Fox’s Mulaney only newbie on today’s list of premieres
The next couple of days of the new fall season offer the return of four veterans (including one of the bright stars of premium cable) and one mediocre new sitcom.
In addition, CBS continues to mess with its Monday lineup, much to the confusion of viewers.
Here’s the lineup. The lone new series is in bold.
Today: 6 p.m. — America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC).
6:30 p.m. — Bob’s Burgers (Fox).
8 p. m. — Homeland (Showtime).
9 p.m. — Homeland second episode.
8:30 p.m. — Mulaney (Fox).
Monday: 7 p.m. — The Originals (Fox).
Mulaney. I’m not going to spend much time with this occasionally amusing Seinfeld wannabe. Oh, the basic formula is there — 30-something comic and his wacky friends — but that’s it.
Don’t get me wrong. I think 32-year-old John Mulaney was very clever as a writer for Saturday Night Live (2009-12). And he’s a decent stand-up comedian, always good for a chuckle — he’ll remind you of a young Jerry Seinfeld.
But translating topical sketch comedy from SNL and incorporating elements from one’s life into a full-length, “throw-back” multi-camera sitcom is sometimes painful to watch.
Just as with Seinfeld on his eponymous show, Mulaney portrays a stand-up comic. In this effort, Mulaney’s an aspiring comedian who lands a job as a joke writer for the wacky, legendary, self-centered comedian/host (Martin Short) of a celebrity game show.
Instead of George and Kramer, we have Mulaney’s fellow SNL cohort Nasim Pedrad (she’s the one who did the primo Kim Kardashian impression) and comedian Seaton Smith as his wacky roommates. Adding wisecracks to the formula, Zack Pearlman ( The Virginity Hit) is tossed in as Mulaney’s wacky best bud.
Adding more seniority to the mix, Elliott Gould flits about as the wacky, busybody, stereotypically flamboyant gay neighbor.
There we have it — all the bases are covered: white guy milquetoast comedian with his black roomie; his loopy hot Iranian-American roomie; his chubby, red-haired, bearded best friend; his gay neighbor, and his legendary comic boss.
Put them all together and we have what one critic summed up best: “Mulaney is not ready for prime time.” Or it’ll be the next big smash hit. The series is rated TV-14D for adult dialogue.
Homeland. Welcome back, Carrie. We missed you.
And for those who gave up on the spy thriller last season after Nick Brody (Damian Lewis) was publicly and slowly hanged from a crane, be sure to check out Season 4. We’ve been promised a sweeping creative overhaul.
Yep. Brody is really dead and gone and Carrie is still grieving, although we still might see Lewis in flashbacks down the road.
About six months have passed and Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) has had Brody’s daughter (she isn’t with her). Carrie’s now the new station chief in Istanbul and working in Pakistan with several new characters played by Corey Stoll, Suraj Sharma, Laila Robins and Michael O’Keefe.
They portray, in order, the Islamabad station chief, a med student studying in Islamabad, the ambassador to Pakistan and the deputy chief of mission.
Homeland showrunner Alex Gansa told Entertainment Weekly that Season 4 “is about seeing Carrie Mathison for the first time doing the job she was trained to do — being a case officer in a foreign capital.
“We’re going to see what an intelligence officer does on the ground. How she recruits assets, how she deals with the foreign government, her team and the host country’s intelligence services. That is a complicated and murky world, one that we hope is filled with intrigue and drama and adventure.
“The CIA and the State Department people are the ones left behind when the military leaves, and it’s up to them to try and keep that country intact. Carrie’s on the ground in a dangerous place trying to break the law, which puts her in a very charged situation.”
Good news: Saul (Mandy Patinkin) plays a central role this season even though he’s in the private sector. Once her boss, he’s now working under Carrie at her request.
CBS tweaks. CBS has already frustrated viewers by continually messing up Sunday evenings with football overrun. Now the network is tinkering with its announced Monday and Thursday schedules.
For the next couple of Mondays, CBS will continue to air a new Big Bang Theory at 7 p.m. followed by a rerun episode, with Scorpion following at 8, and NCIS: Los Angeles at 9.
On Oct. 20, The Millers (previously slated for Thursdays) returns, subbing for the rerun Big Bang Theory. On Oct. 27, 2 Broke Girls takes over the Big Bang 7 p.m. slot.
On Oct. 30, Big Bang Theory moves to Thursdays at 7, followed by the Season 2 debut of Mom (previously set for Mondays) at 7:30, Two and a Half Men at 8, The McCarthys at 8:30 and Elementary at 9.
Confused? Of course you are.