Past Life

Safety Rating: Use caution.

Friendly Rating: Middle school and older might enjoy it.

Quality Rating: Solidly meh.

Fox, preview tonight at 9 p.m., regularly Thursdays, 9 p.m. starting Feb. 11

Dr. Kate McGinn (Kelli Giddish) is a past-life regressionist.  Price Whatley (Nicholas Bishop) is a cop with issues. Together, they help people experiencing past life traumas solve the murders of their former selves.

There’s some borderline language – the words crap and friggin’ are heard. The violence is implied and mostly seen through vague dream sequences – however, I wouldn’t put any money on things staying that way. There was no sex talk or evenly remotely sexy behavior in the pilot, but again, I wouldn’t count on it staying that way. There are too many sparks being forced between McGinn and Whatley, for one thing. And murder frequently involves sex, so….

Oddly enough, the reincarnation stuff is the easiest part to buy. Not that I’m a big believer in reincarnation. Actually, I don’t, but I’m willing to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the story. Alas, the real world parts of the story are so hard to buy, there’s no real point. I’m sorry, a 10-man SWAT team is not going to burst into the home of a suspect with tear gas cannisters just because they think he might be the killer of a teen-age boy’s former self.

Also, I have a lot of trouble with the way McGinn encourages her patients to re-live their past life memories. Any shrink with a shred of sense, let alone decency, provides some sort of safe space for patients dealing with psychic trauma. I just didn’t buy the way McGinn kept pushing her patient to trigger the memories.

And, ultimately, it just wasn’t that good or interesting. Whatley has a dead wife, whose death may or may not have been an accident – there are a couple scenes which seemed a little contradictory to me. McGinn has issues, but we don’t get to see them yet. Richard Schiff as the pair’s boss is completely wasted acting irascible about the skeptical cop. Not that Schiff doesn’t do irascible beautifully. But he can do so much more.

On the other hand, it wasn’t that bad, either. Just serviceable.

I, personally, would not be surprised if someone at Fox was behind the rumors that Howard Stern is being sought to take over for Simon Cowell when he leaves American Idol next year. What better way to find out whether replacing the acerbic but usually accurate Mr. Cowell with shock jock Stern would have a

Continue reading Rumor Flash! Howard Stern and American Idol, Monday, Feb. 9

It’s not the Super Bowl, it’s on after the Super Bowl.

Undercover Boss

Safety Rating: Mostly safe, but not perfect

Friendly Rating: Middle grades and older.

Quality Rating: Good, but with room for skepticism.

On CBS, right after the Super Bowl, starting Sunday, Feb. 14, at 9 p.m.

This latest entry into the reality genre places CEOs of major companies secretly

Continue reading Aaack! Forgot Something, Sunday, Feb. 7

I’ve got a problem. I’ve got an HBO movie, Temple Grandin, about an unconquerable spirit and the real need to do some spirit-squashing.

You see, several months ago, I wrote about Nickelodeon’s new game show Brain Surge, which is getting very popular. How do I know? I’m getting multiple comments on that post from kids dying

Continue reading Reaching For More, Weekend, Feb. 5-7

And if you really haven’t noticed any changes, that’s okay. There seemed to be a fair amount of stuff already working, so I didn’t want to muck with that.

However, it does mean we’re a bit shy on reviews at the moment. So why don’t you let us know what you’re watching these days and why.

Continue reading Ta-dah! Site Re-design Mostly Finished, Thursday, Feb. 4

Happy Groundhog’s Day, everyone. By the time you read this, good odds ol’ Punxsutawny Phil has done his thing and we’ll know if we’re in for six more weeks of winter weather. Or I could just escape into virtual summer…

digital_nation

Safety Rating: It might scare sensitive adults, but kids will be okay.

Friendly Rating: More important for

Continue reading A Look at Our Digital World, Tuesday, Feb. 2

On the way cool side, it’s Black History Month once again. On the not so cool side, it’s time for February Ratings Sweeps. And there’s a show that premiered last week on Disney XD but I gave a second chance to.

Ratings Sweeps are the thrice-yearly periods in which advertising rates are set for the networks

Continue reading Iron Weasels on Disney XD – Monday, Feb. 1

A Family Is A Family Is A Family: A Rosie O’Donnell Celebration

Safety Rating: Safe, but tap dancing on the edge

Friendly Rating: All ages

Quality Rating: Good, but I wish it could have been better.

HBO, premieres Sunday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m., with additional airings.

This 40-minute film is literally a celebration of the nuclear family and all the

Continue reading What a Family Is, Weekend, Jan. 29 – 31

Live for the Moment

Safety Rating: Very safe

Friendly Rating: All but the smallest members of your family should find something to enjoy

Quality Rating: Good, not great.

On CBS at 8 p.m.

From Mark Burnett, king of reality TV, and his protege Jeff Probst (of Survivor fame), comes this “feel good” special that actually feels more like it was

Continue reading Living Life to the Fullest, Thursday, Jan. 28

State of the Union Address

Safety Rating: Depends on your politics

Friendly Rating: Depends on your stomach for politics

Quality Rating: Whatever else, President Obama is one good public speaker.

ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, for sure at 9 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. PT

I’m really trying to keep value judgments out of here. Your political leanings are your own and

Continue reading The State of Things, Wednesday, Jan. 26