Articles

THE SKED PREMIERE REVIEW: “Are You There, Chelsea?”

Posted January 12, 2012 by Mitch Salem

> (Note:  SHOWBUZZDAILY had a pilot report on this show back when it was called Are You There, Vodka?  It’s Me, Chelsea.  Since then, it’s been substantially recast and reshot, not to mention retitled, so we’re taking a fresh look at it.) ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA? – Wednesdays 8:30PM on NBC – If Nothing Else […]

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Pilot Reports

THE SKED FALL PILOT REPORT: CW’s “Beauty & the Beast”

Posted October 11, 2012 by Mitch Salem

  BEAUTY & THE BEAST: Thursday 9PM starting 10/11 on CW – If Nothing Else Is On… Disclaimer: Network pilots now in circulation are not necessarily in the form that will air in the Fall. Pilots are often reedited and re-scored, and in some cases even recast or reshot. These critiques shouldn’t be taken as […]

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Pilot Reports

THE SKED SERIES PREMIERE REVIEW: “Banshee”

Posted January 12, 2013 by Mitch Salem

  BANSHEE:  Friday 10PM on Cinemax Alan Ball’s name is the one most often thrown about in connection with the new Cinemax series BANSHEE, and that’s understandable, what with him being the creator of True Blood and all.  But Ball is just an Executive Producer on Banshee; the show was actually created by the novelists […]

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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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Pilot Reports

THE SKED SERIES PREMIERE REVIEW: “Masters of Sex”

Posted September 29, 2013 by Mitch Salem

  MASTERS OF SEX:  Sunday 10PM on Showtime – Potential DVR Alert After the macho angst of Ray Donovan and–notwithstanding its excellence–the heavy going of Homeland, Showtime smartly changes pace with MASTERS OF SEX, an engrossing, sexy and sometimes funny history based on the real lives of Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson, trailblazing sexuality […]

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Pilot Reports

THE SKED Series Premiere Review: “Murder In the First”

Posted June 10, 2014 by Mitch Salem

  MURDER IN THE FIRST:  Monday 10PM on TNT – If Nothing Else Is On… Steven Bochco practically invented modern television with Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue, so even though it’s been a while since his glory days were in full swing, attention must be paid when he takes another turn at bat.  His […]

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2014-15 TV Season

THE SKED Fall Pilot Report: ABC’S “Manhattan Love Story”

Posted August 19, 2014 by Mitch Salem

  MANHATTAN LOVE STORY:  Tuesday 8:30PM on ABC starting September 30 – Change the Channel PLAYERS:  Series creator Jeff Lowell, who’s been a writer/producer on sitcoms going back to Cybill two decades ago, but who’s creating a series himself for the first time.  Stars Jake McDorman and Analeigh Tipton.  Pilot director Michael Fresco.  Brillstein Entertainment […]

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Pilot Reports

SHOWBUZZDAILY Series Premiere Review: “Battle Creek”

Posted March 1, 2015 by Mitch Salem

  BATTLE CREEK:  Sunday 10PM on CBS – Change the Channel While not the worst show of the season, BATTLE CREEK may well be the most disappointing.  The light procedural combines the talents of two of TV’s premier writer/showrunners, Breaking Bad‘s Vince Gilligan and House‘s David Shore, with a cast that includes Josh Duhamel, Dean […]

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