TV Season 2013 -- Part Three

So here we go: the last installment of my look at TV Season 2013.  As I take in more new and returning shows, there will still be more posts on individual shows and episodes, but this is the last look at the whole. We finish off with the shows that aren't looking so hot to me this television season, and why.

Bones

Where we left off:  Brennan proposed to Booth, Pelant’s still free and telling Booth he better not marry her or he’ll go on a killing spree.  Or something.

Reasons for doubt:  The finale took what was once a fairly intimidating Big Bad who has caused some serious problems (even if they were rather unbelievable) and turned him into nothing more than a petulant child.  In my mind, I see him stamping his foot and saying “Don’t marry her or I’m gonna be bad!”  That’s my main concern, but the crimes are also getting old, the characters flat, and there’s too many squinterns to reasonably care about.  I’ll stick with it until the end (maybe), but it’ll never again be must-see television for me.

Community

Where we left off:  It should tell you something that I actually had to look this up to refresh myself.  I think they did the other timeline thing to death or something, and Pierce graduated, marking Chevy Chase’s exit. And Donald Glover will also be leaving to accommodate for his new FX show.  On the flipside, Dan Harmon’s back in. 

Reasons for doubt:  Honestly, Community is my sitcom darling, even over other favorites like The Office and Parks and Rec.  I’m in the middle of introducing a friend to it, and I can remember the wit and the silliness and will always champion it to others.  But Dan Harmon was axed for season 4 and it showed.  It showed badly.  It had more gags and less clever jokes, half-baked homages, and too much of trying and failing to be the old Community.  It had some gems, maybe, but it is the worst season without contest and against all reason, the show was renewed.  Now Harmon’s back in, but I just don’t know if he can recapture the magic, especially with two cast members gone.  I still manage to hope so.  #sixseasonsandamovie

The Goldbergs:

Premise:  The show is set in the 1980s and follows the Goldberg family. The single-camera series stars Wendy Mclevon-Covey as classic overprotective matriarch mother Beverly, her husband Murray, and three children.  Son Adam documents their lives with his video camera. 

Reasons for doubt:  The preview doesn’t look funny, and wacky families having wacky adventures is hardly innovative.  The series being set in the 1980s has also been done before, back in the late 90s with the now cult classic, Freaks and Geeks.  The main difference being that Freaks and Geeks had charm and depth, whereas the promo for The Goldbergs just looks loud and obnoxious.  I’m fairly confident, however, that it will share the same fate: cancelled in a season or less.

Dads

Premise:  Warner and Eli, two successful video game developers in their mid-thirties, have their lives unexpectedly changed when their fathers move in with them.

Reasons for doubt:  I may have to check this one out for myself, but the Internet reviews seem to have spoken.  It’s not funny and has too many racist jokes and is flat out boring.  I want better for Seth Green, so I’m hoping that if it’s really as bad as they say, it gets nixed right away and Green finds something better to spend his time on. 

As with any television season, many more of these new shows will be cancelled and deserve to be.  And more aging shows will cling desperately to life beyond their time.  These are just some of my preliminary thoughts on a few shows that got my attention; what stood out to you?