Thursday, December 12, 2013

Fridays in Primetime version 2

This should be the last day of the week I'll have to update for a while, at least until the midseason shows premiere. I still haven't reviewed the Mentalist on this blog. I might if it gets cancelled this season as many people say it will. I mean, I'm not going to post Sunday shows again just to add only one new show. But I should just get to the point and publish the list again. There will probably be other posts of various reviews of shows that I don't already have published. I also have to look to add information on shows that might stay cancelled and are ending at the moment for now.

Fridays are the least competitive nights on television although there are some good shows out there. Viewers aren't regular, but those that are and even those that aren't, give the show these ratings. It only seems like CBS and the CW care about good programming on this night although it doesn't always catch on. ABC handles the night best with stand alone episodes of reality shows and could actually care harder than the two networks I just mentioned. The CW shows Nikita. CBS is showing Blue Bloods, Undercover Boss, and Hawaii Five-O. ABC shows 20/20, Last Man Standing, The Neighbors, and Shark Tank. NBC shows Dateline, Dracula, and Grimm. FOX shows Bones. FOX hates its 9/8 Central time slot on Fridays, but there tends to be good shows on at this time sometimes. I will now tell you about what I've seen that isn't cancelled. Beware that most of the shows come here to die and they are only here right now to enjoy them before they are gone.


 

Last Man Standing: Status- Currently on ABC at 8/7 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- My brother liked it at the time and the show I typically watched at the time was repeats. Description- This is a man-centric show about being a man with numerous women in your family. I'm not sure if there's a better way of describing this show or not. Notable People- Tim Allen, known for his comedic work, various movies, and his time on Home Improvement is the main character on this show. Pros- It is funny a lot of the time. Cons- It can be sexist and otherwise demeaning. I've been told it leans one way politically. An actress was recast which typically isn't a good sign for a show. As usual, the morals aren't good. Recommendation- I have no idea if you'd like it or not. If you do, then watch, if not, then don't bother with it. Prediction- Toss-up: I'd say it might last longer but it's just as likely that it will get cancelled. Reception: negative. Grade: C+. New review


 

Dateline: Status- This is currently on NBC at 8/7 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- Nothing else on and it seemed interesting. Noteworthiness- It is the longest running primetime news show on NBC and sometimes airs twice in one week. Description- Pretty much an NBC version of 20/20. I don't know which came out first. Pros- It can be interesting. Cons- It can only be interesting if you like it. I haven't seen enough of it to find out how different it is from other networks versions of this show. They mostly only do murder mysteries from real life. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. Prediction- It will last forever. Reception: positive. Grade: A.


 

Bones: Status- Currently on at 8/7 Central on FOX on Mondays and in syndication. Why I've seen it- Randomly watched certain episodes until I started watching every episode. Noteworthiness- This is the longest running FOX drama, although it also airs on syndication on various other networks. It is based on cases done by a real person who is a producer of some sort on the show. Description- A different type of drama, it investigates crimes where not much of the body remains, although the murder cases are similar to most TV dramas. Pros- The chemistry between the two leads is interesting enough for the writers to give them a child on the show. The opposites seem to attract. Cons- The timeslot keeps changing, which makes it hard to catch. It doesn't really separate itself from other shows in this genre. The show might have been better earlier based on comments I'm reading online from those that call themselves fans. Recommendation- I haven't seen enough of it at the time, but it has my interest and I'll keep watching. Prediction- I see no reason why it will leave the airwaves anytime soon, but you'll never know what might happen. Reception: mixed. Grade: B. New review?


 

Undercover Boss: Status- Currently on CBS at 8/7 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- It looked interesting. Noteworthiness- Cameras are used by explaining that the person in the show is competing with someone else or to see if they would be chosen for the job. They do different ways of hiding the real reason that the cameras are there, although I've given up watching it by now. Description- Head people of different companies, some well known companies and some not as much, go undercover in their own companies at entry level positions. Pros- CEOs are shown to be actual human beings. The everyman is helped. The incompetence of the bosses in entry level positions is quite humorous. Cons- Editing could be better as some minor things that are referenced later on are not explained. If you've seen one episode, you've seen them all. It could be said that the bosses are only on the show to promote their own business. Bad things normally happen to the employees, although normally not as bad as it otherwise could be. People featured on the show can have controversial opinions and they aren't edited out for whatever reason. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. You aren't missing anything by not watching it or wasting time by tuning in. Prediction- It will last a long time since it has good ratings and few people hate it. Reception: positive. Grade: C-.


 

The Neighbors: Status- This comedy airs on Fridays at 8:30/7:30 Central on ABC. Why I've seen it- Interested in a show like this, though I'm not exactly sure why. Description- This is a comedy about aliens living in human form on earth and going through culture shock. Pros- The show's unique humor makes it good. Cons- The concept isn't original (Similar shows are Mork and Mindy or 3rd Rock from the Sun, neither of which I have seen). The show can be quite weird and strange to those that aren't used to that sort of thing. Recommendation- I'd say watch it. Prediction- It probably won't last that long because the majority of people aren't into it. Reception: mixed. Grade: C. New review


 

Grimm: Status- Currently on NBC at 9/8 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- Promise to watch a new NBC show when it premiered. Description- A police officer discovers that he is a "Grimm," a person who can see fairy tale characters in real life. It is more of a police drama with a twist than a fairy tale drama. Pros- It is pretty interesting and proves that good shows air on Fridays sometimes. Cons- It airs at a bad time. The fairy tale angle is unoriginal. The show is very strange a lot to both regular viewers and potential new viewers. Recommendation- I'd say that you should probably watch it if you have the time. Prediction- It will last a long time, I think. Reception: positive. Grade: B.


 

Shark Tank: Status- Currently on ABC at 9/8 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- Flipping channels, stayed here because it seemed interesting. Description- A reality show where a group of rich sharks, as they're called, decide whether or not to buy into a business of an entrepreneur. Pros- The segments are usually short and the decisions are interesting. It can be very intense. These are actually proceedings among people which makes it more real. Cons- You may not like their decisions. It is hard to find a rerun. You might not watch unless you're a regular viewer. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. I like it and you might but whether you should watch or not is up to you. Prediction- It will stay on as it gets good ratings on Fridays. Reception: positive. Grade: C+.


 

Hawaii Five-0: Status- Currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- Devotion to the CBS network and curious about what the show is about. Noteworthiness- It is a remake of an old, popular show. It has already been sold into syndication. Description- An elite crime fighting team works in Hawaii to solve cases. Notable People- Alex O'Loughlin, known for his work on Moonlight, Three Rivers, and some movies, is McGarrett. Daniel Dae Kim, known for his work on Lost and other shows, is a cast member as well. Pros- This show is actually filmed where it set. It is an interesting drama. The bickering between the two leads is entertaining. Cons- Some of the methods the characters use to catch the perps are unethical. It is a remake, and thus could just be considered trying to reclaim what it once was. Recommendation- Watch this if you have the time to. Prediction- It will last awhile. Reception: positive. Grade: B.


 

Raising Hope: Status- This show is currently on FOX at 9/8 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- Free time on my hand and promise to watch a new FOX comedy at the time. Noteworthiness- Believe it or not, this is actually the longest running FOX live action sitcom despite its relatively short time on the air. That kind of thing shows you what happens with the typical FOX live action comedy. Description- A young man finds himself raising a baby with various family and friends of his. Notable People- Greg Garcia, well known for creating My Name is Earl and The Millers, is the creator of this show. Pros- A unique comedy, that's right, it's a comedy, which has its fun on television. The grandmother's craziness always leads to laughs. Cons- The show is pretty weird a lot of the time and not the type of weird that people would like. The morals are bad as usual. Recommendation- Watch this show if you can. It's actually pretty funny. Prediction- I think that this show will last if FOX doesn't mess it up. Since FOX has a reputation for messing various shows up, such as constantly moving time slots, not always having the show on the schedule, and rarely promoting it, like they do with this one, I'm not certain it would last as long as some would like. Reception: positive. Grade: B. New review


 

Nikita: Status- Currently on the CW at 9 Eastern/8 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- Looked interesting. Noteworthiness- It is the remake of another old series. Remakes are popular on this network as well as shows based on pre-existing things. In fact, it is hard to find a completely original series on this network. There was also a movie like this which might have come before the first TV show. Description- A former female spy seeks to stop the place that trained her. That's at least how the show started out and it changed over the course of the series. Pros- A good drama that keeps you interested in the storyline. Cons- I don't see it lasting that long. It can be very confusing and if you miss episodes, you'll be lost to the storyline. Recommendation- Watch it if you can. Prediction- It is officially cancelled after its current season. Reception: somewhat positive. Grade: B+.


 

Dracula: Status- Currently on NBC at 10/9 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- No longer into a different vampire show so I wondered if this would be any good. Description- Dracula is in the present day, I think. He's a vampire, if you didn't already know that. Pros- Critics like it. Cons- This show is boring and sucks quite literally. Recommendation- Don't watch it. Prediction- I don't think that it would last very long. Reception: positive. Grade: F. New review


 

Blue Bloods: Status- This is currently on CBS at 10/9 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- It is on CBS. Nothing else good was on. Description- This is a cop show where the cops are related. It is set in New York City. Notable People- Pretty much everyone who works on the show is famous in some way. Tom Selleck from Magnum PI and movies, is present, but is not the main character. Donnie Walburg, who is in the band New Kids on the Block (I think) is a character as well. Pros- Something good exists on Friday nights for you to watch. A partial family aspect is added to the show which makes it more relatable. Cons- The ways the officers catch and interrogate some of the suspects/criminals is unethical sometimes. It can be like a lot of other dramas. They have made some questionable off-camera choices regarding at least one actress who works on the show. Some episodes are better than others. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. I like it. You might too. Prediction- It will stay around for a while. Reception: mostly positive. Grade: B-.


 

20/20: Status- This is currently on ABC at 10/9 Central on Fridays. Why I've seen it- It looks interesting, depending on the news story. Noteworthiness- It is the longest running primetime news show on ABC and the longest running ABC show in primetime at least. It premiered when Jimmy Carter was president. Description- This is an in-depth news show regarding issues relating to current events or just anything like a murder mystery. Pros- Can be quite interesting if you don't watch anything else at that time. Cons- There's a show like this on every network. Re-runs rarely exist. Some episodes are better than others. It can be hard to watch all the time. Recommendation- I like it, but don't watch it unless I know that I want to. Maybe you'll like it or consider it a complete waste of time. Prediction- It will last forever unless something weird happens. Reception: currently positive, although the first episode was panned which lead to a retooling of the good show we know today. Grade: A.