One-Minute Reviews: "ABC's Desperate Wednesdays"

One-Minute Reviews: "ABC's Desperate Wednesdays"
3 new shows premiered last night:
9:00PM was the premiere of "Modern Family" (aka: Wisteria Lame). This show was close to un-watchable.
It used the same stupid Drama Device of "breaking the 4th wall" and talking to the audience as "The Office". It was as unfunny as "The Office", but with less likable characters.

Filled with decades old show-biz stereotypes of 3 families: "The Old Codger" and the "Chatty Latin Spitfire" (Coochie-Choochie!).
The "Midwest's vision" of "The Gay Couple"; (One was a copy of the Interior Designer in Beetlejuice).
Last and least: "Normal Family" with "Emasculating Wifie", "Spaced-out Lame Dad", and " Always Embarrassed Horny Teen Daughter".
At the end, (if you got that far) they turned out to be an extended family, all related to each other. Snoooze...
The biggest question? Ed, how did you let yourself go so badly?
Prognosis: It won't last to the end of Oct., but will ED? It's so bad it could drag down the next 2 shows with it.

9:30PM "Cougar Town"; (aka Desperate House Cats) Courtney Cox's new sitcom.
Made by the same team as Scrubs is not a glowing reference,
but it is produced by Courtney Cox, who did her own under-achieving show on cable the last 2 years.
This show was surprisingly great. Really very funny without trying too hard, very witty, lots of sexy double-entendres and situations. The funniest, sexiest show since 2 1/2 Men.
Add a little "R" rated action, and it could be a hit HBO show.
It was well executed in every way. Courtney makes lots of fun of her own character, and of Cougars in general and the guys who "date" them.
And it doesn't pull punches re. the effect mid-aged singles 'hooking up' has on their families.
Like in her last series, she appeared 2 times in VERY sexy outfits, showing she still has lots of "IT".
She was the HOT Friend, and still is..
I know Middle-aged housefrau's will not let their hubbies watch this, it is too sexy, too funny in smart ways, and being after "Modern", it will fail too.
Prognosis: Tape it and save it...it's a collector's item.

10:00PM "Eastwick" (aka Desperate House Witches). Did ANYONE EVER see a promo of this show? I never saw one.
Slipped in like a ugly step-child, this turned out to be a total happy surprise. So far, it's my new favorite show of the season.
Loosly based on the old book "Witches of Eastwick" (Or, the movie with Jack Nickolsen as the Devil).
Again, it's well written, witty, sexy fun, produced beautifully on location, big screen movie-like.

The 3 witches are lovable and subtly sexy, led by Rebecca Romjin (Hippie-Chick),
Lindsay Price (News-Girl Friday), both of past failed shows,
and an unknown redhead (the Kindly Nursie) who is the best actress.
The "hook" is that the 3 don't know they are Witches yet, so maybe taken from the start of the book.
It's fun to see them 'evolve' as they realize their 'powers'. It's real fun to see Lindsay show up in a poured on dress late in the show. WOW!

They do not seem to be copies of the 3 in the movie. (closer to the book?)
The small N.E. town (it looked Star's Hollow?) is full of ex-ABC stars like "Almost Perfect" girl, Sarah Rule; and "Kyle-XY", as a boy-toy.
The only weak link is the guy who plays "Jack The Devil". He is too young and unmemorable to fill Jack's shoes. (a soap star?)
I'm sure he was hired to up the "Beef Factor" of the show.
Prognosis: It's too good, too subtle, no bloody bodies like all those 10pm Police Propaganda shows..it will fail.