The Idiot Box: TV Season 2011/2012

[Crafty_Pat]

<insert standard rant about region-locking content> 

Sorry man. That's the only format I've found it in.

[Sletchman]

I enjoyed the Finder. Didn't feel like much like a Fox show though. Some have said it would have done better on the USA network.

I enjoyed it too.  It was also a shame it was played hugely out of order.  Stupid Fox.  Seriously, how hard is it to count to 13 from 1?  According to Fox, very, since they broadcast out of order a lot.

Anyone watching Touch? Should I check out the first season?

I've been watching it, and think it's pretty neat.  I'd say check out the first few episodes and see if you like it - worst case scenario you waste like 2 hours of your time.

Has anyone heard if Breakout Kings is getting a 3rd season?  It's the only show I watch (that I can think of) that hasn't been either officially renewed or cancelled (and after the 2nd season, I really hope it gets renewed).

[foproy]

dunno, i am catching up on the glades. like the show so far. not my favorite on tv but can hold me over till i find some more stuff.

[Sletchman]

First up, the first footage for Revolution, which is looking pretty interesting, if a bit rough.

I just love the 1:00 transition in that first vid. Fantastic use of evocative imagery and compelling voice-over. After that... Well, like I said, it feels a bit rough - more like a proof of concept piece than an official trailer. Hopefully the finished product will reflect the potential. The full clips are a lot better, which gives me hope.

Colour me intrigued.  Very intrigued.  So "Fall" means like September-November lineup, right?

[Mister Andersen]

It feels a lot like Jeremiah crossed with Jerrico

[Crafty_Pat]

I enjoyed it too.  It was also a shame it was played hugely out of order.  Stupid Fox.  Seriously, how hard is it to count to 13 from 1?  According to Fox, very, since they broadcast out of order a lot.

I'd bet a (good) turkey sandwich that focus groups and executive "gut calls" following dailies have more to do with this than anything else.

[Crafty_Pat]

Colour me intrigued.  Very intrigued.  So "Fall" means like September-November lineup, right?

Presumably. I haven't taken a very close look at the NBC schedule.

A quick Googling later and the answer is yes.

[vardeman]

Wanna see the first half hour of Tron: Uprising?

You know you do.

Nothing there but a 0:00 length titiled nothingness.

V

[Desertpuma]

So it's upfronts week, when the insane flurry of TV news descends on the land like a swarm of deranged locusts. I'm obviously way too busy this year to pay very close attention but I'm scanning the headlines and will be posting the most interesting bits I find here, and maybe elsewhere.

First up, the first footage for Revolution, which is looking pretty interesting, if a bit rough.

I just love the 1:00 transition in that first vid. Fantastic use of evocative imagery and compelling voice-over. After that... Well, like I said, it feels a bit rough - more like a proof of concept piece than an official trailer. Hopefully the finished product will reflect the potential. The full clips are a lot better, which gives me hope.

I'm liking it already...

[Crafty_Pat]

Nothing there but a 0:00 length titiled nothingness.

Interesting. It was there yesterday. I watched it.

[VisualStatic]

Nothing there but a 0:00 length titiled nothingness.

Interesting. It was there yesterday. I watched it.

I just watched it without issue.

[Crafty_Pat]

I just watched it without issue.

Huh. I wasn't able to a bit ago but it's live again now. Must have been a web burp.

[Crafty_Pat]

Is it just me or has this year's upfront week been rather dull? Very little drama on the back end, very few surprises, and not a lot of inventive or breakout programming. Shame.

Anyway, here's what the schedule looks like right now...

(click to show/hide)

...and here's a bunch of teasers for ABC's line-up. Like much of  this year's crop, it's mostly uninspired, though I gotta give it up to Last Resort. The logline makes this show sound completely ludicrous...

"500 feet beneath the ocean's surface, the U.S. ballistic missile submarine Colorado receives their orders. Over a radio channel, designed only to be used if their homeland has been wiped out, they're told to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan. Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) demands confirmation of the orders only to be unceremoniously relieved of duty by the White House. XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) finds himself suddenly in charge of the submarine and facing the same difficult decision. When he also refuses to fire without confirmation of the orders, the Colorado is targeted, fired upon, and hit. The submarine and its crew find themselves crippled on the ocean floor, declared rogue enemies of their own country. Now, with nowhere left to turn, Chaplin and Kendal take the sub on the run and bring the men and women of the Colorado to an exotic island. Here they will find refuge, romance, and a chance at a new life, even as they try to clear their names and get home. From executive producer/writer Shawn Ryan (The Shield, The Unit, The Chicago Code) and Executive producer/writer Karl Gajdusek comes this dramatic new international action-thriller about treachery, treason, and nuclear brinksmanship. LAST RESORT contemplates establishing of a new society in the modern world, and character becomes everything when unthinkable decisions must be made."

Still, it's by Shawn Ryan (creator of The Shield), and has a pretty awesome cast, so I didn't immediately dismiss it when that description hit the web. Now, with that teaser, it actually might have some potential. Maybe. It's certainly the best of ABC's teasers for the year IMO.

Oh, and TNT released a development slate, which means very little except to offer a glimpse at a few shows that may, one day, make it to air (and a whole lot more that won't). Still, there's some mildly interesting stuff in there, like this...

"The Last Ship – In this exciting action/adventure project based on the popular novel by William Brinkley, the crew of a naval destroyer is forced to confront the reality of a new existence when a pandemic decimates most of the earth’s population. Michael Bay (Transformers) intends to direct the pilot if it is green lit. Executive Producers: Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, Andrew Form, Hank Steinberg (showrunner and writer) and Steve Kane (writer). Production Company: Platinum Dunes."

Sound familiar? Seems like we found our season trend, or at least one of them.

Spycraft groups might get some mileage out of this if it makes it to air...

"Tom Clancy’s Homeland Security – This event-based procedural written by Javier Grillo-Marxuach and set in Tom Clancy’s world of espionage pits a select team of domestic intelligence operatives against enemies within and without, from narco-traffickers and nuclear terrorists to cyber-criminals and human smugglers. Executive Producers: Tom Clancy, Michael Ovitz, Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Chris George."

The rest of it? Like I said, meh.

[foproy]

what is it with these cable shows having some of the most blatant advertising in them. the glades with kia, burn notice and hyundai and eureka has degree. i am not sure about others but to me some of this stuff can disconnect me from an otherwise good show.

[Crafty_Pat]

what is it with these cable shows having some of the most blatant advertising in them. the glades with kia, burn notice and hyundai and eureka has degree. i am not sure about others but to me some of this stuff can disconnect me from an otherwise good show.

It's the next step, honestly. I didn't find the Eureka Degree deal to be too distracting - and as far as I can tell it only appeared in a couple/few episodes - but there is a line and we're fast approaching it.

IMO it's all about the slow death of TV as we know it. In 10 years, I suspect we'll be watching a lot more stuff via a la carte digital subscription than through broadcast waves (which for reasons of national security and health can't legally go away entirely).