ALIAS + BUFFY + DARK ANGEL = BIONIC WOMAN
At first glance, NBC’s BIONIC WOMAN seems to have it all. Instant name recognition thanks to the original series, a sexy new star (Michelle Ryan) and some serious chick-on-chick fighting. With pop cultures most famous female heroines now benched, that leaves plenty of room for a new lady to ride to our collective rescue. But can the show rise above the somewhat campy images summoned up by its very title? Seeing as the show comes from David Eick — aka the man who made us forget that BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’s Starbuck was once a man — we’re already on board.
SETH COHEN + ED = CHUCK
NBC’s most original series revolves around an ordinary computer nerd named Chuck (played by LESS THAN PERFECT’s Zachary Levi) whose life is turned upside-down when he inadvertently downloads all of the government’s secrets into his head (don’t ask how). With CHUCK’s winning combination of humor and action, we’re thinking of selling shirts saying “Geek is the new black.”
SEX & THE CITY + MORE SEX & THE CITY = LIPSTICK JUNGLE
Why steal when you can go straight to the genetic source and conjure up a clone? That’s what NBC did by turning to SEX & THE CITY creator Candace Bushnell for their kinda new comedy, LIPSTUCK JUNGLE. The series — revolving around three of New ork City’s most powerful women — was the only presentation to elicit genuine laughs from the generally uptight upfront audience. (Of course, if we were trying to decide which shows to invest millions of advertising dollars in based on a few brief clips, we’d probably take the whole thing pretty seriously too!) It’s pretty much impossible to predict how big a show will hit (or flop), but this one looks like a winner. It could be NBC’s version of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.
QUANTAM LEAP + EARLY EDITION = JOURNEYMAN
NBC’s JOURNEYMAN centres around Dan Vasser (ROME’S Ken McKidd), an ordinary man (is their any other kind?) who’s life is changed dramatically (aren’t they always?) when he finds himself traveling into the past with a purpose. It’s an interseting remise, but if they don’t do a better job of explaining the time travel gimmick during the actual series than they did at yesterday’s presentation, there’s gonna be trouble. Trouble with a capital T and that rhymes with D and that stands for “dud!”
LAW & ORDER + THE GUARDIAN = LIFE
Detective Charlie Crews spent 12 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, for a crime we didn’t commit, audiences across the country will be served yet another “cop drama with a twist” that’s sure to be cancelled faster than you can say November Sweeps. All together now… NBC cancelled STUDIO 60 for this? 