Laurel’s TV Picks

Best Bets

New Kid Nation (CBS, 7pm)
Season premiere of Criminal Minds (CBS, 8pm)
Series premiere of Bionic Woman (NBC, 8pm; also on Fri on SciFi at 6pm)
Season premiere of Private Practice (ABC, 8pm)
Series premiere of Dirty Sexy Money (ABC, 9:01pm)
Series premiere of Life (NBC, 9pm; also on Sun on USA at 11pm)

News & Notes:

My husband tells me that in yesterday’s picks I said that I was “annoying” when I clearly meant “annoyed” and he thinks I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. Oops. Funny guy!

Many of the new NBC shows will get additional airings on USA, Bravo, and/or Sci-Fi. I’ll try to mention those each day that they appear.

Check out the notes and reviews for today’s new shows in the TeeVee/TB Barn Fall Guide as they’ve got useful data there.

FOX has put Nashville on hiatus; reruns of K-Ville will take over that Friday timeslot for now. When I mistakenly assumed Nashville was gonna be a competition a la America Idol, I thought it might work for FOX, but once I saw the actual show . . . um, no. Guess others felt the same way.

For daytime talk show listings for today, check out the last section in my picks for yesterday.

Primetime Grid

Primetime

I’ve decided to break Wednesday down by timeslot today, hope this helps. Usually I’ll only devote a sentence or a paragraph to each show I mention, but obviously I’ve got a lot more to say about the premieres. I’m usually less wordy.

7pm – 8pm

New episode of Kid Nation (CBS, 7pm). Did you see the first episode? If you can get past worries about how the kids were treated and just watch the show: it’s certainly a good reality show. I like these kids better than most adults you see on reality shows, that’s for sure. The hot topic of debate in this episode is whether or not to kill some of the animals for food. Yeah, I can see how that will be a divisive issue. For this particular hour of TV on Wednesday, this is what I’ll be watching.

A show named Pushing Daisies will begin airing next week on ABC Wednesdays at 7pm; I’ll cover that show next week. But I’ll tell you this much: I’ll be watching it as I liked the pilot.

If you can’t get past concerns about how Kid Nation was made, really have an allergy to reality shows of all sorts, or are just a fan of traditional sitcoms, Back To You (FOX, 7pm) is a solid option. Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton are excellent as news anchors with a complicated relationship. Fred Willard is a quirky (of course) sports anchor. There’s fallout in this episode from the revelation at the end of the first episode. The character played by Kelsey Grammer worries that his inability to take care of a goldfish will make Patricia Heaton doubt his abilities to care for people as well. Yes, you can bet there’s a replacement goldfish for the one who dies . . . or, um, many. Warning for goldfish afficianados: Goldfish die in this episode.

If you’re already a fan of America’s Next Top Model (CW, 7pm; also on Sun at 8pm) or Dancing With The Stars (ABC, 7pm), I imagine you’ll be watching one or both of those. They aren’t my cup of tea, though I enjoyed a season or two of Top Model once upon a time. Top Model does air again on Sunday nights if that works better for your schedule.

I’m not a fan of ‘Til Death (FOX, 7:30pm), but then I think I’m rubbed the wrong way because so much of the humor relies on the whole “husbands and wives don’t understand each other” school of thought. Lots of bickering. Hiding things from each other, etc. I don’t relate, but then I suppose I’m barely out of the newlywed phase (two years married). It doesn’t match up with most couples I know and I’m so very tired of this sort of situation in movies and TV shows.

8pm – 9pm

What is it about this timeslot? For years now, there have been far too many good or watchable shows on all at the same time on Wednesday night. Honestly, the 8pm timeslot on any night is usually the toughest when it comes to choosing what to watch.

The only returning show to this timeslot (for now) is Criminal Minds (CBS, 8pm). Tonight’s season premiere is actually an episode filmed late in last season, but it never aired because the network was concerned it wouldn’t play well so soon after the Virginia Tech shootings. In this episode, the team shuts down a college campus because a serial killer has been targeting women there. Shelly Cole is among the guest stars. If you were puzzled by the ads that showed Mandy Patinkin in this episode, that’s how this is possible.

Patinkin didn’t show up for work for this season of the show; the first batch of episodes were written assuming he would be there to play Gideon, the writers then had to scramble to rework the episodes without Jason Gideon (Patinkin). Patinkin has left the series, though reportedly will return for one episode at some point. Joe Montegna will be joining the cast eventually. No, I don’t know why Patinkin really left (though speculation abounds).

Much as I love Mandy Patinkin, the strength of this series has always been the writing (especially the character development). I think the show can and will still be good without Patinkin, but of course whether or not viewers will watch (especially given the steep competition in this timeslot) remains to be seen. I’ll be tuning in.

Series premiere of Bionic Woman (NBC, 8pm; also on Fri at 6pm on Sci-Fi Channel). The pilot for this show is very promising. As you’ve probably heard, this is a reimagining of Bionic Woman by some of the same folks who reinvented Battlestar Galactica. Glen Morgan (of X-FIles etc.) was originally on board, but has since left the series so that may not bode well, but it’s hard to say.

Michelle Ryan stars as this new Jaime Sommers (you may have seen Ryan in Jekyll on BBC America). She’s pretty darn good in a tough role. She plays a bartender who cares for her teenage sister; she also happens to be in love with a college professor/surgeon who has a rather big secret he’s keeping from her: he’s a genius when it comes to bionics (that’s the short version). When they’re in a car crash and she’ll surely die without his intervention, he rushes her to the secret facility where he works and turns her into a bionic woman. Jaime’s boyfriend is played well by relative newcomer Chris Bowers; his boss is played by the always excellent Miguel Ferrer (of Crossing Jordan). Other folks who work at the lab are played by Molly Price (she was “Yokas” on Third Watch) and Will Yun Lee (he was in Thief and was “Det. Woo” on Witchblade).

The true scene stealer of the pilot is Katee Sackhoff (she’s “Starbuck” on Battlestar Galactica) as the first bionic woman– let’s just say, things didn’t work out so well for her. Other familiar faces from Battlestar Galactica show up including Mark Sheppard (he recently played a lawyer on the show; SF fans also know him as “Badger” from Firefly) and Aaron Douglas (he’s “Chief Tyrol” on Battlestar Galactica). Sackhoff has signed on to be in additional episodes (she’ll also continues on BSG).

As so often is the case, it’s difficult to tell what this show will be like from week to week as the pilot is all about setting up the situation and characters. The pilot is entertaining and shows promise, but it’s hard to know where things will go from here. I’ll be tuning in to find out, though given the many shows that are on in this timeslot, I may end up tuning in to the rebroadcasts on the Sci-Fi Channel.

If you watch Grey’s Anatomy, odds are you’re interested in the season premiere of Private Practice (ABC, 8pm – 9:01pm). DVR/VCR Alert: Runs a minutes longer than is the norm. There was an episode of Grey’s Anatomy last season that served as what’s called a “backdoor pilot” for this new series. In that episode, Dr. Addison Montgomery visited a friend in L.A. and met that friend’s co-workers. In the season premiere for this show, Addison moves to L.A. to join that private practice with her friend.

Merrin Dungey played Addison’s friend in the episode of Grey’s Anatomy that introduced that character, but she’s been replaced by Audra McDonald reportedly because they wanted to take the character in another direction. Maybe they felt Dungey has played too many best friend characters (on Alias, Summerland, etc.) or possibly they were worried she’s actually an evil clone (if you don’t get the reference, nevermind). I like both Dungey and McDonald so the change doesn’t bother me, but I figured I’d better mention it ‘cuz it might confuse viewers who don’t read up on these things online. If I were to guess, I’d say that this new incarnation of the friend is more serious than the first version we met.

Kate Walsh continues to shine as Addison, though she’s definitely showing a different side of herself on this show. The cast is rounded out by some pretty good people: Taye Diggs (of Day Break, Kevin Hill), Tim Daly (of The Nine, The Fugitive, Wings), Amy Brenneman (of Judging Amy), Paul Adelstein (he was “Kellerman” on Prison Break), KaDee Strickland (of The Wedding Bells), and Chris Lowell (he was “Piz” on Veronica Mars and was also in life as we know it).

You’ll be pleased to learn that there’s no talking elevator in this episode. The first episode is decent, but not great. I’m enough of a fan of Grey’s that I’ll be tuning in for at least a little while, though I suspect I’ll miss the core family of characters we had on Grey’s in the interns. Marti Noxon (of Buffy the Vamprire Slayer is reportedly the showrunner and executive producer; other executive producers are Shonda Rhimes (creator of Grey’s), Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, and Mark Tinker.

If you aren’t a fan of Grey’s Anatomy you can certainly jump into this show without having seen any episodes of it. This show is about a very small private practice so is different from most medical dramas we’ve seen in recent years. Stacy Edwards, James Pickens Jr, and Moon Zappa guest star in the first episode.

Tonight’s new episode of Gossip Girl (CW, 8pm; also on Sun at 7pm) was written by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (both of The O.C.Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TBS, 8pm, 8:30pm, 9pm). I’m not sure I have much to say about this show, really. If you’re watching, you’ll probably continue to watch. If you’ve not tried the show, I don’t see any reason to start now.

I can’t imagine why anyone would choose to watch tonight’s new episode of Kitchen Nightmares (FOX, 8pm) instead of any of the aforementioned shows that air in this timeslot. If you like Gordon Ramsay, you’re far better of checking out Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America.

9pm – 10pm

Series premiere of Dirty Sexy Money (ABC, 9:01pm). If you’re like me, you might be expecting a rather tawdry series given the show’s title. But it’s not like that, exactly. Peter Krause (of Six Feet Under, Sports Night) stars as Nick George, a lawyer who tries to do a lot of good; he’s trying very hard not to be his Dad, who worked for one of the richest families in New York City and seemed to never have time for his real family.

The dirty sexy money comes into play when Nick’s father dies and that same rich family hires Nick to replace his father for a whole lot of (you guessed it) money. Nick wouldn’t do this, of course, if he didn’t think he could do good with that money and have the job on his own terms. But he’s quickly at the beck and call of the Darling family.

Donald Sutherland plays Tripp, the patriarch of the family, who is married to Letitia (Jill Clayburgh). Their children know Nick from when they were all kids, some like him and others most definitely do not. This group of adults and young adults are indeed a handful. Billy Baldwin plays a politician who used to be quite the playboy and now is failing to be a devoted husband. Glenn Fitzgerald plays Brian Darling, the worst Reverend ever. Samaire Armstrong (who I loved as “Anna” on The O.C.) plays the youngest daughter who seems to be a bit like Paris Hilton, though (as it turns out) not so much like her as one might think. Her twin brother is played by Seth Gabel and is (of course) prone to all sorts of trouble of his own. And then there’s the daughter played by Natalie Zea who appears to still be in love with Nick, despite having a fiance played by Daniel Cosgrove (of InJustice, Guiding Light). Yeah, that’s a big cast and I’m leaving out Nick’s wife and daughter. Blair Underwood and Candis Cayne will also have recurring roles.

The Darlings are at turns horrible and interesting and some of them seem to have good hearts (they’re just ridiculously rich and spoiled). Nick ends up trying to serve as the voice of reason and possibly even a moral compass. I’ve seen the first episode and one additional episode and found myself hooked on the show primarily because Peter Krause is so winning as Nick, because there’s an interesting mystery to drive some of the story (the less I say, the better), and also because this show is a bit different than anything else on the air right now. Fellow Vidiot Jason Snell compared it to Arrested Development, where we had Michael as the lone sane member of a rich family and it’s an apt comparison. This show manages to be a mix of comedy and drama that I find interesting.

The show was created by Craig Wright, a playwright who has also worked in television as a writer and producer on Six Feet Under, Lost, and Brothers & Sisters. Greg Berlanti is an executive producer on the show (he created Everwood, co-created Jack & Bobby, and is also an executive producer of Brothers & Sisters). I’m a big fan of Berlanti’s and if he’s involved in this show, I want to watch it. He’s great at writing family drama that’s unique and yet down-to-earth in a way that can truly move you.

Yup, I’ll be watching this one. Some folks may find the rich family too annoying, but I already found myself liking them a whole lot more after seeing one additional episode. This is a large cast to get to know in a single episode.

My fellow Vidiot Nathan Alderman has already posted an excellent review of the series premiere of Life (NBC, 9pm; also on Sun at 11pm on USA) and I highly recommend that you check it out. It’s well-written, but I also completely agree with it. So hey– he saved me from some work! Go Nathan! I usually don’t read what other critics have to say about new shows so I can give a fresh take, but I make an exception for my fellow Vidiots of TeeVee. I see enough potential in Life (and have a DirecTivo that can record two shows at once) so I’ll be recording and watching at least a couple more episodes to see if it improves and wins me over.

Blood is found on the Statue of Liberty in the season premiere of CSI: NY (CBS, 9pm). That can’t be good. This show has never won me over, despite my attempts to like it because I like the cast and like CSI original. Though I like this one better than CSI: Miami, that isn’t much of a recommendation.

Debut of a new episode of Top Chef (Bravo, 9pm, 10pm, midnight, 1am). It’ll air many many times so you can catch it at your leisure.

Another airing of this week’s new episode of Damages (FX, 10pm).

Late Night

Jamie Foxx on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 10pm and midnight).

Tony Bennett on The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, 10:30pm and 12:30am).

Jennifer Garner, Ken Burns, Chaka Khan on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 10:35pm).

Steve Carell, Madison Pettis, Bright Eyes on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC, 10:35pm).

Ted Danson, Patton Oswalt, Devendra Banhart on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 11:37pm).

Marg Helgenberger, Seth MacFarlane, the National on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS, 11:37pm).

Kyra Sedgwick, will.i.am, and the first celebrity to be eliminated from Dancing with the Stars on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, check your local listings).

Samaire Armstrong, Chamillionaire featuring Slick Rick on Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC, check your local listings).

Thursday Daytime

Jennifer Garner (of Alias), animal guy Jarod Miller, Tony Bennett on Live with Regis and Kelly (syndicated, check your local listings).

Barack Obama on The View (ABC, check your local listings).

T.R. Knight (of Grey’s Anatomy), Chris Bryant (a guy who can “jump over nine cars in a single bound”) on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

It’s “Baby Day” on Martha (syndicated, check your local listings). Kim Raver is a guest; there’s also talk of “Mommy Must Haves” and the Sweet Potato Ladies show how to make some clothes for your baby or toddler.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, when to save and when to splurge on jeans, and a takeout style meal on The Rachael Ray Show (syndicated, check your local listings).

“Tyra’s Finishing School” on The Tyra Banks Show (syndicated, check your local listings). A look at modern manners with guest Lizzie Post (great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post).

“Sick in America: It Can Happen to You” on Oprah (syndicated, check your local listings). Michael Moore faces off with “a respected insurance lobbyist” on the show. And Lisa Ling reports on the practices of some insurance companies.