The last two new fall television shows I reviewed were NBC's "My Own Worst Enemy" and Fox's "Fringe." Since then, the plug has been pulled on the promising "Enemy" and, with viewership down, things aren't looking good for the expensive "Fringe" either. It appears I have a magic touch. Sorry in advance to the shows I'm reviewing this time around, "Worst Week" and "Life on Mars."
"Worst Week:" Mondays, 8:30 p.m., CBS
In last year's truncated TV season, two under-appreciated new shows fell victim to the fickle tastes of audiences, made even less consistent thanks to the prolonged writer's strike. The list of promising new shows cancelled last year is long, and includes the drama "Journeyman" and sitcom "Back to You," but these two half-hour comedies were unique for their single camera format and simple, character-driven plot lines. The shows, both on ABC, were the Jerry O'Connell vehicle (snicker) "Carpoolers" and the much-abused "Cavemen" (Hey, if you haven't watched more than one episode, don't scoff).
Anyway, in the wake of this loss, CBS has managed to put together a half-hour gem in the same vein that could prove to be the best comedy of the new season. "Worst Week" is yet another remake of a British show but, in terms of quality, it's much closer to "The Office" than "Coupling," translating the funny nicely to American sensibilities. The premise is simple (and cause for some concern in terms of sustainability): a well-meaning but accident prone fellow can't seem to make a good impression on his girlfriend's parents. Sure, it sounds like a certain Ben Stiller movie, but it turns out, with great execution and even better casting, meeting the parents can be funnier than you thought.
The "find" of this season is undoubtedly Kyle Bornheimer, "Week's" doomed Don Juan. Best known for his cell phone commercials, Bornheimer is like the heir apparent to Tim Conway, with impeccable timing and a rubber face. Completing the Bermuda triangle are Kurtwood Smith (perfecting his gruff "That 70's Show" father) and Nancy Lenehan (perfecting her flighty "My Name is Earl" mother), with Erinn Hayes playing a fine foil as Bornheimer's impregnated squeeze.
Now, if we can just avoid another strike and if audiences will give "Week" a chance, it'll almost make up for last year's massacre.
"Life on Mars": Thursdays, 9 p.m., ABC
One would think any show able to lure established film stars like Harvey Keitel and Gretchen Mol, as well as acclaimed "Sopranos" star Michael Imperioli, must be working with some great material. That assumption would be bolstered if the show's source material was a critically beloved British series with a rabid fan base.
But despite some of the best pre-season buzz of any new show, as well as one of the most pedigreed casts, ABC's "Life on Mars" fails to live up to the hype, saddling its talented actors with stilted dialogue and transparent storylines. Of course, if you can't get past the show's undeniably kooky but promising premise, it won't matter much anyway.
Transplanting the 2006 BBC series from Manchester to New York, Detective Sam Tyler, a modern cop engaged to his partner (guest star Lisa Bonet), is struck by a car and wakes up, inexplicably, in a 1973 Big Apple. Did he time travel? Is he dreaming? In a coma? Dead? Sam considers every possibility as he stumbles and struggles through his new life with his decidedly un-PC co-workers (Keitel as a bare-knuckle boss, Imperioli as an envious, mustached cop and Mol as an under-appreciated policewoman stuck in a ridiculous uniform the entire show).
As Tyler, actor Jason O'Mara does his level best to elevate the writing with sincerity and intensity - anyone who's seen O'Mara's guest spots on "The Closer" or "Grey's Anatomy" know how watchable and charismatic he can be. The rest of the cast is strong - Keitel doesn't know how to be boring - but their characters aren't given much room to grow. We quickly tire of the "weren't the '70s different?" plot points, and more genuine moments, like Tyler's joy upon entering a record store, are few and far between.
Overall, I think I'd rather watch the BBC version on DVD or, better yet, just listen to David Bowie's classic title song.
ryankathman@dailynebraskan.com
Be the first to comment on this article!