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Issue
Date: September 17, 2006
Your guide to the new TV season
TV critics are notoriously independent thinkers. We convened an exclusive blue-ribbon panel of them with one task: We wouldn't let them leave until they agreed on what you should watch (and what you should avoid) this new season.
There are a few things you can count on every fall. Leaves change. Children go back to school. White becomes a fashion no-no. And TV networks bombard you with so many commercials for new shows that you can't possibly begin to figure out what you should actually watch.
Until now.
This year, USA WEEKEND formed an exclusive panel of some of the top TV experts from around the country. As they gathered together in late July at the annual Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., to hand out awards for the previous season, we asked them to take a moment (well, actually, three hours) and give us a consensuson which shows we ought to be tuning in to right from the start.
The idea of sticking five critics in a room and asking them to come to an agreement on the best and worst new TV shows might sound a tad ambitious (or insane). But our panelists -- David Kronke of the "Los Angeles Daily News," Neal Justin of the "Minneapolis Star Tribune," Doug Elfman of the "Chicago Sun-Times," Roger Catlin of the "Hartford Courant" and Joanne Weintraub of the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" -- rose to the occasion. The fruits of their labor are found in the lists here.
Still, arriving at this ranked consensus wasn't easy, because the one thing our critics initially did agree on was this: There's too much worth watching this season.
"Every year I come here, and the critics -- we're a whiny bunch -- are complaining that this is the worst pilot season ever," says Justin at the top of the discussion. "I mean, it's just tradition. And this is the first year that I haven't heard that. I don't think there's been this many good new shows in the eight years I've done this."
"There's never been a season this good," Elfman agrees.
Despite that, the critics end up giving the No. 1 slot to a show whose first episode they didn't really like: NBC's "Studio 60 at the Sunset Strip," the new Aaron Sorkin dramedy starring Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford and Amanda Peet that goes behind the scenes of a "Saturday Night Live"-type show. It was the panel's top pick -- not for what it already has proved, but for the promise it holds.
"I was disappointed in [the pilot]," Weintraub says, "but I can't wait to see Episode 2. And if I'm disappointed in Episode 2, I can't wait to see Episode 3. Because of the talent, I want to see where they're going. I mean, it's Matt Perry! I'm willing to cut this show a lot of slack, and I think viewers will, too."
"A lot of the pilot is devoted to setting up the premise," Catlin says, "but there are those brilliant moments that let you know this will be the rare show with serious and provocative ideas."
The most heated debate centers on "Heroes," NBC's bold new drama about everyday people who discover they have extraordinary powers (one can teleport, another can fly, a third is impervious to bodily injury) and ultimately band together to fight evil. (Think "X-Men" meets "Lost.") Our panelists are deeply divided on this show -- they either love it or seem to be disillusioned with the genre.
"I'm just less impressed with these people who come up with these really complicated mythologies. [It seems like] they're doing it all for the fans on the Internet," Kronke says. But Weintraub says she found Heroes "brilliant and risky" and a "pleasant surprise," while Elfman calls it his "favorite new show."
Much easier is the selection of actors who are most likely to break out big this season. Our panelists unanimously lauded America Ferrera, the "unhateable" star of ABC's new ugly-duckling comedy, "Ugly Betty." She plays a smart but plain assistant at a fashion magazine.
Lizzy Caplan also got unanimous approval for giving an edge to "The Class," CBS' new comedy from "Friends" producer David Crane about twentysomethings who haven't seen each other since third grade.
"Heroes" star Masi Oka, who plays a Japanese Trekkie who can teleport, also got a nod. And he was nominated by the critic who couldn't stand the show!
"I didn't like that series at all," Kronke says, "but I liked Masi in it."
Our panel also insisted that Amanda Peet, who plays the subdued and smart boss on "Studio 60," be included on the Breakout list. Although she's already well-known, as Justin puts it, "She steals the show as Martin Sheen did early on in "The West Wing" and is poised to rise to the next level."
"She doesn't even need to act," Elfman adds. "She just has to look with her eyes."
Speaking of great actors, it was the casting of Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow in NBC's comedy "Twenty Good Years" that landed it simultaneously on the lists for Worst Shows and Most Likely to be a Hit. While most of our panelists think the writing is "terrible," they believe that viewers will flock to it because, as Justin says, "These guys are just so much fun to watch. Lithgow overacting is one of the great wonders of the world."
Also pretty incredible: the fact that NBC claimed four of the five slots on this year's Best list. No one would have predicted that a year ago, when the network was still reeling from the loss of "Friends" and high-profile flops like "Coupling." Now the network seems to be poised for a dramatic rebound, thanks to riskier fare like "Heroes" (a cultish show aimed for a mainstream audience) and two series that, on paper, sound like they have the same premise: Both "Studio 60" and Tina Fey's bold new comedy, "30 Rock," go behind the scenes of "SNL"-type shows.
"When you're in fourth place, you can roll the dice," Justin says.
"NBC took more chances. And it worked."
On the flip side, ABC must have caught wind of what the critics
thought about "Notes from the Underbelly," which chronicles a young
couple's journey toward parenthood, and "Big Day," which unfolds over
the course of another couple's wedding day. Soon after our panel
picked these shows as the two worst offerings of the season, ABC
announced it was pushing back the start date of the two comedies
until later this fall, after "Dancing with the Stars" plays out its
third season.
Interestingly, these two Worst shows still have a fan among our
critics: Weintraub defends them both as "charming" and says "Big Day"
is actually one of her new favorites.
"I think this goes back to what we said earlier," Elfman says. "This is a really good year for pilots. Some of these shows on our 'worst' list probably would have been on our 'best' list last season."
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Most Likely to be Breakout Stars
1 America Ferrera (ABC's "Ugly Betty") She's ridiculously funny -- and brings a sweetness to the role.
2 Masi Oka (NBC's "Heroes") You will laugh out loud. And he's not even speaking English.
3 Lizzy Caplan (CBS' "The Class") After shining in dreck like WB's "Related," Caplan is finally in a series worthy of her talent.
4 Amanda Peet (NBC's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") This is the vehicle that will launch the winning Peet to Jennifer Aniston-level fame. Get her hair now.
5 Sofia Vergara (ABC's "Knights of Prosperity," which debuts Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. ET) Sexy, spicy and funny, Vergara stands out among the band of hapless robbers in this amusing sitcom.
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Best New Shows
1 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC, debuts Monday at 10 p.m. ET) This dramedy goes behind the scenes at an "SNL"-like late-night variety show. Matthew Perry shines.
2 Heroes (NBC, Sept. 25, 9 p.m. ET) Everyday people who have extraordinary powers -- the ability to fly, teleport, avoid physical pain -- band together to fight evil.
3 30 Rock (NBC, Oct. 11, 8:30 p.m. ET) This comedy from former "SNL" head writer Tina Fey brings the funny.
4 Ugly Betty (ABC, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. ET) A comedy set at a high-end fashion mag. If you liked The Devil Wears Prada, you'll adore Betty.
5 Friday Night Lights (NBC, Oct. 3,8 p.m. ET) High school football in Texas is second only to God. This drama proves why.
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Worst New Shows
1 Notes from the Underbelly (ABC, debuts later this fall) Impending parenthood should be funnier than this.
2 Big Day (ABC, debuts later this fall) This comedy focuses on a couple's wedding day. We want a divorce.
3 Twenty Good Years (NBC, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. ET) Two old coots decide to live it up in their golden years. Eh.
4 Runaway (CW, Sept. 25,9 p.m. ET) A family goes on the run after Dad (Donnie Wahlberg) is accused of murder. Good cast, unreal premise.
5 Smith (CBS, Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET) Ray Liotta leads a band of skilled criminals on a series of big jobs. But the show is so boring, we wanted them to get caught.
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Most Anticipated Returning Shows
1 Grey's Anatomy (ABC, Thursdays, 9 p.m. ET) Will Meredith choose McDreamy or O'Dreamy? We can't wait to find out!
2 The Office (NBC, Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. ET) Jim and Pam kissed! The Office romance is on! … Or is it?
3 24 (Fox, January) Oh, Jack! What sort of trouble will you get into next?
4 House (Fox, Tuesdays,8 p.m. ET) Being away from crotchety Dr. House all summer made us grumpy.
5 American Idol (Fox, January) What can we say? Life isn't the same without Simon and Co. filling up our small screens. Bring on winter!
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Most Likely to be Breakout Hits
1 Shark (CBS, Thursday,10 p.m. ET) The best legal drama to hit the small screen since L.A. Law.
2 The Class (CBS, Monday,8 p.m. ET) The chemistry among the stars may produce a fan "Friends-y."
3 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC) Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet and Bradley Whitford. Need we say more?
4 Ugly Betty (ABC) The clothes + ingenue America Ferrera = big hit.
5 Twenty Good Years (NBC) Two old coots decide to live it up in their golden years. Ha!
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Three breakout stars walk into a photo shoot …
E!'s Kristin Veitch goes behind the scenes as USA WEEKEND brings together some of the actors our critics think will shine the brightest this season.
It might cause the photographer to groan (and it did), but you know it's a low-key photo shoot when the subjects spontaneously break into poses of "hear no evil," "see no evil" and "speak no evil."
This was the fun-spirited vibe as our TV critics' top picks for this season's Breakout Stars -- America Ferrera of ABC's "Ugly Betty," Lizzy Caplan of CBS' "The Class" and Masi Oka of NBC's "Heroes" -- gathered at a Hollywood studio for our cover photo shoot.
If the monkey business didn't spell it out, this group couldn't have been less diva-ish.
"It's weird," says Caplan, who plays a snarky singleton on her sitcom. "It's really weird to be called [a breakout star]. And some people are referring to my show as the new Friends, which I can't really even wrap my head around."
"We're having fun," Ferrera says. "We're all just pretty amazed that our shows are getting such a great response. I've done mostly film in my career, but TV is special because it is in people's living rooms, so it feels good to be doing this." Ferrera, whom fans know from "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and "Real Women Have Curves," plays a fashion assistant who's the prettiest girl in the office -- on the inside.
Oka, who steals the scene in "Heroes" as a Japanese, "Star Trek"-obsessed office drone-turned-teleporter,joked that he had some reservations about claiming this superlative. "I hope 'breakout' does not mean my skin!" he deadpans.
Next Week: TV & Tunes
A new panel examines which TV shows make the best (and worst!) use of music. Plus, in two weeks: Critics consider TV's use of fashion.
By Kristin Veitch
Cover and cover story photographs by Robert Sebree for USA WEEKEND
Styling by Lynne Bugai. Hair for Ferrera by Giovanni Giuliano, Avant Groupe; makeup by Vanessa Scali, Avant Groupe. Hair for Caplan and Oka by Damian Monzillo, Celestine; makeup by Annie Ing, Celestine
Cover clothing: Caplan: BCBG dress, Jennifer Kaufman necklace, Charles David shoes; Ferrera: Diane von Furstenberg dress, Jennifer Kaufman jewelry, Oscar shoes; Oka: Banana Republic clothing, Puma shoes
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