wise as Satan is a masterstroke.
Cane (10 p.m., CBS; premières Sept. 25)
The concept: Hector Elizondo plays the patriarch of a wealthy Cuban-American family at a crossroads. Should they get out of the sugar business and concentrate on selling rum? Jimmy Smits ups the sexy level as Elizondo's adopted son.
Likely pitch: "Hey, you know how there are a lot of Hispanic people in the U.S? Here's a whole show about them! Ay caramba, is it tasteful! Its cultural sensitivity is muy caliente!"
Why is this on the air? See above.
Will it be any good? Distinguished cast members Smits, Elizondo, and Rita Moreno, plus the sprawling, epic feel, make this look promising. If nothing else, it's nice to have a Hispanic presence on American television that isn't Carlos Fucking Mencia.
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