New Charlie's Angels is an "Angel With a Broken Wing"

    ABC has rebooted Charlie's Angels. In the first episode, "Angel With a Broken Wing," one of the Angels, Gloria (Nadine Velazquez, My Name is Earl, The League) is killed. The remaining two, Abby (Rachael Taylor, Grey's Anatomy) and Kate (Annie Ilonzeh, General Hospital), must team with Gloria's childhood friend, Eve (Minka Kelly, Parenthood, Friday Night Lights), to take down the man that killed her (Carlos Bernard, 24). A man that wants Eve dead, too, and doesn't mind if other Angels end up as collateral.

     This series is a popcorn drama, pure and simple. There are plenty of action packed fight sequences, and hot girls wearing sexy outfits. Even Bosley (Ramon Rodriguez, The Wire) has been made younger and much more attractive in this newest version. Considering no incarnation of Charlie's Angels is high brow drama, this works just fine. It's an updated version that stays true to the spirit of its origins. On that level, the show works pretty well, and fans should not be disappointed.

     Too bad that's really the only level it has. Taylor, Ilonzeh, and Rodriguez are very decent actors, and Kelly is no slouch. Add to that that Victor Garber (Eli Stone, Web Therapy, Alias) is Charlie, a last minute addition, and there is potential here for something really great. Just because a show is remade doesn't mean it needs to confine itself to limits of the source material. With the ingredients present, a much more delicious, satisfying recipe could come out. But it doesn't. That's not to say that Charlie's Angels isn't worth watching. It's light fair, but it's still tasty. It's just regrettable that it doesn't go the extra mile that it could. It doesn't even keep the cheeky humor of the film versions that made them work so well.

     That being said, the pilot is pretty decent. Kudos to the show for not naming the first episode "Pilot," like almost every other series. Having a title is more interesting. Add to that a nice little origin story of how Eve gets to join the team, and a great guest villain played by Bernard, and it's an entertaining hour of television. There is a definite feel that Charlie's Angels will soon settle into a boring formula. However, given that it airs on ABC instead of CBS, hopefully the writers will embrace some ongoing arcs for the characters.

     Honestly, the best thing for Charlie's Angels would be a swift cancellation, allowing Taylor to return to Grey's Anatomy and the others to seek more worthwhile employment. It's not what's in the show that doesn't work, but what isn't.

     Charlie's Angels airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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ABC unveils 2011-2012 schedule

     Right in the middle of season finale madnesses, the networks are releasing their fall schedules, handing down decisions on what goes and stays. Like NBC and FOX before it, ABC's schedule has a few surprising shakeups. Take a look:

     Mondays stay stagnant with two hours of Dancing With the Stars, followed by the mystery hit Castle. Why mess with what works? Because DWTS is yet another piece of reality competition trash that far too many people waste their time watching, that's why!

     Tuesdays accomodates more DWTS and the return of Body of Proof, ABC's successful spring medical investigations drama. But from 8pm-9pm, new sitcoms are the fare, with Last Man Standing, starring Tim Allen (Home Improvement) fighting against women, including his wife, played by Nancy Travis (The Bill Engvall Show, and Man Up, which is along similar lines, but with more stars, including Chris Moynihan (Coupling), Henry Simmons (NYPD Blue), Teri Polo (Meet the Parents), Amanda Detmer (Private Practice), and Mather Zickel (The Cape). Is that what 2011 holds? Male bashing? Luckily, Cougar Town will take the spot of one of those two new sitcoms midseasons, while Apartment 23, a new series pitting Dreama Walker (The Good Wife) and Krysten Ritter ('Til Death) as roommates, will take the other. James Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek) plays a version of himself. Sounds like winter will be the new fall on Tuesdays!

     Wednesdays are sitcom territory, with The Middle (terrible!), Modern Family, and Happy Endings joined by Suburgatory, in which a teen Jane Levy (Shameless) is forcbily moved to the suburbs by her father, Jeremy Sisto (Law & Order) The horror! Alan Tudyk (Firefly) and Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) also star. 10pm introduces Revenge, which is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo with Emily Van Camp (Brothers & Sisters) in the starring role. Also starring Connor Paolo (Gossip Girl), Nick Wechsler (Roswell), and Josh Bowman (Make It or Break It).

     Thursday introduces the much anticipated remake of Charlie's Angels, starring Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights), Rachael Taylor (Grey's Anatomy), and Annie Ilonzeh (General Hospital) as the titular angels, with Ramon Rodriguez (The Wire) as Bosley. Drew Barrymore executive produces. That is followed by long-time favorites Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice in their regular time slots.

     Friday is crappy reality TV night with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition banished from Sundays to join Shark Tank and 20/20. In other words, go out and get a life.

     Sunday faces the biggest shakeup, with news shows on either side of the Desperate Housewives sandwich. At 8pm is Once Upon a Time, a fairy tale brought to life by Jennifer Morrison (House), Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love), Lana Parrilla (Swingtown), and Robert Carlyle (Stargate Universe). At 10 is Pan Am, a Mad Men-esque look at the flight industry in the 1960's.

     Slated for mid-season premires are Good Christian Belles, Missing, Work It, The River, and Scandal from Grey’s Anatomy head honcho Shonda Rhimes. So plenty of stuff waiting in the wings if things don't work out for the current slate.

    Better With You, Brothers & Sisters, Detroit 1-8-7, Mr. Sunshine, My Generation, No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, The Whole Truth and V are all canceled, many of them, unfortunately.

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