The Grinder
Rob Lowe returns to TV in what is one of the funniest pilots of the year. The Grinder is a fictional lawyer played by Dean Sanderson (Rob Lowe). His successful career has come to an end after portraying a hot shot TV lawyer for 8 seasons and now he has decided to move back to his small town to reconnect with his brother Stewart (played by Wonder Years Fred Savage) and father who have their own small law firm.
While Dean does know that he is not a real lawyer he just can't help to insert himself into the family business losing all control of reality as "The Grinder" takes over.
The real story here is about two brothers, from different worlds trying to reconnect. Its smart, funny and not afraid to make fun of itself.
THE GRINDER is a new comedy about a famous TV lawyer who decides to move back home and join his family's real law firm - despite having no formal education, no bar certification, no license to practice and no experience in an actual courtroom. Coming to FOX in Fall 2015!
Lucifer
Lucifer
Although the dramedy isn't coming until 2016, Lucifer is worth the wait! Tom Ellis (formally the star of USA Networks RUSH) stars as the devil himself who is tired of running Hell and has retired in Los Angeles and is now running a piano bar called Lux. When a pop star friend of his is murdered, for the first time ever, Lucifer feels the need to exact revenge and bring justice to the world punishing the evil men that do evil crimes. What at first feels a bit campy turns into a very interesting police procedural drama that is fun and light hearted. Tom Ellis is perfectly casted for the role and as LA as the backdrop what could go wrong!
Lucifer will air on FOX in 2016
Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, The original fallen angel, Lucifer Morningstar has abandoned his throne and retired to L.A., where he owns Lux, an upscale nightclub. Coming to FOX in 2016!
Stay tuned as next week I review Significant Mother, Rush Hour, Minority Report, The Grinder and The Frankenstein Code.
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.