Fox has released trailers for six of its new fall shows, and the series' talking points scintillate: there's the reappearance of Will Arnett, the comeback of Jon Voight, the next generation of Fox animation, and a new spin on the relationship comedy, among others. But not all of these offerings deliver on their promise, and Movieline's breaking down each of the six trailers with a simple "yay" or "nay" vote, keeping these judgment calls as gladiatorial as possible. So, are these burgers well done or too pink for consumption?
Lonestar
In his finest role since begging for his daughter's attention on E! News Daily, Jon Voight plays a grizzled oil tycoon who's claiming hot spots around Texas. This isn't much of a stunner as a preview, but Voight's too good to dismiss just yet. Alternative title: "There Will Be Bloodcurdling Stares."
Verdict: Yay.
Ride-Along
We're 30 seconds into this Chicago cop drama, and already a Cubs-White Sox debate springs up between members of the force. Chicago! Helluva town! My kind of town! Towny-town-town! Cliched dialogue in a cliched police break-in? We stopped needing that in the '90s.
Verdict: Nay
Running Wilde
This riff on horse tallness (that's right) seems pilfered right from Monty Python's Flying Circus, but that's precisely the M.O. here. Maybe Will Arnett is doomed never to maintain a long-standing lead role on sitcom, but that's not because he's lacking the chops to do it. His Snidely Whiplash sneer and faux-valiant cadences are always crowd-pleasers. The best trailer of the bunch.
Verdict: As we said yesterday, Yay
Mixed Signals
I dismissed this yesterday when it was called Traffic Light, but I'm on the fence now. Or, pardon, I'm getting mixed signals. The actors seem game for light comic badinage -- with that soupcon of Modern Family ease -- but is this actually funny? For now it fees reiterative, but at least it's unpretentious, which earns it a pass.
Verdict: Yay
Raising Hope
First, what a stupid name. Second, boneheaded child-rearing accompanied by stilted dialogue? I dig the acting, but I don't subscribe to this bland brand of laughs. It's a not-quite for me.
Verdict: Nay p>
Bob's Burgers
The name and format say it all, but Fox's new animated series delivers on its promise. It's a low-key cartoon about selling burgers. You've got Simpsons-signature men-playing-women. And you've got bone-dry one-liners. Makes for a juicy burger-munching half-hour, in my book.
Verdict: Yay