# The new TV season **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311 "2011-09-05T22:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/162 "2011-09-27T01:50:43Z")
Yeah, how is it that Olivia Benson can manage to hold her own in a precinct full of men, but Bello can’t? Prime Suspect would have been an outdated premise in the 80s! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/163 "2011-09-28T14:24:19Z")
Watched _Unforgettable_ again last night – does it deserve its own thread? – because I continue to be curious about how they’ll work in the memory gimmick. So far, so not terrible. But my god, organ harvesting? I don’t know whether it’s good that they’re not going for the same old plots, or bad that they’re going in such bizarre directions instead. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/164 "2011-09-28T17:28:00Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Watched _Unforgettable_ again last night – does it deserve its own thread? – because I continue to be curious about how they’ll work in the memory gimmick. So far, so not terrible. > > But my god, organ harvesting? I don’t know whether it’s good that they’re not going for the same old plots, or bad that they’re going in such bizarre directions instead. I like the show. I assume that there will be all kinds of connections and revelations regarding Carrie’s sister, who did it, the rest of the fam, etc. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/165 "2011-09-30T12:36:53Z")
I was going to start a new thread, but this one may be fine. Word on the street is that _The Playboy Club_ will be the first to be cancelled – conservative backlash has led to sponsors pulling ads, which is, of course, the real bottom line – but I’m going to put in a word for it being _How to Be a Gentleman_, which I caught last night because it was after _Big Bang Theory_ and changing the channel would have entailed getting up from the desk and grabbing the remote. Good lord, what a steaming pile of shit this was. Dave Foley – what family member are they holding hostage? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/166 "2011-09-30T13:44:15Z")
I watched Suburgatory last night; I was initially put off by the promos, but a critic I respect really liked it, so I gave it a shot. It was as I feared - heavy on snarky, Juno-esque teenage commentary (although the teenager looks to be pushing 30). But there’s just enough heart and good-writing (and occasional LOL moments) that it’s worth another look. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/167 "2011-09-30T14:24:14Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Yeah, how is it that Olivia Benson can manage to hold her own in a precinct full of men, but Bello can’t? Prime Suspect would have been an outdated premise in the 80s! Sepinwall said the writers toned down the sexism after the pilot. Watched the second ep last night and while the boys club is still there, it’s not as bad as it was in the pilot and the boys are developing some personality. I’ll keep watching, if I remember it’s on. I like the subplot with the boyfriend’s ex-wife. I liked Suburgatory too – I’ll watch Jeremy Sisto in just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Valerieblaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@Valerieblaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valerieblaise)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/168 "2011-09-30T15:04:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Good lord, what a steaming pile of shit this was. Dave Foley – what family member are they holding hostage? I didn’t watch that show, but I’m not surprised Foley is doing a bad show. He talked about his financial problems on ["WTF with Marc Maron](http://wtfpod.libsyn.com/episode-146-dave-foley)" and he seems to need as much money as he can get. Of the new comedies, I’m watching _Free Agents_ &\* Up All Night\* for the same reason - I like the actors. So far, I’m not in love with either show, but I think they have potential. They both got a Season Pass on my TiVo. Drama-wise, I’m watching _Revenge_, _Person of Interest_, _the Playboy Club_, _Pan-Am,_, and, for no good reason, _Ringer_. _Revenge_ really sucked me in right away, and I Season-Passed _Person of Interest_ as well.\* The Playboy Club \*is pretty bad, but I adore David Krumholtz, so I’ll probably watch until it gets cancelled. I’m not sure about _Pan-Am_ yet. _Ringer_ - Good Lord, I don’t even know. I watch, think, “This is so stupid,” and then immediately set TiVo to record next week’s episode. I also wanted to add that I LOVE _Parks and Recreation,_ and certainly not because I think it’s sophisticated. I will say, though, that I hated the first two episodes with a passion and never watched the rest of the first season. I caught an episode mid-season 2 and thought, “Wait, when did this show get funny?” So\*\* fusoya\*\*, if you’re basing your opinion on the early episodes, I kind of get it. But if you’ve seen later episodes and not liked them, well, I can’t help you. ---
**Author:** ![Bohomite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bohomite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bohomite)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/169 "2011-10-01T18:31:08Z")
I didn’t really enjoy the _New Girl_ pilot, but may give it another shot. Ah, I miss the HBO days of _Six Feet Under_ and _The Sopranos._ I guess Showtime and NBC are alright now - _Californication_ is back in January, and I’m enjoying season 3 of _Parenthood_ (much more entertaining than last season). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/170 "2011-10-01T18:40:22Z")
The TV critic of the Philadelphia _Daily News_ had a contest; write a review (50-150 words) of one of several specified new shows, and winners join a “critic’s panel,” go in for an evening of conversation and swag. I really like this critic, so I entered with the following. (Yes, I paraphrased the first line in a post upthread – now you know, I sometimes recycle material.) > [@](#): > > **The Playboy Club** > > I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to laugh when the naïve Bunny, struggling with the creepy old guy trying to rape her, kicks him in the neck with a stiletto heel and kills him. > > The dimpled Eddie Ciprian, in the Jon Hamm role, identifies the creepy old guy as the head of the Chicago Mob. He knows this because he’s a Mob lawyer trying to go legit. He helps the naïve Bunny dump the body … and, well, it goes from there. > > The setup and the characters are equally absurd, but that absurdity gives The Playboy Club potential as a guilty pleasure. Several “backstage” scenes seemed to promise that relationships among the women will be explored. Another hint of things to come, I hope, was the appearance of “Ike and Tina Turner” at the Playboy Club — might we see musical guest stars a la _American Dreams_? > > Rating: 6 > > Will I watch again? Alas, yes. Anyway, I’ve been chosen to be on the panel! Not sure exactly what I won – will let you know after Thursday night’s gathering. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/171 "2011-10-04T18:20:01Z")
[_Playboy Club_ is the first show cancelled.](http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/10/04/playboy-club-cancelled/) _Whitney_ has gotten picked up for the full season. **shudder** ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/172 "2011-10-04T18:22:43Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > [_Playboy Club_ is the first show cancelled.](http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/10/04/playboy-club-cancelled/) > > _Whitney_ has gotten picked up for the full season. **shudder** I’m watching Whitney, it’s better than Up All Night. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/173 "2011-10-04T18:32:35Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I’m watching Whitney, it’s better than Up All Night. It is. It’s also better than New Girl, or Free Agents or any other sitcom that piloted this season. That’s not saying much though. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/174 "2011-10-05T03:46:05Z")
I’m going to go out on a limb a bit and put in a strong plug for _Ringer_. Yes, the premise (that one twin who knows almost nothing about the other’s current life can take on the sister’s persona without anyone noticing) is utterly preposterous, but if one can get past that, there is much reward, IMO. Although there is little in Gellar’s performances to differentiate the two characters she plays, I like how she seems to really have no idea how, as Bridget, she’s going to maintain her ruse for even another hour, and is basically just making it up on the spot. There is some cleverness in how having adopted her supposedly glittering sister’s identity actually ends up punishing her double emotionally, for both her previous transgressions and those of the sister. Then there are little details like the FBI agent, spending endless amounts of time in New York on the Agency’s dime, ineptly and futilely searching for clues to Bridget’s disappearance when there are people, such as Bridget’s sponsor (being tortured horribly by thugs back in Wyoming) who could really use the agent’s help right about now. I’m amused by the way the agent is lit, every time he shows up, as if he were a silent-film villain, complete with mascara around the eyes. And tonight’s nightmarish birthday party, with its muttering undertone of deceit and betrayal, was, IMO, a wonderful bit of surrealism, whether intentional or not. It’s not often I’d use the term “Kafkaesque” for a soap opera, but there, I said it. Laugh at me if you must. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/175 "2011-10-06T15:18:18Z")
I was expecting more action in Ringer and it’s a bit too soap-operaish for me, but it holds my interest. Last night’s episode had a great cliffhanger ending. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/176 "2011-10-06T22:44:33Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I’m going to go out on a limb a bit and put in a strong plug for _Ringer_. Yes, the premise (that one twin who knows almost nothing about the other’s current life can take on the sister’s persona without anyone noticing) is utterly preposterous, but if one can get past that, there is much reward, IMO. There’s a show on ABC Family using the same premise. Must be the in thing this season. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/177 "2011-10-06T23:52:01Z")
I read on Slate that Free Agents was cancelled, which is a little annoying as on Saturday BBC America is going to air the UK original. So it would have been possible to do a side-by-side comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/178 "2011-10-06T23:58:21Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I read on Slate that Free Agents was cancelled, which is a little annoying as on Saturday BBC America is going to air the UK original. So it would have been possible to do a side-by-side comparison. I don’t know about UK original, but the US version was awful. Which makes me wonder - with awfulness that is this bad, how is it that these shows make it to prime time at all, even for a few episodes? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/179 "2011-10-07T02:34:18Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > The TV critic of the Philadelphia _Daily News_ had a contest; write a review (50-150 words) of one of several specified new shows, and winners join a “critic’s panel,” go in for an evening of conversation and swag…Anyway, I’ve been chosen to be on the panel! Not sure exactly what I won – will let you know after Thursday night’s gathering. Not much, though I did get a replica of the murder weapon in the first season of _Damages_, which I watched recently on DVD and loved, so that was kind of cool. Anyway, the other thing we did was watch a screener of the first episode of _Boss_, the new Kelsey Grammer show with him as a ruthless mayor of Chicago with with many dark secrets, surrounded by others with many dark secrets. The pilot was directed by Gus van Sant, actually. Much better than I would have expected, and as show I’d watch if I had cable, which I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/180 "2011-10-15T23:37:57Z")
I just finished Grimm. Go [here](http://grimmsneakpeek.com/) for a preview code. It was okay. I like cop shows and fantasy so I’ll keep watching, but my initial impression is that it won’t last the whole season. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311/181 "2011-10-16T00:39:59Z")
Charlies Angels bit the dust. I am unsurprised. The only thing I’ve really watched that I find at all interesting is American Horror Story. Can’t say I “like” it, but I can’t not watch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-tv-season/595311.md?page=10)