Pop Culture Podcast
Popspotting #142: “Pan Am & NBC Comedies†(Oct. 4, 2011)
This week we tackle another batch of new fall shows, including “Pan Am” (starring Christina Ricci, Kelli Garner, Margot Robbie, Karine Vanasse, Mike Vogel and Michael Mosley, Sundays on ABC), “Terra Nova” (Mondays on FOX), “Person of Interest” (Thursdays on CBS), and “Up All Night” (starring Wil Arnett and Christina Applegate, Thursdays on NBC).
We also pay tribute to our favorite half-hour comedy sitcoms on NBC, including “The Office,” “Parks & Recreation,” and “Community.” Alas, no “30 Rock” until next year!
After hearing you guys talk about some of the new shows, I decided to give some a try. Surprisingly, I am charmed by Pan Am. I didn’t think I would like it, but it has a great cast and their characters are really growing on me. I enjoyed the pilot of A Gifted Man, but was bored by the second episode. I’m not really a fan of procedural shows with a few exceptions (early ER and the first CSI) so unless they give their terrific cast something more to do…meh. Terra Nova is also very predictable so far, but I’m curious (and my 9YO likes the dinosaurs). The one stand out for me was Homeland on Showtime. I was not at all interested in the premise, but the show is well acted and well paced. It’s an old-fashioned thriller. I haven’t caught up on Person of Interest yet, but I am planning to. Can’t wait to see Michael Emerson again!