It seems that I will have to split this up as usual since there is no better way to do this nowadays. One of the shows mentioned is already cancelled or so it seems. I’ll make sure that I know what’s going on as I mention it. More reviews will come later so let’s get to that. Sorry that this is as late as it is as I’m cheating and saying that this happened when it was supposed to go up. I will be doing this blog only every other Sunday until it falls on the last Sunday of the month. Then, it will be sporadic with no set dates or further obligation to do this once every month anymore.
Barons: Show Description- I’m not entirely sure, but it seems to relate to people wanting to do a lot of surfing, but there is peril in their lives as well due to all sorts of drama. Behind the Scenes- This is an Australian TV show that is airing in America. My Thoughts- I couldn’t make sense of the show, but could easily decide that I don’t like it. There wasn’t anything about it that made me want to come back to it ever again. I give it one out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- This was already pulled from the schedule before I think it finished airing. It was cancelled in America. I don’t know if that’s the case where it comes from or not. Where to Find- Not on the schedule
The Rising: Show Description- After being mysteriously murdered by circumstances she can’t remember that well, a woman still wonders the earth with few people able to see and talk to her as she seeks to figure out what happened to her and other strange things that went on. Behind the Scenes- This is a British show that is airing in the US on the CW. I think that it is strange that the CW promotes this and any and all other foreign imports as an original series when it isn’t. My Thoughts- While I do find it sad that it seems to rip-off parts of the movie The Invisible, it is very good and interesting outside of that from what I’ve seen. I give it four out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- It might be over by the time that you are seeing this. Besides, I’m not sure how much they could milk out of something like this in the first place. Where to Find- It was on the CW at 8/7 Central on Mondays
LA Fire & Rescue: Show Description- A reality show, it follows real first responders in real crises. Behind the Scenes- I think that this is produced by Dick Wolf, who created the franchises Law & Order, FBI, and Chicago. My Thoughts- It is a pretty interesting show. I’m not sure how much I like this since I know how real it is and can be. But I might stay into it, if only due to cheap cliffhangers that are there at times. I give this three out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- I have no idea if it will last or not, but I think that due to the writer’s and actor’s strike, it will probably stay around for now. Where to Find- On NBC at 8/7 Central on Wednesdays
Moonshine: Show Description- A woman inherits her late mother’s hotel, but that’s not the end of things as there is a lot of family issues and other things that weren’t in the episode that I watched of this based off of the promos. Behind the Scenes- This is another foreign import airing on the CW, this one from Canada. Why Nexstar purchased the CW and, as far as I know, never (as of yet) aired any original new programming on the network is beyond my understanding (although they could just be killing the network for reasons unknown). My Thoughts- There were some good parts to this, but not nearly enough for me to either stay interested in this or keep watching it long term. I give this two out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- I have no idea. A lot of this has already been made, so we’ll see if things wind up airing in the US at some point in time. Where to Find- On the CW at 9/8 Central on Fridays
Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge: Show Description- People compete to form real life cars based on certain hot wheel designs. Behind the Scenes- This is based on the hot wheels cars for kids that is part of the toys for kids with adult competitors that you see in reality TV a bit nowadays. My Thoughts- I should have been more okay with this show, but since it is about cars that I normally don’t care about, then I don’t see a point in watching it myself, although you are more than free to watch this if you like it yourself. I give it two out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- I have no idea if this will last or not, but am pretty sure that it will get at least one more season since the writer’s strike is still ongoing. Where to Find- On NBC at 10/9 Central on Tuesdays
Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982: Show Description- This is a documentary about various geek things that had happened in the world of cinema in 1982. Behind the Scenes- I have no idea why this was turned into a TV show. My Thoughts- This seems like a very random and specific thing to turn into a show and I just couldn’t stay interested in this myself. I give it two out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- I give this little to no chance of surviving beyond its current run. It doesn’t seem made for more than what could be done in one season. Where to Find- On the CW at 8/7 Central on Saturdays
Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars: Show Description- A lot of food competitions of all sorts are done among people who want Gordon Ramsay’s investment in their company. Behind the Scenes- This is perhaps the 30th TV show featuring Gordon Ramsay and food. My Thoughts- While I get annoyed at all of the drama on this show and even how some of the annoying contestants have made it far in the game, I still think that it is quite interesting and fun to watch. I give it four out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- I see this lasting, probably. I can’t currently think of any Gordon Ramsay show that didn’t last more than one season. There could be ones that I’m not familiar with, though. Let me know if I’m wrong since it would be nice to know. Where to Find- On FOX at 9/8 Central on Wednesdays
The Prank Panel: Show Description- People submit ideas for pranks and some are approved for this hidden camera show. Behind the Scenes- Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame is the host of this show. It is also notorious for causing a lawsuit. My Thoughts- It seems about as good as prank shows get. I give it three out of five stars. Long Term Prospects- I don’t have high hopes for it at the moment since I know about the lawsuit and other problems this could cause. It could stick around, but once a show like this is known, it is harder and harder to keep catching people off guard with it. Where to Find- On ABC at 9/8 Central on Thursdays
Here we switch to returning shows. I’m only going to include shows that are back as of now. If they are going to be part of the schedule later, I’ll get to it later when it premieres again. Let’s get to the ones that are part of the schedule now.
Tough as Nails: Status- Currently on CBS on Fridays and Sundays at 8/7 Central. Why I’ve seen it- At the time, I watched a new CBS show at least once. Description- Men and women compete at real job sites and on two teams to see who is the toughest of them. Notable People- Phil Kogan, the host of The Amazing Race, also hosts this show as well. Pros- It is nice to see something sort of different and contestants that are out of the individual competition are still part of the team competition so that can help them earn money still in the game. I like the show. Cons- Not all of this is worth keeping up with. Note to Parents- There isn’t anything wrong with the show based on what I saw of it. Recommendation- I think that it is worth watching and keeping up with. My Viewing Habits- I’ve seen maybe all of the first season, but have not watched much of it after that due to wanting to see less TV. I returned for its fourth and fifth seasons. Prediction- This is renewed for a fourth season already and I see this as lasting for a while. Reception: somewhat good. Grade: B.
Family Law: Status- Currently on the CW on Fridays at 8/7 Central. Why I’ve seen it- I tend to watch a new CW at least once. Noteworthiness- This is a Canadian show that is now airing in the US. Description- Family drama comes to a head in various ways as a lot of family members now work together in court dealing with other family cases and their own drama as well. Notable People- It stars Jewel Staite from Firefly and The LA Complex. It also stars Victor Garble from Legends of Tomorrow. Pros- It is overall an interesting show. Cons- Some parts of this can be absurd, such as different subplots and what is sometimes dealt with as a case. I doubt a lot of the courtroom scenes would be allowed in reality. Note to Parents- Some of the subject matter that you see in the show isn’t something kids should be exposed to like drunkenness, sex, affairs, and other forms of cheating. There are lesbian characters. Child custody cases are an important part of the plot every episode. There is also a major trans character in the show as well. Recommendation- I think that this is worth watching if it works out for you. My Viewing Habits- While I’ve missed parts of this, I have seen this since the first episode. Prediction- I have no idea. It might be more likely to be kept if it isn’t affected by the writer’s strike going on right now should it need to be kept around in order to have something on. It might be more likely to last in Canada than here. Reception: good. Grade: B-. New review
Nancy Drew: Status- Currently on the CW at 8/7 Central on Wednesdays. Why I’ve seen it- I thought that it could be interesting. Noteworthiness- This is based on the popular kid’s book series based on the popular character. Description- Now a young adult, the sleuth Nancy Drew is working to solve a cold case murder and a newer murder. Notable People- This stars Riley Smith from Drive, Frequency, Life Sentence, and Proven Innocent. Pros- The show is interesting and isn’t just the same thing week after week like you often find in most mystery shows. Cons- It runs into usual problems like sex or other things that probably don’t need to be there. Note to Parents- There is enough in here that kids shouldn’t see, but teens could be okay with. Recommendation- I think that this is good to keep up with and say that you should watch. My Viewing Habits- I joined this into its first season and plan to watch what I can of this as much as I can. Prediction- It is currently airing its final season. Reception: mixed or average. Grade: A.
Crime Scene Kitchen: Status- Currently on FOX at 9/8 Central on
Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- I had decided at the time to watch every new FOX
show at least once, only making one exception so far after making that rule. Description-
Contestants have to figure out what food was made based on clues left behind
and then make it themselves. They are judged on accuracy, presentation, and
taste. Notable People- Joel McHale, formerly of Community, Card Sharks, and
Star Girl, is also the host of this show as well. He also does Animal Control. Pros-
This show has done the impossible: make me like cooking shows. It is actually
interesting for a change as I like seeing what all is made and how all it
works. Cons- Splitting this into two rounds can make this take up too much
time. It can be confusing not having all of the contestants in the game at
once. If one isn’t that familiar with different types of food, one would be
lost trying to guess what the potential food is. Note to Parents- There is not
much, if anything, wrong with this for kids to watch. Recommendation- I think
that one should watch this in the end. My Viewing Habits- I joined it during
its first season and plan to watch as long as nothing else conflicts with it
that I deem more important. Prediction- It is hard to tell for sure since it
took such a long and largely needless gap between seasons. I say that it is
just as likely to last as it is to fail. It will all depend on what excess
programming FOX needs. Reception: good. Grade: B. New review
Riverdale: Status- Currently on the CW at 9/8 Central on Wednesdays. Why I’ve seen it- From this point forward, I’ll try to watch any new CW show if possible. Noteworthiness- This is inspired by the Archie comic book series. Description- Starting out, it is about a murder at a high school and various other dark plots. At the moment, it is best described as the noir genre. It is hard to tell what the basic plot of it is. Notable People- Cole Sprose, who was one of the leads on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, is a character who also narrates the show. Pros- There is enough potential in it that it might be good. It seems better than just another dumb high school show. Cons- This seems stereotypical in a way. This probably has all the problems you could expect from a CW show. Some of it is unrealistic and doesn’t make sense. It can be sex crazed at times. Note to Parents- There are enough bad things in here that children shouldn’t be watching. Recommendation- I’d put this at a toss-up. My Viewing Habits- I started watching from the first episode. I have given it up at times for various reasons. When the plot got far too ridiculous, I gave it up for good. Prediction- It is ending this current season. Reception: generally positive. Grade: F.
And that’s the end of this post for now. Obviously, a part 2 is planned to come at some point in time, but we’ll have to wait until it works out until it is published. Hopefully I won’t be cheating much in blogs as I don’t like it and it is unfair, but that might be the only way that it works out some times. For the rest of the shows that you’ll be seeing me review, wait until you can see them. To be continued…
