by Alan Waltrip, KSAT 12 producer
We live in a golden age of television. Once a jumping on point or end-game career choice for aging actors and writers, now we get a weekly dose of programming that intrigues us, fulfills us, and leaves us wanting more.
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And that's not even cable. This is network, and the ABC shows aired on KSAT are no different. Let's take a look at the good and bad in 2011, and what's coming up in 2012.
New Shows
Pan Am – It's a wonder it took network television to jump on the mid-20th century period piece bandwagon. Television seems to go through phases. The Sopranos led to a series of bad crime-related shows. Lost led to a number of plot-driven programs. But the success of Mad Men has yet to be copied.
Rolling out the same week as NBC's The Playboy Club, Pan Am has managed to stay on the air, at least for now. The novelty that made Mad Men a hit: seeing an age of smoking and drinking on the job that does not exist anymore, has worn off. Pan Am tried to pull it off, but network standards are hard to get by, and I don't believe that Christiana Ricci slides into the world of the 1960s the way Jon Hamm does.
That being said, linking these characters into real-world scenarios is an interesting way to keep viewers around, but only those who know about them in the first place. Do people know about the Cuban Missile Crisis, the JFK administration, or that Pan Am was actually once an real airline company anymore? It's hard to say. Given the program's ratings, maybe not.
Will it get a second season? It's possible. There haven't been a lot of shows cancelled so far this year. The fact that it's still around is a good sign, and that iTunes has put up the first nine episodes free to download can only help matters. If you're interested, now is the time to check them out. New episodes return Jan. 8.
Once Upon A Time – There's a comic book called Fables. It's been in production for almost a decade, and features fairytale characters in real world situations. And it was once in development as a television program at several networks. So is Once Upon A Time a rip-off? The creators of both projects say no, and as an avid fan of the comic who has watched the first half dozen episodes, I can agree.
This program has a little bit of everything when it comes to the writers and actors. It was developed by Lost veterans who know how to craft a story, and has veterans from shows like 24, Big Love, and most impressively, Robert Carlyle.
I want to know where these characters are going, and maybe most interestingly, where they've been. Each episode that reveals a little bit of the past peeks by interest a little more. I trust these writers on the journey they're taking us. The show's decent ratings almost guarantee a second season. The Jan. 8 episode promises to reveal some secrets about the aforementioned Mr. Gold.
Last Man Standing – Tim Allen is a funny guy. He can carry a cast well. This is a recast Home Improvement with female children, and Allen's character changed to a sporting good store employee. But that doesn't make it a bad show. It's your standard sitcom that has several good things going for it. Hector Elizondo steals his scenes. Kaitlyn Dever's presence on the show is odd, given her amazing performance on the last season of Justified, a comedy seems like a weird place to be.
Second season chances seem good. The show plays well with ABC's Wednesday night programming, which are all amazing shows. New episodes are airing Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Suburgatory – My favorite of the new sitcoms out this television season, and for so many reasons. The removal of the laugh track from half hour sitcoms a decade ago changed the genre of television. It makes them seem new, important to what's going on in the world. At the heart of it, Suburgatory is about living your life the way you want to.
The show's cast shines. Jeremy Sisto was oddly born for comedy, and somewhere along the way got relegated to dramas for the better part of a decade. Cheryl Hines is unrecognizable from her Curb Your Enthusiasm character, and any Joss Whedon fan loves seeing Firefly alum still working. The teenagers work, too, strange for a half hour comedy. New episodes are airing Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m.
Revenge– A staple of primetime network programming for years, the hardcore soap opera drama has all but disappeared. Revenge isn't reinventing the genre, but it's certainly turning it on it's head. Anyone expecting the main character to suddenly grow a conscious will probably never see it happen. The show's producers have said that this is a story about a woman systematically taking down the people who have wronged her family, and it's an incredibly fun ride to watch.
The stars of the now defunct WB network have grown up, and Emily VanCamp and Nick Wechsler are welcome additions to an show. Gabriel Mann's Nolan character is an interesting twist in what otherwise may have become a predictable story. This is a soap where there are no real good guys central to the main plot, aside from maybe Jack and brother Declan, who's outsider storyline is the most identifiable.
A second season is almost a sure thing. Although, with the type of "end-game" story the writers have crafted, I wonder where they would go should the show go forward. Of course, I said the same thing about Damages. New episodes are airing Wednesday nights at 9:00.
Returning Shows
Castle – Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic continue to be what draws me in every episode. For a prodecural show with a fairly basic, if interesting, premise, it's amazing that each episode remains as interesting as it does. Other shows of the same kind, learned the trick was to change the cast every few years. Castle has rotated some minor characters as part of major plot points, but the Moonlight-esque relationship between Fillion and Katic keep the ship running smoothly. Let's hope they keep it that way. New episodes return Jan. 9.
Happy Endings – You already watch Modern Family. It's awesome, we all know it. Keep watching it. And then stick around for Happy Endings, which is far superior in it's comedic storytelling. Where Family can get preachy in it's "look how different everyone is" premise, Endings pokes fun at that fact. Episodes twist and turn, point out that not everyone in this group of friends should necessarily be there, and carries over character neuroses into the next episode.
It has also become a repository for failed comedy actors from everything from Scrubs to Saturday Night Live. It's amazing, and you should be watching, especially if you miss the likes of Arrested Development or Samantha Who.
What's To Come
The River – Mid-season always brings out some interesting shows, and this season is interesting because as mentioned, not a lot of shows have been cancelled so far this year. The River is co-created by Oren Peli, who wrote and directed the original Paranormal Activity. Apparently each episode is another piece of "found footage" from an exploration into the Amazon where spooky things happen, and has some actors attached that will make TV nerds smile, including Bruce Greenwood (John From Cincinnati, Star Trek), Paul Blackthorne (The Dresden Files), and Leslie Hope (24). It bows February 2nd, and may be the newest show I'm most excited about.
Cougar Town – Or whatever you're going to be called this year, please come back. We all miss you.
By the way, following the links above will take you to each show's pages, where you can (in most cases) watch the latest episode. Also, check out ABC's awesome iPad app for full episodes and seasons of many of the network's shows.