We’ve done the FOX & CBS pilots, but now, Megan, Kyle, and I are back to talk about the ABC pilots for the 2013 season. We’ve each rated them as Watch, Maybe, or Skip, so check out what we have to say. (On a side note, a screener of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn’t available, but it premieres 9/24, and we all think it’s a watch, regardless of whether or not we’ve seen the pilot. 😉 )
Back in the Game (Premieres 9/25)
Jenny: Really cute, really funny. James Caan is great as the gruff, rough, tough, beer-guzzling father/grandfather. Maggie Lawson’s character is fun, watching her trying to balance being a good mom—and the complete opposite of her father—and trying to keep her father from treating her son like he did her. The kids are a lot of fun in this one. I can’t wait to see more. – Watch
Megan: This was a great pilot—lots of laughs, and the acting was strong. It had a good vibe to the show overall, and I foresee lots of great moments with James Caan and Maggie Lawson. This is definitely one of the best new fall comedies. – Watch
Kyle: James Caan and Maggie Lawson have great chemistry—I found it very believable that these two could be father and daughter. The show is a nice blend of heart and humor. While the pilot wasn’t as laugh-out-loud funny as I had hoped, I still have high hopes for the series, and I think it makes a great addition to the Wednesday ABC comedy lineup. I’m not sure how they will keep it fresh each week—there’s only so many times you can go to that Bad News Bears well before the team of misfit kids needs to get a win—but I’m looking forward to seeing more. – Watch
Jump with us to see more of what we thought about the ABC fall pilots.
Betrayal (Premieres 9/29)
Jenny: This is a relationship drama, and by now, you know I don’t like those at all. This one’s really no exception. It felt slow, kind of boring…but that may just be me. Although, the sex was hot. 😉 – Skip
Megan: I’m not entirely sure what to think after the pilot for this one. When I originally watched the trailer, I thought for sure I was going to be hooked—the drama looked fabulous, and I wanted to see more. The issue is that the pilot was slow, and I wasn’t as drawn in as I expected. I’m hoping that this will be one of those shows that has a slow start and then becomes amazing after a few episodes, but I’m not holding my breath. – Maybe
Kyle: This felt like yet another one of the soapy dramas we’ve seen many times in the past few years. I didn’t find the characters likable—when everyone’s cheating on everyone else, there’s no one to really root for. I found the pilot way too slow—it takes a long time to get to its thriller aspect, and by the time it did, I had already lost interest. – Skip
Lucky 7 (Premieres 9/24)
Jenny: Another drama that I have no interest in. I liked some of the characters. Others, I just simply didn’t. It’s an interesting concept, but it’s been done before, and I can’t muster up any enthusiasm for it. – Skip
Megan: I didn’t like this show at all, and not for lack of trying. Honestly, I pretty much knew from the trailer that I was going to be on the fence about this one, but the pilot sealed it for me. Poor acting, poor writing, and overall, just not good TV. There’s a reason Windfall was canceled, and it’s the same reason this will be too: it’s terrible. – Skip
Kyle: The premise is similar to the old failed series Windfall, but this series is actually a remake of the UK show, The Syndicate. This pilot felt a little less dark than Windfall was—while there are a few darker moments, it has more of a light-hearted feel to it. I like the premise, and there’s a nice varied mix of characters, each with his or her own real-world problems. I’m interested to see where the show goes after the pilot and the aftermath of the lottery winning. However, this does feel like it could be one of those short-lived ABC dramas that barely make it through a season. An optimistic… – Maybe
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (Premieres 10/10)
Jenny: I don’t watch the original OUaT, so I’m not planning to watch this one. That being said, the cinematography was great, and the characters are fun, so if I have room on my schedule, I may give it a shot. If you’re a fan of the original, you should like this one, too. – Maybe
Megan: This is going to be one of my top new fall shows for sure! I loved the pilot screener because it was full of drama and excitement. The acting is good, and and the writing makes for an addictive story. I’m hooked after seeing the pilot screener. It’s must see TV for good now. I really can’t wait to see more from Alice, the white rabbit, and the many colorful characters this show has to bring. – Watch
Kyle: There was only a twenty-minute pilot presentation available for screening, but it looks like this show has a great cast and some interesting characters. The series will follow a very similar format to Once Upon a Time, with stories flipping back and forth between two different worlds and characters from multiple fairy tales colliding. I like the idea that the first season of the series is supposed to tell a self-contained story—it’s always nice knowing there is an ending planned and that you won’t be left hanging. As someone who still watches Once Upon a Time, I’m interested to see how this extends the franchise. – Watch
Super Fun Night (Premieres 10/2)
Jenny: Unlike a lot of people, I don’t have a clue who Rebel Wilson is or where everyone knows her from. So I have to go based on the show itself. Her character and her two friends were annoying and unfunny. Way too over the top. I won’t be watching. – Skip
Megan: This comedy is getting torn apart by critics all over the place, but I don’t care! I really enjoyed this pilot, especially the LED flashing bra and panties—that was hilarious. Rebel Wilson has become one of my favorite female comedians, so I’m definitely going to be watching this show. In fact, my fiance also thinks she’s amazing and can’t wait to watch it with me. My only complaint is that I wish it was on already! – Watch
Kyle: I really wanted to love this, because Rebel Wilson is hilarious in her movies, but this show is far from “super fun.” Rebel’s American accent is awful and distracting—I wish they had just stuck with her natural Australian accent. There is no reason why her character has to have an American accent. The show has a romantic comedy kind of tone, but pales in comparison with The Mindy Project (which is on fire in its second season). I like the cast, so I will give it a couple episodes, but I currently find the characters more annoying than fun, and I don’t have high hopes that it will improve. – Maybe
The Goldbergs (Premieres 9/24)
Jenny: Talk about bringing back nostalgia for the 80s. This show made me laugh so much. The parents are great. The kids (especially the older son) are so over the top, but in a good way. I love Grandpa. Lots of cute, funny, sweet, heartfelt moments. Plus, REO Speedwagon’s “I Can’t Fight This Feeling”? Really? Love that song, even now. *laugh* – Watch
Megan: I laughed from the beginning of the pilot until the end. This is comedic gold! This family is insane, but in a way that we can all relate to. The relationship between the dad and the kids makes for so many great laughs that his character is by far my favorite. This is a fun comedy to watch with my older kids and enjoy a few laughs together. – Watch
Kyle: This was possibly my favorite of all of this year’s new comedies—it’s The Wonder Years, but set in the 1980s. The series really captures the look and feel of the 80s (I can’t believe we really looked like that back then!), providing a thoroughly entertaining, fun, and nostalgic half-hour of comedy. The whole cast has great chemistry, but my favorite has to be Wendi McLendon-Covey, who is absolutely hilarious as the matriarch of the Goldberg family. – Watch
Trophy Wife (Premieres 9/24)
Jenny: I didn’t think I’d like this one. I went in with the attitude that I wouldn’t. But I really enjoyed it. I love that each wife is completely different. From anal-retentive to new agey-space cadet to young and inexperienced. The kids are fun. I was pleasantly surprised. – Watch
Megan: I went into this pilot thinking I was going to completely hate it, but I was wrong. The jokes were well delivered, and the concept of the show wasn’t nearly as contrived as I originally felt it was. Also, Marcia Gay Hardin really surprised me with her comedic acting. Overall, it’s worth checking out. – Maybe
Kyle: I was pleasantly surprised by this pilot. I really enjoyed the show’s unique dynamic of a man, his two ex-wives, children from two marriages, and a new wife all colliding as a new kind of “modern family.” The cast is a lot of fun—Malin Akerman is great at the physical humor, and the precocious 7-year-old son Bert is hilarious. The pilot had some laugh-out-loud moments for me, and I am looking forward to seeing more. – Watch
[…] We’ve done the FOX & CBS pilots, but now, Megan, Kyle, and I are back to talk about the ABC pilots for the 2013 season. We’ve each rated them as Watch, Maybe, or Skip, so check out what we have … […]