The new fall season is set to being. Fox will unleash the first wave of new shows. Murtz Jaffer and Matt Romanada got a chance to screen five of the new Fox pilots. Once again in Canada Global has snapped up many of the Fox shows. Here are our opinions on Fox’s new shows, as you can tell in several cases they are quite different.
Vanished
Networks: Fox and 
Time slot: Monday 9 p.m.
Premiere: August 21
Cast:
Gale Harold”¦.Agent Graham Kelton
Ming-Na”¦.Lin Mei
Rebecca Gayheart”¦.Judy Nash
John Allen Nelson”¦.Senator Jeffrey Collins
Joanne Kelly”¦.Sara Collins
Show Premise :
Georgia Senator Jeffrey Collins’s wife Sara disappears and the FBI, led by Agent Graham Kelton are put on the case to fine Sara. Kelton and his partner Lin Mei work together to try and find Sara, and who she really is. Investigative reporter Judy Nash is right in the face of Kelton and the Collins’ family to try and make this story her “big break.” Kelton himself has a dark past when it comes to kidnapping cases, as the last major case he was assigned to the young boy ended up dead and this failure haunts him to this day.
What We Liked About The Show :
Romo: Honestly, not that much. I do like that guy who played Walt Cummings last season in 24 has a new show. It’s just a shame that the show itself is weak, and very similar to another show coming out this year, Kidnapped, which has a better cast and whose pilot was far superior.
Murtz: This show was interesting and I like the premise of trying to find a missing person. I am a huge fan of Without A Trace and I think that the formula works well. You also have to appreciate the fact that a Canadian is given a big role (Joanne Kelly). I like the premise of the show and the main actor, John Allen Nelson, who many of us 24 nerds will totally remember. I think I am a fan of the acting in general. Ming-Na was strong on ER and the Senator’s children also work quite well.
What We Didn’t Liked About The Show :
Romo: I didn’t buy Gale Harold in the lead role. He put off the vibe of one of those bad B-action movies staring Tom Berenger or Corbin Bernsen. I also don’t like networks continuing attempts to make concept shows that really only have a one-year life span, think Reunion last year.
Murtz: Definitely the pacing and timing. It just was shot in a very weird style that tried elements of 24, but did not work nearly as well. I also thought that the music in the first episode was a little lacking. I think it should have been much more dramatic when the revelation is made about the disappearance. I think a new director of photography would do wonders for the program.
Final Verdict :
Romo: By far the worst pilot I screened. I give it a 2/10.
Murtz: Without a Trace is better, and that will hurt the program. 5/10
Likelihood Of The Show Succeeding :
Romo: It might make until 24 starts in January, but only because Fox can’t be bothered to axe it.
Murtz: I am not optimistic. It could work because the story is good, but I think many improvements have to be made.
Justice
Networks: Fox and
Time slot: Wednesday, 9 p.m.
Premiere: August 30
Cast:
Victor Garber”¦.Ron Trott
Kerr Smith”¦.Tom Nicholson
Eamonn Walker”¦.Luther Gaines
Rebecca Mader”¦.Alden Tuller
Show Premise:
A look inside how a high-priced Los Angeles defence firm runs. Ron Trott runs the legal firm that defends the rich and famous, with the help of his chief litigator Tom Nicholson and a team of other lawyers. Each episode will focus on one case, mostly seen from the defendant’s side of things. The lawyers will try to piece together a defence for their client through a mix of forensic science, jury selection and just good all-around lawyering. At the end of each episode a scene will show what “really happened” to the victim of the crime.
What We Liked About The Show :
Romo: Very slick, with high production values. It’s a solid led by TV veteran Victor Garber and ably backed up by Kerr Smith. It’s a very fast paced show. The “gimmick” at the end of the show where the audience gets to find out what really happened is an interesting concept I think viewers will love.
Murtz: Gotta agree with Romanada. The production values on this show are sick and the program just looks cool. It is very fast and the hour just seems to slip away. That’s always the mark of a good TV show. Lost has that down to an art. I also like the “gimmick” at the end where the truth is revealed. This is a phenomenal show and Victor Garber is spectacular. I thought Kerr Smith was a little weak, but everyone else on the cast was phenomenal.
What We Didn’t Liked About The Show :
Romo: As I said it’s a very fast paced show, the concern with that being do they leave enough time to develop the characters in the show? Another concern is the limiting aspect of the concept. How many different “high profile” cases can there be? Can the writers keep coming up with fresh cases?
Murtz: My only concern is whether there is too much action to keep up with in each episode. I love legal dramas, and have watched everything from Matlock to Boston Legal, and this is one of the best that I have seen. I am just not sure if the casual viewer will be able to follow all of the twists and turns.
Final Verdict:
Romo: You can tell a great deal of thought and money went into the pilot. Overall, it’s a promising show. 8/10
Murtz: One of the best shows I screened. 9/10
Likelihood Of The Show Succeeding :
Romo: I see it at least making it to season two. How it does in futher years will depend on the depth of the writing and cast.
Murtz: We will be seeing more of this.
Standoff
Networks: Fox and
Time slot: Global, Tuesday 8 p.m. then moves to Monday, 10 p.m.; Fox, Tuesday, 9 p.m.
Premiere: September 5
Cast:
Ron Livingston”¦.Matt Flannery
Rosemarie DeWitt”¦.Emily Lehman
Gina Torres”¦.Cheryl Carrera
Raquel Alessi”¦.Lia Mathers
Show Premise:
Matt Flannery and Emily Lehman are partners and the top pair of negotiators in the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit. They also happen to be romantically involved. Needless to say this complicates their working relationship. And when their boss and everyone else in the unit find out this fact it sure mucks things up between the pair. Each week will follow the partners trying to solve another crisis negotiation and negotiate their own feelings for each other.
What We Liked About The Show:
Romo: I’m a huge Ron Livingston fan and his chemistry with co-star Rosemarie DeWitt is solid. The show has a good blend of action and character study. The secondary cast selections appear very solid and could make the show great if those characters are allowed to grow over the course of the show.
Murtz: Like Vanished, I am a big fan of the acting on this. Ron Livingston, Rosemarie DeWitt and Gina Torres were all strong in the premiere. There was a great movie called The Negotiator with Kevin Spacey and Samuel L. Jackson, and this show sort of seems like the TV version. I think it has promise. Rosemarie DeWitt is also ridiculously good-looking. I love the chemistry between the leads.
What We Didn’t Liked About The Show:
Romo: Another limiting concept. How many cool “crisis negotiations” are there? It’s very possible this should could end up being a “chick-flick” drama that focuses too much on the relationship of the two leads.
Murtz: I didn’t like the lack of star power. I also think that combining serious drama with these comedic interludes will not work on a show about dealing with hostage situtions. While it worked for Grey’s Anatomy, that material is clearly lighter than this stuff.
Final Verdict:
Romo: I liked the pilot, my only concern is did I like it because of my pro-Ron Livingston bias or was it actually really good? 7/10
Murtz: A good show. One of the better pilots that I saw. 7/10
Likelihood Of The Show Succeeding :
Romo: Honestly, it could go either way. I wouldn’t be THAT shocked if it bombed out completely, then again I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a hit.
Murtz: Realistically? Hard to say. It’s got a very good timeslot on both Global and Fox, so it does have a chance if it can build a following. The acting is strong enough where the show just might be able to create its own stars. Definitely worth checking out a couple of times.
‘Til Death
Networks: Fox and
Time slot: CH, Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Fox, Thursday, 8 p.m.
Premiere: September 7
Cast:
Brad Garrett”¦.Eddie Stark
Joely Fisher”¦.Joy Stark
Eddie Kaye Thomas”¦.Jeff Woodcock
Kat Foster”¦.Steph Woodcock
Show Premise:
Eddie Stark and his wife Joy have been married for 8,743 days. Their new neighbours, Jeff and Steph Woodcock (yes, Woodcock), have been married for 12 days. It just happens Jeff is the vice principal at the same high school Eddie teaches history at. Jeff and Step’s newlywed bliss attitude is a stark contrast to the cynical Eddie, who decides to teach Jeff the finer points of marriage.
What We Liked About The Show:
Romo: For one of “these types of comedy shows”, and by that I mean family-based sitcoms that have taken over network television these days, this one is not bad. Brad Garrett is a veteran of the sitcom genre, even though I hated his former show, so that adds some star power. Eddie Kaye Thomas brings with him his American Pie panache, if that still exists.
Murtz: LOVED this premiere! Very funny and I am generally not a fan of comedies and especially of Brad Garrett’s. I think that one of the main problems with Everybody Loves Raymond, was the fact that it was very slow. It was like comedy for a retirement home where you had to wait a few minutes before you got the punchline of any joke. That is not the case here. The laughs are quick and the opening scene is priceless. I think this is in contention for the best pilot I saw.
What We Didn’t Liked About The Show:
Romo: Too formulaic in many ways. You can pretty much guess what is going to happen from scene to scene if you’ve seen a comedy in the past 10 years.
Murtz: Not much. I liked just about everything. The writing is especially witty.
Final Verdict:
Romo: It’s better than most of the other crap family comedies out there, but that really isn’t saying much. 5.5/10
Murtz: Great show. It’s a must-see. I think this one could go places. 9/10.
Likelihood Of The Show Succeeding :
Romo: Not a great time slot. If it were on ABC behind one of their other hit comedies this show would probably be a guarantee hit. But it’s time slot makes it a risky bet.
Murtz: Strong. Very strong. They will capitalize on the strong base of the Raymond audience and garner new fans with Eddie Kaye Thomas and the ‘American Pie Generation’ (of which I am a card-carrying member).
The Winner
Networks: Fox and
Time slot: Yet to be determined
Premiere: Midseason 2007
Cast:
Rob Corddry”¦.Glen Abbott
Keir Gilchrist”¦.Josh Miller
Erinn Hayes”¦.Alison Miller
Juile Hagerty”¦.Irene Abbott
Lenny Clarke”¦.Ron Abbott
Show Premise:
Glen Abbott is every parent’s nightmare, well not quite but they would sure love it if the 32-year-old would move out of home and get a decent job. The show is set in 1994, which lends to some great comedic potential. Glenn, now 43, is looking back at his life and narrating the time when he “lost his innocence.” The change takes place in part because of the return of Glen’s long-lost love, Alison Miller. Alison, who has no idea Glen still carries a torch, comes back to town with 14-year-old kid, who is more mature than Glen.
What We Liked About The Show:
Romo: Rob Corddry. I love this guy. The show has a dry sense of humour, which I love. All the ‘90s jokes are great. Erinn Hayes is super hot.
Murtz: This show has its funny moments, and is filmed in the style of the old-school sitcom. Guy lives at home with his parents, meets a girl that he liked in middle school and now is trying to romance her again, despite the fact that he has no job and is balding.
What We Didn’t Liked About The Show:
Romo: The show could get dull after a short time if Corddry’s supporting cast doesn’t pull their weight
Murtz: Obviously the premise of the show is unclear. It was difficult to follow and I couldn’t really understand it.
Final Verdict:
Romo: This was the best of any of the sitcom pilots I watched. Hopefully it gets to air sooner, rather than later. 7.5/10
Murtz: Meh. It’s alright. If I am at home and the choice is between this and a Simpsons rerun, I would probably take this… but I am not sure if I would make the effort to stay-in for it. 4/10
Likelihood Of The Show Succeeding :
Romo: It will all depend on its time slot. If it’s put on Sunday night it has a chance. Any other time slot and it’s in big danger.
Murtz: Dead duck
