It's 1963. The jet age has dawned, and we're going around the world with the crew of a Pan Am Clipper. That crew is made up of a captain searching for his gone-missing stewardess girlfriend, his co-pilot who appears to be Pan Am's version of Pete Campbell, and four stewardesses. Two are sisters, one the black sheep of the family, the other the golden child who bolted from her own wedding and wound up on the cover of Life magazine after joining Pan Am. One is a burgeoning feminist/free thinker, as we're shown by her living in the Village and having some guy at her apartment using Marx as an excuse to not answer the phone. The fourth is a Frenchwoman who was apparently sleeping with a married man, which she learned when he brought his family on a flight.
Oh, and did I mention that the black sheep has been recruited by the CIA at the suggestion of the stew who went missing?
Ridiculous espionage subplots aside, there is a certain charm to this show. The sisters have a troubled relationship, but they're secure enough with each other to be honest and have each other's backs when their manipulative mom shows up on a flight. The captain, as much as he's trying to project the alpha male characteristics expected of someone in his position in 1963, is clearly hurting, and his dedication to find his girlfriend is a welcome vulnerability.
The other characters, well, I'm not so sure where they're going. They may be a little to tightly defined as horndog/bohemian/French, and it'd be nice to see them get some range.
As for the show's ability to capture Mad Men's vibe, well, no. They try very hard, certainly with the costumes and music, but try too hard by inserting incidental dialog that sounds like a forced attempt to remind us that it's 1963. The writers do not have Mad Men's ability to come up with dialog that sounds like it would be spoken by people in the 1960s but not sounding like they're trying to prove that it's the 1960s.
Still, this is a pleasant enough show, and the airline setting does allow for a broad range of locales and potential plots. I don't know how much of a chance we'll have to explore the world with this crew, though, as the show's ratings are dismal, thanks in no small part to the anemic numbers put up by Desperate Housewives, whose last season is, almost unbelievably, stupider than any of the previous seasons. I also don't see a good time for them to move the show to without possibly making the show weaker, ratings-wise.
So while this experiment in ripping off basic cable is going better than The Playboy Club, I wouldn't actually call it a success. It's likeable enough, but it doesn't keep me from hoping that March 2012 would just get here already.
Showing posts with label bubble shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bubble shows. Show all posts
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Bubble Popped
So we have some early cancellations:
ABC: Brothers & Sisters, Detroit 187, Mr. Sunshine, No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, V
No major surprises here, though I'm hoping we can at least get a V movie to wrap things up. I don't expect one.
Fox: The Chicago Code, Human Target, Lie to Me, Traffic Light
A little surprised that The Chicago Code didn't get another chance, but the ratings pretty much tell the story. A bad year for midwestern cop shows.
NBC: America's Next Great Restaurant, Chase, The Event, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Outsourced, Perfect Couples, School Pride
Good thing the network already announced that Chuck was coming back, otherwise it would have been a long weekend for that show's cadre of fans. I am surprised to not see Parenthood on the list. Perhaps it'll wind up on Thursday at 10, the quirky drama capper to all those quirky sitcoms.
ABC: Brothers & Sisters, Detroit 187, Mr. Sunshine, No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, V
No major surprises here, though I'm hoping we can at least get a V movie to wrap things up. I don't expect one.
Fox: The Chicago Code, Human Target, Lie to Me, Traffic Light
A little surprised that The Chicago Code didn't get another chance, but the ratings pretty much tell the story. A bad year for midwestern cop shows.
NBC: America's Next Great Restaurant, Chase, The Event, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Outsourced, Perfect Couples, School Pride
Good thing the network already announced that Chuck was coming back, otherwise it would have been a long weekend for that show's cadre of fans. I am surprised to not see Parenthood on the list. Perhaps it'll wind up on Thursday at 10, the quirky drama capper to all those quirky sitcoms.
On the Bubble: The CW
Last but not least, the network formerly known as The WB and UPN:
Saved: Hellcats, One Tree Hill
I'm on the fence with Hellcats, whose performance didn't set any records, but which the network may still see as being their chance to tap into the Glee crowd, just with backflips instead of singing. And One Tree Hill is established enough now that it would get chance to have a set final season.
Gone:: Nikita, Plain Jane, Shedding for the Wedding
Nikita never quite clicked, maybe because it's not obviously targeted for 12 year old girls. I can honestly say I've never heard of Plain Jane (apparently because it aired last summer), while Shedding for the Wedding had some incredibly low ratings, even by The CW standards. All toast.
Saved: Hellcats, One Tree Hill
I'm on the fence with Hellcats, whose performance didn't set any records, but which the network may still see as being their chance to tap into the Glee crowd, just with backflips instead of singing. And One Tree Hill is established enough now that it would get chance to have a set final season.
Gone:: Nikita, Plain Jane, Shedding for the Wedding
Nikita never quite clicked, maybe because it's not obviously targeted for 12 year old girls. I can honestly say I've never heard of Plain Jane (apparently because it aired last summer), while Shedding for the Wedding had some incredibly low ratings, even by The CW standards. All toast.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
On the Bubble: CBS
The Eye has a lot of shows still twisting in the wind, many of them familiar faces. Who makes the cut?
Saved: 48 Hours Mystery, 60 Minutes, Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, The Good Wife, Hawaii 5-0, The Mentalist, Mike & Molly, NCIS: Los Angeles, Rules of Engagement
I think I'm most likely to miss here with one of the CSI spin-offs. There was talk of New York getting cut, but it's seen a bump thanks to the (Friday adjusted) success of Blue Bloods, so I'm now thinking that Miami is the more likely casualty if one does indeed get cut.
Gone: Bleep My Dad Says, Chaos, The Defenders, I Get That a Lot, Mad Love
Bleep My Dad Says is an interesting case, given how it went from significant buzz at this point last year to getting hustled off the schedule as soon as possible. Apparently you can't write a TV show 140 characters at a time.
I suppose there's a chance that The Defenders comes back, though the drop-off in viewers as the season went on, combined with the lack of performance on Fridays, make it a very slim chance. But that may be all a show set in Vegas needs.
Saved: 48 Hours Mystery, 60 Minutes, Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, The Good Wife, Hawaii 5-0, The Mentalist, Mike & Molly, NCIS: Los Angeles, Rules of Engagement
I think I'm most likely to miss here with one of the CSI spin-offs. There was talk of New York getting cut, but it's seen a bump thanks to the (Friday adjusted) success of Blue Bloods, so I'm now thinking that Miami is the more likely casualty if one does indeed get cut.
Gone: Bleep My Dad Says, Chaos, The Defenders, I Get That a Lot, Mad Love
Bleep My Dad Says is an interesting case, given how it went from significant buzz at this point last year to getting hustled off the schedule as soon as possible. Apparently you can't write a TV show 140 characters at a time.
I suppose there's a chance that The Defenders comes back, though the drop-off in viewers as the season went on, combined with the lack of performance on Fridays, make it a very slim chance. But that may be all a show set in Vegas needs.
On the Bubble: ABC
ABC appears to have the most shows not yet renewed, so settle in.
Saved: 20/20, AFV, Body of Proof, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Primetime, Saturday Night College Football, Secret Millionaire, Shark Tank
Lots of reality, not surprisingly, with some of these poised to take over for failed new shows. I don't think Body of Proof is strong enough to anchor a night, but it could work to complete a night (Wednesday or Sunday at 10, perhaps)?
I also half-expect to see special Sunday editions of Saturday Night College Football if the NFL owner's lockout drags into the season.
Gone: Better With You, Brothers & Sisters, Detroit 187, Happy Endings, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Mr. Sunshine, No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, V, Wife Swap
As much as I think these will all go, ABC may surprise by keeping a couple of them. I could see them poaching one of the sitcoms to fill the one empty slot in the Wednesday lineup. Happy Endings seems more likely, as I think it'd be easier to keep a mid-season show (and it seems more in line with the family/relationship comedies than Mr. Sunshine).
The other obvious question is Brothers & Sisters, which I've put on here thanks to the revolving door for cast and producers alike. The current season finale could sub as a series finale, and the ratings jump it received may convince ABC to try to squeeze one more season out of it.
On a personal note, I'll be sad to see Detroit 187, as despite the awful name it wound up being a pretty good show. I'm more ambivalent about the potential loss of V. The season finale shook things up quite a bit, but I think it's too little too late.
Saved: 20/20, AFV, Body of Proof, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Primetime, Saturday Night College Football, Secret Millionaire, Shark Tank
Lots of reality, not surprisingly, with some of these poised to take over for failed new shows. I don't think Body of Proof is strong enough to anchor a night, but it could work to complete a night (Wednesday or Sunday at 10, perhaps)?
I also half-expect to see special Sunday editions of Saturday Night College Football if the NFL owner's lockout drags into the season.
Gone: Better With You, Brothers & Sisters, Detroit 187, Happy Endings, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Mr. Sunshine, No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, V, Wife Swap
As much as I think these will all go, ABC may surprise by keeping a couple of them. I could see them poaching one of the sitcoms to fill the one empty slot in the Wednesday lineup. Happy Endings seems more likely, as I think it'd be easier to keep a mid-season show (and it seems more in line with the family/relationship comedies than Mr. Sunshine).
The other obvious question is Brothers & Sisters, which I've put on here thanks to the revolving door for cast and producers alike. The current season finale could sub as a series finale, and the ratings jump it received may convince ABC to try to squeeze one more season out of it.
On a personal note, I'll be sad to see Detroit 187, as despite the awful name it wound up being a pretty good show. I'm more ambivalent about the potential loss of V. The season finale shook things up quite a bit, but I think it's too little too late.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
On the Bubble: Fox
And your bubble predictions for Fox:
Saved: America's Most Wanted, The Chicago Code, Cops, Kitchen Nightmares
I can't imagine a world where Fox doesn't show America's Most Wanted and Cops, so I'm saying they're both back. Kitchen Nightmares I could do without - it's a pale imitation of the BBC original - but Fox has hitched its wagon to Gordon Ramsey pretty firmly, and carrying this show will certainly help keep him happy and making Hell's Kitchen (and, I suppose, MasterChef).
The Chicago Code is kind of a wild card for me. It doesn't seem any more likely to make the cut than the other shows on the bubble, but as the newest show of the dramas on the bubble it gets a chance to prove itself where the others have tried and not succeeded.
Gone - Breaking In, Human Target, Lie to Me, Million Dollar Money Drop, Traffic Light
I would not be surprised to see Human Target and/or Lie to Me make the cut, though as I said before I think these shows have had a chance to build an audience but haven't done enough. The other shows seem more solid, though if Fox saw fit to keep Bob's Burgers and Mobbed why not take a chance with Breaking In? Or why not clear the decks of all of them?
Anyway, for having a short bubble list I do think Fox has one of the least predictable ones. They could bring back all of these shows and not surprise me. Well, except for Million Dollar Money Drop.
Saved: America's Most Wanted, The Chicago Code, Cops, Kitchen Nightmares
I can't imagine a world where Fox doesn't show America's Most Wanted and Cops, so I'm saying they're both back. Kitchen Nightmares I could do without - it's a pale imitation of the BBC original - but Fox has hitched its wagon to Gordon Ramsey pretty firmly, and carrying this show will certainly help keep him happy and making Hell's Kitchen (and, I suppose, MasterChef).
The Chicago Code is kind of a wild card for me. It doesn't seem any more likely to make the cut than the other shows on the bubble, but as the newest show of the dramas on the bubble it gets a chance to prove itself where the others have tried and not succeeded.
Gone - Breaking In, Human Target, Lie to Me, Million Dollar Money Drop, Traffic Light
I would not be surprised to see Human Target and/or Lie to Me make the cut, though as I said before I think these shows have had a chance to build an audience but haven't done enough. The other shows seem more solid, though if Fox saw fit to keep Bob's Burgers and Mobbed why not take a chance with Breaking In? Or why not clear the decks of all of them?
Anyway, for having a short bubble list I do think Fox has one of the least predictable ones. They could bring back all of these shows and not surprise me. Well, except for Million Dollar Money Drop.
On the Bubble: NBC
With upfronts coming next week, here's my guess as to what shows that are on the bubble will get saved and which will get the hook. This is based on this listing at The Futon Critic, with many thanks.
Saved: The Apprentice, Dateline NBC, Harry's Law, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Law & Order: SVU, Minute to Win It, Saturday Night Live
The reality pickups make some sense given the low cost to produce. The scripted show most likely to not actually get picked up is Law & Order: Los Angeles, whose mid-season reboot hasn't exactly led to an influx of new viewers.
Also, if I'm right, Harry's Law will be the only first year show to get renewed. That is not a feather in the network's cap.
Gone: America's Next Great Restaurant, Chase, Chuck, The Event, Outsourced, Parenthood, Perfect Couples, School Pride
The bar for keeping reality shows is lower than scripted shows, but the two reality shows here don't clear it. As far as the scripted stuff goes, I don't expect many of the shows on the list would be a surprise. I do expect the usual gnashing of teeth for Chuck, and it may just stave off cancellation given the lack of anything else to show. I wonder if we'll get a similar reaction for The Event, but as no one seems to know exactly what that show's about I doubt it. I do hope that its demise finally puts an end to the idea that you can put a show on ice for three or four months and have it succeed.
I'm expecting the loss of Outsourced and Perfect Couples to lead to the end of the three hour comedy experiment. I'd go with a lineup of Community, Parks and Rec, 30 Rock and The Office and a drama at 10.
Saved: The Apprentice, Dateline NBC, Harry's Law, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Law & Order: SVU, Minute to Win It, Saturday Night Live
The reality pickups make some sense given the low cost to produce. The scripted show most likely to not actually get picked up is Law & Order: Los Angeles, whose mid-season reboot hasn't exactly led to an influx of new viewers.
Also, if I'm right, Harry's Law will be the only first year show to get renewed. That is not a feather in the network's cap.
Gone: America's Next Great Restaurant, Chase, Chuck, The Event, Outsourced, Parenthood, Perfect Couples, School Pride
The bar for keeping reality shows is lower than scripted shows, but the two reality shows here don't clear it. As far as the scripted stuff goes, I don't expect many of the shows on the list would be a surprise. I do expect the usual gnashing of teeth for Chuck, and it may just stave off cancellation given the lack of anything else to show. I wonder if we'll get a similar reaction for The Event, but as no one seems to know exactly what that show's about I doubt it. I do hope that its demise finally puts an end to the idea that you can put a show on ice for three or four months and have it succeed.
I'm expecting the loss of Outsourced and Perfect Couples to lead to the end of the three hour comedy experiment. I'd go with a lineup of Community, Parks and Rec, 30 Rock and The Office and a drama at 10.
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