Benjamonster's TV

WE ARE MEN Starring: Kal Penn, Chris Smith, with Jerry O'Connell, and Tony Shalhoub Created by Rob Greenberg Written by Rob Greenberg, Directed by Rob Greenberg We are Men is a new single-camera sitcom on CBS centered on three single men of a certain age and their new project. When Carter (Chris Smith) is left at the altar, he moves into a complex and becomes fast friends with three divorced men: womanizer Frank (Tony Shalhoub), wealthy (but fighting to keep it in divorce court) Stuart (Jerry O'Connell), and the more grounded Gil (Kal Penn). They show him the value in being single and spending time with the guys. THE GOOD: Honestly, my favorite part was an ever-so-small cameo by Dave Foley as Carter's Dad complaining about his missing hard boiled egg. It was the only moment that really even made me smile. I don't really have anything else to say. THE BAD: This is seriously putting up a fight with Dads for the worst new sitcom and there a...

BETRAYAL Starring: Hannah Ware, Henry Thomas, Wendy Moniz, Chris Johnson, Braeden Lemasters, Elizabeth McLaughlin, with Stuart Townsend, and James Cromwell Based on Dutch Televison Series "Overspel," Developed by David Zabel Written by David Zabel, Directed by Patty Jenkins Betrayal is a new soapy drama centered on a torrid affair between photographer Sara Hayward (Hannah Ware) and lawyer Jack McAllister (Stuart Townsend). The problem is that McAllister works for the powerful Karsten family led by patriarch Terence (James Cromwell) and his son TJ (Henry Karsten) and they are embroiled in a murder trial where Sara's husband Drew (Chris Johnson) is working for the other side. Rounding out the main cast is Jack's wife Elaine (Wendy Moniz). THE GOOD: Well, I think this is an interesting concept. A steamy affair among the rich and powerful with a scandal-plagued sounds like a great TV drama. In fact, if done well, it could be a show like ABC's ot...

ABC   8:00 College Football Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2 CBS 8:00 The Crazy Ones (Repeat) Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9 8:30 Mom (Repeat) Viewers: 3.4 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8 9:00 Hostages (Repeat) Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7 10:00 48 Hours Viewers: 6.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0 NBC 8:00 Chicago Fire (Repeat) Viewers: 2.3 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5 9:00 The Blacklist (Repeat) Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7 10:00 Saturday Night Live (Repeat) Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9 FOX 8:00 College Football Viewers: 1.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.5  

ABC   8:00 Last Man Standing  Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 8:30 The Neighbors Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0 9:00 Shark Tank Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0 10:00 20/20 Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 CBS 8:00 Undercover Boss Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6 9:00 Hawaii Five-0 Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6 10:00 Blue Bloods Viewers: 11.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7 NBC 8:00 The Michael J. Fox Show (Repeat) Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8 9:00 Dateline NBC Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3   FOX 8:00 Masterchef Junior Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6 9:00 Sleepy Hollow (Repeat) Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9   Friday night had premieres on CBS and FOX. First up, CBS debuted its new Friday lineup with Hawaii Five-0 in the middle. First up, Undercover Boss debuted to a 1.6 demo which is on the low end of what it was getting last year, but this show tends to fluctuate. At 9pm, Ha...

GOOD WEEK: THE "BIG GUNS" It has been a good premiere week for the broadcast networks for the most part. Most importantly, they each had a major victory with the show that matters most. ABC needed Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to premiere big and it delivered the best demo for a drama premiere since 2009. CBS needed The Big Bang Theory to come back and power The Crazy Ones to a big debut. Big Bang delivered it's best viewership total ever and The Crazy Ones had the best sitcom debut in two years. NBC needed The Voice and The Blacklist to start off strong and The Voice had its best debut since the post-Super Bowl airing while The Blacklist dominated its hour against CBS' competing new drama Hostages . Finally, FOX needed Sleepy Hollow to hold up after a surprisingly strong debut and it did as it got a 3.1 demo against The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, and 2 Broke Girls/Mom . Not everything went perfectly for the networks this week but the things that absolute...

Check below this post for reviews of The Michael J. Fox Show and The Crazy Ones ! ABC 8:00 Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Repeat) Viewers: 4.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 9:00 Grey's Anatomy Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4 CBS 8:00 The Big Bang Theory Viewers: 19.0 million, 18-49 demo: 5.5 8:30 The Big Bang Theory Viewers: 20.4 million, 18-49 demo: 6.1 9:00 The Crazy Ones Viewers: 15.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9 9:30 Two and a Half Men Viewers: 11.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9 10:00 Elementary Viewers: 10.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 NBC 8:00 Parks and Recreation Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3 9:00 The Michael J. Fox Show Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2 10:00 Parenthood Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6   FOX   8:00 The X Factor Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 9:00 Glee Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0 Thursday night was all about The Big Bang Theory. The ratings beast that is doing numbers no other show is contin...

THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW Starring: Michael J. Fox, Betsy Brandt, Wendell Pierce, Katie Finneran, Juliette Goglia, Conor Romero, Ann Nogueira Created by Will Gluck and Sam Laybourne Written by Sam Laybourne & Will Gluck, Directed by Will Gluck  The Michael J. Fox Show is a new sitcom that brings Family Ties and Spin City star Fox back to the small screen. In this show, Fox plays Mike Henry who, like Fox, has Parkinsons and has taken time off to deal with the disease. Mike Henry used to be a star local news anchor in New York City and is coaxed back to TV by friend and executive Harris Green (Wendell Pierce). This means he'll no longer be a stay-at-home dad which is great relief to his wife Annie (Betsy Brandt), sons Ian and Graham (Conor Romero and Jack Gore), daughter Eve (Juliette Goglia), and sister/neighbor Leigh (Katie Finneran). Rounding out the main cast is Henry's assistant Kay Costa (Ann Nogueira). THE GOOD: Michael J. Fox is as likable and en...

THE CRAZY ONES Starring: Robin Williams, Sarah Michelle Gellar, James Wolk, Hamish Linklater, Amanda Setton Created by David E. Kelley Written by David E. Kelley, Directed by Jason Winer The Crazy Ones is a new sitcom from David E. Kelley that brings Robin Williams back to TV more than thirty years after Mork & Mindy . In this show, Williams plays Chicago advertising executive Simon Roberts. The free spirited Simon now oversees Roberts & Roberts alongside his type-A daughter Sydney (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and in the pilot they have to work together to save their biggest client, McDonalds. Rounding out the main cast is another gifted salesman, Zach Cropper (James Wolk), ditsy secretary Lauren (Amanda Setton), and art director Andrew (Hamish Linklater). THE GOOD: Let's get this straight right away: love him or hate him, Robin Williams is exactly what you expect him to be. For me, I typically enjoy Williams and I found him funny on the show. That being ...

CBS announced today that it has renewed the Poppy Montgomery drama Unforgettable to air in the summer of 2014. The show initially aired a full season in the 2011-12 season and was cancelled at the end of the season after airing Tuesdays at 10pm. However, CBS changed its mind and renewed it for this past summer where it did decently enough, at least in total viewers, to get a third season.

ABC 8:00 The Middle Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5 8:30 Back in the Game Viewers: 8.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2 9:00 Modern Family Viewers: 11.7 million, 18-49 demo: 4.2 10:00 Nashville Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0 CBS 8:00 Survivor Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4 9:00 Criminal Minds Viewers: 11.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8 10:00 CSI Viewers: 9.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0 NBC 8:00 Revolution Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8 9:00 Law & Order: SVU Viewers: 9.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7 FOX 8:00 The X Factor Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5   It was an interesting Wednesday night where every network had at least some things to be happy about. ABC had the only series premiere of the night with Back in the Game but first up, The Middle was down four tenths in the demo from last year's season premieres but it was above most numbers from last year. At 8:30pm, the series premiere of Back in the Game performed decently enough. I...

Season four hasn't even begun but FOX has announced that Bob's Burgers was renewed for season five (2014-15). Because animation shows need a lot of pre-production, the renewals often come early. FOX has already announced American Dad! will air on TBS starting next season while Family Guy and The Simpsons are most likely to get renewals soon though you never know with The Simpsons since it's getting up there in age and more expensive. FOX also renewed Glee for 2014-15 as announced last season.

BACK IN THE GAME Starring: James Caan, Maggie Lawson, Ben Koldyke, Griffin Gluck, Lenora Crichlow, JJ Totah, Kennedy Waite, Cooper Roth Created by Rob Cullen and Mark Cullen Written by Robb Cullen & Mark Cullen, Directed by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra Back in the Game is a new baseball themed comedy centered on former star college softball player Terry Gannon (Maggie Lawson) returning home with son Danny (Griffin Gluck) after a messy divorce. They move in with her outspoken and estranged father "The Cannon" (James Caan), who was a star baseball player himself. Despite Terry's disgust towards baseball and the way it messed up her life, Danny wants to play because he has a crush on Vanessa (Kennedy Waite), a baseball loving girl at school. However, Danny is not very coordinated and doesn't make the team until Terry steps up to coach a team of misfits. Rounding out the cast is Terry's sassy new friend Gigi (Lenora Crichlow) and her flamboya...

ABC 8:00 Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Viewers: 12.1 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7 9:00 The Goldbergs Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 9:30 Trophy Wife Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3 10:00 Lucky 7 Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3 CBS 8:00 NCIS Viewers: 20.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6 9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles Viewers: 16.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0 10:00 Person of Interest Viewers: 12.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3   NBC 8:00 The Voice Viewers: 14.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7 10:00 Chicago Fire Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7   FOX 8:00 Dads Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5 8:30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8 9:00 New Girl Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 9:30 The Mindy Project Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5   On the first Tuesday of premiere week, ABC started with a bang and ended with a fizzle. The hotly anticipated Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. did not disappoint as its 4.7 demo ...

ABC announced today that it has renewed Mistresses for a second season. The Alyssa Milano dramedy aired all summer at 10pm to low but not horrible (by summer standards) ratings. It was dwarfed by Under the Dome but did a little better when it was moved to 9pm for the last couple weeks. It's scheduled to premiere next summer but it's not out of the realm of possibility that it will air during the season especially if other dramas for ABC bomb like Lucky 7 did last night.

LUCKY 7 Starring:  Summer Bishil, Lorraine Bruce, Christine Evangelista, Stephen Louis Grush, Matt Long, Anastasia Phillips, Luis Antonio Ramos, Isiah Whitlock Jr. Based on the British series The Syndicate Developed by Jason Richman and David Zabel Teleplay by Jason Richman & David Zabel, Directed by Paul McGuigan Lucky 7 is a new drama with a unique premise: seven gas station workers in Queens have been playing the lottery for years and when they finally win the big jackpot, their lives are changed for better and for worse. Making up the main cast are the six winners (one chose to save his money instead every week and didn't become a part of the winners) and their close family and friends. THE GOOD: You know, I went in expecting to completely hate this show and I guess I didn't completely hate it. There are some individual performances that are good: Lorraine Bruce and Luis Antonio Ramos are the strongest performers so far in the ensemble or a...

TROPHY WIFE Starring: Malin Akerman, Bradley Whitford, Michaela Watkins, Natalie Morales, Ryan Lee, Gianna LePera, Albert Tsai, and Marcia Gay Harden Created by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins Written by Emily Halpern & Sarah Haskins, Directed by Jason Moore Trophy Wife is a new family sitcom with a new kind of TV family. The title character is Kate Harrison (Malin Akerman), a party girl who falls in love with twice divorced father of three Pete (Bradley Whitford) after a freak accident at a karaoke bar. As Kate adjusts to life as a stepmom to teenage twins Hillary (Gianna LePera) and Warren (Ryan Lee) and precocious six year old Bert (Albert Tsai), she must also contend with Pete's two ex-wives. Hillary and Warren's mom Diane Buckley (Marcia Gay Harden) is a sensible and successful doctor while Bert's mom Jackie (Michaela Watkins) is a hot mess new-age woman. Rounding out the main cast is Kate's best friend Meg (Natalie Morales). THE GOOD: ...

THE GOLDBERGS Starring: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantina, with George Segal, and Jeff Garlin Created by Adam F. Goldberg Written by Adam F. Goldberg, Directed by Seth Gordon The Goldbergs is a new family comedy set in the glorious 1980s. Closely based on creator Adam Goldberg's life, the show is set in the small town of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania and revolves around the Goldberg family. Smothering mother Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) is having a hard time accepting her kids growing up. Murray (Jeff Garlin) is her loud-mothed emotionally distant husband. Oldest child Erica (Hayley Orrantina) is nearing college and a stereotypical 1980s teenager. Barry (Troy Gentile) is the middle child who also desperately wants to grow up. Youngest child Adam (Sean Giambrone) is based on Goldberg himself and follows his family around with a camcorder. Rounding out the cast is Beverly's suave but aging father Albert (George Segal). THE ...

MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge Based on the Marvel Comic by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen Written by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, & Maurissa Tancharoen, Directed by Joss Whedon Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is the highly anticipated new series from the makers of the many successful Marvel movies in recent years. In the show, Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) from the movie assembles a S.H.I.E.L.D. team (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division). Made up of humans in the Marvel universe, the team works to try to figure out the superhumans in the universe. The rest of the main cast are the five agents working under Coulson. THE GOOD: I think fans of the Marvel films will be happy with this show. It has some great visual effects, high tech gadgetry, and lots of humor m...

ABC 8:00 Dancing with the Stars Viewers: 13.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3 10:00 Castle Viewers: 11.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2 CBS 8:00 How I Met Your Mother Viewers: 9.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7 9:00 2 Broke Girls Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8 9:30 Mom Viewers: 8.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5 10:00 Hostages Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8 NBC 8:00 The Voice Viewers: 15.0 million, 18-49 demo: 5.1 10:00 The Blacklist Viewers: 12.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.8 FOX   8:00 Bones Viewers: 6.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9 9:00 Sleepy Hollow Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 On the opening night of the 2013-14 season, it was all NBC all night as their combo of The Voice and The Blacklist got off to a great start. The fifth edition of The Voice with the original coaches got off to a phenomenal start. It was up nicely from both the fall and spring edition premieres last year. This show is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down and it managed to post th...

THE BLACKLIST Starring: James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, Ryan Eggold, Ilfenesh Hadera, and Henry Lennix Created by Jon Bokenkamp Written by Jon Bokenkamp, Directed by Joe Carnahan The Blacklist is a new thriller from NBC that is a procedural with a twist. When one of the most notorious criminals in the world, Red Reddington (James Spader), turns himself in, the FBI is stunned. Then he says he will only talk to Agent Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), who is on her first day on the job as a profiler. He then proceeds to begin to share secrets from his "blacklist" of the criminals throughout the world through manipulation and compromise. Rounding out the main cast is FBI Assistant Director Harold Cooper (Henry Lennix), fellow agent Donald Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff), and Elizabeth's husband Tom (Ryan Eggold). THE GOOD: This was a real exhilarating hour and I even had an idea of how things were going to go thanks to the spoiler-y trailer. The b...

ABC 7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos (Repeat) Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8 8:00 Once Upon a Time (Repeat) Viewers: 2.9 million, 18-49 demo: 0.6 9:00 Revenge (Repeat) Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 0.6 CBS 7:00 NFL Overrun Viewers: 25.6 million, 18-49 demo: 9.0 8:00 6th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Viewers: 17.8 million, 18-49 demo: 4.9   NBC 7:00 Football Night in America Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 8:00 NFL Pregame Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4 8:30 Sunday Night Football Viewers: 20.5 million, 18-49 demo: 7.7 FOX   7:00 American Dad! (Repeat) Viewers: 2.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9 7:30 The Simpsons (Repeat) Viewers: 2.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0 8:00 The Simpsons (Repeat) Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4 8:30 Bob's Burgers (Repeat) Viewers: 2.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 9:00 Family Guy (Repeat) Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2 9:30 Dads (Repeat) Viewers: 2.1 million, 18-49 demo: 0.9  

HOSTAGES Starring: Toni Collette, Tate Donovan, Rhys Coiro, Sandrine Holt, Billy Brown, Quinn Shephard, Mateus Ward, James Naughton, and Dylan McDermott Based on the Israeli series created by Alon Aranya, Omri Givon, and Rotem Shamir Written by Alon Aranya & Jeffrey Nachmanoff, Directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff Hostages is a new thriller on CBS that is a major break from a standard CBS procedural due to its very serial nature. Brilliant surgeon Dr. Ellen Sanders (Toni Collette) is about to perform surgery on the US President Paul Kincaid (James Naughton) when her entire family - husband Brian (Tate Donovan), daughter Morgan (Quinn Shephard), and son Jake (Mateus Ward) - is taken hostage by a team led by FBI Agent Duncan Carlisle (Dylan McDermott). Rounding out the main cast is hostage team members (Rhys Coiro, Sandrine Holt, and Billy Brown). THE GOOD: This is an interesting show and I applaud CBS for trying something different. Dylan McDermott and Toni Collet...