There will be a lot of new network shows debuting in one month and after looking at the long list, I’m not overly enthusiastic. However, there were a few stand-outs that made my list of “Must See TV,” at least for the pilot episodes. Here are my ‘off-the-top-of-my-head’ picks for the 2010-2011 new shows (in no particular order of ranking). (I have not included cable or premium programming in this list)
1. $h*! My Dad Says
This 1/2hr sitcom will air on CBS beginning September 23 @ 8:30PM Eastern time. It made my list for one reason only — William Shatner is the headliner in a comedy that will allow him to show his brilliant self-defacing comedic style that was often hinted at in his Emmy winning performances on “Boston Legal”. Shat stars as Ed, a 72 year old politically-incorrect opinionated man who is forced to take in one of his two adult sons as a border and therein lies the comedy.
2. Raising Hope
This is the only other sitcom that made my list for the new season. Again there is only one reason I will be giving this one a chance — Cloris Leachman. Of course having Martha Plimpton in the mix hasn’t hurt either. The show centers around a 23 year old man who has to suddenly raise a child he fathered after a one-night stand because the mother gets landed in jail. His own family is quite dysfunctionally funny which leads to supposed hillarity. We shall see. It airs starting September 21 on FOX.
3. No Ordinary Family
This is the only scifi show to make my list of new programs for the season and because it will air on ABC I give it a few episodes before it gets pulled no matter how good it may end up being. Why? Because when it comes to scifi ABC has become the new FOX. The protagonists are a family called the Powells. Before a deadly plane crash in the Amazon River this upper middle-class American family was quite typical. However, after the crash they begin revealing special abilities. Michael Chiklis (“Commish”, “The Shield,” “The Fantastic Four”) headlines a strong supporting cast. You can see it beginning September 28 at 8PM Eastern.
4. The Event
This next show is probably the most anticipated of the bunch of newbies. Because of its storyline this one will have to be watched every single episode to stay on top of the action and thread. “The Event” stars Jason Ritter as an ordinary man investigating the disappearance of his fiance but ends up uncovering a conspiracy so large and involved that, if revealed to the world, would literally bring down existence as we know it and change the core of humankind. The show boasts of a strong supporting cast that includes Blair Underwood (L.A. Law), Clifton Collins Jr. (Southland), Laura Innes (ER) and Sarah Roemer (Wristcutters: A Love Story). It airs on NBC September 20 at 9:00 PM/Eastern.
5. Undercovers
This one will likely be the most popular of the new entries because J.J. Abrams is its creator and will direct the pilot episode, something he hasn’t done since the pilot of his highly successful “Lost” series. This show is a dramedy spy adventure series a bit on the theme similiar to the Quaid/Turner hit movie “Undercover Blues”. It has a good cast led by Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw who play the husband and wife spy team (ala “Hart to Hart”). The gem in Abrams’ crown for this one was his ability to get fan-fav Gerald McRaney (“Simon and Simon,” “Jericho”) back to a weekly show. Look for it on NBC beginning September 22.
6. The Whole Truth
Yes, I know, even from the title you can tell this one is another in a long list of courtroom dramas. However, this show may be a surprise from past ones. First, it promises not to drag on and on like many of its kind in the past simply because Jerry Bruckheimer is the showrunner and secondly he was able to snag Maura Tierney (ER) as the female lead and everyone knows her performances are always A-list material. After her serious bout with breast cancer over the last two years it will be great seeing her on the small screen again. Rounding out the top spot is actor Rob Morrow, best known by fans for his 5 season stint on the CBS hit series “Numb3rs”. The other unique thing about this program will be how each case is followed by the cameras. It will view each case from the point of view of both the prosecution and defense giving equal time to each presentation. You can watch it on ABC starting September 22 at 10PM Eastern.
7. Hawaii Five-0
My last entry is a remake of a classic 1960′s television show that aired for 12 consecutive years and became part of Americana and the world’s lexicon. Who doesn’t know what “Bookem’ Danno” means?
The original starred Jack Lord and James MacArthur in the top spot. This new incarnation will feature Alex O’Loughlin (“Moonlight,” “Three Rivers”) in the Lord role and Scott Caan (all three “Oceans” films), son of James Caan, has landed the role of Danno. Daniel Day Kim (“Lost”) joins the cast in the role of Chin Ho Kelly, the part made famous in the original series by actor Kam Fong Chun. The new cast is rounded out with Grace Park (“Battlestar Galactica”) as Detective Kona Kalakaua, Emmy winner Jean Smart as Governor Patricia Jamenson and Taryn Manning (“Sons of Anarchy”) as Mary Ann McGarrett. “Hawaii Five-0″ airs September 20 on CBS.
I'm going to watch the following:
No Ordinary Family - Michael Chiklis
The Event - I'm hopeful its going to be good...
Undercovers - JJ Abrams
Hawaii Five-O - Sounds good, hopefully will do better than Hawaii with Michael Biehn
What does "Bookem' Danno" mean?
"Book 'Em, Danno"... meaning, "Danno, could you please take that rapscallion to processing so he can be booked for his crimes?"
Sometimes I think I have cop shows in my blood or something like that. Weird.
It's Hawaiian for "take him to the hoosegow".
No, I'm kidding. It's actually a nod to Derrial Book, a.k.a Shepherd Book, of Firefly fame.
Bookem refers to go all Book on someone, as in lay them out flat, or cap their knees.
Danno is the Hawaiianization of the name Darrial, and in this case it's used as an affectionate moniker, and a play on words.
Sure, give it away, why don't you.
I think what EJ was trying to say is that he's never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you. He's never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.
Or something to that effect.
Hmm . . . I was just trying to fool and confuse (and maybe annoy).
I would never go as far as Rick Roll anyone.
Truly, I gave that answer because in the time it takes to ask the question one could Google(tm) the phrase and get extensive information regarding its origins. I figure if someone was not willing to do that, they obviously wanted me to start a new narrative for the phrase.
. . . then Summer ruined it.
Hey, not my fault. It's a quasi-Pavlovian response, both to help and to translate colloquialisms and other odd turns of language for those less traveled than I.
I also blame the woeful lack of reruns of original Hawaii 5-0 episodes. Seriously... people can pick apart and debate about useless shows like Gilligan's Island but are unfamiliar with iconic phrases from shows like Hawaii 5-0 and Dragnet?
What can this mean for the state of today's television addict? I weep for future generations of couch potatoes and sofa zombies.