We learned long ago that a TV series' pilot has too much to establish storywise and characterwise to accurately represent what the show will be like week after week. So we like to dip in a few episodes in, which yielded some unexpected surprises this season. Based on just their pilots, we would have written off these four new shows, but we must admit we’re loving them now.
Melrose Place: Credit the rampant shirtlessness, the reluctant med student/hooker (Stephanie Jacobsen) and the bisexual publicist/potential murderess (Katie Cassidy). And we can't wait for crack-eyed Violet (Ashlee Simpson) to rip off her hair and make good on all the crazy she's been telegraphing since the pilot.
The Vampire Diaries (née Twilight with Intercourse): We know, more effing vampires? But the gorgeous Salvatore brothers are hardly sexless Edward Cullen clones. OK, goody-goody Stefan (Paul Wesley) is, but Ian Somerhalder's Damon is a voracious predator who eats cheerleaders for sport and emotionally terrorizes his own brother.
Community: Chevy Chase lives! And he's funny again! So are Soup dish Joel McHale and a cast of quirky weirdos who might have the chops to make this an Office-size hit.
Cougar Town: Solid cast (Carolyn Hennesy steals every scene she's in as a bawdy woman of a certain age), snappy writing and Nick Zano in various states of undress. Now if everyone would stop manically shouting their lines, we'd be officially hooked. (We like you, Courtney Cox. We really like you. NOW PLEASE CALM DOWN.)
Melrose Place airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW. The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on The CW. Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Cougar Town airs Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.
