Sept. 9, 1999
The Fall TV Preview II - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
Now, we’re getting in the show’s from Wednesday to Sunday, part two of my look at the new sitcoms and dramas. Got a question? Check out this week’s TV Week, TV Times, TV Guide, www.ew.com, or me.
Wednesday, September 22, is when Aaron Sorkin’s new show THE WEST WING debuts. I am such a fan of Sorkin, as you read in my previous salute. Wing revolves around The White House and the staff that make it run. Forget Bill and Monica, because Rob Lowe, Martin Sheen and another great ensemble are fabulous. This show is a not miss at 9:00 on NBC.
Jon Tenney who was brilliant on Brooklyn South is married to Debra Farrentino is GET REAL, a drama on Fox, Wednesday’s at 9:00. The saga of the Green family, told in the vain of Party of Five. They’re saying this show will do well, so watch it when it debuts September 8th.
The show about the teen having some sort of fun on a horse is MANCHESTER PREP. It’s booked to air on Thursday’s at 8:00, but it hasn’t been given a date yet. So stay tuned.
ACTION, which I explained in a previous commentary debuts September 19th in its Thursday at 9:30 slot on Fox. It’s pilot features Keanu Reeves in a cameo, but the sexual content and swearing is what’s generating it’s buzz. If you like Larry Sanders, you’ll like Action. It stars Jay Mohr and Illeana Douglas; catch a preview September 16th.
Neil Patrick Harris who played Doogie Howser, MD joins Tony Shaloub of Wings in STARK RAVING MAD. It has a dream timeslot, sitting in-between Frasier and ER, at 9:30’s Thursday night, on NBC. Good cast, and good situation, but it looks lame. Stark debuts September 23.
COLD FEET is shot in Vancouver, but airs Friday’s at 10 on NBC. It’s all about love, life and marriage. Feet walks on screens September 24th.
LOVE & MONEY is a sitcom that mixes the rich and the working class, which stars Swoosie Kurtz. It’s on Friday’s at 8:30 on CBS. It could work, The Nanny did, but who knows? Grab Money when it debuts October 8.
Two former writers and producers from The Simpsons try their hand at creating an animation hit, it’s called MISSION HILL. It debuts on September 24th, in its Friday night timeslot at 9:00.
NOW AND AGAIN is a show starring Eric Close, who is a man in his twenties who was John Goodman in his 40’s. Let me explain: John Goodman was hit by a train and had some secret agency switch his body to Close’s. Check it out September 24th, in its Friday at 9:00 timeslot on CBS.
TV’s golden boy, David E. Kelley’s new show SNOOPS debuts September 26th at its 9:00 lead in for the other Kelley show, The Practice. It stars Gina Gershon who heads a PI firm, a la V.I.P. Watch Snoops, snoop its way onto ABC’s schedule.
THIRD WATCH is John Wells’ new show about firefighters, cops and paramedics. It airs Sunday’s at 8:00 on NBC. It’s from the creator of ER and it looks it too.
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .