NBC's Massive Overhaul Creates a Thoroughly Unimpressive Fall 2013 Line-Up

A few days ago NBC announced massive cuts, they cancelled every sitcom except Community, and Parks and Recreation, and the only returning dramas are not massive ratings grabers like Parenthood, Grimm, and Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit.  Chicago Fire, and Revolution are the only first year dramas returning at the moment.

NBC's new Fall schedule has been announced and they moved everything around, and even shelved Community until 2014, so Parks is the only returning sitcom for the peacock.  Why the massive time shifts, and cuts?  NBC is attempting an overhaul, which looks incredibly unsuccessful.  At the moment there are a few shows still in limbo: Celebrity Apprentice, Hannibal, Fashion Star, and Beauty White's Off Their Rockers.

Listed below is Fall 2013 Schedule 

MONDAY
8/7c The Voice
10 pm THE BLACKLIST (new series) 

TUESDAY
8 pm The Biggest Loser
9 pm The Voice
10 pm Chicago Fire

WEDNESDAY
8 pm Revolution
9 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10 pm IRONSIDE (new series)

THURSDAY
8 pm Parks and Recreation
8:30 pm WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (new series)
9 pm SEAN SAVES THE WORLD (new series) 
9:30 pm THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW (new series)
10 pm Parenthood

FRIDAY
8 pm Dateline NBC
9 pm Grimm
10 pm DRACULA (new series)

SATURDAY
Encore programming

SUNDAY
7 pm Football Night in America
8:15 pm NBC Sunday Night Football

SUNDAY (Post-football/Winter 2013)
7 pm Dateline NBC
8 pm Nate Berkus’ AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS (Reality)
9 pm BELIEVE (new series)
10 pm CRISIS (new series)

Believe (Drama)

EPs | Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men), J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk (Fringe)
CAST | Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), Johnny Sequoyah, Jake McLaughlin (Savages), Delroy Lindo (The Chicago Code), Jamie Chung (Once Upon a Time), Sienna Guillory (Resident Evil), Arian Moayed (The Following)
Follows an unlikely relationship between a gifted young girl and a man sprung from prison who has been tasked with protecting her from the evil elements that hunt her power.

Crisis (Drama)
EPs | Rand Ravich and Far Shariat (Life)
CAST | Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), Dermot Mulroney (New Girl), Rachael Taylor (666 Park Avenue), Michael Beach (Third Watch), James Lafferty (One Tree Hill), Lance Gross (House of Payne), Halston Sage (How to Rock), Max Martini (Revenge), Max Schneider (How to Rock), Joshua Erenberg (Suburgatory)
Examines what happens when an unlikely puppeteer pulls Washington’s elite — including the President of the United States — into an international conspiracy.

About a Boy (Comedy)
EP | Jason Katims (Parenthood)
DIRECTOR | Jon Favreau (Revolution, Iron Man)
CAST | David Walton (New Girl), Minnie Driver (The Riches), Anjelah N. Johnson (MADtv), Benjamin Stockham (1600 Penn), Leslie Bibb (GCB), Al Madrigal (The Daily Show)
Based on the book and subsequent 2002 film starring Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult, the single-cam comedy centers on the relationship between a man-child and the young boy who moves in next door.

Sean Saves the World (Comedy)
EPs | Victor Fresco (Better Off Ted), Todd Milliner (Hot in Cleveland)
CAST | Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), Linda Lavin (Alice), Echo Kellum (Ben and Kate), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!), Lindsay Sloane (Weeds, Grosse Pointe), Samantha Isler, guest star/recurring Vik Sahay (Chuck)
A multi-cam sitcom about a man attempting to both parent the teenage daughter who just moved in and appease a temperamental new boss.

The Michael J. Fox Show (Comedy)
CAST | Michael J. Fox (Spin City), Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad), Kate Finneran (I Hate My Teenage Daughter), Wendell Pierce (Treme), Juliette Goglia (Easy A), Ana Nogueira
The single-cam comedy is inspired by Fox’s real life and stars him as Mike Burnaby, a husband and father of three in New York City juggling the challenges of family and career while dealing with Parkinson’s disease.

Family Guide (Comedy)
EPs | DJ Nash (Bent), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Jim Garavente (Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium)
CAST | Parker Posey (Louie, The Good Wife), J.K. Simmons (The Closer), Eli Baker, Ava Deluca-Verley
The single-camera sitcom centers on a son who idolizes his blind father and enjoys his mom’s newfound adolescence after his folks divorce and ultimately grow closer.

The Blacklist (Drama)

WHO | James Spader (The Office), Megan Boone (Law & Order: LA), Ryan Eggold (90210), Diego Klattenhoff (Homeland), Harry Lennix (Dollhouse), Ilfenesh Hadera

WHAT | The world's most wanted criminal suddenly turns himself in and offers to give up anyone he's ever worked with. The catch: He'll only work with a new FBI agent, one with whom he has no known connection

Ironside (Drama)

WHO | Blair Underwood (The Event), Brent Sexton (The Killing), Pablo Schreiber (Weeds), Neal Bledsoe (Smash), Spencer Grammer (Greek), Kenneth Choi (Sons of Anarchy)

WHAT | Based on the '60s cop drama, a tough, sexy and acerbic police detective is relegated to a wheelchair after a shooting, but is hardly limited by his disability as he pushes and prods his hand-picked team to solve the most difficult cases in the city.

Welcome to the Family (Comedy) 

WHO | Mike O'Malley (Glee), Mary McCormack (In Plain Sight), Ricardo Chavira (Desperate Housewives), Justina Machado (Private Practice, Six Feet Under), Ella Rae Peck (Deception, Gossip Girl), Joey Haro (Glee, Awkward), Aramis Knight

WHAT | In the single-cam comedy, cultures collide when a white family and a Latino family are bonded together by their children who fall in love followed quickly by an unplanned pregnancy.

Dracula (Drama)

WHO | Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors), Jessica De Gouw (Arrow), Katie McGrath (Merlin) and Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones)

WHAT | Based on Bram Stoker's novel of the same name, the 10-episode series finds Dracula preparing to unleash hell on the Victorian society responsible for ruining his life. But he's thrown when he falls for a woman who's a dead ringer for his beloved, long-deceased wife.

The 2014 shows, or midseason shows are as follows, dramas: Crossbones, Chicago PD, and The Night Shift, the comedies: Community, About a Boy, Undateable , and The Family Guide.  If you look at the actual descriptions of the new shows along with the schedule shifts like Revolution to Wednesdays at 8 pm, and Parenthood to Thursdays prove the person running this network has no clue what they are doing.  Although I vow to watch anything that replaces the Celebrity Apprentice.

Apocalypse Now? Film and Television's Obsession with the Apocalypse

Last night I saw the film Oblivion (review to come), and as I was sitting in the film I realized something, film and television have started to use the trope of the end of the world, more than ever before.  There have of course been numerous films about a post apocalyptic earth in both film and television ranging from The Planet of the Apes series (original 1968), to both versions of the television series Battlestar Gallactica (1978, 2004) to the Mad Max series (original 1979), 12 Monkeys (1995), The Road (2009), and so many more.  The end of world has always been on our mind, and whether its at the hand of apes, a cancer treatment drug, laziness, zombies, or aliens it appears to be on the mind of people more than ever.

NBC's Revolution may have been at the start of the most recent upswing.  The television series follows Earth as though the a big giant plug was pulled somewhere, and all the electronics we have come to rely upon have all but disappeared.  Like with most post-apocalyptic films or television series, a small group of tough as nails survivors battle against a group or people who will prevent the Earth from returning to its former glory.

Glory and empire status seem to be one of the trends which flow through these types of films.  As you you look at America specifically, America became a dominant power toppling the once great English empire in the Revolutionary War.

Martin Scorsese is quoted as saying "I love studying Ancient History and seeing how empires rise and fall, sowing the seeds of their own destruction."

Throughout time a cliche American phrase or quote has arisen "all great empires fall."  Which relates back to Scorsese's quote, and the recent trend within these apocalyptic films.  Film makers and television auteurs use these acts of destruction and rebirth to show the vulnerability and fragility within a people.

One of the few clever parts of the Oblivion screenplay is is the fact that Cruise's character picks up Thomas Babbington Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome, the passage specifically states:

“To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his gods?"

This quote relates beautifully to the the theme of Oblivion, but the book and the reference to the Roman Empire is what has started the inspiration for what I will refer to as the "end of days" films and television series.  As Scorsese stated studying the rise and fall of empires is fascinating, and many Americans believe the end is near or has essentially happened for America, so the jingoism is gone, and bring on the onslaught of films which not only show the end of one empire, but an end to everything.


Beyond this year's Oblivion and Revolution which started in the fall of 2012, there are numerous films about the "end of days" being released this year.  June kicks off with another film, entitled, After Earth which stars Will Smith, son Jaden, and directed by "I see dead people" M. Night Shyamalan.  Earth looks similar to Oblivion, in feel, but explores more of the father son dynamic as opposed to a love story in Oblivion.  World War Z looks more in the vein of I am Legend, and 28 Days Later.  Z follows the concept of a zombie like apocalypse, and a race for a cure to save the world.  Neil Blonkamp's August release Elysium is an apocalyptic world creating a division between the haves and have nots.

While Earth, Z, and Elysium follow the dramatics of an apocalyptic world, there are also numerous films which will explore the humorous side of the end of the Earth.  It's a Disaster is a comedy which follows two couples who are trying to escape a terrorist attack after brunch in New York City.  This is the End from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (release date June 12th) is another comedy much like It's a Disaster (unnamed at the moment, which sets a set of celebrities basically playing versions of themselves fighting an apocalyptic situation. Craig Robinson (The Office's Darryl) stars in This is the End, and has his own June Comedy "end of days" film entitle Rapture-Palooza, which is also a comedy.  Who knew the end of earth or society was as funny, but I am intrigued by this different take on the genre.

If you look at all films and television series recently there is one clear trend, the fear and fascination of our crumbling world.  Whether through the lens of laughter, tears, or an action packed sci-fi world, all of these films are trending at the moment the way in which vampires did the last few years.  Will we move on with the obsession, or is "this the end of world as we know it."

2012's Best and Worst in Television: The Episodes

Best Television Episodes

Community “Basic Lupine Urology” How do you spoof Law and Order by paying homage to the show while making fun of the procedural, ask Community, because they are the master.  I may be a bit biased because to me this is the funniest show on the air, but this show is of the hook.  From a hilarious cross examination by Annie to Abed and Troy switching from good to bad cop, there is no reason to stop this show.

“Troy: How did we get the short straw?

Abed: It's not a short straw. It's a hot potato.

Troy: Yeah, well, it looks pretty cold to me.

Abed: Cold or dead?.

Troy: Survey says...

Abed: We can't both do the zinger.”

Game of Thrones “Black Water” One of the best directed episodes of the year, and that I have ever seen in television history.  The battle mixed with the genuine brilliant story telling is so well done.  Game of Thrones had a solid season, but this episode catapulted the season into greatness.  How this episode was ignored by the Emmy Awards in the directing category is beyond me.  From the action to Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey’s great on screen acting chemistry this was off the hook.

Mad Men-“The Other Woman”- Mad Men had its weakest season (which is not saying much), but there were some episodes that were out of this world amazing.  “The Other Woman” highlighted one of the most difficult stories as Joan gave up her body to help land the Jaguar account, and become a partner.  Joan steals the episodes and her scenes with Pete, Roger, Don, and Lane are brilliant.  Peggy also completes her growth as she steps out of Don’s shadow on her own.

Homeland- Q&A-Cat and mouse finally catch up to one another.  Carrie is finally justified on her opinion when everyone at the CIA finally finds out that Brody was a terrorist.  This episode takes place almost entirely in the interrogation room, and its brilliance is sealed in the final moments when Carrie confronts Bordy.  If you take out Brody’s daughter’s storyline, this is one of the most perfect episodes.

Revenge “Reckoning” The best season finale of last year!  Revenge knows how to ramp up the drama, while this year the show is a bit more like Alias (good and bad thing), the season ender was one of the most exciting episodes of a television series.  With twists and turns, cliffhangers about major deaths, and Emily finally being challenged, there was a lot of good here.

Parks and Recreation “The Debate” -Leslie Knope versus. Bobby Newport in a debate to hilariously end all debates.   This is not the end of her campaign, but one of the funniest moments where these two go toe to toe on the stage.  While this remains the main story, the best side story involves Andy reenacting his favorite films because their cable is out and they can’t watch the debate.   This episode proves this ensemble fires on all cylinders.

Worst Television Episodes

Grey’s Anatomy-“Flight” Enough already Shonda!  Stop needlessly killing your characters in these awful tragic accidents.  Losing both Lexie and Mark has proven to set your show in a downward spiral (no pun intended).  You continue to use major plot devices to drive the story rather than let natural character development occur.  Your fans are getting fatigue with this crazy episodes.

How I Met Your Mother “The Autumn of Breakups”-Wait didn’t Ted and Victoria break up in season one over Robin, and wait didn’t Ted tell Robin he loved her last season, and things ended incredibly bad for Ted?  Don’t we already know Robin ends up with Barney?  Why are writers wasting their time and their fans time with retread story lines over and over and over again.  Pick the mother!!

Glee “Dynamic Duets”- Thwap! Bam! Pow!  Blaine and his super hero club came off and cloying, and odd, rather than a cute way for him to get over Kurt.  Couldn’t they have just had him going through a crisis rather than dress up in spandex in order to be tempted back into the world of the Warblers.  I am tired of this shows absolutely poor character development, and storyline progression.  This episode proved this show needed to pick a steadier direction rather than fracturing the direction of the show to NY, Ohio and wherever else folks may be.  This episode stands as something beyond camp, but just an awful train wreck.

Revolution “Pilot” One of the worst pilots I have watched in years, this show had no charismatic characters and never made me invested in the mystery nor did I care about the journey.  Now I often give most pilots the benefit of the doubt because they are establishing the story, and building at something bigger.  This show looked like all of the most recent Lost wannabe shows like Alcatraz, the re-make of V, etc.  Stop trying too hard!

The Office “Here Comes Treble” This show has fallen so far from grace, and even fans know this show is no longer relevant or even funny (most of the time).  This season’s Halloween episode entitle “Here Comes Treble” is proof.  Trying to combine four or five entertaining stories can be provide even a mess with longer dramatic episodes, so why add this element to a comedy.  No storyline seemed to hit its groove.