Monsters of Television

“And my code for the copy machine might work.”

Sigh.

Last week’s episode was was a strong entry into show’s tone, despite my issues about pacing and use of its female characters. “The Dim Knight” (or “Night to Knight” as it was listed on Hulu if you’re looking for it), on the other hand, pretty much takes away all the entertaining stuff and ramps up all the lazy parts of the show.

At this point, I’m not sure if these reviews are going to continue, barring some major improvements in the next episode. Read more »

“I’m a cop. I drink shots, I don’t take them.”

The Good Guys is steadily improving, but still has more work to do.

The humor is significantly sharper in “Broken Door Theory,” especially with Whitford hamming up Stark’s flu to Shatner-like proportions, while Hanks manages to shape up his straight-man Bailey a bit more to keep Stark funny (and not sad). The patter between the two is more seamless, finding a groove that keeps the interactions between the two cops interesting and engaging.

However, “Broken Door Theory” displays some of the other problems that the show may want to work out before the fall season starts (even if it is on a Friday). Read more »

“So watching a baseball game at a sports bar makes me a girl?”

Perhaps it’s been the lack of quality programming since the end of the fall season, but this week’s The Good Guys was a significant improve over the pilot. It was funnier, more self-assured, the lack of chemistry between its leads was happily gone (though the chemistry between Hanks and Wade is struggling to work, as is Wade’s character), and while the narrative still didn’t fire on all cylinders, there was less happenstance and more forethought in its construction than in the pilot.

The show still has a little bit more growing to do, but I’m more optimistic than I was last month about the show’s prospects. Read more »

“Show us all why you’re the second best.”

The comparison I’m about to make probably wouldn’t have happened with the presence of Colin Hanks, but The Good Guys is essentially the premise of the parody/homage that was the 1987 Dragnet film with Hanks’ father, but with an ’80s cop stuck in the current decade (I think) with a straight-laced rookie who has to come to grips with said partner. Indeed, it’s pretty much every buddy cop story ever told just with an incredible mustache.

And normally I’d be all over it, but the pilot episode isn’t exactly great. It’s passable, yes, and there’s potential for improvement here, but I’m not too sure exactly where it intends to grow. Read more »