New Fall Pilots
September 19, 2014 9:28 PM - Subscribe

I like watching a swath of new pilots each fall and then attempting to judge which of them will develop into watchable shows. Would anyone else like to have a "New Show" club to watch a number of these (whether we stick with the shows or not)?

In particular, I'm already planning to watch:

-Red Band Society*
-Scorpion
-Forever
-Black-ish
-Manhattan Love Story
-Selfie
-A to Z
-The Flash
-Jane the Virgin
-Marry Me
-Constantine

*I've already watched this one

I'd totally be up for more if people are into it.
posted by Margalo Epps (21 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
I'm so looking forward to Black-ish. I hope it's good.
posted by mathowie at 9:28 PM on September 19, 2014


I am totally down for the New Show Club.
posted by Etrigan at 5:22 AM on September 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


Forever is like a reboot of New Amsterdam.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 5:38 AM on September 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


Forever is like a reboot of New Amsterdam.
Exactly. I always wanted more of that, maybe I'll get it.

Any other shows I should add to my watch list?

Are other people up for posting various pilots as they come along? I'm not sure what the Fanfare posting limits are, but I'm assuming I'd hit them along the way if I try to post all this myself.
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:41 AM on September 20, 2014


Maybe "Madam President"?
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:57 AM on September 20, 2014


:D It's "Madam Secretary" and gets so-so reviews, but may get better as the season progresses, who knows.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:59 AM on September 20, 2014


Premiere dates:

Red Band Society 17 Sep.
Madam Secretary 21 Sep.
Scorpion 22 Sep.
Forever 22 Sep.
Black-ish 24 Sep.
Manhattan Love Story 30 Sep.
Selfie 30 Sep.
A to Z 02 Oct.
The Flash 07 Oct.
Jane the Virgin 13 Oct.
Marry Me 14 Oct.
Constantine 24 Oct.

I've put up a post for Red Band Society. Anyone want to take Madam Secretary today? Or pick one of the two tomorrow -- Scorpion or Forever? (Those are all in the system for shows to post about, but I haven't requested any of the shows after that yet.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 12:06 PM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


I can take Madam Secretary if you like.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 1:54 PM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


(Just for today - I meant to add! :)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 1:55 PM on September 21, 2014


I can see fanfare continuing to work as it has in its short past - in Spring, a bunch of shows were thrown up, and many discarded as the interest waned, though some shows went on through the stubborn insistence of the posters (I'm guilty of that - I can't let a show dwindle, because then it would be incomplete!).

How did this go on TWOP? Was everything thrown up with the new series, then things fell by the wayside, with end-of-season wrap-ups if people felt like the show deserved a second chance? That could work here, or I was thinking people could make a MetaFilter post about trends in the US Fall Pilots, and FanFare posts could spring from that.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:00 PM on September 21, 2014


I'm good for participation. As for TWOP, I never actually visited it, so I can't speak to it. I would say that it would probably be good to examine their best practices, while not feeling bound to them.
posted by Atreides at 3:30 PM on September 21, 2014


TWOP had paid recappers, that's helpful for keeping a show going. Also, the users were much more engaged; even less trafficked shows had more participation than FF. Maybe it was different when they were MBTV?
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 5:04 PM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


I didn't follow TWOP much, but AV Club reviews far more pilots/first few episodes than full seasons. (It's usually one review, whether it's based on one or five episodes usually has to do with what the network sent them.)

I know in my personal life, I talk a lot with one friend about all the shows we're planning to try, what we thought of them, and (along the way) which ones we're still watching. We both stopped watching The 100 at the fourth episode, for instance, and had talked it over each week as both the things we liked and didn't about it.

I'm sure pilots and comparisons could make an interesting blue post, but I'm not sure having that prior to posting about episodes makes a difference. Were you thinking of more people noticing? I do think the conversation on such a post would be different from episode specific discussion, but definitely fun to have (if you're thinking of making one); fewer spoilers allowed, more comparison between shows.
posted by Margalo Epps at 5:31 PM on September 21, 2014


Part of me is of the mind, if a show doesn't taken off in terms of regular postings because no one is watching, then it's fine, because well, those discussions will remain for those who do find their way to the show later, or at least, will demonstrate for future viewers, perhaps why they died off.

As in, it's great to start posts for every new show, rather than to wait and see which ones take off.

I'm also wondering if more recaps need to be offered in the episode posts to help provide people the memory jog for talking points. I've gone minimalist on these, myself, but I may try on future postings to provide more info (which granted is available a recap linked on the page - but how many check those out?).
posted by Atreides at 8:17 AM on September 22, 2014


I'm really excited about these:
- Gotham
- Forever
- The Flash
- Constantine

I'm curious about these:
- Scorpion
- Stalker
- Madame Secretary
- Selfie
- Red Band Society
- Utopia
- Z Nation
- Intruders

I'm looking forward to the return of:
- Agents of SHIELD
- Sleepy Hollow
- Brooklyn 99
- Resurrection
- The Walking Dead
- Grimm (need to catch up on recent seasons)
- Arrow (need to catch up on recent seasons)

WATCH ALL THE TV!!!!
posted by Jacqueline at 6:42 PM on September 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


Jacqueline, Z Nation is already up. So is Intruders. Episodes aren't current, however, because of low participation.

Have you seen The Knick? It's really good and it's here.

Grimm is the kind of show where watching the first and last episodes of each season will give you enough information. The entire season isn't necessary. Like Falling Skies.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 10:39 PM on September 22, 2014


I watched Scorpion last night. For a technological procedural, they pretty much got all of the technological wrong, well beyond a reasonable suspension of disbelief.

I had to step out with the dog at one point. Did they ever explain why they had to run a network cable between a Ferrari speeding down a runway and a plane flying 10 feet above it, rather than just landing the plane on that runway and plugging into it after it parked?

The answer would be wrong, but I'd feel better if they at least tried to lampshade it.
posted by cardboard at 8:59 AM on September 23, 2014


Madam Secretary and Scorpion are up.
posted by Margalo Epps at 11:44 AM on September 23, 2014 [1 favorite]


Jacqueline -- I'm totally with you on watching all the tv. I'd probably watch more if I had cable or Netflix, but as it is I'm binging on Orange is the New Black and Continuum when the DVDs make it to my library. So I won't be any help on the cable shows you mention. Not that I would be much help with zombie shows anyways. I'm a wuss that way. I'm also looking forward to Brooklyn Nine Nine and Sleepy Hollow. Though with the latter, the nine month wait has made it lose a bit of urgency. I'll watch the premiere soonish.

I'm also wondering if more recaps need to be offered in the episode posts to help provide people the memory jog for talking points.
I tried out The Man of Twists and Turns style for my most recent posts, as those manage to remind some of what was said without having many spoilers for those unsure of whether they've watched a specific episode or not.
posted by Margalo Epps at 7:25 PM on September 23, 2014


Anyone want one of the remaining pilots?
The Flash 07 Oct.
Jane the Virgin 13 Oct.
Marry Me 14 Oct.
Constantine 24 Oct.

In particular, can anyone take Jane? My DVR is solving my "I watch most of Tuesday" by recording it the following Friday for me.
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:29 AM on October 5, 2014


Jane the Virgin and Marry Me are both up now.
posted by Margalo Epps at 4:44 PM on October 20, 2014


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