2014 TV Season
Matt Seinberg

The new TV season started late this year and some new shows haven't even started yet, otherwise this column would have been done much sooner. I'm only going to review the shows I've actually had the chance to watch, by day and network, for better or worse.

The opinions expressed here are solely mine.

Still, my opinions often reflect those of GrubStreet.ca. The ratings are either Pass or Fail, this year.

On Sunday night, there was only one show, and that's "Madam Secretary" on CBS starring Tea Leoni. After two tries, I didn't like it either time. It's like watching Hillary Clinton in her younger days, failing miserably. This show Fails.

Monday night on CBS is "Scorpion," about a group of geniuses that works on contract for Homeland Security. Anything that has action, pretty girls and cool gadgets will always get my attention. Based on the life of Walter O'Brien, his IQ is 197, the show also features Robert Patrick, as FBI agent Cabe Gallo, Elyes Gabel as Walter, Eddie Kaye Thomas, as psychologist Toby, Ari Stidham as mathematician Sylverter, and Jadyn Wong, as engineer Happy, and Katharine McPhee as their genius to real life interpreter. A well-rounded group of characters and great writing, so I give this a big PASS.

NCIS Red is a big pass for me.

Tuesday night has the most new shows with seven, and we'll talk about 4 of them here. CBS has "NCIS: New Orleans" starring Scott Bakula, CCH Pounder, Zoe McLellan, Lucas Black and Rob Kerkovich. This is the fourth spin-off and it's a winner, unlike "NCIS: Team Red" which didn't get a series pick up last year. This is a big PASS.

On ABC, there are three new shows, "Selfie," "Manhattan Love Story" and "Forever." In "Selfie," I think John Cho is a waste as Henry, who has taken Eliza Dooley, portrayed by Karen Gillan, on as a project to make her a better person. Good luck with that. I don't see this going an entire season. FAIL.

"Manhattan Love Story" is so sappy and sugary that my diabetes started to act up when I watched it. Even the cuteness of Analeigh Tipton playing Dana won't save this show from a quick death. Jake McDorman, as serial dater Peter, doesn't help with his smarminess. I say it’s another FAIL for ABC.

"Forever" is very similar to the 2008 Fox series "New Amsterdam," which had a NYPD detective as the main character; he was also immortal and over 400 years old. "Forever" stars Ioan Gruffudd, as Dr. Henry Morgan, Judd Hirsch, as his adopted son, Abe, and Alana De La Garza, as NYPD detective Jo Martinez. In this show, Henry is only 235 years old. He’s searching for a way to die, finally, instead of being "reborn" in a large body of water whenever he does die. I'll give this show a PASS.

Wednesday night has four new shows, and I've watched three of them. There is not enough time in the day to watch everything! NBC has "The Mysteries of Laura," starring Debra Messing. I gave this about five minutes and had to turn it off. Ms. Messing with forever be Grace from "Will and Grace." I just didn't like her playing an NYPD detective. FAIL.

ABC has "Blackish," starring Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross. This show is so bad-ish, it will be gone before the end of the season. The writing is bad and wasted talent is Laurence Fishburne, the live in grandpa. He should be embarrassed to be on the, but to be an executive producer, as well. FAIL.

CBS has "Stalker," starring Dylan McDermott and Maggie Q. I find this style of show creepy; I won’t watch. Make up your own mind for this one.

Fox has one new show, "The Red Band Society," which is about a bunch of kids getting different treatments in the pediatric ward of a Los Angeles Hospital. Octavia Spencer holds the show together. She plays the tough nurse in charge of the ward and Dave Annable as the obligatory hot male surgeon. Let's give this a PASS and see what happens.

Thursday night brings four new shows, and I've watched three of them. ABC has "How to Get Away with Murder," about a college professor played so eerily by Viola Davis. I watched the pilot episode, and found it to be very creepy. I don't do creepy. Again, make up your own minds.

Fox has only one new show, so far.

Fox has "Gracepoint," which I haven't seen, yet. It's another murder procedural show. YAWN.

NBC has two new shows here, "Bad Judge" and "A to Z." "Bad Judge" stars Kate Walsh and this is BAD. Nothing can save this, even the lovely Ms. Walsh.

"A to Z" is charming, funny and very appealing. It's nice to see Cristin Milloti star in her own show, after her brief appearances as the mother on, "How I Met Your Mother," last season. She plays Zelda, an quirky lawyer who works across the courtyard from Andrew, who works for an online dating company. They make a cute couple and we get to see their romance blossom. I'll PASS this one based upon the cuteness factor and the good writing.

Friday night give us three new shows, of which I've only watched one; that’s "Cristela," on ABC, a new sitcom starring stand-up comic Cristela Alonzo and one of my favorite stand-up comics, Gabriel Iglesias. She lives with her mother, sister and brother in law, while he pursues her romantically. Cristela gives as good as she gets, and I see this being around for a while. PASS.