Okay, take the idea of Shark Tank (or Dragon's Den if you're a BBC America fan), mix it with the Top Chef folks, offer a great grand prize and hope for the best. That's the recipe behind NBC's new food competition show, United Plates of America. The network is turning to the Magical Elves from Top Chef -- no, seriously, that's the production company's name -- to succeed in the food field where NBC has flopped in the past. Remember The Chopping Block? Remember Rocco DiSpirito's The Restaurant? NBC has more luck with the dieters on The Biggest Loser.
This go-round is not about a single restaurant. It's about a chain of restaurants. To me, that's a questionable goal. Most successful chains start off with one great restaurant and then take off. This concept is go big or go home. Maybe it's more complicated, but it doesn't sound that way.
There are still a couple of new shows that haven't premiered yet, including two I'm really looking forward to, ABC's new version of V and FOX's new version of The Human Target (I know, I'm actually looking forward to two remakes). But they're not going to premiere until November and January, respectively, so here are my picks for the three new shows that I'm truly enjoying so far this new season. And somehow, they're all on ABC.
FlashForward. I bet a lot of people are going to pick this as the best new show, but I was kinda worried about it. I thought it would be too Lost-ish, but would suffer in comparison because it didn't have the strong cast and "gravitas" that Lost has. But it's a great show beyond any comparisons (and Dominic Monaghan hasn't even shown up yet!).
At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then a new Big Brother and the two-hour season finale of There Goes The Neighborhood (Note: CBS' schedule might be changed due to U.S. Open tennis).
NBC has Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Bears vs. the Packers.
At 8, FOX has the series finale (two episodes) of King of the Hill.
Food Network has a new Challenge at 8.
At 9, ABC has a new Shark Tank, then a new Defying Gravity.
PBS has a new Masterpiece Mystery! at 9.
ESPN2 has the U.S. Open Women's Final at 9.
Lifetime has a new Drop Dead Diva at 9, followed by a new Army Wives.
MTV has the 2009 Video Music Awards at 9.
There's a new Total Drama Action on Cartoon Network at 9.
Also at 9: HBO has the season finale of True Blood, then the season finale of Hung and a new Entourage.
At 10, AMC has a new Mad Men.
At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Robot Chicken.
Question: what do you get when you combine The Apprentice and American Inventor? Well, possibly a headache. Of course, you could also get a new hit reality show, and that's what ABC is hoping they'll get withShark Tank. It features new business people and inventors pitching new products and ideas to a panel of judges/successful businessmen and women. Who gets the thumbs up? Who gets investment money? Who has to haggle and deal? Who cries? Who argues with the judges? The preview below makes me want to watch at least the first episode, though I wonder if ultimately this is a show better off on cable.
Okay, take the idea of Shark Tank (or Dragon's Den if you're a BBC America fan), mix it with the Top Chef folks, offer a great grand prize and hope for the best. That's the recipe behind NBC's new food competition show, United Plates of America. The network is turning to the Magical Elves from Top Chef -- no, seriously, that's the production company's name -- to succeed in the food field where NBC has flopped in the past. Remember The Chopping Block? Remember Rocco DiSpirito's The Restaurant? NBC has more luck with the dieters on The Biggest Loser.
At 7:30, FOX has Baseball Playoffs, the Yankees vs. the Angels.
At 8, ABC has a new Shark Tank, followed by new episodes of Dancing with the Stars and The Forgotten.
At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then a new Big Brother and the two-hour season finale of There Goes The Neighborhood (Note: CBS' schedule might be changed due to U.S. Open tennis).
A 7, NBC has a new Dateline, then Pre-Season Football, the Bears vs. the Broncos.
At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, a tribute to Don Hewitt, then new episodes of Big Brother and There Goes The Neighborhood.
At 7, NBC has a new Dateline, followed by Pre-Season Football, Bills vs. Titans.
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