Perception (TNT)

Pilot.

Perception is your pretty basic crime solver show. You take an unexpected character with strange attributes (In this Case Eric McCormick with Schizophrenia) and pair them with a real cop (Rachel Lee Cook) and they solve crimes. Neither of the two seemed to have aged much considering they’ve been off of the radar for years now. Rachel Lee Cook is actually an F.B.I. Agent but it’s all the same in the world of T.V. Eric McCormick plays her ex college professor who is some genius when it comes to identifying mental disorders. And he’s written books on the subject or some shit like that. On top of that he has schizophrenia. Cook’s character goes to McCormick for help on an unusual case. Some pharmaceutical executive is murdered and it doesn’t make sense. McCormick goes along in order to help her out. His hallucinations begin to manifest throughout the episode and the course of the case. In some ways it helps him and in others it hinders him. One of his symptoms of his schizophrenia is that a person shows up who isn’t really there. As expected this person helps him with the case and when the case is completely solved this person disappears.

While my description sounds kind of boring it’s not as bad as I’m making it out to be. It’s not spectacular either. The characters are interesting enough. Besides the two main characters McCormick has a student living in his house with him who also happens to be his assistant. This kid seems more like a caretaker to McCormick than anything else. And McCormick talks to a woman who he has supposedly known since college. These interactions happen when no one else is around. So as predicted you find out at the end of the pilot that she isn’t real. The show has an interesting enough plot to keep me watching at least a couple more episodes before dropping it.

(** ½ out of ****).

Opening Act (E!)

Episode 1.

This new E! Channel show is from American Idol’s executive producer Nigel Lythgoe where unknown singers or groups get a chance to be the opening act for some well known singers or acts. Some of the people are actually pretty famous too. They have Lady Gaga, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, and Jason Alden coming up in future episodes. Nigel and a team of his colleagues: Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, singer Jason Derulo, and country star Martina McBride look all over youtube finding singers they think can open for a big act. They sit around and discuss someones potential. Settle on one. Let that person know. Then that person has a week to prepare for the show.

I’m not sure if the show itself is enjoyable or if the first girl was what drew me in. This first episode featured a young girl named Arielle who is getting the chance to open for Rod Stewart (as you can see not all of the acts are relative to today’s music scene). Arielle is pretty likeable. She’s humble and you feel bad for her because of her tortured high school past where everyone told her she wasn’t good enough. Of course you want to root for an underdog. She gets the news that she will be opening for Rod Stewart in Las Vegas (the only place where he still does concerts I’m guessing) in a week and she is immediately flown out to Hollywood to prepare. She has a pretty positive attitude throughout the entire process. She meets with song writers, producers, and vocal coaches and they all help her prepare for the concert. She cries a few times. Gets a sort of makeover. Then eventually goes on stage and performs one song by herself. Then she gets to duet with Rod Stewart on a song. And then she’s done.

Like I said I don’t think it was the show that was so interesting to me as it was Arielle and her underdog story. You wanted to see her succeed. I’m going to watch one more episode to completely decide if it’s worth continuing with.

(** ½ out of ****).

Keeping Up With The Kardashians (E!)

Part 1 of the 2 part finale.

Yes, this show is still on the air. And honestly it’s the same old shit as it was in the beginning. But not as entertaining. They are all so filthy rich now it’s hard to sympathize with their petty drama. BUUUUT it is the start of the Kim and Kanye relationship which is awesome. You know that shit is for publicity and it’s epic. They kind of hint to their relationship in the beginning of the episode and by the end it’s assumed that they’re a couple but ‘taking things slow’ because of Kim’s past. As Kim is telling everyone she’s taking the relationship slow she’s rocking some new earrings that are the initials K.W. I guess for her that is taking things slow. By now she would’ve already had a sex tape out or been married and divorced. Let me rewind to the very beginning of the episode real quick. Kim was doing some red carpet event and some crazy person flour bombed her. Its hilarious. She plays it off like it didn’t bother her and she’s there just for the cause. But it’s so damn funny.

Other Kardashian drama that happens is everyone still hates Scott but they all travel to New York to support his restaurant opening. Kris Jenner cries at some point. Kourtney and Scott fight. Scott and Rob get drunk. So it’s all the same old stuff. And the rest of the Kardashians aren’t in the episode really. Khloe is there but she’s not as crude and obnoxious as she used to be so it’s boring. It really is getting boring as a show overall but now that they are introducing Kanye to the mix I’m hoping he’ll add some awesome T.V. Moments to the show. Maybe he’ll have another Taylor Swift moment and tell Kourtney and Scott that their kid is cool but Beyonce and Jay-Z’s baby is the best baby ever. Bring it on Kanye and make this show interesting again!

(** out of ****). -RC