Upcoming TV

TV Pilots.

I was about to do a huge 2 part blog about the pilots that are coming this summer/fall, however I gave up on this since there are so many damn pilots being made.

And honestly not even close to the best of them will be picked up for full seasons.

Instead I thought I would share my thoughts about the upcoming shows that most of you would recognize, as they are all remakes of either earlier tv-shows, or from movies.

MacGyver – CBS

Yes, that is correct, McGyver is back. This time they have made MacGyver into a “secret agent”-type of character and yes it may perhaps have worked as people like the genre, however I would guess this will be cancelled before the 1^st season is completed.

My main reason for this is the same as with most shows, the issue in casting, and casting Lucas Till as MacGyver is either a favor to a friend or some people have shared beds, because Lucas Till is not an actor that could be a leading man, in anything.

If you do not know who he is, then I can enlighten you with him being the Havoc character in X-men, yeah that is correct, the character that they try and give as little screen time to as possible.

My guess: It will be picked up from pilot and given the offer to do the first 12 episodes. CBS will then gut the show after 4-5 episodes and the rest will be history.

Training Day – Warner Bros

A movie that I really loved. And seeing this come as a tv-show got me a bit interested, as it could be done really good.

But this will not be the case…

And yet again, for a major reason, the casting.

The awesome badass corrupt (black) cop played by Denzel in the movie, will now be played by Bill fucking Paxton!

I know what you think, hmm Bill Paxton, is that the president in Independence Day? No that is Bill Pullman, and they are just about as memorable together that they could fit 1 semi good actor.

Bill Paxton however is most memorable as Hudson in Aliens, or perhaps if you saw the tv-show Big Love, which I would consider being his “hit” in recent history.

Overall I do not have any specific issue with Mr. Paxton, I almost admire the fact that he could have made a good living in Hollywood over the last 40 years with being the average joe, it is worth something.

But putting him as the lead man in Training Day, a character that should be ruthless and cutting all corners and all that what Denzel was in the movie, well that is just pathetic, and I do not feel it will work.

What about the Ethan Hawk character?
Yeah I tried to avoid that on purpose, as this role is played by a totally unknown actor by the name of Justin Cornwell and I bet you have no idea who he is, and do not feel a shame, nobody else know who he is.

Mainly he is a new actor that still has not learned to react with his body and face when acting, and is feeling extremely stiff and a person that “reads the lines” and trying to make it sound good.

My guess: Paxton look really worn down, which I like, but I do not feel this could be a success. Seeing as they casted the black guy as the “good” guy in the scenario, compared to the original movie I feel there may be a more political agenda built in. This in itself COULD help this to be picked up and get a full 24 episode season. And after that we will see.

24: Legacy - 20^th Century Fox

Speaking of 24, here comes another remake or new version of 24, but there is no damn Jack Bauer here for us this time.

Seeing as this is written by the same guys that wrote the original 24, I had hopes, but I do not really get why they could not just get Kiefer back in the role as Bauer, if the writers now had new material they wanted to share.

Instead this is about a war veteran with a past haunting him and CTU is involved, so naming it 24: Legacy feel more like a marketing plan to get some of the old 24 fans back on the bandwagon and great numbers early as to get it a full season pickup and there iron out any wrinkles.

My guess: I can say that I am not sure what to think about this, mainly as I see the name “24”. Had this been a pilot named “Veterans Past” (haha) or something NOT related to the 24 brand, I would say it would be a failure. Taking on the 24 brand, this could work, for 1 season, or if lucky perhaps 2.

Seeing the pilot, I am more into the fact that I hope it fails, as I do not get the good kind of itch from seeing it.

Lethal Weapon - 20^th Century Fox

I am just going to let you guys check the trailer out and you let me know what you feel.

There are 2 things that I feel is wrong, right of the bat. First of all, Damon Wayans? For real?

What has he made that was NOT comedy that was a success?

The other thing would be that Jordana Brewster is a bit of the kiss of death for tv, she is a bit like Kristen Stewart in the regards that she has 1 facial expression, but cannot act worth a shit.

My Guess: I do like the buddy cop genre itself, however I do not have high hopes on this one. Perhaps a few changes in the casting and it could be something I would feel ok about.

Prison Break - 20^th Century Fox

NO THANK YOU!

Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell are worthless on their own, and put together that just make to worthless actors. Please do not give this full seasons.

Taken

This is supposed to be played out as a prequel to the first Taken movie and I am interested to know what they plan to do with it.

I do feel this could be good, especially since the Bryan Mills character that Liam Neeson play in the movie seem to have quite the history, it would be nice to see where all that started.

This of course is a given that the casting is good as well, and first talks are that Clive Standen are to play the main character. Who is Clive Standen?

He is the all so brute man playing the character Rollo in the tv-show Vikings at the moment, and I do not have too many complaints about that casting at the moment, mainly because I have not seen him act anything in Vikings yet. So it could go either way.

My Guess: Do not have an opinion yet, wish to see a trailer when it comes.

This would have to be the last one, as it seem to have been a longer post than expected.

Shooter – USA Network

Exact same story concept as in the movie, a movie that I really liked.

For this to be a tv-series I feel that there should be some twists and wrinkles, which is something I am looking forward to see.

I do not have any major issues with them casting Ryan Phillippe in the role as Bob Lee Swagger (cool name by the way) and this is probably the show I feel could have the biggest chance to get a full season and complete it as well.

It of course has something to do with it being on USA Network as well, a network that is not known for throwing out 50 pilots to see what sticks, but more taking a stand pre-production and then backing their horses.

My Guess: 1 full season and depending on the writers twists, if they could keep it interesting it could go longer.

Until next time, enjoy everything.
/Alexander Lucas