Blog Posts by Angel Cohn

With fall TV in full swing, there are already shows getting canceled, others getting full-season pickups, and still more returning shows that could use a little help. While some programs have problems that could take an entire year to repair (see "House"), these other series just need some quick fixes that would make them exponentially more entertaining almost immediately.

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Yep, that's our Jess (Greg Gayne/Fox)

(Television Without Pity) — "New Girl" was the first new show of this fall to get picked up for a full season, as well as the one pilot that actually merited its giant summer ad campaign. And while we were utterly charmed by Zooey Deschanel's shtick in the premiere, we were more than a little underwhelmed by the second episode. Not that it was terrible, but it just wasn't as consistently funny as the debut. That's often a problem with pilots in general -- either there is too much exposition and the pilot is dull, or the pilot is captivating but the writers struggle with how to recapture that on a weekly basis. So we watched last night's third "New Girl" with a little trepidation, and while Zooey is still Zooey (that's not going to change, so if you hate her, just quit reading now), this episode was far more enjoyable than last week's, giving us hope that this show will live up to the buzz in the long run.

These bunnies have been put out to pasture (John Russo/NBC)

(Television Without Pity) — Now that "The Playboy Club" has been axed, we'll probably never find out if Nick Dalton wins whatever political race he was gaming for, or if that cute little lesbian bunny will ever make out with Maureen, or how long it will take before the mob boss's body turn ups. But honestly, aside from maybe the potential lesbian-smooching, we really don't care about any those things at all. In fact, the mysteries were never all that engaging, which might be one reason this show has become fall's first casualty. There are, however, a few things we will miss. Five, to be exact.

Bunny Brenda's Plucky Spirit
She was a bunny with a plan and a never-say-die attitude, and she wasn't totally annoying. We'll miss you, Bunny Brenda.

Which "Race" team will beat the others to the finish line? (Robert Voets/CBS)

(Television Without Pity) — While we're still scratching our heads at the fact that "The Amazing Race" won yet another Emmy for two mediocre seasons (guess that HD really wowed the aging voters), a new race is under way. We're grateful that former players haven't returned this season, but there are still a bunch of familiar faces thrown in the mix. How will they fare against the reality newbies? We've got our predictions.

Amani and Marcus
The Gimmick: They are a married couple, and he's a former NFL player.
First Impression: He doesn't want people to know that he's a former pro baller, so he skirts around a lie instead of just being honest. Does he realize that people don't get voted out here? It's not "Survivor." Also, he name-drops Peyton Manning so much in interviews that the truth is bound to slip out at some point.
Odds of Winning: 10 to 1. They are physically strong, seem capable, and pay attention to clues.

"A Gifted Man" is giving us "Everwood" flashbacks (Heather Wines/CBS)

(Television Without Pity) — At first glance, it might not seem that the new CBS medical drama "A Gifted Man" has much in common with The WB's family drama "Everwood." After all, "Everwood" was a small-town saga and set in the mountains, while "A Gifted Man" thrives in the hustle and bustle of New York. But if you look more closely, you'll see that these two shows are remarkably similar.

Brilliant Neurosurgeon
'Everwood': Andy was an acclaimed neurosurgeon who had no time for his family and left most of the child-rearing to his wife.
'A Gifted Man': Michael's an acclaimed neurosurgeon to the rich and famous and has no time for a family.

Dead Wife
'Everwood': Andy had multiple flashbacks to his dead wife, talked to her (out loud) for advice, and even imagined seeing her throughout the first season. Her sudden death and her hope that he'd be a better parent are the impetus for his move to Colorado and his renewed focus on his family.
'A Gifted Man': Michael has visions of his dead wife,

Nucky's not so lucky in Season 2 (Macall B. Polay/HBO)

(Television Without Pity) — Last season, "Boardwalk Empire" was a decent show that had sensational cinematography but some severe pacing problems and characters that were dead weight. That was too bad, because it had a lot of hype and a ton of potential. Last week, we dove back into the Prohibition era, and we're cautiously optimistic that this season will succeed in the places where the series faltered last year. Here's why:

Jimmy/Commodore/Nucky Dynamic
This is an odd threesome to be sure, but Jimmy was suffering baby gangster growing pains and only butting heads with Nucky last year. He didn't realize that the alternative could be just as bad. Now Jimmy sees that his actual father and the man who mostly raised him are two sides of the same coin. He's torn between two evils, which is far more interesting than just watching him whine all the time.

(Television Without Pity) — "Suburgatory" may not have run as many flashy ads as "New Girl" or have been as in-your-face as "Whitney," but in terms of its actual content, this is one of the best sitcoms of the fall. We just hope that enough people watch it in order to give it a full season, if not more.

Given its snug little timeslot between "The Middle" and "Modern Family," it might just have a shot -- though that didn't help "Better With You." But that series was terrible, and this one has charm and dry humor to spare.

'The Sing-Off' is hitting all the right notes (Lewis Jacobs/NBC)(Television Without Pity) — This singing competition has been quietly airing during December for the last two years, spotlighting a capella groups and airing only a handful of episodes. But while "The Sing-Off" doesn't get as much attention as "American Idol," "America's Got Talent," or the forthcoming "X Factor," it really is one of the best vocal-adrenaline-filled shows on television. If you haven't been watching, this season is already off to a great start -- and here's why it's worth checking out:

Excellent Singing
The majority of these folks are quite talented and can do things with their voices that you don't hear on most shows of this nature. They push their limits, usually have a working knowledge of music theory, and know how to modulate their voices for percussion, bass, or even delicate melodies. And they all just seem really pleased to be there and competing. We're not entirely sure if they give these people some happy juice backstage, but the show exudes a positive vibe