Eine weitere neue Serie mit einem Star des Whedonverse wurde von FutonCritic.com unter die Lupe genommen. Hier das Ergebnis:

CLOSE TO HOME (CBS)
(Tuesdays at 10:00/9:00c this fall)

The network's description: "CLOSE TO HOME (Tuesday, 10:00 PM) stars Jennifer Finnigan ("The Bold and the Beautiful") in a legal drama that tears away the facade of suburbia to reveal that sometimes quiet and tranquil streets can hide the darkest of crimes. Annabeth Chase (Finnigan) is a young, aggressive prosecutor with a perfect conviction record who tries the cases that take place in her own backyard. Returning to work after having her first child, Annabeth is ready to take on the most difficult cases, fueled by her passion to protect her community and her family. Kimberly Elise ("Diary of a Mad Black Woman"), John Carroll Lynch ("The Drew Carey Show") and Christian Kane ("Friday Night Lights") also star."

What did they leave out: That description more or less covers it.

The plot in a nutshell: We track talented prosecutor Annabeth Chase (Jennifer Finnigan) as she begins her first day back at work following maternity leave. Her first case: a woman is charged with setting fire to her home (just 10 blocks from Chase's own house) with herself and her two children inside. As you might expect, there's plenty of twists and turns, all of which go to show that crimes in the suburbs can be just as twisted as in the big city. In addition, Chase struggles with a colleague (Kimberly Elise) being promoted over her due to her absence, getting a mini-fridge for breast milk from her boss (John Carroll Lynch) and desperately missing her new child and husband (Christian Kane).

What works: Jennifer Finnigan is a real surprise here. This is not the quirky, flighty girl from last season's "Committed" in the least. There's various moments where you find yourself jumping back as she transforms from doe-eyed young mother to vicious attack dog prosecutor in a nanosecond. It's very cool stuff. The rest of the cast also works well but it's obvious this is the Jennifer Finnigan Show and they all orbit around her. And as you might expect, nobody brings it to the table like Jerry Bruckheimer and co. He brings the same level of technical quality here as he does to "C.S.I.," "Without a Trace," etc.

What doesn't: Despite the above, I honestly can't find myself wanting to go out of my way to watch this show every week. It's obviously a well-made and well-produced series, but there's nothing here that feeds me like a "Lost" or "24" or so on will. After all, putting aside the "new mom" slant/Bruckheimer bells and whistles, this is still very much a legal procedural and will mostly live and die by that aspect. Nevertheless, Finnigan's charm may be enough to warrant making the effort.

The challenges ahead: Is America willing to embrace yet another Bruckheimer show? And a de facto legal procedural at that? We'll find out this fall on CBS.

TheFutonCritic.com

Auch Kristin von EOnline.com hat die neuen Serien unter die Lupe genommen und hier sind ihre Voraussagen:

Nicholas Brendan
Was: Xander on Buffy
Is: Bad-boy chef in Fox's Kitchen Confidential, costarring Bradley Cooper

Did I mention Nicholas Brendan and Bradley Cooper? Can you imagine a more delicious pairing? Well, how 'bout the fact that Kitchen Confidential comes from the bestselling book and is helmed by Sex and the City's Darren Star. Not too shabby.

That said, it's no surprise this offbeat, single-camera comedy--which centers around a party boy, a playboy chef (Cooper) and the chef's hot posse, including Brendan as a sous chef--is already getting good buzz as one of the strongest contenders this fall. That's music to the ears of the cast of Arrested Development, which has been paired with Kitchen on Monday nights but not so much to another Buffy alum.

"Alyson [Hannigan] and I are up against each other," Nicholas says, referring to her new comedy, How I Met Your Mother, over on CBS. "I remember with Buffy the critics picked Everybody Loves Raymond as the show on Monday night, because we came out at the same time, and Buffy was the second pick. So, if Kitchen Confidential is anything like Raymond, Alyson's show can be the Buffy!"

As for Bradley (aka Alias' Will), Nicholas says they've become instant BFFs: "I just talked to Mr. Cooper this morning. We get along so well. He's kind of like a long-lost cousin, except not blood related, so we can make love...What am I saying?!"

Not sure, but West Hollywood is certainly rejoicing.

Grade: B+
Chances of Survival: 70% (color me skeptical, but Fox was also the home of Wonderfalls)


Alyson Hannigan
Was: Willow on Buffy
Is: Newlywed nympho on CBS' How I Met Your Mother

It has a laugh track. And I like it. If that's not a true testament to how good this show is, you tell me what is, for I haven't liked a traditional-format sitcom in, oh, since...forever.

How I Met Your Mother is charming, funny and well-cast--including Doogie Howser, Neil Patrick Harris, who is actually laugh-out-loud funny; Jason Segel, formerly of Freaks and Geeks and real-life former beau to ER's Linda Cardellini (also formerly of F&G); and, of course, the one and only Miss Willow Rosenberg, Alyson Hannigan, whose character is something like her American Pie alter ego, sans the band-camp references.

"It's set in the future," Alyson says of Mother's premise. "It's a father telling his kids the story of how he met their mother. And most of it is present day, in 2005, which is set in flashbacks. It sounds confusing, but it's not. It's really good! I promise!"

Me too.

Grade: A-
Chances of Survival: 75%


David Boreanaz
Was: Angel, the vampire with a soul, on Buffy and Angel
Is: FBI Agent Seeley Booth on Fox's Bones

Emily Deschanel (Zooey's sis) stars as an anthropologist who's not a people person (shades of House) and who solves ghastly murders by "reading" their bones in a high-tech lab (shades of CSI). Our beloved former Angel, David Boreanaz, is the Mulder to her Scully, starring as an FBI agent who, as Emily puts it, "pulls me in when there's, you know, purified human remains."

Despite that loveliness, Boreanaz insists this is much lighter fare than his previous blood-sucking role. "I don't have to worry about fighting demons," he says. "I mean, the character is struggling with his own inner demons, but I don't have to wear black so much. And, you know, I can actually go out in the daylight, which is nice."

Unfortunately, at least to moi, Bones' storylines and character development feel a smidge hollow, but Boreanaz and Deschanel do have some sizzle in their chemistry, and that just might save it.

Grade: C+
Chances of Survival: 40%


Christian Kane
Was: Lindsey on Angel
Is: Married to a lawyer on CBS' Close to Home

Don't let the fact that it stars the girl from NBC's god-awful Committed fool you. Close to Home, from über-producer Jerry Bruckheimer (whom I thoroughly offended in NYC, but that's a story for another time), is arguably the best new crime drama of the season. It's got heart, which gives it a Grey's Anatomy feel, and Jennifer Finnigan's portrayal of a new mom and agressive prosecutor seems destined for Emmydom.

The man behind this strong woman? Angel's evil Lindsey, aka Christian Kane. "I put the guns and the swords down, and I'm holding a baby now, so it's a little awkward," he tells me. "My biggest job now is just understanding that my wife's gonna be working late. I get home before she does, and I have to take over the job of almost Mr. Mom."

Grade: A
Chances of Survival: 90%


Seth Green
Was: Oz on Buffy
Is: Barry, one of four roommates in NBC's Four Kings

Four Kings, about a guy who invites his friends to move into a house he inherited from grandma, is from Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, the team behind a little show you may have heard of--Will & Grace. Pair 'em up with our favorite former wherewolf, Seth Green, and it seems you can't go wrong. Truth be told, though, I was more entertained by the cast in person than by the show itself, though I suppose that's to be expected when the stars are so charming and easy on the eyes.

Seth says he's still "so grateful" that Buffy fans continue to come up and talk to him. "They're fiercely loyal, and it's really great." As for his thoughts on a Buffy movie: "I'm always script-dependent. If there's a good story that's worth telling, I got no problem being a part of it.

In fact, I'd love to do it. But you know, I couldn't actually be Buffy. I don't kick like her [Sarah Michelle Gellar], and quite frankly, I don't bring in the crowd. I think it has something to do with her exceptional figure and gorgeous face."

Grade: C-
Chances of Survival: 30%

EOnline.com