Midseason Pilots

THE SKED Pilot Review: “Growing Up Fisher”

Posted February 24, 2014 by Mitch Salem

  GROWING UP FISHER:  Tuesday 9:30PM on NBC – If Nothing Else Is On… We reviewed GROWING UP FISHER last summer based on the pilot that was originally shot, but after the series was ordered, one of the lead performers, Parker Posey, was replaced by Jenna Elfman, which required some reshooting.  But not, as it […]

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Reviews

THE SKED SEASON FINALE REVIEW: “True Blood”

Posted August 19, 2013 by Mitch Salem

  This was, for the most part, a solid rebuilding season for TRUE BLOOD.  The show survived a replacement in showrunners when series creator Alan Ball stepped down after 5 years–and then a replacement of that replacement–with show veteran Brian Buckner ultimately taking over.  Under his direction, the series took a smart step or two […]

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Fall Pilots

THE SKED Pilot Review: ABC’s “Agents of SHIELD”

Posted September 25, 2013 by Mitch Salem

  AGENTS OF SHIELD:  Tuesday 8PM on ABC – Potential DVR Alert Even without any connection to the multi-billion-dollar entertainment monolith that is Marvel (and behind it, Disney), the arrival of a new TV series from Joss Whedon would be an event.  Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a bedrock not just of the TV […]

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Pilot + 1

THE SKED Pilot + 1 Review: “Back In the Game”

Posted October 2, 2013 by Mitch Salem

  BACK IN THE GAME:  Wednesday 8:30PM on ABC Previously… on BACK IN THE GAME:  Newly divorced Terry Gannon, Jr (Maggie Lawson), with her son Danny (Griffin Gluck), has little choice but to move back home with her father Terry Sr, better known as “The Cannon” (James Caan).  The Cannon was a baseball player and […]

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Pilot Reports

THE SKED SERIES PREMIERE REVIEW: “Dancing On the Edge”

Posted October 20, 2013 by Mitch Salem

  DANCING ON THE EDGE:  Saturday 9PM on Starz Starz’s latest British import, DANCING ON THE EDGE, seems on the basis of its first double-length episode to be intended for viewers who enjoy the jazzy millieu of Boardwalk Empire but find its pace too rapid and its violence too rude.  It’s a well-produced, intelligent drama […]

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Other

THE SKED PREMIERE REVIEW: “Bonnie & Clyde”

Posted December 9, 2013 by Mitch Salem

  BONNIE & CLYDE:  Concludes Monday 9PM on Lifetime/A&E/History It’s been 46 years since the classic movie, and besides, plenty of historical events and figures have been the subjects of multiple productions, so the idea of a new BONNIE & CLYDE was perfectly legitimate–until, that is, the present one turned out to be resoundingly phony in […]

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Pilot + 1

THE SKED Series Premiere Review: “Helix”

Posted January 11, 2014 by Mitch Salem

  HELIX:  Friday 10PM on Syfy – If Nothing Else Is On… Just about every network, cable and broadcast, is in the science-fiction business these days in one way or another, and weirdly enough the only one that seems to have been left behind is Syfy, which has been waiting a long time for its […]

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Netflix

THE SKED Netflix Review: “House Of Cards” Season 2 (Eps 8-10)

Posted February 17, 2014 by Mitch Salem

  House of Cards Season 2 Eps 1-3 Review Here. Eps 4-7 Review Here. At the three-quarters mark, this season of HOUSE OF CARDS has a somewhat different feel, not just from the English original but from the initial Netflix season.  While the series may never give Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) an antagonist who can […]

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