Random Reflections on the Fall TV Season: Broadcast Edition, Part 1

Overall, broadcast hasn’t packed much of a punch these last few weeks, though that doesn’t seem to be a problem, because the networks are doing their best to perpetually reinforce the idea that overnight ratings just don’t matter. That is certainly true for the audience, but I still have trouble believing that advertisers are cool with this, because the majority of the viewership for most broadcast shows is still tied to their premiere telecasts and delayed viewing almost always involves ignoring or skipping commercials.

As for broadcast series this season, here’s a look at how a few of them are faring on the creative side.

Supergirl

CBS’ “Supergirl” is doing as well as expected even with its plot holes, which are whoppers. In the pilot, are we to believe that upon Kara’s arrival on earth Superman would leave a vessel filled with Kryptonian technology lying about where anyone could find it, or that he wouldn’t notice the subsequent arrival on earth of a much larger vessel filled with the most dangerous criminals in the galaxy, or that said criminals would go into hiding for over 10 years, apparently doing nothing at all? Or that (as we learned in episode three) Superman would largely agree to leave Kara alone to master her own fate, regardless of the collateral damage that might occur to the good citizens of National City while she figures it all out?

Hmmm. Warner Bros. has always been famously fussy when it comes to the care and feeding of one of its biggest franchised characters, from “Smallville” to the recent “Superman” movies (with Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill). So why slack off now? (Then again, the modern “Superman” movies sucked, so who knows what really goes on?)

Regardless, “Supergirl” so far has turned out to be more fun than any other new series this year on broadcast television. It’s bright and energetic and contemporary and full of good humor, positive messages and emotional connectivity. The cast is uniformly delightful – especially Melissa Benoist and Mehcad Brooks (pictured at top).  and Calista Flockhart (pictured below).

(One last bug: In the second episode, what should we make of the fact that Kara’s evil Aunt Astra – a Kryptonian – was able to fly with a shard of Kryptonite embedded in her arm? Superman can hardly move when Kryptonite is anywhere near him! But whatever.)

Limitless

If I ran CBS, I would strongly consider moving the network’s other big-fun freshman, “Limitless,” from Tuesdays to Mondays at 10 p.m. This would give the network a night of youthful super-flow (from “Supergirl” to “Scorpion” to “Limitless”) the likes of which it hasn’t enjoyed in years (or maybe decades).

Regarding “Limitless,” while other critics last summer were hastily dismissing it yours truly was predicting that it would be successful. It may not be a mega-hit, but it has agreeably loosened up week by week (especially with its visuals) and series leads Jake McDorman (below) and Jennifer Carpenter have quickly become the most delightful crime-fighting duo on television. That may be happening because there are no romantic sparks between them. It’s all about the people they are and the work that they do.

Rosewood

If McDorman is a true television star (something many people already knew from his work on ABC Family’s “Greek” and especially his guest turn on Showtime’s “Shameless”) so is Morris Chestnut. He plays the title character in the other new critic-proof success of the season, Fox’s hot crime drama “Rosewood.” As I have stated before, I think that setting the show (and filming it) in Miami adds a lot to its appeal. That should only increase as winter slowly overtakes most of the American television audience.

Scream Queens

Continuing with Fox, “Scream Queens” seems to have captivated the kids, but nobody else. It owes its survival to DVRs, VOD and social media, which now enable just about anything to succeed on some level, even a series as ugly as this one. Isn't it interesting that Generation Enabled is so fond of a show that stays with us because it is being enabled by technology? It is interesting also that “Glee” supernova Lea Michele ended up mired in this muck while her lesser known castmate Melissa Benoist has become the brightest new star on television.

The Grinder and Grandfathered

Meanwhile, Fox’s “The Grinder” has improved with each episode, which is impressive given how strong its pilot turned out to be. Meta humor abounds. Rob Lowe and Fred Savage have tremendous comic chemistry together but are also very funny all on their own. Of course, any show that keeps the mighty William Devane on television is welcome in my home. He’s just great as the father of Lowe’s and Savage’s characters. “Grandfathered,” Fox’s other new comedy this season, has also proven to be durable. If these two shows don’t grow their audiences over time then something somewhere must be broken.

To be continued ...

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