Looking Back at the New Shows of the 2008 TV Season

As we wind up the 2008/2009 season I thought it would be a good time to review how the new shows I spotlighted in my Fall preview faired and look at which ones should and will return.

My Own Worst Enemy
Christian Slater’s Alias remake failed fast and hard. Thanks to a barrage of negative reviews and a very competitive time slot, Enemy was one of the first cancelled shows of the Fall. I never even caught an episode and I can’t say I’m feeling much regret. Guess every ex-movie star can’t make the jump to the small screen.
Outlook: Cancelled

Knight Rider
I was dubious of this remake after the horrendous TV movie that aired last year. The original show was fun when I was a kid but catching repeats as an adult reminded me how laughably bad it actually was. Then I sat down and watched the pilot this Fall and lost the will to live in less than 15 minutes. The cast was flat, Val Kilmer’s KITT was creepy and the dialogue was not funny bad just plain unwatchable bad. I find it amazing that the same network that brings us 30 Rock would try and stick with Knight Rider as long as it did. In the end though NBC saw the light and kicked KITT to the curb. Also there was not enough Hoff.
Outlook: Cancelled

90210
The other big remake of the Fall was 90210 to which I also had a mixed reaction. While I watched the first few weeks I found the show to be too much like Gossip Girl West. The addition of old favorites like Kelly and Brenda kept me interested but after their boring stories were explored I was left with a group of kids I just didn’t care about. Oh and Lori Laughlin too. Seems though that things have changed. Many critics whom I consider likeminded to myself have said that the show has improved greatly and is heading towards a spectacular finish. I may have to revisit West Beverly High next year after all.
Outlook: Renewed for Fall 2009

Fringe
More JJ Abrams love here as the Midas touch continues. Early comparisons to The X-Files are long forgotten as Fringe has carved out its own territory in the geek community. Sharing some similar ideas with Lost and Alias sure doesn’t hurt. I loved the interplay and performances from Joshua Jackson and John Noble but it’s Anna Torv as Olivia who has really given the show its creative touchstone over the final episodes. Throw in a pending appearance by a certain Trek veteran and you’ve got geek nirvana.
Outlook: Renewed for Fall 2009

Dollhouse
While JJ can do no wrong Joss Whedon struggles. When Fox canceled Firefly, many Whedonites including myself swore that the network would pay when Joss returned to TV. Surprisingly Joss returned to TV with Fox yet again who promptly shuttled Dollhouse to a mid season replacement and stuck it with the Friday time slot of death. The show started out mighty rocky as the stand alone eps left me feeling unsatisfied. However once Joss kick started the mythology the show began to find its footing. The Whedon humor began to emerge in the scripts more often and the cast began to excel. Then came word that Fox wasn’t going to air the 13th and final episode and it began to feel like Firefly all over again especially given that Friday’s 12th episode and season finale created so many new questions to be answered. The word is that the show may still return given the high DVR and download numbers it does but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Here’s hoping that HBO or Showtime steps up and gives Joss a chance next time.
Outlook: Probably cancelled but nothing official

Parks and Recreation
Next to Dollhouse the other mid-season show I was pumped for was Amy Pohler’s collaboration with the US Office creators. Unlike Dollhouse however, I felt Parks and Recreation never found its stride after the awkward first couple of episodes. Sure the cast is amazing and there have been some funny moments but overall I find it to be completely forgettable. I’m glad to see though that NBC is giving it a second chance and I’m hoping a creative renaissance is in order.
Outlook: Renewed for Fall 2009

Better Off Ted
Here’s a show that I had no clue about and ended up enjoying far more than I expected. From the minds that brought you Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Ted is another workplace sitcom that finds a wonderful balance between reality and absurdity. The in-show adds for Veridian Dynamics are almost worth watching alone. ABC aired 7 episodes this spring to pretty lackluster ratings but the cast and crew are filming an additional 5 that may air this summer or start out season 2 next Fall if all goes well.
Outlook: Cloudy with a chance of sun