The extensive cast of Parenthood.
For 17 days, the 2010 Winter Olympics took away most of our new TV (but gave new meaning to the term "sweeps"). So thank heavens it's March, a big month for mid-season premieres. Here are six promising prospects.
Parenthood
(NBC, premieres Tuesday, March 2 at 10pm)From Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights), Ron Howard, and Brian Grazer (heard of 'em?) comes a drama following the lives of one big family, whose siblings are all dealing with a different phase of the titular parenthood. Craig T. Nelson, Peter Krause, and Lauren Graham are among the many stars.
Why we're excited: When given some time, Katims spun singular-focused drama into gold in Dillon, Texas. And Parenthood's younger stars—Mae Whitman and Dax Shepard—light up the pilot.
Players
(Spike, premieres Tuesday, March 2 at 10:30pm)The Upright Citizens Brigade's Matt Walsh costars and acts as showrunner for this ensemble comedy, set in a sports bar. Fellow UCB alum Ian Roberts plays Walsh's brother, co-owner of the bar, and the show follows its staff members as they fool around with each another in more ways than one.
Why we're excited: The show is loosely scripted and created via improvisation, like Curb Your Enthusiasm, and both Roberts and Walsh are experts at the form. It's a silly premise with enough character-based humor to stay grounded.
The Pacific
(HBO, premieres March 14 at 9pm)Along the lines of Band Of Brothers, The Pacific is a 10-part miniseries about those who fought in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It reunites the producing muscle behind Brothers (Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Gary Goetzman) and tracks a handful of soldiers as they fight, prove victorious, and return home.
Why we're excited: HBO is on a miniseries high off John Adams and Generation Kill, so expect the same nuanced drama and rich character work here.
Sons Of Tucson
(FOX, premieres Sunday, March 14 at 9:30pm)When their dad is carted off to prison, three brothers hire a con-man to serve as their surrogate father—and wouldn't you know it, he decides to have an honest go at it. Todd Holland, formerly of Malcolm In The Middle, is one of the show's producers, which feels exactly right.
Why we're excited: Tyler Labine as the con-man, formerly seen as Sock on Reaper. The man's brash comic timing and entertaining physicality are delightful to watch on screen.
Justified
(FX, premieres Tuesday, March 16 at 10pm)In this new FX procedural, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens takes the law into his own hands. He executes swift justice without concern for his superiors or those looking to take him down, and with a stylish cowboy hat in tow. The series is based on a character created by author Elmore Leonard.
Why we're excited: Deadwood superstar Timothy Olyphant stars, and Walton Goggins from The Shield is scheduled to make a few appearances. Talk about a drama dream team.
Ugly Americans
(Comedy Central, premieres Wednesday, March 17 at 10:30pm)Sort of like the epilogue of Men In Black, this new animated sitcom is about a social worker who helps odd creatures like vampires, zombies, and mermaids adjust to a normal life in New York City. The show features plenty of cartoonish bile, and is produced by David Stern of The Simpsons fame.
Why we're excited: Comedy Central is great at assembling all-star teams of comic voice talent, and this one is no different. Larry Murphy, Natasha Leggero, and the wonderful Pete Holmes all lend their talents.
Comments (46)
Justified and Ugly Americans sound almost good.
I totally love Parenthood. the first episode was hard as there were too many characters to learn about in an hour so it seemed too much but now it is moving well and good topics. It is so nice to not have sex as the main interest but parenting and dealing with Asberger's wow. We loved it at our house.
Parenthood is just awful. Why in the world would
Craig T. Nelson and Ron Howard even be remotely
associated with a trashy show like this??!
I am really looking forward to Sons of Tucson and Justified, and soooooooo glad Damages is back and
better than ever!!
Tired of family shows, don't watch war stuff, the rest just sounds bad. And American animations are mostly just stupid. I'd rather watch the Japanese stuff. I was hoping to see some good shows, but alas, I'll be waiting for the new season of Glee.
Parenthood's pilot was good, I have hope for it. Otherwise, none of this besides Justified interests me. Absolute crap this year. At least there's still Law and Order (and it's spinoffs) and Medium to rely on.
If this is the cream of the crop of new shows I think I'm going to cancel my cable subscription...
That sounds weak all of the new ones this week. And you took Lincoln Heights off for these? Really?
Hate family shows, now days I confuse comedy with stupidity, I refuse to purchase HBO, liked Reaper, loved Sock, love violence when it comes to justice, hate animated comedy. Good god, I think I'm a hater.
Ugh. Not looking forward to any of those. However, Hiccups on CTV was great! Where's its publicity!?
When shows start out unpopular, and then become "most-watched" show on TV... doesn't anybody wonder if all those watchers are settling for whatever they can find to fill the void?
yea, none of these shows look that interesting, we will have to see. No one thought LOST would work at first and look at it now, one of TV's greatest shows ever... and Linton2277, they have already known when lost would end so they haven't been "giving lost season after season"
I'm actually looking forward to <em>The Bridge</em> and <em>Sons of Tucson</em>. Love Timothy Olyphant and <em>Justified</em> looks really really good.
I'm amazed by the people who post they are bored by this line-up, but are whining that Lost and 24 are finishing. Maybe you can go back to your funniest home videos and leave us to watch the quality coming soon then. Pacific alone will blow the last 4 seasons of lost out of the water (pun intended), and it'll be good to see a couple of new comedies on screen, seeing as most of the good ones are cancelled by networks. The lineup may not be perfect, but if you can't find anything in there to at least give a chance then there is no wonder they kept giving lost season after season. Flies will hover to the same pile of s$&t over and over......
What a rotten lineup! Not one of these shows remotely interests me, the shows I got excited about this year were V, and Flashforward which have been off for so long I can't even remember where we left off! Tv broadcast and cable better get there perspective acts together and pay attention to the fans rather than a bunch of outdated suits who don't even watch the there own drivel they air!
Well I guess Justified looks good and Sons of Tucson. Im also glad to see Taylor Labine from the show "Reaper" (miss that show) he is so funny and he is becoming his own because of his skills being an actor. I pray this show works out for him. :-)
I'm gonna check out I think all of those hope there good im at least sure players will be
I am not looking forward to any of this trash.. It will not be long until I can dump the Cable TV. And just watch DVD's I will give it about a year, then buy cable. Lost will be gone. Law and Order will be gone. 24? And that is it. Zip by cable.. And about $75.00bucks a month in my hand... Be well and rock on...
I watched PARENTHOOD last night and enjoyed it very much. It was great seeing Lauren Graham back on TV again, and the stories being told appear to be ones parents will identify with. Parenthood is HARD, and I suspect this show gets that. I have missed Tyler Labine since REAPER and plan to check out his new show, but it had better be great from the first episode to reel me in. UGLY AMERICANS sounds like it has potential, JUSTIFIED will get a *** like TUCSON, but THE PACIFIC doesn\'t sound like my cup of tea, and only positive chatter from others will get me to take a look at it at all. Love, Robin, Editor, SUPERNATURAL, www.moogi.com
Is it just me or does each new show seem to be less original than the ones before it? I mean, Band of Brothers 2? Borthers and Sisters No 120? Cop shows? Throw in a couple of medical shows and we've got ourselves Fall 2005's line-up.Why is it so hard to be original?
Can't say I'm looking forward to any of these. It's a shame they couldn't find a better vehicle for Tyler Labine.
Justified looks promising.
Justified definitely.
<em>Justified</em> does look pretty good.
These all sound pretty lame. I'd like to see Generation Kill, but The Pacific holds no interest.
Justified sounds really corny, but maybe that's just my aversion to anything about the law that has the word Justice in it's title, it's just so unoriginal and sounds like a word from a bad catchphrase "You've just been... JUSTIFIED!" And then slam a gavel or something
Looking forward to The pacific. Band of brothers was the best mini-series ever!
Parenthood just screams Brothers&Sisters to me.. which i love, so i hope this doesn't disappoint me..
Parenthood, The Pacific, The United States of Tara, Nurse Jackie are all going to be here soon. I wish that the US would follow the Brit model with shorter better seasons and more original shows. A fall, winter, spring, and summer schedule. We have some of this and it works. I look forward to shows that pop up that I have missed. Breaking Bad, Mad Men, In Plain Sight, Royal Pains, Law and Order Criminal Intent, Friday Night Lights. Honestly re-runs are a waste of time. If they want to keep viewers show new shows and if we miss one we can hopefully find it On Demand or online.
Parenthood has promising actors and producers, but the setting is a mix between Brothers & Sisters and Modern Family, taking all the bad stuff and putting it into one new show. I'm very positive this show will not be hit and likely to be canceled before season's end.
Finally The Pacific is gonna air. Can't wait. Will definately give Sons of Tucson a chance also.
Sons of Tucson sounds funny and I loved the Sock character in Reaper. So I'll definitely give it a few episodes to see if it's any good. The other shows sound really boring.
BORING
No thank you :(((
Justified most definitely and for Sons of Tucson, i'm not to crazy about it. But i sure well will be watching it anyways. Maybe i will be crazy about Sons of Tucson after afew episodes are passed. Well folks that it, Justified & Sons of Tucson are the only New Series from this list. I will be watching when time comes.
timothy olyphant has officially been typecast
I'm ready for Parenthood!!!
The Pacific sounds good and I'll look into that. I have been impressed, as you said, by the HBO miniseries. Nothing else listed appeals though.
I cant wait for Parenthood.
all 6 sound interesting specially ugly america xP
pacific!!!
Waiting for Parenthood.
Justified and Sons of Tucson are the only ones out of this list that I'm going to watch. The others... not so much.
Sons of Tuscon and Justified seem interesting
justified baby
The promos for Parenthood look good. And I've loved Peter Krause since Sports Night.