The winter TV blitz: New and old shows combine forces to steal your valuable time
“The Unit-” The Scoop: “24’s” Dennis Haysbert and “Felicity’s” Scott Foley star as operatives in a special forces organization responsible for a slew of secretive missions throughout the United States and abroad. Produced by renowned”Shield” collaborators Shawn Ryan and David Mamet, “The Unit” will reportedly focus on the exploits of both the show’s focal operatives and their respective families. Why Watch?- As fans familiar with Ryan and Mamet’s other compelling drama, “The Shield,” could tell viewers, expect nothing less than engrossing television with a happy helping of suspense and character-centric tension thrown in for good measure.
“Sons and Daughters-” The Scoop: Executive produced by SNL’s Lorne Michaels, “Sons and Daughters” is a family comedy that takes advantage of viewer expectations by implementing a heavy dose of amusing improvisation in addition to traditionally scripted comedy. The result will see Fred Gross’ turn as Halbert-family patriarch Cameron and his efforts to keep his wife, three kids and uproarious extended family united. Why Watch?- The show’s unique blend of unpredictable, improvisational comedy and snarky scripted dialogue could be a breath of fresh air for the family sitcom in the same vein as Mitchell Hurwitz’s ingenious “Arrested Development.”
“Four Kings-” The Scoop: Seth Green, “Committed’s” Josh Cooke, and newcomers
Todd Grinnell and Shane McRae star as four childhood friends who inherit a spacious Manhattan apartment in a sitcom from “Will and Grace” scribes David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. Why Watch?- Aside from the fact that “Four Kings” marks Seth Green’s welcome on-camera television return (’bout damn time!), Kohan and Mutchnick promise to put this group of affable buddies in plenty of zany situations that viewers can still relate to.
“Courting Alex-” The Scoop: Jenna Elfman of “Dharma and Greg” fame stars as
Alex Rose; a straight-laced, not-very-Dharma-like attorney who struggles with dating success despite numerous achievements in the career world. Loosely based on the BBC comedy “According to Bex,” the crux of the story rests with Alex’s father’s attempts to instigate a possible relationship between his daughter and her coworker. Why Watch?- The amiable Elfman knocked it out of the park with Dharma and looks to redefine her career with this quirky- yet-traditional vehicle.
“The Loop-” The Scoop: “The O.C.’s” Bret Harrison (ya know, Shaun’s surfer buddy that died during the film’s expositional scenes?) stars as Sam Sullivan, a freshly hired Chicago airline executive who is forced to adjust to a post-college life filled with responsibility despite his desire to kick back with his slacker roommates. Why Watch?- Aside from “The Loop’s” original premise, the show’s single-camera cinematography technique and quotable nature help set it apart from the other coming-of-age comedies littering primetime.
“The Book of Daniel-” The Scoop: Conversations with Jesus, a martini-downing wife, gay son and drug-dealing daughter color the haphazard life of
Episcopalian minister Daniel Webster in a dramedy written by “Titus” co-creator Jack Kenny. Why Watch?- An eight-episode limited series, “The Book of Daniel” will obviously showcase a much different, considerably more realistic “preacher’s family” than the one depicted on “7th Heaven.” Halleluiah!
Returning Shows
“24-” The Scoop: Jack Bauer is dead. Or, at least that’s what the secret service, China, romantic interest Audrey Raines and the grizzled terrorism-thwarter’s former colleagues at CTU think. With help from Tony, Michelle and Chloe, Jack was able to fake his death at the end of the fourth season in order to escape a trap set by the secret service that involved delivering Bauer as a corpse to cover up their mistakes. The two-hour season premiere that aired on Jan. 16 revealed that a few key events may be just enough to bring the hopeful, ex-CTU agent out of hiding. Living with Diane and her son Derek as an oil-rig worker named “Frank,” Jack once again emerges: this time to confront the terrorist machinations of Russian billionaire Vladamir Bierko. In addition to Jack’s new love interest, Diane, new characters this season include Jean Smart’s turn as a First Lady who is missing more than a few marbles and Hobbit extraordinaire Sean Astin as CTU agent Lynn McGuill. Why Watch?- While each season of “24” has progressively upped the ante with regard to conflict and the show’s gravitas, show creators Joel Sunrow and Robert Cochran have revealed that things will be much more personal for Jack this season. One thing is for sure, the latest season of this pulse-pounding, suspense staple will once again help reinforce why Jack Bauer graduated from the school of hard-assery with high marks.
“Scrubs-” The Scoop: Zach Braff and his endearing costars have returned to NBC
Thursday nights for a fifth season of heartwarming hospital-based high-jinks (say that three times fast). The gang is back in full force, with Turk and Carla exploring life as a married couple and J.D. trying to maintain his friendship with Turk despite having to relinquish the apartment that the two had been sharing since college. Perry and the infamous janitor also return to make life for J.D. at the Sacred Heart Hospital nothing short of a living – if not amusing – hell. The new season opens through the perspective of one of J.D.’s curious interns and follows Elliot’s apprehensive exploits at a free clinic hospital. Why Watch?- If you’re even asking that question, then you’ve certainly never been exposed to this charming, Emmy-nominated gem of a sitcom. With an ensemble cast that is capable yet alluringly goofy, and comedy that combines stark whimsicality with clever dialogue, “Scrubs” is just what the doctor ordered.
“Smallville-” The Scoop: After the sub-par nature of the show’s directionless fourth season, many were surprised by the current 180 in the show’s continuity and storytelling quality. Soaring in its new Thursday night time slot thanks to deliverance on the promise of “everything fans have waited to see,” season five of “Smallville” has featured the introduction of the Fortress of Solitude, Chloe as Clark’s spunky sidekick in the know, Clark and Lana together and surprisingly angst free and the dissolution of Clark’s friendship with the ever-darkening Lex Luthor. The addition of fan-favorite “Buffy” alumnus James Marsters as the manipulative Dr. Milton Fine certainly didn’t hurt either. Why Watch?- With the show approaching its monumental 100th episode (set to air on Jan. 26), executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar prove to be pulling out all of the stops with the confirmation that the episode will include an important “proposal” and a major character death.
“Beauty and the Geek 2-” The Scoop: Ashton Kutcher’s amusing social experiment returns with even more awkward juxtaposition, as the brainy but socially handicapped encounter the sexy and intellectually inept. Oh, the things we qualify as entertainment! The second season of “Beauty and Geek” will introduce a whole new slew of frighteningly gifted uber-geeks and baseless, buxom beauties with hilarity guaranteed to ensue. Why Watch?- Despite the fact that the show’s premise seems like the standard reality television trash, the show provides bouts of heartfelt insight for every cheap, but frequent, laugh.
“Alias-” The Scoop: Jennifer Garner’s got a bun in the oven … and the powers that be have decided that it might be time to hang up all of those colorful wigs and retire. That’s right, after four seasons of identity-swapping intrigue, the hit spy-fi series is coming to an end. But that doesn’t mean it can’t go out with a bang! The show’s fifth season introduced Prophet Five, a mysterious organization connected to Sydney’s late fiancé, Michael Vaughn. Additionally, the final season will continue to showcase the relationship between Sydney and her potential protégé, Rachel Gibson. Why Watch?- While the show’s surprising cancelation is unfortunate, the remainder of the season should finally provide answers to the voluminous questions that have cropped up during the show’s five twist-and-turn filled seasons.
Mack Perry is a critic at the Utah Statesman, coments and questions can be sent to him at mackp@cc.usu.edu.