The Big Idea

A high profile lawyer is called on to defend the accused suspects in a highly public murder trial.  The show will follow a single trial throughout the entire season

Behind the Scenes

Mix in a highly successful dramatic producer (Steven Bochco, the man behind Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law and NYPD Blue) with the popularity of the O.J. Simpson trial and you have Murder One, one of the most anticipated shows of the new season

Our Take

The idea may seem like an incredible rip-off of the O.J. sensation, however, the show offers a great deal more: strong writing, a good cast, and many opportunities for drama.  Bochco plans to follow a single trial throughout the season.  The show will also have its share of the little mini-plots that Bochco is famous for working into his series.  While everyone is debating whether or not people will be willing to follow a trial for an entire season, the show is a critical winner and arguably the best new show of the season.  Of course,  while Bochco has a great deal of winners in his background, he has also had his share of losers (including Bay City Blues and the infamous Cop Rock).  Regardless, the positives all outweigh the negatives, and this show is worth watching.  But please don't miss an episode, for unlike the O.J. "show", this one will probably not have a nightly recap on CNN

The Big Idea

A self-proclaimed "redneck" raises a family with the help of his more sophisticated wife

Behind the Scenes

While the producers have hired other actors and established a background story, the main idea of this series is simple: Jeff Foxworthy gets a chance to expand his "You Might be a Redneck" routine into an ongoing sitcom

Our Take

It was no big surprise when this show was sold without a pilot.  After all, the network primarily bought Foxworthy's act and the sitcom itself was probably developed after the fact.  Nevertheless, the early episodes of the show are entertaining.  Is this groundbreaking entertainment?  No, but it probably does not need to as long as it keeps people laughing for thirty or so minutes a week.  Of course, whether or not the show succeeds may have less to do with the quality of the show and more to do with the ratings draw of its time slot competition: Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and JAG

Back to ABC Menu

The Big Idea

A divorced mother (Marie Osmond) tries to raise her daughter (Ashley Johnson) while avoiding the meddling attempts of her mother (Betty White) to find her a new husband

Behind the Scenes

Take one time pop icon Marie Osmond and mix her with the Golden Girl humor of Betty White and hope that people will tune in just based on the "star" power.  Of course, ABC has felt for the past couple of years that every show needs a cute precocious daughter.  Therefore, the producers decided to include Ashley Johnson.  After all,  Ashley served a similar role on the short lived Phenom as well as Growing Pains

Our Take

  A perfect show for the former viewers of The Golden Girls.  Other viewers, however, may want more than just the "thrill" of seeing some of their "favorite" actresses return to the small screen.  Perhaps, the producers should have spent less time looking for familiar faces and more time developing a show

Back to ABC Menu

Hudson Street

Tony Danza has done so well in comedies about guys named Tony, the network has decided to give him another one in Hudson Street

The Drew Carey Show

Drew Carey brings his stand-up comic characterization to television in the uniquely titled Drew Carey Show

The Monroes

The Monroes capitalizes on the rise of high drama in politics.  Along the way, this show also borrows from the lives of the real-life Kennedy family to feed their soap opera needs

Back to ABC Menu