The Fall TV Season is in full swing. By now everyone’s catching up with their old favorites and done a thorough assessment of the new slate of shows on major network television. Overall the landscape looks pretty solid. Nothing really screams as if it needs the immediate axe, and there have been more than a few breakout hits on the major networks. CBS is the last to premiere a few new fall shows. Last month at Paleyfest’s Fall TV Preview we previewed the last three shows CBS has for its fall season. Ultimately it’s up to you viewers to decide what’s hot and what’s not. Here’s our take on Pure Genius, Man With a Plan, and The Great Indoors.
First up, Pure Genius. Think what would happen if Mark Zuckerberg or one of his tech friends invested all of their money into building a state of the art hospital. Now take that tech billionaire, pair him with a world renowned surgeon who believes more in practical medical skills than fancy technology, and that’s Pure Genius (pun intended, and much better than the series’ original title). Augustus Prew plays tech billionaire James Bell. He’s built the most cutting-edge hospital in the world, filled with the best of the best in medicine and technology. His latest recruit is Dr. Wallace (Dermot Mulroney) who due to circumstances in the pilot needs a position from someone who cares more about patient’s lives than politics. Wallace is skeptical about Bell’s fantastical ambitions, until he sees the hospital’s miracles first-hand. Now the tech might seem far-fetched, but not true say qualified experts. Last month at Paleyfest’s Fall TV Preview the cast and executive producers of the show previewed what to expect for the pilot and beyond (sneak peek to come later this week). During this panel they revealed that the writers have in fact been working with top physicians from UCLA Medical Center who revealed that the technology in the series is not as far into the future as it may seem. What’s more, the series is all about heart. The whole reason Bell reaches for unimaginable technical solutions is because he takes a personal interest in each and every single patient who comes into his hospital. If you’re wondering why, there’s a very specific answer/secret at the end of the pilot.
Next, Man With A Plan. Oh Matt LeBlanc, sitcom life has just not been kind to you after Friends. The premise seems like it would be good comedic fodder. A man must step up in his household responsibilities after his wife goes back to work full time. Dad doesn’t know what to do and chaos ensues. Except chaos doesn’t ensue. Insults and disingenuous child outrage ensues. The interactions LeBlanc’s character has with other parents involved in their child’s school are not funny, definitely insulting, and quite frankly, more than a little misogynistic. The series basically takes misogyny and tries to make it funny. It’s not. It’s the 21st century. A woman shouldn’t be shamed into staying home with the children so the father can feel free to have a beer because he doesn’t know how to take care of his own children. Men are not doing women a favor by actually parenting their own children. It’s insulting to working mothers, leaves a bad taste of parenting in one’s mouth, and is a disservice to any man who strives everyday to be a present father and husband.
Finally, CBS’s next great comedy The Great Indoors. This is the wake-up call show for Millennials. All around outdoorsman Jack comes home to the city where his adventure magazine is based. The magazine has faltered in capturing the real outdoors for a generation which is obsessed with what’s on their screens. It’s appalling to Jack, who wastes no time in brilliantly pointing out everything wrong with the Millennial generation (I myself am a Millennial, so it’s not insulting when I say how brilliant his points are). Jack wants to run for the hills, literally run to the tallest, farthest mountain he can climb. The magazine needs him though, as does the sad, ignorant office staff who don’t know the first thing about actual nature. Jack stays to re-teach his staff, and a whole generation about what it means to actually connect with the great outdoors. Honestly, how can you resist an actual wild bear cub in the workplace?
Watch the premieres of Pure Genius, Man With a Plan, and The Great Indoors this week on CBS. Then come back to see if you agree with our latest CBS fall preview.
Follow Us
