Worth Watching: When Bobby Met Gwennie in ‘Fosse/Verdon,’ 9/11 Flashback on ‘NCIS,’ a New ABC ‘Mess’ as ‘Rookie’ Signs Off
A selective critical checklist of notable Tuesday TV:
Fosse/Verdon (10/9c, FX): As obsessed as I am with this dazzling show-biz dual biography, I feel maybe the series should have opened with this episode, which charts the sensuous opening act in the relationship of Broadway musical star Gwen Verdon (a tremulous Michelle Williams) and director with a chronic chip on his shoulder, Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell). As before, the story shifts in time, juxtaposing their first collaboration on the hit musical Damn Yankees, when Gwen was a much bigger star, with the dissolution of their marriage years later, after Gwen finally has had enough of his serial infidelities. The sparks that fly as Fosse works his magic on an intrigued and amorous Verdon during Yankees rehearsals is worth the price of admission.
NCIS (8/7c, CBS): A new case gets personal for Gibbs (Mark Harmon) when the remains of a Marine Major are found at a construction site, and the victim is someone the NCIS team leader not only knew, but believed had died in the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. Their history makes solving the case a top priority.
Bless This Mess (9:30/8:30c, ABC): Where better to be a fish out of water than in landlocked Nebraska? If you can buy the flimsy set-up to this new sitcom — and that’s a fairly big if — there are some compensating charms, though not so much in the overeager performances of star/producers Lake Bell and Dax Shepard. They play city dwellers Rio and Mike (she’s a therapist, he’s a music journalist) who flee the big city to become instant farmers when he inherits a ramshackle abode on the great plains. Without even checking out the property first, they leave their professions behind and load up the U-Haul. What they find is not so much a romantic escape to a simpler past than a money pit that challenges their urban-to-rural culture shock — and Rio’s bovine phobia. Shades of Green Acres, it’s the local eccentrics who freshen this stew: Ed Begley Jr. as the peculiar Rudy, who has taken up residence in their barn, and Pam Grier as hardware store owner/sheriff Constance, who seems bemused by the arrival of these insipid greenhorns.
The Rookie (10/9c, ABC): While waiting for news of a renewal for a second season — at which time will they still qualify for “rookie” status? — the police newbies prepare for an exam to decide who moves on to the next stage of training. But for Officer Nolan (Nathan Fillion), there’s an even bigger test of his skill set, when he and Bishop (Afton Williamson) arrive at a crime scene and learn the murder victim could be associated with a potential terrorist attack on L.A.
Inside Tuesday TV: Journey front man Steve Perry is the subject of the seventh-season premiere of AXS TV’s The Big Interview with Dan Rather (8/7c), discussing why he left the band at the peak of their success and how their “Don’t Stop Believin'” ended up in the Sopranos finale… Religion has been an entertaining theme all season on ABC’s The Kids Are Alright (8:30/7:30c), and so it is when Peggy (Mary McCormack) manipulates young William (Andy Walken) to join the church choir when she learns he’s questioning his beliefs. For brother Timmy (Jack Gore), the choir may be just another stepping stone to stardom, once he learns the choir will be appearing on TV. Holy hambone!… Streaming highlight: the Britbox premiere of the seriocomic There She Goes, starring David Tennant as the father of a 9-year-old daughter whose rare and undiagnosed chromosomal disorder presents the family with more than the usual number of challenges.
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R
Watched the first The Village episode...then over the following 4 weeks whenever I\'ve gone to the ol\' DVR I\'ve always found something more interesting that I\'ve wanted to watch...
So...I DELETED its 3 backed-up episodes...and CANCELED its Season Pass...
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C
I didn\'t even make it through the first episode.
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O
So Bless this Mess is basically just a Green Acres rip off, right? Anyway looks like I got Blackish, The Big Interview with Dan Rather, Kids are alright and a fun rewatch of Wesley Snipes\' Blade 2.
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G
Regarding Bless This Mess: Remember the 90\'s movie with Tim Allen and Kristy Alley: For Richer, For Poorer. Very similar theme.
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O
I remember seeing that as a kid once. Haven\'t seen the show yet but the previews didn\'t excite me
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C
Or like The Money Pit with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long.
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G
That too!
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R
The comparison to Green Acres is a little inexact. In Green Acres, the husband wanted to live the country life, but the wife wanted to stay in the city. In this instance, it sounds like both want to live the \"simple life.\"
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R
In the Richer or Poorer movie, wasn\'t the main couple \"hiding\" rather than wanting to live there? Plus, they were with the Amish, with absolutely no chance of any modern conveniences.
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G
Saw it over 20 years ago. Don\'t recall the details. But the previews reminded me of that movie. Don mentioned The Money Pit.
My point was Bless This Mess is like one big cliché.
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R
I know, I just didn\'t want anyone to think Bless this Mess was a re-do or remake of any particular show or movie. Not that the concept is original--not in the least--but there doesn\'t seem to be any direct correlation to Green Acres. BTW, there\'s an Australian show with sort of the same concept as Mess: a man moves himself & his kids, at the drop of a hat, from big-city Sydney to some small town in the back of beyond..
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G
Last night while watching American Idol, ABC aired what seemed like a movie trailer for their new comedy Bless This Mess. It was so long and detailed, I felt like I already watched the show! It was filled with clichés and reminds me of so many old TV shows and movies.
Tonight, I\'ll watch ABC\'s usually quite funny American Housewife and The Kids Are Alright. Plus I have CBS\'s very consistent FBI.
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R
NCIS and FBI for me, I guess. BTW, last night\'s Legends of Tomorrow had an interesting... er, musical number... that I hadn\'t expected. But I\'m glad that the team got Jane Austen back on track. Guess they had to use their flashy-thingy on her to make her forget what she\'d seen.
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C
Tonight\'s my busy night again! I\'ve got The Flash, Roswell, MasterChef Jr., New Amsterdam, and Mexican Dynasties scheduled, and the Housewife, The Kids, and Fosse/Verdon will have to wait until later!
In other news...Manifest was renewed! Hooray!
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G
Last night\'s Enemy Within was probably the least impressive episode so far. I felt like I didn\'t really learn anything new from the backstory and flashbacks. The only big reveal (that wasn\'t so shocking) was the cell phone discussion at the end. We pretty much knew every plot point last night because the show has been showing bits and pieces of her past from the pilot onward.
These kinds of episodes are like filler, I\'m sure next week will be more revealing like prior episodes.
ABC\'s The Fix has been more addicting for me lately. I\'m happy I stuck with it.
Good to know NBC renewed Manifest. I\'m hoping the attractive police couple (forgot their names) survive.
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