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| Even the bad dramas pack a wallop on TV this
fall Mike Hughes, Gannett News Service 8/27/04 Viewers can be grateful this fall as dramas on network TV seem to have gotten better thanks to a strong pool of actors, writers and movie-quality directors. Even the bad drama series have a strong look and feel; the good ones are simply compelling. Here are this fall's new dramas on the broadcast networks, from best to worst. Each has a rating, on a 0-10 scale, for the pilot film and a tentative debut date: - "Jack and Bobby" (9). In brief: The pilot starts as a documentary about President McCallister, then flashes back to his teen years. For most of the debut, viewers don't know which brother - Jack or Bobby McCallister - became president of the United States. Their mom, a brainy college professor, tends to reinvent family legends. Quality check: Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing") is one of the producers. His wife, Christine Lahti, plays the enigmatic mom. The result ripples with intelligence and human complexity. When: 9 p.m., Sundays, WB, starting Sept. 12. - "Medical Investigation" (8) In brief: A mobile medical team zooms around the country trying to solve and suppress epidemics. It is headed by Neal McDonough ("Boomtown") and Kelli Williams ("The Practice"). Quality check: Imagine "Boomtown," "CSI" and the better years of "ER," interlaced. The opener has a smart story plus the intensity of a growing crisis. When: 10 p.m., Fridays, NBC, but premieres at 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9. - "Lost" (8). In brief: When a plane crashes on a tropical island the 48 survivors have little hope of rescue. They are a cross-section of humanity, including a doctor (Matthew Fox), a fallen pop singer (Dominic Monaghan) and a lovely enigma (Evangeline Lilly). Quality check: J.J. Abrams, who created "Alias," is in charge here, bringing deep writing and a great look. The only false note involves a supernatural element in a show otherwise grounded in reality. When: 8 p.m., Wednesdays, ABC, starting Sept. 22. "Kevin Hill" (8). In brief: Kevin Hill (Taye Diggs) is a lawyer in a world of big money and easy sex. Everything changes when he is left to raise his late cousin's baby daughter. He ends up in a no-frills, female-oriented law firm. Quality check: The plot is familiar, "Jerry Maguire" meets "Baby Boom" or "Raising Helen." The execution, however, is superb, including gorgeous photography and Diggs' richly layered performance. When: 9 p.m., Wednesdays, UPN, starting Sept. 29. - "CSI: NY" (7). In brief: Same formula, different city. Now we're in New York, where the crime solvers include Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes. Quality check: The pilot, airing as a "CSI: Miami" episode, was filled with terrific twists. When: 10 p.m., Wednesdays, CBS, starting Sept. 22. - "Veronica Mars" (7). In brief: Veronica is a smart and troubled teenager who spends nights helping her dad's shaky detective business. Quality check: Like UPN's "Kevin Hill," this show takes a so-so idea and executes it beautifully. Bell, who was so good in the Lifetime movie "Gracie's Choice" and appeared briefly in "Deadwood" last season, is perfect. When: 9 p.m., Tuesdays, UPN, but starts on Wednesday, Sept. 22. - "Clubhouse" (7). In brief: A wide-eyed teen becomes bat boy for a team a lot like the Yankees. It ranges from a true hero (Dean Cain) to some heels. Quality check: The pilot is beautifully filmed and rich with emotion. Mare Winningham adds depth as the boy's mom. When: 9 p.m., Tuesdays, CBS, but debuts on Sunday, Sept. 26. - "House" (6). In brief: Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) would prefer never to see a patient. That's what his staffers - including Omar Epps and Robert Sean Leonard - are for. House remains distant, dark, scary and (ultimately) brilliant. Quality check: From the movie "Quiz Show" to the medical TV series "Gideon's Crossing," Paul Attanasio, a former Washington Post film critic, has established himself as a brilliant TV writer. This show takes a while to warm up, however. Laurie - known for the humor of playing Jeeves ("Jeeves and Wooster") on PBS - is a revelation as the stern House. When: 9 p.m., Tuesdays, Fox, starting Nov. 16. But viewers will first see the reality show "Renovate My Family" in that timeslot in early September. - "Desperate Housewives" (6). In brief: Amid suburban prosperity, beautiful women lead beautiful lives - except that they are miserable. Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross star. Quality check: Some clever comedy moments entwine with so-so drama. The result is inconsistent, but entertaining. When: 9 p.m., Sundays, ABC, starting Oct. 3. - "LAX" (5). In brief: This is a slice-of-life at the Los Angeles International Airport - sort of. In the opener, Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood battle to become the new airport chief while crises ignite. Quality check: The opener is quick, slick and hyper. It races through so many stories that there might not be any left for the second week. When: 10 p.m., Mondays, NBC, starting Sept. 13. - "The Mountain" (4). In brief: The prodigal grandson returns to a family ski resort and learns he is in charge. Oliver Hudson (Kate Hudson's brother and Goldie Hawn's son) stars. Quality check: Pretty people scheme and romance, in a pretty setting. It's kind of adequate. When: 9 p.m., Wednesdays, WB, starting Sept. 22. - "Dr. Vegas" (3). In brief: After troubles elsewhere, Dr. Billy Grant (Rob Lowe) has his own medical clinic inside a Las Vegas casino, where Joe Pantoliano is the general manager. Quality check: Give this show credit for not glamorizing casinos; its opener has some brutal moments. Beyond that, the credit runs thin. Terrific actors work with so-so material. When: 10 p.m., Fridays, CBS, beginning Sept. 24. - "Life as We Know It" (3). In brief: This is teen life through the minds of guys. It turns out that mostly, they're thinking of sex. Quality check: The network that once canceled the brilliant "My So-Called Life" offers a hollow copy. The guys are too one-note to be interesting. The women - well played by Missy Peregrym, Kelly Osbourne, Lisa Darr, Marguerite Moreau and more - are better. When: 9 p.m., Thursdays, ABC, starting Oct. 7. - "Hawaii" (3). In brief: Amid the beauty of Honolulu, police detectives zoom around in unmarked cars and wisecrack. Sharif Atkins, fresh from "ER," joins Michael Biehn, Ivan Sergei, Eric Balfour and more. Quality check: The opener fails to engage viewers. Its serious stories are so-so; its wisecracks seem forced. This does, however, have splendid settings. When: 8 p.m. Wednesdays, NBC, starting Sept. 1. - Also: "Boston Legal," "The Practice" spin-off, wasn't available for review. It airs 10 p.m., Sundays on ABC, starting Oct. 3. |