an affair and some zombies prop up us fall tv season
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Media » TV

An affair and some zombies prop up US fall TV season

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today An affair and some zombies prop up US fall TV season

Actress Ruth Wilson
Los Angeles - AFP

On American TV screens this fall, romantic comedies have mostly flopped, family sitcoms abound, Amazon has joined the fray in earnest, and an extra-marital affair has generated serious buzz.
Here are some of the hits and misses of the current US television season:
- 'Affair' has tongues wagging -
"The Affair," a love story thriller on subscription cable network Showtime, has "not only captured eyeballs but also imaginations," said Tom Nunan of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
The series -- starring British actors Dominic West ("The Wire") and Ruth Wilson ("Luther") as the cheating lovers -- depicts the same events viewed back-to-back from both perspectives, following a summer extra-marital romance with devastating consequences.
The show has seduced critics and draws some 3.9 million viewers per week -- a strong showing for a cable channel.
- Romantic comedies wilt -
"Manhattan Love Story," about how a couple seduce each other, and "Selfie," about a woman who falls in love with the man she hires to cure her addiction to social media, have been among the romantic comedies which have failed to convince.
"Romantic comedy never seems to work on TV," even if they are a dependable staple on the big screen, said Robert Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University in New York state.
- Family sitcom melting pot -
Family sitcoms, a reliable small screen formula, have been given a new coat of paint by exploring themes about minorities.
"Black-ish," broadcast by ABC and already renewed for a second season, follows the adventures of a middle-class African-American family a bit like "The Cosby Show" did 30 years ago, but with the focus on the father's identity crisis.
"Cristela," another ABC comedy, probes challenges facing Latinos in America, as does "Jane the Virgin," which is adapted from a popular Venezuelan telenovela.
- Corridors of power -
Shows about the corridors of power have long existed, with Netflix's breakthrough political series "House of Cards" the most recent example, and this season is no different.
The latest installment is "State of Affairs," Katherine Heigl of "Grey's Anatomy" fame plays a CIA analyst tasked with briefing the president (Alfre Woodard).
The show on NBC, the former home of "The West Wing," tries to surf the Washington power politics wave, but has left critics lukewarm and failed to win viewers since debuting this month.
"Madam Secretary" on CBS, starring Tea Leoni as a Hillary Clinton-esque US secretary of state, has fared a little better -- but not much.
"Homeland," now in its fourth season about the adventures of super-spy Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), has experienced something of a revival despite the shock death of her love interest Nicholas Brody (Emmy winner Damian Lewis) last season.
- Amazon goes with the flow -
Amazon "has been waiting for their 'House of Cards' moment, and they got it with 'Transparent'," Nunan said.
"Transparent" follows a transsexual father who comes out as his children themselves are grappling with their own sexual identities and love lives.
"The fact that 'Transparent' is universally adored by critics and viewers who subscribe is a historic moment for Amazon," Nunan said, as "The Sopranos" was for cable heavyweight HBO in an earlier era.
- Success, dead or alive --
Post-apocalyptic shows have long worked. The success of AMC's zombie series "The Walking Dead" has grown with each season.
Among the other hits this fall is "The Strain," about a virus which turns people into zombies, which has been booked for another season.
- Reality TV: make it simple -
"Utopia" on Fox tried to give reality TV a new lease on life by creating an ideal community from an eclectic group of people.
Verdict: thumbs down after a few episodes.
Thompson said it was too complex, but insists the genre is far from dead.
"Anybody hoping that the reality show will die, will die before reality shows do," he said.  "When it's done well, it is really compelling and fun to watch."

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

an affair and some zombies prop up us fall tv season an affair and some zombies prop up us fall tv season

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

an affair and some zombies prop up us fall tv season an affair and some zombies prop up us fall tv season

 



GMT 03:59 2012 Tuesday ,27 March

Wafaa Amer: Port Said events frustrate me

GMT 13:51 2016 Tuesday ,05 January

France begins 1-year commemorations

GMT 04:07 2017 Tuesday ,04 July

Chinese Navy ships in Oman on goodwill visit

GMT 08:40 2017 Friday ,06 October

Erdogan says Turkey will 'soon' close borders

GMT 06:10 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Bahraini-Jordanian solar energy cooperation discussed

GMT 19:30 2017 Friday ,08 December

Princess Sabeeka receives UN Women executive director

GMT 16:50 2017 Wednesday ,26 April

Nina Olson cooks live at “Expo” Sharjah

GMT 17:10 2017 Thursday ,02 November

Hoora Health Centre expansion project inaugurated

GMT 09:27 2016 Wednesday ,30 November

President, VP & bin Zayed congratulate Albanian President

GMT 02:43 2017 Saturday ,11 March

Shaikh Hamdan's Instagram followers reach 5m

GMT 12:28 2016 Monday ,21 November

Coldplay charms India in anti-poverty concert
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday