Magic City fails to spark

Starz's Magic City brought its first season to a close this weekend with "Time and Tide." Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is arrested for murder. Vera (Olga Kurylenko) has to try to save Ike's business deal, after he is escorted out of a meeting in handcuffs. Mob boss Ben Diamond (Danny Huston) catches Ike's son, Stevie (Steven Straight), having an affair with Ben's wife, Lily (Jessica Marais). Victor (Yul Vazquez) and Mercedes (Dominik Garcia-Lorido) deal with the death of a loved one. And none of this really excites.

There is something lacking about Magic City that is hard to pinpoint. It certainly isn't the sets or costumes, because the series presents a rich, vintage environment that looks stunning. It isn't the acting. Jeffrey Dean Morgan deserves the Emmys he won for Grey's Anatomy, and he is surrounded by a believable cast. And it's not lack of plot twists, because there is murder, intrigue, sex, and secrets aplenty. Then what exactly is it?

The simple truth is, even with all the right ingredients, television shows can still come out lackluster. As mentioned in my review of the first episode, there is just an utter lack of depth. Everything feels false, or slightly off. The tone and mood presented in each episode don't quite add up.

Take, for example, the Ben Diamond story in "Time and Tide." This is a truly murderous man, who thinks nothing of piling up the bodies in a quarry. There is some serious suspense when naked pictures of Lily and Stevie begin circulating. But there is little chance that Stevie will be killed off, at least not so early in Magic City's run, not the way the series sets itself up. Then, Ben actually does see the pictures! Instead of killing Lily and Stevie, though, he makes them have sex while he watches. Now, seeing as how he gets off on this, it's an interesting twist for a complex character, even though this is something Lily's character should have touched on before. But the Ben Diamond that has been presented would then kill these two afterwards, rather than risk his secret being exposed, or allowing them to get away with the betrayal. He doesn't.

Another thing that's odd is when Mercedes decides to quit her job as a maid and become a Pan Am stewardess. Besides feeling like she's about to spin-off into the canceled ABC series Pan Am, it's something not set up for her character. Then she sleeps with Danny (Christian Cooke), even though she's about to leave. And instead of leaving before the end of the hour, she stays and grieves her mother's death. So her entire store in "Time and Tide" is just convoluted and nonsensical.

The best representation of what I'm getting at is when Ike is arrested. Vera takes over the presentation, in a show of strength for her character. But then she is asked if she is seriously going to continue with this, after they all just watched Ike be led away. It's not like there's anything else she can or should be, but the entire thing is surreal, and just doesn't add up to a gripping, driven scene, as it should.

These false notes are what kills the series. It's still interesting and somewhat entertaining, despite an often slow pace. But it just doesn't quite resonate the way it should, or the way its peers on other networks do. Magic City could be something great, and because it's been given a second season, it may still be. Yet, the lack of risk taking and true authenticity are hurting it, and there needs to be some reworking if it is to be great.

Will I tune in next season? Yes. There is a slight draw here, and it's one that will hopefully be built upon.  And it's still better than a lot of what is on TV. It just hasn't met expectations yet.

Magic City will return next year to Starz. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published as Magic City fails to spark @TheTVKing.com

Pan Am takes off

     ABC's Pan Am begins with "Pilot," a more appropriate use of that title than in other series, though the pilot is merely one of the characters featured. The Clipper Majestic makes its first flight from New York to London. New captain Dean (Mike Vogel, Miami Medical) wonders why his special gal, Bridget (Annabelle Wallis, The Tudors), suddenly isn't working for the airline. Maggie (Christina Ricci, Sleepy Hollow, Casper) is called upon to fill in at the last minute. Kate (Kelli Garner, My Generation, The Aviator) has a secret mission to complete, and isn't crazy that her sister Laura (Margot Robbie, Neighbours), a recent hire, is the new face of Pan Am on Life magazine. Colette (Karine Vanasse, Set Me Free, October 1970) learns her lover is married.

     Apparently Pan Am flights are busy places! Which is good, given that the show seeks to be a series that will hopefully run for years to come. Some of correct ingredients are present, including pretty good actors and decent characters. The flashbacks are a nice touch, informing viewers who these people are that are suddenly on this airplane together. The Bridget mystery is an interesting one, and Kate, in particular, has several nice stories fleshed out already. As such, there is a lot of room for growth, and enough to hold viewer interest.

     Other elements don't work so well. The music, swelling obnoxiously loud, tries to force viewers to feel emotions. In any decent show, that is the actors' jobs. And they are doing that job, if the music would just back off a little and let them. Also, there is a cheesiness whenever the story tries to stress that Pan Am stewardesses are blazing a new trail for women. The ending of the "Pilot," where a little girl gazes admiringly at these beautiful, confident, independent women, is just plain hokey. These could be done without.

     Over all though, provided the score is toned down, Pan Am has the makings of something worth watching. It's certainly no Mad Men, as the drama isn't nearly as intense or original, but it's miles ahead of the other new network show set in the 1960's this year, The Playboy Club. The best thing to do, going forward, is to let the performers breathe life in the characters, and give them the room to do so. This is Pan Am's strongest element, and the smartest way to make the series work.

     Some reviews have complained about the fact that Kate is recruited to spy for the government, calling it unrealistic. Yet, there are interviews plenty of women in her position who were asked to do just that. Sometimes real life can be stranger than fiction, and this just might be one of those times. It's a fantastic addition, as it allows some high stakes story, while also keeping things authentic to the time period.

     Pan Am airs Sundays at 10 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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