LA Screenings Part IV - FOX
While this year FOX didn't have any shows for September, they did have a strong lineup for mid season.
Backstrom
Forget everything you know about Dwight Schrute from the office, because Rainn Wilson is able to easily convince the audience immediately that he is Detective Everett Backstrom. Hart Hanson, who is also the executive producer of Bones, has created a show that fills the gap of House. Backstroke is an overweight, offensive detective who is engaged in a constant struggle with his demons and social struggles, but at the end of the day he is a genius criminologist.
Empire
Lee Daniels (Precious, Monsters Ball) has created a fun gritty musical drama in the world of hip hop. With music produced by Timbaland and starring Terrance Howard its just hard to get this wrong. Its gritty when it needs to be, but not over the top. The music really does push this show and give it the emotion it deserves.
Terrance Howard plays a hip hop mogul Lucious Lyon with three sons in the family business. One is a gritty rapper, one a business man acting as his number two and a third son, musically included and gay plays the son that Lucious wished he never had. The story centres around the fact that the label is about to go public on the stock market and Lucious has just been diagnosed with ALS. He now struggles to figure out which son will inherit the Empire! Each son must show his worth to compete for the number on spot.
The Last Man on Earth
Starring Will Forte from Saturday Night Live fame. Will plays the last man on earth. Enough said. Not much has been revealed about this strange comedy other than the premise of two of the last people on earth must come together to rebuild despite their differences.
Fresh Off The Boat
This story follows a Taiwanese family as they try to integrated into their new community in Orlando, Florida in the 90s being the only Asian family in the neighborhood. With ignorance all around them, this comedy provides a fresh outlook on the ignorance of a society when faced with something different.
