Saturday, February 29, 2020

Sundays in Primetime Version 6

Each network has a different style of shows on Sundays. Sunday is the only time you’ll see primetime from 6-7 Central. Except ABC, all of the major four networks show football for the first half of the season. This causes problems on CBS where most of the shows get delayed which is really annoying. FOX just preempts the first hour as needed which causes very rare delays sometimes. NBC doesn’t even show non-sports until midseason. In terms of consistency, this day of the week has the most, except for possibly Friday. ABC and CBS show mostly the same thing in theory in terms of dramas. In fact, it’s creepy how similar they are. FOX shows comedies, a lot of them adult animated comedies. When NBC show shows after football season ends, it is normally just various limited run series. Here’s my view of the shows that I have seen, some of them, watch regularly. The CW has shows on as well, but not in the 6-7 slot like the other networks do.

America’s Funniest Home Videos: Status- Currently on ABC on Sundays at 7/6 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I can’t remember for sure, but back when it had its original host, I watched all the time with my family. I guess we just liked the concept. One of the few memories I have of my father (who is dead) relates to this show. Noteworthiness- It has been on a long time. I don’t know for how long and it did take a break in new episodes at one point. Everything that you see on the show is submitted from viewers of it. Description- Viewer submitted home videos are viewed as the audience determines which one is the best. Pros- If you like the Three Stooges, you’ll like this show. It can be funny sometimes. Cons- Most of the laughs comes from people getting hurt. It can get boring quickly. Some of what is shown is far from being funny. Note to Parents- I watched this a lot as a kid. I don’t know how much the show has changed over the years, but I’d have to say that this show is probably acceptable for kids, but it may teach them to laugh at other people’s pain, which is not a good lesson. Recommendation- Do not watch this show. It is not worth your time. My Viewing Habits- I used to watch this show, if only because I didn’t like watching football at the time instead. I can’t stand this show anymore and refuse to tune into it as it isn’t any good. I did find football to be a better use of time in the end. Prediction- This show will be on until people stop watching it, submitting videos to it, or the network finally realizes how bad it really is. A new host could spill its demise as a new host for virtually any show like this could. Plus, even if it ends for a while, it could return as it has in the past. Reception: mixed to positive. Grade: D-.

60 Minutes: Status- Currently on Sunday nights on CBS at 7/6 Central unless delayed due to sports. Why I’ve seen it- Typically, there’s nothing good on other networks when I started, but a general interest in current events is why I typically watch as much as I do. Noteworthiness- Some consider it to be the longest show in primetime. That is probably correct. Description- It is an in-depth news show of current and interesting events. Normally three stories are shown with the first relating to current events and the last relating to culture. Normally, the last story is a profile on some notable celebrity. Sometimes, they do a story in multiple segments. Pros- Unique news stories could keep you hooked until commercials. There is very little wrong with it. Cons- Nothing keeps you into it if you want to watch something else and the segment you were watching ends. Controversies have arisen more from this show than any other show on CBS. The segments tend to last a very long time which can irate you. Note to Parents- This is a news show and the news can be gruesome. While some segments may work for certain ages, most would not unless the kid is a teen. Recommendation- You should watch this if you have the chance. Maybe you’ll learn something interesting. If you have no interest in news shows, then this isn’t for you. My Viewing Habits- I tend to watch this most of the time this isn’t on delay. If it is on delay, I normally watch other shows instead. While I like it, it isn’t something that I always watch. As it is older than me, I started watching this much later than I could have otherwise. Prediction- This show will be on until the end of the world. Even then, it might continue. Reception: positive. Grade: A-.

The Simpsons: Status- Currently on FOX on Sundays at 8/7 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I typically watched reruns when I was a child. It’s probably not something that a young person should have been watching, although the newer episodes that air now are more adult themed than the older ones were that I mainly grew up with. Noteworthiness- It has lasted more seasons than any other scripted primetime show. It was originally a spin-off of The Tracy Ullman Show. Over 600 episodes have been made. It premiered in 1989. Description- This is an animated comedy on a strange family and others in their lives. They have different, unrelated stories in each episode. Notable People- Matt Groening is the creator of this show and he has done different comic book series as well as Futurama. Pros- Funny episodes are shown all the time. There is never any ongoing storylines so you don’t have to be devoted to the show. Despite the fact that it has been on a long time, they still manage to come up with great, new episodes from time to time. Cons- Inappropriate humor is used a lot. There is absolutely no continuity between episodes. The show jumped the shark a long time ago, yet remains on the air simply because of great ratings. Religion is typically represented poorly in the show. The head writer has changed a lot. Note to Parents- While I watched this a lot as a kid and it even won polls for favorite kids show, I don’t think that most young ones should watch this. A preteen or older can handle the show without asking any serious questions. Recommendation- You should watch it if you like it (and only if you like it) and have the time. It can be quite entertaining. Although, since they don’t have the best ideas anymore, then it may not be worth your time. My Viewing Habits- While I have waning interest in the show, I typically watch it when I can. There was a time I didn’t watch it. Prediction- This show will last forever, unless the death of a cast member causes a retooling of the show or otherwise abrupt ending. One can wonder what the death of Matt Groening, who still supervises the show, would cause. It could end at some point, but it seems generally unlikely to most people. It doesn’t seem like it will end soon. Reception: generally positive then somewhat negative. Grade: B-.

Batwoman: Status- Currently on the CW at 8/7 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I watch all of the Arrowverse shows when I can as this is one of them. Noteworthiness- Part of Arrowverse, this is also adapted from a lesser known comic book character. Description- Following the disappearance of her cousin, a woman seeks to be the new hero that Gotham needs. Pros- The show is interesting as it has some complex characters and can be wonderful like a well made psychological thriller. Cons- It can be a bit too preachy with its message of acceptance that everyone either knows by now or hasn’t changed their mind about now. Note to Parents- The main character is gay as are some other people at some point in time. Recommendation- I would say that you should watch this and it isn’t as related to the rest of Arrowverse the way other shows are. My Viewing Habits- I have seen this since the first episode and hope to see every one. Prediction- This will last until at least 100 episodes, if not later. Reception: mixed or average. Grade: A. New review

God Friended Me: Status- Currently on CBS at 8/7 Central on Sundays unless delayed because of sports or other reasons. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it. Description- A man gets a friend request from God or someone calling himself that and his life changes with the lives of those around him and those he gets requests from. Notable People- Violett Beane, who has had recurring roles in The Resident and The Flash, is a character on this show. Greg Berlanti, who produces too many TV shows to name at once, helps with this show. Pros- The show has good characters who are willing to help others. Cons- Not much happens in it. I’m not sure where they are going with it. It can be sappy at times. The plots are often predictable. Note to Parents- There is a gay character. The show doesn’t take sides with religion, even if it seems to favor the Atheist side at times. Recommendation- I think that it is worth watching for those who care enough about it. My Viewing Habits- I have not seen every episode, but have seen this since the beginning. Prediction- It looks likely to last for now and should last until at least syndication. Reception: mixed to positive. Grade: B. New review

American Idol: Status- Currently on ABC at 8/7 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- My family liked it when it first came out. Noteworthiness- This is a reboot of the FOX show that aired for a long time. I do not know if this newer version is any different or not because I haven’t watched the newer version of it. Description- Various people compete in a singing competition. Notable People- The judges of this show are famous singers, although I haven’t looked up who they are. Ryan Seacrest, who also co-hosts the show Live and has done a radio show among other things, is the host of this show. Pros- You can see some good talent on here from time to time. Cons- The voting method where one can vote as often as possible is seriously flawed. A lot of the winners are never heard from again. Some of the episodes seen earlier in the season seem to focus on bad singers intentionally. Note to Parents- When it gets to the main live shows where people can vote, the show tends to be best for people to watch. The parts of the season that air sooner have more objectionable content. Recommendation- I’d pass on this. My Viewing Habits- I mainly watched the second and third season, but didn’t like the results and never really cared much for it again. Prediction- I have no idea if this will last or not, having been revived after it was over previously. I’d say that it might not last unless there is pressure to replace the host who was accused of sexual harassment. Whether or not he makes the show and people would watch it without him, would remain to be seen. Reception: mixed then positive. Grade: F.

Duncanville: Status- Currently on FOX at 8:30/7:30 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- It worked out well to see it once. Description- An animated show, a teenager and his friends and family have some sort of possibly interesting story. Notable People- Amy Poehler from Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation is the creator and does voices on the show. Ty Burrell from Modern Family is another voice on this show. Pros- One knows what to expect from shows like these. Cons- It seemed dumb and didn’t have much to offer. Note to Parents- There were some notable issues on this show that one would often expect from the animated FOX comedies. Recommendation- This isn’t worth anyone’s time. My Viewing Habits- I watched the first episode and won’t be back to see it again. Prediction- This won’t last at all. Reception: generally favorable. Grade: D. New review

Bob’s Burgers: Status- Currently on Sundays on FOX at 9/8 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I don’t remember why I started watching it. There might have been a gap in my schedule with nothing else to watch at the time. Description- Part of animation domination, we see the misadventures of a family who works in, owns, and (more or less) lives in a restaurant. Pros- It is funny, using a humor not typically seen on television. Cons- There may be worse things than this, but there are a lot of better things as well. It can be hard to stay into it and watch it all the time. It may take you a while to realize that it is good. Note to Parents- This is one that is probably best avoided among kids less than the teenage years, although I don’t think that it has aired with a content advisory warning. Recommendation- It is pretty good so watch if you can. My Viewing Habits- Sometimes I watch and sometimes I don’t. It depends on when it airs, what else is airing at the same time, if that thing is on delay or not, and various other things like that. I am trying to stay more into this now than I had before when it aired at an earlier time. Prediction- This will last for a while, unless the network decides that they want something else instead. Reception: mixed then positive. Grade: B+.

Supergirl: Status- Currently on the CW at 9/8 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I thought that it looked good and I watch every show on CBS at least once, which is the network it used to air on before it switched. Noteworthiness- This is adapted from DC comics. It has links to the same world as The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Arrow, among other shows. It was on CBS for the first season before moving to the CW for the future where it is likely to stay until it ends. Description- Superman’s cousin, who is female, becomes a superhero herself fighting various alien outlaws and other supernatural creatures or whoever seeks to harm the earth. Pros- This show is quite good and interesting, seeing a previously unknown superhero (to me, at least) get her own story. Cons- There could be potential flaws with being politically correct. Some of the subplots can seem like a waste. Note to Parents- From what I’ve seen thus far, this show is pretty acceptable to a younger audience, although there still might be more violence than they would need. There is also a gay main character, if that affects anything in your mind. Recommendation- I think that this is a good show and worth watching. My Viewing Habits- I have seen this from the first episode, but have not seen every one. Prediction- It is renewed for another season, but it is possible that it could end soon. Reception: highly positive. Grade: A-.

NCIS: Los Angeles: Status- It is currently on CBS at 9/8 Central on Sundays unless delayed due to sports. Why I’ve seen it- I watch NCIS so I figured that this would be good as well. Noteworthiness- It is a spin-off of the popular NCIS. The agency it is based off of (office of special projects) does not really exist in real life (although the information I have on that could be wrong). Description- The office of special projects of NCIS which is located in Los Angeles investigates different crimes. Notable People- Chris O’Donnell, known for different movies, is the lead agent G Callen. LL Cool J, a rapper and also known for different movies is Sam Hanna. Linda Hunt, known for different movies as well, is Hetty. Pros- This is different from NCIS, but still good enough to keep you watching. The undercover assignments are funny and interesting. Cons- It is not as good as NCIS and unrealistic at points. It seems like some unethical methods are used at times to catch the perps. Note to Parents- I’d say this has the usual amount of what you would expect from a primetime drama. I’d say that you could let high schoolers watch this, but probably not younger than that. Recommendation- I say that you should watch this show if you like it, but not if you aren’t already into NCIS or military dramas like that. Although, some people may like this without having to associate with the rest of the franchise as the shows are largely unrelated to each other most of the time. My Viewing Habits- While I have not seen every episode, I’ve been watching this since the very first episode. Prediction- It might get cancelled before NCIS ends. I’m not sure if it will. The ratings have been bad lately so it might not last that much longer. It could end without warning. I would put this as more likely to end than the main NCIS or even the other spin-off of it at the moment. Reception: mixed. Grade: B.

Family Guy: Status- Currently on FOX at 9:30/8:30 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I’m not sure why I was interested in it, but it might have been my usual interest in animated comedies that I had for some reason. Noteworthiness- It was cancelled twice and brought back twice for a much longer time. Description- The animated adventures of a family including their dog and baby who can talk and behave like largely like normal people. Notable People- Seth MacFarlane, who has created other shows like The Orville and American Dad, does this show as well. Seth Green, known for his work on Robot Chicken and some movies is Chris. Mila Kunis, who was in That 70’s Show and some notable movies is Meg. Pros- The show manages to stay fresh while poking fun at somewhat recent events. Insides jokes come up all the time. Funny episodes are common. The themes that show up are less an approval of them but more a comment on them and how other people can sometimes think. Cons- Bad episodes pop up just as often as good ones. If it weren’t animated, it couldn’t be shown on network television due to sex, violence, and language. It can be too random at points leaving you with no clue as to what is going on. You’ll probably hate as much as you like. Note to Parents- This show has always aired with a content advisory warning so that alone should be enough for you to make a judgment on it. Your teens would probably love it, but don’t yet young ones watch it. Recommendation- Take it or leave it. It’s not for everyone, although I like it sometimes. My Viewing Habits- I got into this late and don’t always watch or care about it. But I am still into it despite its declining quality. There are times that I ignore it. Prediction- It will last a long time still. Reception: positive yet controversial. Grade: C.

The Rookie: Status- Currently on ABC at 10/9 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it enough to watch it. Noteworthiness- Supposedly, this is inspired by a true story. Description- After major life changing events, an older man winds up becoming a cop for the first time. There are other rookies on the show as well. Notable People- This stars Nathan Fillion who used to star in Firefly, Drive, and Castle. Pros- It seems interesting and different in a way from most other shows like it. Cons- I am worried about the typical relationship issues that you might see from time to time. Note to Parents- There are issues with it due to violence, sex, and other problems. Recommendation- I think that it is worth watching. My Viewing Habits- I was a fan of this since the first episode. I missed the first half of the second season in order to focus on Madam Secretary, but plan to be back to this long term in the future as long as it continues to last. Prediction- I think that this could go either way right now, although it is more likely to last than not. Reception: generally favorable. Grade: B. New review


NCIS: New Orleans: Status- Currently on CBS at 10/9 Central on Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I watch the original so I figured that I should watch this as well. Noteworthiness- It is a spin-off of NCIS. This show is actually filmed in New Orleans where it is set. Description- This is a show about an NCIS team set in New Orleans. Pros- There are plenty of good things about the show. It is as interesting and good as most dramas are. It keeps the charm of NCIS even with a different cast. The different filming location probably helped it. Cons- Some people have been annoyed by the fake accents of the characters. Plus, it may not be as interesting or good as the original NCIS is. Some of the choices made with the characters are bad decisions on the writers’ part. Note to Parents- This has the standard amount of stuff that you would find it shows. There is more violence in it that is negative for kids than anything else. Recommendation- I think that you should probably watch it. My Viewing Habits- I have watched it since the first episode, although I have not seen all of it. Prediction- I think that it will probably last a while, although it might be more in danger of ending now than it ever was before. Reception: mostly positive. Grade: A.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Midseason Shows 2020 Part 1

With luck, I will be able to catch up more on reviews for this blog again. We’ll see if I add another go around for one that was already done once this season as I see what all needs updated for other blogs of mine, if any do at all. I do plan to be back with a part 2 of this post at some point in time. We’ll see if there are any more of those or not. I also might try to write and publish other posts before I run out of time to do them this time around. Be sure to comment on any old posts from previous years if you want me to do them again. Now let’s get to the reviews.

FBI: Most Wanted: Show Description- An FBI team tries to find the most wanted criminals. Behind the Scenes- This replaces Madam Secretary. It is also a spin-off of FBI. My Thoughts- It seems like a good show that you would like and expect. I say that the problems with it are it seeming generic and like a carbon copy of the original with new characters instead of what we could just get from it. I give it four out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- This is likely to last for now and will probably stay longer. Where to Find- On CBS at 10/9 Central on Tuesdays

Stumptown: Show Description- A female PI solves cases. Behind the Scenes- This is not a midseason show as it was on at the fall and I’m just now reviewing it having not seen it earlier. It is also adapted from a comic book series. My Thoughts- It didn’t seem to have much to it. It wasn’t bad, just not worth staying into. I give it two out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- I’d put this at a toss-up for now. Where to Find- On ABC at 10/9 Central on Wednesdays

Deputy: Show Description- A man finds out that he is now a sheriff due to the death of the previous one and rules possibly considered outdated. Behind the Scenes- Another show was originally supposed to air in this timeslot. As far as I know, that show, Filthy Rich, will premiere later. My Thoughts- While it did not seem as bad as a lot of shows are nowadays, I won’t recommend it as it wasn’t that interesting. I give it two out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- It doesn’t look likely to last now, although it could last. Where to Find- On FOX at 9/8 Central on Thursdays

Flirty Dancing: Show Description- A reality show, a person goes on a blind date with two others. They don’t speak and only dance before the main person decides who to go on a real date with. Behind the Scenes- This aired during the hiatus of two seasons of The Masked Singer. My Thoughts- The premise is a bit contrived in some ways and not much can be gathered from it outside of that. I give it two out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- This probably won’t last. Where to Find- Not currently on the schedule, having already aired its first season out of any

9-1-1: Lone Star: Show Description- A man dealing with personal problems brings his son to Texas and starts a new team there of firefighters there from other places since the old team had died in a previous crisis. Behind the Scenes- This is a spin-off of the original 9-1-1 and aired during its hiatus. My Thoughts- The show is interesting and the characters are wonderful, even if some of them don’t have as much material to them as others. I give it five out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- This will probably last for a while. Its only issue right now is if the other show will eclipse it. They might not ever air together, which could help both of them. Where to Find- On FOX at 8/7 Central on Mondays

Tommy: Show Description- After a person goes through a scandal, a lesbian is turned into the chief of police in Los Angeles. Behind the Scenes- This temporarily replaces Evil only Evil will be back at some point next season. My Thoughts- It seems pretty interesting, even if not much separates it from other shows like it. I give it three out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- This probably won’t last. Where to Find- On CBS at 10/9 Central on Thursdays

Outmatched: Show Description- Two parents have to deal with the fact that their three kids were revealed to be geniuses with high IQs. It is a comedy. Behind the Scenes- I believe that it replaces The Cool Kids. My Thoughts- It didn’t seem to offer much to it as it wasn’t that funny or any good. I give it one out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- It isn’t doing good in ratings so it probably won’t last. Where to Find- On FOX at 8:30/7:30 Central on Thursdays

Katy Keene: Show Description- A fashionista and her friends have adventures in New York City. Behind the Scenes- This is a spin-off of Riverdale and makes use of one of the same characters. My Thoughts- I could not get behind a show on the fashion industry and won’t see this again. I give it two out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- While it could last, it just as easily might not due to all of the CW shows that have already been renewed. Where to Find- On the CW at 8/7 Central on Thursdays

Lego Masters: Show Description- A reality show, duos compete in various Lego themed challenges to see who will be the Lego master. Behind the Scenes- This replaces Almost Family. It is hosted by Will Arnet who was also on Arrested Development and The Millers. My Thoughts- It seemed pretty good in some ways as the competition works and it doesn’t have much drama to it that seems manufactured in other reality shows. I give it three out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- I have no idea of this will last or not. The thought of grown-ups playing with Legos is a bit of a stretch, even if not entirely something you wouldn’t expect from reality. I’d say that this should probably last more than one season, but it won’t. Where to Find- On FOX at 9/8 Central on Wednesdays

For Life: Show Description- Inspired by a true story, a wrongly convicted man who is serving life in prison is also a lawyer working to help others and clear his own name. Behind the Scenes- This replaces Emergence. My Thoughts- It is quite interesting and worth keeping up with. I give it four out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- This might not last, but seems likely that it will right now. Where to Find- On ABC at 10/9 Central on Tuesdays


Duncanville: Show Description- An animated show, a teenager and his friends and family have some sort of possibly interesting story. Behind the Scenes- This replaces Bless the Harts for the moment as the show will be back for future seasons. Amy Poehler from Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation is the creator and voice on the show. My Thoughts- It seemed dumb and didn’t have much to offer. I give it two out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- This isn’t likely to last right now due to low ratings. Where to Find- On FOX at 8:30/7:30 Central on Sundays

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Crisis on Infinite Earths Aftermath Post

I had done a post before the Arrowverse crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths. I’m going to do a post on that where I go through my predictions and see which ones of them were right. I’m also going to do some more various thoughts in general about it. I will also post reminders of what the predictions were as I do this post.

Prediction one: Earth-90 Barry Allen will be revealed to be alive, but will die during the crisis.

Result: Correct. This was easy in my mind to predict. A lot of the predictions that I made were stuff that I knew had happened in the comic books and I felt that it could happen on the shows. We did not know what had happened to this Barry Allen and knowing that they wouldn’t kill off the Earth-1 version, I thought that this one would die instead.

Prediction two: The Linda Park of Earth-2 will appear and have some important role in it.

Result: Wrong. She had no role in the crossover whatsoever. She did have a role in the comic book part of the crossover or storyline, but she didn’t appear. I only know that I felt the three remaining people from the destroyed earth would have potential to appear on the crossover, even if it was likely that only one of the three of them would actually appear.

Prediction three: It will be revealed what happened to Jessie Quick and the Earth-2 version of Harry Wells.

Result: Wrong. They have yet to reveal what happened with these two characters, although it might have been hinted in the second episode of The Flash to air after the crossover that perhaps at least Harry was now alive on Earth Prime, but it is currently unknown if Nash was merely imagining things or there was something else going on in the new world.

Prediction four: No Gotham characters will appear, but there could be cameos from them playing other people in one of the universes here.

Result: Well, this was technically wrong, even if I wasn’t predicting an assured thing anyways. As far as I could tell, no one from Gotham had any role whatsoever in the crossover which makes sense anyways as the canon of the shows would be different enough that even putting one on another earth might not make as much sense.

Prediction five: Earth-1 Barry Allen will indeed go missing, but will be found early into the next part of The Flash.

Result: Wrong. This was something that I felt should happen as it was hyped for so long only for parts of the story to be changed. The Barry Allen that we know from Arrowverse didn’t disappear if only for a moment like he did in most of the timelines seen on the show.

Prediction six: One of the Supergirl versions will die.

Result: Possible, but probably not. I only say that it is possible because so many earths died and it is more than likely that at least one of them had a version of Supergirl on it. But there wasn’t a notable version of her that briefly appeared like others we saw.

Prediction seven: Earth-2 Laurel Lance will die.

Result: Wrong. She didn’t die during the crisis like I might have thought that she would at some point in time. I thought that since the destruction of Earth-2 was important to the beginning of the events that there would be more of an important role played by someone like her from Earth-2. I am glad that she is here in this show still, even though I don’t know if she’ll play any further roles anymore.

Prediction eight: Eobard Thawne will race Superman at some point.

Result: Wrong. I thought that we might see it at some point since it was mentioned that it was going to happen at some point (or already did) in Crisis on Earth-X. But Eobard Thawne didn’t play any role in the crisis whatsoever, which was quite disappointing since that it what was hyped up to happen from the first episode of The Flash until nearly the start of season 6.

Prediction nine: There will be only one earth after the crisis with people from all the other earths living on this one now instead of any others.

Result: Right. This wasn’t too hard to predict as it might be easier in some ways for the people from the franchise to interact with each other to create a new world. Also, this was in the comic books so it would make sense that it would happen on the show as well.

Prediction ten: The storyline from Legends of Tomorrow will largely be unaffected by any of this due to that show having not started airing its current season.

Result: Remains to be seen. Parts of the storyline were affected, but I think that it is largely unknown as of yet whether or not the storyline on Legends of Tomorrow will be affected. Parts of it were thus far, but parts of it were not as well.

While I liked a lot of the crisis crossover, there are some problems that I have with it. I think that I’m not the only one annoyed by it being changed from 2024 to 2019. Eobard Thawne played no role in this at all despite all the headlines seen on the show in the past. And I don’t think that they ever have explained how destroying Cicada’s dagger brought forth the crisis earlier than it used to be. Plus, while is doesn’t disappoint me who never really read comic books as much, I do find it odd that Psycho Pirate had his cameo in Elseworlds but never showed up with any notable role in this new crossover.

That’s about it for this post. Maybe there is more that could be said, but I don’t think that there is much to do in the end. What were your thoughts on the crossover, if you saw it at all? Did you like it? Were you at all disappointed by some of the changes or lack of explanations leading into it? The franchise is quite confusing and it is possible that I missed stuff that was, in fact, explained. It is hard to tell for sure some of what is going on in Arrowverse and can only hope that things will be explained well later.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Cancelled Shows 2018-2019

Well, it is time for me to finally do the reviews of cancelled shows from the previous season.  Hopefully I will go through them all without forgetting any. I should do a review of all that I’ve seen and mention all of the ones that ended that I haven’t seen. Sorry again that this is as late as it is as I’ve been busy with a bunch of stuff that isn’t all important.

Shades of Blue: Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it for reasons I don’t remember. Description- This is about dirty cops and the possibly corrupt feds investigating them. Notable People- Jennifer Lopez, who was in American Idol, among other things, is the main character of the show. There are other notable people as well. Pros- It is a nice take on the recent feelings on police. I’d say that it is pretty good in the end, for now at least. Cons- It can be hard to tell where they are going with this show or who the good guys are (if there are any at all). It can be gruesome and negative. Note to Parents- There’s enough in here that’s bad plus it runs the risk of causing distrust of the police, a message you probably won’t want spread to your kids. You might want to watch this if you are not sure. Recommendation- I’d put this at a toss-up. There’s enough in here that’s wrong with it even if it is good enough. My Viewing Habits- I’ve watched this since the beginning, but missed a lot of it for various reasons. Cancellation reasons- The third season was delayed for a long enough amount of time that interest in the show waned as a result. Due to an overall lack of continued interest in the show, it ended after the third season was over. Similar shows- Dynasty and Deputy. DVD suggestion- I’d put this as a toss-up as well. It might be good to own, but it isn’t something you’d be missing out on. Reception: mixed. Grade: C+.

Salvation: Why I’ve seen it- I always watch a CBS show at least once under most circumstances. This does not always happen, though. Description- A meteor is coming to strike the earth and wipe out mankind, but some people are trying to stop it while there are various other complications. Notable People- Ian Anthony Dale, who also stars on Hawaii Five-0, plays a character on this show. Pros- The show focuses on a lot besides the asteroid with various political conspiracies also in the plot. Cons- It can do too much while also somehow not doing enough. This seems unoriginal in some places. Note to Parents- There are enough various problems in here that would make this a bad choice to let a lot of really young kids watch, although preteens and teens probably can watch it without there being any issues of any kind. Recommendation- I think that it is good enough to watch. My Viewing Habits- I have not always kept up with this show, but saw most of it from the beginning until the very end. Cancellation reasons- There must have been a lack of interest in it as they got rid of it. Similar shows- Supergirl and Evil. DVD suggestion- This might be worth it. Reception: mixed. Grade: B-.

TKO: Total Knock Out: Why I’ve seen it- I watch a CBS show at least once most of the time. Description- People compete in an interactive obstacle course for fastest time while others try to knock them off the course at each different stage. Notable People- Kevin Hart, known for doing stand-up and movies, is the host of this show. Pros- It is simple and straightforward. Cons- It seems like a rip-off of Wipeout and Kevin is annoying as host. It is overall dumb and pointless. Note to Parents- I don’t think that there was anything wrong with this for kids. Recommendation- You aren’t missing a thing if you don’t watch it. So don’t watch it. My Viewing Habits- I watched this once and that was it. Cancellation reasons- People didn’t care about this so they got rid of it. I don’t think that they even bothered to officially cancel this in the end. Similar show- Ellen’s Game of Games. DVD suggestion- There won’t be any and it won’t be worth it if there were. Reception: bad. Grade: F.

Jane the Virgin: Why I’ve seen it- A dream of mine implied that I should watch it. Description- Based off of a Spanish telenovela, a woman named Jane, who’s a virgin, is accidently artificially inseminated and becomes pregnant. The show has evolved since that. There are others in the cast that make this interesting. Pros- If you actually watch the show, you’ll probably find something very interesting and worthwhile. Cons- It’s hard to tell what to make of this show. I mean, the premise itself seems kind of strange and the promos make it look more than weird. Also, the recurring storylines can drag on and on throughout the show. Note to Parents- This has some serious topics in it that could be useful discussing with teenagers. I’d say that young kids shouldn’t watch this, but preteens and teens can watch this. Just know that it doesn’t have the best morals present, which is to be expected actually. Recommendation- I would say that you should watch it, but only if you can see it all the time. My Viewing Habits- I missed some of the earlier episodes, but have more or less watched this since sometime in the first season. I missed a lot of the last season due to various conflicts and not seeing the last episode for a while was part of the reason why this post is so late. Cancellation reasons- People wanted this to end so it ended as a result. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- I would recommend getting this in the end. Reception: critically acclaimed. Grade: B+.

Ransom: Why I’ve seen it- I thought that I would like the general plot and premise of this. For some reason, I like missing person dramas. Noteworthiness- This is a Canadian show that airs in America. It had once been cancelled here once before and was brought back later. Description- A team of people tries to solve cases involving missing people, typically, and other crimes. Pros- The plot works and is interesting. Cons- The timeslot sucks and it’s easy to miss the show as a result. Not all of it works as it doesn’t always seem related to anything in each episode. Note to Parents- This has the standard amount of problems that you might expect from a show, but is not nearly as violent as it could be and other shows are. It is much tame compared to what one might be used to. Recommendation- I think that this is something that most people should watch if they want to and care enough. My Viewing Habits- I have been a fan of this since the first episode, but have missed a lot of show. Cancellation reasons- There was enough of a lack of interest in this and ratings declined enough that neither country could justify having this show stay around. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- There are not DVDs, although it might be worth the money if there were. Reception: somewhat good. Grade: A. It probably won’t have a true replacement given its odd timeslot.

Original review of Ransom with possibly outdated information: Ransom: Why I’ve seen it- It aired on CBS, a network whose shows I tend to watch at least once if possible. Noteworthiness- This is a Canadian show that’s airing in the US. It might still be on in that country, but not here anymore. This is also a rare show to air on Saturdays which is probably why it had bad ratings. Description- People help with ransom situations. It was more based on the crimes than by the characters. Pros- I thought that it was pretty interesting and good. Cons- It may seem similar to other things that I’ve seen before. It had a needless cliffhanger ending. Note to Parents- If you don’t want your kids exposed to kidnappings and other captivity situations on TV, than this would best be avoided for them. Recommendation- I’d say that this is good, especially if it does get a second season in Canada. My Viewing Habits- I started watching with the first episode, although I missed various episodes when I couldn’t see them. Cancellation reasons- It aired on Saturdays. What other reason did it need besides that? Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- Maybe this would be a good thing if it came out if you don’t mind its lack of an ending. Reception: somewhat good. Grade: C. It had no replacement unless you count the burn off of Doubt.

Million Dollar Mile: Why I’ve seen it- I like to watch a new CBS show at least once. Description- A reality competition, contestants compete through various obstacles for money while they try to avoid being caught by a well trained chaser. Notable People- Tim Tebow, a football player, is the host of this show. Pros- It works and seems fair. Cons- The show doesn’t have much to it. It is not something that people who don’t like sports would be into. Note to Parents- I can’t think of anything objectionable that might be in here. Recommendation- You can see this if you want to, but I wouldn’t spend time with it. My Viewing Habits- I only watched the first episode of this. Cancellation reasons- There were low ratings and it was isolated to Saturdays as a result, being officially cancelled. Similar show: The Amazing Race. DVD suggestion- There won’t be any and I wouldn’t recommend it if there were. It didn’t have that much to offer. Reception: mixed. Grade: D+.

The World’s Best: Why I’ve seen it- I often see a CBS show at least once. Description- Various people or groups of people compete to see who the best among them is. Notable People- It is hosted by James Corden who also hosts The Late Late Show. There are tons of famous judges, but it would take too long to get into all of them. Pros- If you typically like talent shows like America’s Got Talent, then you would like this as well. Cons- I, personally, don’t care much for it. It might not have had that much of a fair way of voting with the judges. The genre sucks and doesn’t have much to it. Note to Parents- I do not know if there was much to it that kids could or couldn’t watch. I don’t think that there was, but don’t know for sure if there was. Recommendation- This wasn’t worth watching or staying into. My Viewing Habits- I saw it once and never saw it again. Cancellation reasons- While this wasn’t officially cancelled, it is not being brought back for future seasons any time soon as far as I can tell. People didn’t care that much about it. Similar show- America’s Got Talent. DVD suggestion- There won’t be any and it wouldn’t be worth it if there were. Reception: bad. Grade: D-.

Mental Samurai: Why I’ve seen it- I was starting a new thread of watching every new FOX show and this was one of them that I could see. Description- Contestants compete on a course for the mind as it is described and they have to answer enough questions (all of them right) to become a mental samurai and win a lot of money as a result. Notable People- Rob Lowe, who has been on Parks and Recreation, The Grinder, and Code Black, is the host of the show. Pros- It can be fun to watch. Cons- It does not have any real interesting things happening and can seem unfair that you have to answer a dozen questions all right just to get money. Note to Parents- I don’t think that there was that much to it that one could find objectionable in the end. Recommendation- I wouldn’t bother with it as it isn’t interesting enough in my mind. My Viewing Habits- I only watched one full episode of this, although I saw part of another one. Cancellation reasons- While it was not officially cancelled, it is over due to lack of interest or low ratings. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- There won’t be any and it won’t be worth it as the show wasn’t that interesting. Reception: good. Grade: D.

iZombie: Why I’ve seen it- The fact that the main actress was cute was enough to get me to watch it once. Other good things about the show keep me coming back. Noteworthiness- This show is based off of a comic book, I believe. Description- It is about a newly turned zombie who uses her zombie powers to solve crimes. There was more to it than that as the show went along. Notable People- Rose McIver, once a power ranger in the RPM era, is the main character. Pros- It’s pretty interesting and intriguing. It is a far more creative zombie show as it isn’t focused on survival against the zombies since there are little zombies in the cast, at least starting out. Instead, it is about a zombie solving crimes and her own life being changed by becoming a zombie. Cons- There is too much sex in it and there is a lot of violence. Note to Parents- There is enough in here that is objectionable for kids, although teens are a okay with this in some parts. Recommendation- This is good and I recommend it. My Viewing Habits- While I had seen this from the first episode, I missed a lot of it. Cancellation reasons- The show might have had some sort of ratings issues but whatever the problem was, they decided to end it so they did. Similar show: The Flash. DVD suggestion- I would recommend it. I might get it myself at some point, but might not ever. Reception: positive. Grade: A.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Why I’ve seen it- I watched due to my promise to watch a new fall show on each network a season and the fact that this was the only new show on the CW during the fall the season it started. Description- A woman randomly moves to where her ex-boyfriend lives in hopes of winning him back. There’s more to the show as needed. Pros- There are some good parts about it. It can be funny at times. Cons- While this wasn’t bad, I didn’t like it. It was strange and didn’t seem to have much of a point to it. Note to Parents- Having only seen the pilot, there is not much advice to offer here. I’d say this is probably good for teen and preteens but not younger than that. It may be safe for some ages, but I wouldn’t think that. Recommendation- I’d pass on this. Mostly it’s a toss-up between good and bad, so that is why I’ll pass. My Viewing Habits- I only watched the first episode and while this wasn’t that bad, I didn’t like it that much. Cancellation reasons- The network or someone involved with the show wanted it to end so it ended. The CW noticeably renews shows for a final season and often doesn’t cancel a non freshman any other way anymore. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- Don’t bother with this. It isn’t worth owning. Reception: positive. Grade: D.

The Orville: Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it. Description- There is a crew in space with different things going on as they have to solve different problems at the places they visit. Notable People- Seth McFarlane, creator of Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, The Winner, and various other shows, is the creator and stars in this one. Pros- This is different as it tries to address current day topics in a new way while adding its own creation and stuff. Cons- Some of the plots are bad and don’t work the way they are supposed to. Note to Parents- There is enough in here that kids and even some teens shouldn’t watch. It is worth noting that this often aired with a content adversary warning when it was on. Recommendation- I think that it is worth the watch. My Viewing Habits- I missed a lot of this and will not be able to see more now that it is airing new episodes on Netflix. Special note- While FOX got rid of this show after originally renewing it, Netflix will be airing the third season of this show and any more of it that may come afterwards. Similar shows- Pandora and Supergirl. DVD suggestion- I think that this is probably worth getting. Reception: negative then positive. Grade: B.

The Gong Show: Why I’ve seen it- I was wanting to see it once so I tuned in. Noteworthiness- This is a reboot of a popular former show. Description- People complete in a talent show where bad acts get the gong and are taken off stage. Notable People- There are recurring guest judges that are famous in some way. The current host is said to be a character done by former SNL star Mike Meyers. Pros- There are legitimate acts that are good every now and then. Cons- It can be dumb at times as a lot of the acts are hit and miss. Plus, only one person has to hit the gong to get someone to stop their performance, which doesn’t seem far when there are three judges. Its biggest flaw is that it is intentionally about bad acts, although the occasional good act gets through from time to time. Why make a show about bad acts? Note to Parents- It might be questionable at times, but you’d have to watch it for yourself to decide if you think your kids should watch it. Recommendation- I wouldn’t watch this again as it seems to be about the bad acts and not about any good talent. My Viewing Habits- I only watched once and then never saw it again.  Cancellation reasons- I forget if the cancellation was made official or not. All I know for sure is that it didn’t come back for a future summer and it is over, probably due to lack of interest or something similar like that. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- I don’t think that there will be any and it wouldn’t be worth it anyways if there was. Reception: good. Grade: D.

The Gifted: Why I’ve seen it- It looked good and interesting. Noteworthiness- This is inspired by the X-men comic strip. It might be set in an alternate timeline of the X-men movies. Description- Set in a world with X-men, a family finds themselves on the run with the help of other fugitive mutants. Notable People- This stars Amy Acker who was in Person of Interest and various other shows. Pros- This is pretty good and pretty interesting. Cons- It needed to slow down a bit and not focus on too much at once. Parts of it are confusing. There was a bit of a cliffhanger ending. Note to Parents- The show had a lot of violence, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. There was sex at times, but not too often. It was not as bad as a lot of other shows and I don’t think it aired with content adversary warnings like most of the FOX shows do. Recommendation- I think that this is good and should be watched. My Viewing Habits- I have seen this from the first episode onward, but am pretty sure I have not seen all of the episodes of the show in question. Cancellation reasons- There was a significant ratings decline in the second season and other lack of interest in it as well. Similar shows- Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, and Supergirl. DVD suggestion- I would recommend that people get them. Reception: positive. Grade: A.

The Kids Are Alright: Why I’ve seen it- It aired with a show that I normally watch so I thought that I’d give it a chance and stayed with it until the end. Noteworthiness- This is based on the creator’s own life. Description- This is another one of those sitcoms about a family. It is set in the past where there are all boys in the family. Pros- It is simple enough and works well. Cons- It can seem too ordinary and wasn’t that funny a show. Note to Parents- It worked well enough for a show in terms of content. There were a bit of issues with it that you might expect, but not too much. Recommendation- I would say that one might like to watch it if one still can. My Viewing Habits- I joined in sometime into its only season and then watched what I could of it until the very end. Cancellation reasons- Its end came as a bit of a shock to some as it wasn’t doing that bad in the ratings. But the network decided to ax it instead. Similar shows- The Goldbergs, Schooled, American Housewife, and Modern Family. DVD suggestion- This might be worth getting. Reception: generally positive. Grade: B.

The Code: Why I’ve seen it- I watch a CBS show at least once when I can. Description- This is a military drama based on lawyers solving crimes. Notable People- Dana Delany, from Desperate Housewives and Body of Proof, is a character on the show. Pros- The show works with various things that keep one into it. Cons- The show is generic and ordinary. Note to Parents- There wasn’t too much bad to this since you can typically see a whole lot worse in the TV world today. Recommendation- I think that this is a good show and worth watching. My Viewing Habits- I don’t think that I saw all of this, but I saw it from the first episode until the last episode. Cancellation reasons- It was lowly rated, never catching on with viewers so it was cancelled as a result. Similar shows- NCIS and Bull. DVD suggestion- If there are any, this might be worth it. Reception: mixed to negative. Grade: B.

The Red Line: Why I’ve seen it- It was on CBS so you know the reason. Description- A community deals with the aftermaths of a cop shooting an unarmed black man. Pros- The plot works and has enough in it to make sense. Cons- Parts of it can seem strange and there can be too much going in it at once. Note to Parents- There were gay characters in the show. The main plot of it focused on a death. I would say that a lot of this is bad for kids, but not all of it is. Recommendation- I think that it is worth seeing and is not that much of a commitment. My Viewing Habits- I am pretty sure that I saw all of this. Cancellation reasons- It was a planned limited series, although it could have lasted longer had it got better ratings. Similar shows- Black Lightning, SVU, and Nancy Drew. DVD suggestion- I don’t know if there are DVDs of this or not. If there are, it might be worth it as it isn’t that much of a commitment in the end. Reception: generally favorable. Grade: B-.

The Enemy Within: Why I’ve seen it- I promised that I would watch a new, midseason show on NBC the year it was on. Description- A woman is forced to betray her country in order to save her kid from dying. She then works with the government to help reveal and weed out other traitors. Notable People- Jennifer Carpenter from the Limitless TV show is the main character. Pros- It works and is believable in some ways. Cons- It can have a sense of sameness to it. It ended on a cliffhanger. Note to Parents- There is a lot of violence and other issues. Recommendation- This show is dead to me. Don’t bother with it. My Viewing Habits- I have not seen every episode, but have seen this since the first one. Cancellation reasons- The ratings were low and it never recovered as a result. Similar shows- Evil and The Good Fight. DVD suggestion- Don’t bother with it. Reception: mixed to negative. Grade: F.

Proven Innocent: Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it. Description- A woman survived the horrors of being falsely imprisoned for a crime and is now a lawyer seeking to help the wrongfully convicted. Notable People- Kelsey Grammar of Cheers, Frasier, Hank, and Back to You is a cast member. Riley Smith of Life Sentence and Frequency is also a cast member. Pros- I think that this is well written. Cons- It doesn’t have the most original plot. Note to Parents- Even though I don’t think it ever aired with a content adversary warning, it seemed to have a lot wrong with it that you wouldn’t want kids to be exposed to. Recommendation- I think that it was good to keep up with. My Viewing Habits- I don’t think that I saw every episode, but I did see it since the first one. Cancellation reasons- The ratings were low and FOX had to make room for Friday Night Smackdown. Similar shows- For Life and All Rise. DVD suggestion- I would recommend it, if there ever are any. Reception: mixed to negative. Grade: B.

Gotham: Why I’ve seen it- I was interested in it and it worked out well for me to watch it in the first place. Noteworthiness- The show can best be described as a Batman origins story, even though he’s not in it as much as he could be as Jim Gordon is the main character and Bruce Wayne is a child and more of a supporting character who is not in every episode. Description- A story set in the world of Batman that largely focuses on Jim Gordon helping fight crime back when the characters were much younger. Notable People- Bruno Heller, the creator of the Mentalist, helped develop this show. Ben Mackenzie, who was in Southland and the OC, is the main character, Jim Gordon. Morena Baccarin, who was on Firefly, V, Homeland, among other things, is also a character on the show. Pros- I like this show for the most part. It is pretty interesting. It can probably keep you interested even if you aren’t that big a Batman fan. Cons- It seems more police procedural than actually about the Batman characters we know and love. Some of those characters aren’t as recognizable as others. Batman is not being as big as he probably should be in this show. For better or worse, they have advanced the series more than some might think is needed. Note to Parents- This show typically airs with a content advisory so it isn’t for younger viewers. Recommendation- I’d say that this show is good, even if Batman is more of a side character. My Viewing Habits- I haven’t seen every episode of this, but I did start watching from the very first episode. Cancellation reasons- FOX wanted to end it so they did. Similar shows- Supergirl, The Flash, and Batwoman. DVD suggestion- I would recommend this. Reception: positive. Grade: A.

The Big Bang Theory: Why I’ve seen it- General interest in the show from the moment it first aired and a bit before. Noteworthiness- Of all the live action comedies on television, this one had been on the longest. Description- This show is about the adventures of nerds, a female neighbor, and other people in their lives. Notable People- Chuck Lorre, who created Two and a Half Men, also created this show. He has created other shows as well, but I’m not sure they are worth mentioning. Kayley Cuoco from 8 Simple Rules and the original Charmed is Penny. Pros- This is a really funny comedy. Everyone loves Sheldon, the Obsessive-Compulsive roommate. Some people can watch reruns over and over again and still find it just as funny as they did the first time. Cons- Sex and other bad stuff can be present a lot. It isn’t always as good as you would like and there can be issues with negative portrayal of religion. Note to Parents- There are a lot of objectionable things in here so you would have to watch it to see if it is something you let your kids see. If they are in high school, I see no problem with letting them watch this.  Recommendation- I say that you should watch it if you like it. Most people do like this show. If you don’t laugh after watching an episode, then it isn’t for you. But, it is one of my favorite shows and I highly recommend it. My Viewing Habits- While I have not seen every episode, I’ve watched this since it has first started. I probably will see every episode at some point. Cancellation reasons- The people who did the show wanted it to end. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- I would recommend getting all of this. Reception: mixed then positive. Grade: A-.

Star: Why I’ve seen it- While I might have had a reason before watching this, I have no idea why I had an interest in this show after I saw it the first time. Description- I’m honestly not sure if I understand the plot of it or not. There might be singing, but it seems to be a racial drama about women who might be in danger and cause danger. Notable People- Queen Latifah, who has mostly done movies, is a character on this show or was at some point. Pros-It focuses on women for a change. Cons- The show seemed too weird and didn’t make much sense. It can try to tackle serious issues, but I don’t know if that’s the point that gets across or not. It is hard to understand and seemed too serious, in a way. The show was just skanky. Note to Parents- There are too many bad things in here that I’d avoid this as a show for your kids to watch. Recommendation- Don’t watch this. My Viewing Habits- I only watched this once and won’t watch it again as I have no idea why I was even interested in this in the first place. Cancellation reasons- It randomly ended for seemingly no good reason. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- Don’t bother with it. Reception: slightly positive. Grade: D-.

For the People: Why I’ve seen it- It looked good enough to watch in the promos. Description- This is a courtroom drama and it seems that we get both sides of the cases, although I’m not sure if they will be fighting against each other a lot or not. Notable People- This is produced by Shonda Rhimes who has done a lot of notable dramas for this network, such as those that air on Thursdays or TGIT. She did not create the show herself. It stars Britt Robertson, who starred on Life Unexpected, Under the Dome, The Secret Circle, and various movies. Pros- They can cover a lot in one episode and it works in terms of the plot. Cons- It doesn’t seem that different than other shows like it. Note to Parents- With this being a Shonda Rhimes show, there is a lot of problems with it in terms of sexual content. Other than that, there probably isn’t that much problem with it. Recommendation- I would say that you should watch this. My Viewing Habits- I missed the first episode, but have watched this when I could since the second. I did not see all of it, but have seen most of what I could until the end. Cancellation reasons- The ratings were low and it probably shouldn’t have even lasted a second season. Similar shows- All Rise, Bull, and For Life. DVD suggestion- If there are any, it should be good and worthwhile. I can’t think of much wrong with it if you can get it. Reception: somewhat good. Grade: B-.

Happy Together: Why I’ve seen it- It was a CBS show… Description- A singer moves in with his accountant after a break-up with his former girlfriend. Notable People- Damon Wayans Jr., who was in Happy Endings and New Girl, stars on this show as well. There are others as well. Pros- It is just different enough from other shows to not just be a formula that you have seen before. Cons- It seemed like it was just a family having to deal with someone move in with them type of show that was made different by it being a celebrity instead of an in-law. It didn’t really work that well for me. It wasn’t really funny. Note to Parents- There probably wasn’t that much bad to it, but it might have other issues. Recommendation- Don’t bother with it. My Viewing Habits- I only watched this once. Cancellation reasons- Not enough people cared about it or watched it so it was axed as a result. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- If there are any, don’t get it. Reception: mixed. Grade: D.

Pink Collar Crimes: Why I’ve seen it- It aired on CBS, blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada. Description- A true crime show, people describe crimes they committed and the reason why. It largely focused on crimes that women did. Pros- I would have to say that it seems pretty interesting. It was cool seeing it from the criminal’s perspective like we did in the pilot. Cons- It is similar to any show like it. Note to Parents- I don’t think that there was too much wrong, but since it focused only on crimes, then it isn’t a good thing to let kids watch. Recommendation- I would say that this is worth watching. My Viewing Habits- I only saw it once as I kept missing it other times for various reasons. Cancellation reasons- While the show wasn’t cancelled officially, it hasn’t been brought back and shows no signs of coming back for future seasons. There must not have been continued interest in the show. Similar shows- 48 Hours, 20/20, and Dateline. DVD suggestion- There won’t be any and if there were, it might be worth seeing it. Reception: good. Grade: A.

The Cool Kids: Why I’ve seen it- I wanted to see a new FOX show on at the fall that season so I saw this. Noteworthiness- This featured an unusually high number of older cast members. Description- We see the adventures of retirees and what they do now. Notable People- Vicki Lawrence, who was in Mama’s Family, is a character on this show. Pros- It wasn’t as bad as I first thought it would be. Cons- It wasn’t really that great. The acting seemed strange. Note to Parents- The show might have had some issues, but there wasn’t too much in it. Recommendation- I’d put this at a toss-up. You aren’t missing much if you don’t see it nor would you regret seeing it. My Viewing Habits- I only watched it once, although I would have been okay with seeing it more than that. Cancellation reasons- The show ending came as a bit of a surprise, but it is likely that FOX just wanted to make more room on its schedule of things. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- I put this as a toss-up as well. I don’t think that there will be any anyways. Reception: mixed to positive. Grade: C-.

The Passage: Why I’ve seen it- It looked good so I watched it. Noteworthiness- This is based off of a series of books. Description- People need a girl in order to stop an outbreak of zombie like conditions from happening. But a man seeks to protect her at all costs. Pros- I love the badass nature of the main guy. The plot is simple enough for all to get. Cons- I will say that it could be more interesting as parts of it don’t seem to go anywhere. There might have been a cliffhanger ending. Note to Parents- There was a lot of bad content in here that kids shouldn’t be exposed to so don’t let them watch it. I remember there being content adversary warnings with it. Recommendation- I would suggest watching it as it was good. My Viewing Habits- I might have seen all of it, but don’t remember for sure if I did. Cancellation reasons- A need for openings on the schedule brought forth its end. Similar shows: Legacies, Supernatural, and Charmed. DVD suggestion- I don’t know what to say. Reception: somewhat positive. Grade: B.

Murphy Brown: Why I’ve seen it- Even though it wasn’t really new, I wanted to see it as it was airing new episodes on CBS. Noteworthiness- It is a revival of an old show that first aired during the 90s. Description- An older woman returns to her job as a journalist with a team of people and other characters as needed. Pros- It is quite good and topical. It focused on all sorts of issues that are in some way important nowadays. Cons- There are strange acting choices that the cast does. Parts of it seem too unusual in some way. Note to Parents- There were some issues with it that you would typically see in TV shows. Recommendation- I would recommend it. My Viewing Habits- I only saw parts of the last season and not any of the earlier ones. Cancellation reasons- The older cast didn’t want to do as many episodes and the ratings weren’t good enough to justify renewal. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- I don’t think that all of this is out yet so I don’t know if it would be worth it or not. Reception: the revival was mixed to negative; I do not know about the original run’s reception. Grade: A.

Life in Pieces: Why I’ve seen it- Blah, blah, blah, watching a CBS show once, blah, blah, blah. Description- It’s hard to describe the plot of the show. It is basically about a family and their adventures all mixed into one story. Notable People- This show has Colin Hanks, from Fargo and The Good Guys, who is also the son of Tom Hanks. Pros- It’s different from most other shows. Cons- It is very stupid and pointless. It focuses far too much on sex. Note to Parents- Don’t let your kids watch this. Recommendation- This isn’t any good so don’t watch it. My Viewing Habits- I have seen only the first episode of this then never watched it again. Cancellation reasons- The final season was delayed a long time and people didn’t care enough when it returned, ending any hopes it had of lasting longer. Similar shows- Young Sheldon, Last Man Standing, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Mom. DVD suggestion- Don’t waste your time with it. Don’t buy the DVDs. Reception: generally favorable. Grade: F.

Fam: Why I’ve seen it- Since it was a CBS show, I watched it once as a result. Description- Simply put, this is another in a long line of sitcoms about families. In this variation, a woman has to deal with the stress of her estranged family coming back in her life. Notable People- This stars Nina Dobrev, who used to star on The Vampire Diaries. Pros- It contained someone trying to be part of a family. You would know what to expect from a show like this. Cons- Too much of it was predictable and did not have much that separated it from other shows like it. It wasn’t really funny and some of the acting seemed bad. Note to Parents- The show had tons wrong with it in terms of content, even though it isn’t nearly as bad as other shows can be. Recommendation- Don’t bother with it. My Viewing Habits- I only watched the first episode of this. Cancellation reasons- People weren’t interested in it so they got rid of it as a result. Similar shows- The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, and Mom. DVD suggestion- This isn’t good so don’t get it. Reception: negative. Grade: F.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?: Why I’ve seen it- I forget why, but it might have just been general interest in the show or something like that. Description- Contestants answer a multiple choice quiz with four choices for each question for a chance to potentially win a million dollars. Pros- Nowadays, there’s normally always a consolation prize for people who don’t win any money. Cons- The host changes often enough that you can lose track of who is hosting in each episode. That’s not to say that any of the hosts are bad, but it is something to remember since they tend to show old seasons with the newer ones. The questions can sometimes be too easy and other times are too hard. The lifelines or cheats keep changing and are thus hard to keep track of. This might be something that you’d have to watch all the time as contestant tend to spill over into other episodes. Recommendation- I like the show and find it interesting. I don’t currently watch it, but if it fit in my schedule, I probably would. Cancellation reasons- While a primetime revival is set to air for a bit in 2020, the syndicated version is over due to various reasons such as lack of interest. Similar shows- none. DVD suggestion- There won’t be DVDs. If there are, it might be worth it, but probably isn’t. Reception: good. Grade: B.

Other cancelled shows

Dietland: This was a dark comedy drama that had Julianna Margulies in it, among others. It aired on AMC. I might have only wanted to see it simply to review it for my Good Wife blog. I couldn’t as I only have network TV. I have no idea if this was any good or not.

Escape at Danamora: This show had Patricia Arquette in it. It was more of a limited miniseries more than it was anything else. It was about a real life prison escape that happened, although it also had some more to it that was fictionalized that caused controversy.

I Feel Bad: This was an NBC sitcom that aired during the regular season. I don’t think that much can be said about it. Maybe it would have lasted longer if it had a better name. But it didn’t and so they did not keep this show on for long.

Trial and Error: This NBC show last aired during the summer of 2018. I might have wanted to see it at some point in time, but never did wind up seeing it. They aired it at too late a time the second season and it had no chance of surviving into a third season as a result.

Take Two: If I had a different work schedule, I might have seen this ABC drama about an actress who worked as a consultant on a police force or something similar. It aired during the summer of 2018. There was not enough interest in it so it ended as a result.

Last Call with Carson Daly: This was the sole show at its timeslot on late night programming. I never saw a whole episode of it as I was bored with it from pretty much the start. Carson was too busy hosting a lot of other shows so he stopped doing this one and has now been replaced with a bi-sexual woman doing a show with a different name. Part of the problem that this might have not worked with me was because it wasn’t the standard show you would like.

Dancing with the Stars: Junior: A spin-off of the popular ABC reality show, it never lasted long on its own and is considered a separate show and not just a specific season of it. Reality show spin-offs don’t last that long, outside of some notable exceptions.

Reverie: An NBC show, it aired during the summer of 2018. I might have watched it were it not for all sorts of issues such as reception issues and it airing against a show that I watched at the time. It did look interesting as they had to save people from virtual reality by going into it.

Midnight, Texas: From the same people who did Grimm, I think, this had all sorts of supernatural things with it. It had a long hiatus from one season to another and that almost always, if not always, kills a show. This NBC show is over as a result.

1969: This unannounced show appeared on ABC after the shorter season of The Rookie’s first season was over. Most, if not all, unannounced shows are doomed to fail as they never get an audience. I did not see many, if any, promos for this and barely knew that it was on.

Abby’s: An NBC sitcom, it might have aired too late in the season for it to last. Whatever the reason, it did not last long and there isn’t much else to say about it. If you couldn’t tell by now, I didn’t want to keep track of all the shows that replaced other shows in this particular post.

Splitting up Together: This ABC sitcom lasted a mere two seasons, with not many people tuning in. It was a surprise renewal after the first season was over so it didn’t last beyond a second one. The only way a surprise first renewal will last beyond a second season is if it isn’t on the CW.

Lethal Weapon: A FOX show, it was adapted from a film series. While it lasted somewhat long, there were enough problems with it in terms of the production standpoint. For one, they fired one of the original stars after he created a hostile work environment. The other one was set to leave after feeling that he was too old for this shit. It might more since for them to end it than try to continue the show as a shell of its former self.

The Village: I forget which of the major networks this aired on. I think it was NBC. The show never got anywhere in the ratings as a lot of midseason shows are dead on arrival, especially when it airs as late as it did. That’s all I can say about this.

The Fix: An ABC show, it seemed to be about OJ Simpson only a made up version. For one reason or another, it didn’t resonate with viewers who I guess could just watch other shows or the news if they wanted to see others get away with crimes or seem to be treated that way.

Whiskey Cavalier: I dreamt about this ABC show at one point, but never bothered to see it ever and had no interest in it. Who airs a show with this name? It might have been interesting in some way, but I do not know if it was or wasn’t.

Child Support: This was an ABC game show where children helped in some way. I don’t know what else there is to say about it as I didn’t find it that interesting to ever tune into it. Maybe it was good, but I’ll never know for sure.

Celebrity Big Brother: When it was first on, it was to counterprogram the Olympics, something that this or any network not NBC could easily do by airing what they normally air anyways. It had a second season the next year, but shows no signs of returning so can only be marked as cancelled as a result.

The Inbetween: This might have been another show that I would have liked to watch, but never saw for one reason or another. Maybe there was a supernatural element to it, but I honestly forget that much about what this was or even which of the major networks it aired on.

Castaways: Similar to Survivor in some ways, there wasn’t much else to add about it other than that I would have liked to see it at some point, but never did due to work commitments. It aired on ABC and must not have had much people interested in it as I don’t think they even officially cancelled it.

The Last Defense: This aired on network TV at some point, but I can’t remember which network offhand and don’t care that much anymore as I was just wanting to finish this post, even though it should have been done way sooner than February.

The Proposal: A reality show on ABC, it wasn’t that interesting to anyone and seemed to be a mockery among even reality show fans. What was it? I don’t know. It seemed maybe dumb, but could have been interesting. I never bothered with it anyways.

Love Connection: A FOX reality show, people tried to make a connection and get others to like it as a result. If the audience got the right match, they would win a price. If they didn’t, they would have to choose between a date and money. I watched part of an episode and never saw more of it as a result as it was that bad to me.

Phenoms: This show aired on FOX and it was a science based show, if I have my information about it correct. What else is there to say? I had to look up different things and only was reminded that this was even a show at all.

Rel: I once tried to watch this, but couldn’t get past the first commercial break. It had nothing to offer since it wasn’t funny and seemed to only offer horrible people in the live studio audience who thought that everything was too funny when nothing was.

AP Bio: This show was so terrible in my mind that I can’t fathom why some people liked it, how it got a second season, or why it moved to NBC’s streaming site after the network cancelled it after its second season aired. I never actually saw the show, but I don’t think it will matter as I won’t.


List of every cancelled show: Celebrity Big Brother, Jane the Virgin, I Feel Bad, Dancing with the Stars: Junior, Reverie; Midnight, Texas; Child Support, 1969, Abby’s, Splitting up Together, Lethal Weapon, The Village, The Fix, Whiskey Cavalier, Trial and Error, Gotham, iZombie, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Shades of Blue, The Big Bang Theory, Dietland, Salvation, The Inbetween, TKO: Total Knock Out, Take Two, Escape at Danamora, AP Bio *, Designated Survivor, Fam, Life in Pieces, Murphy Brown, Last Call with Carson Daly, The Passage, The Cool Kids, Pink Collar Crimes, Happy Together, For the People, Star, Proven Innocent, The Enemy Within, The Red Line, The Code, The Kids are Alright, The Gifted, Love Connection, The Gong Show, The Gifted, The Kids are Alright, The Orville *, Mental Samurai, The World’s Best, Million Dollar Mile, Ransom, TKO: Total Knock Out, Salvation, Castaways, The Last Defense, The Proposal, Phenoms, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Monday, February 10, 2020

How Different Time Slots Affects Shows

While some people may not realize it, when a show airs affects it a lot. A time slot can affect a show in a lot of different ways. Maybe it changes in certain noticeable ways when it gets a new timeslot. Maybe it doesn’t seem to change anything about the show except ratings. Whatever the reasons, I might as well get to them all in this post.

Sometimes you never see a change because sometimes, a show never has more than one timeslot throughout its entire run on TV. For instance, NCIS has, to date, only aired at 8/7 Central on Tuesdays outside of reruns. This is rare for a show to not have more than one timeslot, although some of when that happens is when a show only lasts a short amount of time.

Largely, dealing with scheduling is the main issue behind timeslot changes. A show on Sunday is likely not going to air against some of the award shows that are going on or other notable events like The Super Bowl or literally anything that would change the schedule some. Not all of the timeslot changes do relate to this, but sometimes, it is easier to keep airing a show at a new time other than waiting for the other events to end in the future. For instance, Elementary had moved to Sundays before March Madness would have pre-empted it airing for two weeks so a new show could debut in its old timeslot after part of the tournament was over. Scheduling will often just affect what airs when.

Does constantly changing a timeslot affect a show a lot? Well, that would depend on a lot of things. One thing that is worth noting is that most timeslot changes are between seasons and not as the season is progressing. People are more likely to stick with shows this way, being prepared for what is going on. Sometimes, shows don’t get as good ratings at a new timeslot. But often, they can still last. Even when shows are moved to Fridays, they still might last quite a while like Hawaii Five-0 has.

Part of the main change you would see with timeslots is when a show airs at 9 Central. This is the latest timeslot on any network and is the only one that neither FOX nor the CW show any primetime shows at. This is seen as a time to air darker shows that may have more violence or foul language in it. This is not always the case as some shows that aren’t airing more adult content air that late due to various factors that not everyone can keep track of.


Well, that’s pretty much it for this post as different timeslots can affect the same show or different shows that have the same timeslot of when they air. Sometimes it doesn’t mean much outside of when the show airs and other times, it could mean a lot of different things in terms of changes. I don’t think that there is much else to say so I will let you go now.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

When All Five Networks Air Something Good at Once (and Why it’s Rarer than You Think)

Depending on what level TV junkie you might be, you would not only keep track of what shows air on all the networks, you would probably also watch more than one at the same time. But even if you only see stuff from the five major networks (unlikely since you wouldn’t limit yourself to just network TV), it might be hard to find a time when they are all airing something good at once.

To be fair, though, the term good is subjective. Something I find good, others may hate. Something others find good, I may hate. I do tend to like a lot of shows I watch. I don’t always watch more than one thing at once since I’m not always interested in more than one thing at once. And that’s provided that everything on that night is new.

Before I get into more of this post, it is worth noting that from 9-10 Central, the CW and FOX do not air anything at all outside of local programming, often news or syndicated shows. Thus, there are only two hours of the weekday and Sundays when all five networks are airing something.

Now how rare is it for all networks to air something good at once? I can remember when it was Friday of all times where FOX aired Enlisted and Raising Hope, NBC aired Grimm, ABC aired Shark Tank, CBS aired Hawaii Five-0, and the CW aired something that I liked. That might honestly be the most recent time or best example I can think of offhand where all networks aired something good at once. And, as you can tell, I can’t even remember what the CW was airing that I liked.

I doubt that someone else could think of a time, even recently, when all the networks might have aired a good show that I like. Maybe it is something that happens more often than I think and I just don’t know of other times it might have happened. I normally don’t watch more than four shows at once and am often just watching three at once, if even that.


That’s about it for this post. I updated this blog today since there weren’t enough read posts in my Survivor blog. While Thursdays are a day of the week that posts of this blog could become common on, I did not roll Survivor today so I will not be starting that yet, if at all. Don’t expect it during Lent unless I roll the option on Maundy Thursday. I will see you Monday or some other time with the next post. Also, happy 300th post of this blog!