The TV season is only six weeks old, but hey, it’s never too early to single out its biggest winners and losers, is it? That’s what I thought. Here goes:
Most Improved: Creatively
Parks and Recreation: When it debuted last spring, Amy Poehler’s workplace comedy was a snooze and a half. But apparently, while I was sleeping it got better. Lots better. What happened? “I don’t think magical fairy dust was sprinkled over the show,” co-creator Michael Schur says. “I just think we’re getting better at it.” Indeed, Poehler has dialed down her performance as deputy parks director Leslie Knope, and the strong supporting cast, including Rashida Jones and Aziz Ansari, is jelling.
90210: After struggling to find its own identity, the reboot has grown into the guilty pleasure we always wanted it to be. Moving AnnaLynne McCord’s immensely entertaining anti-heroine, Naomi, front and center certainly didn’t hurt. “AnnaLynne has moxie, and I wanted to tap into that,” says Rebecca Sinclair, who took over as showrunner last spring. “Plus, she’s hilarious.”
Most Disappointing: Creatively
Saturday Night Live: Coming off of last year’s election bonanza, a decline in topicality — and thus hilarity — was inevitable. But you know things are really bad when the show starts making me almost sick of Kristen Wiig. You can make a bad sketch better by putting your MVP in it, Lorne Michaels. But you can’t make necessarily make a bad sketch good.
Best New Shows
Modern Family: I already had a pre-emptive Save the Show campaign organized, but it turned out, I didn’t need to: The season’s funniest comedy (new or otherwise) averages an impressive 10 million viewers, wins its timeslot every week and makes me laugh like there’s no tomorrow. Thank you, Ed O’Neill. And Sofia Vergara. And Eric Stonestreet. And Julie Bowen. And Jesse Tyler Ferguson. And Ty Burrell. And…
The Vampire Diaries: I would’ve sworn we’d OD’d on bloodsuckers, but darned if The CW didn’t get our pulses pounding yet again with this junior varsity True Blood.
Worst New Shows:
Hank: The only weak link in ABC’s otherwise strong Wednesday comedy lineup is still awaiting a full-season pickup. Something tells me it’ll be waiting a long, long, long time.
The Forgotten: Huh? What? Exactly. Christian Slater’s aptly-titled drama hasn’t registered with viewers or critics. What were we talking about again?
What are your picks for this season’s best and worst so far? Sound off below! And pick up the current issue of Entertainment Weekly to read our list of this fall’s biggest ratings winners and losers.
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Best New show:
Flash Forward
agreed!
No way…I’m even beginning to lose interest in the show. I do agree with Modern Family
Flash Forward tries too hard to do what Lost seems to effortlessly.
Agree. Flash Forward is weak but Modern Family is strong and will survive.
I’m the opposite of April. I’m getting tired of Modern Family–especially the confessionals. And FlashForward is my favorite show on TV right now.
Same!
I agree I can’t get into FlashForward, all i can think is “what a LOST wannabe!”
FlashForward sucks. Modern Family is where its at.
I wish I could agree, but the show definitely needs some work. One of the inherent issues with a show about a global catastrophe is the lack of focus. Too many characters have popped up already. Lots of potential here though. And I LOVE all the actors involved.
Yup, it needs work. The place is slow, and the writing lack any sense of mystery or mythology. BUt the premise is good, and the cast is better than good. Sharpen up the writing!
Another thing wrong with Flashforward is that it’s too grim. The lighting is grim, the sets are grim, the stories are grim, the direction is grim and the actors only display one expression – grim.
To paraphrase Jesse Jackson, this show should do something to keep hope alive.
The only thing I find interesting about the show so far, is John Cho’s character. What DO you do if you had no flash forward? Are you dead in the future? How does that affect your present? It makes me think. BUT, the rest is rather boring to me, even poor Fiennes, bless his heart, makes be zzzzz
I thought I’d be saying the same thing, but I unfortunately don’t feel that way yet. I’m waiting to have a moment like Locke getting up after the planecrash in Lost, but that hasn’t happened yet. It’s been a fun ride, but I’m not completely hooked yet.
Biggest suprise for me has definitely been Modern Family, but I’d also add Fringe to the “Most Improved: Creatively” category. Fringe was always on the verge of cancellation from my Tivo queue last year because, although I do love me some sci-fi, I couldn’t get into its procedural feel. Since last season’s finale and into this season, however, the show feels reinvigorated. The parallel universes storyline has brought this show to life, and even the stand-alone episodes are better because of it. The writers are obviously more excited about what they’re doing this season, and they have me excited too.
I know a lot of people who watch FlashForward (me being one of them) and I say the same thing to all of them, I am waiting for that moment. That show that hooks me in. In Lost it was the pilot but also the Locke episode when you realize he was in a wheelchair before the crash. This show hasn’t given me THAT moment yet. I get glimpses with the daughter saying D Gibbons is a bad man and all, but nothing that makes my hair stand up yet.
I completely agree! I love Lost and Locke is by far my favorite character/story line on the show. His character was what really hooked me in. I am already missing Terry O’Quinn now; I hope he will be cast in another great series after Lost is done next year.
Love Modern Family!
I’ve just started watching Lost and completed the first season last night. The one thing FlashForward has over Lost is that there aren’t nearly as many continuity errors to distract from the narrative. Lost also has an overacting problem. I’m still debating whether I want to continue with either show as neither one has hooked me yet. Modern Family’s pretty good. I don’t get the constant Arrested Development comparisons. It’s closer to The Office in style.
Very disappointing show, and last week’s C-SPAN episode was the nail in the coffin for me. I’m no longer intrigued and I just don’t care.
OH NO! Whatever will the creators of Flash Forward think?!
Well hopefully they think about making better episodes.
Ditto on Flashforward.
Are you dittoing the good or bad comments?
haha dittoing…
I agree Flash Forward is the best new show. It’s still holding my attention and thats saying something. I’ve tryed watching several new shows and was lucky to make it through the first 15 minutes.
I agree. It deserves a chance to get the story rolling.
I agree it deserves a chance. One thing I need to say while reading other comments-FLASHFORWARD IS NOT LOST. I do not expect it to be. I find it intreguing and am enjoying what I have seen so far. I would rather watch a bad episode of this show then any of the too many crappy so called “reality” shows that I sick of hearing about. I do not watch reality shows and yet have to be subjected to hearing about them non-stop. I refuse to waste my time caring about anyone on those shows. Flashforward has gotten my attention, in a good way, without insulting my intelligence. I for one am looking forward (no pun intended) to seeing where this show is going and what the writers can do with it.
I agree that Flash Forward is the most intriguing new show (I’m also very much enjoying The Good Wife, but I think I’d have to call FlashForward my favorite new show–The Beautiful Life would have been up there too, but the CW cancelled it before even letting it get going). And I’d have to also agree with Jennifer when she points out for all those comparing FlashForward to Lost–it is NOT Lost. If anybody expected it to be, well then it’s their fault if they’re disappointed. I’m a huge Lost fan as well–but that makes me no less a fan of FlashForward. Gees, people complain when storylines copy other successful movies/TV shows, but then try to do something different, and people want you to mirror another show? Go figure! And I’m with Jennifer on another point too–I’m so sick of yet more and more reality shows coming on TV (have never watched one yet), and am so very glad when new original programming such as FlashForward appears! Granted, someone said they treat the viewers as idiots by repeatedly showing parts of people’s flashes before a scene with the objects of those flashes, and maybe we regular viewers don’t need those constant reminders. But for those that might not have seen the first ep., I’d think those could be helpful–so I don’t mind them like some others apparently do. Overall, I think it’s quality writing, very quality acting, and an intriguing concept. I also am “looking forward” to more!
I like it too, and think it is steadily improving, and becoming more intriguing. I like the concept of people changing who they are based on what they think will be their future. Many possibilities of where each character can go with that. Then the who and why of the blackout is the mystery, and the pace to solving it I believe is going at a good clip.
Wow, I came to say the exact opposite. I forced myself to watch the first four episodes because of the cast and premise, but it is all-around awful. I kept waiting for it to get better.
It wants to be as intelligent as “Lost,” but is really the intellectual cousin of “Heroes.” And that’s not a compliment.
Josh M is a genius. Everything he says is absolutely on-the-mark re: Flash Forward. What a colossal disappointment.
Agreed. It’s had a few wobbles, but basically what I like about it is that it’s mythology seems to be worked out. The writers, miracle of miracles, seem to know where it’s going. Unlike Lost until season four or even five. It does help it’s based on Robert J. Sawyer’s novel. Haven’t read it as I don’t want to spoil the show, even though I’ve read others by him. He’s a very good writer of SF (Nebula and Hugo Awards to his credit), so I imagine he’s worked out a credible solution. But, as you know, who knows if the show runners are following the book that closely. I’m willing to give it time.
It’s ok, you can read the novel without spoiling anything. It’s very different. The Flash Forward is nearly 20 years ahead, not several months, and the book is about a group of scientists, not FBI agents.
When a show seems to be all worked out, it’s not usually given the chance to get where it’s supposed to go.
I think FLASH FORWARD is badly written and the acting is so-so. But the mystery has me hooked and the chunks of reveals they dole out each week has me hooked…for now…
Glee!!!
Absolutely Glee is the highlight of my week.
Absolutely Positively Glee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love It!!!!!!!!!!
glee makes getting through the week worth it.
I LOVE GLEE!
Glee is a great show. It just has too much drama.High school isnt like that,the writers need to be realalistic.I find myself just wishing my would sing some big number like they did in the pilot
glee is the best all the way
i was going to comment on that. how can anyone not think that glee is the best new show?
I am loving FlashForward as well! I find the story intriguing and I enjoy the characters. It’s no Lost, but I don’t know if anything will be…not anytime soon at least. If everyone would stop comparing it to Lost and just enjoy it for what it is, I think a lot more people would have positive things to say. But hey, that’s just my opinion!
I love FlashForward! It’s really weird, and I love that in a show. Dead birds? Melted doll heads? I’m there! I think Joseph Fiennes and John Cho are great, and everyone else is starting to grow on me too.
Makes me wish I could Flash Forward…to it’s end!
Best new show is Glee hands down!
I like FlashForward so far. Sure it’s a little boring, a little hard to get into but I think people would start liking it better if they and the show stopped comparing it to Lost. it just needs a little time to find its footing. I’m sure it’ll pick up its pace. I think VD is the best new show, but FF is okay too.
FlashForward is the only new show I watch. Mad Men is a bit disappointing this year.
100% Agree…
Flash Forward is a bore! I read the book, it’s excellent, but the show is just a Lost wannabe, trying to be all mystic but failing miserably. The actors all seem to be overacting especially the Joseph Fiennes. This ain’t Shakespeare Joe, turn it down a notch!
I completely agree about Fiennes overacting. The faces he pulls sometimes are so hilarious! His wife says I love you, he does a confused, sad face. Anytime anyone says anything, confused sad face. He cannot pull off the playful family thing, because he can’t smile! Has he smiled even once?!
Zachary Knighton, Christine Woods and Sonya Walger brighten it up a bit though, but Fiennes, that Aaron guy, Courtney Vance and John Cho are horrible.
Best new show is without question ‘Glee’ and any “best of” list which doesn’t have it is frankly kind of a joke. Vampire Diaries? LOL.
this list is not the joke, glee is the joke. that show is so dumb, the lines arent clever, the characters are annoying, and the singing is atrocious. the only good part is jane lynch, and she deserves to be on a funnier show than this.
you must be joking.
must be joking! the singing is atrocious?! wtf!
im not joking at all, the singing is so fake that i laugh when i see it. when that girls sings i couldve danced all night was maybe the fakest singing ive ever seen in my life. high school musical actually does a better job of making the singing seem authentic. and as for the show itself, its weak and not funny, and its a completely distorted view of what high school is like
In what world is the singing quality bad on Glee? C’mon, you just wrote this to wrattle people up…
fail john…you fail
Well, the large number of fans, and the even larger number of song downloads disagree.
tarc, so i should like it because thats most people like it? if that was the case then i would watch american idol and hannah montana and listen to the black eyed peas and taylor swift. basically id be a total douche bag
you’re right on, john. Glee sucks! So much wasted potential!
I agree. The singing on Glee is not very good, and I can’t stand the teenage characters either.
I don’t like Glee at all, but several of the singers are really good. That girl who plays Rachel was on several broadway shows and was offered Eponine in Les Mis. She can sing, you can’t fake broadway. Maybe you don’t like the style, but the voices are good.
hey, John…you don’t have to like the show but saying the show is dumb and the characters are annoying is pathetic. Stop watching, Glee will survive!!
The singing is certainly not atrocious, but I don’t really love the way it comes across as completely overproduced. I would much rather hear the live takes of it and have it flow naturally with the show than seem like a poorly lip synched voice over – when we know they are all really the ones singing anyway…
I do like Glee a lot as well. One of the few shows I watch with my wife. I like musicals AND dramas and here I get both with a little comedy thrown in too.
Is Glee nonsensical, juvenille, and unrealistic? Yes. Any high school where Lea Michelle is the ugliest girl is approaching science-fiction right off the bat.
But is it riveting TV anyhow? Yeah. It’s like watch a train go downhill without brakes. You know it’s going to go off the tracks and hurt a lot of people, but you still have to watch to see what happens.
John , you and the reviewer are jokes for ignoring the show who made the cover this EW week ! Go Glee!
I don’t like Glee either. I liked the first ep, but then I thought it got really dumb.
What show R U watching?
GLEE has good storylines (that skirt current issues), fine acting (and singing) and good song choices ranging from top-40 classics to current hits. Plus it has heart! All this was enough for Fox to order a back nine (originally 13 episodes were filmed until FOX ordered nine additional episodes for a complete 22 ep season).
I too think that Jane Lynch is awesome, but her attempts to sabotage the GLEE club are getting kinda boring. There needs to be another ‘villian.’
“tarc, so i should like it because thats most people like it? if that was the case then i would watch american idol and hannah montana and listen to the black eyed peas and taylor swift. basically id be a total douche bag”
Yeah because THAT’S what would make you a total douche bag
I agree… Glee is a great show and I am so hooked on it. Sure the singing scenes are over the top and contrived but I think that’s on purpose and a parodical comment on how unrealistic musicals are and how far the entertainment expects us to go in our suspension of disbelief. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Glee is great…..if you are a four year old girl or a gay man.
I tried to like Glee, and wanted to like Glee, I prayed to like Glee…but I don’t like Glee. The songs are horrible, I can’t stand the teacher gyrating with his students, the stories are lame. The singing is good. Especially since you can tell they had the time to do it right in a recording studio and all they have to do is mouth the words…I wish is was more than it was. I think it is a great idea for a show, but it just doesn’t work. I think a lot of you Glee lovers out there will figue this out eventually and the show will either change or even better get taken off the air.
Best new show…Glee!!! I look forward to the new episode each week. The songs are done so well, and the storyline is great fun to watch. Jane Lynch is the best!! What is not to “love” on this show!!!
I dont understand Bobs why you think that people will figure out that Glee is bad…its your opinion that the show is bad….and contrary to your beliefs your opinions arent fact…I love Glee…..sooo should I think that you will eventually start to like it…no…stop being dumb!
I love Glee!!!
To jj: you’ve obviously never watched the show it is definitely geared to adults. I don’t let my 11 year old watch it.
To Bobs : I’m sorry you don’t like the show, but at least you watched it before commenting.
Vampire Diaries may have had a mediocre start but it has gotten so good! Definitely one of the best new shows.
I have to agree w/ you about Glee. I’m in love w/ my cable shows (weeds, dexter, nurse jackie, penn & teller Bullsh**…) and I didn’t realize how oblivious I’d become about new shows until recently. I just got into Modern Family and Glee last week (thanks to my younger sister)and I was hooked right away. I watched all 7 episodes of Glee in 1 night.
by the way..Audrey Hepburn didn’t do her own singing in My Fair Lady and Glee did a great job w/ “I could’ve danced all night” the look, style and feel of the scene were right on. I’m hoping the people that’re complaining about how realistic or over the top the show is are doing it just to mess w/ people. It’s a little baffling to me that people don’t get it.
I agree. Vampire Diaries is too strung out for me to like it, I look forward to the cheery musical numbers on Glee all week long.
I’m with you, Janet. GLEE is the best new show of the season by a mile. Okay, a mile and a half.
I’m with you, Janet! Glee is the only new show I choose to watch.
riiiiight. and why is that? cuz you and a cpl of other glee fanatics said so? glee is good, but so is modern family, vampire diaries and like some have pointed out, Flash Forward. all good written tv. lets just be grateful we’re not stuck with another CSI spinoff or reality tv show.
Best new shows: Glee, The Good Wife
Yes! On both counts!
Agree! Love both of them!
agree on glee and good wife, but i also love the forgotten, can’t wait to see it each week. it touches me. and sorry, i HATE modern family. one episode, one more pity watch and i was over and out.
I also enjoy “Eastwick” a bit. A criticism that I’ve heard is that it doesnt follow the book or movie, but thats alright to be inspired by the book and film.
Although the show hasnt quite hit its stride, it shows promise.
Paul Gross is delish as Daryl VanHorne and perfectly cast. Its nice to see Matt Dallas of (Kyle XY fame) doing something more adult. As for the female leads and supporting cast — they are excellent. Sara Rue and Veronica Cartwright especially. I look forward to seeing more of Cybill Shepard as Eleanor (Soukie)Rougemont
More people should discover this show its dark and sexy, with quite a few laughs.
I’m enjoying EASTWICK a lot more than I expected to. Paul Gross is wonderful, and whoever the readhead is (the one who sang) — she’s terrific. I’d like to see more of those two and less Rebecca Romijn. (I went and looked up the redhead — Jamie Ray Newman. More of her and her singing, please!)
thank god for no mention of glee, i hate that show. everyone i know hates that show. the only people that seem to like it are the people working at entertainment weekly and they like it WAY TOO MUCH!
Oh my goodness I hate Glee so much. I thought I was all alone. We should start a support group.
yes! finally somebody else realizes how bad that show is! its awful, and a support group is a great idea! haha
Glee is so good in it’s over the top, parody, silly, comical excess…If you miss that point..it’s not your cup of tea, but it’s still a great and original show! The singing is 100% authentic…everyone sings their own parts. Everyone on that show is extremely talented. If you don’t like or know anything about Musical theater, then you’re a poor judge! I’m not writing judgments and reviews on Analytical Bioinformatics,,,because I’m not qualified to judge!
Glee is a hit! So much so that people like Madonna are lining up to have their songs covered!
If you disagree, you are entitled to, but you are in the vast minority! Obviously!
actually lisa i do know quite a bit about musical theatre. and while it might be the acual people singing their own parts the studio does so much tampering that its completely different than how im guessing they acutally sound. i just dont understand how nobody realizes how badly done this show is, its not funny and its a completely twisted look at high school.
actually they are all broadway alum so i really doubt the studio is messing with their voices.
I love musical theater- i grew up in NYC and broadway was part of my life. Glee isn’t good. And yes, the singing is altered A LOT. Why else are the tracks prerecored and lip synched?
the songs are prerecorded becasue of the way the show is filmed, ryan murphey has said that if it was filmed differntly then hed be able to o it live but becasue its extremly difficult to get somone to sing the same thing in the the same way like i dont know so many times in a row they pre record it, if your a professional singer youd know that! Fact is Glee is a hit and its not catered to everyone like lost is a hit thats not catered to everyone people are guna love it hate or just think its ok but saying they cant sing is ridiclous since there are 3 broadway alums and 3 professional singers on the show!
Yeah but if everyone you know hates the show, that means a lot of people are talking about it. I don’t like it either, but unfortunately the term “gleek” is already becoming widespread. Might as well get used to it.
I hate it too. I never ever make it through an entire episode without falling asleep. I really wanted to like Glee. I love musicals but Glee is not good.
I wanted to love Glee so much I’m actually hurt by how badly it’s turned out. The inconsistent characters and the poor storytelling turn me off instantly; only the music and the excellent actors’ constant struggle with mad material keep me watching now.
I really liked Glee when it started but I’m almost bored/annoyed with it already.
What Glee Club has 2 lead singers!? And the guy (is it Finn? Football kid.) isn’t that good of a singer.
Best new show for me: Drama: The Good Wife – Comedy: Cougar Town
I generally hate shows where the central female character is a stuttering nutcase, but I love Cougar Town too!
I very suprisingly agree. I think I like Cougar Town more than Modern Family. The name is so horrible though I think it automatically drives people away.
Best New Show
Drop Dead Diva
Yay for Drop Dead Diva!
Best new show: GLEE
Can’t live without GLEE!!! Even has my mom hooked! I know it technically started last spring…. But it’s still amazing!!!
Oh yes, how could Ausiello forget about Glee! It makes me laugh out loud constantly. Love that show!
Gotta agree on many of these, but I think another show that grew creatively is One Tree Hill. Thank goodness they got rid of those crying, obsessive two and allowed the show to grow. And it’s also impressive how every single person on the show has out-of-here crazy, non-everyday jobs yet the writers do a fantastic job at making their stories incredibly relatable and real.
As for Modern Family, I’m almost insulted for him that you didn’t give him his accolades, Rico Rodriguez is the funniest actor on that show. That guy’s got talent, I think he steals the show.
you forgot to mention GLEE as best new show!
No, they didn’t forget…
I really like The Forgotten The show I thinks that needs help is NCSi Los Angeles
i like The Forgotten too alot but it will be canceled. NCIS LA is agood show as well its getting awesome ratings so I don’t see why it needs any help.
I like The Forgotten, and I wish people would give it a chance. As for NCIS:LA, it is doing well in the ratings – the last issue put it at #4 in the ratings. Linda Hunt is amazing and gels the show.
I’m surprised The Good Wife is not on the “best” show list. The cast is outstanding, and the story has avoided tired cliches. I like it.
I agree. I like The Forgotten as well and am disappointed that people are not even giving it a chance. It doesn’t help that it has received zero promotion
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As far as the other new shows I like, Fast Forward and Glee are both excellent. With older shows I am really looking forward to the last season of Lost. I am also enjoying Brothers and Sisters and Grey’s Anatomy (especially when Sandra Oh gets screen time).
Best new show – Glee
Worst new show – Jay Leno
AGREE on the Jay Leno part. Still upset it killed off 5 scripted shows.
Not really five. On the nights they didn’t have a scripted show they had Dateline NBC. It really only killed the Thursday “Must See” drama spot.
Actually…it is killing Law and Order SVU, got Southland canceled because it was deemed “too gritty” for a 9pm time slot. The only thing Jay Leno is doing is making ABC & CBS’ ratings soar!
I dig Community a lot.
Me too! Of course, that usually spells death for my shows. I love it though.
count me in too!!!
Community is the funniest show since Arrested Development. Love everybody, especially Abed.
Yes! I laugh out loud with this show.
It feels very hacky to me. I’m still watching and find it funny but it doesn’t seem terribly original.
Yes!! Another vote for Community! It’s awesome!! Abed is my favorite new character on tv right now!
I absolutely LOVE this show! Every episode surprises me with it’s wit and creativity. It’s very smart and also a lot of fun. Brilliant cast as well. I hope it takes off, glad to hear NBC picked up the full season at least.
Hank is awful, and is the absolute worst possible lead-in to the quirky sitcom “The Middle”, which is fantastic in its own way. ABC needs to cut the cord on Hank.
I second that
I agree. The Middle is very funny, and so is Community. First time in years that I have loved new comedies.
The Middle is fantastic. Great dialogue, acting, plot.
I totally agree too, they shoulda kept Samantha Who?!!!!!!
My vote for best new shows goes to… Glee and Flash Forward. And I totally agree with 90210 improving. I didn’t hate it terribly in its first season but it has really picked up!
Putting a gag in Annie really helped the show. She’s terrible. I’m really going to hate it when they discover she didn’t sleep with Liam because hanging out with her again means we’ll see more of her struggling to “act.”
My favorite characters are played by Jessica Lowndes and Michael Steger. I’m glad that their roles were expanded. I really can’t stand AnnaLynne McCord’s Naomi though. What they deem as “hilarious” I deem overacting and highly annoying.