GLEE
Returns Sept. 21 at 8PM on Fox (Global TV in Canada)
What can we say about tonight’s second season premiere of GLEE? A helluva lot! But rather than rain on your parade by (a) spoiling all the fun, or (b) nitpicking over the fact that the show remains a frustrating mash-up of musical numbers and repetitive plot points, we’ll leave it at this: Tried and true GLEEKS are in for a slushie-infused treat. Particularly since the low note that is the over-the-top arrival of Coach Beiste, McKinley High’s new female football coach (Dot Marie Jones) is completely overshadowed by the hilariously meta-opening featuring Jacob Ben Israel and the remarkable vocal stylings of new students Sunshine Corazon (Charice) and Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet). Grade: B+ — The TV Addict
RAISING HOPE
Premieres Sept. 21 at 9PM on Fox
Jimmy’s (the genial Lucas Neff) one-night stand with a runaway murderer turns into another problem altogether: the mother has their daughter on death row, leaving Jimmy and his reluctant, working-class family to raise her. From MY NAME IS EARL creator Greg Garcia, it’s highly-reminiscent of the Jason Lee sitcom in that you’re likely to question if the laughs are funny because they’re kind of stupid or if it’s because you can’t believe what just happened, happened. Well cast (especially Martha Plimpton as Jimmy’s abrasive mother), it’s Raising Arizona without Nicholas Cage’s moustache. Grade: B — Aleks Chan
RUNNING WILDE
Premieres Sept. 21 at 9:30PM on Fox
It’s difficult to watch this new comedy from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT creator Mitch Hurwitz without wanting to grade on a curve: suffice to say that RUNNING WILDE makes a lukewarm debut, lightly hinting that something greater might emerge. Arnett stars as Steven Wilde, the spoiled, out-of-touch son of an oil tycoon; Keri Russell as his longtime love Emmy, a devout humanitarian living in the jungle. She returns stateside in an attempt to persuade Steven to stop his father from drilling where her tribe lives. Aside from an amusing miniature horse gag, the pilot mostly tries to be funny, but isn’t as uproarious as its talent might suggest. Grade: C+ — Aleks Chan 