It feels so good to be proven right every now and then. Having viewed around 90% of the new pilots that are premiering this upcoming season on the US networks, only three really stood out to me as must watches - "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", "Ugly Betty" and "Heroes".
There was also three I quite liked personally - "Shark", "Traveler" (which is now delayed til mid-season) & "Smith" - but weren't sure they would click with others. Other high profile ones like "Jericho", "Justice", "20 Good Years", "30 Rock", "Runaway" and "Knights of Prosperity" I hated.
"The Nine", pegged by the critics as the best of the new serial dramas (my favourite format) I found quite tedious, as was "Vanished", "The Class" and "Six Degrees". "Kidnapped" and "Friday Night Lights" have potential though.
Now, sixty-six leading TV critics have weighed in with their thoughts on the new shows to BroadcastingCable.com and the results match pretty closely to mine (albeit one notable exception).
In terms of best overall program "Studio 60" won by far with 49%, followed closely by "Ugly Betty" (12%), "The Nine" (11%), "Heroes" (8%) and "Shark" (5%).
Comedy wise the votes went to "Ugly Betty" (29%), "30 Rock" (20%), "The Class" (16%), "Knights of Prosperity" (15%) and "'Til Death" (4%).
Dramas the votes were "The Nine" (27%), "Studio 60" (24%), "Shark" (8%), "Friday Night Lights" (7%) and "Jericho" (7%).
Find details on the various shows at the following links: Studio 60, Ugly Betty, The Nine, Heroes, Shark, 30 Rock, Jericho, The Class, Knights of Prosperity, 'Til Death, Friday Night Lights
For reference, and to give you an idea of my tastes, this past 2005/2006 television season I made sure to watch every episode of the following shows: "24", "Battlestar Galactica", "Boston Legal", "Deadwood", "Doctor Who", "Family Guy", "Life on Mars", "Lost", "Prison Break", "Veronica Mars" and current affairs/satires like "The Colbert Report", "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "Real Time with Bill Maher".
Despite dropping in quality I still made sure to catch "Alias", "Desperate Housewives", "The Simpsons" and "South Park", plus on occasion I enjoyed the dumb fun of genre stuff like "The 4400", "Invasion", "Kyle XY", "Smallville", "Stargate: SG-1" and "Supernatural".
Other shows I really engaged with but prefered waiting for the DVD sets included "Arrested Development", "The Dead Zone", "Entourage", "Grey's Anatomy", "House", "Hustle", "Little Britain", "My Name is Earl", "Nip/Tuck", "The OC", "Queer as Folk", "Rome", "Spooks", "The Shield", "The Sopranos", "Will & Grace" and "Wire in the Blood".
The most unfair cancellation of the past few years? Without a doubt the brilliance that was "Carnivale". Also have a soft spot for the likes of "John Doe", "Firefly" and "Now and Again".
