My TV Grades for the New Shows so far this Season

Well, one thing can be said for this fall’s crop of new shows~ they’re at least a tiny bit better than last fall’s… In fact, only Raising Hope (which I love) , Hawaii 5-0 (which is pretty to look at but rather pedestrian) and Mike & Molly (which is ok and is greatly benefitting by the amazing Emmy winner Melissa McCarthy) made it to season two from that crop. So far, it looks like several shows could make it at least that and that’s a good thing. Leading the way are the comedies New Girl and 2 Broke Girls and the juicy soap Revenge. However, there is a lot of crap out there too (and after second viewing, pretty much all of the grades remain unchanged). So, check out the grades for the new shows I’ve seen this season…

New Fall TV Show Grades:

New Girl: A- (good comedy with a great lead in Zooey Deschanel)
2 Broke Girls: A-  (Kat Dennings is undeniable in this fun comedy)
Revenge: A- (great soap with a hot cast and scene stealer Madeline Stowe as an ice queen in the Hamptons is delicious)
Up All Night: B (serviceable comedy with the appealing Christina Applegate and Will Arnett, but the standout is the hysterical Maya Rudolph whose crazy talk show host character deserves her own show)
Person of Interest: B (decent procedural that fits perfectly with CBS’s brand and features Jim Cavezial and an impeccable Michael Emerson)
Ringer: B- (it’s a fun mystery thriller soap and it’s great to see Sarah Michelle Gellar back but why am I not thrilled to keep watching?)
The X Factor: B– (it’s an overproduced hot mess and the talent is less than inspiring. But I’m willing to keep watching as it moves past the bad audiitioners and gets to the good stuff. Plus I do love Simon and Paula)
Pan Am: C+ (it’s stylish and could improve, but so far it’s forgettable)
The Secret Circle: C+ (it’s perfect for the supernatural CW, but I don’t need to keep watching these pretty teen witches)
Terra Nova: C+ (the dinosaurs are great, the humans~ not so much)
Charlie’s Angels: C (wow, I wanted to like this. Unfortunately, it’s just average storytelling and execution despite the gorgeous cast)
A Gifted Man: C (Yes, Patrick Wilson is gifted and gorgeous but the show is boring)
Prime Suspect: C- (Maria Bello is good enough, but the show feels dated and worse, it’s annoying despite being decently shot, performed and edited)
Free Agents: D+ (what a waste of Kathryn Hahn and Hank Azaria. I love them but this one’s a stinker. I do hope it improves)
Whitney: D+ (it’s pretty painful)

Up next, I’m planning on watching Homeland this weekend on Showtime. Stay tuned…. Which shows do you like so far?

Check Out CBS’s new 2011 Fall Schedule

For a network on top, CBS made some bold moves with its new fall schedule. Looking to maintain stability and grow some new hits, the network will be moving two of its signature shows. Long running hit CSI moves to Wed night at 10pm while the best drama on network TV, The Good Wife, moves to Sundays at 9pm for a battle with ABC’s Desperate Housewives. Also of note, CBS is doing some original programming on Saturday nights with the return of the comedy Rules of Engagement becoming the first sitcom to run new episodes on that night in ages… Fall also brings the revamped Two and a Half Men which says buh bye to crazy pants Charlie Sheen and hello to “no longer a movie star” Ashton Kutcher. Will it keep the ratings up? Will people care? Will the show ever be funny? Stay tuned… And check out the whole new schedule plus descriptions of the new shows below. For more on CBS, head here.

MONDAY
8/7c How I Met Your Mother
8:30 pm: 2 BROKE GIRLS: a comedy from Sex and the City’s Michael Patrick King about two poor waitresses played by Beth Behrs and the hilarious Kat Dennings (Thor) who try to create their own successful business.
9 pm: Two and a Half Men
9:30 pm: Mike & Molly
10 pm Hawaii Five-0

TUESDAY
8 pm NCIS
9 pm NCIS: LA
10 pm UNFORGETTABLE: a drama starring Poppy Montogomery (Without a Trace) as a former police detective with a rare condition that makes her remember everything, an especially helpful quality as she works with a new homicide squad.

WEDNESDAY
8 pm Survivor
9 pm Criminal Minds
10 pm CSI [new time slot]

THURSDAY
8 pm The Big Bang Theory
8:30 pm HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN: a new odd couple sitcom about a refined writer (David Hornsby) and his messy loud personal trainer (Entourage’s Kevin Dillon). The show also stars comedy vets Dave Foley (Kids in the Hall) and Mary Lynn Raskub (24).
9 pm PERSON OF INTEREST: a crime thriller starring Jim Cavezial as a former CIA agent who teams up with an eccentric billionaire (Lost Emmy winner Michael Emerson) to prevent violent crimes. The show also features Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
10 pm The Mentalist

FRIDAY
8 pm A GIFTED MAN: a new drama starring Patrick Wilson (Little Children) as a surgeon whose dead ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle) starts appearing to him in visions to help guide his life.
9 pm CSI: NY
10 pm Blue Bloods

SATURDAY
8 pm Rules of Engagement [new time slot]
8:30 pm Comedy Encores
9 pm Drama Encores
10 pm 48 Hours Mystery

SUNDAY
7 pm 60 Minutes
8 pm The Amazing Race
9 pm The Good Wife [new time slot]
10 pm CSI: Miami

NOT RETURNING NEXT SEASON: Mad Love, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, $#*! My Dad Says and The Defenders

And coming at midseason is The 2-2, a new drama from Robert DeNiro about rookie NYPD detectives starring Leelee Sobieski, Adam Goldberg and Stark Sands.

And here’s my quick take on their new schedule:

The Good: they picked up The Good Wife!! Plus, it’s smart to make some big moves on Thursday night with their most promising new show Person of Interest.

The Bad: shouldn’t they have just dumped Two and a Half Men instead? … And I’m not too big on the move for The Good Wife.

The Blah: pretty much the rest of the schedule… Oh and Undercover Boss is coming back at midseason…