thePeanutBloggery

Welcome to Part 6 of the Fall Premiere Challenge. I’d hoped things would be looking up by now, but with only one notably geeky exception, the numbers are sliding. I can’t wait to get back to my old favorites like “Heroes”, “Ugly Betty”, and “Friday Night Lights” (subtle hint – START WATCHING “FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS” BEFORE THEY CANCEL IT AND RUIN MY LIFE!), but for now let’s check in with the new shows.

Life is Wild (CW) – This drama is no doubt the CW’s attempt at replacing the long-running “7th Heaven”. In an extreme effort to unite his family, a veterinarian from NYC moves his new wife and their four children (a modified “Brady Bunch”) to South Africa. However, this is no Poisonwood Bible. With plenty of teenagers around for romance and jealousy, “Life is Wild” is a typical teen show, but not a good one. Still the frequent footage of giraffes, elephants, and baby lions not only creates a family-friendly innocence, it also provides a break from the awkward acting and forced plot. Score: 5

Aliens in America (CW) – Scott Patterson had signed a contract with the CW that lasted through an eighth season of “Gilmore Girls”, so when the show was canceled after only seven, the network booted the actor originally slated to play the father on “Aliens in America” and literally spliced in the ex-Luke Danes. This explains why he seems so uncomfortable and completely beyond the second-rate sitcom. Last Week’s Score: 4. Score: 4

Chuck (NBC) – We already know there’s an inherent problem with this show – what happens when Chuck’s intelligence data becomes outdated. But surely they can work around that. After all, they managed to re-maroon the castaways on “Gilligan’s Island”. The real problem is the romance conundrum. How long until Chuck gets the girl, and how long after that until the show self-destructs (“Moonlighting”, “Scarecrow and Mrs. King”)? Or he never gets the girl and the show gets frustrating and self-destructs (“Remington Steele”, “X-Files”). Still “Chuck” is kind of fun, so we can enjoy the ride down. First Week’s Score: 6. Last Week’s Score: 7. Score: 7. Final Total: 20

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – Perhaps I’m betraying my own geek tendencies, but this show, the same one I predicted would receive the first axing of the season, has won me over. No, it’s not because these guys are a lot like most of the people I hang out with. It’s because the show has revealed its heart, and I find myself hoping this nerd will get the girl. First Week’s Score: 5. Last Week’s Score: 6. Score: 8. Final Total: 19

Journeyman (NBC) – The missions are fairly fool-proof, and the only special talent our hero possesses is the ability to remain dressed at all times. First Week’s Score: 7. Last Week’s Score: 6. Score: 6. Final Total: 19

Cavemen (ABC) – I know it’s a bad sign when I stare at the television, my mouth agape, hoping it will end soon, before someone gets hurt. While the Geico commercials made prejudice against the fictional cavemen ironic, this show makes it seem like a metaphor for racism and appears to suggest minorities overreact to discrimination. Please, ABC, get this show off the air. I give it 1 point for make-up and one for “Ugly Betty”’s Octavia Spencer as the mailman. Last Week’s Score: 3. Score: 2

Carpoolers (ABC) – Let me quote this week’s episode. Aubrey: “I turn down the sound on the TV, and I make up funny stuff for the people to say.” So you see the problem here – the writers think it’s the audience’s job to create the comedy. Last Week’s Score: 3. Score: 3

Reaper (CW) – The books are wrong; this Devil is really a nice guy. He only makes Sam send the really evil escaped souls back to hell. Plus he’s helping him get the girl (yes that’s the third time I’ve used that phrase, but some plot points are standard fare in TV) by shutting down the building, so she can’t go back to college. I’m looking forward to some really touching father figure moments later in the season. First Week’s Score: 9. Last Week’s Score: 8. Score: 8. Final Total: 25

Cane (CBS) – This show is missing one vital element – a likable character to whom I can set my moral compass. I’d be rooting for the family’s arch enemies the Samuels if I didn’t think that would make Frank Duque happy. Usually all this murder and deceit would be entertaining, but truthfully Jimmy Smits’ menacing stares are getting boring. First Week’s Score: 7. Last Week’s Score: 8. Score: 6. Final Total: 21

On Sunday we’ll get final scores for six shows, including “Private Practice”, “Dirty Sexy Money”, and “Life”.

If you’re interested in watching any of the shows you missed, most are available for download on iTunes. You can also check out the shows’ websites. Many of them stream episodes for free.