FOR many TV viewers, myself included, the arrival of new series in summer rivals the bounty in fall.
That's because the cable networks are quickly supplanting the old broadcast bunch as the suppliers of quality dramas and even now, decent comedies.
Indeed, while the broadcast bunch has lapsed into reruns and reality drivel, it's great to see new episodes of cable shows including "The Closer," "Burn Notice," "Amazing Grace," "Raising the Bar" and "Rescue Me."
Two new arrivals, one on USA and the other on Showtime, may be worthy of attention.
NO 'ROYAL PAINS'
Sometimes, the creators of a new show manage to combine just the right actor with just the right story in just the right setting.
That's the way it felt watching the premiere of "Royal Pains," the story of
Mark Feuerstein ("Defiance," "Good Morning, Miami") is solid and perfectly cast as Hank, the hotshot who lets a hospital benefactor die as he shifts his attention to another patient in trauma.
This costs him his job and his model girlfriend. He reacts by turning into a couch potato, to the point where his devil-may-care brother, Evan (Paulo Costanzo) drags him off to a weekend in the Hamptons.
At a society party at the home of sketchy mogul named Boris (Campbell Scott), Hank is there and saves a guest during a medical emergency.
Soon, everyone assumes he's one of the Hamptons' many "concierge doctors," physicians who cater to the rich and famous.
The conscientious Hank doesn't cater to this idea, but he's getting called for more emergencies. And a physician's assistant (an interesting Reshma Shetty) who wants to set up his concierge practice arrives with a portable medical office in the back of her SUV.
"HankMed" is born, with brother Evan, an accountant, picking himself as CFO.
Still, Hank is ready to head back to the mainland until he meets Jill (Jill Flint), the beautiful and committed administrator of the hospital all the rich folks avoid. She's enough to swing the balance to staying.
The pilot was well-acted, with a snappy story that set the stage and tone, and benefited immensely from pretty Hamptons backdrops.
It's one of the best and surest pilots I've seen, and
UNSURE ON 'JACKIE'
The one sure thing on "Nurse Jackie," Showtime's new half-hour drama, is that star Edie Falco ("The Sopranos") is going to be special and memorable.
The thing that's still unsure, after the pilot, is whether this show is worth her talent.
The irritating thing about almost all new shows on pay-cable networks is that they feel they have to titillate and push boundaries, regardless of whether the story demands it.
To this end, Falco's Jackie isn't just a dedicated, caring nurse, she's one who has a pain-medication addition and an affair going on with
Making characters flawed can make them interesting and real if the story calls for it. Making them that way just for hype falls flat.
In the pilot, Falco made you care and cry one minute, and laugh the next.
But all her problems and failings were a lot to swallow in 30 minutes.
We'll have to see if the stories and failings seem sensible and something approaching real as the show continues.
Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com
| WHAT: "Royal Pains" WHEN: Thursday nights at 10 WHERE: USA WHAT: "Nurse Jackie" WHEN: Monday nights at 10:30 WHERE: Showtime |