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Slim Pickings Among New Series After Writers Strike

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 24, 2008

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Last summer, we left Camp Critic in Beverly Hills full of hope and anticipation for the 2007 newbies such as the funky fairy tale "Pushing Daisies," the quirky spy comedy "Chuck" and the steamy soap "Dirty Sexy Money."

A few of the esteemed and jaded members of the Television Critics Association even liked "Private Practice," the romance-laced spinoff of "Grey's Anatomy."

And the lowly CW impressed a few with the working-for-the-devil fantasy "The Reaper."

This summer, The People Who Blog About Television depart from two weeks of interviews and previews scratching their heads over the 2008 newcomers.

Is there anything that excites us this time?

No buzz. Just silence. Cue the crickets.

Where's the next "Heroes"? Where's the next "30 Rock"? Where's the next "House"?

Thanks to a writers strike that cut the current season short, there were slim pickings this time around on the annual fall preview tour.

The 2008-09 season will start off with only 16 newcomers instead of the usual 30-plus.

The networks actually have to re-launch the aforementioned "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice," "Chuck" and other sophomore series as well as some late comers such as "Eli Stone."

Not every new series was made available for preview. NBC showed us only clips of the new spy thriller "My Own Worst Enemy" and the man-stranded-on-an-island drama "Crusoe." We saw nothing of the network's update of "Knight Rider" and just a couple of clips of NBC's knockoff of the Australian comedy "Kath & Kim."

Neither the network nor the producer of "My Own Worst Enemy" could easily explain the convoluted concept: A ruthless spy (Christian Slater) gets an implanted chip that turns him into a mild-mannered family man except when the chip is activated, and then he turns back into a spy.

CBS had the most finished pilots, but there was only a clip of the network's thriller "Eleventh Hour," about a brilliant scientist who solves the toughest cases.

ABC had not finished reworking its best hope, an offbeat crime-fantasy drama "Life on Mars." The CW is still working on its two new dramas "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Privileged."

Of what we did see, Fox's sci-fi thriller "Fringe," about an FBI crack team of paranormal investigators, becomes the most buzz-worthy by default. From the producers of "Lost," it's almost good, but it's not great yet.

So far, CBS' "The Mentalist" seems to have potential. Simon Baker plays a former celebrity "psychic" who admits that he was a fake. To repent, he uses his keen powers of observation to solve crimes.

Also from CBS is a slapstick comedy that could be a winner. The "Worst Week" is a "Meet the Parents" kind of comedy about a hapless young guy (Kyle Bornheimer) who gets into all kinds of crazy situations whenever he tries to impress his pregnant fiancee's parents. The scene where he accidentally urinates on a roast turkey made me laugh.

It's based on a British comedy, "Worst Week," which apparently is even more wildly hilarious. But the British version ran for only seven episodes. I've got to buy or rent it.

Looking back over the past two weeks, it's hard to recall anything new that would qualify as "must-see TV" so I'm just counting the days until "30 Rock" and "The Office" come back. I'll be waiting on new episodes of "Chuck," "Daisies," "Heroes," "House" and "Bones" and that two-hour "24" movie in November.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

Burn Notice, 10 p.m., USA

Michael works to save his client by being the perfect target for a con artist.

The Works, 10 p.m., History

The evolution of power tools, beginning with the ancient Egyptians, is examined.

Keyword: Walt TV, to read more views and reviews by television critic Walt Belcher.

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