Benjamonster's TV

RUNNING WILDE Starring: Will Arnett, Keri Russell, Robert Michael Morris, Mel Rodriguez, Stefania Lavie Owen Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, and Will Arnett Written by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, and Will Arnett Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo Running Wilde is a new comedy from part of the team that created cult comedy classic Arrested Development . This show focuses on childhood friends and teenage loves who have gone in very different directions. Steve Wilde (Will Arnett) is a wealthy playboy who has never had to work for anything in his life while Emmy Kadubic (Keri Russell) has spent her life trying to change the world, most recently living in a rainforest trying to preserve an ancient tribe. However, her daughter Puddle (Stefania Lavie Owen), the narrator of the show, desperately wants to be a normal kid and tricks her mother into visiting Steve and then staying there, living in the treehouse Steve and Emmy used to spend much time in. Rounding ...

RAISING HOPE Starring: Lucas Neff, Martha Plimpton, Garret Dillahunt, Shannon Woodward, Skyler Stone Created by Greg Garcia Written by Greg Garcia, Directed by Michael Fresco Raising Hope is a bizarre new sitcom from Greg Garcia that is reminiscent of Garcia's My Name is Earl. The oddity of this new offering is apparent right from the premise - when Jimmy Chance (Lucas Neff) has a one night stand with a double murderer and she ends up pregnant, he is left to care for the baby when she is executed. Helping him are the members of his trailer trash family - his mother Virginia (Martha Plimpton), father Burt (Garret Dillahunt), and cousin Mike (Skyler Stone). After the pilot gets past the execution (that Jimmy and the baby watch), it focuses of Jimmy's inexperience in raising a child who they end up naming Hope, hence the title. Raising Hope is certainly not for everyone. With its offbeat humor and grotesque sight gags (Jimmy and his mother vomit on the baby), it ...

HAWAII FIVE-0 Starring: Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park Based on the original series Created by Leonard Freeman Written by Peter M. Lenkov (teleplay and story), Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci (story); Directed by Len Wiseman TV remakes have not had too much success over the years but CBS has tried it once more with an elaborate remake of the 1970s classic Hawaii Five-O . This intense new drama series follows Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) who sets up an elite unit/task force in Hawaii alongside Detective Danny "Danno" Williams (Scott Caan), ex-cop Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim) and his cousin and cop Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park). In the pilot, Steve tries to avenge his father's death by shady underground figure Victor Hesse and puts together his new team. Of course the classic theme song is back, it wouldn't be Hawaii Five-0 without it. I have not seen the original TV series so I cannot compare it to that. It is certainly...

MIKE & MOLLY Starring: Billy Gardell, Melissa McCarthy, Reno Wilson, Katy Mixon, Nyambi Nyambi, and Swoosie Kurtz Created by Mark Roberts Written by Mark Roberts, Directed by James Burrows Mike & Molly is a new comedy on CBS from hitmaker Chuck Lorre that focuses on a segment of the population that doesn't get much exposure in leading roles: overweight people. Chicago cop Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell) meets 4th Grade teacher Molly Flynn (Melissa McCarthy) at Overeaters Anonymous. They are instantly smitten with each other but it takes several encounters before Mike finally asks Molly on a date at the end of the pilot. Rounding out the ensemble are Mike's fast-talking partner Carl (Reno Wilson), Molly's sister (Kathy Mixon) and mother (Swoosie Kurtz). Mike & Molly resorted too often to fat jokes in the pilot but there is an inherent sweetness to it that if the writers can bring that out more, would make this comedy a winner. The standouts are easily...

At least one more pilot review today and many more starting tomorrow afternoon as I will have more time. For now, the ratings recap: ABC 8:00 The Middle Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7 8:30 Better With You Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5 9:00 Modern Family Viewers: 12.7 million, 18-49 demo: 5.7 9:30 Cougar Town Viewers: 8.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4 10:00 The Whole Truth Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5   CBS 8:00 Survivor Viewers: 12.6 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0 9:00 Criminal Minds Viewers: 14.1 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0 10:00 The Defenders Viewers: 12.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9   NBC 8:00 Undercovers Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1 9:00 Law & Order: SVU  Viewers: 10.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2   FOX 8:00 Hell's Kitchen Viewers: 6.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6 9:00 Hell's Kitchen Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 Night three of premiere week brought good news for some shows and bad news for others. There were ...

THE EVENT Starring: Jason Ritter, Sarah Roemer, Laura Innes, Ian Anthony Dale, Scott Patterson, Taylor Cole, Lisa Vidal, Bill Smitrovich, with Zeljko Ivanek, and Blair Underwood Created by Nick Wauters Written by Nick Wauters Directed by Jeffrey Reiner The Event is aiming to be TV's next big thing. With epic shows like Lost and 24 a thing of the past now, NBC has been hyping the show for the entire summer like no other. The story revolves around a still unknown event (as of the pilot) that has to do with the government and one man (Jason Ritter) who gets wrapped up in it while trying to find his girlfriend. The pilot shifts from one character's story to another and, within each character's story, generally goes back in time with each scene. Some of the main characters introduced in the pilot that all have intertwining storylines are Sean Walker (Ritter) and his girlfriend Leila (Sarah Roemer), a CIA operative (Ian Anthony Dale), Leila's father (Scott Pa...

At least one or two more pilot reviews coming later today, I promise they will all by up by the weekend! For now, the ratings from last night ABC 8:00 Dancing with the Stars Recap Viewers: 12.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6 9:00 Dancing with the Stars Results Viewers: 18.5 million, 18-49 demo: 4.4 10:00 Detroit 1-8-7 Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3 CBS 8:00 NCIS Viewers: 19.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0 9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles Viewers: 15.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4 10:00 NCIS: Los Angeles Viewers: 13.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0   NBC 8:00 The Biggest Loser Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9 10:00 Parenthood Viewers: 5.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5 FOX 8:00 Glee Viewers: 12.5 million, 18-49 demo: 5.6 9:00 Raising Hope Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 9:30 Running Wilde Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2. 4 Night two of Premiere Week was very heavily watched as many powerhouses faced off with big numbers coming from Dancing with the Stars , the NC...