Fall Television

Even though it doesn't appear that many people are stopping by here much anymore - and I suppose that is my fault for my posts being few and far between - I am going to do my best to get something rolling on here again. Hopefully, the people will return.

So, the new Fall television lineup has been on for nearly two months now and with each new season comes the very difficult decision to select a few new shows to start watching.

This is a difficult process. There are many factors that have to be met. For instance, does it fit into our current show watching lineup? Does it look somewhat intriguing? Does it have staying power?

The last question is always the hardest to judge. I have been burned before by the networks. We have selected a show to watch, enjoyed that show and then watched the network yank it right off the air.

Luckily, this season I didn't get swayed by any FlashForward-type shows - the type of show that really needs to be on the air for more than one season to truly answer those longing questions that it has created.

That being said, Mrs. Kano and I did select a quartet of new shows that - knock on wood - have all been picked up for an entire season. So, at least we will have them for that length of time.

I will start off with the comedies:


Mike & Molly: Mike (Bill Gardell) is a Chicago police officer, who also happens to be an over eater. He meets Molly (Melissa McCarthy), a fourth grade teacher, at an Over Eaters Anonymous meeting and the two really hit it off. The show is about finding love and breaking through the issues that society has placed upon heavier people. The show takes shots at both characters due to their girth, but I don't feel it goes too far. Each character has some sidekicks which is where most of the comedy comes from. Mike's sidekicks are his partner Carl McMillan (Reno Wilson) and their waiter at their favorite cafe, Samuel (Nyambi Nyambi). Molly's come in the form of her sister, Victoria (Katy Mixon) and her mother, Joyce (Swoosie Kurtz). I would say this is a pretty solid comedy, but I can't put it anywhere near the top where Community and Big Bang Theory preside. But, it's a nice watch with at least a couple laugh out loud moments per episode.


Shit My Dad Says: Henry (Jonathan Sadowski) has just lost his job and is forced to move in with his father, Ed (William Shatner). Unfortunately, Ed is the type of father that has always had things his way and refuses to bend at all - he is also the type of person that says whatever is on his mind, no matter who it might hurt or offend. Henry's brother, Vince (Will Sasso) and his wife, Bonnie (Nicole Sullivan), leave close by and are over to the house a lot. This show is based off of the book, which itself was based on the popular twitter feed. I feel that Mike & Molly is a little bit better than this comedy, although this one can still have its moments. I am not that huge a fan of the actor that portrays Henry and honestly I feel that the Vince and Bonnie characters have far more interesting things to say and do. They really raise the level of this show.

As for the dramas:


Hawaii 5-0: I wasn't planning on watching this, but I had heard such great things so I gave it a shot and I actually really enjoy it. CBS has given Alex O'Loughlin his third shot at a television series and I think it might have finally pulled off. Here he stars as Steve McGarrett, a former Naval officer that is given the run of the island and its resources by the governor. He chose Danny Williams (Scott Caan), a new to the island cop from NY, as his partner. Also in their gang is Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim) and Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park). I never saw the original series so this is all new to me, and it is pretty fun. Show is set up like a crime drama with a lot of action and quite a few jokes thrown in as well.


The Defenders: Another that I had no intentions of watching, but it also sucked me in and I think it may be my favorite of the new shows. Nick Morelli (Jim Belushi) and Pete Kaczmarek (Jerry O'Connell) are defense lawyers in Sin City. Much like most law shows, each week one or both of them is defending someone and they have to find a way to get them off or get the best possible outcome. They also have a young, up and coming lawyer Lisa Tyler (Jurnee Smollett) to help them out (you may remember Ms. Smollett as Michelle Tanner's friend in Full House). I was definitely frightened by this show fitting into my questions from above. Belushi is coming off a long run on According to Jim that everyone appeared to hate and O'Connell has had terrible luck with shows as of late - so I was afraid no one would tune in. But, so far, it looks promising. And, like I said, this one may be the best of these new shows.