Those of you that know me well will know that I love TV, so the start of the new US TV season is quite an exciting time for me. All those new shows to watch, evaluate and decide if they can or can’t fit into my regularly scheduled programming! Here are a few that have made the grade for me…
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – Smart funny rather than ha ha funny is how I’d classify this show about the day to day running of a fictional show which has an awful lot in common with Saturday Nite Live. It sets a cracking pace in the first episode when the show’s producer has a very public meltdown on the live show and follows the unfortunate, newly appointed network boss (Amanda Peet) in her efforts at damage control. Also stars Bradley Whitfield and Matthew Perry as the team bought in to turn the show around. Gee, what a shame that one of them has a drug problem and the other is in the midst of breaking up with one of Studio 60’s stars! If this show can keep the pace it’s set and maintain the quality of its writing and guest stars (Felicity Huffman was in the first ep) it’s a definite winner.
Ugly Betty – This show is a charmer and if you loved The Devil Wears Prada, this is the show for you. It’s the story of the eponymous Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) who somehow snags a job as the P.A. of the new editor of Mode fashion magazine and playboy/man about town Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius). Unfortunately, Betty has been hired by Daniel’s father (Australia’s own Alan Dale or as I’ll always remember him, Jim from Neighbours) who wants to ensure his son’s focus stays on the magazine he’s been given rather than the pretty assistants he’s been seducing. How the down to earth and somewhat naive Betty handles this superficial world and the high fashionistas it’s peopled with is hilarious and sometimes painful to watch. This show isn’t without it’s flaws and can occasionally seem cartoonish and clichéd with the awful Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa L. Williams) trying to get the better of Daniel to gain control of the magazine but Fererra plays Betty to perfection and when she’s on screen, you just can’t look away.
Heroes – Ahh, I’ve saved the best for last. What if, all over the world, some people started realising they had super powers? To fly (NYC nurse), to control time and space (Japanese geek), to see the future (NYC artist), to be indestructible (Texas cheerleader), to read people’s thoughts (LA cop). Great premise. Great show! Not just for sci fi geeks (tested it on my husband) this show is (so far) the perfect example of one of my favourite things – a good story, well told. The early episodes deal with the characters discovery of their powers and of Mohinder Suresh, who’s decided to take up the flag of his recently deceased father who was tracking the supered up gene pool. Hmm, doesn’t sound that interesting, probably could do with a villain in the mix. That’s okay – got one! With fully fleshed out characters with very human flaws and high production values this show has a feeling of grandeur and of having all the time in the world to tell its story. I sure hope so!
Weeds – Okay this one isn’t new but it hasn’t yet made it to our shores and it is not to be missed. Suburban mom of two Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) has lost her husband but is holding her family together in the suburban oasis of Agrestic by becoming the local pot dealer. Naïve Nancy’s interactions with her suppliers are as hilarious as her attempts to keep her family from falling apart are heart wrenching. Elizabeth Perkins is a scene-stealer as Nancy’s friend and PTA alpha mom but the real strength of this show is the fantastic writing and the fact that you never know what’s going to happen next. Okay, so none of these shows are actually on TV at the moment in Australia but I can pretty much guarantee that Heroes is going to be the next big thing in 2007 and hopefully Studio 60 and Ugly Betty will make the grade as well. Be patient. Or not. You’ve got a computer haven’t you?