JPTV: What I Would Watch Tonight, If I Hadn't Already Seen a Screener
Tonight on NBC, we say a brief see-you-later to 30 Rock (which, with every episode, I regret a little more not putting on my 2006 10 Best list) and a welcome-back to Andy Richter. In 30 Rock's time slot, Andy Barker, P.I. has Richter playing a mild-mannered CPA (like there's another kind on TV) who inadvertently inherits a private-eye business from the guy who had his old office in his strip mall. It's oddball and charming, with several nods to the '70s detective-show genre. (You'd expect that from Conan O'Brien, the co-creator, who once gave us the brilliant-but-failed detective spoof Lookwell with Adam West.) Hopefully, it will stop your post-traumatic-stress dreams about Quintuplets once and for all.
Ah, but!, you ask, Is it as good as Andy Richter Controls the Universe? Not quite, nor could you expect it to be--nobody boxes a kangaroo--but let's give the poor guy a break. After the fantastic Universe, Richter has been one of those unfortunate victims of the You Must Never Be Allowed to Make Another Show Again and Sully the Memory of My Favorite Show syndrome. (As, probably, is Tony Hale of Arrested Development, who plays a video-store manager and Andy's sometime sidekick.) Let's grieve and move on.
As a mystery show, Barker is pretty mundane, but it's a hoot as a comedy. After it, in ER's time slot, we have Raines, a much cleverer mystery and a much more skippable show. Starring Jeff Goldblum as an eccentric LAPD detective who has imaginary talks with dead people, it's sharply written, but way too self-consciously quirky. (It doesn't help that I'm not a fan of Goldblum's trademark hyper-mannered, mutter-mutter-mutter acting style.) If you have time for only one detective on Thursday night, make it the one who can do your taxes.
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1
Richter has always ROCKED!!! I didn't know he had a new show coming on. It will be a must see for me. Ditto on Goldblum's style. From what I've read, it sounds like a variation on a theme of Monk. Any truth to that?
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2
Little darker in tone, not as funny. Nor nearly as well-drawn as Dexter, while you're talking the brilliant-sleuth-with-mental-issues genre.
That said, I checked out on Monk around the second season, figuring I had pretty much seen everything the show was going to be by then. Was I wrong?
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3
You know, it is odd. Those shows that are not on "network" and are on "cable" I tend to be hit or miss on. I'm aware of The Closer, Monk, The Shield, etc.....but I never remember when they are on like 24, Grey's or Lost. I catch them occasionally. I'd say Monk has grown a little stale, but Shaloub is usually a treat to watch. What show doesn't grow stale? I used to be a diehard fan of ER many many moons ago and everytime I see and ad, I think...is that still on? I read where Law & Order's numbers have declined this year. I still find it a great show though. Kind of like a favorite old shirt.
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4
I enjoyed Andy Barker, PI last night. Richter and O'Brien are both acquired tastes. We'll see how it fairs amongst the masses.
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5
Andy Barker, PI was GREAT! Love Andy Richter. As for Raines...not so much.
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6
Andy is always worth a smile, if not an outright laugh.
What surprised me was "The Riches" debut on FX this week. That series is so unlike anything else on the air that you just feel like you've been transported to an alternative universe, although it does have sort of a lingering "Big Love" vibe going on, which is all good.
But, where else could you find a show-with-heart about a family of gypsy grifters, starring Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, no less.
Brother, between "The Shield", "Rescue Me", "Nip-Tuck", the tossed away "Thief", and even the sordid trainwreck that is "Dirt", it's almost scandalous that the little FX channel continues to upstage the big boys with their compelling, innovative programming.
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