A Gifted Man - CBS

Wow, I really liked this program... and it bugged me.

Dr. Michael Holt is a world-famous neurosurgeon in New York City. He is smart, rich, and drives a cool car. He is gruff and overly busy on the outside, with a tender spot on the inside.

I'm loving this program until the doc's dead ex-wife shows up over and over again to direct his actions to complete her unfinished business. Now you know why CBS is airing Gifted on Friday night, the night of programs where people see and talk to ghosts. Will the premise of the dead ex bug me enough to quit watching the show? Unfortunately it is the plot line. But with Jennifer Ehle playing this part I will be able to put up with it.

Is this a "cosmic gift" or a pain in the butt that makes the doc look crazy? If you can get past some of the weird directing and patronizing camera angles, most people will like A Gifted Man.

With weak competition Friday nights at 8:00, Gifted should do just fine. I'll be watching episode #2.

Person of Interest - CBS

Solving crimes before they happen? Saving victims that have not yet been hurt?

Of course the Person of Interest can do all that! After all what would you expect when you take an ex-CIA agent (ala Bourne Identity), throw in Ben from Lost, add a hint of 1984, Men in Black, a Dirty Harry/Charles Bronson vigilante character, some cool hi-tech, and you get Person of Interest.

Sound confusing? It is, but it's also kind of a fun way to pull off a drama. Person is something new and CBS is going out on a limb with this one. I found it a little slow, but worth the effort. For viewers wanting instant gratification it will be a stretch.

And it's in a time slot that is as odd as the program itself. Thursdays at 9:00, Person is up against Grey's Anatomy, Bones, and The Office with new boss David Spade. It's also a transition hour for CBS to segue from a comedy block to Mentalist.

Most reviewers and buyers think this will be a hit, but I'm betting on just OK. If it weren't for the fact that it's in the middle of a strong CBS night it would die. However with CBS behind it, a mediocre program might just make it. We'll see how patient CBS will be and how good episodes #2, 3 and 4 will be compared to the pilot.

Unforgettable - CBS

If The Mentalist works with a guy, why not try it with a gal. That's what CBS has done with Unforgettable.

Carrie Wells has a perfect photographic memory, she remembers everything in her life. Every person she has ever met, when, how, and can recollect any moment with perfect visual clarity. This may sound great, but it can also be problematic.

As a former cop, Carrie has a new life but is caught back up in the old one when she hears a murder and is the first to find the victim. Her ex is on the case and enlists her help... not as a cop, but as a "consultant." Sound familiar? Mentalist, Castle, Medium, etc.

Yes, it's a formula, but the formula is not yet worn out and should work again for CBS. Unforgettable is slated for Tuesdays at 10:00 up against Parenthood and Body of Proof. It will do just fine and be another keeper for CBS.

2 Broke Girls - CBS

In a sea of reality TV it's good to see a few small islands of scripted comedies from time to time.

2 Broke Girls pairs a struggling Brooklyn waitress/Manhattan nanny with a newly-broke daughter of an indicted billionaire. After a rocky start, the two (predictably) become fast friends, roomies, and business partners.

Max and Caroline have opposite personalities and come from polar opposite backgrounds. While I'm not the target demo for this program, I found the writing good enough for a few laughs.

The good news for Girls is that it falls in the middle of CBS' Monday comedy line up. The bad news is that it's up against ABC's Dancing With The Stars... a similar target. If HUTs are high enough for points to go around Girls has a chance to make it.