How To Improve 18 New Fall TV Shows (2018)
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ALL AMERICAN (The CW)
WHAT WORKS: Daniel Ezra is extremely compelling as Spencer James, and his emotionally charged scenes with Taye Diggs have been a highlight of every episode thus far. Meanwhile, the football sequences (particularly Beverly High's game nights) are electric and fun to watch, and the series is doing a nice job mixing relevant social commentary with soapy teen drama.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: The show's got about three more subplots than it actually needs; specifically, the mystery of how Coach Baker really knows Spencer is not intriguing enough to be stretched out for more than a few episodes, and it threatens to ruin the characters' current dynamic, which is a major draw of the show. Also, Spencer's Beverly High classmates need some character development — especially Cody Christian's Asher, who, with the exception of a few scenes, has bordered on comically villainous.
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CHARMED (The CW)
WHAT WORKS: A show like Charmed hinges on the chemistry between its central sisters, and we're happy to confirm that these ladies have it in spades. The multiple mysteries are also unfolding at a Goldilocks-approved pace.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: While the sisters' bond is developing nicely, their non-magical relationships feel a little uneven. Also, were we the only ones hoping for a fun opening title sequence honoring the original series? (Come on, Dynasty does it!)
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FBI (CBS)
WHAT WORKS: The cast is comprised of compelling actors, and when the show gives them the tiniest sliver of character work, they shine. And if you're into procedurals, uberproducer Dick Wolf has shepherded yet another solid one that will probably air for years and years, but...
WHAT NEEDS WORK: It's just another routine Case of the Week show that doesn't do much to differentiate itself from the pack. Plus, Jeremy Sisto — who was so funny on Suburgatory — is too often saddled with simply barking instructions at FBI HQ.
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GOD FRIENDED ME (CBS)
WHAT WORKS: Brandon Micheal Hall is an incredibly charismatic lead, and the supporting cast, in particular Violett Beane and Suraj Sharma, deliver equally appealing performances. As a result, you can't help but root for Miles and Cara's friendship to blossom into something more, while Rakesh's romance with Jaya is oh-so-sweet.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Miles' "friend of the week" missions sometimes veer into saccharine territory, and the series has been disappointingly short on hints about what/who is behind the God account. Time to amp up the mythology and give Miles' predicament real stakes beyond him just losing half of his podcast listeners.
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I FEEL BAD (NBC)
WHAT WORKS: Sarayu Blue and Paul Adelstein have an easy rapport that's fun to watch, and Madhur Jaffrey as Emet's mom is cheekily sly.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Emet's priorities are seriously out of whack — woman, how can we root for you when, in a recent episode, you were obsessed with making your husband lose weight? And the inappropriate conversations she has with her younger male co-workers, widely panned by critics when the pilot first made rounds, continue to make us cringe.
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LEGACIES (The CW)
WHAT WORKS: Thanks to its fresh-faced cast and exciting pacing, this supernatural treat stands firm as its own entity, rather than feeling like the third installment in a decade-old franchise. Incorporating new creatures (fire-breathing what-nows?!) certainly doesn't hurt.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Given that we've only seen one episode, it's too soon to start throwing judgments around. But Wickery, the sport of choice at the Salvatore school, could stand to be a little less of a Quidditch ripoff.
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MAGNUM P.I. (CBS)
WHAT WORKS: The cases of the stolen tuna and the surgically altered fiancée — versus the premiere that totaled two Ferraris and sent a truck over a cliff while Magnum leapt onto a helicopter's skid — were more in keeping with the original series' smaller, quirkier scale. Though set in the same area as Hawaii Five-0, this reboot finds ways to make the locale look fresh and vibrant. Gender-swapped Higgins (a perfect Perdita Weeks) enjoys just as prickly a dynamic with Robin Masters' squatter as in the original.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Magnum's support team members, though highly and uniquely capable, get sidelined at times — in part because Higgins' female-ness has set up an obvious opportunity for "Will they/Won't they" UST. Also, front man Jay Hernandez has yet to truly capture the sometimes-goofy quality of Tom Selleck's OG P.I.
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MANIFEST (NBC)
WHAT WORKS: Lost succeeded because we cared about the characters as much as the mystery — and Manifest thus far affects us most when it deals with the "ordinary" repercussions of the passengers' lost time. (Cal and Olive's altered twins dynamic is always a gut punch.) The cast is solid but really needs to be expanded; hopefully, Danny sticks around to make waves/dig into Ben's secret obsessions, and we meet passengers dealing with something other than estranged loves.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Saanvi, the only other passenger to be singled out for viewers, seems to get short shrift. (Where was the flashback to her colleagues fetching her medical breakthrough from the cloud?) Also, too many of the mythological reveals get filed under "Hmm" versus "OMG!"
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A MILLION LITTLE THINGS (ABC)
WHAT WORKS: The cast really sells the tight-friends vibe. James Roday is a standout as sarcastic cancer survivor Gary. And OK, we'll admit it, we're intrigued by the mystery of why Jon chose to end his life.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Despite how often they both repeat that they didn't mean to fall in love!, the Eddie/Delilah thing is wrong on about 10 levels. The show needs to jettison that storyline ASAP, because it makes both otherwise sympathetic characters pretty unlikable.
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MURPHY BROWN (CBS)
WHAT WORKS: Candice Bergen and the original cast haven't lost their comedy chops, and the addition of Jake McDorman as Murphy's grown son Avery was a smart one, injecting much-needed youth into the ensemble and softening Murphy's hard edges. Plus, there's (unfortunately!) no shortage of hot-button political headlines for Murphy & Co. to sink their teeth into.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Some of the attempts to be topical, like the DREAM-er who works at Phil's bar, are more groan-worthy than insightful. And we'd like to see more of Avery's work at the Wolf Network, so the political commentary isn't so one-sided.
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NEW AMSTERDAM (NBC)
WHAT WORKS: Despite TV's plethora of medical dramas, this one feels fresh, thanks to its unique hospital setup. All the characters have become impressively compelling in a short amount of time, but Dr. Helen Sharpe has separated herself from the pack thanks to Freema Agyeman's layered performance. Her scenes with Ryan Eggold's Dr. Max Goodwin are often the episodes' best.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Occasionally, the genial Dr. Goodwin and his oft-uttered "How can I help?" mantra come across more as wish fulfillment than reality. Then there's his semi-estranged, pregnant wife, who feels like an underdeveloped character fated to die during childbirth in a very moving sweeps episode.
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SINGLE PARENTS (ABC)
WHAT WORKS: The adult ensemble has an easy, enjoyable chemistry, led by a top-notch, fully committed comedic performance from Taran Killam. Speaking of Killam's Will, we find it refreshing that the series has yet to force any romantic subplot between him and Leighton Meester's Angie. Plus, Single Parents managed to cast a gaggle of funny-but-not-annoying child actors, which is no small feat.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: The supporting players, particularly Brad Garrett's Douglas and Jake Choi's Miggy, are a bit one-dimensional. And even though the show's kids are cute (and boast excellent comedic timing!), they don't all need to be so precociously quirky.
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THE ALEC BALDWIN SHOW (ABC)
WHAT WORKS: Judging by the ratings, not much! Simply said, you have to really, really, really... really find the interview subject fascinating in order to sit through one of these frills-free, PBS-quiet sit-downs. Baldwin seems prepped for each in-depth Q&A, though that leads to him too often talking over thoughtful responses to add "color."
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Oy, no more single-subject hours a la Kim Kardashian. Also, weave in more visual aids, or even a subtle music bed, to give the exchanges the slightest hint of energy.
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THE CONNERS (ABC)
WHAT WORKS: The spinoff is wisely tackling the absence of Roseanne Barr's once-titular matriarch head-on by turning the early episodes into a moving and often uproarious exploration of grief, revealing new sides to characters we thought we had pegged. It has also given the supporting cast — most notably Lecy Goranson, now a revelation as Becky — a chance to shine.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: DJ's wife Geena (now played by Maya Lynne Robinson) remains underdeveloped. And despite a standout performance from special guest star Mary Steenburgen, the early episodes' reliance on stunt casting is worrisome.
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THE COOL KIDS (Fox)
WHAT WORKS: Their characters may be worse for wear, but the cast's energy is electric, and even infectious, at times.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: We can appreciate broad comedy, but the show could stand to think of a few jokes for Leslie Jordan that don't involve his sexuality — if only because that dead horse has been beaten so many times, we're surprised PETA hasn't intervened.
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THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT (ABC)
WHAT WORKS: Jack Gore is terrific as middle child Timmy Cleary, as is Mary McCormack as no-nonsense matriarch Peggy. In fact, the whole (large) ensemble gels well, and the series believably captures the chaos of a big family crammed in a small house.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Michael Cudlitz's gruff, Nixon-loving Mike has had some truly groan-worthy lines ("That's phony news!") that are a predictable and unfunny part of an otherwise enjoyable show. Plus, while we get that it's hard to balance screen time for eight children, we wish the show would flesh out some of the other Cleary kids a bit more.
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THE NEIGHBORHOOD (CBS)
WHAT WORKS: The cast's chemistry is undeniable, particularly between Cedric the Entertainer and Max Greenfield. The real secret weapons, though, are Sheaun McKinney and Marcel Spears, who steal every scene as Calvin and Tina's sons, Malcolm and Marty.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: Calvin is a little too mean at times. Meanwhile, as Dave's wife Gemma, the underrated Beth Behrs has practically nothing to do. Remedy that ASAP!
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THE ROOKIE (ABC)
WHAT WORKS: The first episodes have been highly watchable, best viewed under the lens of, "If the Grey's Anatomy Universe added a cop show, this would be it." The interplay between all the rookie/TO pairings is fun and distinct, and it's pretty neat to learn the basics of police work along the way. We love Richard T. Jones' fresh spin on The Grizzled Superior Who Has No Patience for the New Guy's Shenanigans, especially as Sgt. Grey gave Nolan deserved kudos after nabbing a kidnapper.
WHAT NEEDS WORK: This fast-paced drama seems determined to shoehorn as many cases as possible into any given episode; we wish they'd spend just a bit more time with each one. Also, it'd be great to see Chen commit one way or another to her workplace romance, lest she come off as indifferent to Bishop's counsel. Last, but not least: Give Mercedes Mason more to do as the captain.