5 New Fall Series That Have No Business Still Being On the Air
Now that Fall 2010's primetime series have had enough time to ingratiate themselves into our good graces -- or not, coughMy Generation -- Movieline has decided to officially announce the five new shows that have definitely not made the grade. Click ahead for the carnage.
Detroit 1-8-7
Michael Imperioli is eminently watchable, but this detective/police series needs more than a winning star to justify its formulaic and forgettable existence. I'd almost rather it be terrible than nonchalant, but Detroit 1-8-7 can't even muster the gunfire to make its own mark on either primetime or viewers' memories.
Outsourced
Even if Outsourced were more of C+ instead of a D+, I'd still want it off the air. Why? NBC's Thursday night comedy block is still a totem of quality (even if the ratings-dipping Community could stand to ditch some of its slapstick tendencies), and Outsourced is the evening's obvious weak link. Diedrich Bader's rambling snark is not compensatory for a series that relies on sometimes groan-inducing stereotypes to function.
The Defenders
In 2010, you'd think we'd be done for good with the genre I can only describe as "naughty police drama." But, no. In this Jim Belushi-Jerry O'Connell cop caper, we're treated to porn stars who seek justice, tiresome attempts to seem badass, and even a stripper-cum-lawyer who assists on the cases. It's all attitude with no aptitude.
Better With You
In broad strokes, Better With You seems like a bankable idea: Two sisters enjoy starkly different kinds of relationships with their significant others, and we snicker as the perks and pitfalls of both types of courtship are explored. Unfortunately, that's where this series' originality ends: It's a hackneyed and boring show that doesn't possess the intelligence, swiftness of dialogue, or striking performances to make the contrast intriguing.
$#*! My Dad Says
The coup de grace! When Community can write you off with a single one-liner (as it did during its season premiere), you know you're in trouble. This multicammer, based on the popular Twitter account of the same name, takes the vicious, kind of cute honesty of its source material and loses it in a wash of sitcom tropes and glum characterizations. Can we at least order another reshoot?
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Comments
i know #!?& has good ratings. what about the other ones.
I guess that since in your opinion that all five of these shows have no business on the air. Obviously, you have no since of humor. There a lot of the people I know that loves '$#*! My Dad Says" and "The Defenders" (The other three you mentioned, I have not watched , therefore have no clue how they are). So many shows these days are way to serious and have forgotten how to entertain there audience. Thank good there are more than one person that makes the decision on cancelling a program.
But unfortunately more than one person was not in charge of writing your comment.
Thank you for mentioning "Outsourced". I was so happy to see a show that had people of color in its cast. Usually, one is lucky to see a show with at least one non-white cast member. However, this show is downright appalling. I'm not South Asian but I find the jokes to be so offensive that I cannot even watch it for more than 5 minutes. I can't wait until it is cancelled. I'm not trying to be politically correct, I'm trying to stamp out ignorance. The writers and producers obviously know nothing about South Asian culture and probably have never even visited that part of the world. Next time, they should make a show about what they know so they don't show their ignorance to the rest of the world.
Hmm, I think Defenders is great!
Outsourced is awesome.
Louis Virtel apparently has no sense of humore.I watch "$#*! My Dad Says", its one of the very few shows I watch on tv. I think Movie Line needs a replacement writer that has at least a ounce of humor!
The movie Outsourced was far better than the show. They should've left it at that.
$#*! My Dad Says has The Shat. He rocks. Can you believe he's 79 years old!?
I'm still hanging onto $#*! My Dad Says... i keep watching waiting hoping for Shatner to break character saying he's Denny Crane and that he wants to hug that mountain.
Arrested Development fans need to get onto Running Wilde
I'm enjoying s**t My Dad Says. It's fun watching Shatner make a fool of himself. The more things change, the more they stay the same!
Uh, I'm finding Detroit 187 pretty damn good. For one it's actually filmed in Detroit, which makes the stories a hell of a lot more realistic than filming in some LA back lot and calling it Detroit, and I'm loving how they're slowly developing Fitch, Michael Imperioli's character.
I just watch all the episodes of Outsourced back to back and you know I found them pretty enjoyable and got a few laughs out of it.
Haven't seen the others but Detroit 187 deserves to be off this list. It looks and feels real and Michael is having a field day. Those that can do, those that cannot whine about those who can!
I like $#*! My Dad Says too. And, from reading these comments, it looks as if everyone here likes at least one of these listed shows.
Seems the bigger question is: Why does this writer (Louis Virtel) think that he speaks for all of us in wanting these shows canceled?
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However the two of the five shows I have seen, Defenders and Detroit 187, are very entertaining. Each of the Defenders has been good. The first 187 was cobbled together and left a lot to be desired, but since the they have gotten much better. In my opinion the last couple of 187 shows are as good as any other show of its kind. By the way, who said this "CRITIC" has any taste. I remember how well the critics have liked many shows that the public loved. So much for critics. By the what shows have critics ever produced worth mentioning.
Absolutely correct on all 5 accounts. I've watched each of these series one time. They are wasting air......time!!!!
The easiest job in the world is being a critic. If I had to rate Louis Virtel on a scale of 1 to 10, he'd be 1 or maybe a 2. His pompous rambling only serves to feed his own ego.
The only criticism I remotely agree with is for Outsourced but my reasoning is totally political, mainly because I and many I know were victims of outsourcing. Both Virtel and Movieline should look for other lines of work.
Who in the hell is L. Virtel? Plus, what makes him the endall of t.v., that gives him the authority to pick the worst shows. If I were his editor I would have asked him to show some of his previous pieces where he predicted breakout shows. Instead he goes on to bash these shows which have some quality, and I won't say a lot of quality, but hey in todays tv world you really don't have to many quality shows anyway. So, I guess it hits the norm marker. For future projects, why doesn't he first show us he has some proof to back up his claims.
You put on several decent shows, and left off "The Event"? "The Event" is the only show I can recognize regardless of what's being depicted, because it's immediately obvious by the hideous directing, hyper-melodramatic writing, and pathetic reading of lines from cue cards. The fact that was skipped removes any credibility at all from this article.
First, why don't you shut your mouth?
Second, why don't you learn to write correct English?
How long are they going to let that old has-been Shatner (or however you spell his stupid name) be on television?
I lilke the Defenders, Detroit 1-8-7 & $#*! My Dad Says. Agree w/Movies' comment about how they are developing Fitch's character. Loved Star Trek reruns w/Shatner, and love how Shatner changed to comedy and is back on TV! I think he rocks. : )Much respect.
The Defenders, very enjoyable. Record all 3 so as not to miss them.
Louis Virtel, loosen ur belt, it's cutting off blood to the light and humorous side of ur brain. Come back from the "dark side. "
We love "Outsourced", find absolutely hilarious and find ourselves laughing out loud. It's funny, and I love the music during the show! We also like "The Defenders", Belushi and O'Connell are a good together.
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