Flashback

I don’t watch much network TV. I have the TV on a lot as background, but it tends to be history or politics or nature or sports or Iron Chef America or comedy. I don’t go for soap operas; I don’t need a five year story arc or even a two episode story arc – maybe I just don’t want to commit. Whatever, I’ve been catching up with some of the new shows this season, having DVRed a few things.

It’s an eclectic bunch, ranging from spy frolics to science fiction to super powered families and a new show based on an old show (Hawaii Five-O for those of you playing at home). What I am struck by is how much these shows remind me of TV from 30-some years ago. Maybe this is typical, or maybe it’s because I’ve been away from this type of show that I am surprised by it.

I am surprised that there are shows that are so episodic. OK, the pilots hint at long running subplots fraught with conspiracy and conflict. If it turns out that way I may not be so interested. I’m shallow, and complex – I want basic entertainment with good writing and strong characters.

So far I’ve watched Hawaii Five-O, UnderCovers , The Event, No Ordinary Family and Law & Order: Los Angeles. Admittedly light stuff and L&O:LA was just out of curiosity, I didn’t expect anything different there. And Hawaii Five-O is a restart using the same names, locales and opening sequence and theme. It could be just like the original and still have a recurring nemesis (anyone remember Wo Fat?). So no surprises there.

It’s the other three. TV recycles things all the time, I have seen so many reused plots lately I can’t keep track, but these shows are right out of the 60s and 70s. UnderCovers wants to be something it can not be: I Spy. Nothing can be I Spy. This show manages to be an holistic level dilution of that show though - not as cool as Kelly and Scott, not as cool as Sheldon Leonard, but fluffy fun. But No Ordinary Family could be a script directly from the 60s – and I mean script-found-in-an-old-filing-cabinet-just-blow-off-the-dust directly from the 60s, with the parents’ jobs reversed. As for The Event, well, it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype, but the only thing missing to make it a show from 1968 is the Quinn Martin Production voice over. All we need is for Roy Thinnes to show up. Now that I think of it, he should. And is it just a coincidence that one of the lead actors is named Innes? I ask you.

These shows remind me of stuff from the 70s, and I mean that in a good way. It’s a naiveté that makes for a lighter feel. Yeah, it also leads to superficiality and I need to see these shows after the pilot to see if they’re any good, but I found this similarity to old TV interesting.

Like I said, I like entertainment. I like good writing and acting, I like well-rounded characters with depth, but I don’t like angst for angst sake – it’s a poor substitute for real characterization. Also, I hate stupidity as a plot device but I hold out little hope for that disappearing any time soon.

I haven’t watched much network TV in recent years. I need a break from reality so maybe I will this season. I’ll try to ignore the plot holes and such, after all, it’s TV and is meant to numb the mind. Maybe I’ll be entertained.



Keep your irony meters turned off, I realize that this post lacks any depth.