The 2013 3 EP Test (Fall TV New Shows Preview)

It's time for the 3 EP Test!

Based on my pet theory that it takes exactly 3 episodes of a new show to know whether or not it's something you will want to watch long term, each fall I scour the pilots for 7 new shows I'm willing to give a shot.  6 years ago when I started this it was basically for my family and a few friends (links: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) but this year all of the sudden I find myself a full fledged TV critic who has the pilots show up at his door months before they air. It's an exciting development and allows me to better communicate to you the shows that might be worth investing in this year, but it also has drastically affected this exercise.  Some shows that would have likely made this list, I am no longer interested in (I'm looking at you Michael J Fox) and many shows that I likely never would have given a chance now seem somewhat appealing to me.  In fact of the 40 or so new shows the networks are throwing at our walls this fall, I found at least a dozen of them vaguely interesting!

Also what does it say that about network TV that I get excited with a 30% almost success rate.

Point being, I had my work cut out for me this year, but I had to whittle it down to 7. But before we get to those, feel free to check out these shows whose pilots I found intriguing but just don't have the time to invest in.

About A Boy (NBC)

Mind Games (ABC)

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC)

Super Fun Night (ABC)

Welcome to the Family (NBC)

And here are the 7 that made the cut in reverse order of anticipation:

7) Enlisted (FOX)
Premieres: Late Fall, 2013

This is the best example of a show that would have NEVER crossed my radar to try out if it hadn't been sent to me to preview the pilot. It has no stars, doesn't seem like an interesting concept, and is buried in FOX's mid-season replacement program. And yet... I found this comedy about three military brothers genuinely funny with a great ensemble cast and some clever writing. Not sure if it will keep it up but I'll be watching when it finally airs.

6) The Blacklist (NBC)
Premieres: Monday, Sept. 23 at 10/9c

James Spader is great in this as a career criminal, and the twists and turns were just the right amount to keep me on the edge of my seat wondering what might happen next without feeling too gimmicky. We'll see if it can keep up that intrigue level over time but for now I'm in.

5) Believe (NBC)
Premieres: Midseason

Yes, JJ Abrams name is involved but he's not intimately involved. Rather, its the production value matched with the high concept premise (of which we aren't yet fully aware of) that will likely keep me interested long term.

4) Almost Human (FOX)
Premieres: Late Fall 2013

Now THIS is a JJ Abrams Show. Robots and humans working together in a futuristic society with Karl Urban acting his heart out. I also really enjoyed Micheal Ealy in this, who you may remember from the short lived Flash Forward. Of all the pilots this year this one felt the most like a movie and if they can keep that feel up, I think they have a hit on their hands.

3) The Crazy Ones (CBS)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9/8c

Two words: Robin Williams. (well... and Sarah Michelle Geller...but that would put me at 5 words... well, technically names... and really if you include all the words it's 9 words... except with the explanations it's now 37... wait did that include this sentence?... sorry... um... right... Robin Williams)

2) Brooklyn Nine Nine (FOX)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8:30/9:30c

The funniest pilot of the 2013 season. I'm not saying it's New Girl or Modern Family funny, but there are a lot of laughs to be had here and most of them from Andy Samberg. His sarcastic misplaced bravado is perfect for the role of a detective and the cast around him seems to flow perfectly with him. In a season without a lot of new laughs this is the one to watch for me.

1) Marvel's Agents of Shield (ABC)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 8/7c

Was there really any doubt? I mean come on, it's MARVEL!! The question on every fan's mind has to be, how exactly will the TV show interact with the movie's plots or characters? Done correctly this could be a new era in TV where the lines between movie and television continuity blur even further. At worst, it's a low budget knock off with silly plots and bad acting. I'm hoping for the first and can't wait to give it it's full 3 episodes to find out.

Stay tuned next week for the 21 hours of TV, where I pick which 21 hours of TV I will watch every week!

The 2012 3 Ep Test (New TV Preview)

Have you ever seen someone tackle one of those restaurant giant food challenges?  You know the kind.  They tempt you with a free meal if only you can down every last bite of the volkswagen sized burger with all the toppings. If you have, you’ve probably seen the result.  By the time the poor soul who bought it is trying to stuff down the last bit of beef he would gladly pay triple his bill just to go back in time and convince his idiot self what a stupid idea this was.

Well in the world of TV, I’m the idiot self, and this year I refuse to order the Volkswagen platter.

Each year I pick a handful of new TV shows to give “The 3 Ep Test”.  This test is based on the theory that every new show can be adequately evaluated by watching the first 3 episodes, no more, no less.  After the third episode I make the call.  “Out forever” or “In for life”.  This is the 6th year of this experiment (links: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007) and each year has been a pleasant experience of lightly tasting 5 to 7 new shows hoping to catch my attention...... until last year.  For some reason a year ago I decided it would be a good idea to try out 13 new shows, and by the end of the fall season I felt as bloated as the sad sack who couldn’t stomach that last bit of Angus.

The problem wasn’t just that I picked 13 (ok the problem was mostly that I picked 13) but also that I stuck with so many of them.  Unlike the abysmal 2010 list, where the only show that didn’t get cancelled was one I didn’t like, 10 of the 13 are still running! Of those 10, 6 managed to pass the test including the incredible “New Girl” which has quickly become one of my top 5 shows.

Point being, this time traveler has lectured his idiot self successfully and will not be making the same mistake again.  So here (in order of anticipation, from least to most) are the 7 shows I will be testing out for the 2012 fall season.

If there are any good ones I miss, they will just have to wait for next year’s “Ketchup” List...

It’s quite possible I’m very hungry right now.

7) Elementary (CBS)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 10/9c

The first mystery Holmes should solve is the theft of his own show.  “Elementary” is clearly a rip off of BBC’s successful (and brilliant) modern take on the London sleuth.  The only difference is that this time “Watson” is a lady.  Well that as well as the fact that it has no chance of being as good as the version starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. I’ll be watching though, mostly out of curiosity, but also because I love a good detective story, especially when Sherlock Holmes is on the case.

6) Vegas (CBS)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 10/9c

Quaid and Chiklis are the draw on this one, as a rancher and a gangster going head to head in the early days of Las Vegas. The “Vegas” previews look melodramtic and over the top, but the fact that it’s all based on a true story gives it a foundation to possibly overcome it’s own cheese factor. This has the highest risk/reward factor of any of the new shows for me, meaning it might be amazing, OR it might just be the worst thing to hit the small screen since I accidentally let go of the Wii remote while bowling several years ago.

5) The Mindy Project (Fox)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 9:30/8:30

You may know Mindy Kaling from her role as Kelly Kapoor on “The Office” or you may know her from..... hmmmm..... no, that’s about it.  But apparently it was enough to land her not only her own sitcom, but one with her own name attached.  I don’t have extremely high hopes for this one, but have heard enough good things about Kaling’s comedy skills to give it a shot.

4) Last Resort (ABC)
Premieres: Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8/7c

OK, so go with me here. “Last Resort” follows the leader of a renegade submarine crew that goes on the run after defying an order to fire nuclear missiles and then declares themselves the world's smallest nuclear nation.  AND YOU AREN’T GOING TO WATCH IT?! That’s what I thought.

3) Go On (NBC)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 9/8c

I’d follow Matthew Perry just about anywhere.  In fact I have.  I loved him in “Studio 60” a few year’s back and even enjoyed what he had to offer in last year’s “Mr. Sunshine”.  Apparently, I was the only one who knew that show existed, but the point is, I think the dude is hilarious.  I don’t even really know what this show is about, I just know I’m about to get my Chandler Bing on and that’s rarely a bad thing.

2) Nashville (ABC)
Premieres: Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 10/9c

What on earth could entice a country music hater like myself to so desire to tune in to a show about country music?  Nope, not Hayden Panettiere, though it will be nice to see her on TV again. Nope, not the plot either, though I do think the old school music vs. new school music could be an interesting exploration. Nope, the real reason I’m so excited is much simpler.  I have a friend in the cast.  Well, technically a friend’s brother. What I’m saying is that every few minutes I get to point at the screen and yell, “Hey, I know that guy!” and isn’t that really what life is all about?

1) Revolution (NBC)
Premieres: Monday, Sept. 17 at 10/9c

J.J. Abrams takes his rightful place at the top of my annual list once again.  Look, when you bring me Alias, Fringe, and LOST, you’re going to have to let me down pretty hard to keep my eyeballs away from your work.  “Revolution” appears to be another perfect Abrams concept, with both mystery and relationship.  And though I can see why the previews might be reminiscent of a certain youth novel about teens killing other teens, I think the show itself will prove itself to be very different.  My prediction is that every week he will leave us with one answer and five new questions, so that by the end of the fifth season there will be about 100 answered questions and 500 unanswered ones, and once again he will have left himself shy of the ability to please the uber fans who want to know every detail.  My other prediction? That I will enjoy every last second of it.

The 2011 3 Ep Test

Sometimes things just don't work out quite the way you planned.

Last year, about this time, I released my annual look at which shows I felt were worth testing out for the new TV season. (2010 3 Ep Test)

The result?

Aside from me crying tears of anguish having to sit through a full three episodes of most of them (including my most anticipated "No Ordinary Family", which was inexplicably horrible.) I have once again lost faith in the competency of the US Network executive.  Of my list only Hawaii 5-0 is still on the air, and I quit watching that about the time I realized it was just another crime procedural with mediocre actors, but this time with beaches! (Wait, doesn't CSI: Miami have those?)

What's baffling is that the year before, the 2009 3 Ep Test had three legitimate home runs.  Modern Family, Glee, and Community are all shows that are still going strong.  I'm guessing at the end of the day the execs really don't know what will work so the just hope to get lucky.

With that in mind, I assume this year, like so many others (2008 3 Ep Test, 2007 3 Ep Test), will be a game of blind darts in which some shows will hit the bulls-eye (like Chuck, the longest living alumni of the 3 Ep Test) and some will miss the board completely, ricochet into a passerby, knock them into traffic causing a vehicle to swerve into a pet store releasing thousands of rabid animals into an unsuspecting public, resulting in a new strain of virus that will wipe out 90% of the population and possibly create a zombie like apocalypse (I'm looking at you "Outsourced")

Here are the 13 (yes, 13!) new shows that will get the 3 Ep Test this year in order from my least anticipated to my most anticipated.

Let's hope for the best.

Free Agents (NBC)
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 10:30/9:30c

Truthfully I'm just curious to see if Hank Azaria can pull off a sitcom.  I've enjoyed him immensely in smaller roles and thought he did great playing Mitch Albom in the "Tuesdays with Morrie" movie.  My guess though is that he should just stick with the litany of voices he does on the Simpson's and keep cashing that pay check for the next 20 years.

Allen Gregory (Fox)
Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 30 at 8:30/7:30c

Speaking of The Simpsons, there are two sections of the broadcasting week that get an automatic bid into the 3 Ep Test.  The first is any comedy NBC slots into a Thursday night, and the second is the FOX Sunday night animation. That doesn't mean they will be good (I fled Family Guy and American Dad pretty quickly) but it does mean the history of success is worth the risk (I still miss King of the Hill).  Allen Gregory appears likely to fall on the fail side of the line, but I'll give it it's shot.

A Gifted Man (CBS)
Premieres: Friday, Sept. 23 at 8/7c

It's not like we haven't seen the premise before.  Someone is dead and they are communicating with the living to find closure.  Sixth Sense comes to mind (spoiler alert) and my favorite example, the underrated "Frighteners" helmed by an at the time unknown Peter Jackson.  It's not even a new idea for TV (wasn't this the whole premise of Ghost Whisperer?) Point being, if this is to have any staying power, they better nail the character work, or it will seem all too familiar.

Grimm (NBC)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 21 at 9/8c

Not sure how, or why, it happens, but the pop culture cosmos often emits things in pairs.  Volcano movies, asteroid movies, and animated bug movies are now joined by "TV shows about fairy tales being real" in the "we swear, it was our idea first" historical record.  Grimm would definitely be the darker of the two and looks to feel like CSI meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  The later part of that equation is no surprise as it comes from a couple of former Buffy producers.  Without Joss Whedon though, let's just say I'm intrigued but not hopeful.

Once Upon a Time (ABC)
Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 23 at 8/7c

The other fairy tale... uh... tale also has an interesting pedigree in that it is being written by some LOST alums. In this one famous characters are stuck in the real world and our heroine Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison who you may know as Cameron from House) must solve that mystery with the help of a 10 year old boy.  I have a 10 year old boy in my house, and unless solving the mystery involves covering the floor with strewn clothing or forgetting to do homework she may be in trouble.

Unforgettable (CBS)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 10/9c

This one centers around a woman who literally remembers everything she sees or knows.  If that gimmick is enough to set it apart from the glut of crime procedurals on the air then it might have a chance.  I have a feeling though that it will just make me miss "Lie to Me" even more then I already do.

Last Man Standing (ABC)
Premieres: Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 8/7c

I'm assuming the title Home Improvement 2 must have been taken.  Tim Allen is back on TV and if there is one thing that can make me grit my teeth and withstand a laugh track it's my nostalgia and love for Home Improvement.  If Tim brings back half the charm and fun of that show I'll stick around a bit.  On a side note, did you ever wonder if the reason Wilson (the Home Improvement neighbor) only showed half his face is because his lower face was disfigured in a freak microwave popcorn accident?  Yeah, uh...  me neither.

Up All Night (NBC)
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 10/9c

If Will Arnett isn't enough (and he apparently wasn't for last season's short lived "Running Wilde") then maybe Christina Applegate and Maya Rudolph will do the trick!  I know big names don't necessarily mean big laughs, but I'm hoping this one works out for Will.   I've been rooting for him to land since Arrested Development gave up the ghost, but if not, at least he has a great career ahead of him in voice overs.

Whitney (NBC)
Premieres: Thursday, Sept. 22 at 9:30/8:30c

I'm so torn on this one. Pro - Thursday night, NBC, good track record.  Con - appears to have a laugh track.  Pro - Whitney Cummings may actually be extremely funny. Con - Did I mention it might have a laugh track?

New Girl (Fox)
Premieres: Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 9/8c

"Zooey Deschanel is a cutie." I may or may not have uttered this sentence to my wife after watching her in "500 Day of Summer" or "Yes Man" or maybe it was "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy".  So now when her name comes up, my wife will say something like, "oh, you mean the cutie?" ...sigh... I just meant that she's got that girl next door, quirky, adorable thing going on.... I'm not helping myself here am I?  Also probably not a good sign that I just recalled her filmography off the top of my head.  OK, if anyone asks, I'm only interested in this show because it has Damon Wayans, Jr. in it.  And those Wayans brothers are hilarious.  Am I right?

The X Factor (Fox)
Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8/7c

Is there room for another singing competition on TV?  When it reunites Simon and Paula (somehow I actually am excited to see her) there will at least be a little bit of buzz.  I'm always up for a good singing competition (I still think "The Voice" was an ok show that missed being an amazing show because it didn't have enough confidence to follow through on its premise) and the fact that the X-Factor prize is a staggering $5 MILLION adds a little bit of oomph.  Reality TV is always a bit of a crap shoot, but I'm in for at least the first three episodes.

Person of Interest (CBS)
Premieres: Thursday, Sept. 22 at 9/8c

Are you for real?! J.J. Abrams is teaming with Jonathan Nolan (aka Christopher's brother) for a show with Michael Emerson (Ben from LOST) and Jim Caviezel (Jesus from the Bible) that is conceptually like Minority Report?! Does TV do call ahead seating?! DICER TABLE FOR TWO!!!! (breathe in.... breathe out...) Consider me interested.

Terra Nova (Fox)
Premieres: Monday, Sept. 26 at 8/7c

Jurrasic Park on TV, except the Dinos aren't coming to our world, we are going to theirs (and they don't seem happy about it).  With the Steven Speilberg name behind it and years of anticipation built up for it Terra Nova might be my most anticipated show since another show that shot on Hawaii started a few years ago.  That time the roars on the Island ended up being a shape shifting cursed man in black who wanted to escape the island and the teasing and endless board games with his brother, this time its dinosaurs.  Well, that's a bit simpler, huh?

The 2010 3 Ep Test

I'll usually only take one sip of rancid milk.  It doesn't really take the second or third gulp for me to know I'm not invested quite that much in my calcium intake.  But when it comes to TV, I'm a glutton for punishment.  My theory with the small screen is that any new show can be properly vetted in three episodes, no more, no less.  Even an awful pilot can show promise in the very next episode or vice versa.  So each fall I comb the new offerings from the networks and see what seems intriguing enough to invest in.  The result is a mixed bag for sure.  If you till the soil of the crop that sprouted three years ago when I began this you will find a single surviving specimen (God bless NBC for sticking with Zack Levi and Chuck) as well as one that I'm ashamed even piqued my interest (cough... Cavemen... cough).  But mostly you will find shows that had major promise and just couldn't generate enough audience for a bountiful harvest (I'm still waiting for someone to wake me up from the nightmare world where Pushing Daisies doesn't succeed.)  2008 was much the same, but last year something seemed to click.  For whatever reason, the audience showed up.  Three of the newbies are bona fide hits (Community, Modern Family, and Glee) and though Flash Forward couldn't see into the future far enough to notice there would be no season two, it was still a mighty satisfying one season experiment.

This year only 7 shows have tripped my sensor and set off the anticipation alarms, and here they are in order from least anticipated to most.

S#*! My Dad Says (CBS)

Thu, 8:30, 9/23

Let's get this out of the way right off the bat.  I will henceforth refer to this show as "Stuff" My Dad Says.  I'm not trying to be holier than thou or shuddering in offense about the casual nature of cursing in today's society. I've just never said the word before and I'm just not sure I could pull it off.  That, and I'm just not sure how to pronounce S, number sign, apostrophe, exclamation point   To be honest I think CBS made a huge mistake in leaving even the bleeped profanity as part of the title, but if anyone can power through that mistake it's Mr. over the top himself, William Shatner.  There is part of me hoping for this show to fail though, as I find it hard to stomach the thought of living in a world where a Twitter feed can become a hit TV show.

Running Wilde (Fox)

Tue, 9:30, 9/21

Like a 13 year old boy, this show will almost undoubtedly stink.  But I made a promise that I would follow Will Arnett wherever he may go (yes, I did just sing that in my head).   On the off chance this show somehow manages to be good, I want to be there to see him succeed.  On a side note I should mention, there are only a limited number of unassailable truths in this world; God is sovereign, pizza is the world's most versatile food, and sit-coms with laugh tracks are unwatchable.  If I smell even a hint of canned giggles on this or any comedy in the list, it's an automatic dismissal.  I'll laugh when it's funny, thank you, not when your laughter technician inserts chortle 24 followed by snicker 17 as my cue. (Just for fun someday do a Youtube search for "without laugh track". Here's one to get you started.)

Hawaii Five-O (CBS)

Mon, 10:00, 9/20

Maybe it's Daniel Kim (Jin from LOST), maybe it's the setting (Hawaii from LOST), but something is strangely drawing me to watch a remake of an old show I've never seen before in my life or even know what it's about.  I honestly have no clue why I want to watch this show.  Maybe CBS hired Leo Dicaprio to run around in my dreams and plant ideas.  I did have a strange one last night involving Melissa Joan Hart, a bag of jelly beans, and a surge protector.  I wondered what that was about.

Outsourced (NBC)

Thu, 9:30, 9/23

Plain and simple.  NBC + comedy + Thursday night = on the list.

Undercovers (NBC)

Wed, 8:00, 9/22

If married spies (a la Mr. and Mrs. Smith) isn't enough to intrigue you, how about the name JJ Abrams?  Felicity, Alias, LOST, Fringe, one episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender (ok, fine, I had to look that last one up on IMDB, but seriously how cool is that?!)  Point being, JJ gots the goods, and will have an automatic spot on this list anytime he decides to add a line to his resume.

The Event (NBC)

Mon, 9:00, 9/20

This is the kind of show that I assume the writers must have sat around and brainstormed ways to get me specifically to watch.  "Let's make it a high concept piece."  "Yeah, and have the teaser campaign give nothing away"  "And can we get that Ritter kid that he liked so much in Joan of Arcadia?".  SOLD!  This also has the distinction of possibly being the biggest let down on the list if the titular "event" turns out to be a lackluster affair.  All I'm saying is it better not involve David Blaine.

No Ordinary Family

 (ABC)

Tue, 8:00, 9/28

The show I'm most excited about is a real world look at the concept of "The Incredibles"  That's a high bar to live up to for sure, but the concept itself is solid enough (see "Sky High" for another example) to make room for many iterations of the idea.  If that weren't enough they went and did something else novel by hiring genuinely talented actors for the leads (The Shield's Michael Chiklis and Dexter's Julie Benz).  The only question is will this family of superheros be strong enough to hold an audience beyond the first three episodes.

Nothing says Fall like the 3 Ep Test...

Sure for some fall has arrived when the colors change, when the kids go back to school, or when the Detroit Lions blow their first game, but for me it's all about fresh new TV. I love filtering through the new offerings that the networks throw at us and picking a few to try on for size. I call it the 3 ep test and it's based on the theory that any new show can be fully embraced or dismissed by watching the first 3 episodes, no more, no less. Last year (linky link) of the 8 shows I vetted 3 failed (Life on Mars, Hole in the Wall, and Crusoe, all of which have disappeared since), 2 passed but were still cancelled (the so-so America's Toughest Jobs, and the under appreciated My Own Worst Enemy) and 3 passed with flying colors (Dollhouse, Fringe, and the brilliant Mentalist). This year I'm planning on giving the triple dip to these 6 shows, listed in order of anticipation from least to most.

Modern Family
Wednesday, ABC, 9 (Sept. 23rd)

It takes a lot for a comedy to get me interested, too much probably. Other than The Office or Arrested Development, there really hasn't been a recent example of a show that blipped my radar from the get go. I'm so done with the "sit-com" thing that I often dismiss shows out of hand that might actually end up being hilarious. I'm still kicking myself a bit about missing the boat on "Big Bang Theory" which I hear is great, but I just can't bring myself to start watching. All of this to say that "Modern Family" is only on this list because I felt like I needed to give more sitcoms a chance and it seemed like the most interesting.

Glee
Wednesday, FOX, 9 (Sept. 16th)

Glee is already one episode into the 3 ep test and I just can't figure out where I'll land on this show. Sure, I hated just about everything in the debut episode that wasn't a musical number, but when those musical numbers hit this show was pure magic. If they can just find a way to increase the quality of the rest of this show by even the slightest bit, I may just have to stick with it.

The Forgotten
Tuesday, ABC, 10 (Sept. 22nd)

My annual pick for show I will fall in love with that gets cancelled. I'm not sure why I would think that, considering it's not every year that a major network pulls together a high concept drama staring Christian Slater. I mean there's no way that could fail, right?

Shark Tank
Tuesday, ABC, 8 (Sept. 29th)

This is the second show on the list that I've already had a chance to partake of and it's probably not fair to consider it "anticipated" as I'm already on record as saying it's the best new reality show I've seen since The Biggest Loser debuted five years ago. There are no gimmicks here, just real business people, with real money, looking for real investments. Each "shark" has his or her own distinct engaging personality and watching them devour these prospective entrepreneurs is both entertaining and educational.

Community
Thursday, NBC, 9:30 (Sept. 17th)

The only new comedy of the season that I am genuinely geeked for. The promo spots are clever, endearing, and best of all FUNNY! The cast looks stellar and I can't wait to see if the writing each week can live up to the promise of these first few pieces.

Flash Forward
Thursday, ABC, 8 (Sept. 24th)

ABC has stationed Flash Forward to snag momentum from LOST's final season and become the new serialized water cooler drama that everyone is trying to figure out. They even cast one of every one's favorite losties, Dominic Monaghan, to put the cherry on top. They've got quite a lot to live up to to maintain LOST's voracious fan base, but if they can figure out how to balance the questions with the answers and move toward a conclusion they just might have something here. One things for sure, I'm geeked to see it and I'll be on board, well, for at least 3 episodes.

New TV for 2008, The 3 Ep Test Returns...

Every fall I pick handful of shows and administer the "3 ep test". This is my theory that any new show can be properly loved or dismissed by watching the first 3 episodes, no more and no less. Last season (as seen here) I gave the 3 ep test to 9 new shows. Pushing Daisies, Chuck, and Journeyman passed with flying colors (I'm still bitter that the brilliant Journeyman got canned), Kid Nation, American Band, and Reaper were good enough to stick with for the season (it appears of these that only Reaper will be back and not until January), and Cavemen, Bionic Woman, and Back to You never made it to their 4th episode on the DVR o' Dice (your DVR won't find them anywhere soon either I'm glad to say.) So what about this year? In order from least excited to most, here are the shows I'll be keeping my eye on this fall (and one from next January that I just have to mention).

Life on Mars
Thursday, ABC, 10 (Oct. 9th)

I'm really not confident about this one, but it's just high concept enough to get me interested. A detective gets into a car accident and ends up in the year 1973. You get 3 episodes ABC, convince me.

The Mentalist
Tuesday, CBS, 9 (Sept. 23rd)

They might as well have titled this show, "We swear this has nothing to do with that Psych show on USA" since it follows an almost identical premise to the show that has been following "Monk" for a few years now. And by "almost identical" what I actually mean is exactly identical in every way. I guess the supposed difference in this one is that it will be a little more dramatic and the star is supposed to be a House type personality that is cranky, rule breaking, but so good at what he does that no one can put him in his place. House + Psych = The Mentalist, it's about as formulaic as they come, but math has always been my best subject and this is an equation that appears solid to me.

Hole in the Wall
Thursday, FOX, 8 (Sept. 11th)
pictured above

People trying to fit through moving holes. Just remember, Wipeout isn't exactly highbrow entertainment either, but there's just something beautiful about people falling down.

Crusoe
Friday, NBC, 8 (Oct. 17th)

This one grabbed my attention simply because it's daring to do something different in primetime. This isn't some modern adapation of the Robinson Crusoe story, this is the Crusoe story told in period epic fashion. Taking a cue from Lost (which films almost entirely in Hawaii) Crusoe will be shot in South Africa and is likely to be one of the most gorgeous shows on TV. If the swashbuckling and story can match the beauty it could be a winner.

America's Toughest Jobs
Monday, NBC, 9 (Aug. 25th)

Worth taking a look at because it puts regular peeps in crazy dangerous jobs and then pushes play. It's exactly the kind of Reality TV I love, no celebrities, no dating, plenty of competition, and plenty of drama. It's also worth checking out because it debuts this week and will be the only new thing on for a while.

My Own Worst Enemy
Monday, NBC, 10 (Oct. 13th)

Christian Slater stars as the typical family man, living the "boring" middle class life, who doubles as a secret agent when no one is looking. I think the twist here is that Slater himself may be clueless to his dual personalities. It's another show that is high concept enough to ring my bell, and Slater has always struck me as an engaging personality who just never fulfilled his promise. The danger with this one is that the guy running the show (Jason Smilovich) has had three in a row canceled (Karen Sisco, Kidnapped, and Bionic Woman). This may be frontrunner for show Dice loves that gets cancelled before any closure. (RIP Journeyman).

Dollhouse
January, FOX

OK I know this is a cheat, but I had to mention Joss Whedon's new TV project even though we won't see it until January. Whedon has been hit or miss for me, but the fact that he did "Firefly" and (as I recently discovered) co wrote the original Toy Story is enough for me to give anything he does a shot. I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve this time.

Fringe
Tuesday, FOX, 9 (Sept. 9th)

By far the show I am most excited for with not much more to go on than the name JJ Abrahms, which seriously may just be all I need. I did see the preview but tried not to pay too close attention (I want to be a blank slate come premiere night) and I know that Joshua Jackson plays a major role which strikes me as an inspired choice. I'm trying desperately to bring my expectation down out of orbit on this one, but the man who brought us Alias and Lost hasn't let me down yet and I don't imagine he will here either.

3 Episode Test for New TV...

Word is out today that NBC will release their freshman fall shows to "On Demand" carriers in the next few weeks. This basically means that if you are a satellite or Cable DVR subscriber you should see these shows in your On Demand section soon, and at no cost. It should give me a nice head start on my "3 episode test" theory, which is that any new show can be properly loved or dismissed by watching 3 episodes, no more and no less. I usually pick out a handful of new shows that pique my interest each season to try out and this TV season is no different.

Here's the new stuff this year that I will be giving the 3 Ep test, in order from the shows I'm least excited about to the most.

Kid Nation
Wednesday, CBS, 8

Truth be told, I hate myself for even wanting to watch this. The premise that children on their own will somehow show the adult world how it's supposed to work is something that must have been invented by non parents. Plus, it seems the worst kind of exploitative to put children in this situation and film them. I was somewhat ok with it til I looked at the cast list and saw some 7 and 8 year olds. I have an 8 year old and it sickens me to think of putting him through a reality TV show like this. Thankfully, I will only be able to DVR the last half hour of this one, since two other shows I want to see (one of which is #1 on this very list) already air at 8 on Wednesdays.

Cavemen
Tuesday, ABC, 8

Admit it, you slow down when you pass car wrecks. You scan the scene with a morbid curiosity. Well, that feeling is exactly why this show based on the cavemen from the Geico commercials (a concept directly taken from Phil Hartman's classic Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer skit on SNL) will get the 3 ep test. That's right, a TV show based on a commercial based on a SNL skit. It looks so awful, I just... can't... look... away.

Bionic Woman
Wednesday, NBC, 9

I wasn't really at all interested in this one until I read a couple of very positive views referencing Alias. Hmm, Alias? Alright, I'll give this retread a chance.

Reaper
Tuesday, CW, 9

Kevin Smith directs the pilot and produces the show. Doesn't mean anything to you? Oh, ok, how 'bout the premise? "Slacker geek Sam discovers his parents sold his soul to Satan before he was even born. And now, on his 21st birthday, the evil one has come to collect. Luckily, Sam can work off his debt by rounding up escaped evil souls and shipping them back down to hell." Still not your cup o' tea? Yeah, I guess your right, never mind. (silently slinks off to secretly program DVR, hoping no one will question his Christianity for doing so.)

Back to You
Wednesday, FOX, 8

Probably the show I'm most on the fence about. This new sitcom starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton could be Newsradio great or a Joey type nightmare. I haven't seen enough to know which way it is leaning but if the leads have the chemistry it might be the first conventional sitcom I have liked in a long, long time.

Chuck
Monday, NBC, 8

It stars the guy I really liked in "Less than Perfect" and has a pretty cool concept (everyday dude becomes CIAs most wanted when loads of sensitive material is downloaded directly to his brain.) It also looks as if there is a big dose of humor. Can't wait to see if it works.

American Band
Friday, FOX, 8

Plain and simple, American Idol meets your local independent garage band. I'm there.

Journeyman
Monday, NBC, 10

Maybe my nostalgic longing for new Quantum Leap episodes has infected my usually over analytical brain, but I'm pretty excited about this new time travel show. In fact, I think it's enough like Leap that if I play the theme song from Quantum Leap before watching each episode I can almost trick myself into seeing Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell instead of whoever they have in this one. Woo-Hoo Quantum Leap is back baby!

Pushing Daisies
Wednesday, ABC, 8

The sure fire show to fill the "Wife of Dice" begrudgingly addicted slot. Every season there is one show that I get excited about that my wife does not want to start watching. I usually leave them on the DVR "just in case" she wants to check them out, which is closely followed by her quick descent into fandom and addiction. Lost and The Office have both filled this slot in the past, but this year I'm pretty sure it's gonna be Pushing Daisies. I don't know that I could do the premise justice so here's the official write up. "As a young boy, Ned discovered his touch could bring dead people back to life. But if he touched them again, they died again ... this time for good. Now an adult, Ned learns of the murder of his childhood sweetheart, Chuck, and he revives her -- knowing they can never come into physical contact again." When lost returns in January, ABC will own Wednesdays with a powerful one two punch. That is, of course, as long as Pushing Daisies passes the 3 ep test.

I'll let you know October 24th.