However, we've just entered into a new fall season of TV. I'm going to try and help you be more aware of what's on (and how the things I watch are faring... in my humble opinion).
So, let's look at Monday's night of programming. I'm only going to address the things I watched, so if you watched something else and have an opinion about it, please share in the comments:)
LIFE IN PIECES (8:30pm, CBS)
This is a new sitcom. It kinda reminded me of Modern Family in that the show explores all the branches of one family. It was different in that it segmented into four separate stories. The first three featured each kid (who are all adults, some with their own families). The last segment featured the family coming together for the father's (very bizarre) birthday party. It was funny, and I laughed plenty. So, the jury is still out on this one, but it shows promise.
SCORPION (9:00pm, CBS)
I think Scorpion was the best new show of last season. I was really looking forward to this season and am well pleased with the first episode. For those of you unaware of this show, it's based on the real life of Walter O'Brien. The guy is a genius and leads a team of other geniuses to solve problems. In this episode, the government knocked a Chinese satellite out of orbit (quite deliberately) but then had a bigger problem when it's trajectory would cause it to land in CA. Since the satellite had nuclear material on it, that would have taken out a big chunk of CA. So, the team is called in to solve what the government cannot... how to change the trajectory so that it lands in the ocean. Not going to spoil it for you, but I'm still loving this show. I give it an A.
NCIS: LOS ANGELES (10:00pm, CBS)
I'm not sure what season we are in... four? five? I confess that there are some things I really like about this show and some things I don't. I really like the characters and their interpersonal dynamic. I don't like that it's usually addressing international concerns. However, that's the show. Last season ended with Callan learning more about his biological father (in Russia), but still left plenty of mystery to be unraveled this season (and beyond). This season opened with Callan trying to get back the man who is the last link to his dad, who was shot at the end of last season and left in Russia. It was all a bit confusing for me. I give it a C.
GOTHAM (8:00pm, Fox)
This show just launched its second season. Season One was really well done. The show revolves around Detective Jim Gordon. He is a rookie detective with the Gotham Police Department. Bruce Wayne is a kid who just lost his parents. All of the Batman villains that we know and love (to hate) are in various stages of their development into "villains." Many are still children. Frankly, I love these shows that explore the unwritten background of very familiar stories. This season they've added the tagline "Rise of the Villains." We've met many of them, but I suspect we'll meet more. The first episode didn't disappoint. I give it an A.
MINORITY REPORT (9:00pm, Fox)
This is another new show. It's premise is a bit difficult to follow. My mom opted out after ten minutes of trying to watch it. It takes place in the future (and has a ton of futuristic gadgetry). That confused mom. Aside from that, the main character is a young man who can see bits and pieces of the future (murders that are about to happen is the focus). He has a twin brother and a sister. When the government discovered their ability, they attached them to machines so that could prevent crime before it happened (yeah, people were locked up BEFORE they committed the crime). These kids lost a decade of their lives hooked up to the machine. Now they're free, but our MC is haunted by the murders and his inability to prevent them. He teams up with a detective in the pilot and the race is now on. The jury is out for me on this one. It has potential to be really good or really terrible.
Our favorite show of the bunch is "Gotham." My wife and I binge-watched the first season after we finished binge-watching "Elementary." It's very interesting how the writers manage to take such well-worm material as Bruce Wayne's back-story and make it fresh by adding in the histories of all the supporting and opposing characters in Batman's world. The show has already given us a new perspective on Penguin. We're used to the 1960s live-action depiction by Burgess Meredith. In that show, he was a joke, like all the rest of the Rogue's Gallery. In this show, Penguin is no joke!
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