Inside Pulse – 2013 Fall TV Preview: City

Features, Previews, Top Story

Each year, Rogers and City get one step closer to claiming the #1 network position in Canada and this year is no different. Ironically enough, it’s almost like they know this as well, choosing “Closer” by Teegan and Sara as the theme song at their 2013 upfront presentation.

This year is no different as the network’s new programs hope to propel them into the top spot.

This year, I decided to screen a few episodes of each of the network’s new series before offering my opinion on what works and what doesn’t.


The Crazy Ones

The biggest “get” from the LA screeners for City, was Robin Williams’ first foray into television since his stint on Mork & Mindy. Williams plays Simon Roberts, the head of an advertising agency where his daughter Sydney Roberts (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) is also employed. Joined by his right-hand man Zack Cropper (played by James Wolk), the single-camera comedy is 30 minutes of the typical tomfoolery you would expect from Williams. I know it is a strange comparison, but I get a real 3 Men & A Baby vibe from the show (perhaps it is the white walls of the office, featuring caricatures of the main characters circa Tom Selleck’s apartment in the 1987 movie. Like the film, The Crazy Ones is also a kooky and schticky slapstick comedy where the jokes can hit… or miss just as easily. With that said, I have always believed that great acting can always benefit adequate writing and you can’t really bet against a show that features leads of this quality. While it might not be the next Modern Family or The Big Bang Theory, The Crazy Ones is certainly worth a look. It also just received a full order of episodes, so the future looks bright.

 


Super Fun Night

I have often heard my female friends say that they would love to be friends with Tina Fey. Now that Super Fun Night has debuted, they say that they want to be best friends with Rebel Wilson. Who could blame them? The beloved Australian funny girl is easily one of the most popular comedians around and her comedy series that follows three nerdy female friends in their mid-to-late 20s attempting to have fun every Friday night is hysterical and, more importantly, relatable. Rebel Wilson became a relatively household after the immense success of Bridesmaids, and ironically enough, Super Fun Night is just like Bridesmaids before the wedding. The show’s simple plot line of girls forcing themselves to get out of their comfort zone and make an effort to go out every Friday is very simple, but also allows for plenty of comedic relief. Just like Seinfeld was a show about nothing, you wouldn’t be wrong if you questioned the staying power of a show that was only about partying on a Friday, but in the case of this City import, it is just so much more. This show works because it resonates with its audience. Make sure you aren’t drinking anything when you tune in, because you will almost certainly spit it out (in a good way!)

 


Brooklyn Nine-Nine

This offering from Dan Goor and Michael Schur (the brains behind Parks and Recreation), stars Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher as an outlandish detective and his by-the-books boss. While I believe that the casting for both roles was on point as both Samberg and Braugher fit the roles perfectly, this one wasn’t one of my favourites this year. Perhaps it is because I have never found Samberg’s style of comedy particularly funny and the whole show is basically about him doing Samberg-esque things. I also think that the modern take on Police Academy is tired.


Dads

Seth MacFarlane created this comedy about two childhood best friends whose lives are turned upside down when their respective fathers both move in with them. The leads are played by Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi, with the Dads being portrayed by Martin Mull and Peter Riegart. When I initially saw the pilot, I didn’t think this show was promising, but after now having watched a few episodes, I can admit that my initial assessment was incorrect. Dads is hysterical and the chemistry on the show seems quite natural. The trend that I am noticing for most of the new shows that are working (Hostages, The Blacklist, Super Fun Night), is that they take simple ideas and do them well. The same can be said for Dads. It’s easy comedy that makes you laugh without even trying. Keep an eye on Brenda Strong from New Girl and Scandal, who is particularly strong on this show.

 


Package Deal

However ill-conceived, there has always been an understated perception that Canadian programs are not nearly as entertaining or well-produced as Canadian ones. It’s the dirty little secret that no one really talks about. In that regard, the last two years have been particularly revolutionary because Canadian networks have been at the forefront of abolishing this archaic thinking. It started with the unmitigated success of Space’s Orphan Black and continued with the launch of City’s other new comedy Seed. Now, after tons of delays from the spring to the summer to now, Andrew Orstein’s story of three close brothers and the woman who comes between them finally has seen the light of day. The star of the show is Canadian Randal Edwards who plays Danny, a smart and good-looking lawyer who has to deal with his omnipresent brothers when pursuing any relationship. His newest relationship with Kim (played by Julia Voth) finally forces him to at least attempt to cut ties with his brothers and hilarity ensues. This show is one that won me over, even after a few minutes into its pilot. The writing is slick and more importantly, the production value is quite high. Edwards is particularly believable as the lead and it is nice to see him in his first starring role. I also especially like Julia Voth’s work on the show. The real Package Deal is the writing, acting, and smart comedy that this show provides.

 


Mom

One of the smartest minds in sitcom comedy is Chuck Lorre and his newest effort, Mom stars Anna Farris as Christy, a single mom whose newfound sobriety has given her the ability to untangle her life. While she tries out a relationship with her boss, attempts to raise her son into being the man that she knows he can be and tries to steer her daughter on the right path that she was never able to take, she still struggles with attempting to reconcile with her estranged mother Bonnie (played by Allison Janney). The way that I would describe this one is that it is a lot like Dads, just not nearly as funny. Pass.

 

SOPHIE LOWE
Once Upon A Time In Wonderland

Out of all the new shows this season, the one that I just can’t decide on is Once Upon A Time In Wonderland. The ABC import is a spin-off of Once Upon A Time, (which ironically airs on a competing network in Canada) will either be a hit or a complete miss. While its predecessor had a great first season, it faltered in its sophomore effort but has come back quite strong in its third. What I think will work about Once Upon A Time is the fact that modernizing a traditional story will always be compelling because one-time Wonderland fans will always want to see a new twist on material that they have already professed to love. I am just not sure if another show about fairytales will resonate with audiences, who might be growing tired of it. With a cast that is relatively unknown, this show will live and die by the writing. Just like the story of Wonderland itself, I will tune in simply for the unpredictability.

 


Betrayal

I didn’t want to like Betrayal. The cheesy trailers and unnecessary disclaimers about the content being objectionable to some audiences just seemed like drawn-up hype for a show that wasn’t really going anywhere. How many times have we seen the cheating hot wife storyline on primetime? It’s almost like a prerequisite. With that said, Betrayal is perhaps the sexiest show that is currently on TV. Although he isn’t involved, the program has a very Aaron Spelling feel to it and revolves around the idea of two lovers caught in an affair. Sarah Hadley (played by Hannah Ware) is a photographer who is married to Drew (played by Chris J. Johnson), a prosecutor. She meets Jack (played by Stuart Townsend), a married defense attorney and the pair’s one-night tryst ends up resulting in a tumultuous situation for all. It turns out that Jack is the defense attorney in the case Sarah’s husband is prosecuting. It’s sinfully delicious. I also really like the work of the director of photography on the series as each scene looks quite picturesque (which doesn’t help with Revenge knock-off sentiment that has plagued the show since the announcement of its pick-up). What I also like about the show is that it isn’t afraid to throw random B plot storylines out there. In the last episode, we meet Jack’s I.T. person (an insanely attractive young girl who does not resemble any I.T. person that I have ever worked with) and just a few scenes later, this same why-is-she-working-in-I.T.-girl tries to pick up Jack’s daughter! While it seemed ridiculously fast-paced, I don’t watch television for the slow burn. Betrayal is good. Really good. Let’s just hope it isn’t betrayed by the network.

Murtz Jaffer is the world's foremost reality television expert and was the host of Reality Obsessed which aired on the TVTropolis and Global Reality Channels in Canada. He has professional writing experience at the Toronto Sun, National Post, TV Guide Canada, TOROMagazine.com and was a former producer at Entertainment Tonight Canada. He was also the editor at Weekendtrips.com.