As I already knew was likely,
I am going to split this post up into multiple parts due to the various times,
some late and some already happened, when shows start this summer. For the
first time in quite a while for summer shows, at least, if not ever, I am doing
this post because one of the new shows I’m reviewing has been cancelled. I
might as well get it done as a result.
Tom Swift: Show Description- A billionaire inventor has to deal with
finding his father who is missing in space and the evil corporation who is out
to get him. Behind the Scenes- This is a spin-off of Nancy Drew, although the
connection seems very loose as this show isn’t even the same genre. My
Thoughts- I think that this is pretty interesting and some ways, even if parts
of this are predictable. I give this three out of five stars. Long Term
Prospects- Due to low ratings, this was already cancelled, although it is set
to air all of its only season. Where to Find- On the CW at 9/8 Central on
Tuesdays
With a record low only one new
show to review here, I’m going to mention returning shows that are back this
summer that I haven’t reviewed yet and most of it that I already have. I’ll get
to another set of these later at some point as well.
The Chase: Status- Currently on ABC at 9/8 Central on Tuesdays. Why
I’ve seen it- It was the only thing on when I wanted to see something. Noteworthiness-
This is based on a British show of the same name. Description- Contestants
compete against a trivia master to win a certain amount of money. At some
points, they have to avoid being chased out of their money. Notable People- The
three most notable Jeopardy players are the people chasing the other, main
contestants. Pros- It works well enough as a format. Cons- It can be strange at
times. Note to Parents- This seems completely fine to let your kids watch.
Recommendation- If you have no other commitments, then watch this show. My
Viewing Habits- I have seen this once and might watch it again if it works out.
Prediction- Toss-up. It could last, but just as easily might not. Reception:
positive. Grade: C.
Dynasty: Status- Currently on the CW at 9/8 Central on Fridays. Why
I’ve seen it- I try to watch every CW show once, if I can. Noteworthiness- This
is a remake. Description- A family has to deal with changing dynamics and
working with their respective companies. Notable People- Alan Dale, who had a
role on NCIS for a bit, is a character on this show. Pros- The plot works for
the most part. It is interesting enough to keep some people into it. Cons- The
characters are bad people so it has that against it. There could be more to
this. It seems too strange. Note to Parents- There are some of the usual
problems like sex and violence. There are gay characters. Recommendation- While
I might watch this at times, I’d put this as a toss-up in terms of if people
should watch this. My Viewing Habits- I’ve seen little of this thus far due to
scheduling issues in my life or against other shows. I watched a lot of the
second season, but don’t know yet if I’ll see much of this current one yet.
Prediction- This is airing its final season with filming set to last until
August. Reception: mixed or average. Grade: B-.
Wellington Paranormal: Status- Currently on the CW at 9/8 Central
on Wednesdays. Why I’ve seen it- It was a new CW show so I watched it once as I
often do. Noteworthiness- This is a show from New Zealand airing in the US.
This is also a TV spin-off of What We Do in the Shadows, which would later
become its own TV show itself. Description- A mockumentary, police investigate
supernatural cases. Pros- This show is hilarious and always fun to watch. Cons-
The type of humor isn’t for everyone as not everyone would get it. Note to Parents-
There are some issues here and there, but it is relatively fine for teens and
older. Recommendation- I quite enjoy it and recommend it. Prediction- Whether
it lasts doesn’t rely on US viewers. I hope that it can and think that it might
if the ratings here are good enough too. Reception: good. Grade: A. New
review
In the Dark: Status- Currently on the CW at 9/8 Central on Mondays.
Why I’ve seen it- I tend to watch a new CW show at least once. Description- A
blind woman deals with various struggles in life such as the death of a man who
was close to her. Notable People- Comedian Ben Stiller is an executive producer
of this. Pros- There aren’t any shows about blind people and this changes this.
Cons- I do not think that there’s enough in the show for it to work as far too
much of it was just too weird. I want to like the focus given on a minority
character, but can’t as she’s too much of an asshole. Many think that it is
wrong for a non-blind actress to play a blind character. Note to Parents- A lot
of this show relates to crimes and there are lesbians in it or were at one
point. Recommendation- This isn’t worth keeping up with at all. My Viewing
Habits- I only watched the second episode and that was it. I have more contempt
for it than any other CW show still on the air. Prediction- This had the most
inexplicable second season renewal in CW if not television history given its
low ratings. I would say that from the fourth season onward, it will probably
be more likely to end than last. Reception: mixed. Grade: F.
Celebrity Family Feud: Status- Currently on ABC at 8/7 Central on
Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- I was able to catch a rerun. Description- This is
basically the same as Family Feud, only the people competing are from famous
families and competing for charities instead of themselves. Also, winning
people wouldn’t be back on future shows like in the regular game show. Notable
People- Steve Harvey, well known comedian and current talk show host who also
currently hosts the regular version of Family Feud is the host of this show as
well. Pros- Everything that you’d love about the regular Family Feud is in this
show as well. Celebrities are competing for charity so it is all for a good
cause. Even the losers’ charities get money. Cons- To make this an hour, they
cram what are two half hour shows into one episode, which I find strange and
unnecessary. A lot of the questions relate, intentionally or otherwise, to sex.
Note to Parents- You might have some stuff to worry about for the really young
ones, but other than that, it should be fine. Recommendation- I’d say that this
is worth watching. My Viewing Habits- This is something that I plan to watch
when I can although I haven’t always watched it in the past. Prediction- This
show comes and goes already so even if it ends, it could come back. I’d imagine
that it will probably stay as a long term summer show for a while. Reception:
somewhat positive. Grade: B+.
The $100,000 Pyramid: Status- Currently on ABC at 10/9 Central on
Sundays. Why I’ve seen it- It seemed interesting and I didn’t really have
anything else to watch at the time. Noteworthiness- This is a reboot of the
pyramid game show. Description- People have to get various questions answered
by the other contestant. The current format has a regular person paired with a
celebrity and they compete against another team like them. Partway through the
game, the regular person is then paired with the other celebrity. Notable
People- Michael Strahan, who used to co-host the Live talk show and still helps
with sports commentary, is the host of this show. There are famous guests who
help each show. Pros- The show is fairly entertaining and funny to watch. Cons-
It is weird that they always put together two halves of a show into one hour
long show instead of just making this one half hour show while finding other
things to air. Parts of the format are a bit strange and don’t entirely seem
fair in a way. Note to Parents- This is mostly acceptable outside of potential
sexual things said. Recommendation- I’d say that people would like and watch
this. My Viewing Habits- I don’t always watch but do whenever I can see it. Normally
I watch when I can. I haven’t watched it at all this current season.
Prediction- This could last and it might not. Whether it does or it doesn’t,
I’m not entirely sure of. If it doesn’t last, it will probably still be revived
again at some point anyways. Reception: good. Grade: B.
Roswell, New Mexico: Status- Currently on the CW at 8/7 Central on
Mondays. Why I’ve seen it- I thought that it could be interesting. Noteworthiness-
This is a remake of a show of the same name. It is also adapted from the
Roswell High book series. Description- While I’ve seen a lot of the show, I
don’t know how to say what all it is about. I know that it involves aliens in
some way and other mysteries. There’s a romance and some of it has related to
high school at one point. Pros- The show has interesting dynamics. A lot of the
plot is worth coming back to. Cons- It can seem boring at times. Note to
Parents- There is a lot in here that is bad for the young kids, but teens and
older are good to watch this if they want to. Recommendation- Take it or leave
it. I think that it is worth watching and do, but don’t think that I would lose
much if I wasn’t able to see it anymore. My Viewing Habits- I’ve seen a lot of
this and watched it from the beginning, but haven’t seen all of it. Prediction-
This is currently airing its final season. Reception: mixed. Grade: B-.
Big Brother:
Status- This CBS show airs in three hours of primetime during the summer and on
live internet feeds at www.cbs.com. The three
primetime hours are basically split into the mostly live show where people are
voted out, the show where people get nominated to get voted out, and the show
where people compete to possibly change the nominations on the show. Why I’ve
seen it- A parody of it on the Talk interested me in watching the real thing.
Noteworthiness- There are many versions of it in other countries, most of which
work very differently than ours. In case you were wondering, we were not the
first country to do this show, although we were the first country to use the
format that it has in almost no other country’s version of it. Description- A
group of people, normally strangers, but sometimes not, are put into a house
where they are recorded 24/7 and competing for a money prize. Notable People-
Julie Chen, formally of CBS’s Early Show and The Talk, is the host of this
show. Pros- While it may seem similar to other reality TV shows, it is very
different to the usual. You can see whatever you want to online since CBS has
live feeds of what goes on inside the house. Cons- The live internet feed gets
cuts a lot making it seem like the people that air the show is hiding
something. Tons of controversies have arisen on the show. The contestants often
aren’t nice people. Note to Parents- I’d say that teenagers can watch this. I
wouldn’t go with much younger than that as the typical episode can have enough
objectionable things in it. You can watch it with them and decide for yourself
what it is like and if you want to comment on it a lot to explain some of it,
that would work. Recommendation- This show is a pretty good show to watch. My
viewing habits- I got into this late and for varying reasons don’t know yet if
I’ll watch it again. I might not see it again as it is too much of a time
commitment. Prediction- It will probably last a long time, although it just as
easily might not. Reception: mixed. Grade: B-.