If you’re suffering from post-election burnout, sit back and
relax. The television week ahead has some notables. Shooting the
arrow out toward next Wednesday, and pulling it back to the
present, here’s what the Archer’s unearthed:
If you’re suffering from post-election burnout, sit back and relax. The television week ahead has some notables. Shooting the arrow out toward next Wednesday, and pulling it back to the present, here’s what the Archer’s unearthed:
Wild Wednesday
Just when we’ve settled into a the groove of the new TV season, warming up to some new shows (“Ugly Betty,” “30 Rock,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “Heroes,” “The Class”) and tuning others out (“Standoff,” “20 Good Years,” “Vanished,” “Kidnapped”), along comes a creative curveball that should make your TiVo happy. The anomaly unfolds Wednesday when NBC and ABC go head to head with two offerings worthy of our attention.
The first is the long-anticipated return of what used to a Monday night staple at NBC – “Medium” (9pm).
Emmy-winner Patricia Arquette has worked magic with what the writers have given her in this consistently entertaining, intriguing, thought-provoking show. If anything, it manages to feature, quite realistically, a real family unit. The parents are challenged, and the kids challenging, but you get you never get the sense that the whole idea of Dubois’ is contrived. Arquette is one of the most believable wives and mothers to hit primetime in years – all this while being medium and working part-time helping the D.A.’s office solve crimes.
The third-season opener finds Arquette’s Alison troubled – yet again – by a few mental dilemmas. The first comes from her ex-boyfriend – in the form of a ghost. Apparently the guy wants to set up camp in the Dubois household. (Wonder how that will go over with the hubby?) The ex happens to be played by Thomas Jane, Arquette’s real-life husband. Next, watch for young Bridget (a brilliant Maria Lark) to have some seriously animated – literally – nightmares that have something to do with a current case Allison is working on.
Little Miss Medium? Stay tuned …
The other big news for Wednesday happens on ABC. With “Lost” officially on hiatus until the new year, ABC is foregoing repeats – a wise move considering the complexity of a show like “Lost” – and introducing a new drama dubbed “Daybreak” (also at 9pm). The pilot is pretty bold and the concept smacks of Groundhog Day via Jerry Bruckheimer. Taye Diggs stars as a detective who seems to be living the same day over again, but always with slightly different results – and plenty of explosive action. Handled well, the series could have legs, offering viewers yet another serialized mystery to unravel. That it resembles the soon-to-be released film Dejà vu must be a coincidence. (Or is that Dejà vu?)
Wednesday boasts on last notable: The 10th season finale of “South Park” (10pm Comedy Central). Long live Kenny – not!
Not Smart Enough
CBS’s series premiere of “3 lbs.” (10pm Tuesday), about two brain surgeons (Stanley Tucci, Mark Feuerstein), is a head-scratcher. Here we have two dynamic leads in a show that may not be dynamic enough to hold them. For a series revolving around the brain, it would have been wise for somebody on the creative end to have the smarts to not centerpiece most of the show around the actual two doctors (one jaded, one eager to launch his career). I can think of nothing more tiring than watching two uninteresting people on the opposite end of the personality spectrum butt heads. A more curious outing, perhaps, would have been a series that dabbled more behind the scenes (think “CSI”); something that offered viewers more gripping material. And while “ER” handled the old doc/young doc theme to more winning ends back in the ’90s, and “Grey’s Anatomy” certainly seems to do that now – and quite effortlessly – it’s hard to wrap your mind around where the show is actually headed. Take a peek on Tuesday and send me your comments online.
New Take on an Old Reality
Here’s an interesting find: “Jacob & Joshua: Nemesis Rising.” You can find it on Logo, if you’re one of the few who have access to it via satellite TV or a magical cable package. The 411: Two identical twins in a reality show chronicle their journey toward becoming rock stars. The twist. They’re gay. The surprise: they’re actually good singers. Bigger twist: Their conservative family is religious. OK, I’ll bite. While my interest in reality shows continues to wane, there’s a lot of heart (some of it forced) in this original new series. Catch it at 10pm, Mondays on Logo.
Saturday’s the Night
Well, if you must keep track, Alec Baldwin, the star of NBC’s “30 Rock,” makes his 13th appearance as guest host on “Saturday Night Live.” One more to go and he ties with Steve Martin in the guest-hosting department. Christina Aguilera is the musical guest.
Greg Archer is an entertainment writer based on the Central Coast. He writes about television, film and being human. E-mail him at ga*****@**********rs.com or visit www.greg-archer.com.
