Yet Still Even More New Stuff
With the new season now in full swing, we are still getting more debuts.
Chief among the new Friday offerings is "The Ex-List" (CBS, 9 p.m.), based upon an Israeli TV series. Elizabeth Reaser ("Grey's Anatomy") plays a woman who is told by a psychic that she will marry one of her ex-boyfriends, but must do so in the next year or stay alone forever.
The pilot is OK and Reaser has some charm, but it seems to be one of those concepts that will get old quick, especially given the time limit built into the series. What's going to happen in Season 2 if she hasn't found the right ex?
Meanwhile, Sci Fi offers the viewers "Sanctuary" (Sci Fi, 9 p.m.) which stars Amanda Tapping ("Stargate: SG-1") as a mysterious woman who controls a menagerie of weird creatures.
"Sanctuary" boasts of heavy CGI, much of which wasn't done in the pilot that was sent out, so it's hard to judge the look of the series, but dramatically, it feels like a cross among "Torchwood," "Primeval" and "Supernatural," though not really up to the standards of any of those series.
On Sunday, The CW debuts two new series. "Valentine" (CW, 8 p.m.) tells the story of the Greek gods who have relocated to modern LA and help people find true love. I haven't seen the pilot, but I liked the concept back when it was done as "Cupid" on ABC.
It's followed by "Easy Money" at 9 p.m., in which Laurie Metcalf stars as the matriarch of a family of loan sharks. Again, no pilot available, so I can't tell you how it is.
WEEKEND'S BEST BETS: Though Friday has become something of a dumping ground since the networks have given up trying to get big ratings for the night, there is a plethora of new offerings from returning shows.
Most competitive is the 10 p.m. time slot, in which "Life" (NBC, 10 p.m.) settles into its regular shift and will go against "Numb3rs" (CBS, 10 p.m.) Keith Carradine guest stars as an FBI supervisor who looks into Charlie's recent loss of security clearance.
"The Ghost Whisperer" (CBS, 8 p.m.) also debuts, as does "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" on The CW.
On Saturday, "Primeval" (BBC America, 9 p.m.) is new.
On Sunday, CBS' lineup includes "The Amazing Race," "Cold Case" and "The Unit," going against ABC's dramatic lineup of "Desperate Housewives" at 9 p.m. and "Brothers and Sisters" at 10 p.m., the latter making its season debut.
Fox runs its animation lineup, including guest voice Denis Leary on "The Simpsons" (Fox, 8 p.m.)
On pay cable, "True Blood" (HBO, 9 p.m.) leads off a night that includes "Entourage" and "Little Britain," while Showtime counters with "Dexter" and "Californication."
"Masterpiece" runs the new thriller "The Last Enemy" (PBS, 9 p.m.)
Finally, as always, the weekend's best bet is "Mad Men" (AMC, 10 p.m.)
This story was originally published October 3, 2008 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Yet Still Even More New Stuff."