Fall 2012 TV Grid

Nashville - ABC

If you love Country music you might like 'Nashville.'  I don't and I didn't.

Connie Britton plays a Country music legend in the twilight of her career.  Hayden Panettiere's character is the new cross-over queen filling concert halls and unseeding the Country queen.  Thus starts the twangy cat fights and hard-to-believe view of the ugly side of the Country music business.

It's Glee meets Dallas.  My ears were bleeding and I wanted to drop the TV out the window.  But I endured to the end and shockingly it had a pretty good finish that might make an interesting storyline later on.

CBS 2012 Pilots

Over the last few years CBS has been able to do no wrong.  Maybe this has made them lose their edge, or their creativity because of the four pilots seen and reported on here, this is CBS's worst year for new shows in a long time.

Best:  Elementary
Worst:  Partners

Overall Grade:  C+

Jersey - CBS

The Nanny meets LA Law.  OK, that's a little harsh because the Jersey girl is actually a very lovable character.

Martina just happens to have the Fran Drescher hair and Jersey accent, but luckily not the nasal tone or annoying laugh.  Instead she is a street wise Jersey girl with a new job at an upscale Manhattan law firm.  Predictably she is underrated yet ends up saving the client in court like no one else could.

CBS is running Jersey on Friday night which means they don't think it's going to be a hit.  And it is a long shot.  But give this girl a chance and you will have a new show to enjoy on date night.  For a drama it's easy watching: predictable, cute, happy ending.

You have to fall in love with Martina to like Jersey.  Will viewers devote a full hour of their lives to find out?

Vegas - CBS

Cowboys and Gangsters.  The advertising world is predicting 'Vegas' to be one of the big new hits of 2012, I was bored.

I admit it's an interesting premise, Las Vegas in 1960 and the mix of mobsters and the old west.  Who doesn't love Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis?  But I just don't buy Quaid as the tough old west Sheriff.  It's a role built for Clint Eastwood of yesteryear, not so much the nice guy Quaid trying too hard to be tough guy.

In the end it's another period piece, unfortunately much more like Pan Am than Mad Men.  Vegas' only hope is it's extremely strong lead in on Tuesday nights with the NCIS's.  Maybe viewers will just assume it's a good show because of the company it keeps.  My prediction is that it will die a long slow death and give CBS an excuse to bring Unforgettable back a few months early.

Partners - CBS

Speaking of formula TV, Partners is the reincarnated Will & Grace, but not nearly as funny.

Just when you think CBS can do no wrong they come out with another gay comedy with canned laughter... extra heavy on the canned.

I think the plot has something to do with the relationship between two best friends and business partners, one gay, one straight.  One of them is getting engaged and the other has another kind of partner.

The last line of dialogue in the pilot sums it up, "I think we just need to realize that there are 4 people at this table, but 3 couples."  Get it??

Partners has no great characters, no big laughs, and no chance for survival.  CBS can provide it with a big lead-in and lots of promotion, but it will still need a defib by week 3.  Let's hope it dies a quick painless death.

Elementary - CBS

CBS is playing it safe this year with formula tv shows.  The first one is 'Elementary.'  Think of a cross between Monk, Castle, Mentalist and Unforgettable - cop consultants all.

The newest consultant that the NYPD can't do without is none other than the modern Sherlock Holmes.  This Sherlock is straight out of rehab and even has a side kick sober-coach Dr. Watson, played by Lucy Liu.

Sounds like a formula for success and it's not a bad show either.  The pilot was entertaining, fast paced and clever.  Unfortunately this new Sherlock is 100% nervous energy and got on my nerves after a few minutes.  And Lucy Liu?  She didn't beat up anybody which seems like a waste of talent.

Elementary should pull good ratings the first couple of weeks.  The only question is will they get viewers hooked before they get too annoyed with this Sherlock.  I will be the latter.

Great list from Media Life, Fall 2012 TV by the numbers.

21 -- new shows on the Big Five's schedule this fall

27 -- new shows on the Big Five's schedule last fall

12 -- new dramas on the Big Five's schedule this fall

14 -- new dramas on the Big Five's schedule last fall

9 -- new comedies on the Big Five's schedule this fall

13 -- new comedies on the Big Five's schedule last fall

22 -- returning shows that switched time slots

5 -- broadcast network presidents who took shots at Ad Hop, Dish Network's new ad-skipping DVR device

16 -- first-year shows that were renewed this season

6 -- first-year shows that were renewed this season that air on ABC

6.4 million -- views for the preview trailer for NBC's "Revolution" on YouTube

4 -- new hours of comedy on the fall schedules, divided between ABC, Fox and NBC

6 -- comedies airing in the 9 p.m. Tuesday hour this fall

2 -- comedies that aired in the 9 p.m. Tuesday hour last fall

10 -- comedies on NBC this fall, the most for any network in years

1 -- new ratings systems being pursued by a broadcast network (the CW, which is investigating a way to marry TV ratings with online)

2 -- CW shows that now have "Diaries" in the title ("The Vampire Diaries," "The Carrie Diaries")

3 -- shows Matthew Perry has now headlined in the eight years since "Friends" ended

6 --"CSI" and "Law & Order" shows on TV three years ago

3 --"CSI" and "Law & Order" shows on TV this fall

2 -- "Beauty and the Beast"-based pilots in contention for fall (for the CW and ABC)

1 -- "Beauty and the Beast" shows that will make it on the air (for the CW)

0 -- comedies airing on Friday last year

4 -- comedies airing on Friday this fall

2 --new shows that co-star an animal ("Animal Practice," "Beauty and the Beast")

1 -- new shows that co-star aliens ("The Neighbors")

5 -- rank in adults 18-49 of Univision, the network that made the first upfront advertising deal last week

1 -- original shows scheduled for Saturday last year

0 -- original shows scheduled for Saturday this year

Once Upon A Time - ABC

Snow White, Prince Charming, Seven Dwarfs, Wicked Witch, Rumplestilskin, Jimminy Cricket, Ghepetto, they're all alive and well in ABC's new Sunday night family show.

Once Upon A Time brings the fairy tale world to life in our world in a town near Boston called "Storybrook." But what happens if you go there and get stuck in a story?

'Once' pits good vs. evil in a show that I didn't like but your kids should. Against tough competition it won't pull great ratings, in fact ABC may be disappointed that it won't do what Extreme Home Makeover did... and there will be less money in product placement sponsors.

Oh well, pop some corn, sit down with the kids and spend some family time Sundays at 8:00.

Charlie's Angels - ABC

I really wanted the new Charlie's Angels to be a great show... but ABC continues to disappoint this season.

Yes, there are beautiful new Angels and a new young Bosley that is quite a ladies man in his own right. Yes, the new Angels and Bosley can really kick some karate butt. But the acting is terrible and the story line is weak.

Bottom line, if you want to turn off your brain and watch a very updated version of Angels, you will enjoy this show. Will it pull great ratings? No. But ABC doesn't have a good enough back up to replace it before year's end so plan on a no-brainer to start off your Thursday night viewing. And oh ya, the pilot was one of the few this season clean enough to watch with the kids.

Man Up - ABC

Not so manly modern men that want to be manly like their fathers. Sounds funny, right?

It's the only comedy in the 8:00p Tuesday night slot, but against NCIS, Loser and Glee it doesn't stand a chance. And oh ya, it's more pathetic than funny.

Apartment 23 - ABC

"I slept with your fiance on your birthday cake." That is a quote from the show that sums it up as a trusting Midwestern girl gets a rude awakening in the big city with a con-girl roomie.

In a year of bad pilots, this is among the worst. Oh, it won't air until Spring... then it will be among the worst of 2012.