My Top 5 New Fall Shows to Watch: 2012 Edition

This past Wednesday, after the Olympics, NBC previewed one of their new fall shows starring Matthew Perry.  Go On is about a radio sports commentator who loses his wife and has to go to group therapy.  While there he meets some strange, and interesting, new friends.  The episode was enjoyable to where I may try a few more episodes, but it definitely had a Community vibe to it; which I'm not a big fan of.

So this got me thinking that it was time to break out my thoughts on this years new Fall shows.  Out of the five shows I picked last year only half are making it to a second season, and only one of those shows I am continuing to watch.  This year I have a feeling at least my top two have a better chance of holding my attention, but in this business you never can tell. 

5. How To Live With Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)

Scrubs alumni Sarah Chalke is back on the small screen after her new series last year with Jason Biggs didn't pan out.  This time she's playing a single mom who moves back in with her crazy parents, played by Elizabeth Perkins and Brad Garret.  They seem to embarrass her quite a bit, which of course always leads to good TV.

As a faithful Scrubs fan I'm just rooting for Chalke to finally make a show last after she left Sacred Heart.  The show is produced by the man who brought us Friday Night Lights and Arrested Development, Brian Grazer.  As always, I'm going to watch this first episode and see if I want to watch the second.

Premiere Date: TBD 2013, ABC

Trailer:  http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/how-to-live-with-your-parents

4.  Elementary

With Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law making the classic detective, Sherlock Holmes, cool again on the big screen CBS looks like they decided to cash in on the money train and try a modern interpretation on the small screen.  Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu star as Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson.  Holmes used to work for Scotland Yard as a consultant, but was put into rehab for his "issues." Now he's out solving crimes in New York and his father has hired Dr. Watson to look after him as he does his thing in the Big Apple.

I always try to like detective shows, but can never seem to stay into them with each episode just about solving one crime each week.  I like Psych, Bones, The Mentalist, but even those are hard for me to keep interest in sometimes.  I want to like Elementary but only time will tell if it stays on my Tivo's Season Pass.

Premiere Date: Thursday, Sept. 27 10/9c CBS

Trailer: http://www.cbs.com/shows/elementary/video/2239231109/elementary-exclusive-preview

3. Animal Practice

Justin Kirk, or Andy from Weeds as I will always think of him, is Dr. George Coleman the best veterinarian in New York, but he also is a little unorthodox.  He loves his job and he helps a lot of animals while doing it, but his ex-girlfriend, played by JoAnna Garcia, is about to spoil his fun.  She's taking over Crane Veterinary Hospital and George either has to adapt or teach Ms. Crane a few new tricks, along with a little help from his strange staff. 

Seeing how Weeds is on it's last season on Showtime I'm rooting for Kirk to make a name for himself on prime time TV.  JoAnna Garcia is cute, and the supporting cast seems like they'll work well for this show.  Plus, who doesn't love seeing a monkey in a white trench coat? 

Premiere Date: Wednesday, Sept. 26 8/7c NBC

Trailer: http://www.nbc.com/animal-practice/video/animal-practice/1401480

2. Revolution

Ever since Thomas Edison sparked the first light bulb electricity has slowly taken over our whole lives.  Refrigerators, cell phones, Ipods, car batteries; what would you do if it was all gone?  That's the premise behind this new show.  New comers Tracy Spiridakos and Graham Rogers play siblings Charlie and Danny, who have lived without electricity for 15 years.  When Danny is kidnapped by militia Charlie must enlist the help of her estranged uncle, played by Billy Burke from Twilight, to get her brother back and maybe find a way to turn the lights back on.

J.J. Abrams is known for helping create really complicated and twisted TV series like Lost and Fringe, so I feel like this show could be fun to watch, but also time consuming.  Sword fights, arrows flying, and the lead character is pretty sweet looking.  I'm in!

Premiere Date: Monday, Sept. 17 10/9c NBC

Trailer: http://www.nbc.com/revolution/video/revolution-extended-preview/1412424

1. Arrow

Gee, what a shock, the show I'm most excited to watch is based on a comic book, I know.  Billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is shipwrecked on an island for five years and he returns home with a new view of the world and a few new skills.  He's looking to make amends of all the wrongs not only in Starling City, but also in his personal life.  But those closest to him may know more about what happened to him than they are letting on.  I say use them for target practice and let the secrets spill!

When last The CW network saw Oliver Queen, a.k.a Green Arrow, he was played by Justine Hartley on Smallville.  Although actor Stephen Amell's character has no relation to Hartley's character or world, Oliver's origins still seem similar to it's comic roots.  In the DC Universe Oliver was an only child who lost both his parents.  In Arrow, he still has a sister and a mother, which I think is a nice twist in this interpretation.  What good is a hero if he has nothing too lose?  I'm definitely not a fan of Starling City; I mean does Star City sound that corny?  In any event, just let his girlfriend, Laurel Lance, let out a Black Canary cry and watch me giggle with glee like a school girl.

Premiere Date: Wednesday, Oct. 10 8/7c THE CW

Trailer: http://www.cwtv.com/cw-video/arrow/arrow--extended-preview/?play=01313a67-8fc4-4cd7-b58f-1d0b6fe0c8a9



My Ultimate, All-Star, Earth One, NOW, New 52 Review

     This week I learned about Marvel's upcoming plans for Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine, and all the other Marvel characters after the current Avengers vs. X-Men blockbuster.  Apparently their having another jumping off point to try and attract new reader with new #1's of Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor as well as other crazy titles like Uncanny Avengers and All-New X-Men.  It's another attempt to bring in younger readers and grow their support for years to come while their old, loyal, readers are getting older, dying out, or just stop comic reading all together because of all the damn re-boots publishing companies do in order to attract new, younger, readers.
     These marketing gimmicks are nothing new, and have been going on for decades.  Crisis on Infinite Earths cleaned up the DC Universe while giving it a fresh start.  Marvel's Ultimate Universe gave readers cooler, and fresher, origins for the people who went and saw the Spider-Man and X-Men movies and didn't want to collect 50 years of comics.  DC's response to that was the All-Star line-up with Superman and Batman with edgier, and out-of-the-box stories.  Recently DC has continued that idea with their Earth One comics with an emo Superman, I mean Superman: Earth One, and the soon-to-be released Batman: Earth One.  Sometimes I think those are the only two characters DC has any faith in.
     Marvel NOW promises another fresh start for comic readers with more intermingling between heroes, as if Wolverine isn't in every freakin Marvel comic to begin with.  But everyone knows this is Marvel's response to DC's re-boot known as the New 52.  Last year the character known as The Flash changed reality in Geoff Johns Flashpoint, but when he changed it back is wasn't as we all remembered it.  DC Comics took this opportunity to update characters, make them younger, break-up fan-favorite couples, and not do a damn thing with their best selling titles.  Some people I know have now sworn off DC comics all together because of New 52.  I think it's done more bad then good, but here's a little more about it.

BATMAN:  One of two characters/worlds that seem to come out of New 52 almost unchanged Bruce Wayne still has Alfred his butler, Dick Grayson as Nightwing, Damian Wayne as Robin, and Tim Drake as Red Robin, although not a very good one.  The main change is Barbara Gordon's return as Batgirl.  With the Court of the Owls storyline bringing more surprises each issue like Bruce's brother (yes he has a brother) and a new Batman film just weeks away from being released I don't see these titles sliding, and shouldn't be, as each one of them is a pretty good read.  Even Red Hood and the Outlaws.  RULING: WINNER

GREEN LANTERN:  The 2nd DC world that was virtually unaffected by Flashpoint, Geoff Johns continues writing these superb characters with the return of GL villain Sinestro back into the Corps. and the Guardians "Third Army" on the way.  I haven't been following the other three GL titles too closely, in fact I stop reading New Guardians after several issues, but with an interlocking storyline on the horizon you can be sure every fan will be grabbing all four titles with their mouths dripping with fan boy saliva. RULING:  WINNER

WONDER WOMAN:  To be honest I've never gotten into WW, maybe that makes me sexist, or maybe it just makes me a guy who can't relate to a strong female character.  At any rate, I have no idea what's going on, and could care less. RULING: DON'T CARE ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE

FLASH:  Johns re-built the Scarlet Speedster into a powerhouse enough to make him the center-point of his summer blockbuster, Flashpoint.  But after Flashpoint Francis Manapul has taken double duty as writer and artist.  Barry Allen is no longer with Iris, which I find interesting as a late-to-the-game Flash reader, but all signs point to them getting back together at some point.  But without Johns unique ability to tell a great tale Manapul's art seems lost on me.  I do appreciate the character but Manapul's words aren't not enough to keep me from saving three bucks a month instead. Plus I'm still wondering where the hell is Wally West?  The man was Flash for over 20 years for God sakes! RULING: LOSER

GREEN ARROW:  I first got into GA after One Year Later when Oliver Queen became the mayor of Star City and have enjoyed his adventures from marrying the Black Canary to his fall right before Cry For Justice.  Now Ollie is back in New 52 as younger, and now has a team around him when he goes out, and it isn't Speedy or Arsenal.  Oliver Queen is not a team player.  He's like Batman, except he's an asshole billionaire ALL THE TIME!  He doesn't want people around him.  Green Arrow #0 comes out soon with a re-telling of his origin, which could settle some of my ruffled feathers if the story is good.  But if nothing else at least Arrow looks like it's worthy of taking up space on my Tivo this Fall.  RULING:  LOSER

AQUAMAN:  Remember all the pop culture references that made fun of Aquaman throughout the years and everyone thought he was lame?  Well I only have one thing to say to you all; SUUUUUCK IIIIIIT!  Johns has made Aquaman a star just like he did with Green Lantern and Flash, having him take on underwater mutants, dealing with ocean soap operas, and even sprinkling in some origin tale along the way.  Aquaman is my vote for thee Best Comic DC Is Publishing Right Now.  My only wish is that Johns continues to write this title for almost a decade like he has Green Lantern.  RULING: WINNER

JUSTICE LEAGUE:  I've never really been a fan of the JLA the same way I've never really been big on the Avengers.  When you put the greatest heroes together, each who have their own book, it leaves no real time for character development, or decent interaction between the characters.  I enjoyed seeing Geoff Johns and Jim Lee together as much as the next fan boy, but after a while I was more excited for the Billy Batson and Shazam storyline at the end of the issue than the Justice League itself.  The Teen Titans work better as a team, the JLA can save world all by themselves accept for a few team-ups every now and then.  RULING:  LOSER

TEEN TITANS:  Another Johns title that was awesome until he left.  It's slowly been going down hill ever since and the New 52 couldn't save it.  The four main characters, Superboy, Wonder Girl, Red Robin, and Kid Flash are horrible interpretations of their former selves.  These use to be the four best friends in comics and now, well, just look at this picture, they look like they just stepped out of The Grid and into a CW 90210 episode, when we well know the Fox version is the only true 90210 that will ever matter!  These character went through a lot together starting all the way back from JLA: World Without Grown-Ups.  It breaks my heart.  RULING: LOSER  

SUPERMAN:  A few years ago Marvel did their Brand New Day storyline with Spider-Man and broke up Peter Parker and Mary Jane.  They turned back the clock and basically spit on 20 years of Spider-Man writers just to attract the herd of cows who had just saw Spider-Man 3.  I didn't get how some Spider-Man fans felt, but now I do.  I grew-up loving Superman.  I was there when he proposed to Lois and told her his secret.  I was there through the Death, the Reign, and the Return.  I was there with the Fall of Metropolis, and the birth of New Krypton.  This is not the Superman I loved!  The best relationship in comic book history has been sullied to a Twilight, emo, stalker, shell of what the Man of Steel is.  And I won't even go into the pussy boy that is Earth One Superman.
Clark pines for Lois in a loser fashion as they work at TV station, oh yes, a TV station.  I know practically no one reads actual newspapers any more, but they do read the Internet, and people still have to write on it.  Meanwhile I'm sitting here agreeing with a Nicola Cage quote, "The suit is like a Coca-Cola bottle, you don't mess with it."  You now have me quoting Nicolas Cage!  The whole Super family, including Supergirl and Superboy, look like hard, cold, unfeeling, aliens in those get-ups.  There is nothing warm and sweet about what they're wearing!  And Superboy had one of the best origins and character growth I've ever seen in comics, but hey, let's make him practically a robot instead.

And I have no idea what the hell Actions Comics is!  Whoever let Grant Morrison near Superman all those years ago needs to be locked in a cell for their crime.  He's got a cape and jeans?  Guess how many times Superman's origin has been re-told in the last decade in comics?  We just got 10 years of it thanks to Smallville, we don't need anymore (hint, hint, Zack Snyder).  My Superman is now Smallville: Season 11 because at least Bryan Q. Miller writes Lois and Clark together and gives us something old that seems new, and not recycled.  
RULING:  TAKE A GUESS

So, overall, I'd say my feeling on New 52 are pretty disappointing, bordering on foaming-at-the-mouth mad.  But I am actually excited about Batman: Earth One, mainly because the only good thing these days about DC Comics, Geoff Johns, is writing it.  I'll give Marvel NOW it's fair 6 month chance like I did with New 52, but if it stinks you may want to lock up every liquor store in town because if it's bad I plan on grabbing every thing I can find and watching the Christopher Reeves Superman anthology while crying into my glass the whole time.  Don't judge me.  

Comic Books That Need To Be Films

Comic book films are all over the silver screen these days. With the release of Green Lantern, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger all coming out next summer it doesn't seem like the superhero genre is going anywhere. There have been a lot of good films based on comic books, but there have also been a lot of bad ones as well. Warner Bros. is also in the early stages of making sequels to Batman and rebooting the Superman franchise.

I feel like the studios are forgetting about all the other publishing companies that have great characters, as well as the lesser known characters in the DC and Marvel universes that would make great movies. Let's not forget that a C-List comic book character, Blade, started the whole comic book film craze. Here are some characters or teams I feel would be great up on the big screen.

12) Aquaman

Vincent Chase and James Cameron made this character the biggest film of all time on Entourage, so let's see if fantasy can become reality. Justin Hartley portrayed Arthur Curry in a never aired Aquaman pilot. Arthur was a child of two worlds, much like Superman, Tarzan, and Spock. Even though Hartley's swimming career didn't last I still say this underwater adventure would be cool in 3-D. Aquaman is a hero who can breathe underwater, swim super fast, speak to sea life, and has super strength. It'd be the best sea movie since Steve Zissou.

11) The Darkness

Jackie Estacado was your average mafia hitman, but on his 21st birthday he gained the powers of The Darkness, an ancient power that let him create whatever he wanted, as long as it stayed away from light. Jackie used this powers to take control of the mafia, and along the way he has had to give up his playboy lifestyle, for when The Darkness conceives a child the host then dies immediately, much like it did with Jackie’s father. Talk about a buzz kill. All this power and he can’t even make whoopee.

Jackie has battled the mafia, battled demons in hell, and even somehow procreated with Witchblade without dying. Top Cow Comics has created a great universe with their Trinity and I would love to see it in full force on the big screen, hellions and all.

10) Savage Dragon

From Image Comics comes a hero who fights bad guys in a futuristic Chicago. Dragon was found in the rubble of a horrible explosion. He has no memory of who he is, or why he has a fin on his head, but he uses his incredible strength and agility to the CPD's advantage. Dragon takes down mutants and villains while trying to piece together what happened to him and who he is. Move over Robocop, there is a new officer of the law ready to kick some butt.

9) Green Arrow

Another DC hero that Justin Hartley has portrayed on the small screen, Green Arrow has been a signature character not only in the DC Universe, but in comic book history, for decades. Oliver Queen was another billionaire orphan who drank too much and loved the ladies. But Oliver was betrayed by a family friend who wanted control of Queen Industries. He tried to kill Oliver, and left him on a deserted island to fend for himself. Oliver survived with only a bow and arrows to keep him alive. Oliver finds his way back to Star City to take revenge on the man who wronged him and be the home town Robin Hood.

Through the years Green Arrow has been a controversial character with his use of sharp arrows and his messed up sidekicks. One of the protégés had a drug problem and another was a teenage prostitute with HIV. Oliver Queen is edgy enough for today's generation to relate to, and has enough problems to make a great trilogy.

8) Irredeemable

From Mark Waid, the man who brought us the epic Kingdom Come, comes a story about what would happen if Earth's greatest hero turned against us. As the Plutionian’s reign of terror progresses we learn the story, or stories, that lead him to his breaking point through his friends, comrades, and victims.

Waid's main character is similar to Superman, and even though everyone knows Clark Kent will never turn evil, this a great glimpse into what it would be like if he did. Again, this is another hard edged and gritty film that today's movie goers would eat up. Heroes are dying, people are flying, and everyone has a part to play. It’s just good story telling.

7) Heroes For Hire

The Marvel Universe is full of big characters that fight evil on a global, if not universal, level. But then there are other heroes that are down in the depths of New York's underbelly helping the common man take down the gangs and kingpins who fill the streets with violence. These guys are the Heroes for Hire. The indestructible Luke Cage and the immortal Iron Fist formed a team to help those who can not help themselves. Let Iron Man and Fantastic Four take on Galactus while Cage and Rand take on the drug dealers down the street.

Heroes For Hire is so much more simple than other Marvel teams. I think it could be really relatable to audiences of all ages. Power Man and Iron Fist friendship is also something to be explored as Danny is a billionaire and Luke a man from the streets. With great potential comes great box office numbers.

6) Booster Gold

Heroes are often selfless, sacrificing their own lives to help others, and then there is Booster Gold. In the 25th Century, Michael gets his hands on some sweet gear and decides to travel back in time in the DC Universe to use this futuristic equipment to be a hero. The only problem is that nobody takes him seriously. Michael may be a jokester from the future trying to be a hero, but he's still just a jokester. He tries to steal the spotlight at every occasion, but when the going gets tough he's there to help the Justice League save the day.

I like Booster Gold because he's not as serious as other heroes. He's had a few issues over the last few years, but his real problem is trying to get other heroes to take him seriously. He's very arrogant, which is a great starting point for a character arch. His best friend also just happens to be a robot from the future named Skeets, and everyone loves a robot sidekicks!

5) Witchblade

Another Top Cow Comic, the Witchblade is an ancient weapon that has been used by many women over the years, such as Joan of Arc and Cleopatra. Now NYPD officer, Sara Pezzini wields this awesome weapon and fights off magical creatures who wish to harm this world and also who wish to possess the Witchblade themselves.

TNT had a Witchblade series a few years ago that didn’t last long, but I think mainly because to bring Michael Turner’s terrific drawings to life you need a big budget, and this could be an epic movie. Plus people always say there aren’t enough female heroes. Wait till they get a load of Sara Pezzini.

4) Quantum and Woody

Eric and Woody are childhood friends who lose contact with each other over the years. But when their fathers die in a helicopter crash they are reunited and stumble onto something that gives them powers simply by touching their control bands every 24 hours. Of course they have to do this or they’ll dissipate into energy.

This is one of the funniest and most entertaining comics I’ve ever read! Eric is a military man and Woody is nothing but a goofy slacker. Quantum and Woody has been called, "the Lethal Weapon of comic books" and think that hits it right on the nose. Quantum fights the bad guys while Woody hits on the damsel in distress.

3) Nova

DC Universe is about to unleash their own version of Star Wars next summer with Green Lantern, so I think Marvel should release their own Green Lantern: Nova. Richard Rider was just a high school kid until he was randomly chosen to join the Nova Corps., a group of intergalactic peace keepers. Since then Richard has been from one side of the galaxy to the next, been the sole processor of the Nova power, and saved the galaxy more times than Luke Skywalker's frenched his sister.

The concept is very similar to Green Lantern, but I think Nova has a little more flash and style than GL.  Just look at Nova's badass costume! Plus, Richard only being in high school can play up the comedy and the awkwardness of being a teenager with powers. This should knock the captain of the football team down a few knotches.

2) Iron Fist

I recently picked up an Iron Fist graphic novel just out of curiosity, and now I collect Brian Michael Bendis's New Avengers series just because it's got Iron Fist in it. Danny Rand was a child when he lost his parents in an exhibition to the Artic. Danny was found by monks who trained him in their martial art ways, and ten years later Danny was ready to be worthy of the dragon power known as the Iron Fist.

Danny is one of many who has possessed the power of the Iron Fist, and he uses it, along with his billions of dollars, to fight crime in New York City with the help of his best friend, Luke Cage, and his African-American girlfriend. Ed Brubaker's recent run of The Immortal Iron Fist opened up a whole new world of possibilities for this character, along with seven other realms with champions, just as Iron Fist is the champion of this realm. I feel like Iron Fist is a mixture of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Green Arrow. Brubaker's run also had a dash of Mortal Kombat. I just heard today (August 25, 2010) that Marvel Studio has commissioned writer Rich Wilkes to start working on an Iron Fist script.  This film will have everyone wanting a dragon tattooed on their chest.

1) The Boys

With all these super heroes running around our movie theaters how are we possibly supposed to regulate them all? Bring in The Boys. They're a CIA team whose sole purpose is to take down super being when they start doing things they shouldn't. This team is edgier than any who has come before it with its violence and sexuality running wild like mosquitoes on a pond. One of the main characters is even based on actor Simon Pegg.

And when they’re not hunting down naughty supers they’re telling their life stories to each other. You know with names like Bill Butcher, Mother’s Milk, and the Frenchman they’ve had f%cked up life. Early stages of a film based on The Boys is said to be underway.  Let’s get it on!