TV & Showbiz

My First Two New Shows of the Season

Stockfresh

Last Updated on October 26, 2016

Last night, I decided to give two new television series a try.&nbsp  It’s premiere week, after all, the week when the networks start launching their new shows, mostly in their new time slots.&nbsp  The promos for NBC’s The Event looked intriguing enough; and if you’ve seen CBS at all in the last two months, promos for Hawaii Five-0 were inescapable.

Hawaii Five-0 has 12 seasons of a classic, iconic television show potentially going against it, because longtime fans will automatically compare the two, even though it has been made clear that this isn’t a remake but a reboot.&nbsp  The Event has no such prior history, but is clearly trying to attract fans of similar mystery-style shows who’ve recently found themselves without a “favorite” show still on the air.

The Event
The Event airs at 9:00pm on Mondays on NBC.&nbsp  Promos featured Jason Ritter taking his girlfriend on a romantic cruise to propose, only to have her disappear without a trace, and then came right out and said that her disappearance was not the event.&nbsp  Then the promos switched scenes to reference a strange, remote prison that the president, played by Blair Underwood, discovers and hopes to publicize, leading to tensions and an assassination plot, then tells you that the assassination plot is not the event.

What happened in the final seconds before the plot was to be carried out might have been the event, but we don’t know for sure if that’s the one they had in mind.&nbsp  Moments later, in the final scene, one of the holders from the secret prison admits all has not been revealed, and the camera stays on the face of the person to whom she’s speaking.&nbsp  A look of bigger shock slowly washes across his face, as if her face is morphing into that of some alien.&nbsp  Maybe, if that’s what was really happening, the revelation that she’s really a little green man from Mars is the event.

From the title, I’m assuming that there’s a singular event that I’m supposed to be looking for; otherwise, I’m assuming the show would have been called Events.&nbsp  Just sayin’.

I went into this, perhaps unfairly, hoping that this would be something like 24.&nbsp  Unfortunately for me, it’s a whole lot more like Lost, a series I never got into because of the same problem The Event seems to have:&nbsp  it expects the viewer to be doing nothing else for the hour than sitting with their eyes glued to the screen.

The plot of the show jumps from scene to scene and from time to time.&nbsp  One minute you’re supposedly in the present.&nbsp  In the next scene, you’re “Eleven Days Earlier” or “Twenty Minutes Ago” or something like that.&nbsp  Those flashback scenes begin with a long wide shot during which a super flies slowly toward the camera revealing the time reference.&nbsp  If you’re not watching those two particular seconds — because you’re also having dinner or blogging or washing dishes or petting the dog who’s walked up to you for a quick moment of attention — then you’re immediately lost.&nbsp  (Pardon the pun.)

Had it not been for my Tivo, so that I could go back and see how we got to this point and notice those pesky little time references, then I’d have had no idea what was going on.&nbsp  As it stands now, I still don’t have much of an idea.

That’s not exactly what I’d call a rewarding TV experience, but I’m inclined to give the second episode a try, just to see if the bouncing around slows a bit and if a little more answers are forthcoming.&nbsp  I’m not the kind of guy who’s willing to wait for an entire season — much less years — to find out some basic truth around which the entire show revolves.&nbsp  I have a sneaking suspicion that next week may be my last with this show, but I’m hoping it isn’t.

Hawaii Five-0
Five-0 takes CSI: Miami’s old slot, and that program moves to Sunday nights.&nbsp  The action begins in South Korea, where American Navy Seals are after Irish terrorists.&nbsp  Steve McGarrett, portrayed by Alex O’Loughlin, gets a call from the brother of a man he has in custody: that man’s calling from Oahu, where he’s holding McGarrett’s dad at gunpoint.&nbsp  An accident shortly thereafter leads to two deaths — one in Korea and one in Oahu — and a turning point for the younger McGarrett.

It also leads to the creation of a special task force that operates at the discretion of Hawaii’s governor, played by Jean Smart.&nbsp  McGarrett ends up heading this new, unnamed group, recruiting three others, including Danny Williams, nicknamed “Dano” by his young daughter.&nbsp  McGarrett and “Dano” have a rocky relationship from the start, but like Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, the pressure of the work quickly helps them build something resembling at least a modicum of respect for each other, even if they aren’t each other’s favorite people.

After a lot of action and some pretty impressive stunts, the bad guy manages to escape, but a definite foundation is laid for this team.&nbsp  And they’re left still trying to come up with a name for their unit.

I heard a clip where someone suggests, “How about ‘Five-Oh.'”&nbsp  I assume that’s a clip from a future episode.&nbsp  I’m wondering how they’ll justify such a suggestion, because “Five-Oh” is slang for police only because of the original Hawaii Five-0.&nbsp  Without that series ever having existed, since this show is the “new” start of it, there’d be no meaning for such a phrase.

Yeah, I’m over-thinking it, but then I don’t have to stare at the television screen for an hour to have an idea like that.

Hawaii Five-0 isn’t necessarily the kind of show I’m make a point of watching, but I’d be willing to record it on the DVR or watch it if it’s on.&nbsp  Particularly when TV Land is annoying me with a marathon of crap like The Nanny and Roseanne.

Did you catch either of these shows? If so, what did you think?

Is there a particular new show, or even a season premiere of an old show, that you’re really looking forward to this season?

the authorPatrick
Patrick is a Christian with more than 30 years experience in professional writing, producing and marketing. His professional background also includes social media, reporting for broadcast television and the web, directing, videography and photography. He enjoys getting to know people over coffee and spending time with his dog.

4 Comments

  • I watched "The Event" but was unimpressed. After 8 hours in a court room, I must sadly admit the last 30 minutes of the "Castle" premier are a blur.

  • 5-0 was pretty good, though I like Dano (and frankly EVERYone) better than the lead actor.

    Didn't catch The Event because a) there was football to watch, and besides b) those kind of shows annoy me. 😉

  • I agree with your assessment of “The Event”. The jumping back and forth in time is going to lose those who aren’t glued to the TV. I am usually pretty good at keeping up with movies like this but it did get to be a bit much.

    The scene you referred to at the end, it was actually the leader of the detainees of the secret prison that said that not everything had been revealed. I have a feeling it is going to be a long journey to find out what “The Event” is and according half the programs on the history channel we only have until December 21st, 2012. LOL

    I also watched H-50. It was entertaining with many veiled illusions to the former series – like the old, black Mercury in the garage etc. I’ll be watching a few episodes to see where it goes. BTW Patrick, they did get the bad guy…I think. McGarrett shot him last and he fell into the water. Of course, McGarret did say he wanted the Coast Guard to find the body…..Did he die? I guess we’ll have to watch and find out.

    For me the jury is definitely still out on both of these as I try to limit my time plopped down in front of the box. The new twist of the “All work and no play” saying, All TV and no play makes Jack at fat boy.” Tuesdays are dedicated to NCIS (yes both versions) so the week is wide open and I hope my DVR is in good shape because it’s going to get a workout.

    That’s my 2 cents worth.

Comments are closed.