Tuesday shows plenty of promise

Opinion

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This article was published 13/09/2016 (3288 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There are many ways a new series can succeed and Tuesday’s lineup demonstrates three: by simply being a good show; by being a good show scheduled between two hugely successful shows; or by being a good show that appeals to fans of a similar, recently departed show.

Any way you look at it, there’s a lot to like about this night’s collection of newcomers.

Bull

When & Where: CBS/Global — Sept. 20, 8 p.m.

Starring: Michael Weatherly, Freddy Rodriguez, Geneva Carr, Jaime Lee Kirchner, Annabelle Attanasio and Chris Jackson

Premise: The head of an elite trial-consulting firm uses every psychological and technological asset available to assess what makes juries, witnesses, lawyers and judges behave in the ways they do, and his expert advice helps shape the outcome of high-profile court cases.

Lowdown: Based on the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, who founded one of the most successful legal consulting firms in history, this stylish crime/courtroom drama should fit nicely between CBS’s successful NCIS properties. Series star Weatherly hasn’t moved far since departing NCIS last season — one timeslot, to be exact — and his long history on that show should bring a big audience to this one on Tuesday nights.

Bottom line: A sure-fire hit for CBS — and that’s no bull.

 

This Is Us

When & Where: NBC/CTV — Sept. 20, 9 p.m.

Starring: Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, Justin Hartley and Chrissy Metz

Premise: A multi-layered drama that explores the lives of several seemingly unconnected people who do have one thing in common — they share the same birthday.

Lowdown: NBC has been in the market for a deeply emotional large-ensemble family drama since Parenthood signed off in 2015, and this deftly written collection of interconnected stories could do the trick. The pilot episode does a nice job of introducing its same-birthday strangers and then pushing their individual tales toward a satisfying set of connections that seems to have great down-the-road narrative possibilities.

Bottom line: This is good.

 

No Tomorrow

When & Where: CW — Oct. 4, 8 p.m.

Starring: Tori Anderson, Joshua Sasse, Jesse Rath and Amy Pietz

Premise: A risk-averse young woman who’s stuck in a dead-end office job and a bland relationship has her world turned upside down by a chance meeting and an immediate connection with a handsome and charming stranger who’s on a bucket-list quest to get things done because he believes the world is about to end.

Lowdown: Easily one of the most charming new shows of the fall, it’s hard to figure why this breezy romantic drama ended up on the CW rather than one of the major networks. But it’ll probably benefit from being in the relative safety of the CW’s lineup, where lower ratings expectations can allow an unconventional show to find and build an audience. Series lead Anderson, a native of Edmonton, is destined for TV stardom.

Bottom line: This smart, funny show deserves a whole lot of tomorrows.

 

Kim’s Convenience

When & Where: CBC — Oct. 4, 9 p.m.

Starring: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Simu Liu, Andrea Bang and Andrew Phung

Premise: A heartfelt comedy focused on the goings-on at a Korean-Canadian family’s convenience store in downtown Toronto.

Lowdown: Based on the like-titled award-winning play by Ins Choi (who also adapted the story for television), this series focuses on the four family members who run the titular store and one son who has been estranged from his father for years but has been secretly keeping in touch with his mother and sister.

Bottom line: No preview available at press time, but given its impressive theatrical pedigree, CBC surely has high hopes for this TV spinoff.

 

American Housewife

When & where: ABC — Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m.

Starring: Katy Mixon, Diedrich Bader, Meg Donnelly, Daniel DiMaggio and Julia Butters

Premise: A single-camera sitcom centred on a straight-talking plus-sized mother of three who’s raising her family in the wealth and perfect-body-obsessed town of Westport, Conn.

Lowdown: Originally titled The Second Fattest Housewife in Westport (the pilot episode deals with the departure of a heavy-set neighbour, which elevates titular Katie to this rather dubious distinction), the charm of this series depends almost entirely on the comedic appeal of Mixon (Mike and Molly), who demonstrates early she has what it takes to carry her own series but is saddled with material that isn’t nearly as good as she is. Bader is as reliable as ever in the role of husband Jeff, and the kids are clever without being overly cute.

Bottom line: Basically, it’s The Middle with a bigger mom and a less-messy house, so even if it’s good, it’s unlikely to be added to anyone’s “must-see” list.

 

Returning shows:

NCIS (Sept. 20, CBS)

The Voice (Sept. 20, NBC)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Sept. 20, Fox/Citytv)

New Girl (Sept. 20, Fox/Citytv)

Scream Queens (Sept. 20, Fox/Citytv)

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Sept. 20, ABC/CTV)

NCIS: New Orleans (Sept. 20, CBS)

Rick Mercer Report (Oct. 4, CBC)

This Hour Has 22 Minutes (Oct. 4, CBC)

The Flash (Oct. 4, CW/CTV)

Mr. D (Oct. 11, CBC)

The Middle (Oct. 11, ABC)

Fresh Off the Boat (Oct. 11, ABC)

The Real O’Neals (Oct. 11, ABC)

Chicago Fire (Oct. 11, NBC)

brad.oswald@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @BradOswald