NEW TV THUS FAR: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY BETTY

Posted by JOpinionated on October 1, 2006 in Television | 0 comments

BROTHERS & SISTERS

I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy this show. It’s about time that we get to see Sally Field on a regular basis! The return of Calista Flockhart to the small screen is also a welcome sight. I love Rachel Griffiths, and she’s already made me forget about crazy Brenda from Six Feet Under. To sum up: I like the story, the ensemble cast, the family interaction and the pace. It has earned its Season Pass.

HEROES

I love the Superman and X-Men movies, but I was never into comic books. It wasn’t until The X-Files that my inner sci-fi geek emerged. So I guess it’s no surprise that I am totally drawn to this show. The mythology and supernatural elements have great potential, and there are enough characters to keep it interesting for the long haul. I look forward to when they finally assemble and cull their respective powers, assuming that ever happens…

SIX DEGREES

I like it and am intrigued enough by the first two episodes to give it a shot. The caliber of actors who have jumped from movies into this television endeavor is impressive: Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Bridget Moynahan, Jay Hernandez and Erika Christensen. They don’t disappoint. I also like that this is not a big city version of Lost, which is what some critics predicted simply because the show is produced by JJ Abrams and the characters’ lives intersect.

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP

Smart, smart, smart. The script and cast are fantastic. It is the only show (besides Lost, of course) which I look forward to every week now. Sarah Paulson deserves the spotlight she’s finally been given, and Amanda Peet is a revelation. Although the show centers on and circles around Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry (who have great chemistry), it is these two women that eat up the scenery. Every time they appear on screen, you can’t look away, and don’t want to.

UGLY BETTY

In my many years as a very dedicated television addict, this has never happened before. I actually turned off a new show and gave up on it before the entire first episode aired. I love Betty’s character, but am not able to get past her supporting cast. Vanessa Williams is over-the-top and ingratiating, vamping it up like the ladies of Wisteria Lane (I removed my TiVO Season Pass of Desperate Housewives after its season premiere as well). Blame Meryl Streep. Her brilliant turn as a fashion magazine editor in The Devil Wears Prada makes this show look like an overpriced Disney movie-of-the-week. And this is the third show where Eric Mabius is playing a smarmy jerk. He perfected in on the first season of The L Word, attempted it on the cancelled series Eyes, and is back in stereotypical form on Ugly Betty. Yawn. I am so returning to My Name is Earl in this time slot.