Glenn's TV Picks of the Week

        Sorry I haven't post anything in a month. I'm happy to be back on base here. Well everybody, Fall is here. You know what that means? The kids are back in school, the leaves are falling out of the tree, more cold weather is on its way and the TV season begins. Here are three picks that will help you start the season on a high note.

    -Broadway or Bust {Part 1 is available free on pbs.org/broadwayorbust; Part 2 & 3, respectively airs this Sunday, 9/16 and next, 9/23 at 8/7c on PBS; check local listings or pbs.org for local PBS station and time.}

     If you, or your child, or both are a fan of musical theatre and the arts, I'm sure that you'll love this three -hour documentary miniseries which debuted this past Sunday. In this miniseries, over sixty high school actors and actresses from across the nation have been picked to complete at The National High School Musical Awards {also known as the Jimmy Awards} in New York City. In one week, the teenagers will go through hard rehearsals, master classes and tense nerves before performing on the Broadway stage in front of a big crowd for just one night only. Parts 1 and 2 follows on the rehearsals and master classes, while Part 3 focus on the big night.

     This miniseries really connects to real teens with real dreams and problems {For a example, in the first episode, one of the participants revealed that's he gay and people has called him bad names for that}. Musical fans and historians may recognize some familiar songs and Broadway faces during this documentary. This is really the kind of smart and intelligent television that America needs. It's also an perfectly recommended family pick. Hey, you may thank me for it later.

-Go On and The New Normal {Both premieres tonight beginning at 9/8c following The Voice on NBC; check local listings for local NBC station and time. Pilots of both shows now available on nbc.com and On Demand.}

    People, I think that NBC may have the best funniest hour on television this fall. Let's start with Matthew Perry's new show, Go On, shall we?

    In this show, Perry plays Ryan King, a sports radio host who has recently lost his wife to a drunk driving accident. His boss, Steven {John Cho, from the Harold & Kumar films} suggests to Ryan that he take a counselling group to get over it. When Ryan first go to the sessions, he joins a group including a blind guy {Bill Cobbs}, an lesbian {Juile White} and a weird guy by the name of "Mr.K" {Brett Gelman}. Ryan becomes strange for the group at first, but soon, he gets along with the whole gang. I may have a feeling that viewers will be thinking "Chandler who?" Getting out of the rubble with past post-Friends jobs {Studio 60, Mr.Sunshine}, Perry has finally found a sitcom that's truly worthy of his talents. He and the cast delivers a high voltage of pure comic energy. This cast could be the best TV comedy ensemble of the fall. This show is very reminiscent of another NBC comedy with much of the same premise, Dear John {1988-92}, starring Judd Hirsch of Taxi fame. Maybe Go On could make a reunion with the cast of that other show. Let's see what happens.

    Let's move on to The Next Normal. In this series, gay man Bryan {Andrew Rannells, from Broadway's Book of Mormon} decides to becomes a dad with partner, David {The Hangover's Justin Bartha} after seeing a cute baby at a mall. Along comes mom Goldie {newcomer Georgia King} who decides to make a change with her young daughter Shania {Bebe Wood}, after finding her husband caught in the act with another woman. Goldie agrees to becomes their surrogate, but against it is her bigot grandmother, Jane {Ellen Barkin, playing a hip striking cross between Archie Bunker and Sue Sylvester}. This show could be predictable, but it's an outrageous funny comedy that's for sure. Like NBC's cancelled Playboy Club last year, the series has created controversy due to its premise, which caused a boycott from One Million Moms for ignoring morals and values, and made NBC's Salt Lake City affiliate cancel the show before airing it for not meeting with its own program standards because the station is owned by Mormons. I think that the show can get away from its own wave of protests and become a hoping replacement for Thursday's soon-to-be-gone Office. With a fourth hit on his hands, creator Ryan Murphy {Glee, American Horror Story, Nip\Tuck} could be the missing Zucker brother. He proves that point in the show's pilot with an sequence of 'abnormal' families at a playground {lesbians, midgets and deafs}. Together with Go On, they both bring back the grand comedy touch to the Peacock. This is one hour of TV you really can't miss.

    In honor of everyone who lost their lives on this day 11 years ago. We'll never forget you in our hearts and minds. God bless you, and God Bless America.


   

   

   

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