Ray Liotta in Smith
The fall 2006 schedule is kicking off hard and I have seen all the new shows
to date. Some I loved, some I had to change the channel a couple times,
and some are worth catching if you have the time. Unfortunately for most,
TV can't take up most of your day. Because of this, we have chosen the top
three new television series you are going to want to watch this fall.
Three Shows You Want to Watch
First up is Heroes. Though only one episode down, the new
series from NBC was able to create enough connections and establish enough
comicbook myth to draw viewers in last Monday. Though some personal relationships
and connections seemed way to easy for a pilot episode, expect the show
to dig deeper into each character as the episodes progress.
From creator/writer Tim Kring (NBC's Crossing Jordan) comes
Heroes, an epic drama that chronicles the lives of ordinary
people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities.
As a total eclipse casts its shadow across the globe, a genetics professor
(Sendhil Ramamurthy, Blind Guy Driving) in India is led
by father's disappearance to uncover a secret theory -- there are people
with super powers living among us. A young dreamer (Milo Ventimiglia, Gilmore
Girls) tries to convince his politician brother (Adrian Pasdar,
Judging Amy) that he can fly. A high school cheerleader
(Hayden Panettiere, Ice Princess) learns that she is totally
indestructible. A Las Vegas stripper (Ali Larter, Final Destination),
struggling to make ends meet to support her young son (Noah Gray-Cabey,
My Wife & Kids), discovers that her mirror image has
a secret. A fugitive from justice (Leonard Roberts, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer) continues to baffle authorities who twice have been unable
to contain him. A gifted artist (Santiago Cabrera, Empire),
whose drug addiction is destroying his life and relationship with his girlfriend
(Tawny Cypress, NBC's Third Watch), can paint the future.
A down-on-his-luck Los Angeles beat cop (Greg Grunberg, Alias)
can hear people's thoughts, which puts him on the trail of an elusive serial
killer. In Japan, a young man (Masi Oka, NBC's Scrubs)
develops a way to stop time through sheer will power. Their ultimate destiny
is nothing less than saving the world…
The marketing campaign that waged the month before the pilot aired claimed
that these characters, upon discovering that they were gifted, would unknowingly
band together to save the world. Though I figured it would take at least
two to three episodes to set up this premise, by the end of the pilot episode
we get the message; or should I say an extraordinary piece of art?
The characters in the film look great, with each one already capable of
a huge character arc; something that is so needed in today's 'good' television
dramas.
Best of all, the pilot episode hits us with not one but quite a few twists
right off the bat. Brilliant!
The next show worth checking out is Smith.
Starring Ray Liotta as a criminal mastermind, the show does something that
few have pulled off. During the pilot episode there was one little detail
that stood out most -- the characters. Using a method similar to Peter Jackson
in Lord of the Rings, the camera finds moments to concentrate
on the characters faces and reactions during the most thrilling or emotional
of moments. The effect allows us to look inside these characters and see
their true emotions or, more importantly, concerns.
The show features what I can only call the perfect B-Film ensemble including
Ray Liotta, Simon Baker, Franky G, Johnny Lee Miller and Amy Smart. In a
recent interview with EW, Liotta admitted that his reason to step
back into television -- after a brief cameo on ER -- was that television
had become 'good' again. Nice to know the picky actor knows exactly what
he is doing.
Though the second episode was not up to par with the pilot, Smith and his
team will be back working for Charlie (Shoreh Aghdashloo) in no time.
The final new show worth checking out will the third season of LOST.
What! This show isn't new, or is it?
Every season of LOST has had an agenda. The first season
could be titled 'The Island' or 'The Myth,' while the second season is definitely
titled 'The Hatch.' Judging by the show's season finale, the third season
will be 'The Others.' Each season has taken a different approach to the
story and the characters with Season 3 being no different. Well, except
for the fact that ABC plans to come out swinging.
The network took a big hit last season by LOST not making
an appearance at the 2006 Emmy Awards; though they were the big dogs the
year before. What happened? Well, it turns out that the hatch came jam-packed
with almost too much myth and more questions than answers. Fortunately for
viewers, the season finale finally proved that not only is the hatch the
real deal, but it was also the likely cause for the crash of Oceanic 815.
What hurt the second season most, however, was the constant repeats and
vacations between episodes. How can viewers get immersed in the LOST
universe if they have to take constant breaks? ABC will solve this dilemma
by promising viewers not a single repeat or break for Season 3.
That alone should strike confidence in this third go.
Of all the other new shows to premiere this fall, I was really hoping for
Jericho. The pilot, however, was just OK and seemed more
like a daytime Soap than it did a big-budget drama. The only perks I found
were the initial explosion and the ending (the thumbtack sequence). These
only somewhat made up for the awkward music played during the gunfight sequence.
One final perk on Heroes, Smith and LOST
-- They cover your Monday to Wednesday lineup. What better way to begin
the drudgery of the work week?
Stay tuned for updates.
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