Eleventh Hour [CBS]

[SlyCardie]

Caught a trailer for this show the other day and it really looks cool. I'm presonally excited to see how they are going to treat the "Science Fact" storylines that they are going to have in it. I think that's an interesting road to go on and totally stay away from SciFi. It's from Jerry Bruckheimer too (who's done CSI and Cold Case, of which I'm a fan) so I that's a big plus and it's going to be on my DVR October 9th.

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/eleventh_hour/about/

 

[auntiehill]

I caught a few of the Patrick Stewart episodes; they were OK, but the woman sidekick irritated me a little.

I love Rufus Sewell, though. I just hope the American version doesn't dumb it down too much.

 

[Worf2DS9]

I've been looking forward to "Eleventh Hour" as well. Looks really interesting, and I liked Sewell from Dark City.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I just hope the American version doesn't dumb it down too much.

Gotta love that bigotry.

 

[wamdue]

you know normally im not a fan of US remakes like this one, but we got so little of the UK version, I would quite like to see where the format goes with more than 4 episodes.

 

[auntiehill]

I just hope the American version doesn't dumb it down too much.

Gotta love that bigotry.

That's a pretty harsh word to throw around, Temis, and that really hurts my feelings.


I was just expressing my frustration with the Big Networks, and what they've done to some of my favorite show--- that's not bigotry, just a general disgust in seeing American Networks ruin shows by trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator. After seeing what the networks did with their own "versions" of "Cracker," "Coupling" and "Life on Mars," I am a bit gunshy of seeing another show get so watered down that it loses what made it good in the first place. Although, I still watch the networks, of course. I love LOST, Heroes, and Boston Legal, too.

I'm not bigoted against my OWN country. I just think the networks sometimes have a way of sucking the life out of a good show. The best, most daring television in the US seems to be moving to cable---"Mad Men," "Dexter," etc. They are allowed a bit more freedom. It's just my opinion about the television business in general. I don't think that's bigotry.

 

[SlyCardie]

I've been looking forward to "Eleventh Hour" as well. Looks really interesting, and I liked Sewell from Dark City.

Oh he was great in Dark City and although he had a small role I thought he gave the best performance of anyone in The Illusionist.

As far as it being dumbed down, I really don't think so. It's produced by Jerry Bruckheimer who did Cold Case and CSI so that's a gold stamp right there. I'm definitely checking it out next Thursday.

 

[stj]

Bruckheimer's TV shows are competently produced and meet a minimal standard of writing competence. And the concept of Eleventh Hour as presented sounds promising. So I'm checking it out as well.

But CSI's science is speeded up, smoothed out, freed of problems and never confusing. It's rooted in real science but it borders on SF as it is.
Eleventh Hour promises also to be rooted in real science. If it is, that'll just mean its SF writers are smarter than the usual nitwits who wanna write character driven serials because they don't know science, don't have anything to say and come to think of it, confuse their prejudices with the human condition. Eleventh Hour could be mediocre SF but still look like Shakespeare compared to the likes of BattleStar Galactica, Bionic Woman, Terminator, Flash Gordon, Fringe etc.

 

[SlyCardie]

Well, it's not true SciFi which I think it good, because there's a whole lot of bad scifi out there. I think the fact that they are firmly basing this show in real life (the whole science fact thing) is a huge plus.
I'd also say that Bruckheimer's shows go beyond minimal standards of writing, I think they are usually written quite well with really engaging character relationships ala the techs in CSI and the team in Without a Trace. With Sewell voicing quality writing I'm expecting a very competent and witty show to air on Thursday.

 

[Mr Light]

So... this USA remake of a UK show is running against Life on Mars, another USA remake of UK show? Weird.

I was interested in the show, but it's running against a) It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and the premiere of Testees, b) the new episode of Sarah Silverman, and c) the pilot of Life on Mars. Yeesh, Thursdays are crowded!

 

[SlyCardie]

Did any of you guys end up watching last week's premiere? I enjoyed it, especially Rufus Sewell. He's a great actor, and he shines through this whole episode IMO. He did a great job of appearing like a brainiac and delivering his lines with the proper amount of confidence.
It's an interesting element to the story that he's not a detective, I wonder if they're going to play this up later on...

 

[Top41]

I did watch it, but found it hard to follow. I liked Sewell a lot, and Shelton's character seems like she'll be interesting and fun. Female characters are so often just bland "straight men" opposite a more colorful male lead, but her character seems socially awkward as well, maybe even more so.

I can't say anything about the show really grabbed me though, and I'll probably end up checking out Life on Mars this week.

 

[SlyCardie]

I think Sewell was enough to grab me, he really has this act down to a science. He does an excellent job of conveying the confidence that Dr. Hood would really have and I like his sometimes awkward and stunted interactions with other people because I think that fits wonderfully. I've found the cases to be pretty cool as well, I'd never imagine that a show would tackle human cloning in the first episode.

 

[Top41]

I did watch the second episode, and while I thought the plot was kind of ho-hum (I once again fell asleep during the show!) it was at least easier to follow. Rufus Sewell really is excellent, and I like Marley Shelton as well. I can't say for sure I'll watch the third episode, but I can't say I won't, either. Sewell is truly fantastic though.

 

[Top41]

...And I watched it again. I gotta say, the third episode was much better than the first two. It held my interest more and was easier to follow.

Did anyone catch why the girl didn't get sick when her whole family did? That was the one thing I missed....

Still not sure I'm hooked, but I do seem to keep coming back. We got a little background info on Hood--apparently his wife died two years ago from cancer. I hope we learn more about Marley Shelton's character--I love how quirky she is!

Anyone else watch last night?

 

[stj]

This week was Eleventh Hour's turn to be eaten by the DVR, instead of Life on Mars. Either I have to really master the programming or I have to drop a show.