Commentary

The Best New Broadcast Pilots

I’ve now seen all of the new fall and midseason broadcast network pilots that were made available for screening.  “The Sternberg Report” will soon be releasing an in-depth analysis of what to look for when evaluating the success potential of a new series, as well as my take on all the new fall and midseason shows.

Here is a brief analysis of my top picks:

Designated Survivor (ABC Wed. 10-11)

Kiefer Sutherland is excellent as a lower-level cabinet member who becomes president after a devastating attack on Washington.

The events that propel the action of the pilot will essentially be over by the second episode.  So the actual series may have a completely different feel from the pilot.  It may not matter, but I’ll reserve judgment until I see the next couple of episodes.

Bull (CBS Tue. 9-10)

Michael Weatherly stars as the brilliant and charming founder of a hugely successful trial-consulting firm. 

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The pilot was good, but I have two concerns. First, will the subject matter get tired after a few episodes? A lot depends on how well the supporting cast gels. Second, while CBS obviously thought it made perfect sense to place this following “NCIS,” will its fans accept Michael Weatherly in a new role so soon after his emotional exit from that series? (And want to be reminded of it every week?)

24: Legacy (FOX Mon. 8-9, mid-season)

Before I saw the pilot, I didn’t think viewers would accept anyone other than Kiefer Sutherland in a show with “24” in the title.  I was wrong.  Corey Hawkins doesn’t have quite the same charisma, but he’ll do just fine.

The pilot was riveting from beginning to end, and there’s no reason to think this won’t be a binge-viewing, adrenaline-fueled success. Take it from someone who saw every episode of every season of the original -- usually three at a time on my DVR.

Shots Fired (FOX Wed. 8-9, spring)

Billed as a 10-hour event.  An African-American special prosecutor and his investigator are called in when an African-American cop shoots an unarmed white teenager in a small North Carolina town.  We soon learn an African-American teenager was killed two weeks earlier and there may have been a high-level cover-up.

Excellent cast and compelling from top to bottom.

This is Us (NBC Tue. 9-10)

Seemingly disparate people’s lives intersect in the most curious ways — and they all have the same birthday.

NBC seems high on this one -- they must be to put a show they don’t actually own on the schedule.  The network should be high on it.  The pilot was excellent and refreshingly original.  I hope they give it enough time to find the audience it deserves.  Might be hard to promote in a 30-second clip.  Being sandwiched between “The Voice” and “Chicago Fire” can’t hurt.

Frequency (CW Wed. 9-10)

A detective who died in an undercover operation 20 years ago somehow communicates with his present-day police officer daughter on his old ham radio from 1996, which fortunately she still has in the garage.  She warns him, and he survives the attempt on his life, which dramatically changes her life in the present -- with tragic consequences.  Separated by 20 years, they try to rewrite the story of their lives without risking everyone they love.

Excellent cast and pilot.  Not sure if this can be maintained on a weekly basis or if it will appeal to the typical CW audience.  It’s going into one of the most competitive hours on the schedule, opposite “Empire,” “Criminal Minds,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “Modern Family.”

There are several series that are not quite at the level of those above, but have potential -- and if promoted properly could work.  Of the fall series these include, “Speechless” and “Notorious” on ABC, “Pitch,” “Lethal Weapon,” and “The Exorcist” on FOX, and “Timeless” on NBC. 

 

 

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