Scott Freeman

A New Golden Age?

I was not around to witness what many refer to as the golden age of television. Primarily, this heyday was comprised of shows during the 50’s and relied heavily on the transportation of bits that had been popular on radio. With that library of quality work, the first 10 years or so of television is still noted for its excellence. I grew up watching reruns of such classics as I Married Joan, My Little Margie, Burns and Allen, and Jack Benny. Truly, those were great days.

Although I was not around for that period I was old enough in 1973 to witness the greatest night in TV history. Every Saturday night you could tune into CBS and watch, in order: All in the Family, Mash, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newheart Show, and The Carol Burnett Show.

Nothing has ever come close to that night of TV excellence. 33 years later I would still tune in to that night over any others.

Many are stating now that we might be entering into a new golden age of television. Serialized dramas such as 24 and Lost have changed the viewing landscape and there are several new shows on the horizon that have the potential to tap into that wave. Oversaturation is a huge risk, but if the fall schedule is any indication there will be a plethora of quality shows to choose from.

I recently had the opportunity to watch the pilots of 5 shows that will be premiering on ABC and CBS this fall. Most of them were really good. Here’s a rundown:

Jericho (CBS): Airing on Wednesdays at 7 (All Times Central), Jericho stars Skeet Ulrich as the black sheep son of a small town mayor (Gerald McRaney). After an unexplained five year absence, he returns home. It just so happens that while he is home in Jericho, a mushroom cloud appears in the distance (it’s Denver). All communications are shut down and the people are left wondering the extent of the attack that has been unleashed upon America. Are they the only ones left? What happens in the aftermath is the heart of this serial story.
Bottom Line: Without going into detail of the personal story lines involved, this show will be one worth tuning in, for no other reason than the fact that it seems all too preposterous. But all too real, at the same time. It’s far-fetched but it taps into the fear that we have all felt post 9/11.  This is one of the shows that I am most looking forward to.
The Nine (ABC): Nine different people are held hostage during a bank robbery. 52 hours later they emerge, changed and scarred. This show deals with the aftermath of the ordeal as these characters find themselves forever bound to one another. As they strive to piece together their lives and make sense of what took place inside the bank, more of what happened will be revealed.
Bottom Line: First off, the cast is great: Tim Daly (Wings), Kim Raver (24) and Chi McBride (Boston Public) headline this cast. But best of all is John Billingsley (previously seen as Terrence Steadman on Prison Break), a loser who finds his suicide attempt foiled by the robbery. Suffice it to say, he has a new-found lease on life. This show may be the breakout hit of the year. It has the storyline, the acting and the pacing to keep you hooked. And with Lost as a lead-in, the sky is the limit.

Traveler (ABC): Three college graduates decide on one last “prank” before they begin a final road trip together: rollerskating through the Guggenheim. Two of them exit moments before the building explodes. Those two (Jay and Tyler) are now the main suspects as they slowly discover that their college buddy, Will, was not who he claimed to be. Now, hunted by the authorities, they have to figure out what happened. Nothing is as it seems.
Bottom Line: The pilot was captivating but there are a couple of questions that emerge. Although I won’t argue with creator David Nutter’s track record (12 straight pilots picked up), I wonder about the sustainability of this story line. And being a midseason show with no time slot as of yet, it will be largely mining the same ground as Prison Break. That doesn’t mean I’m not interested. I’ll be around when it finally premieres in the Spring.

Shark (CBS): James Woods is a cut-throat, high-powered defense attorney who has a change of heart when one of his clients murders his wife after acquittal.  His change of heart leads him to becoming a prosecutor for the DA’s office.  Needless to say, his heart has changed but his methods haven’t.
Bottom Line: Take House. Put it in a legal setting. Shake, and voila! It’s Shark. James Woods is as good as it gets when it comes to acting. However, the pilot left me a little underwhelmed.  The big “change of heart” looks to be shallow, the whole defense/prosecution thing has been done and it comes on opposite ER.  This will probably appeal to many with CSI as a lead-in, but I’ll pass.

The Class (CBS): Hoping to create a comedy companion to How I Met Your Mother, this show features a last-minute 20-year reunion of a third grade class.
Bottom Line: One important point in writing a comedy is to ensure that you actually include some parts that are funny.  Unfortunately there are more genuinely hilarious moments during Prison Break (which comes on at the same time) than during this.  Skip it.