New show reviews: Heroes, The Nine, Ugly Betty and Friday Night Lights

Apparently, the networks saved the best shows for last. The latest shows to debut this fall are by far the best of the batch. Here’s a look at Heroes, The Nine, Ugly Betty and Friday Night Lights. It’s a good year for TV, Tubers!

Heroes — If you watch one new show this fall, make it this one. Heroes is so compelling it will keep you glued to the tube for the entire hour. Heroes is the story of people who possess superpowers and are living among us: One can see the future. One can travel through time. One is invincible, and so on. The result is a strong, well-written character drama with moments of humor. In short, Tubers, it’s this year’s Lost. The breakout star of the show is the delightful Masi Oka, as Hiro Nakamura, the hero with the ability to time travel. However, the entire cast is strong, not a weak link among them. Sendhil Ramamurthy is engrossing, as the son trying to solve his father’s murder and make sense of his mysterious research on the heroes. Greg Grunberg, of Felicity fame, stars as Matt Parkman, who has the ability to read people’s thoughts. (Yes, it’s as spectacular as you’re imagining.) And I’m not sure exactly what power Ali Larter’s character, Niki Sanders, possesses, but let’s just say it gives a whole new meaning to the term “split personality.” I’m a little nervous if these folks are the ones destined to save the world, but hey, Clark Kent can’t be everywhere, people. Heroes is the only show this season to receive a perfect four-star rating from Tube Talk. (NBC, Mondays at 9 p.m. EST.)

The Nine — I loved this show, and you will, too. The Nine is the story of nine people taken hostage during a bank robbery. Don’t worry; it’s not what you think. This drama is packed full of rich characters, who we get to know through flashbacks and their actions during the 52-hour hostage crisis. The robbery forces each of them to make choices and, later, live with the consequences of those choices. Tim Daly is perfect, as always, as charming police detective Nick Cavanaugh. (Thank you ABC for getting Daly back on our screens.) Kim Raver, Scott Wolf and the rest of the cast also shine. The Nine has great potential and should be money in the bank for ABC, if viewers will commit. Miss The Nine, and you’re robbing yourself of one of the season’s best new shows. (ABC, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST.)

Ugly Betty — Betty Suarez is my new hero. This plain Jane from Queens, with disturbingly bad fashion taste, landed a job in the snobbish, cruel, cutthroat world of high fashion. Ridiculed on a daily basis for her braces, hair, wardrobe and figure, Betty doesn’t crumble. With intelligence and humility, Betty proves to her new boss Daniel (Eric Mabius) that she’s an asset he can’t afford to lose. America Ferrera is endearing and loveable as awkward Betty. Mabius is well cast, too. Despite Daniel’s player tendencies, he seems to have some redeeming qualities. He understands that Betty’s beauty may not be in her physical appearance, but in her ability to be honest, hard working and a true friend. Ugly Betty is filled with plenty of laughs, too, as you would expect. Vanessa Williams channels Cruella De Vil when portraying Wilhelmina Slater, Daniel’s nemesis. Ugly Betty is the most beautiful new comedy this season. Don’t miss it. (ABC, Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST.)

Friday Night Lights — With Kyle Chandler headlining a show, you can’t go wrong. However, if you’re not a sports fan, you may be disappointed with this new drama. Friday Night Lights chronicles the story of a small town in Texas where football is the main attraction. From little old ladies to pushy businessmen, everyone has an opinion about the team. The good townsfolk start talking on Monday morning about Friday’s game, and of course, are eager to share their advice with the new coach (Chandler.) The executive producer has said the show will be about more than football, and I hope it turns out that way. Honestly, I could have used a little less of the game in the premiere and a little more character backstory. But, I’m not giving up yet, especially after the tragic accident to the team’s quarterback that will surely cause tension in the town and with the players. I’m not sure if Friday Night Lights will be a touchdown for NBC, as it’s up against some stiff competition from Dancing with the Stars, NCIS, House, and Gilmore Girls. But if you like football, Chandler, and sports dramas, it may score with you. (NBC, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST.)

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New Show Reviews: Smith, Studio 60, Six Degrees, Jericho, Brothers and Sisters, and Men in Trees

We made it through the first big week of new-show premieres, and the good news is I haven’t seen a Head Cases yet. The bad news is, I haven’t found a new Lost or Veronica Mars either. But, this week, several more new shows debut, so I’m not giving up hope.

As always, here is the Tube Talk ratings guide. The ratings are based on having viewed only one episode of each show. So in some cases, you may want to try out the shows for a few weeks before calling it quits, as they sometimes take a few episodes to find their footing. If a show debuted this week (Sept. 17-24) but isn’t here for review, well, take that as a sign.

Ratings Guide:
Four stars — Do NOT miss this show. Use extreme measures if necessary, including hiding if visitors ring the doorbell, screening phone calls, and bribing a neighbor to record it for you if you haven’t mastered your DVR/VCR. Or just become completely irrational and don’t leave home when it’s on. (Previously rated four-star shows include Lost, Jack and Bobby, and Freaks and Geeks.)

Three stars — It’s good. Catch it if you can. (Previously rated three-star shows include Bones and Joey.)

Two stars — If you’re home with nothing to do, turn it on, but don’t waste your precious TiVo hours on it. (Previously rated two-star shows include Father of the Pride and Clubhouse.)

One star — It’s so bad you’ll want to shut off the TV and write an angry letter to the network that aired it. (Previously rated one-star shows include The Help and Head Cases.)

Smith — Thieves, killers, and eye candy all play a part in this engrossing, action-packed drama. It’s Ocean’s 11 for television, except the storylines and characters are much darker. And these bandits don’t seem to have the same knack for pulling off perfect crimes the way George Clooney and company do on the big screen. So far, the Smith gang is down one member due to a shootout— ending in a chest full of bullets for one sorry lad— and they managed to leave behind a witness who can identify the only female member of the team (Amy Smart, Felicity.) Another member of the group just got out of prison for a job that went wrong. So, they aren’t exactly smooth criminals. Simon Baker and Virginia Madsen steal the show, and I hope they’ll get more screen time. (And a special thanks to the smart exec who gave us Baker surfing in his opening scene.) The entire cast is brilliant, from Ray Liotta to Smart. However, Smith is a risky concept for television, as this is a group of thieves and murderers. That seriously hinders the likeability factor for the characters, which is usually key for a TV show to succeed. I applaud CBS for taking a chance with this daring drama. It was the best new show of the week. (CBS, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST)

Six Degrees — It’s hard to believe this dud of a drama is from TV-genius J.J. Abrams, who gave us two of TV’s greatest series ever: Lost and Felicity. Six Degrees and Abrams’ last dramatic effort, (What About Brian), have left me wondering what happened to the Abrams’ magic. Six Degrees isn’t horrible; it just isn’t memorable either. The premise of the show is that a group of strangers in New York City are somehow, by fate, all connected. In the premiere, we met the characters and watched as they tried to maneuver the rocky world of romance and life. Yawn. I was bored before the 20-minute mark. (Sorry, J.J. Don’t hate me.) You should know that not everyone feels the way I do about this show. In fact, E!Online’s Kristin Veitch loved it. (ABC, Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST)

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip —
Maybe it was the hype that had me expecting this to be the best new drama of the season. Sadly, it isn’t. I liked the show. I didn’t love it, which is unusual considering that TV-writer-extraordinaire Aaron Sorkin is behind it. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional sketch comedy TV series. (Think Saturday Night Live.) Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford are as charming as ever in their roles as a TV writer and producer, and Amanda Peet sparkles. However, the show, overall, seemed a little slow-paced and a bit flat. It lacks the charm of Sorkin’s signature show The West Wing. Considering Studio 60 is set in the world of television, I’m sure there are plenty of juicy stories to tell. I’m hoping we get to see a few of them here. My fellow critics who have seen the second episode tell me it gets better. I hope they’re right. (NBC, Mondays at 10 p.m. EST.)

---Editor's note, after viewing episode 2: My fellow critics were right. If you gave up on this show after the first week, try it again. The second and third episodes were much better, and Sorkin's signature cadence and pacing are back.

Brothers and Sisters — Calista Flockhart and Sally Field star in this family drama, heavy on the drama. It seems their mother/daughter relationship is strained at best. Make no mistake: This isn’t the Walton family. The Walkers have problems that can’t be solved within the span of an hour. The acting is top-notch in this series, but I’m not sure I care enough yet about the characters to make a weekly date with this one. I was excited that Tom Skerritt was part of the cast, but they killed him off in the premiere. Is it possible he’ll be back as a ghost, because that could get me to keep watching? I was most intrigued by Flockhart’s character, Kitty, a conservative political pundit, and her brother, Justin (Dave Annable,) a war veteran and drug addict. If you like family drama and have siblings, this one may be to your liking. (ABC, Sundays at 10 p.m. EST.)

Men in Trees — Big city girl, reeling from a break-up, moves to an isolated town in Alaska where the men outnumber women 10 to 1. OK, so the concept isn’t fresh. (We’ve seen similar versions in Ed and Northern Exposure.) But, I still enjoyed this show immensely. It’s quirky, fun and a good way to spend your Friday nights. Anne Heche plays famous writer Marin Frisk, who realizes she’s spent her whole life in relationships with men and that she needs a break. The always-perfect John Amos portrays the town’s only pilot, Buzz, and had the best line of the show. “She’s no Selleck,” he deadpanned, after hearing “celebrity” Marin speak at a public meeting. (Any show that pays tribute to Tom Selleck gets points in my book.) Viewers will recognize ER’s “Jerry” (actor Abraham Benrubi) as the town’s bartender. Men in Trees is unsteady in places. The B story of the supermodel-looking gal who happens to be a prostitute is just bizarre. But overall, the show works. Even the title is clever. The name refers to the construction sign Marin spied when she hit town that warned of “men in trees” cutting branches. However, the Darwinian metaphor isn’t lost on the audience. She’s comparing men to monkeys, one of the smartest animals in the kingdom, but still, an animal. Granted, she has just cause, considering her fiancée followed his primal urges and hooked up with another woman. Heche is enjoyable and wacky enough to sell the part. “She’s a crackpot, but I dig her,” said the town’s deejay Patrick. Yeah. Me, too. (ABC, Fridays at 9 p.m. EST.)

Jericho — If you’re fascinated with disaster shows — or Skeet Ulrich — you’ll definitely want to check out Jericho. It’s the story of a small, Kansas town that survives a nuclear attack. The drama unfolds as residents see a mushroom cloud and realize that other cities across the nation have been hit. Panic, fear and unrest hit residents, as the mayor (Gerald McRaney) tries to keep order. Ulrich is solid as the mayor’s estranged son and the reluctant hero. Jericho held my attention, but isn’t nearly as gripping as last year’s brilliant drama Invasion. ( I know, I have to let it go.) (CBS, Wednesday's at 8 p.m. EST.)

**Check back soon for Tube Talk Girl’s take on Heroes, Ugly Betty, The Nine and Friday Night Lights.

What did you think of this week's new shows? What are your favorites? Share your thoughts in our comments section.

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Psyched about “Psych”

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Let’s fact it, summer has never been the best time for TV addicts such as myself. Oh sure, every few years a gem like Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, or Dancing With the Stars comes along, but most often it’s dead air when it comes to innovative new programming. I’m happy to report that the drought will soon be over, Tubers, thanks to the USA network and its clever new show Psych.

I watched the screener for the pilot episode last week, and for the first time in months, I’m excited about TV again. Psych debuts this Friday at 10 p.m. So, if you won’t be home on Friday, set your TiVo or VCR. If you don’t have cable, do whatever you have to do — up to and including bribing your neighbors to tape it for you — but do not miss this show. Here’s why I’m psyched about Psych.

Meet Shawn Spencer, a guy with such keen observation skills, he’s convinced the local police department he’s psychic. Shawn is an unemployed, directionless, young man with a true gift for observation and snark, thanks to his demanding cop father. Shawn uses his “psychic” gift to help the police department solve crimes in his own unique way. Watching him con the cop shop and convincing his reluctant best friend Gus (Dulé Hill) to go along with the façade is a thing of beauty. It’s as if Shawn has taken manipulation and charisma lessons from Ferris Bueller.

Psych isn’t a cookie-cutter detective show. It’s character based with its own unique style of unpredictability. I think this is the first time I’ve ever watched a detective show and not figured out who the killer/bad guy was. (Thank you USA!) With its fascinating characters, clever dialogue and humorous plot twists, Psych is the most fun you’ll have in front of the television this summer.

What makes the show truly a standout is its characters and casting. James Roday is likeable as the lead, and despite that his character is sometimes morally challenged, Roday plays him with enough charm to make us root for him anyway. Hill couldn’t be more endearing as the sidekick/cautiously devoted best friend with a weak stomach. But, don’t get the wrong idea. While they’re certainly handsome, Crockett and Tubbs they aren’t. No, this dynamic duo looks more like the Geek Squad than slick detectives, when they slide into their bright blue compact car for an assignment. But hey, that cute little car suits them. It’s young, hip and fun, just like these guys. Rounding out the enigmatic cast is Corbin Bernsen as Shawn’s disapproving, yet likeable, father. Bernsen steals every scene. His character is apparently secretly proud that his son is now working as a detective, although he vehemently condemns his tactics. I can’t wait to see more of their dysfunctional relationship and possibly more flashbacks of Bernsen with hair. (What can I say, I loved his Arnie Becker on L.A. Law.)

Even the show title gets a thumbs up. It’s based on the name that Shawn gives his new detective agency: psych. Anyone who grew up in the ‘80s is familiar with the term “psych” as another word for “gotcha.” (I used it frequently during my junior high years.) When Gus voices his concern that people will know that Shawn is hoodwinking them because of the name on the agency door, he counters that, “The best way to convince people you’re not lying to them is to tell them you are.” I love it. And so will you.

Whether you interpret Psych as “gotcha” or as a shortcut for psychic, there is no mystery here. USA can’t hide the truth. This is the best new show of the summer. And no, there is no “psych” after that statement.

Note: The debut episode is 90 minutes long, so adjust your VCR/TiVos. Regular episodes are 60 minutes.

For those of you who can’t wait for Friday or just want to join in the online fun, go to the official Web site. You can watch a video preview and interviews with the cast, ask “psychic” Shawn a question, read Gus’ blog and chat on the message boards. The network is airing behind-the-scenes footage, karaoke with Shawn and Gus, bloopers and webisodes at the site. I love it when networks make television interactive and don’t ignore their online audience/critics. Bravo!

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Love Monkey is quirky new drama

January 25, 2006

Ed’s Tom Cavanagh is back. He traded in Stuckeyville and his small town, bowling-alley-lawyer gig to be a music talent scout in New York City.

New York City? Yep. And he’s got a whole new set of pals. His best friend’s name is Mike, just like it was on Ed. (How funny is that?) Jason Priestley, of Beverly Hills 90210, plays Mike, who happens to be married to Tom’s sister. His other best friend is female - and hot. She and Tom have a Joey/Dawson dynamic going, with the banter and soul-baring scenes. I’m certain she’s supposed to be his love monkey, at some point in the future.

The rest of Tom’s pals complement his personality well and offer plenty of humorous moments, such as this gem known as “Grant’s Law.” It means that men can never be satisfied. (It’s named for actor Hugh Grant, who was busted picking up a hooker, despite dating supermodel Elizabeth Hurley.)

Tom is Ed-like, in that he wants to do his own thing and do it his way. He’s also a bit of a music snob. He loves Bob Dylan, but dissed Air Supply and Jewel. (I forgive him anyway.)

The show also gets points for casting Ivana Milicevic. Felicity fans will recognize her as Sensa, the Russian mob chick. The TV geek in me couldn’t help but laugh that her first word to Tom was “Hey”, perhaps a clever homage to Felicity’s trademark phrase. (OK, so maybe the Felicity nod was only in my own twisted mind, but it made me laugh.)

Even if the show gets canned, young musician Teddy Geiger, one of Tom’s clients, is going to be a breakout star. That voice is amazing.

I liked Love Monkey. That’s a sure sign it’s doomed.

Catch Love Monkey Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS.

Tube talk girl can be reached by e-mail at jennifer@tube-talk.com.

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