Sunday, August 29, 2010
Media Flipping Channels: 'Rizzoli & Isles' Busts Its Competition, While The Emmys Take Stock of TV
Posted by Jim Ridley on Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 9:12 AM
Three major trends emerged during the lackluster summer television season that's now thankfully concluding. One was the continued presence of less expensive (i.e., dirt-cheap) Canadian series such as ABC's Rookie Blue. That snoozer quickly earned a second season because it actually attracted some viewership (between 7 and 8 million people weekly), although it was generic and pedestrian even by the standards of network television. Another was the audience preference (at least according to the ratings) for reality-TV sludge like Wipeout over scripted sludge like The Gates.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the cable outlets once again flourished as the networks' lights dimmed. TNT and USA Network slugged it out for prominence, and it's unclear whether a winner can be declared. USA's new glamour-spy series Covert Affairs proved a ratings and critical favorite, and will return, along with perennial winners like Burn Notice and the fading but still somewhat enjoyable Psych, plus relative newcomers such as White Collar and Royal Pains that seem to be building fans through a mix of comedy, likable characters and thin but workable plots.
TNT, however, scored the summer's biggest hit with the pairing of Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander on the cop/buddy show Rizzoli & Isles. The program began by blending elements of two novels by mystery novelist Tess Gerritsen that introduced Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli (Harmon), medical examiner Maura Isles (Alexander) and resident wacko/serial killer Warren Hoyt (Michael Massee).
Before being captured, Hoyt wounded Rizzoli, nearly killed her, and is now a recurring character in her nightmares. Hoyt's also figured prominently in other ways, among them forcing Rizzoli's former partner Vince Korsak (Bruce McGill) to save her life. Ironically, since that action the partners have split, though Korsak remains a presence in both Rizzoli's and Isles' lives and a thorn in the side of new partner Barry Frost (Lee Thompson Young).
Initially given a 10-episode commitment, Rizzoli & Isles' early ratings were so strong TNT renewed the show after only three episodes and bumped the 2011 episode count up to 13. The first season concludes 9 p.m. Monday with the return of Hoyt in a pivotal episode that also works Rizzoli's brother Frankie (Jordan Bridges) into the mix. Monday's episode also offers more insight into what makes the Rizzoli/Isles team work, as well as the differences in personality that sometimes divide them.
Though far from being provocative or innovative television, Rizzoli & Isles represents a continuation of a pattern that began with The Closer and to some extent is also evident on F/X's Justified. These shows feature compelling figures whose personality carries the action rather than lab techs and evidence. Even when Isles does her mandatory time over a corpse, the emphasis always stays on her banter with Rizzoli, not isolating the cause and time of death, the location of the bullet, and all those other situations that now cause even the most faithful CSI watcher to seek relief elsewhere on the dial.
Emmy news
Betty White's already won a Emmy for guest hosting Saturday Night Live, and Neil Patrick Harris two for a guest shot on Glee and main host on the Tony Awards, but there's still some suspense left regarding Sunday's 62nd annual Primetime Emny Awards.
The main question is whether AMC continues its domination of the proceedings. Mad Men and Breaking Bad don't do well in terms of audience share by even cable's meager standards, but they've certainly racked up awards, including Peabody and Humanitas trophies as well as Emmys.
But there are some other programs that might steal AMC's thunder, among them HBO's The Pacific (top nominee overall with 24) and Fox's Glee (19). Still, Mad Men's won Outstanding Drama Series three years in a row and seems a good choice to make it four.
One of NBC's biggest hopes is the husband/wife (on screen) duo of Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, nominated as Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama for Friday Night Lights. Considering that the show will be ending after this season and isn't even up for an Emmy, these two and perennial comedy winner 30 Rock rank as the Peacock Network's primary choices.
Other than The Amazing Race, which wins the reality Emmy every year, the other best bet seems Julianna Margulies for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama. The Good Wife gave CBS a rare non-procedural hit this season, and Margulies was rightly given credit for that achievement.
Also, there's suspense over whether Lost goes out with multiple Emmys, and whether Emmy voters agree with the contention ABC's Modern Family represents the future of network comedy. Things begin at 7 p.m. on WKRN-Channel 2.
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