SHADOWHUNTERS Typical Young Adult Genre Adventure

Article first published as SHADOWHUNTERS Review on Seat42F.

ABC Family’s Freeform’s SHADOWHUNTERS premieres this week. It is based on The Mortal Instruments novels by Cassandra Clare, and ignores the 2013 film based on the first installment of the series entirely, wisely starting fresh, since so few saw that movie anyway. But what is it exactly?

Well, it’s a mystery action-adventure steeped in a world of demon hunters and warlocks. One girl, Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara, Happyland), was kept sheltered from her destiny by her mother, Jocelyn (Maxim Roy, ReGenesis). Because of this, or maybe not, she now seems to be a special bridge between the world of mundanes (regular humans) and those that protect them from the forces of darkness. Which is needed now, for some reason, even though things have gone along centuries without one in that role. (Yes, yes, I get that the artifact everyone is searching for is why things have changed. Just seems arbitrary.)

There are saviors who go around, invisibly slaying the creatures that would do us poor, defenseless mortals harm. Most notably is Jace Wayland (Dominic Sherwood, The Cut), who hunts with sibling pair Alec (Matthew Daddario, Delivery Man) and Isabelle Lightwood (Emeraude Toubia, Tattooed Love), and whom finds Clary in her hour of need. Plus, Jace is easy on Clary’s eyes, so how can she resist someone with good looks and nobility?

If this sounds like the makings of a young adult novel, with the same style of a Twilight or an Insurgent, that’s because it is. The Mortal Instruments is a book series for that age group, and the television adaptation fully embraces its format. Which is right in line with the target audience of Freeform (well, the younger end of the stated demographic), and will likely appeal to a lot of its existing viewers. While it is a more epic tale, and likely has a much bigger special effects budget than most of its peers on the network, it should fit in fine.

The problem is for those of us who aren’t all about the cheesy romance and coming-of-age at the same time as becoming a hero stuff. There is absolutely a market for this, so I’m not knocking SHADOWHUNTERS for being what it is. I’m just saying the appeal is limited, as most adults will see this and roll their eyes at the melodrama existing between the characters. It’s more fantasy-style love than anything real or authentic.

SHADOWHUNTERS does have quite a broad world to explore, which is fitting for such a journey tale. We have the mentor, Luke (Isaiah Mustafa, Horrible Bosses), the best friend, Simon (Alberto Rosende, The Swing of Things), and a High Warlock (Harry Shum Jr., Glee), among others, to pull Clary in divergent directions. This means the plot isn’t likely to grow boring or stale anytime soon.

Yet, there’s nothing of real quality to make SHADOWHUNTERS stretch its genre, either. The cast is serviceable, but no one stands out as being particularly impressive. Some of the monsters look a little goofy because small screen budgets will always lag well behind feature films. The main thrust is relatively standard fare, with no big surprises present, at least not in the first hour.

My verdict isn’t that SHADOWHUNTERS is bad. I even occasionally enjoy a little bit from this genre. But a little bit goes a long way, and since this one has not done anything notable to distinguish itself from the pack or make it rise above the standard mold, I can’t really recommend it to anyone outside of its target demographic. For those this was made for, though, I think it’s a pretty decent example, compared to its peers, and you’re likely to enjoy it quite a bit.

SHADOWHUNTERS premieres Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Freeform.

A STITCHERS In Time

Article originally published as STITCHERS Review on Seat42F.

STITCHERS - KYLE HARRIS, EMMA ISHTA (ABC Family/Adam Taylor)

ABC Family’s newest show, STITCHERS, is a bit of a departure for them. A young woman with no awareness of time is recruited by a shady organization to be “stitched” into the memories of dead people to try to solve their murders or learn secrets that died with them. Surrounded by a group of intelligent geeks, the team is government-sanctioned, but deeply buried. Doesn’t sound like the typical, soapy fare for this channel, does it?

Yet, there is something so inherently familiar about Stitchers that I found myself googling the name to see if it was a remake of a program that aired a decade or two ago. I didn’t find anything, but perhaps these feelings come because the title is similar enough to Sliders, the basic structure of the cast is one oft-repeated in (not just sci-fi) procedurals, and the behavior and look of the lead character begs comparison to SyFy’s Continuum.

Despite the feeling that Stitchers may not be entirely original, I am enjoying it immensely, and not just because it exceeds my expectations of what this network can put out, being the best program they’ve aired since Kyle XY was canceled. The pacing is quick, the dialogue is fun, and while not going too deep, the performances are serviceable for the product. I can easily see myself watching this for at least a season.

STITCHERS stars former model Emma Ishta as Kirsten. Kirsten has trouble feeling emotions because she can’t tell when time is passing, giving no context to her life. This means she doesn’t know if she’s been in a room one minute, one hour, or one day, so she can’t make sense of how long she’s known a person. She is highly intelligent, so she uses math, logic, and clues to build herself frameworks of reference, but one is left wondering how she functions in society at all. Someone with any fewer brains could not.

Ishta is fantastic as Kirsten, though I don’t yet know if that’s because she’s a great actress or this role is just perfectly suited for her. She’s cold and hot at the same time, being stand-offish, but not unsympathetic, and stuffed into a skintight cat suit. To STITCHER’s credit, Kirsten doesn’t appreciate the get up and acknowledges this fact, even if her new team insist there’s a scientific reason behind it, poking fun at an old trope. Sexuality is present in this show, as it is in so many others, but it’s also part of the story, not just set dressing, which feels like a slight step up.

In the job, the boss is Maggie Baptiste (Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Eureka), who is a very familiar type, being no-nonsense towards her team as she runs interference with the higher ups, straddling both worlds. Second in command seems to be Cameron Goodkin (Kyle Harris. The Carrie Diaries), who takes Kirsten under his wing. The head geek of those circling, mostly in the background, is Linus (Ritesh Rajan, The Last Airbender), who is a bit creepy in a lecherous sort of manner at the onset.

One could argue this ensemble echoes broadcast network procedurals, and there’s some truth to that. Comparing STITCHERS to say, Castle, Maggie is very much like Captain Gates, Cameron is a Beckett-type, and Linus is a combo of Ryan and Esposito, mostly Ryan, with Kirsten being the “out-there” type, even if she’s not much like Richard Castle on the surface.

What this means is, on paper, I shouldn’t like STITCHERS, as if you follow my reviews, I frequently complain about such repetitive formulas. Somehow, though, there’s a charm to this one, leaning heavily enough into its sci-fi genre to give it a pass, at least in the short-term. Should it be a total case-of-the-week, my love won’t last, but the story teed up for the second outing gives me hope that won’t be the case.

Also lending to its geek credit, STITCHERS has cast Allison Scagliotti as Kirsten’s roommate and classmate, Camille. It isn’t immediately apparent what role the Warehouse 13 star will serve in the show, but even if it’s just as someone to give Kirsten conflict at home, she works. My wish is that it will be more than that, Camille eventually stitched into the larger fabric. Yes, I know what I did there and I don’t apologize for it.

As you can probably tell, I like STITCHERS, and I recommend you give it a shot when it premieres this Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family. (The pilot is also already available to the public at: abcfamily.go.com/shows/stitchers)

No MYSTERY To These GIRLS

Article first published as MYSTERY GIRLS Review on Seat42F.

ABC Family’s MYSTERY GIRLS is the story of two former actresses, Charlie (Jennie Garth, 90210) and Holly (Tori Spelling, A Carol Christmas), who form their own detective agency. See, they used to star in a series called Mystery Girls, and when a witness to a crime demands that he’ll speak only with them, being a fan of their show, they get the idea to apply what they learned making TV to the real world, starting a private detective agency. Get it?

This is pretty much one of the cheesiest, most horrible concepts for a television show ever. In no way does playing a detective on television prepare one to do so in actual life. One job involves reading scripts of visually entertaining cases and clever twists. The other is hours of observation and critical thinking skills. They involve two completely different sets of talents, and while going undercover might benefit from the ability to fake things, because Holly and Charlie are famous, it would be pretty hard for them to disguise themselves.

Setting aside a completely unrealistic and dumb premise, MYSTERY GIRLS is still pretty bad. The characters are two-dimensional, unlikeable, and uninspired. The antics are goofy, and not in a good way. The writing is trite and inauthentic. The set up doesn’t even work on the way the individuals are built into the structure. It’s a failure, all around.

Where MYSTERY GIRLS might find an audience is among the fans of the long-running drama Beverly Hills, 90210. Garth and Spelling are both alumni of that work, and they make sure to include references, such as name-dropping Shannen Doherty, in the pilot. For viewers nostalgic for the teen drama, some may be willing to sit through even this schlock for a reunion of two of the main characters.

I doubt they will be satisfied, though. MYSTERY GIRLS isn’t just bad, it misuses both of the actresses. Spelling has a natural abrasiveness that some find hard to get past, so rather than softening her, they make her character virtually crazy. It’s hard to sympathize with someone who does herself absolutely no favors and is completely self-absorbed. Garth, meanwhile, is charming and good-looking, so they make her a tired, slightly frumpy housewife, almost as if they are trying to hide her best qualities. These observations may be a bit harsh and superficial, but are meant to illustrate how the program can’t even use what strengths it does have to its advantage.

The third main player, Nick (Miguel Pinzon, A New York Love Story), is even worse. A lonely, young, gay man, Nick finds escape from his life in DVDs of the show within a show, becoming a huge fan of Holly and Charlie. He is so ridiculous, though, that he tells an actual police officer (Ryan McPartlin, Chuck) that he has to give his statement to TV personalities. Who in their right mind who possibly do that, and what law enforcement official would go along with it?

I have to admit that it does make sense for Holly to hire Nick, though. He feeds into her ego, which is starving for attention, so of course she likes him. Though it doesn’t quite make much sense that Nick insists on having Charlie present for his statement, too, then ends up ignoring her later in the episode, having turned against her completely. Even if he doesn’t like her personality as much as Holly’s, his hero worship of Charlie should carry over for a little longer.

MYSTERY GIRLS is lucky it’s on ABC Family because, for the most part, that network makes low-quality series that are fine for their target audience, even if they aren’t good enough to make it anywhere else. This series may just fit in with that brand, though it will be one of the lesser entries on the network.

MYSTERY GIRLS premieres Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

YOUNG & HUNGRY & Safe

Article first published as YOUNG & HUNGRY Review on Seat42F.

I don’t tend to watch the comedies (or many dramas) on ABC Family because they are full of stock characters and ‘classic,’ meaning tired, sitcom notions. I am slightly tempted by the new YOUNG & HUNGRY, though, because of the charm of the cast. It’s a light, frothy series that’s almost a remake of The Nanny, but with some great supporting players and a premise that will give it legs for at least a couple of seasons, even if the acting is a little over-the-top and the dialogue, at times, groan-inducing.

Emily Osment (Hannah Montana) stars as Gabi Diamond, a professional chef who is broke and having trouble finding work, much to the dismay of her roommate, Sofia (Aimee Carrero, Level Up). Then, Gabi interviews for a position as the personal cook of rich techie Josh Kaminski (Jonathan Sadowski, $#*! My Dad Says). It’s a dream job, and Gabi might just be on the road to comfort, until she screws it up by coming between Josh and his girlfriend, Caroline (Malory Jansen, Baby Daddy). Now, Gabi must stay in an uncomfortable position or risk not having the money she needs to buy groceries and pay rent.

Gabi herself is not a great character. Exhibiting the heightened emotional reactions Osment likely picked up from a certain former co-star, her character makes bad choices and isn’t good at dealing with awkward situations. But it’s her “aw, shucks” attitude and blatant innocence that keep her from being absolutely ridiculous. And her education and talents pull her away from the dumb blonde stereotype that would ruin her completely, Osment pulling off making Gabi seem competent, at least in the kitchen.

More enticing, though, are Rex Lee (Entourage, Suburgatory) and Kym Whitley (Rango, We Bought a Zoo) as Elliot and Yolanda, Josh’s other staff. Elliot is a yes-man butt-kisser who takes an immediate dislike to Gabi, mostly because she stands in the way of him hiring a gorgeous winner of Top Chef. Yolanda is sassy and smart in a very attractive style. They are my favorite parts of this pilot.

Elliot and Yolanda are nothing new, stock characters of the type I mentioned with distaste in the first sentence of this review. The thing is, though, Lee and Whitley are terrific entertainers. They know just how to deliver a line or milk a scene to make it land with humor and authenticity. Even if they never rise above predictability and superficial personalities, they are still enjoyable to watch, far more interesting than Josh or Gabi.

Now, the set up will grow stale after a season or two, with the tension between Josh and Gabi begging for some sort of balancing out sooner rather than later. Gabi can’t stay hungry, as the title indicates, for long. But that’s a problem for down the road, and I’m sure the writers will find a less-than-clever way to solve it, a la Melissa and Joey getting together.

YOUNG & HUNGRY will fit in well on ABC Family. It’s not too emotionally deep and it’s pretty tame in scope and material. There may just a tad too much sex to really call it ‘family’ fare, but most of its peers contain the same, and what sexuality is exhibited is highly sanitized for the modern era. It chooses easy laughs over growth and development, and establishes a sensibility that one would find on the broadcast networks in the 1990s.

What this means it that YOUNG & HUNGRY won’t be any serious TV viewer’s favorite show. However, like a candy bar, it can be delicious in the moment, even if it does you no favors in the long-term. It’s a good mix of nuts and sweetness, a bit soft in the center, but still tasty, even if it’s not gourmet. This puts it several notches better than its peers like Baby Daddy and Melissa & Joey, and miles above its weekly pairing, Mystery Girls.

YOUNG & HUNGRY premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

Stop CHASING LIFE

Article first published as CHASING LIFE Review on Seat42F.

ABC Family’s newest drama is CHASING LIFE. April Carver (Italia Ricci, Don Jon) is an ambitious, young, up-and-coming journalist. She lives at home with her widowed mother, Sara (Mary Page Keller, Hart of Dixie), rebellious teenage sister, Brenna (Haley Ramm, X-Men: The Last Stand), and grandmother, Emma (Rebecca Schull, Suits, Wings), a pretty happy existence. But her world is rocked when she finds out she has cancer.

My first impression is that CHASING LIFE is a step up from most of ABC Family’s fare. It does not center on a bunch of teenagers, as the network has sort of become the adolescent version of Lifetime. Its characters are better developed and played by actors who aren’t totally cheesy. It’s soapy, to be sure, but leans more ABC-esque than daytime level.

But upon further examination, the writing still suffers many of the same foibles that CHASING LIFE’s peers fall victim to. Too many bad things happen in quick succession to April, threatening to tear down her cheery disposition. Developments happen too quickly in ways that don’t make sense. Short cuts are frequently taken, possibly for pacing’s sake, but it makes the story feel unrealistic.

Take, for instance, the delivery of April’s cancer diagnosis. Her estranged uncle (Steven Weber, Dallas, Wings) secretly does blood work on her after April faints, which could be chalked up to the actions of a concerned relative. But then he’s worried she’s in eminent danger, and starts stalking her when he can’t get a hold of her for half a day. He hasn’t had the chance to run any tests yet, so how does he know how serious it is and how dire April’s circumstances are? April’s nose blood does confirm her uncle’s suspicions, but it seems far too convenient when it happens.

Also stale is the way April’s love interest, Dominic (Richard Brancatisano, Reef Doctors), is handled. They have one date and they’re smitten. Then she blows him off because she has other things on her mind (i.e. cancer), and he gets sulky. An overheard conversation between April and her uncle gets Dominic suspicious that she’s untrue (again, after only one date, so he has no right to expect exclusivity), but the whole thing is sorted out after April confronts him. It’s neat and false, not at all an authentic relationship beginning.

The Dominic subplot is completely unnecessary. Why does April need a guy in her life at this juncture? Doesn’t she have enough going on? What are the chances that her love life begins right at the time her career is taking off and illness strikes? It’s all just so obviously scripted, lacking in authenticity and originality altogether, which rips the viewer out of the fictional world.

Add to this the Big Twist at the end of the “Pilot,” which I won’t reveal in case you haven’t watched yet, and CHASING LIFE is little better than Pretty Little Liars and its ilk. While the characters may appear to be mature, sort of, the storytelling is not, relying on cheap tricks and cliché crutches to move along. Instead of creating something new, CHASING LIFE follows a pale version of a tried and true formula, which is not a good thing during the current golden age of television, surely to be lost amid the plethora of series that are way better.

I did enjoy CHASING LIFE, despite the glaring plot holes and logic jumps, but it’s nothing more than fluff entertainment, failing to be anything that makes you think. It may tug one’s heartstrings, but in a very much planned, manipulative way. One day ABC Family may make a series worth watching again, which it really hasn’t had since the cancellation of Kyle XY, but today is not that day.

CHASING LIFE airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

Just Pass Through RAVENSWOOD

Article first published as RAVENSWOOD Review on Seat42F.

This week, ABC Family spins off its popular Pretty Little Liars with RAVENSWOOD. Set in a town with the same name as the show, Caleb Rivers (Tyler Blackburn) from PLL finds his face on a tombstone, as well as that of new friend Miranda Collins (Nicole Gale Anderson, Beauty and the Beast). This convinces him to stick around, at least long enough to get to the bottom of the mystery. That won’t be as easy and as quick as he might hope.

While PLL is a dark mystery teen drama grounded in reality, RAVENSWOOD is a dark mystery teen drama with supernatural elements, combining the elements that made PLL so popular and adding in the kind of stuff that has been hot in the young adult genre for awhile now. Teens like to be scared, and whether RAVENSWOOD just brings in ghosts or goes heavier, that’s definitely the goal.

Everything about the setting is designed to be overtly creepy, with lots of muted and washed out colors, graveyards and overgrown woods. Miranda’s Uncle Raymond (Steven Cabral, Roommate), whom Miranda and Caleb stay with, runs a funeral home, and looks as ghoulish as the bodies he takes care of as he skulks around. His household is maintained by Carla Grunwald (Meg Foster, briefly the Cagney or Cagney & Lacey), who speaks in a strangely quiet voice, purposefully intended to evoke shivers. And, of course, the building has no shower, making for a terrifying tub scene that will please young girls.

Except, it’s not really terrifying. The stakes appear to be low, with early frights being just that – frights. No actual peril or harm happens, even though there is opportunity for such. And throughout the first episode, this repeats many times, little bits of intense drama that add up to nothing.

Now, this is a show for teens, and ABC Family isn’t into lots of murder and gore. But these half-hearted, overly transparent attempts at horror are tame and lame. Given the ending of the episode, it doesn’t look like the network has ordered a series that has to hold back, so it’s a little puzzling why so much of the installment does so.

Speaking of the ending, of which I will spoil nothing, it’s huge and exciting, but not earned. There is too big a contrivance to set up the finale, and the stakes are not well enough established. It seems designed only to titillate viewers who might be considering not watching a second episode, rather than the direction the pilot should have gone in. I could see an episode later in the season ending this way in a satisfying manner, but the first episode jumps the gun in doing this now.

Backing up a bit, RAVENSWOOD seeks to establish a group of main characters to appeal to viewers, trying to cover the bases in putting together a typical ensemble. Caleb is well-known from the mothership, and Miranda’s description in materials as an “unconventional beauty” might be apt, but is definitely an archetype. The other main kids are also more a familiar role in this kind of group than a fully-thought out character, connected, often falsely, into an ensemble.

There’s Remy Beaumont (Britne Oldford, American Horror Story: Asylum), a newsman’s daughter who just happens to have the information Caleb and Miranda need to figure things out, or access to get said information. Her mother is also somehow connected to the larger arcs. Remy is dating Luke Matheson (Brett Dier, The L.A. Complex), whose father is dead. Remy’s father, and much of the town, suspects that Luke’s mother murdered him. Luke also has a sister, Olivia (Merritt Patterson), who is being unseated as the popular girl because of these events.

In RAVENSWOOD, as in many series of this type, the parents can be obstacles from time to time, but the action is centered on what the kids do, and they don’t confide the important stuff to the adults. Instead, they try to handle everything themselves and act grown up, which is far from unique to this series, but is a bit annoying from a believability factor. Especially when the mothers and fathers are actually part of the overall mystery.

RAVENSWOOD is a lot like other shows, in general, with few truly original things springing to mind from the pilot. Toss Sleepy Hollow, Pretty Little Liars, The Secret Circle, The Vampire Diaries, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and others into a blender, and this is what comes out. Unfortunately, it’s so watered down by the familiar that it fails to really stand on its own.

Which will probably not stop the target audience from loving the heck out of it and following it as vehemently as they do PLL. I expect this show will do very well. I just won’t be watching it.

RAVENSWOOD premieres this Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

Hard to Take In THE FOSTERS

Article first published as THE FOSTERS Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 81%

ABC Family’s newest foray into hour-long drama is THE FOSTERS, premiering tonight at 9 p.m. ET. It’s about two moms raising a bunch of children, most starting as foster children, in their blended household. In the first episode, “Pilot,” the household is shaken up when a new girl joins the clan.

The network definitely checks all its boxes when casting this series. The homosexual parents at the center are also in an interracial relationship. Besides one biological son, they have taken in a pair of Latino twins. This is a true twenty-first century family, of the type that has not existed historically before this current age.

The positives of a series like this are that it fosters, excuse the pun, acceptance of diversity and teaches the young people that watch it not to judge or hate. This is an admirable concept to push forward, and despite some religious groups’ protestations, this is a good thing that will help make our society more inclusive. Everyone is equal and deserves to be treated the same.

The problem is, THE FOSTERS gets a little preachy in that message. One character even says in the “Pilot” to another that they are not disposable. It’s the right message, but delivered a bit too heavy-handed. Yes, the characters depicted should be held up as role models, but their actions tell the story well enough without beating us over the head with it.

The real issue I have with THE FOSTERS, though, is that lack of chemistry in the cast. Teri Polo (Meet the Parents, The West Wing) plays Stef, a cop who is married to Vice Principal Lena (Sherri Saum, Gossip Girl, In Treatment). There is no love to be felt between the two, especially coming from Polo’s side. As much as I have enjoyed Polo in other programs, I wonder if she can’t play convincing lesbian, or if she is having trouble connecting with the material. Either way, it makes it hard for viewers to get into it, too.

Similarly, the twins that Stef and Lena take in, Jesus (Jake T. Austin, Wizards of Waverly Place) and Mariana (Cierra Ramirez, The Secret Life of the American Teenager), don’t even see like friends, let alone brother and sister. And there is no affection present between Stef’s biological son, Brandon (David Lambert, Aaron Stone), and his girlfriend, Talya (Madisen Beaty, Benjamin Button), who is very clearly just a placeholder until Callie (Maia Mitchell, Castaway, Trapped) comes along.

Which brings up another problem with the series: forced drama in unbelievable scenarios. How can Stef and Lena possibly give Callie a home with them if she’s just going to hook up with their son? Not to mention, Stef’s new partner on the force is Brandon’s father, Mike (Danny Nucci, The Boot at the End), who requests to work with her in a really out-of-sync scene, despite the complications this brings to Stef’s marriage. Mariana is secretly selling drugs so she can give her bio-mom money, someone Stef and Lena are happy to help Mariana connect with, but Mariana is going behind their backs to see. And all the teens attend the school Lena works at, a very progressive charter school where teachers are addressed by their first name and the students can go behind the building and surf, since it is built on a beach.

All of this adds up to a big old mess. While I like the idea of THE FOSTERS and some of the cast, especially the adults, nothing really adds up to the sum of its parts. The acting is weak, the dynamics are off, and the setting is far less than realistic. It doesn’t flow right, and I didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters, including Callie, who is sort of the main protagonist, and has a very serious problem that must be addressed in the first hour. If she can’t be sympathetic, no one in this series can.

If ABC Family’s goal is to appeal to the same viewers that eat up their currently popular shows, THE FOSTERS should suffice, as it is on par in terms of quality. But with other cable networks doing projects that are so much better, this one pales in comparison, and will get lost to the discerning viewer.

The advantage ABC Family has is that they have no direct competition to the niche that they serve. If anyone else decides to get into the game, it won’t be too hard to beat THE FOSTERS and their ilk.

"You Wanna See Something?" Watch Bunheads

Grade: 88%
 
ABC Family's Gilmore Girls 2: Bunheads returns to complete its freshman season this week with "You Wanna See Something?" It's the end of the summer, many months after the Nutcracker disaster, and no one is having a good time. Michelle (Sutton Foster) is hiding out in Henderson, Nevada, dancing for a ridiculous magician (yet another Gilmore Girls alum, Michael De Luise). Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) is hiding out to avoid going home. Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) is caring for her pregnant, bed-ridden mother (Jennifer Hasty), while Melanie (Emma Dumont) cares for her very old, sick grandfather. Ginny (Bailey Butain) tries to sell a run down house, and Fanny (Kelly Bishop) lets her own home become rundown. It's a miserable way to start a (mid-)season.

What's more, this isn't a situation easily resolved. Things have been allowed to deteriorate to the point where they cannot be repaired in an early-episode montage. Instead, the suffering drags out for almost the entire hour, with each character forced to take stock in themselves. Well, some do, others just accept their depression, assuming they can do nothing about it. This is what sets the main players, like Boo and Fanny, apart from the supporting ones, like Melanie and Ginny.

The key to everyone's happiness is bringing Michelle back. She may have only lived in Paradise a short time, but she brings a brilliant, chaotic energy with her that enthuses everyone else. It may seem like she is rubbing them the wrong way, but keeps things interesting, and provides drive to move forward. Take away such a spark where it has already been burning, and it leaves a smoldering ruin behind.

Fanny is the first to realize this, but it is not something she comes to on her own. Annoyed with Truly (Stacey Oristano), whose attempts to cheer Fanny take "quirky" to the extreme (which is very amusing for television viewers), she turns to DVDs lying around. Some reveal Michelle at her best, teaching the young dancers in Fanny's school. One is Michelle's wedding, with Hubell (Alan Ruck) explaining to the camera exactly what he sees in his bride.

Bunheads benefits from as much Hubell as it can manage to realistically include. For a man who died in the very first episode, he has appeared quite a few times, and each number among the best moments of the show. This is one of those times. I don't know whether Fanny goes to get Michelle because she sees Michelle's worth, or out of affection for Hubell, or both (probably both), but the end result is the same: Fanny gives Michelle the kick in the pants she needs to get out of her funk.

And funk is the right word for what Michelle is in. Crashing at Talia's (Angelina McCoy), drinking her wine, eating her food, and generally getting in the way for Talia's senior citizen lover. Her job is the absolute worst, where they won't even give her the dignity of firing her. Instead, her attitude loses her the "perk" of holding a bird. This is probably the worst we have ever seen Michelle.

Yet, Michelle hesitates to go back. Why? Yes, the town might be an uncomfortable place to be after she maces a bunch of children, but surely putting up with some mutterings can't be any worse than where she is now. At least she has her own place in Paradise, and a job that she enjoys. Her hesitation is purely a pride thing. Thank goodness she manages to get over that.

I did not care for the viral video itself in this episode, but what a great way to use it, making light of a situation that needed to be made light of, and giving Fanny an outlet to show off her sense of humor!

"You Wanna See Something" is a good episode. It takes most of the main people far enough out of their comfort zone to be interesting, but gives enough teases of normalcy to not only show that life goes on, but reminds us of the Bunheads of last summer. On a series like this, it's hard to ever have a status quo, as the serialized story telling keeps people changing and moving. However, this will stand out as an episode apart, and a good way to bridge the disaster of the previous episode onto the future of the season.

Bunheads airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABCFamily.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

Bunheads takes a bow

ABC Family's Bunheads completes its summer run with "A Nutcracker in Paradise." While things were looking up for most of the characters going into the week, this episode ends in disaster. Michelle (Sutton Foster) not only manages to run off Fanny's (Kelly Bishop) beau, but also mace the entire dance company in the middle of a performance of The Nutcracker. Not even a stunt straight out of Dead Poets Society can save her job now!

By the way, are we expected to believe a bunch of teenage girls, especially ones obsessed with dance who have little time for films, are familiar with that movie?

Michelle and Fanny's relationship is the best part of the show. Despite everything that has happened, there is no way that these ladies are done with each other. There might need to be a cooling off period, for sure. But Fanny likes having Michelle around, no matter how grumpy she may act towards the younger woman. And Michelle likes having purpose in the small town, and seems drawn to the dance studio. While she resists settling down, considering returning to performance, this is where she belongs. It won't be easy, but they will make up.

Bunheads does something extremely interesting near the end of "A Nutcracker in Paradise." Hubbell (Alan Ruck) appears to Michelle in a dream, and they talk about her life, and ruminate on if she would have stayed had he not died. Hubbell tells her that this is where she belongs. Michelle resists. It's an inner war that she's been struggling with all season, and while viewers already knew this, it's cool to see it brought to life in such a way. Plus, any return of Ruck is welcome.

Each of the teen dancers featured on Bunheads have come into their own as the season unfolds. Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) gets over her shyness and insecurity and lands herself a boyfriend. Ginny (Bailey Buntain) breaks out of her own comfort zone with her long-time steady, realizing that she needs to experience life and try dating other boys. And Melanie (Emma Dumont) accepts her friends for who they are, even as they move on with their interests in guys, which she doesn't seem to quite share yet. These are all normal teenage things.

But Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) has the biggest journey. Frustrated with a terrible home life, she acts out in self-destructive ways. It isn't until Michelle sits her down and helps her get her head on straight that Sasha can return to her friends and the dancing she is so good at. Her life isn't solved now, and her problems won't get any easier. But she's in a good place as the season comes to an end.

It's understandable that Sasha stands up for Michelle in "A Nutcracker in Paradise," given how Michelle directly helps her, but why do the rest of the girls go along with it? Michelle has drifted into their scenes from time to time and solved a few problems. However, Bunheads has not shown her get too involved in the kids' lives, nor demonstrate a real passion for teaching them. Are they loyal to her because kids tend to be loyal to the adults that just happen to be around? Or should there have been more scenes with Michelle earning this kind of response? Or maybe they were all just following Sasha's lead? That is a debatable question, and the only semi-weak point in the episode.

Bunheads is charming, and with the music and dialogue, as well as the colorful townspeople and quirky jokes (like the unnamed 'ringer' in this episode), it really does feel like a somewhat continuation of Gilmore Girls. For this reason, it would be a crying shame to see it go away. A second half of the season has recently been picked up for winter, rumored to be about eight additional episodes. This isn't a terrible, but it's not a great sign, either, and the show probably needs more viewers if it's going to continue long-term. If you know a Gilmore Girls fan that isn't watching it, please let them know about Bunheads! I know it's on ABC Family, not a popular network among women past the age of eighteen, but they could expand the fan base enough to keep it running. It's very enjoyable, and it deserves to go on.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published on TheTVKing

"Better Luck Next Year!" Bunheads

ABC Family's Bunheads continues to delight this week with "Better Luck Next Year!" Fanny (Kelly Bishop) is devastated to learn that the Joffrey summer camp auditions have been moved to a different venue, away from her studio, with very little notice. Michelle (Sutton Foster), frustrated with her failed attempts to fix her own life, throws herself into Fanny's problem instead. In the end, it takes Fanny and Michelle working together to save the day, and they get the auditions back.

There is something heartwarming about every episode of this series, and "Better Luck Next Year!" is no different. Fanny and Michelle are both in bad places in their lives, feeling like they haven't accomplished what they set out to do, and barely hanging onto a fragile reputation. Losing the Joffrey event could kill Fanny's self-esteem the same way that Michelle's inability to hang a curtain rod does to her. But by helping each other, these two are going to find their way, and I mean that in the larger sense, not just in this particular instance. This can be seen as they sit and sip wine, watching over the studio with serenity. This is their place.

"Better Luck Next Year!" illustrates Michelle's uneasiness with moving vans full of stuff that may or may not be hers, a (literal) broken home, and a pair of dream sequences. While each of these work very well as metaphors, the latter also showcases Foster's singing and dancing ability, something I sincerely hope the show continues to do periodically. She is experienced on stage, and using that only enhances her character. Now if only we could see some of the same for Bishop...

Bunheads does very well in serving their side characters, which lend serious charm to the setting. This week, Rico (Gregg Henry, Hung, Gilmore Girls) is featured in a single scene to great effect, and Bob and Don, who run the local hardware store, are introduced.

The scene stealer is Stacey Oristano's Truly, who knows what everyone wants but herself. It's sad, knowing that Truly would love to be in Michelle's place in relation to Fanny, yet isn't a strong enough personality to do so. Truly does lend help, being there for Fanny, and hanging curtains for Michelle, while giving a bit of advice. It will be interesting to see how this character grows, if she will always be on the outside, or if Fanny and Michelle might include her a little more actively over time. If this happens, it will be because of Michelle's influence, as Fanny and Truly's relationship, or lack thereof, is already well established.

Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) and Nanette (Jennifer Hasty, True Blood, Horrible Bosses) are shaping up to be a pair to watch. Nanette is introduced as flaky, yet supportive. However, as Boo discovers in "Better Luck Next Year!," Nanette doesn't have as much faith in her daughter as she probably should. Nanette buys Boo a cake with the phrase that doubles as this episode's title before the auditions even taken place! It may be that Nanette just knows her daughter very well, but if so, she should realize that it's a terrible idea, bringing that cake into the house, where Boo can find it, ahead of time!

Gilmore Girls thrived on mother-daughter relationships, and as Bunheads is mostly a continuation of the themes and stories of that show, without actually using the same characters (at least not yet), one expects the same from them. Michelle and Fanny are obviously going to have that type of interaction, but not being related, they also flirt with friendship. It's Nanette and Boo viewers should look towards for the family stuff, though Nanette is not a main character.

There may be a second mother-daughter story building with Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles), though her mom sits out this week, which is appropriate. While Sasha's main story is making nice with Boo, which is great, because fans finally get to see her compassionate side, there is an undertone of the relationship Sasha has with her own mother, too. Boo's mom may screw up, but there is still affection present, while Sasha's parents are almost absentee. Maybe Nanette could serve as a surrogate to Sasha, thus saving her soul? If Boo and Sasha manage to deepen their friendship, this is a possibility, and would serve as a good spring board to bring Sasha's mom more to the forefront as well.

As many things as Bunheads has going for it, there definitely seems to be a lack of budget. This stands out most noticeably in "Better Luck Next Year!" because, with the Joffrey auditions occurring, only two of the four main ballerina girls are even in the episode. Granted, there is enough story with Michelle, Fanny, Boo, and Sasha, the four more developed girls, that the other two aren't missed. Except, this is a big deal for the dancing they are all so committed to. They should have at least been seen.

Ah, well. Minor flaws like that are easily overlooked because of the genuine joy Bunheads inspires with its complex relationships and feel-good stories. This week continues that tradition, and there is no end in sight, with dozens of stories already teed up to go forward. Check it out, as it airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Don't need no Baby Daddy

ABC Family tries really hard on its sitcoms. The latest, Baby Daddy, which premiered last night, should be good. After all, it's basically a serialized Three Men and a Baby, which I re-watched recently and am happy to report still holds up. Unfortunately, the writing is nowhere near the level of the classic film, and the acting is (probably purposefully) cheesy, and thus, Baby Daddy falls flat.

In the pilot, Ben (Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Kyle XY) is very surprised when an infant girl named Emma is left on his stoop. Viewers may be even more surprised at the timing, considering that the baby wasn't there moments before, and somehow, it worked out just right. Ben assumes the baby is his based on the note left behind, though no DNA test has been run. Being told by his family that he can't possibly raise the child, Ben considers putting her up for adoption. Even stranger, the mother apparently has the same thought, finds a family to adopt Emma, and dropping off the paperwork less than 24 hours after dropping off the baby. So why did she bring Emma to Ben in the first place if an adoption was already set up?

It's this kind of weak plot, with incredibly unrealistic developments that just don't make sense that kills Baby Daddy. Bilodeau is a fine performer, but try as he might, he just can't sell material this bad. It seems the basic plot points of the episode were outlined, and then, the writers not sure how to connect the dots, just did anyway, not worrying about making sense of the transitions. Perhaps after the "Pilot," this will improve. But in the first episode at least, the story is horrible.

Ben will have some help with his child. His big brother, Danny (Derek Theler), just moved in, and Ben is already living with his best friend, Tucker (Tahj Mowry, Kim Possible). It's a small apartment, but none of the guys seem to mind the baby, nor do Danny and Tucker ever weigh in on Ben's decision much, even though it will affect their lives as much as his. In fact, the guys go so far as to rush out the door when a dirty diaper appears, the last one being the one stuck with the baby. It's zany, and not in a good way.

There is also a love interest, of course. Former neighbor and fat girl, Riley (Chelsea Kane, Fish Hooks, Jonas), just happens to reenter the guys' lives at this time. Her involvement is tenuous, at best. But she has long harbored a crush on Ben, so that provides motivation for her to keep coming back, despite her horrible plotted introduction. It looks like Danny might have a thing for Riley, too, setting up a love triangle. It's not any fault of Kane's, but the character seems superfluous at this point, it being much more fun to see the guys try to deal with the child on their own.

As bad as the writing is, the acting is surprisingly acceptable. Yeah, the cast hams it up, as surely they were told to, but they also show some nice moments of sincerity. The best scene is when Danny, Riley, and Tucker hang out in the hall, leaving Ben to realize that he can handle taking care of Emma on his own. This is sweet, and makes perfect sense, the friends hanging out just outside of the apartment in case Ben really does need them. Theler, in particular, really captures the nuance of the moment, and Kane is charming in this and the scene before it. More stuff like this, and Baby Daddy might have something here.

In short, Baby Daddy delivered a pretty terrible "Pilot," but with hints of potential, should the kinks be worked out. While it's hard to be optimistic, other series have bounced back from rocky starts, and now that the basic elements of what the series will be are all in alignment, perhaps it can go somewhere. For the sake of those involved, I certainly hope it works out. We'll see.

Baby Daddy airs Wednesdays at 8:30 PM ET on ABC Family.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Bunheads, a.k.a. Gilmore Girls 2

Did you ever have a really bad day, and then doing something reckless out of exhaustion, frustration, and possibly under the influence of alcohol? That is exactly the premise that Bunheads begins with. Michelle Simms (Broadway star Sutton Foster) is a Vegas showgirl who has given up on her more ambitious dreams. Failing yet another audition, she accepts the kindness of a dorky man who has long admired her (Alan Ruck, Spin City, Persons Unknown). Which leads to her marrying the guy, and moving in with him and his mother in a sleepy town. Yes, this sounds like the mistake to end all mistakes. But from the mind of Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls, it is simply the beginning of another quirky, fun series.

It's a bold move to kill off the husband at the end of episode one. It would have been nice to see Michelle with her groom for a bit, and Ruck is a wonderful actor. On the other hand, Michelle didn't love him, and even if they were both OK with that for now, that is a status quo that would not have lingered very long. If Ruck's character hadn't died, Michelle would be back on her way to Vegas soon, or would have had to fall in love with him, which didn't seem a likely scenario, especially not in the short term.

So, instead, Bunheads will be about two women brought together by their connection to a man, and how they move on without him, helping each other in unexpected ways. The second woman in this duo is Fanny Flowers (Kelly Bishop, Gilmore Girls), who is Michelle's mother-in-law. Michelle and Fanny quickly discover that, despite a rocky introduction, they have a lot in common. Their bickering is reminiscent of Bishop's previous character's mother-daughter relationship, and remembering that, it's hard not to see warmness present under the surface. These two gals will find their way, probably learning to rely more on each other than either would like to believe right now.

Michelle and Funny have a mission: to turn a young group of girls into fine dancers. This group is less developed in the first episode than the older women, but the basics are there, and surely they will be a large part of the show going forward. Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) has all of the talent, but none of the desire. Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) is the exact opposite, desperately wanting her dream, but lacking in coordination. Melanie (Emma Dumont) just wants to have fun, while Ginny (Bailey Buntain) worries she doesn't have the right build to be a ballerina. Surely, they will all grow and become fantastic. The fun isn't in knowing the outcome, but instead, enjoying their witty dialogue and slow growth. With a cast this good, it should be thoroughly entertaining.

Like Gilmore Girls, Bunheads is set in a sleepy little town, which will likely provide much of the show's charm, as well as a sizable supporting cast of oddballs. In the pilot, viewers are introduced to Truly Stone (Stacey Oristano, Friday Night Lights), a dressmaker and clothing store owner who is in love with Michelle's husband. If the other, soon to be introduced, players are half as interesting as she is, Bunheads has it made.

Yes, it does feel a little bit like Emily Gilmore took over Miss Patty's life on Gilmore Girls and gained a new, unwanted replacement for her daughter, who has the same smart mouth and lack of style. Fanny's dance studio even looks like Miss Patty's! When will Kurt wander in? But for fans of GG, what's so wrong with that? This will definitely fill a void for those missing the show, and it looks like Bunheads is made with the same high quality, and just as much warmth. For that, I am most grateful.

Plus, being on cable, it might get a little more love than network TV would show it. Watch Bunheads Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

The Nine Lives of Chloe King longs for a "Beautiful Day"

     The first season of ABC Family's The Nine Lives of Chloe King draws to a close with "Beautiful Day." Chloe (Skyler Samuels) goes with Brian (Grey Damon) to reconnect with his long-lost grandmother, Olivia. While they are gone, Simone (Jolene Andersen) begins her plan to wipe out Chloe's support system with the help of Jasmine's (Alyssa Diaz) new boyfriend (Daniel Sharman). Chloe unknowingly returns to town as the plan is carried out, and she goes to meet her father. But he's not there, and Chloe is killed by Simone. Jasmine's boyfriend takes out Jasmine and her mother, Valentina (Alicia Coppola). Chloe awakes at Brian's kiss, resulting in his apparent death.

     Needless to say, there's a lot of death going on in "Beautiful Day." Brian is likely the most significant, and it's hard not to wonder if it will stick. After all, Brian's family is heavily connected into the organization that seeks to destroy Chloe. Many of Brian's questions about his family remain unanswered, such as the circumstances surrounding his mother's death, and how Olivia ends up with Chloe's father's book. While Brian's father, Whitley (David S. Lee), or grandmother, Olivia, may be the outlet the series can use to explore those things, it would be more effective to keep Brian around. Maybe he's not quite human and can survive a Mai kiss?

     Also up in the air is Jasime. Valentina is probably dead because she is poisoned, and The Nine Lives of Chloe King's story has more of an impact if the heroic young people can defeat evil themselves, without a helpful parent leading them. As such, she seems both the most expendable, and the most likely to die. Jasmine could go either way. There shouldn't be too much death in a single episode, and since Jasmine is stabbed, her injuries may not be fatal. If I were a betting man, I would wager she will likely return for season two. Likely, but not certain.

     Chloe's death means the least for the simple fact that she has nine lives. That is not to take away from the significance of losing two of those nine in a single span of ten episodes. It makes Chloe's lifespan, and that of the series, seem fairly finite, despite her gifts. But she is far from done with her purpose, which has barely begun to be explored. There isn't any real emotional impact to her being shot, and the bad guys only do it to find out for sure if she is who they think she is.

     Perhaps the character facing the most upheaval in "Beautiful Day," though, is Alek (Benjamin Stone). Not only does he overhear Chloe admit to her mother, Meredith (Amy Pietz), that Chloe's heart belong to Brian, not him, but Alek also learns that Jasmine's assassin boyfriend is his own brother. Alek's heart is broken, and he is tied to dastardly deeds all in one day. His world is turned upside down and rocked drastically, as he faces the prospect of losing loves ones both physically and emotionally. Which means Alek will get some really interesting story in season two.

     The Nine Lives of Chloe King is turning out to be quite the exciting series. With echoes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season one, though not quite at that level, it is must-see television. Hopefully, it will get a second season. It definitely deserves it.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Please click here to purchase the books upon which The Nine Lives of Chloe King is based.

Article first published as TV Review: The Nine Lives of Chloe King - "Beautiful Day" on Blogcritics.

The Lying Game isn't very fun to play

     ABC Family's The Lying Game begins its pilot with Emma Becker (Alexandra Chando, As the World Turns) falsely accused of a crime. She flees her bad foster home to her recently discovered, separated at birth, twin sister's rich home. Convenient, huh? But the twin, Sutton Mercer (also Chando) has a plan. She convinces Emma to pretend to be Sutton, so Sutton can go and look for their long lost parents. Or so she says. With a title like The Lying Game, it's hard to know when someone is telling the truth and when they are not.

     Immediately, Chando's similar look to Nina Dobrev (pictured left) will evoke comparisons to CW's The Vampire Diaries, where Dobrev also plays multiple characters. Not only that, but the fleeing criminal replacing the rich girl who has dark secrets of her own that she doesn't bother to fill in her poor sister about is also an accurate description of the pilot of the CW's Ringer, which premieres next month. Unfortunately for The Lying Game, Dobrev and Ringer's Sarah Michelle Gellar can act circles around Chando. Also, having seen the pilot of Ringer, I can report that both series are written way better than The Lying Game, and have a much higher caliper supporting cast. So The Lying Game seems doomed to failure.

     ABC Family certainly has a niche audience in their evening dramas, and that is teen girls. While The Lying Game fits into that niche, and certainly isn't any worse than other entries, such as Pretty Little Liars and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, the CW also plays to the same demographic, and produces series much more worth watching. Thus, The Lying Game will be competing for fans against superior shows. Also, saying this newest ABC Family drama is as good as the other ones at the network is like saying one frozen burrito brand is as good as any other. Not a high recommendation. And the fact that The Lying Game is based on a book does not improve the recommendation. It just makes the book's author look like a copier, too. Though I'm not accusing her of such, as it will depend where the concept goes from here to determine that.

     Separating The Lying Game from the obvious comparisons, there isn't much praise that can be said for the show, at least after only watching one episode. The characters are flat, and the actors are weak. The series tries to build suspense by keeping viewers second guessing who is telling the truth, and what the lies are. However, what results is simply a headache. And when superficial rich kids, with no redeemable qualities, are the ones doing the lying, it's very hard to sympathize with anyone long enough to care. Not to mention, it's highly unbelievable that almost no one suspects Sutton has been replaced, even though Emma has a completely different personality, and knows nothing about Sutton's life.

     The one saving grace of The Lying Game is the inclusion of Kirsten Prout as Sutton's friend Char. Prout is a veteran of an ABC Family drama that actually got it right - Kyle XY. Sadly, that show was canceled far too early, and at least in the pilot, Prout doesn't get to do anything interesting. It seems she is accepting work from her former employer, but in this case, it's a gift she should return. She can do much better.

     The Lying Game airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as TV Review: The Lying Game - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.

Switched at Birth doesn't quite celebrate "The Homecoming"

     ABC Family's freshman drama Switched at Birth ends its summer run with "The Homecoming." Bay (Vanessa Marano) is no longer looking for her biological father, Angelo (Gilles Marini, Brothers & Sisters), but he finds her. This creates no shortage of drama when Bay is the only one in the family who wants Angelo around. Angelo attempts to explain why he left Regina (Constance Marie) a dozen years before the series began, and also makes efforts to reconnect. Meanwhile, Daphne (Katie Leclerc) tells Emmett (Sean Berdy) about her feelings for him, and even though Emmett ops to stay with Bay, Daphne isn't ready to give up.

     Perhaps because of the leap of faith required to accept the premise of the show, Switched at Birth doesn't seem to force unnecessary drama down the viewers' throats like other ABC Family dramas do. Until now. Daphne has never shown any interest in Emmett beyond friendship. Bay is right when she accuses Daphne of clinging to something comfortable and familiar when her life is in turmoil. With no one else to turn to, Daphne chooses Emmett. But she doesn't truly love Emmett. If she did, she would step back and let him be happy with Bay, which he most clearly is. Drama series do need drama to keep them going, but regarding Bay and Daphne's constant guy switching in the first season, this needs to stop. Especially when a dear, old friend is involved.

     Angelo appears to be a good guy, at first impression. His inability to trust Regina after learning that Daphne isn't his is a justifiable reason to leave. Yet, one can't help but wish Angelo had stuck around long enough to figure out what was really going on. Casting Marini in Switched at Birth is brilliant, as he makes Angelo immediately sympathetic, and it's easy to imagine that the character had the best of intentions with the nuanced actor in the role. Plus, he looks the part. Having little to work with in "The Homecoming," Marini is just getting started, but already brings the same wonderfulness he did to Brothers & Sisters, even after that series began slipping horribly in quality.

     How long it will take Regina and Daphne to forgive Angelo is certainly up in the air, but it will happen. It has to. Now that Angelo knows that Regina never cheated on him, he is determined to stay and be a part of his daughters' lives. He will succeed, because there is plenty of story to be had if he does, but almost none if they turn him away. To keep a drama going, story needs to be there. Expect Angelo to be around Switched at Birth quite a bit in season two.

     A sweet subplot of "The Homecoming" involves Toby (Lucas Grabeel) and Wilke (Austin Butler) trying to convince Emmett to play a gig with their band. When Toby realizes Emmett is breaking Bay's heart, he stops caring about the gig and talks seriously about his sister. But the best part of the whole situation is how quickly Toby and Wilke begin treating Emmett like they would any other guy. An obstacle portrayed in the show is the hearing community's strange behavior towards the deaf, something Emmett is well acquainted with. And of course, when the boys first meet Emmett, they are guilty of the same. But only weeks later, while perhaps taking slight advantage of the hook of a deaf drummer to land the gig, they are communicating perfectly normal towards Emmett. Lesson learned?

     Switched at Birth has been renewed for a second season, and will return soon (probably winter) to ABC Family.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Click here to sign up for an alert when Switched at Birth comes out on DVD.

Article first published as TV Review: Switched at Birth - "The Homecoming" on Blogcritics.

State of Georgia not in a good state

     ABC Family's State of Georgia premiered last night. In the episode, Georgia (Raven-Symoné, That's So Raven) tries to audition for a role on stage. The casting director isn't impressed, telling her she's too fat, her talent isn't any better than anyone else's, and she's never be believable as a seductress. Georgia sulks briefly, then, encouraged by her Aunt Honey (Loretta Devine, Eli Stone, Grey's Anatomy) and best friend, Jo (Majandra Delfino, Roswell), Georgia returns to seduce the director and prove him wrong. She succeeds, without actually going through with anything sexual or losing her dignity.

     It's hard to keep an open mind about any Raven-Symoné vehicle. Despite being the cutest kid ever on The Cosby Show, since then her career has been overacting in ridiculous, unwatchable ways. She's popular with kids, but anyone who reaches teenager levels of age would have a hard time stomaching her. Yet, State of Georgia may be a transitional show into actual adult acting. Much of her character is overly dramatic, and she quickly falls back into the "too much" she learned as a child actor. But there are glimpses, especially as she deals with the casting director, whose character is as dreadful as the acting behind it, where Raven-Symoné actually shines through as a decent actress and singer.

     The demographic for this series is likely tweens and up, who were fans of Raven-Symoné before. In that regard, State of Georgia should do just fine. By making the lead less obnoxious, but not completely forgetting her previous work, there's a certain balance that might help usher maturity into fans and star alike. If these people, by and large girls, tune in, the series has a shot. Anyone else, please avoid, as it's not worth the effort.

     Speaking from the perspective not in Raven-Symoné's demographic, the series is borderline horrendous, and certainly not worth the time. Fluffier and less realistic than its lead-in, Melissa & Joey, which is pretty fluffy and unrealistic itself, State of George does not have any hallmarks of a series that will be anything special or win any awards. It's even less well made than pretty much any other ABC Family series, which is certainly not a top tier cable network. Which is too bad, because once Raven-Symoné shows she does have some talent hidden away, one wishes she would get more of a chance to use it.

     The supporting players are also well cast. Delfino shows range and the ability to do comedy, including physical comedy. She over blows some scenes, but likely because she was instructed to. She's still fun to watch, even then, though it's too bad her character is reduced to a bunch of bad hair jokes. Devine, of course, is amazing, and she is only being wasted on a series like this. Given crappy dialogue and nothing to play off of, she withers. Hopefully, she will be allowed to do other projects at the same time, so she doesn't forget what it's like to do something worthwhile.

     State of Georgia airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

The Nine Lives of Chloe King - "Pilot"

     ABC Family's The Nine Lives of Chloe King premiered this week. Sort of a cross between Kyle XY, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and literal cats, the titular character (Skyler Samuels, The Gates) discovers she is part of an ancient race that has been hunted down by humans for a very long time. With retractable claws and super agility, the Mai, as they're called, seem to be part feline. But Chloe has something none of the others do - nine lives, of which one is snuffed out in "Pilot." Yet, she has eight more, and the other Mai are convinced she is the one who will save their race. Which just makes the anti-Mai guys more determined to murder her eight more times.


     Chloe is not pleased with this discovery, and would like to escape her destiny. Who can blame her? The assassin sent to kill her is scary, and even kidnaps her friend Paul (Ki Hong Lee) to lure her into a trap. Luckily, a couple of classmates, Alek (Benjamin Stone) and his cousin Jasmine (Alyssa Diaz, As the World Turns), are also Mai, and are ready to help her. Jasmine even takes a throwing star to the back to protect Chloe. While they only have one life a piece, they are prepared to give it up to help this very special girl.

     As the "Pilot" of The Nine Lives of Chloe King progresses, many people around Chloe are surprised by her new, more aggressive personality. It's too bad the series didn't give viewers a few minutes of the old Chloe for comparison. By the time the character first shows up on screen, she is already becoming something much more than human. Not there's anything inherently wrong with that, as it makes for some wicked pacing, but a little exposition would be nice.

     Samuels plays Chloe with toughness, enthusiasm, and vulnerability. There is no doubt that the girl can kick butt and do whatever is called on her to do, but it's also clear she has no desire to get involved. She is not used to getting attention, and certainly does not seek it out. It will be interesting to see how the character grows into the superhero she is sure to be, a la Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) on the aforementioned show, who has to be ready to save the world multiple times. Chloe does not have to fight vampires, and her combat skills are inherited, rather than trained, so she will likely have a more accelerated arc.

     Mentioned above is Kyle XY, another ABC Family show. Canceled after only three seasons, and ending with a cliffhanger, The Nine Lives of Chloe King is the closest thing the network has delivered to a replacement. With a female-skewing audience, this one may prove to be more popular than its predecessor since it features a girl, rather than a boy. It's nice to see the station go back to a more adventurous formula.

     Chloe's understanding of events is complicated by a reticent adopted mother, Meredith (Amy Pietz, The Office, Rodney). Meredith admits that she and Chloe's adopted father, who has been missing for ten years, bribed officials to get Chloe out of the Ukraine, but gives few other details to her daughter about Chloe's young life. Meredith also has a box of Chloe's baby things that she does not tell Chloe about. Did she lie about Chloe being adopted? Or perhaps Meredith knows all about Chloe's calling, and is assigned to protect her? Either way, wouldn't it be easier for all involved, and safer for Chloe, to give her as much information as possible?

     MIA dad will also be a component of the mystery in The Nine Lives of Chloe King. He breaks a decade long silence in "Pilot" to send Chloe an e-mail warning her not to trust anyone. Does this extend to Meredith? What about Alek and Jasmine? Surely, there will be some unexpected twists and betrayals. And where has he been? Fighting the bad guys who would like to kill Chloe? Or getting ready for whatever is coming?

     Being ABC Family, there is some teen romance tossed in for good measure. Chloe's best friends, Paul and Amy (Grace Phipps), are a couple by mid-episode, leaving Chloe as the third wheel. Which is fine, because Chloe has plenty of other things to worry about. Will their romance make things more dangerous for both of them, being friends of a marked girl, and worrying about each other? Can they find a way to contribute to Chloe's mission? It's too early to tell whether they are comic relief or a grounding element, or if they, too, may add something to the fight. If they will be sticking around, hopefully it will be the latter.

     Chloe's own love interests are far more dark. She finds two in "Pilot." In a very sinsiter turn for the network, Chloe belatedly learns that her kiss can kill a human, and she inadvertently murders the first guy she locks lips with. There's a second boy, Brian (Grey Damon, Friday Night Lights), who she will have to keep her distance from. Or maybe not. After all, his father (David S. Lee, Blood Diamond, Get Smart) is the one who is trying to kill Chloe, so there is no telling what Brian's involvement is, or what he might be.


     Pretty exciting, mysterious, and action packed for ABC Family! It is not their normal series. Be sure to check out The Nine Lives of Chloe King Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     Please click here to purchase the books upon which The Nine Lives of Chloe King is based.

Article first published as TV Review: The Nine Lives of Chloe King - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.