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It’s been nothing but grim news for NBC so far this season. I’d like to tell you that is going to dramatically change with tonight’s premiere of “Grimm” at 9 on Channel 2.
But that would be a fairy tale.
We’re not talking about some sweetness and light underneath all the evil drama as in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” here.
Based on the tales of the Brothers Grimm, “Grimm” is well, pretty grim, a weird combination of “Law & Order: SVU” and HBO’s “True Blood.”
This isn’t to say that it is bad. Far from it. It is an intensely involving drama about an Oregon homicide detective, Nick Burkhardt (David Giutoli), who discovers that he has a rare genetic gift of being able to see supernatural creatures masquerading as solid citizens for who they are.
And it’s a little scary. The pilot is — to say the least — a little creepy and intense enough at times to undoubtedly give some people nightmares.
Nick is teamed with a homicide partner, Hank Griffin (Russell Hornby), who is more than a little suspicious of his partner’s gift. Nick also has an unsuspecting girlfriend he plans to marry.
The cast also include Richard Burton’s daughter Kate as the woman who raised him and explains that his life is about to become a nightmare. The most interesting character is played by Silas Weir Mitchell, a strange-looking character actor who plays a reformed big bad wolf who helps Nick accept and deal with his gifts.
The opener has some “True Blood” strange animal moments and a little much-needed humor to go along with solving the strange case of a young kidnapped girl a la Little Red Riding Hood.
It is all very well done and involving up until the expected ending. This is the kind of show that is more likely to appeal to men than the women who flocked to the premiere of the beautifully-filmed and beautifully-told Once Upon a Time” so I can’t see it working on a weekly basis.
But stranger things have happened in TV.
Rating: 3 stars out of 4
*Fox trots out a new animated comedy, “Allen Gregory,” at 8:30 p.m. Sunday that is bound to get tons of promotional time during the Bills game against Washington in Toronto.
It is a comedy featuring the voices of Jonah Hill and Will Forte about an abnormal and delusional 7-year-old with big glasses who thinks he is hot stuff and doesn’t give grownups or anyone his age the proper respect. He tries to control everyone, including the two fathers who pamper him and the senior citizen principal who he fantasizes about even as she tries to put him in his place. He also has an adopted sister that he believes doesn’t deserve his attention.
This being Fox, there is the normal assortment of crude, scatological and sexually suggestive jokes, most of which are sophomoric and unfunny.
Allen’s inflated opinion of himself takes a hit when he goes to Feldstein Elementary School and learns what it is like to be viewed as different.
In that sense, “Allen Gregory” has the potential to deal with bullying at a time when it is a hot button issue. But that’s probably asking too much of a series that seems more determined to try and shock, revolt and offend viewers than educate them.
Rating: 1 and half stars
Sports Beat: The Bills games against the New York Jets Nov. 6 and the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 13 will be called by CBS’ A Team of Jim Nantz (see above) and Phil Simms. As much as Bills fan would like to think that’s because the 4-2 team is getting respect, Nantz and Simms are primarily doing the games because one is in the New York market and the other involves the Cowboys, the so-called America’s Team. However if the Bills were 2-4 instead of 4-2, it is unlikely the A Team would be at either game.
* The Buffalo News ran a story this week about the strong national ratings that Fox is getting for the World Series without mentioning that the local ratings on WUTV were down 23 percent from a year ago after five games. As Paul Harvey used to say, that’s the rest of the story.
St. Louis’ 10-9 win over Texas in game six Thursday night (and Friday morning) had a 7.4 rating on WUTV, peaking at a 10.2 in the ninth inning of the 11 inning game. Game 7 tonight should approach double digits here.
pergament@msn.com
Major League Baseball needs to find a way to make these World Series classics accessible to an East Coast audience. Between the tenth and eleventh innings last night, I looked up and down my street, and most of the homes were dark. Now, I know this is anecdotal. But if I was still working full-time, I would have been sleeping by the time of the Cards’ walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 11th. The game ended shortly before 1am. That’s way too late. Given the unpredictability of baseball, maybe they should start the games at 7pm. Because of the length of World Series games especially (with all the pitching changes and managerial strategies), it’s likely the games would still extend well into the 10:00 hour, if not 11:00. Last night was a Game Six for the ages. But I wonder how many people were able to stay up and see the dramatic conclusion!
Any Earlier and the west coast would be starting mid-afternoon. Certainly MLB doesn’t want to loose the large California and other west cost market. MLB needs to shorten the game. While extra inning games are unavoidable they could be better tolerated if the game was shorter.
Alan,
Grimm was worth the video tape.
Last Friday I watched game 7 of the World Series live. My DVR was used for Nikita and Supernatural on the CW. (Supernatural is still the best show on TV. Mainly due to the writing.) I had been interested in seeing Grimm since I watched a five minute preview for it. So I taped it on a set that I have upstairs. With rabbit ears and a VCR hooked to it. I watched Grimm Saturday morning and I really enjoyed it. It was not great, but something that has legs.
I just hope NBC’s brainstorm does not backfire on them. The show was going to begin on Oct. 21st. But NBC moved it back a week to the 28th. NBC claimed it was because they wanted it closer to Halloween, but we all know this is bull. They didn’t want it to go up against game 3 of the World Series. So due to a rain out it went up against game 7 instead. (Great move NBC) While channel changing on Saturday night I noticed that it was being rerun. But most program guides said Prime Suspects. Why NBC keeps this dog of a show on the schedule I’ll never know.
I hope NBC gives the 1st episode of Grimm a few for plays on USA or Scifi channel. It is a show that should be given a chance. I will continue to watch Supernatural on Friday, but will tape Grimm. It is worth the server space or good old fashion video tape.