With the autumn, ahem, I suppose I must say Fall now, almost upon us, I wanted to do one of my periodic TV updates. I've downloaded a bunch of the new "leaked" pilots too.
In no particular order:
Burn Notice: S2 is an improvement on S1.
Gabrielle Anwar still doesn't really do it for me. She's too skinny but on the plus side she's effectively dropped the Oirish accent. The rest of the show is spot on and the new arc involving Tricia Helfer, who really really does do it for me, and now Michael Shanks is shaping up nicely. And, lest we forget, it has Bruce Campbell too.
The Middleman: I have no idea how they got this funded and made but if you haven't been watching it, run out and do it now. Even M, who is notoriously intollerant of Genre TV is completely hooked as The Middleman and sidekick Wendy Watson (Dub Dub) battle a range of super villans including a Mafia loving hyper intelligent gorilla, a troup of Masked Mexican wrestlers and assorted underworld creatures. Just fantastic. I can't imagine them getting a second seasion so catch it while you can. Find the one with Kevin Sorbo as a Middleman from the 60s where Dub-Dub (
Natalie Morales) dons the obligatory leather catsuit... Naturally it is all done in the best possible taste.
Psych: Not exactly genre but still fun. Definately something to do on a wet summer evening in Seattle.
Stargate Atlantis S5: Lacking something now Amanda Tapping has left (again). This one is always something of a mixed bag and this season is no different. Still not sure where the spine of this series is.
Eureka: Back for a 3rd season and lacking Matt Frewer, so we're sparred his Australian Accent. Matt, you've worked in the UK, your wife is British - you could have done better!!!! Weird story lines abound and an interesting arc developing. Don't peak too closely at the wonky science and you'll be fine.
Fear Itself: I've only watched the first episode of this horror series of self contained stories. It was ok, but frankly there was nothing here to make me come back.
Pre-Air Pilot Leaks:Fringe: The NEW X-Files from Alias/Cloverfield/Startrek bloke JJ Abrams. The pilot was good. Interesting, engaging, some oddball characters and it left no question that there was weird shit out there for the looking at. This is going into the PVR without a doubt.
John Noble steals the show as the mad professor pulled out of a mental hospital to help solve the weird shit of the week.
Tru-Blood: This has been knocking around for a while. Set in the South of an America where Vampires have come out of the Coffin (as they say). The pilot was interesting and a full series, if it gets out will be worth a look.
Returning shows to catch: The new Knight Rider, the excellent Sara Conner Chronicles.