In the TV world, you're only as strong as your competition and with the scheduling choices made by the broadcast networks last week, there will be plenty of competition as shows try to grab an audience. Especially for new shows, the first few weeks of the TV season are crucial in determining which shows can break out and which ones will cling to life before October is even over. Below, I'll be taking a look at the schedules across all networks on a night-by-night basis to predict the fortunes of this fall's schedules.
TUESDAYS 8-9 PM ABC: "The Muppets" & "Fresh Off the Boat" CBS: "NCIS" Fox: "Grandfathered" & "The Grinder" NBC: "The Voice" The CW: "The Flash"
There's no doubt that, in this timeslot, "NCIS" dominates in total audience numbers and "The Voice" takes the 18-49 demographic. Still, the networks have put up valiant efforts in their new schedules. The only show returning to its original timeslot here (besides "NCIS" and "Voice") is The CW's breakout hit, "The Flash." In it's first season, the show became a critical and (at least on a CW-scale) ratings smash, so of course the network wasn't going to move what is arguably it's biggest show. It appeals to a younger demographic that "NCIS" doesn't and that doesn't have interest in a reality-competition show like "The Voice." Fox had major difficulty filling this timeslot last year, so this year they're taking a bet on their two biggest comedy pilots, headlined by big TV stars John Stamos and Rob Lowe. Additionally, both shows have solid buzz and could attract a comedy crowd that is underserved. The only problem is that the comedy crowd will actually have plenty to choose from now that ABC is sticking with a comedy block in this timeslot. However, unlike last year's failed one-two punch of "Selfie" and "Manhattan Love Story," ABC is sticking with a major brand name and a returning sophomore show. ABC's new "Muppets" show has potential to be a very big hit for the network and could be the likeliest option for families (although Fox's "Grandfathered" could also do well with families). With a recognizable name and general love for those characters, it's hard to imagine the show won't at least do decent business. "Fresh Off the Boat" anchored Tuesdays in the winter and spring for ABC and did a good job, given the hard competition. The show's audience should only grow given the substantial lead-in it'll get from "Muppets." A combo of strong veterans and buzzy newcomers ensures that every network should see some degree of success in this timeslot. 9-10 PM
ABC: "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" CBS: "NCIS: New Orleans" Fox: "Scream Queens" NBC: "Heartbreaker" The CW: "iZombie"
As in the hour earlier, three networks stuck to their guns in the 9-10 hour on Tuesdays. ABC with "SHIELD," CBS with the "New Orleans" NCIS spinoff and The CW's newcomer "iZombie" all held the timeslot this year (although "iZombie" only occupied the spot for the last two and a half months of the year). Each of these shows saw some degree of success. With the shift from 8 to 9 for "SHIELD," ratings slid, but the show was still a solid performer for the network. The "NCIS" spinoff worked well behind the flagship series, and "iZombie," while not as solid as other newcomers like "Jane the Virgin" and "The Flash," held up well on its own. Meanwhile, at Fox and NBC, two comedy blocks faced low ratings and a lack of buzz. Fox's "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project" didn't pull in great ratings in the timeslot, while NBC's "Marry Me" and "About a Boy" didn't register much of a pulse and were pulled from the schedule by midseason. With three out of those four shows getting axed ("New Girl" is being held for midseason, although "Mindy" was recently picked up by Hulu), the networks needed new shows to fill in this timeslot. Given the testosterone-heavy "SHIELD" and "NCIS: NO," it's no surprise networks went with shows that might more heavily appeal to women. On NBC, "Heartbreaker" looks to be an heir to the "Grey's Anatomy" throne of primetime medical soap operas, which could either be a good thing (if it's a good show) or a bad thing (if it's not). The show will actually need to be, you know, good if it wants to attract an audience. On Fox, it's likelier that their new show will find more of an audience as it is the latest Ryan Murphy creation, "Scream Queens." With a cast filled with stars and a producer who has a pretty good track record, plus the inventive storyline, it's plausible that "Scream Queens" will be one of the buzziest new shows of the fall, and that could draw a major crowd to the network, especially younger viewers who are disinterested in "SHIELD" and "New Orleans." 10-11 PM
ABC: "Quantico" CBS: "Limitless" NBC: "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" ("Chicago Fire" in November)
Whereas stability defines the networks' schedules earlier in the evening, the three 10 PM programming channels are trying out new shows in the timeslot. Yes, "Chicago Fire" returns in November, but for two months before that, NBC is betting on live entertainment from Neil Patrick Harris. Given the format of the show and the star power of it's titular personality, I would at the very least expect good ratings for the first episode or two. From there, it depends on if the show is actually special. As for "Quantico" and "Limitless," the two shows have a little bit of action and a lot of drama, yet "Quantico" looks like it might appeal to a younger audience. Still, "Limitless" has the promise of Bradley Cooper in a recurring role, which could just be enough to attract a sizable audience. If the show's are good, they could all equally succeed here. But at the same time, if the quality isn't there for all three shows, this could be one low-rated hour of TV.
In the TV world, you're only as strong as your competition and with the scheduling choices made by the broadcast networks last week, there will be plenty of competition as shows try to grab an audience. Especially for new shows, the first few weeks of the TV season are crucial in determining which shows can break out and which ones will cling to life before October is even over. Below, I'll be taking a look at the schedules across all networks on a night-by-night basis to predict the fortunes of this fall's schedules. First, we'll start with Monday nights...
MONDAYS 8-9 PM:
ABC: "Dancing with the Stars" CBS: "The Big Bang Theory" & "Life in Pieces" ("Supergirl" in November) Fox: "Gotham" NBC: "The Voice" The CW: "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
For years now, this timeslot's greatest war has been between "Dancing" and "Voice," arguably the two biggest reality-competition shows on broadcast television (sorry, "American Idol"). Then last year, things got shaken up a bit when the most-watched show on television, "The Big Bang Theory," moved back to its original Monday night slot while CBS broadcast NFL games on Thursday nights for the first two months of the season. Additionally, Fox was launching it's biggest bid at a hit, the Batman-based "Gotham," in the same timeslot. Suddenly, putting "Big Bang" and "Gotham" in competition with "Dancing" and "Voice" wasn't just a timeslot war - it was a bloodbath. Each show succeeded in its own right, and although "Dancing" and "Voice" ratings slipped a bit, they still attracted major audiences. Once "Big Bang" moved back to Thursday nights, the dust cleared a little bit. However, the same process is going to start up again at the beginning of this season. How will things work out this time? I'm expecting much of the same -- "Big Bang" draws a big, broad audience as it is one of the most popular shows on television, and it's the likeliest option for those not interested in reality-competition shows. "Life in Pieces," assumingly, will hold onto a good portion of the "Big Bang" audience, so unless it is a terrible show that people have no interest in watching, it'll do just fine. "Dancing" and "Voice" will have their loyal audiences, and that's not going to change anytime soon, even as the former enters what will be its twenty-first season this fall. "Gotham" slipped a bit from its initial premiere numbers, but kept a steady and dedicated audience. Those numbers don't seem to be at potential to slip when the show comes back. The only potential loser in this timeslot? The CW's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," which, while tonally unique and definitely unlike anything else on TV, will have a big uphill battle for success. Last fall, The CW slotted "The Originals" here, and it's ratings dropped slightly from the previous season when it aired on Tuesdays. But that show came in with one season under its belt and a fan base already established. The same cannot be said for "Crazy," which is going to need to find an audience to support it. Otherwise, it is going to be caught up in the dust surrounding much bigger players here. Finally, there's one factor that needs to be discussed - the November arrival of "Supergirl." Once "Big Bang" and "Life in Pieces" move to Thursdays after football is done, CBS will slot it's biggest pilot of the season in this Mondays at 8 timeslot. "Supergirl" comes with huge brand awareness and a lot of buzz that will likely only grow throughout the summer and beginning of the fall season. That's not great news for the other networks, who thought they might get a break once "Big Bang" moved away from Mondays, since "Supergirl" certainly has breakout potential. It might be a little too early to judge there, but since ratings for reality-competition shows tend to be at their strongest in the beginning of the season before weaning off as the end draws near, that could boost "Supergirl" to be big.
9-10 PM: ABC: "Dancing with the Stars" CBS: "Scorpion" Fox: "Minority Report" NBC: "The Voice" The CW: "Jane the Virgin"
The arguments above for "Dancing" and "Voice" stay true here, although their competition isn't as strong as "Big Bang." Still, the arrival of "Big Bang" on Mondays last year did help boost ratings for "Scorpion," which became a hit for CBS. The audience for "Scorpion" is likely to remain in tact, except the fact that Fox has slotted a new show in the timeslot that "Sleepy Hollow" occupied last fall, and this one threatens to take a chunk out of the "Scorpion" audience. Whereas "Scoprion" was detrimental to "Sleepy" last year, "Minority Report" could do the same to "Scorpion" this year as they both cater to the same audience. Additionally, "Minority Report" has a recognizable title and is Fox's big bet on a hit this season. Again, "Dancing" and "Voice" won't be too hurt by their competitors, but "Scorpion" and "Minority" are definitely going to battle this fall. And on a smaller scale, "Jane the Virgin" was not a ratings powerhouse, but did become a breakout hit amongst critics. As audiences find the show over the summer, it's possible the ratings could see a slight boost this fall, although being on The CW, that doesn't mean the show is going to start pulling in ratings to rival the other networks.
10-11 PM:
ABC: "Castle" CBS: "NCIS: Los Angeles" NBC: "Blindspot"
This is more of the same except that NBC has a new show slotted here that, as tends to be a trend for Mondays this season, has potential to be a big hit for them. Last year, NBC started the season with "The Blacklist" in this slot, before moving it in November and welcoming the short-lived "State of Affairs," which did not attain the success that "Blacklist" did in that timeslot during its freshman season. What does that tell us? The show actually needs to be good to attract ratings. So it's possible that the success of "Blindspot" will depend on if it is actually a good show (if only that is how ratings worked for all shows!). The "Castle" and "NCIS: LA" audiences are loyal to their shows for the most part, so "Blindspot" will need to find its own audience for success. The lead-in from "The Voice" will surely help, but I think the key here is that it just needs to be a good show. If it is, it'll do solid business here.
I'll be back later this week to continue posting time-slot wars for other nights of the week!
It's a huge week in the world of television as the broadcast networks are announcing their schedules for the upcoming television season. While you wait to see if our favorite shows stick to their regular time slots, the real excitement is coming in watching the trailers for shows that could end up being a part of your TV viewing routine come September. All week long, in conjunction with announcing their schedules, the networks have been uploading previews of their new shows. Below, I'll be providing some commentary on these trailers and giving a verdict of "WATCH IT," "DVR IT," or "SKIP IT." Let's take a look at the shows vying to be your newest obsession this fall:
NBC Blindspot (Mondays at 10PM)
"Blindspot" has been hyped as NBC's best pilot of the year, which then makes sense why they would put it behind "The Voice," the network's highest rated show. That spot launched big hits like "Revolution" (well, at least that first season) and "The Blacklist" (at least for the first season and a half, until the show moved to anchor NBC's Thursday nights). It makes sense then why "Blindspot" would be put here if NBC has faith in it, but some of the similarities to "The Blacklist" also help the matter: there is a central mysterious figure who holds a bunch of clues to solving mysteries, each episode seemingly focusing on a new one. Granted, that is a bit of a stretch, but "Blindspot" looks like it will have a different case every week with the overarching story of finding out why and how this woman got to be covered in these tattoos that hold all of these secrets. I think the buzz behind this one, in addition to the post-"Voice" slot, at least warrants checking out the first episode. There's not too much star power in front of the camera, but executive producer Greg Berlanti is a reliable force in the world of TV. WATCH IT. Heartbreaker (Tuesdays at 9PM)
The tagline for this NBC medical drama starring Melissa George details her character as "an outspoken world-renowned surgeon" who, in addition to her high-stress job, "revels in a racy personal life that's a full-time job in itself." Luckily for this trailer, there isn't too much of that eyeroll-worthy "personal life" crap here. Sure, she's making out with Dave Annable while also (maybe?) flirting with another co-worker, but the main focus here is the job, which takes a little bit of the bite out of those "Grey's Anatomy" comparisons. That's not to say that the show doesn't possibly go down that road, but the trailer is focused on the medical side instead. That said, the show just doesn't look entirely...interesting. George looks like she'll be good, but isn't she always? Annable was a bright spot on the short-lived "Red Band Society" last year on Fox, but hopefully his new role isn't just a do-over of that. Again, as above with "Blindspot," "Heartbreaker" is getting a slot behind "The Voice," albeit the lower-rated Tuesday installment. In the past, NBC has attempted to launch comedies in this slot, so putting "Heartbreaker" here either means they have no comedies worth putting in the slot, or they have faith in "Heartbreaker." It's at least worth a shot, so I say DVR IT. Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris (Tuesdays at 10PM)
Okay, so this isn't really a preview at all of Neil's show, but that's because "Best Time Ever" is a live variety show. NBC is making a huge push into live entertainment, and it makes sense that they'd frontier that movement with one of the most versatile performers of the moment, Neil Patrick Harris, at the helm. We know he can dance, act, and sing, and we know he can be dramatic and comedic. That said, we don't really know what the show is going to look like. There will probably be big musical numbers, funny sketches, and pre-taped bits. At the very least, we can hope it's better than the latest season of "Saturday Night Live." For the singular reason that this is a big experiment that could either be really great or really bad, I say WATCH IT, at least for the first two or three episodes, before making a season-long decision. Heroes Reborn (Thursdays at 8PM)
Back in the day, I loved me some "Heroes." The first season is brilliant. Who didn't love "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World"? Of course, after that first season, things got kind of wonky and the show's popularity sank pretty quickly. Still, the idea of a "Heroes" reboot is kind of enticing. Bringing back Jack Coleman as HRG (if you watched the original, you know who that is) is a good bridge to the original series, and Zachary Levi is a welcome face to the show. Still, we don't really know a lot about this reboot as indicated by the super brief preview above. We don't know if "Heroes Reborn" is going to require the knowledge of the original series (and if you haven't seen it, it's on Netflix), so I'll say WATCH IT if you watched "Heroes," but cautiously await details about the reboot if you're unfamiliar with the original show (but get ready to love the first season). The Player (Thursdays at 10PM)
After NBC was able to pull of the transition of "The Blacklist" from Mondays at 10 to Thursdays at 9, it makes sense that they're taking this season to build up that show's surroundings. The "Heroes" reboot comes with an audience from the pre-existing series and its action tendencies mix well with "The Blacklist." Leading out of NBC's biggest scripted series would need to be a show that keeps up the high-octane action of those other two shows. Well, "The Player" certainly fits the bill and the trailer does a great job of assuring that. There's enough action in this two and a half minute preview to make one imagine this series could easily be retitled "Fast and Furious: The TV Series." However, we get some plot here: security mastermind is pulled into a high-stakes world of betting on crime on the grounds of getting revenge for the murder of his wife. It's oh so ridiculous, but it looks oh so fun, kind of like the "Fast and Furious" movies, and to a certain extent, "The Blacklist." NBC is smart to play up the action here as it will likely attract a largely male audience that needs direct catering if they're not interested in this show's biggest competition, ABC's "How to Get Away with a Murder." If you're going to need to pick between those two, then you're going to to have to go with the ABC legal soap because you won't want to miss those crazy twists live. As for "The Player," DVR IT unless "HTGAWM" isn't your thing and you're into shows that are less about story and more a visual treat. People are Talking (Fridays at 8:30PM)
The trailer for "People Are Talking" makes you wonder if NBC execs accidentally ordered the show, needed to slot it somewhere, and picked Friday nights to let the show wander off into the sunset. Launching a new comedy show on a Friday night is not only a risky move, but when the show looks as mediocre as "People Are Talking," it makes sense why they wouldn't waste their time putting it on another night during the week. Obviously, being paired up with the new all-live season of "Undateable" required another half-hour on the schedule, but I'm thinking NBC didn't want to put one of their strong comedy pilots on a Friday night, so instead they picked a weak one. That explains how "People Are Talking" got here. Yes, Mark-Paul Gosselaar is a bit of a sitcom star, but he's not exactly a big draw. Neither is the set-up for the show. The only upswing is that it's got a diverse cast, but the same old sitcom tropes are prevalent here: a bickering couple, misplaced prejudice, the "hot babysitter," and so on. The only problem is it doesn't look like a fresh take on any of that. Still, as goes with my predictions for all of these shows, I could be wrong but...I'm pretty sure I'm right on this one. SKIP IT.
As far as midseason shows go, NBC did not provide trailers for those new series, so we'll move forward to the next network. Fox Minority Report (Mondays at 9PM)
Fox's pilot season was lauded for the number of sci-fi/horror shows that were considered, and the series picked up reflect that handily. Of those pilots, "Minority Report" comes in with the most buzz as it is based on the popular Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise. I've never seen the movie, but the trailer does look like it makes for an enticing series. Stylistically, this looks really cool - the futuristic setting looks vibrant, although it seems to take itself very seriously. It doesn't look like a "fun" show, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It looks like the network will gamble on the sci-fi genre, as well as the relationship between the two main characters here, portrayed by Stark Sands and Meagan Good (who really deserves to be on a hit show). The storyline seems intriguing with more than enough material for a season's worth of storylines, and it seems like Fox is betting big on this show. WATCH IT, it has potential to be the biggest breakout show of the season amongst all networks. Grandfathered (Tuesdays at 8PM)
Boasting an ensemble with more than a few recognizable faces, "Grandfathered" has potential to be a successful show for Fox. The premise is a bit tired, sure, but it looks like the strength of the show will come from the ability of the ensemble to play off of each other and shine. Luckily, the cast looks pretty promising with a legitimately charming John Stamos leading the charge. Josh Peck, Paget Brewster, Christina Millian, Kelly Jenrette, and Ravi Patel complete the rest of the ensemble, and from the looks of the trailer, they're doing a good job of setting up these characters playing off of one another. While one can hope the restaurant scenes aren't too removed from the "family" scenes, the trailer gives off a bit of a "Raising Hope" vibe, which should be taken as a compliment. I think Stamos can attract a certain audience to the show, but it seems like the ensemble will make people stick around. WATCH IT and hope that I'm right about that call. The Grinder (Tuesdays at 8:30PM)
Much like "Grandfathered" before it, "The Grinder" boasts a great ensemble led by a TV veteran who looks made for the role. The set-up is pretty clever, almost as if were a male version of "Legally Blonde" where Elle decides to become a lawyer not because of an ex-boyfriend, but because of her family's career paths. The TV show within a show sets things up nicely, and Lowe is just the right person to pull off the role of the naive brother who thinks his skills as an actor will aid him in the real world. It's totally unbelievable, but Lowe is the right person to sell it. Fred Savage as his brother is the perfect antithesis to all of that and he also looks very funny here. William Devane, Natalie Morales, and Mary Elizabeth Ellis are all fine actors that will add to this cast. It's pretty surprising when a network builds a comedy block of two new shows back-to-back. It's even more surprising when both of those shows have a legitimate shot at being successful. It might just happen with "Grandfathered" and "The Grinder." WATCH IT? I think yes. Scream Queens (Tuesdays at 9PM)
Arguably the most anticipated Fox show this fall, the network has not made a full trailer available for this Ryan Murphy-produced horror comedy. This short thirty-second teaser will suffice for now. With minimal footage to judge, it's hard to get a sense of how good the show will be, but I'll try and give you a hint of where this could go based off of three facts. One, "Scream Queens" is an envelope-pushing horror anthology show, and the first season is based around a college campus that is the site of a series of murders. Second, producer Ryan Murphy's shows are often very divisive, but there's no denying that early seasons of his other shows like "Glee" and "American Horror Story" stood out for being unique and unrivaled in terms of buzz. Finally, here's a comprehensive listing of the cast of "Scream Queens": Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lea Michele, Abigail Breslin, Keke Palmer, Ariana Grande, Nasim Pedrad, Nick Jonas, Oliver Hudson, Niecy Nash, Diego Boneta, and Skyler Samuels. Yeah, you're definitely gonna want to WATCH IT. UPDATED: A new, full length-trailer has been released today that gives a better sense of the plot and tone. Basically everything I stated above remains true, and the trailer hints at a unique balance of humor and horror. If it's evocative of the cult classic "Scream" franchise, which also rode that line, this should be quite good. At the very least, it's going to be good campy fun that we've come to expect from Ryan Murphy. Enjoy the new trailer! Rosewood (Wednesdays at 8PM)
It makes absolute sense why Fox would pick up "Rosewood" and slot it here. For one, it serves as a nice lead-in for "Empire" as both shows have a very diverse cast. Second, "Rosewood" is a light and fun show by the looks of the preview that'll compliment the twisty, outrageous world of "Empire" right after it. It's like a fun appetizer before teh entree. Unfortunately, I might just skip right to the main course. It's not that "Rosewood" looks terrible, it just doesn't look great. It looks like a permissible show that will probably have decent ratings as it leads into the biggest show on broadcast TV at the moment. The whole quirky outsider teaming up with the detective has been done again and again, so the show isn't highly original. Morris Chestnut looks good, but I'm not drawn in enough to say I want to watch every week. This could turn out to be a fun little show, but I'm gonna SKIP IT for now, with the chance to come back later if it turns out to be more fun-filled than corny. Bordertown (Midseason)
The less I say about this show, the better. If you enjoy shows like "Family Guy" and "Bob's Burgers," you'll probably want to WATCH IT. If you're like me though and don't watch these shows, this probably won't be the one to turn you onto them, so you can SKIP IT. The Frankenstein Code (Midseason)
As the title insinuates, this is essentially a modern twist on the Frankenstein fable and with that built in awareness, the show could attract an audience. Just as easily though, it could flop. Why's that? Based on the trailer, it just looks okay and okay isn't really going to cut it. It's hard to really understand what's going to drive the show going forward since a lot of the action happens in the first episode, and the trailer doesn't really hint at that either. What is slightly encouraging is that Michael Cuesta and Howard Gordon, two of the men that launched "Homeland," are at the helm again on this project. But with this trailer, I don't immediately get the feeling that this should be something I watch, and for that, I'm likely going to SKIP IT. Lucifer (Midseason)
I imagine that half of the past that watch the trailer for "Lucifer" will have a reaction of, "That looks like it's going to be a great show!" The other half will likely finish the preview by proclaiming, "This looks like complete garbage." Where do I stand? I'm a little torn. On the one hand, I think this could be something special. Tom Ellis looks suave, slimy, and (forgive the pun) devilishly charming in his lead role as Lucifer. His chemistry with the lead detective (played by Lauren German) looks fun in an odd couple kind of way. The set-up is certainly unique and the idea of the devil running around ruining everyone's lives on Earth is funny in a messed up fashion. On the other hand, this could also be a disaster. The idea works to a certain extent, and I was with the trailer until around 1:20 when the angel(?) figure appeared. The other-worldly elements of the show will be something that needs to be tamed. Additionally, I can't figure out if the show is about Lucifer and the detective teaming up to solve crimes or if it's about his journey on Earth with the detective around for fun. It's ambitious, but I think it can be done. In a way, this reminds me of a show from many years ago on The CW called "Reaper." If "Lucifer" can pull off this story in the way "Reaper" did, it'll be worth it. But let's wait to see if the show is going to get there or not. In the meantime, DVR IT. ABC The Muppets (Tuesdays at 8PM)
Is this the funniest comedy preview of the week? No, probably not. But is it the one that makes me smile the most? Indeed, it might be. And why is that? It's for the same reason that ABC went ahead and launched the show and it's all right in the title: the Muppets. These characters are beloved, and they've always been a little self-aware, so it kind of makes sense that they'd launch a television show that uses a lot of the conventional TV comedy ideas while referencing to them. And what makes it funnier is that these are characters we already know and love (or at least like). We know Miss Piggy is a big diva, and that's why you just start laughing as soon as she appears on screen. That's just one example, but it works. What the trailer doesn't really dive into is how they'll blend in the live actors with the Muppets, but I guess that's not something we need to know right away since it's these puppets we're going to want to watch for anyway. I think this was a very smart move for ABC - this is the closest I think we've seen to a pure family comedy on broadcast television in some time, yet there are definitely jokes aimed at the adults. In that respect, it mirrors a lot of modern animated films and that formula should work for a TV show. Airing at 8 means it's still early enough for families to watch together before the kids go to bed, and with the built-in awareness of these characters, that'll be enough to keep the audience's attention. I just hope that the show actually is as good as the preview seems to suggest, and if it is, there's no reason this shouldn't be a success. WATCH IT. Quantico (Tuesdays at 10PM)
"Quantico" is slotted to air right after "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" and you can pretty much see why in the trailer, with the espionage theme running through both series. What makes "Quantico" interesting, though, is the shades of "Grey's Anatomy" running through it. You get the impression that these young agents are kind of the original interns from season one of "Grey's," getting to know each other, personally and professionally, while at work together. And interestingly enough, "Quantico" also seems to get some inspiration from another ABC show, "How to Get Away with Murder," with flash-forwards to the day of a devastating event. In this case, it's a terrorist attack, and the series sets itself up as the ensemble begins to learn about each other, giving audience's clues to piece together the mystery set up in the first episode. I'd be lying if I said this didn't look a little bit intriguing, so I'll say WATCH IT and hope that it lives up to what turned out to be a pretty promising trailer. Dr. Ken (Fridays at 8:30PM)
Ken Jeong is certainly a hit or miss comedian. You love him or you don't. I tolerate him, and here, he seems to have turned down the vulgarity (which makes sense for an ABC family comedy), but the focus around him with his family and co-workers as supporting characters is too much Ken for this viewer. There's nothing extraordinary about the plot, so again, the success of the show will fall on its characters, and unfortunately, only one of them gets defined in this trailer. So really the matter is this: if you like Ken Jeong, WATCH IT and if you don't like him, SKIP IT. I'm in the latter category, although I do wish all of the success in the world to two members of the ensemble: Suzy Nakamura (playing Ken's wife) and Albert Tsai (the best part of the criminally underrated ABC sitcom "Trophy Wife," and playing Ken's son here). Oil (Sundays at 9PM)
To begin, "Oil" is not a good title. It's just...not. Second, this cast has plenty of recognizable faces: Don Johnson ("Miami Vice," or for most recent credits, "Django Unchained"), Chace Crawford ("Gossip Girl"), Rebecca Rittenhouse ("Red Band Society"), Amber Valletta ("Revenge"), and Scott Michael Foster ("Greek"). Unfortunately, this show about the oil business just isn't really striking the right chord with me. To begin, the tone seems wildly uneven. Even the music selection ranges from overly dramatic to downright goofy. We know the central couple is looking to make it in the oil world and that world is about to expand. There are characters with complicated histories and foils. Yet, while I see shades of a good show, it's marred by straight up unrealistic moments like the collapse of the oil tower and the laughable bit with the spark landing in a pool of oil and igniting it. I mean come on. Unless this has a miraculous turnaround from a lame first trailer, SKIP IT. Of Kings and Prophets (Sundays at 10PM)
Oh, boy. You can so desperately see ABC marketing this as their version of "Game of Thrones," and that's the problem - that show already exists and when this show tries to mirror it, it fails miserably. This trailer is nearly laughable at points because of how ridiculous it is. Shall we start with the sets that pale in comparison to those on "Thrones" and thus look like a total knockoff? Or should we skip right to the scene where a man kills a lion with a bag of stones? It's like if "Game of Thrones" had been edited for a broadcast network, and then they stripped away everything interesting about the dialogue, reduced the budget by millions, and got a bunch of less talented actors in there. Maybe I'd be singing a different tune if "Thrones" didn't exist, but it does, and that does this show no favors whatsoever. SKIP IT. The Catch (Midseason)
Bearing the Shondaland label already makes this one a WATCH IT for me. Like I literally don't even need to watch the trailer to tell you that I'll be watching this show. However, that's not exactly fair criteria to judge a television show, so let's talk about the trailer. From the original tagline I read about the show, I didn't expect what I saw, but I really enjoyed it. Shondaland is, of course, known to produce smart, sophisticated, occasionally cold and oh-so-messy leading ladies, and Mirelle Enos' character seems to fit that bill pretty well. She's got a great career (another Shondaland necessity) and a life with an ensemble of characters (again, Shondaland staple) that I hope we'll get to explore going forward. The twist mid-trailer is a bit unexpected, but I have faith that because of the show's executive producer, we're going to get answers little by little and explore this mystery together. I'm not sure how the show will be structured with the wife getting revenge, but I have faith that because of this show's origins in Shondaland, it'll be just fine. This is scheduled to take over the Thursdays at 10 slot once the second season of "How to Get Away with Murder" concludes, and it looks to be a worthy successor to slide into the TGIT lineup with "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal." So again, I say WATCH IT. The Family (Midseason)
Could this be my favorite trailer of the week? I think so. The script comes from writer and executive producer Jenna Bans, whose previous work includes Shonda Rhimes shows "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal." Although "The Family" does not bear the Shondaland label like "The Catch," I think it might be the one that is more deserving of the attention. The setup seems simple enough (long-lost son returns home and creates tension within the family), but it is the effectiveness of the script, as seen in just a few minutes in this trailer, that sets up a tense ride. And that last-minute twist at the end of the trailer? Sign. Me. Up. There's a great cast here with Joan Allen leading the way and supported by underrated young actors like Allison Pill and Zach Gilford, veterans Rupert Graves and Andrew McCarthy, and what looks like a possible career-making turn by Liam James. This is set to replace "Of Kings and Prophets" on Sundays at 10 at midseason, and one can only hope that maybe this show's time comes a little bit sooner. This trailer makes a case that this could be the most promising new series of the season. WATCH IT. The Real O'Neals (Midseason)
The set-up for the show (a gay son stuck in a devoutly religious Irish-Catholic family) was done last season on CBS's "The McCarthys". Luckily, it looks like it's going to be done ten times better here. Why is that? The humor is sharper, the acting is less ridiculous and more witty, and the story feels a bit more real this time. The turning point of the trailer, in which each character details their conflict, shows that the main issue focused on until that point (that the middle son is having trouble hiding his homosexuality) isn't even really the main issue. It's just another issue for the family to overcome, and they're going to do it together. With Martha Plimpton at the forefront, there should be no worries about the cast's ability to rise to the occasion. In particular, it looks like we're going to see a breakout performance from Noah Galvin. The jokes land very well in this trailer, and I can see it fitting it quite comfortably among ABC's other comedies about misfit families. Particularly, the plan is to pair "The Real O'Neals" with "Fresh Off the Boat" on Tuesdays, which seems like a good fit. WATCH IT.
Uncle Buck (Midseason)
It would make sense that ABC would try and pair "Uncle Buck" with "Black-ish" at some point, but with limited comedy holes in its schedule, that may be hard to pull off. Still, you can see how the two would compliment each other beyond their all-African-American casts. Although "Uncle Buck" is a remake, it still works in the modern world. I don't know if it's something I would be particularly interested in watching, but it did make me laugh a few times. Although the pilot episode feels entirely self-contained, you can see the set up for having Uncle Buck around in the future. It's possible that this could be a pretty good show, so maybe you might want to DVR IT and see if it is worthy.
Wicked City (Midseason)
It's weird, the trailer for this series (and for all of these series, by the way) are based on footage from just the pilot episode. So why does it feel like the trailed for "Wicked City" encapsulates an entire season's worth of footage? Regardless, I'm interested in what I see here. To begin, Ed Westwick seems pretty much perfect for the role of the killer. Although he's not necessarily creepy, he never comes across as morally clean in any role he plays. Even as ladykiller Chuck Bass on "Gossip Girl," there was something so dark about him even in his vulnerable moments. That makes him a good fit for this show. However, I'm trying to see how the drama with his character will continue to play out over the season, especially since the first episode shows two potential victims who I'm to assume will be characters throughout the rest of the season. I make that assumption based on not seeing their murders in this episode, and because they're played by Erica Christensen (totally different from her days on "Parenthood") and Taissa Farmiga (underrated for her first season performance in "American Horror Story"). It's an interesting premise that looks like it might solve itself in the first episode, so for now, I'll DVR IT until I have a better idea of what the season is going to look like.
CBS Supergirl (Mondays at 8PM)
Arguably one of the most anticipated pilots of the season, this trailer does not disappoint one bit. Admittedly, the tone and look of this show doesn't fit the mold of other superhero shows on the air, nor does it look like CBS would ever air. That said, it does look like a hit. There's a lot of concern with this show going up against "Gotham" in the same timeslot, but the two shows look extremely different. "Gotham" is a crime procedural of sorts with a superhero twist, whereas "Supergirl" looks like a coming-of-age story in which the main character just happens to be a cousin of Superman. In fact, up until the whole crime-fighting/fighting/general superhumanness comes along, this show looks like your typical young adult comedy. That's a unique tone to hit on a superhero show, but I think it's one that'll be successful. It'll attract a young audience and a female audience that doesn't necessarily delve into other superhero shows on television. It may have a hard time getting the same audience that watches "Gotham," "Arrow," or "The Flash," but I still wouldn't count against that audience supporting another superhero show, especially if it's just flat-out good. And that looks likely here. There's some witty writing, self-awareness about superhero costumes and feminism in modern society, and it looks like we've got some great performances here, particularly from Supergirl herself, Melissa Benoist, and Calista Flockhart, in what promises to be a scene-stealing role. The build of the music at the end of the trailer matches the swell of anticipation that this trailer surely brings to not only those who were anticipating this project before, but others who are being introduced to "Supergirl" for the first time through this trailer. WATCH IT. Limitless (Tuesdays at 10PM)
In comparison to the other CBS trailers, this one is pretty short, getting right to the point of the show but only providing a little tease of what is to come. That's okay in my book, since a lot of these other trailers seem to be showing a condensed version of the pilot episode. Just a little taste works, especially when it's a project like "Limitless," based on a hit film starring producer/recurring guest Bradley Cooper (yes, Bradley Cooper is recurring on a network television show, I am shocked as you are). Essentially, there is a pill that a person can take that gives them access to all of the world's knowledge and our main character here is someone looking to utilize that ability. With the FBI on his side, you can see the set-up for a weekly procedural type of show with other elements of mystery. There's a lot of information at once here and it's okay to not get the gist of it. It seems like the trailer almost doesn't even want to give away all of the hints of the show. That's interesting, and that's worth it in my book. But maybe while we wait for a little more information about what kind of show this is going to be, let's DVR IT. Code Black (Wednesdays at 10PM)
"Code Black" seems to be an extremely straightforward medical show that does not veer into the soap territory of "Grey's Anatomy" and other "Grey's" wannabes of the past decade. Yes, there is some exploration into characters' personal lives, but this show seems to have most of the drama originating from the stories of the patients. In that sense, the show is almost more like "ER," where there are characters that you get to know and love, but the primary focus of the show is on the cases each week. "Code Black," or the person making this trailer, knows that this is the show's strongest card to play. You get some quick glances at stories that tug at the heartstrings and the climax of the trailer is the emergency delivery of a child in an ambulance, a moment that really highlights that this show isn't going to concern itself with the personal lives of its characters, but rather highlight their successes and failures in the emergency room. And if that's the case, they're gonna need to do it well to maintain success. DVR IT and see if that turns out to be a good thing. Life in Pieces (Thursdays at 8:30PM)
If you can remove yourself from the "Modern Family" comparisons that seem pretty obvious here and look at the trailer, there are hints of a great show here. Yes, the generational divide and the different stories every week is stuff we've all seen on "Modern" and other shows of that type. But at the end of the day, that doesn't matter; what we, the audience, care about is if the characters are likable and we want to watch them every week, and if the stories keep us laughing. So based on the trailer alone, we don't get too much development with every character but there are a few genuine laughs. It is to be expected that you wouldn't know what every character is like with such a small taste from this trailer. Heck, it might take multiple episodes to understand these characters. But there are funny moments in this trailer, capped off by (I think) the funniest part, with the family rushing their alive father inside a coffin to a Jiffy Lube across the street to get him out. It's weird, it's funny, it's family. With Dianne Wiest and James Brolin leading this ensemble as the parents, you've got veterans holding down the ship while established, yet underrated actors like Betsy Brandt and Dan Bakkedahl and hot TV breakouts like Colin Hanks and Zoe Lister-Jones fill out the ensemble. I'm always willing to give a comedy a few episodes to find its footing, and the promise in this one gives me enough to say DVR IT, and binge if the following episodes turn out to be the start of something great. Angel from Hell (Thursdays at 9:30PM)
Your feelings on "Angel from Hell" will rest solely on how you feel about Jane Lynch: there are those that truly love her and those that hate her. I really like Jane Lynch. She made Sue Sylvester on "Glee" an iconic character in a fashion that I'm not sure any other actress could've. Beyond that, she's been a great supporting comedic actress for years. In "Angel from Hell," it appears Lynch has found a vehicle that fully forms itself around her. Unfortunately, the resulting pilot episode isn't as strong as one might've hoped for. The plot is interesting, but kind of a thin premise for a show. In that case, you have to rely on the strength of the actors, or in the case of this trailer, the strength of Jane Lynch. Unfortunately, it's a lot to ask one person to carry an entire show on their back. You get the gist of this new character Lynch is playing within the first two minutes of the trailer. Still, Lynch is one talented actress, and this role could be a great fit for her. It's just too soon to tell. If you're patient to see if Lynch is worth it here (and I think I might be), then you're gonna wanna DVR IT. If you couldn't make it through the trailer because Lynch became overbearing, then SKIP IT.
CBS did not make trailers for their midseason shows available. The CW Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Mondays at 8PM)
The CW is starting to brand itself for being a home for genre television; it houses a number of superhero, supernatural, and sci-fi shows. The only night of programming that isn't dominated by this trend is Mondays with The CW's breakout hit "Jane the Virgin" (which I plan on bingeing this summer) and new show "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." The trailer is long and kind of gives away the whole first episode, but it's an interesting concept for an hour-long musical comedy about a main character who is seriously deranged. Rachel Bloom will have to really sell this role without being too much. Additionally, to keep audiences interested, the music had better be good and the story better amount to more than the story of a girl who chases after a childhood dream of dating the perfect boy. DVR IT in case it turns out to be really special, but also prepare to delete it if it's plain bad. It could really go either way. Containment (Midseason)
Probably the CW show I am most excited for because it's a concept that I really enjoy. The show seems a bit timely as it looks like it'll touch on topics that have been major talking points in the past year including rioting/protesting, police brutality, and government intervention. To give it the twist of having this occur because of a lockdown due to a deadly unknown virus brings that unknown element to the show. I don't want to call it a supernatural or sci-fi show because we don't know anything about the disease, and I'm okay with that as long as we build a compelling story and a strong cast of characters, which the trailer hints at. I also wouldn't bet against executive producer Julie Plec, who is The CW's version of Shonda Rhimes. This veers away from the vampire-focused shows she's created in the past, so this will be an exciting new challenge. If you're gonna give a CW show a shot this year, make it "Containment." WATCH IT. Legends of Tomorrow (Midseason)
Truthfully, I don't have much to say about this show because I have no prior knowledge coming from "Arrow" and "The Flash," both of which this show is a spinoff from. Still, it looks like it fits right in line with those shows, so if you're a fan of them, definitely WATCH IT. For the rest of us, it looks like it could be a fun time, if not a little bit cheesy in a way that most superhero shows are, so unless the show requires extensive background knowledge of those other DC-based shows, DVR IT.
Which trailers are your favorite and which shows are being added to your schedule right away? Or what trailers could you barely get through? What shows will be lucky to see five episodes hit the air? Post your thoughts in the comments section below! I'll be back later this week to analyze the schedules from all five networks so you can begin planning your fall television schedule. Until then...
Hi there everyone! As I'm now on summer break once again, I am going to be starting up my blog again. School and extracurriculars always prohibit me from fully immersing myself in this blog, but I'm not going to let that deter me this summer and onward. I have a lot of exciting ideas for this summer, and as we are currently in the midst of Upfronts weeks, there is going to be a lot in the next coming days detailing the upcoming television season. And as the current season winds down, I'll be offering my two cents on the best of TV this year, as well as some remarks on shows I'm binge-watching this summer. I'm hoping to provide film reviews for a lot of this summer's hottest movies, as well as keeping you up to date about the latest in summer music. Keep checking back regularly for updates!
In this next installment of announcing the TV Evannies winners for the 2013-2014 season, we're shifting gears to honor the best supporting performances on television. Although presented as a supporting actor or actress, the nominees and winners tonight prove that an impact can be made regardless of billing. Without further ado, the nominees and winners...
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
WINNER: Bellamy Young for
"Scandal"
2nd Place: Christine Baranski for "The Good
Wife"
3rd Place: Angela Bassett for "American Horror
Story: Coven"
Allison Tolman for "Fargo"
Molly Parker for "House of Cards"
Melissa McBride for "The Walking Dead"
The supporting ladies of dramatic television have been nothing short of impressive, and these six diverse nominees prove that no woman can be held back with a scathing monologue and a drink in hand (that's a hasty generalization, but works for a few of the nominees here). The winner this year is Young, a supporting actress who has worked her way up the ranks of "Scandal" to become one of the show's best characters. At the start of the series, Young's character Mellie seemed like a pushover, but as we grew to understand her personality, we realized this was a woman you wanted on your team, even if you totally despised her. This past season, Young continued doing marvelous work in keeping the audience switching their allegiance to Mellie, but it was undeniable that Young was doing outstanding work. In the episode that had fans talking for weeks, we finally dived into Mellie's harsh backstory and rocky relationship with her husband's father, and Young's heartbreaking performance allowed us to peak further into her psyche and understand the root of Mellie's hunger for power. Whether she's drunk and screaming, or quiet and defeated, you can always count on Young to give 100% when she is on screen, elevating the performance from beyond something to watch, but into an experience. Moving along...in the best season of "The Good Wife," every actor stepped up to plate, and that stands true for Baranski, who went through hell and back this season. In a year that saw major plot twists and turns, Baranski had her best year yet as Diane. From marrying her boyfriend right before finding out she's being pushed out of her law firm, to then returning to the law firm after total chaos strikes, Baranski had a lot to do, yet she shined her brightest in the aftermath of her partner at the firm, Will. Baranski is undoubtedly a talented actress, but her portrayal of Diane's lust for power and respect in the light of Will's passing made us forget about whose side she was on, but rather made us cheer for Diane herself, a woman who not only needs, but demands, respect and power. Bassett made her "American Horror Story" debut this season, yet it's hard to imagine the show without her. Playing the powerful witch Marie Laveau, Bassett stole every single scene she was in. Her words bit harder than the spells she cast, and her sass and wit not only intimidated, but charmed the audience. Easily the most over-the-top performance in this category, Bassett fit right into the campy world of "AHS: Coven" and provided laughs, intentional and otherwise. Even if you weren't sure whether you should be cheering her on or not, you always craved to see Bassett return on screen to serve up some delicious backtalk and threatening. Never holding back, Bassett made Marie a lovable in the respect that you could only wish to be as big of a bitch as she was, and that is a compliment of the highest order. Of course, the other three nominees in this category deserve recognition. Tolman, in her first major role, is the true hero of "Fargo," and while the audience knows she is right all along, we crave for her to finally have justice served. When she is defeated, we feel for her, and Tolman's compassionate performance is what keeps audiences invested in the story of "Fargo." If we didn't want to see her come out on top at the end of the show, what was the point of even watching? It's a testament to the power of this newcomer's performance. Parker, while not a newcomer actress, was a new addition to "House of Cards," and a feisty one at that. Playing the ambiguous and "tougher than she looks" House whip, Parker was a perfect addition to the already dark world of the show, where moral lines are never clearly drawn out and ethics is a thing of the past. While the shades of her character took a full season to color in, the mysteriousness is what pulled audiences into this character, in addition to her strong will and unflinching quest for respect in a man's world. That's the kind of performance from a woman we should be seeing in this modern era of television. Finally, McBride had her strongest season to date on "The Walking Dead," putting aside the notion that the show is just for blood and guts. In the season's best episode, "The Grove," McBride puts on a masterclass of acting as she struggles to confront the truth of her prior actions and must make a gut-wrenching decision about the fate of a fellow survivor. She is unflinching, yet heartbreaking, and she makes an effortless appearance at appearing tough on the outside, with hints of the brokenheartedness we know she feels on the inside. McBride's brutal honesty in the role this season made her stick out in a way that no other "TWD" cast member has before and earned her a spot in a line-up with incredible performances.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Jeremy Allen White
for "Shameless"
2nd Place: Tony Hale for "Veep"
3rd Place: Adam Driver for "Girls"
Joe Lo Truglio for "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson for "Modern Family"
Timothy Simons for "Veep"'
The supporting funny men of TV are currently in a weird funk. By this, I mean that quirks and general weirdness are a dominant trait of this year's nominees and winners. To start, let's look at Simons, who had a breakout season on "Veep" following a major storyline for his character Jonah's outing from the White House and subsequent rise in the Internet world as a government insider. Jonah is such an awkward and off-putting character, but something about Simons' performance makes you simultaneously hate him and love him. You just don't like seeing his weird, perv-ish seduction tactics, yet your heart breaks a little bit every time you see him defeated. Simons stepped up to the plate big time this year. Another actor with a breakout season is Ferguson from "Modern Family." Five seasons into the show, Ferguson had his best season, no doubt due to his wedding storyline. He had a lot of funny moments throughout the season, but several of the more serious moments of the season involving his character including his engagement, the fight with his father before the wedding, and the actual wedding itself were grounded with Ferguson's honest portrayal. On a strong ensemble for a show that had its best season in years, it's worth noting that Ferguson was the brightest part of the show's fifth season. On the reverse end of things, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" is coming off a strong first season, due to numerous standout performances, but specifically Lo Truglio as the bumbling, but lovable Boyle. From episode one, we're rooting for him not even only from a romantic viewpoint, but just a general, ya know, human existence stance. His triumphs are our triumphs, and even when he fails, he usually makes us laugh out loud while doing it. Lo Truglio's ability to make us care Boyle from the absolute beginning of the show is proof that he's an immediate standout in a very strong ensemble. For the top three nominees in this category, there couldn't be a wider variety of picks. Driver was already establishing himself on a show quite literally titled "Girls," but this was his best year, carving himself as the best part about the show. Driver's authenticity rings truer than any other performance on television, and after spending a few seasons in the moral gray area, we can finally fully cheer him on this season after he enters a healthy relationship with Hannah and lands a role in a Broadway show. Even in his toughest moments, Adam is still the voice of reason on the show, and as an audience member, you grow to appreciate his role in Hannah's life beyond just a boyfriend or body in her bed. Hale continued to steal scenes left and right in the best season of "Veep" yet, and his ability to stick out in a killer ensemble is a testament to just how much Hale has allowed the audience to fall for Gary. Even with a simple whisper or the posture of his body while holding a bag, he can make us laugh out loud. A simple facial expression can do the trick. His delivery, timid and meek, is like a little tickle to the stomach. Hale's ability to not only make the audience laugh out loud week after week, but also grow to love a character on a show of mainly unlikeable (but still lovable) characters proves his strength. However, my pick for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series this year is White, the underrated standout of "Shameless." In my binge of this show earlier in the summer, I was blown away by the power of White's performance, and his peak came in the latest season, which saw him juggling his first year of college in addition to a cavalcade of familial setbacks. As Lip, White portrayed a young person essentially juggling the job of a young college student, a matriarch, a substitute for an absent father, a boyfriend, an adulterer, a brother, and a young sexual being. Running around from problem to problem, White made it very easy to not only elicit empathy, but also make us question his decisions. Yet that's what rings the most true about his performance. When we don't agree with White's confrontation of his problems or how he handles his relationships, we, the audience, are only reacting strongly because we care so much about Lip and want to see him succeed. As a character whose future was brightly set up, having it crumble before him not only is devastating for the audience to watch, but gives White the opportunity to show the effort and struggle that comes with balancing the perfect life. Luckily for us, White provides one hell of a fearless performance while doing it, making him the victor of the category this year. Check back later in the week for the coordinating supporting categories, as well as other winners for this year's Evannies!
Today, in part two of the 2014 TV Evannies winner announcement, I'll be revealing my winners in the guest acting categories. In the past few years, guest actors have gone from being one-off characters to being integral to the success of the show, and this year's nominees have shown that, even in somewhat limited screentime, they've made a huge impact. Without further ado, the winners are...
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Jimmy Fallon for
"Saturday Night Live"
2nd Place: Pablo Schrieber for "Orange Is the
New Black"
3rd Place: Nathan Lane for "Modern
Family"
James Earl Jones for "The Big Bang
Theory"
Bob Newhart for "The Big Bang Theory"
Brad Garrett for "The Crazy Ones"
In his post-SNL career, Fallon has gone from being a recognizable "SNL" alum to a late night staple. This past television season was a big one as he officially was given the reins to "The Tonight Show," yet he was burning up with buzz a few months earlier after an outstanding hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live," the performance that makes him my winner for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Fallon's two hosting gigs since leaving "SNL" have been total showcases for the comedian, and with general adoration for Fallon at an all-time high, expectations were sky-high headed into this episode. Assisted by musical guest/real-life BFF Justin Timberlake, Fallon elevated his episode of "SNL" to the best of the season with memorable impersonations, laugh-out-loud delivery, but most importantly, his general charm. You can't help but just laugh and appreciate the dude when he appears on screen. It's that kind of charm that makes it easy to digest his performances whether they be on scripted television or a late-night TV show. His range was on full display in this Christmas episode, and he saved a "just okay" season of the late-night staple, worthy of a win here. However, he was in great company in this category. Whereas Fallon is lovable and fun, Schrieber's "OITNB" character Pornstache is the complete opposite. A misogynistic, loathsome correctional officer, Schrieber could've easily played the villain, yet his delivery and subtle charm (much different from Fallon's) made Pornstache a fan favorite character. As the show gave us a peak into his psyche, we began to savor every moment Schrieber was on screen and, although you may not always agree with his every move, you ate up every insult hurled and offensive nickname slurred. Schrieber had a hell of a job in making one of the most unlikable characters on the show likable, but he succeeded in spades. Lane, a "Modern Family" staple since the second season, but this year was easily his best contribution to the show. After being picked as Cam and Mitch's wedding planner, Lane makes a memorable appearance in the season finale as the panicked overseer of a day going completely wrong. In an ensemble-heavy episode, Lane's performance had the biggest impact and delivered the biggest laughs. Completely over-the-top and hammy, he added the extra zest needed to an already crazy episode. Lane's performance on the show peaked this year, and left fans not hoping it's the last we'll see of him, but wondering how soon is too soon to have a little Pepper back in our lives. Jones and Newhart, the two veterans of the category, each had memorable turns on "The Big Bang Theory" this year. Jones played a heightened version of himself, getting into trouble with Jim Parsons' Sheldon and showing that the laughs aren't being saved for the younger actors. Newhart, in his second/third appearance on the show, had two episodes that showed him being laugh-out-loud funny and a voice of reason, a realistic performance that made the audience believe, in three episodes, he really was an inspiration to Sheldon. Finally, Garrett was a standout on "The Crazy Ones" playing a pessimistic boss. His on-screen partnership with Robin Williams led to a number of great comedic moments, and certainly left fans like myself wondering how much better the show could've been if it were renewed for a second season with Garrett along for the ride each episode.
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
WINNER: Allison Janney for
"Masters of Sex"
2nd Place: Kate Burton for "Scandal"
3rd Place: Carrie Preston for "The Good
Wife"
Annaleigh Ashford for "Masters of Sex"
Julianne Nicholson for "Masters of Sex"
Lisa Kudrow for "Scandal"
A category dominated by only three shows, yes, but it was truly difficult to narrow this list down to six ladies, since there were a number of memorable turns this year. The only returning nominee, and coincidentally the reigning winner, is Preston. Fans of the show now clamor an appearance by Preston because she's created, easily, the most memorable "TGW" guest character. As Elsbeth, Preston has the quirk and schizophrenic manner down to a science, yet she's never annoying or over-the-top. She's kooky enough that audiences can't help but fall in love. Preston continues to give an impressive performance and leaves everyone, including myself, wondering how fast she can come back. With two nominations in this category, "Scandal" makes quite an impact with its strong female performances. On a show already dominated by strong performances by actresses Kerry Washington and Bellamy Young, the guest actresses aren't slacking either. Kudrow, playing completely against type, is a headstrong politician with a dirty secret, but she is never once reminiscent of her "Friends" character Phoebe. Instead, Kudrow plays dirty, delivers impressive monologues, and has fans wondering what is next for her character's future. However, the superior "Scandal" performance this season for guest actresses is Burton's, as she finally steps into the limelight on her own with a shocking storyline that (SPOILERS) finds her coping with the murder of her husband...that she committed, as well as a run for the presidency while acting as the country's current Vice President. Burton plays an unlikable character, and while we don't necessarily grow to love her, we understand her motivations and reasoning. Playing a scorned wife and an angry politician, Burton has range and an impact that leaves audiences questioning just exactly who the coldest character of the show is. "Masters of Sex" has three nominees in this category, proving that a show based around a time period that still denied the importance of women in the professional world is rooted in the strength of its female performances. Nicholson's character sees extreme growth as she thaws her icy demeanor and forms a strong friendship with her co-worker, Virginia, played by Lizzy Caplan. Although she is initially mean and uninterested, we grow to really care about Nicholson by the end of the season. Ashford, meanwhile, comes in guns blazing from the very first episode, playing a brash and outspoken prostitute, yet in her brief appearance in the show's first season (she was then updated to series regular for the second season), she made a big impact by shedding the layers of her character and aspirations for the future. She's easy to love, and Ashford's little quirks make this performance one of the most unique, and certainly should leave audiences excited about a heightened presence in season two. However, the best guest performance by an actress not only on "MoS," but all drama series this year, was Janney. In a banner year, Janney gave two completely different performances, but her work on "MoS" shows that subtlety can prevail. As a neglected housewife finally breaking out of her shell and her loveless marriage, Janney is sympathetic and you cannot help but absolutely cheer her on during her mission of self-discovery. You just want to see her succeed in finding love and finding herself, and Janney's warmth draws audiences in from the very beginning of her arc. She's heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time, and thus makes herself the winner of this category.
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
WINNER: Joe Morton for
"Scandal"
2nd Place: Pedro Pascal for "Game of
Thrones"
3rd Place: Dylan Baker for "The Good
Wife"
Michael J. Fox for "The Good Wife"
Nathan Lane for "The Good Wife"
Beau Bridges for "Masters of Sex" A great villain never reveals his true colors and man, oh man, was that true of Morton's performance on this season of "Scandal." Initially introduced at the tail end of the show's second season, this year we got to color in the shades of grey to Olivia's father, all the while juggling with our own feelings and judgments, and struggling to reach a solid conclusion: is this guy good or bad? Even when he was at his worst, the audience knew he was acting in his daughter's best interest. A man who admires his relationship with his daughter so much that he's willing to do anything, yes anything, to keep her loyalty. Through it all, Morton forcefully powered through, forcing the audience to question their allegiance on a weekly basis. Heck, after a whole season, we're still unsure if we should trust the guy or not, and that's what makes Morton's performance a true winner. Pascal, by contrast, is a little less grey, and while we know he's not exactly the most admirable of characters, he ends up becoming a fan favorite by season's end. Pascal, cunning, charming, and witty, originally comes off as a love-him-or-hate-him character, but as he begins to side with perennial favorite Tyrion, we begin to cheer him on, and in his final episode, we are finally on his side, but it is unfortunately too late (I won't go into detail, but if you watch the show, you know what I'm talking about). Although his tenure on the show was short-lived, his impact was important and, on a show where the bad guys seemingly always run the show, his loyalty was admirable, a testament to Pascal's great performance. Baker, following the pattern of this category's nominees, is a dark, dark man. Having been cleared of murdering his first wife (although we're pretty sure he actually did do it), Baker returned this season, engaged to a third wife who finds herself put on trial for the staged suicide of her friend. Baker remains as dark and clever as ever. It's all due to Baker that we're able to just shamelessly love a character who we know is so bad. Walking around with an air of arrogance and suspicion, Baker is all at once chill-inducing and laugh out loud funny, a delicate balance that makes this performance a winner. Two other "TGW" actors are nominated here for great arcs this season. Lane found his footing this season, stepping up to the plate amidst a sea of change and after coming off as untrustworthy last season, he was a valuable team player, all while trying his hand at being a court lawyer and earning his place at Alicia's law firm. Fox, meanwhile, is a utility player for Diane late in the season, and the loveably hateful character comes back to wreck havoc, all while maintaining the suave charm and laughable ridiculousness that has made him a fan favorite guest star. Finally, Bridges is part two of a dynamic couple on "MoS" this past season that made the most compelling story not the sex study conducted by the title character, but the study of a complicated relationship between two adults past their prime. As the closeted provost of a hospital, Bridges is heartbreaking as he tries to "fix" himself and prove his worth to a tired wife (Evannies and Emmys Guest Actress in a Drama Series winner Allison Janney). His dedication to a woman he doesn't really love, while trying to hide his true personality from family and friends leaves the audience feeling shattered every week, a testament to how much Bridges lets us sympathize with a man we could easily show no pity for.
Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Taryn Manning for
"Orange Is the New Black"
2nd Place: Uzo Aduba for "Orange Is the New
Black"
3rd Place: Cristin Milioti for "How I Met
Your Mother"
Mimi Kennedy for "Mom"
Anna Kendrick for "Saturday Night Live"
Emily Bergl for "Shameless"
Joan Cusack for "Shameless"
I know, I know. An "OITNB" win here seemed obvious, but I didn't go with the popular consensus. Yes, I loved Uzo Aduba in the first season (more on that in a second), but the most impressive guest performance for me, on "OITNB" and television in general, was Manning's transformative portrayal of Pennsatucky. While Aduba undoubtedly stole scenes throughout the season, it was the impact of Manning's Pennsatucky that sucked me into the show. Her season-ending conflict with Piper was magnetic, and while she played a largely unlikable character, you somehow grew to appreciate her quirks and backwards thinking. She wasn't, despite her beliefs, kind or even necessarily right, but she steadily fought for what she believed in. Completely manic, yet believing herself to be the end-all, be-all, Pennsatucky was the season one antagonist, but you still largely cared about her, thanks to Manning's performance. With just the right mix of crazy, outlandish, and misunderstanding, Manning was an easy highlight in a killer ensemble. Right behind her in this race is the woman who received most of the show's season one kudos, and rightfully so: Aduba. Playing Crazy Eyes, she pops every time she appears on screen and adds just the right dash of "WTF" to her scenes. She was an instant scene-stealer, which is why she easily became one of the show's most recognizable characters, and she did exactly what needed to be done with a role of this size: she made the audience want to get to know her better. A magnetic presence on screen, Aduba popped out of nowhere to win the hearts of the audience and likewise became a breakout star. Milioti came into her role on "HIMYM" with a lot of weight to carry because she would be playing the titular mother. After eight seasons, we finally were going to meet the woman we've been waiting to see since 2005, and she did not disappoint one bit. Although we didn't get to spend as much time with her as we'd hoped, Milioti made the best of her time to have not only the characters, but the audience finally cheer as we met the woman Ted had been talking about for years. As we finally got to understand how she ended up being at the same wedding as Ted, we learned about her heartbreaking past and grew to care about her just as much as the characters we'd spent Monday nights with for eight years. That's a testament to Milioti's powerful and easily charming performance, and although the end for the mother might not have been the one most (read: everyone and anyone) wanted, we never stopped loving her. "Mom" grew over the course of its first season to become a show about the powerful, although sometimes twisted, relationships between moms and friends, and Kennedy's guest performance provided an extra jolt of energy to the show. In a role that has now been upgraded to a series regular performance, Kennedy originally played a humorous rival to Allison Janney's character, but later added emotional heft to the series with a cancer diagnosis and a deep friendship with Anna Faris' Christy. Kennedy so fluidly went from being laugh-out-loud funny to heartbreaking that her performance (along with others on the show) almost had you forgetting you were watching a show from the same guy who made "Two and a Half Men." In her debut "SNL" guest hosting stint, Kendrick went above and beyond as she bravely tackled a number of skits. Through it all, she maintained the charm that's made her a beloved actress for the younger generation. Singing through numerous skits, she never once lost the glow in her eye, and she completely went for it in every skit, whether it be as a rapping Ariel (yes, Ariel the Little Mermaid) or a French waitress/dancer/"Cups" enthusiast (yes, you read that right). After one hosting stint, audiences (including yours truly) are chomping at the bit to see Kendrick back on the stage at 30 Rock. Finally, a pair of performances from "Shameless" round out the list. Bergl, a new cast member this year, came into the world of "Shameless" looking like she would make everyone's lives a living hell, yet ended up becoming one of the series' most sympathetic characters. Her relentless effort to find her father a kidney ended up forming a sweet relationship with William H. Macy's Frank. In another kind of relationship with Frank, Joan Cusack had a great season playing the manic, obsessive Sheila. Whether it be trying to save a group of Indian children from becoming orphans or marrying a comatose Frank in the hospital, Cusack sold it every second of the way, never becoming too strange or crazy, and earning every bit of the audience's love along the way.
ABC: "The Muppets" & "Fresh Off the Boat"
