NBC is rolling out the artwork for the new additions to the network’s fall lineup, and one thing is perfectly clear – the PR department has pumped out some serious tag lines. Among the new shows receiving poster treatment are Whitney, Prime Suspect, Up All Night, Grimm, Free Agents, and The Playboy Club (above), which Matt has previously covered.
The Playboy Club is, of course, NBC’s shot at capitalizing on the success of AMC’s Mad Men, much like ABC’s upcoming Pan Am.
The one-hour dramatic, crime series is set in the world of owner Hugh M. Hefner’s 1960′s-era ‘Playboy Clubs’. Hodge’s script follows a group of women working as Playboy ‘Bunnies’ in the original, and first Chicago club.
And the tag line reads: “Don’t let the fluffy tails fool you.” I assume that’s to let us know that they’re not actually rabbits. Like, don’t worry guys, they’re not genetic freaks. Although that might be considerably cooler. Sexy mutant rabbit women. I’m on to something here.
Check out the other show descriptions and tag lines after the jump.
Synopsis:
NBC’s new multi-camera comedy “Whitney” is a hilarious look at modern day love, which centers around Whitney (Whitney Cummings, “Chelsea Lately”) and Alex (Chris D’Elia, “Glory Daze”), a happily unmarried couple. Together for three years, the duo is in no rush to get hitched, which seems to get a mixed response from their friends.
At the end of the day, Whitney and Alex try to have a relationship on their own terms – in a world that expects a more traditional approach.
Tag line: “Women are like emotional ninjas. ‘I’m fine’ means I’m going to stab you in the neck.”
Whitney Cummings won our hearts as the attractive foul-mouthed comedienne to Lisa Lampanelli’s “Have I mentioned why black guys love me?” shtick at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump. Since then she became a hot commodity and CBS picked up her series 2 Broke Girls (she’s only a writer and creator) while NBC picked up Whitney.
Whereas 2 Broke Girls has an actual story – two waitresses from different backgrounds live together and plan to raise $250,000 to open their own cupcake shop – Whitney seems to just be more of NBC’s time-honored relationship humor. But now they’ve added ninja jokes, so it’s relevant in 2008.
Synopsis:
Christina Applegate (“Samantha Who?”) stars as Reagan Brinkley: loving wife, successful career woman, life of the party and, most recently, mom. Determined not to compromise her career or cool reputation to the cliches of motherhood, Reagan adjusts to life with a baby and returns to work with the support of her stay-at-home husband, Chris (Will Arnett, “Arrested Development”). As Reagan and Chris figure out their new life, self-doubt, sleep deprivation and the pressure of today’s parenting protocols rattle their confidence. What’s more, the endless needs of Reagan’s boss, ambitious but vulnerable talk-show host Ava (Maya Rudolph, “Saturday Night Live,” “Bridesmaids”), threaten to throw Reagan off balance.
Tag line: “Sleep is for babies.”
As I noted earlier, the plot has changed since the pilot was filmed, but aside from the fact that Nick Cannon is being shoe-horned into the cast as Maya Rudolph’s plot problem, this show carries the benefit of Lorne Michaels’ care. However, it’s going to be difficult watching Will Arnett raise a baby that isn’t the product of mixing his semen with that of a black dancer.
And yes, I could have just combined the last post with this blurb, but I felt that it needs to be news when Cannon receives new jobs, so we know who to blame for TV’s ongoing injustices. I only wish I could tell you that this is the last time he’ll be mentioned on this site today.
Synopsis:
If being a homicide detective in New York isn’t tough enough, having to contend with a male-dominated police department to get respect makes it that much tougher. And that’s exactly what Jane Timoney has to do. She’s an outsider who was just transferred to a new precinct where a fraternity of cops isn’t willing to give her the benefit of the doubt – especially given the way they think she got the job after an illicit affair with her boss.
Jane is by no means perfect, and with her own vices and questionable past she can be forceful, willful, rude, and downright reckless. She’s also a brilliant cop with an uncanny ability to see what others miss, and get inside a criminal’s head like no one else. While she wouldn’t admit it, she wants the respect of the men in her life – including her commanding officer, her fellow detectives, and her complicated boyfriend and his young son – but above all, she keeps her eye on one thing: the prime suspect.
Tag line: “Cop. An Attitude.”
Come on, that tag can’t be real. I like Maria Bello (especially in A History of Violence *wink, nudge*) and Peter Berg is solid behind the camera. But I can’t get past three things – fedora, scarf, vest. It’s like the Entourage of dramatic cop shows.
Synopsis:
Detective Nick Burkhardt thought he was ready for the grim reality of working homicide in Portland, Oregon. That is, until he started to see things… things he couldn’t quite explain. Like a gorgeous woman suddenly transforming into a hideous hag, or an average Joe turning into a vicious troll. Then, after a panicked visit from his only living relative, Nick discovers the truth about his visions: he’s not like everyone else, he’s a descendant of an elite group of hunters known as “Grimms” who are charged with stopping the proliferation of supernatural creatures in the world. And so begins his new life journey – albeit a reluctant one at first – as he solves crimes with his partner who knows something about Nick has radically changed but can’t quite put his finger on it. Along the way, Nick finds himself unexpectedly getting help on some of the more difficult cases from Monroe, a guy who seems normal at first but is soon revealed to be what you might call a “big bad wolf.” Literally!
While the Brothers Grimm wrote fairy tales that children have adored for generations, imagine if the villains were real, and Nick was the only one who could stop them.
Tag line: “Not your usual suspects.”
Six episodes. Tops.
Synopsis:
Hank Azaria (“The Simpsons,” “Huff”) stars as newly divorced Alex, who is missing his kids and trying to keep himself together. Alex’s co-worker Helen (Kathryn Hahn, “Hung”) thinks she has it together, but she drinks too much in order to cope with her fiance’s untimely death. It’s no surprise then when these two overworked public relations executives share an ill-fated night of passion and are forced to cope with the awkward aftermath.
Tag line: “Never take your work home with you.”
“Uh. Oh.” Huh? No. I thought this was possibly a Mr. and Mrs. Smith type deal at first, in which they’re both CIA operatives or something of that nature. But two PR executives struggling with their failed relationships? Pass.
