PilotWatch: EMILY OWENS, M.D.

CW Tuesdays @ 9/8c

What's it about?
At long last, Emily Owens feels like she is an actual grown-up.  She can finally put her high school days as the geeky-girl-with-flop-sweats behind her.  She's graduated from medical school, and she's beginning an internships at Denver Memorial Hospital, where, not-so-coincidentally, her med-school crush Will Collins is also an intern.  So why does everyone keep warning Emily that the hospital is just like high school?  She will soon find out the hard way.  Even with the long hours, the heavy workload, and no shortage of personal drama filling her first days as an intern, Emily still fees like she's the new geeky kid all over again, and it's just as awkward as high school.  At Denver Memorial, Emily is just beginning to learn that although she may be a geek, she may also grow to be a great doctor, flop sweats and all.
(from CW.com)

You should watch if...
• ...you need another surgical intern TV show post-SCRUBS/GREY'S ANATOMY.
• ...you need another TV show with an "adorkable," insecure, bumbling female lead.
• ...you're following the careers of Meryl Streep's seemingly endless brood of blonde actress daughters.

So, how was it?
I'm a huge fan of Mamie Gummer's work on THE GOOD WIFE -- her deceptively naive midwestern Lawyer, Nancy Crozier, has been a devious and delightful adversary.  So I was looking forward to seeing Ms. Gummer get a chance to headline her own show, although I was at the same time a bit nervous, considering A) it's just another doctor show and B) it's on the CW.

As I suspected, Ms. Gummer is by far the best thing about this show.  It's refreshing to see a show on the CW not starring a stick-thin, runway-ready, drop-dead gorgeous model/actress.  Not that Mamie Gummer is unattractive, but she's decidedly more "real" looking than any other actress on the CW I can think of off the top of my head.  It's especially fortunate they went for talent over looks this time, considering the show isn't actually all that great.  This would be a certified flop if you swapped out, say, Kristin Kreuk for the lead.

EMILY OWENS, M.D. sadly brings nothing new to the operating table (rimshot!) -- it's just another iteration of the medical intern genre already pioneered by both SCRUBS and GREY'S ANATOMY.  As GA has just begun its ninth season, there's very little of that dead horse left to beat, but the CW execs seem to think it's a great time to resurrect it.  Too bad, then, that they essentially carbon-copied the GA pilot instead of finding anything new to say.  Consider:  We're following our nervous blonde medical intern with a thing for voiceovers on her first day at a teaching hospital.  She meets the other interns in the locker room, among whom are friends, foes, and potential lovers.  There's a black Chief of Surgery.  Their resident is unforgivingly tough, and starts the day by outlining her long list of rules.  The nervous blonde intern is put in charge of a young patient whose seemingly innocuous condition takes a sudden turn for the worse when no one else is around and she has to run the code herself.  One intern has a tough-as-nails doctor parent.  Another doctor has a parent who has a life-threatening medical condition that's being kept secret.  Ring any bells?  (If you're not familiar with GA, every single one of those plot points is taken DIRECTLY from the pilot of that show.)

The only differences between the EO pilot and the GA pilot are that Emily underscores the entire hour with voiceovers, as opposed to the opening and closing monologues by Meredith Grey; Emily is much more the "lead" of EO, whereas Meredith is just the focal point of a large ensemble cast; and the unavoidable love story on EO is so much more cliché.  Remember the surprise of finding out Meredith's one-night stand was actually her boss and the awkwardness that ensued?  On EO, we're treated to a boring love triangle where the lead is obsessed with a guy who's no good for her while another equally cute guy doctor is secretly pining after her.  Been there, done that.

All of this probably makes it sound like I loathed the show; I didn't.  Mamie Gummer is such a magnetic actress -- she oozes relatability -- that you can't help but fall in love with her.  I just hope that her character undergoes some fast change and outgrows her "adorkableness" (she is currently given to using words like 'ooky' and staring at men's jawlines).  I also hope the writers decide to find a unique voice for the show -- even its marketing campaign is a carbon copy of another medical show this year -- THE MINDY PROJECT.  (TMP tagline: For everyone whose life is a work in progress. EO tagline: Practicing medicine. Working on life.)

And the verdict is:
Okay. I may give it another episode or two to see if it gets better.
Based on Ms. Gummer alone, I'm willing to give this show one or two more episodes to see if it will come into its own and stop borrowing (or stealing wholesale) plots from earlier, better shows.  If EMILY OWENS, M.D. doesn't improve, then I'll just cross my fingers and hope for an early cancellation so Ms. Gummer can move on to something deserving of her talents.

What about you, Fellow Addicts?  Will you be checking into Denver Memorial Hospital for another visit?  Or have you already signed your discharge papers?  Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!

What did you think of EMILY OWENS, M.D.?

PilotWatch: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

CW Thursdays @ 9/8c

What's it about?
Catherine "Cat" Chandler is a smart, no-nonsense homicide detective, who is haunted by her own tragic past.  When she was a teenager, Cat witnessed the murder of her mother at the hands of two gunmen.  Cat would have been killed too, but someone - or something - saved her.  No one has ever believed her, but she knows it wasn't an animal that attacked the assassins...though it was strange and terrifying, it was human.  Years have passed, and although she thinks about her mother every day, Cat is now strong and confident, a capable police detective working with her equally talented partner, Tess Vargas.  While investigating a new case Cat and Tess discover fingerprints that lead to a handsome doctor named Vincent Keller, who was reportedly killed by enemy fire while serving in Afghanistan in 2002.  Digging deeper, Cat learns that Vincent is actually still alive.  For mysterious reasons that have forced him to live outside of traditional society, Vincent has been in hiding for the past 10 years.  With the help of his childhood friend J.T. Forbes, Vincent has been able to guard his terrible secret - when he is enraged, he becomes a terrifying beast, unable to control his super-strength and heightened senses.  Cat is stunned when Vincent admits he was the "animal" who saved her the night of her mother's murder.  Vincent doesn't admit the whole truth - he is emotionally tied to Cat and has been watching over her for years.
(from CW.com)

You should watch if...
• ...you can buy Kristin Kreuk as a "smart, no-nonsense homicide detective."
• ...you can buy a handsome doctor with a scar on his cheek as the "Beast."
• ...you really, really need a good laugh on Thursday nights.

So, how was it?
Do you really need me to spell out how horrible this show was for you?  Fine, if you insist.  But let me be brief.  Here's a list:

• Kristin Kreuk (SMALLVILLE) plays Cat, a wispy young woman who decided to become an NYPD detective instead of a lawyer after watching her mother gunned down in front of her.  She struts around like a seasoned cop (she's so cool!), she follows up on leads without her partner (she's so smart!), and she beats up on men literally twice her size (she's so strong!).  Oh, and she also falls for the mysterious dude with a scar on his face and pretty intense anger management issues (she's such a good role model!).

• Jay Ryan (TERRA NOVA) is Vincent aka the "Beast" of this story.  Somewhere along the line, the writers seem to have forgotten what source material their show took its name from.  Or maybe it's my memory that's faulty - isn't the Beast supposed to be a conceited man cursed to look like a hideous monster?  Well, in this iteration he's a handsome young doctor who volunteered for the Army after his brother was killed in 9/11 and underwent an experimental procedure that now causes him to become an uncontrollable rage monster when his adrenaline spikes.  The exact science behind his affliction seems a bit sketchy to me, but short of turning green, isn't this more an adaptation of The Incredible Hulk than Beauty And The Beast?

• They've turned a scary, romantic, complex fairy tale into a police procedural.  Okay, I understand wanting to update a fairy tale to modern times (just look at the success of ONCE UPON A TIME), but a police procedural?  I mean, really??  As though there aren't enough of those already... And making Cat (Belle) and Vincent (Beast) basically cop buddies who run around NYC solving crimes together? Come onnnnn.

And the verdict is:
Atrocious. I will never watch this show again. Ever.
As if the three bullet points above aren't enough to make you roll your eyes in disbelief, there's also the clunky, groan-inducing writing, the totally uninteresting murder mystery, and the horrible visual effects (CW obviously blew their whole effects budget this year on ARROW).  Steer clear of this dud at all costs.  You were warned.

What did you think, Fellow Addicts?  Were you as appalled as I was by the desecration of a beloved fairy tale?  Or did you, god forbid, actually find something to enjoy about it?  Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!

What did you think of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST?

PilotWatch: ARROW

CW Wednesdays @ 8/7c

What's it about?
After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific.  When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island.  While Oliver hides the truth about the man he's become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was.  Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance.  As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow - a vigilante - to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory.  By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be - flanked by his devoted chauffer/bodyguard, John Diggle - while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness.  However, Laurel's father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city.  Meanwhile, Oliver's own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on - and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine.
(from CW.com)

You should watch if...
• ...you're a comic book fan.
• ...you're an action movie fan.
• ...you're a CW fan.

So, how was it?
First of all, let me say that I am not familiar at all with the Green Arrow comics, so I will be judging the show based solely on its own merits, and not on its source material.  With that out of the way, let me next admit that I enjoyed the ARROW pilot way more than I expected to.  I've never been a huge CW fan -- I watched RINGER last year, but that was more out of a train-wreck level of fascination than anything else.  But ARROW seems promising, at least in a fun, pulpy, escapist way.

Those unfamiliar with Green Arrow (like myself) may be struck at the apparent mishmash of different source materials.  The weakest part about this show is that there is nothing inherently unique about it.  The rich boy scarred by tragedy donning a costume and using his infinite resources to fight crime in his beloved city is straight out of Batman.  The secretly-brooding crime-fighter outwardly maintaining his billionaire playboy image is pulled from both Batman and Iron Man.  The superhero with a love interest whose father is a cop devoted to hunting down the "dangerous vigilante" is just like Spider-Man.  The gritty, "realistic" tone is reminiscent of Nolan's Dark Knight films.  The wealthy child returning to his hometown to wreak vengeance on those who hurt his family, complete with a handy checklist of villains, is pulled directly from ABC'S REVENGE (or, more accurately, from The Count Of Monte Cristo, the material REVENGE itself is inspired by).  Because of this, some may spend a good bit of time during the pilot thinking, "been there, seen that."  However, there is enough going for this series for it to transcend its myriad inspirations.

Stephen Amell (HUNG, PRIVATE PRACTICE) stars as Oliver Queen, aka Arrow.  He's your typical CW hunk, with a chiseled jawline, intense stare, and abs of steel.  But he also surprised me by not being totally wooden -- I believed him both in flashbacks as a rich delinquent, as a terrified youth in a shipwreck, and as a tortured young man dealing with the aftermath of mysterious, traumatic events.  And he can kick serious butt.  One thing I found refreshing about Oliver's superhero alter ego, and something that helps to distinguish him from Batman, is his total willingness to kill bad guys.  It makes the show darker, the character more complex -- he's fighting crime, but he's also essentially a murderer.

Amell is joined by a generally terrific supporting cast.  CW mainstay Katie Cassidy (GOSSIP GIRL, SUPERNATURAL, MELROSE PLACE, also the underrated HARPER'S ISLAND), is Oliver's love interest, Laurel Lance.  Laurel at first appears to be a cliché whip-smart, plucky, idealistic heroine (she's a young, justice-obsessed lawyer), but she and Oliver share a surprisingly dark backstory that made me more interested in her character than I initially thought I would be.  Paul Blackthorne (24, THE RIVER), is Quentin Lance, Laurel's father and the detective obsessed with bringing Arrow to justice, who also harbors a well-deserved grudge against Oliver.  Susanna Thompson (ONCE AND AGAIN, KINGS) is Oliver's mother, Moira, who is a large reason I will keep tuning in, due to a last-minute twist.

In a time when genre shows attempt to pander to a family-friendly audience (in an effort to achieve the highest ratings possible) to their detriment (*cough*terranova*cough*), it was refreshing to see a comic book/fantasy/sci-fi show embrace its dark nature.  What with Oliver's willingness to kill, his dark backstory with Laurel and her father, a surprising last minute twist, and a particularly brutal scene in a lifeboat, ARROW is decidedly not family-friendly fare.

Perhaps the show's strongest asset is its flashback-heavy structure.  As someone unfamiliar with the source material, I can't wait to see Oliver's backstory unfold and learn more about how he became a superhero.  I'm glad that the writers chose not to go a linear route and explain his whole backstory in the pilot, ending with him returning to Starling City to pursue justice.  It's clear from the way they've structured the pilot that there is much more than meets the eye in regards to what happened to Oliver on the island and the shady events that led up to the shipwreck.  As a die-hard LOST fan, I'm interested as a rule in any show built around flashbacks.

And the verdict is:
Solid. I'm interested and will definitely keep watching for the foreseeable future.
While not the most original, unique, or ground-breaking show, ARROW is good fun and a solid genre show in a time of light-hearted fantasy fare.  I'm looking forward to watching the flashbacks unfold and the introduction of more long-term villains.  Unless there's a sudden dip in quality, I can see ARROW becoming a fun diversion I look forward to every week.  Here's hoping.

Your turn, Fellow Addicts!  Were you surprised by how fun (and dark) ARROW was?  Or did you find it too unoriginal to be exciting?  Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!

What did you think of ARROW?

PilotWatch: NASHVILLE

ABC Wednesdays @ 10/9c

What's it about?
Music legend Rayna Jaymes reigns as the Queen of Country, but after two decades, her grip on the throne is slipping.  Rayna refuses to be steamrolled by her record label as they present a new arrangement.  And in the face of an evolving industry, Rayna is struggling to adapt and reinvent herself, which she must do if she plans to stay relevant.  Juliette Barnes is sexy, sassy, and trails trouble in her wake -- she's also the country's #1 crossover artist.  In her climb to the top, Juliette's public image is threatened by circumstances she struggles to control.  And while she is determined to sit on Rayna's throne, Juliette refuses to deal with her difficult past.  Nashville is Music City U.S.A.  It's where today's top recording artists lay down tracks while tomorrow's undiscovered talent fight to be heard.  With the backdrop of a thriving contemporary music scene, and a tense mayoral race, NASHVILLE takes us into the cutthroat world of music and politics, showing what it really means to become a star and stay one.
(from ABC.com)

You should watch if...
• ...you're a fan of country music.
• ...you're a fan of Connie Britton or Hayden Panettierre.
• ...you're a fan of compelling television.

So, how was it?
NASHVILLE is one of 2012's best-written, most compelling dramas.  It's full of complex characters, beautiful music, and backstabbing back-room deals.  What more could you want from a show?

Connie Britton burns up the screen as Rayna Jaymes, the aging Queen of Country determined to hold on to her crown.  She's nominally our heroine, yet she is deeply flawed -- insecure, competitive, stubborn, scared and proud.  She flows with ease between commanding stage performances, quiet personal moments, and hysterical screaming matches.  Fans of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS or AMERICAN HORROR STORY will be thrilled to see the talented Ms. Britton shining front-and-center for once.  NASHVILLE will rise or fall based on her performance, and one episode in, it's a rousing success.

It doesn't hurt that she's surrounded by a cast of equally-layered characters played by equally-talented performers.  Hayden Panettiere is Juliette Barnes (aka Taylor Swift's evil, slutty twin), the young starlet poised to dethrone Rayna.  She's conniving, manipulative, and hungry for power, but also possesses an undeniable talent, as well as a family history she'd rather keep secret.  Powers Boothe (24) chews up the scenery as Rayna's powerful father.  Relative newcomer Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio (EPISODES) are two up-and-coming talents whose soulful duet is one of the pilot's highlights.

Apart from the powerhouse performances, the best thing about NASHVILLE is its authenticity.  Shot on location in Tennessee, the pilot features such famous places as the Grand Ole Opry and the Bluebird Cafe.  All of the original music is executive produced by T-Bone Burnett and written by the likes of John Paul White of The Civil Wars.  The show, while ostensibly about Rayna and Juliette, manages to be so much more -- it's as much about the discovery of new talent, the running of a record label, and the songwriting process, as it is about the power struggle between two divas.

My one issue with the show is its political subplot.  In the middle of the fascinating, in-depth look at the music business, we get a cliché story line about a possibly corrupt man and his interest in the race for mayor of Nashville.  At least in the pilot, this subplot felt like a superfluous distraction from the main event.  Hopefully the race will either become integral to the plot or be dropped quickly.  But that's a minor quibble from a fantastic hour of television.

And the verdict is:
Certifiably ADDICTive. A must-see.
In a world of shaky pilots that may or may not find their footing as good shows, NASHVILLE arrives loudly and proudly on the scene, fully confident of what kind of series it wants to be.  It's this self-assurance that will draw in viewers and keep them coming back for more.  With its focus on such a popular genre of music, its compelling characters, and its authentic atmosphere, I will be shocked if this doesn't become one of 2012's biggest breakout hits.

Your turn, Fellow Addicts! Are you as addicted as I am to the world of NASHVILLE? Or were you not a fan?  Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!

What did you think of NASHVILLE?

PilotWatch: CHICAGO FIRE

NBC Wednesdays @ 10/9c

What's it about?
From renowned, Emmy Award-winning executive producer Dick Wolf ("Law & Order" brand) and creators Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, the writing team behind "3:10 to Yuma," comes the high-octane drama "Chicago Fire," - an edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America's noblest professions.  For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful or dangerous, yet so rewarding and exhilarating.  These courageous men and women are among the elite who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way and whose actions make the difference between life and death.  The pressure to perform on such a high level has a way of taking a personal toll, sometimes putting team members from the Truck and the specially trained Rescue Squad at odds with each other.  Despite any differences, this is an extended family, and when it's "go time," everyone inside Firehouse 51 knows no other way...
(from NBC.com)

You should watch if...
• ...you're desperate for a procedural that doesn't involve lawyers or doctors or cops.
• ...you've got a thing for excessively manly men staring broodingly at each other.
• ...you're a pyromaniac.

So, how was it?
It's hard to believe that this train wreck of a show made it to the air over other NBC pilots such as Bryan Fuller's MOCKINGBIRD LANE (which will now be burnt off as a Friday-before-Halloween one-night special -- watch the trailer for it here.)  I was also surprised by how tired it already felt, one episode in, especially coming from the mind of the famous Dick Wolf -- and then I remembered how many different versions of LAW & ORDER there have been and realized that while crafting procedurals that draw huge audiences may be one of Wolf's strengths, originality definitely isn't.

While I'm not the biggest fan of procedurals, especially without a unique spin to catch my interest, LAW & ORDER is at least fun in that time-killing, watch-it-while-it's-on-at-the-laundromat way, I can't imagine myself ever paying attention to another hour of CHICAGO FIRE.  And that's due mainly to the large cast filled with unappealing characters.  Seriously, I did not sympathize with one person in this show.  Jesse Spencer (HOUSE) is Matt, who's supposed to be our quiet hero, and instead comes across as a mopey block of wood.  He might be the least annoying character, but that's easy to accomplish when you have zero personality.  Taylor Kinney (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES; also Lady Gaga's boyfriend) is Kelly, the cliché overly-macho jerk who makes everyone's life a living hell but actually harbors a secret pain (I mean that literally - he has pain in his shoulder and it's a secret).  Monica Raymund (THE GOOD WIFE) is Gabriela, the EMT who we're supposed to identify with because of her insecurities, but really she just shouldn't be an EMT if she can't handle the pressure that comes with the job.  Lauren German (HAWAII FIVE-0) is Leslie, Gabriela's EMT partner, who's entire character can be summed up in one words: lesbian.  I know we're supposed to be proud of how progressive the writers are, but her sole defining characteristic is that she's gay, as if that alone is enough to automatically make her interesting.  And newcomer Charlie Barnett is newcomer Peter Mills, who longs to be taken seriously by his fellow firemen, but can't stop looking around with a dopey smile like a kid in a candy store.

Maybe with at least one or two interesting characters, I could have forgiven the hokey action scenes (how many deadly house fires are there in Chicago per day?), the cliché drama ("it's your fault he died!" "no it's your fault he died!"), and the insane fact that every firefighter and EMT working in Firehouse 51 is a chiseled, tan, perfectly-coiffed, tight-tanktop-wearing model who is actually terrible at their job.  Oh wait.  No I couldn't.  Nothing could have saved this show from being a dead-on-arrival flop.

And the verdict is:
Atrocious. I will never watch this show again. Ever.
I have a difficult time believing that this garbage will find as big a following as L&O - hopefully it'll get cancelled soon and everyone can just pretend that this embarrassment never happened.

What do you think, Fellow Addicts?  Am I being too hard on the show?  Or did you find it as painfully bad as I did?  Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!

What did you think of CHICAGO FIRE?

PilotWatch: 666 PARK AVENUE

ABC Sundays @ 10/9c

What's it about?
What would you do to have everything you desire?  Step inside 666 PARK AVENUE, New York's most seductive address.  We all have some burning needs, desires and ambitions.  For the residents of The Drake, the premier apartment building on Manhattan's Upper East Side, these will all be met - for a price - courtesy of the building's mysterious owner, Gavin Doran.  But be careful what you wish for, because the price you have to pay is your soul.
(from ABC.com)

You should watch if...
• ...you like a little creep factor in your drama, but were too freaked out by AMERICAN HORROR STORY.
• ...you need another sexy, soapy drama to follow your weekly REVENGE viewing.
• ...you're a Terry O'Quinn or Vanessa Williams fan ("If?" Who am I kidding, of course you are, they're freakin' fantastic.)

So, how was it?
It's becoming more and more clear that the old maxim is true -- that there are no original ideas left.  There can of course be variations and unique executions, but basically everything's already been done.  And Hollywood is one of the biggest culprits in the idea-stealing business.  That's why last season saw the premieres of two fairy-tale themed shows (ONCE UPON A TIME, GRIMM), and this season saw two competing BEAUTY AND THE BEAST projects (only one of which made it to air, but still).  So it's clear with this show that ABC is capitalizing on the huge success of FX's spooky drama AMERICAN HORROR STORY last year.  666 PARK AVENUE is essentially a network-suitable (read: tamer) version of that blood-soaked ghost-sex fest.  (But thank god it's at least not another lawyer/cop/doctor show!)

Fortunately for us, 666 PARK AVENUE is more a variation on the now-popular haunted house theme and less a direct ripoff of AHS.  There is enough here that is different to separate the two shows while still taking advantage of the burgeoning interest in horror as a TV genre.  Where AHS was a chaotic (but fun) mess of spirits and ghosts, all of which seemed to follow different rules, it is clear from the start that there is a very specific story to The Drake and its inhabitants - a mythology that will unfold throughout the course of the season (and series, perhaps - if it lives that long).

In a beautifully-shot, cringe-inducing opening sequence, we are introduced Gavin Doran, owner of The Drake, played by the always-captivating Terry O'Quinn (LOST).  (Side note: Drake means 'Dragon,' and Gavin Doran is an anagram for Vain Dragon. Coincidence?)  We quickly learn he makes a habit of striking faustian bargains with the residents of his building.  We're led to believe that he's basically the devil, or at least an agent of the devil, but I bet there's more to that story (there pretty much has to be).  His wife Olivia is played by the still-gorgeous Vanessa Williams (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, UGLY BETT) (she really never ages, does she?); Olivia is, at least in the pilot, a less-important presence than her husband, although her few scenes were some of the most interesting ones, in my opinion.  That's my requirement for the writers going forward: more Vanessa Williams, please!

Our protagonists are a young couple who have just moved into The Drake to be the new building managers.  They are Jane (Rachael Taylor of CHARLIE'S ANGELS and GREY'S ANATOMY) and Henry (Dave Annable of BROTHERS & SISTERS) -- they have moved to NYC for Henry's city planning job and Jane, a former architecture student, is the one who assumes most of the managing duties.  Rachael Taylor makes for a lovely and accessible leading lady, who is both intrigued and slightly disturbed by The Drake's mysterious atmosphere.  Dave Annable is by far the weaker of the two leads, but he's not given much to do in the pilot other than look cute and get in a bathtub with his wife.  And I have to say, his constant half-smirk-talking-through-the-corner-of-his-mouth thing drove me inSANE.  But 3 out of 4 solid leads ain't bad.  We're also introduced to several residents of The Drake, including a peeping-tom playwright, his bossy photographer wife, a recent widower, and a young psychic kleptomaniac (yep, that happens).

Not everything works -- while there are some genuinely creepy moments (a violinist's fingers shredding on his strings, a ghostly visitation in the basement, a tense exchange during the opera), there are also a few moments of over-the-top hokeyness ruined by bad TV special effects.  The writers need to remember going forward that less is always more, and what's scariest is usually what isn't shown.  But if they stick to creepy rather than hokey, and continue to capitalize on their strong cast of performers, there's no reason this show shouldn't become a success, especially given its genius time slot.  Placing this soapy, sexy drama on Sunday nights after last year's most popular soapy, sexy drama (REVENGE, of course), all but guarantees that 666 PARK AVENUE will find an audience.

And the verdict is:
Solid. I'm interested and will definitely keep watching.
With some 300+ residents of The Drake, there's a potential for 666 PARK AVENUE to dip into procedural, faustian-bargain-of-the-week territory.  Here's hoping that, even if this happens, the show will mostly continue to explore the mythology established in the pilot and develop its characters as much as its scare tactics.

Your turn, Fellow Addicts!  Were you seduced by 666 PARK AVENUE?  Or are you already checking out?  Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!

What did you think of 666 PARK AVENUE?