The Pre-Air Season

Every year, around this time, we start seeing pre-air or pilot episodes of shows that might or might not be produced for next season.

This year is no exception and the first round of shows is out there. I've seen some of them and I organized them into categories.

First, I think these are sure winners:

• True Blood (HBO): by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under fame) - vampires are now in the open, as a regular member of our comunity. Bonus points for scoring Anna Paquin;
• Pretty Handsome (Fox): amazing cast (Carrie-Anne Moss and Joseph Fiennes to name just two) for a story about a married father of two who tells his wife that he is a transsexual.

This ones I liked a lot:

• Leverage (TNT/Electric Entertainment): a 5-person Oceans Eleven. Its not a great show, but I had a lot of fun watching. If they manage to keep the pace, it could become great;
• Fringe: excellent FBI-drama, reminds a bit of The X-Files.

Might be worth something category:

• Raising the Bar: written by Steven Bochco. Its a laywers-show, so nothing new but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt because of Bochco.

Not recommended at all:

• Do Not Disturb (Fox): comedy, soap, in a hotel somewhere. Lots of girls floating around though;
• The Middleman (ABC): I admit, I turned off the TV 4 minutes into it after a big cheesy monster appeared on the scene. It seems to bad to watch. Thread carefully, and if you do find the courage to see it to the end, let me know if its worth it;
• Life on Mars (Fox): not my type, you might like it - american remake of an old BBC series, detective goes back in time after a car accident.

In parallel you also get some summer shows:

• In Plain Sight: casual US Marshals story, about the witness protection program. Its fun, its summer, good value; with Mary McCormack;
• Fear Itself: I'm not a fan of horror or suspense, but I would recommend you watch the first episode at least. Its very very well done, and you might like it.

Thats all for now, have a great Pre-air Season.