TRAILERS: Our Review Of CBS' Trailers For Their New Series - 2012

TRAILERS: Our Review Of CBS' Trailers For Their New Series - 2012

CBS has released the full length trailers for the new series they ordered for the 2012-2013 season. Read their respective press releases, watch the trailers and discover our predictions for cancellation, as well as our final rating for CBS, after the jump.

Made In Jersey

(Fridays this fall: 10pm ET)

MADE IN JERSEY is a drama about a young working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete among her pedigreed Manhattan colleagues at a prestigious New York law firm. Martina Garretti (Janet Montgomery) finds her firm’s cutthroat landscape challenging, but what she lacks in an Ivy League education she more than makes up for with tenacity and blue-collar insight. After just a few weeks, firm founder Donovan Stark (Kyle MacLachlan), takes note of Martina’s ingenuity and resourcefulness, as does her sassy secretary Cyndi Vega (Toni Trucks). With the support of her big Italian family, including her sexy older sister Bonnie (Erin Cummings), Martina is able to stay true to her roots as a bold, passionate lawyer on the rise in a new intimidating environment. Jamie Tarses, Kevin Falls, Julia Franz and Mark Waters, who also directed the pilot, are the executive producers for Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Television Studios. Pilot was written by creator and co-executive producer Dana Calvo.

Though it admittedly immediately brings to mind the outstanding hit show The Good Wife, this looks like it could be an interesting take on the 'fish-out-of-water' idea CBS rarely uses. 


Made In Jersey's success will somewhat rely on the lead's charisma to carry the show as it is clearly character driven, so here's to hoping that Janet Montgomery doesn't follow in the footsteps of Zooey Deschanel and fast wear out her welcome.


TRAILER: 7.47/10


Prediction for Cancellation: 3.75/10


Elementary

(Thursdays this fall: 10pm ET)

ELEMENTARY stars Jonny Lee Miller as detective Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson in a modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD’s most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in Londonand a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare – a sober companion, Dr. Watson. A successful surgeon until she lost a patient and her license three years ago, Watson views her current job as another opportunity to help people, as well as paying a penance. However, The Restless Sherlock is nothing like her previous clients. He informs her that none of her expertise as an addiction specialist applies to him and he’s devised his own post-rehab regimen – resuming his work as a police consultant in New York City. Watson has no choice but to accompany her irascible new charge on his jobs. But Sherlock finds her medical background helpful, and Watson realizes she has a knack for playing investigator. Sherlock’s police contact, Capt. Tobias “Toby” Gregson (Aidan Quinn), knows from previous experience working with Scotland Yard that Sherlock is brilliant at closing cases, and welcomes him as part of the team. With the mischievous Sherlock Holmes now running free in New Yorksolving crimes, it’s simple deduction that he’s going to need someone to keep him grounded, and it’s elementary that it’s a job for Watson. Rob Doherty, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Michael Cuesta, who directed the pilot, are executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

We have been looking forward to Elementary since its pilot was picked up back in January, so we're pleased to at last be able to see the final result.


The premise looks strong, as do the two leads (though the reception to Lucy Liu's casting as Watson, Sherlock Holmes' well-known sidekick, was far from warm), but with comparisons already being made between Elementary and the critic's darling that is the BBC's Sherlock, the show will have a lot to prove come September. 


TRAILER: 8.01/10


Prediction for Cancellation: 4/10



Partners

(Mondays this fall: 08:30pm ET)

PARTNERS is a comedy based on the lives of creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, about two life-long best friends and business partners whose “bromance” is tested when one of them is engaged to be married. Joe (David Krumholtz) is an accomplished architect who leads with his head and not his heart, especially in his love life. That’s in stark contrast to his gay co-worker, Louis (Michael Urie), who is spontaneous, emotional and prone to exaggeration. Both have found joy in their love lives: Joe is newly engaged to Ali (Sophia Bush), a beautiful and sophisticated jewelry designer, while Louis is dating Wyatt (Brandon Routh), a vegan nurse who Louis insists is just a promotion away from becoming a doctor. As news of Joe’s engagement settles, time will tell if their business and personal bond can adapt to the addition of two other important relationships. Emmy Award winners David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television. Emmy Award winner James Burrows directed the pilot.

We had our doubts about Partners from the minute its synopsis was revealed, and it looks like they were well-founded. 


While we have loved Michael Urie since his turn as the fabulous Marc St. James in the much-missed Ugly Betty, we cannot allow bias to colour our judgement of this show. As such, Partners looks like a combination of Will & Grace (appropriate since its creators are behind this new venture) and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, yet lacks the magic of both. Several of the jokes (such as the arguably offensive allegation that gay men have a fascination with large breasts) played themselves out on both shows many moons ago, yet it seems that David Kohan and Max Mutchnick didn't get the memo.


The lead actors also appear to feign chemistry, and lack the cohesive partnership that it would require to pull this show off. We expect this show to go the way of last year's much-maligned How To Be A Gentleman.


TRAILER: 5.02/10


Prediction for Cancellation: 7.2/10


Vegas








(Tuesdays this fall: 10pm ET)

Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis star in VEGAS, a drama inspired by the true story of former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, a fourth-generation rancher tasked with bringing order to Las Vegas in the 1960s, a gambling and entertainment mecca emerging from the tumbleweeds. Ralph Lamb (Quaid) wants to be left in peace to run his ranch, but Las Vegas is now swelling with outsiders and corruption which are intruding on his simple life. Recalling Lamb's command as a military police officer during World War II, the Mayor appeals to his sense of duty to look into a murder of a casino worker – and so begins Lamb’s clash with Vincent Savino (Chiklis), a ruthless Chicago gangster who plans to make Vegas his own. Assisting Lamb in keeping Law And Order are his two deputies: his diplomatic, even-keeled brother Jack (Jason O'Mara) and his charming but impulsive son, Dixon (Taylor Handley). Ambitious Assistant District Attorney Katherine O'Connell (Carrie-Anne Moss), who grew up on the ranch next to the Lambs, also lends a hand in preserving justice. In Vegas, two powerful men – Lamb and Savino – are engaged in a fierce battle for control of the budding oasis, and for both of them, folding is not an option. Nicholas Pileggi, Greg Walker, Cathy Konrad, Arthur Sarkissian and James Mangold, who also directed the pilot, are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

One of the better pilots to emerge this admittedly weak season, Vegas looks like it could be a sure fire hit with the Justified audience. The strong additions of Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis (who shone as Vic Mackey in the critically acclaimed The Shield) should also take this series far.


TRAILER: 8.15/10


Prediction for Cancellation: 2.57/10


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With an average of 7.16, CBS' new series have a noticeably weaker rating than last year's 8.36. However, it must be noted that the network still has a stronger selection for this season than the likes of Fox and NBC, who have clearly struggled in the last few years to land any new hit shows. 


Its average cancellation prediction is also a low 4.38, reflecting the fact that CBS has a famously high retention rate.


Expect the network to emerge, once again, as victor at the end of the upcoming season.




Tune in tomorrow for our thoughts on ABC's newly-ordered series.