Cinerant

Pilot Watch

Michael Ausiello at TV Guide is a funny guy with really great taste. He posted this today regarding shows for the fall:

"For the first time in recent memory, the good fall shows easily outnumber the bad ones — at least based on the pilots I saw. As Desperate Housewives taught us, the second and third episodes tell us much more about a show's creative bones than a season premiere. With that said, here are the fall offerings that have the most FauxVo potential.
* Vanished (Fox) and Kidnapped (NBC): Among the things these two thrillers share in common: They both had me hooked before the first act break. Please don't make me choose a favorite.
* Friday Night Lights (NBC): Three words: Sign. Me. Up.
* Smith (CBS): Ocean's Eleven for the small screen, in which every member of the ensemble could easily headline their own show — and many of them have. This season's best-produced pilot is also the darkest.
* Jericho (CBS): Surprisingly engrossing, considering it's Everwood: The Day After. Let's hope this whole North Korea crisis simmers down by fall.
* 30 Rock (NBC): If you like Tina Fey's shtick, you're going to love 30 Rock. And I defy you not to chortle at every syllable that comes out of Alec Baldwin's mouth. The dude is a comic genius.
* The Nine (ABC): I'm not crazy about the whole bank-robbery conceit, but the cast sells it like a stack of three-dollar bills.
* Six Degrees (ABC): It's Crash minus all the proselytizing. I think my pal J.J.'s got another winner.
* Betty the Ugly (ABC): My pick for most satisfying pilot. Allow me to be the first to say, "God bless America Ferrera!"
* Daylight (ABC/midseason): If you can get past the preposterous 24 meets Groundhog Day premise — and I did — you're going to have a blast.
* Heroes (NBC): Although the pilot didn't entirely live up to my lofty expectations (more humor, please!), I'm still convinced that this small-screen X-Men has the potential to be the next Lost."

posted by cinegod @ 2:30 PM