New TV shows! In America the major TV networks normally start airing their new and returning series in September and October. But because of reasons they normally announce their new shows, with trailers, in May. Don’t ask why, it would take too long.
So with loads of trailers hitting this week it’s a good excuse to look at what we might be watching in six months time. Here’s my pick of the bunch:
Supergirl – CBS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm46-envrHo
Upshot: Last year it was Gotham and The Flash, this year we’re getting Supergirl. Kara Danvers is from the planet Krypton and can lift a car with her bare hands, but she also just wants a normal rom-com life. That is until her adoptive sister ends up in mortal peril and she decides to step up and be a hero.
Prediction: When the trailer for this dropped last week it seemed like internet battle lines had been drawn up before the show had even aired. Are TV executives patronising young women with the tiresome ‘can she have it all?’ vibe, or are male comic book fans just mad it’s not aimed directly at them? Either way this should be a hit. Think The Flash but she can fly.
The Catch – ABC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IIkvAlQnbM
Upshot: Most people on the street won’t have heard of Shonda Rhimes, but as a TV writer and showrunner in the US she’s become a big deal. Her latest offering sees an expert on fraud apparently get conned by her soon-to-be husband. So exactly what is going on?
Prediction: Rhimes has had a lot more hits than misses, and she seems to be setting the bar right now for dynamic female characters on the small screen. If Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder are anything to go by this will probably do well.
Quantico – ABC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJbE0dsCDI
Upshot: For people whose brains are too full to know this, Quantico is basically Hogwarts for the FBI. This series follows a class of candidates as they endure the grueling elimination process. Oh, but there’s also a big explosion and our main character is immediately blamed as a terrorist.
Prediction: This looks like the sort of thing that has been doing well in America in recent years (see also: The Blacklist, Person of Interest). The premise is compelling, so as long as the writers don’t squander it this will be a hit. Expect Jack Bauer-like intrigue.
Limitless – CBS
Upshot: Enter the first of 2015’s ‘Police procedural with a twist’ shows. Based on that Bradley Cooper movie that was pretty alright, where he takes a special pill that makes him super smart. Cooper will have a recurring role here, with new protagonist Brian Finch also using the pills to help the FBI solve crazy hard cases.
Prediction: Limitless will be one of a number of TV shows spun off from movies this year. The trailer hints at some potentially interesting stories for the show, and the cast have the talent to deliver on them. If it has time to develop this could do okay.
The Grinder – FOX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mybEO-Hb0Y
Upshot: Two brothers – one of them is a small time lawyer, the other plays one on TV! Rob Lowe plays the TV star who comes back into his brother’s life after his hit lawyer show wraps up it’s eight season run. But guess what? He wants too do real lawyer stuff now! Hilarity ensues! Potentially. Hopefully.
Prediction: This one could go either way. The cast all seem to be at the top of their game and there are some good laughs in the trailer. Sitcoms always start off a bit rubbish, but this could easily become funny. Its success will probably depend on how many people tune in to see Rob Lowe.
Grandfathered – FOX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V7u8Jdo63A
Upshot: This seems to be a star vehicle for John Stamos, who is famous for a bunch of different TV roles. Stamos plays a restaurant owner and aging bachelor who discovers he is both a father and grandfather. Will he find space for his son and granddaughter in his life, or will his obsession with his business get in the way?
Prediction: Sitcoms are super hard to judge. I find American sitcoms are at their best when they aren’t being mean spirited though. They need a balance of jokes and heart that this show seems to have. A lot will depend on whether you like the characters by the end of the pilot episode, and I think enough people will.
The Frankenstein Code – FOX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNq25SEUTPQ
Upshot: Jimmy Pritchard is a 75 year old retired sheriff who is killed by mysterious bad guys… And then bought back to life and made young again by science! Should he trust the people who saved his life? Why did they de-age him?
Prediction: This looks to be a kind of conspiracy thriller with some sci-fi overtones. While the trailer does look interesting it’s sort of implied the conspiracy is wrapped up by the end of the episode. Good premise but I’m not sure how long it can stay interesting.
Lucifer – FOX
Upshot: Police procedurals of 2015 number two, which focuses on Lucifer, who is some kind of demon and is or isn’t also the devil and the son of god. To be honest the trailer doesn’t quite make all this clear but Lucifer’s special power is that he has magical charm that can make people tell the truth.
Prediction: A lot of the plot pieces for this one seem recycled from last year’s Constantine, which did not pan out. The big difference: instead of a macho northern English hero, we’ve got a suave and posh English hero. It looks a lot easier to get into than Constantine, but is going to have to work hard to attract and keep a decent audience.
Minority Report – FOX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fLl-DMzxrk
Upshot: Years after the events of the Tom Cruise movie (too long since I saw it, can’t remember how it ends) the kids who could predict the future are grown up. One of them still has visions of murder and continues to try and stop them before they happen.
Prediction: A lot of people will remember the movie, which might attract an audience, but the show will need an interesting story and characters if it wants to keep viewers. The trailer seems to be going the ‘procedural with a twist’ route, and it’s a good twist. But the writers might struggle to keep things fresh on a TV budget.
Blindspot – NBC
Upshot: Jamie Alexander (a.k.a Lady Sif from Thor) is a mysterious woman found in a duffel bag in the middle of Times Square. She has no memory of who she is and her body is covered in tattoos. Looks like there’s some kind of conspiracy she’s going to have to figure out with the help of an FBI agent.
Prediction: Last time NBC did a big shooty action show with a well known actor they gave it a lot of support (The Blacklist). If this show gets that same support it has every chance of being as big a hit. It will still need good writing if it’s to last though.
The Player – NBC
Upshot: Our hero is Alex Kane, a thirtysomething security expert out for revenge. Kane is forced to work with a convoluted secret organisation to do, well, something. I’m really not sure what. Half way through the trailer my attention had started to go – wait, is that Wesley Snipes?
Prediction: What the hell is Wesley Snipes doing in this? I mean, sure the last Blade movie was kind of rubbish, and he was in jail for a bit. But how did he end up in a generic white-guy action hero revenge series? Was the script just accidentally at the top of the pile when he was looking for a new project to do? Guys, I’m not the only one who finds this weird am I? Am I?
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