Returning tonight: The Nature of Things (CBC at 8), Doc Zone (CBC at 9), Bones (Fox and Global at 8), Fringe (Fox and City at 9), The Big Bang Theory (CBS and CTV at 8). CSI (CBS at 9), The Mentalist (CBS and CTV at 10), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC and CTV at 9), Private Practice (ABC and A at 10), Community (NBC and City at 8), 30 Rock (NBC and City at 8:30), The Office (NBC and Global at 9) and Supernatural (CHCH at 9; Sept. 24, CW at 9). Already back: Vampire Diaries (CW and /A at 8), The Apprentice (NBC and Global at 10). As for the brand new shows:
My Generation (Sept. 23, 8 p.m., ABC)
A documentary crew follows a group of high school students ten years after they graduate to see how many are no longer living in their parent’s basements. Michael Stahl-David, Kelli Garner, Jamie King, Keir O’Donnell and other very photogenic young people star.
STARWEEK RATING: In a season of older-skewing shows starring older-skewing stars, something for the twentysomethings. Maybe these former students should have studied documentary filmmaking, there seems to be endless opportunities in scripted television.
$#*! My Dad Says (8:30 p.m., CBS; Sunday at 8, CTV)
Based on an actual Twitter feed about a cranky old man (William Shatner) who blurts outrageous things that his son (Jonathan Sadowski) tweets.
STARWEEK RATING: Too easily dismissed in 140 characters or less. Shat OK as cranky dad, more Archie Bunker than Denny Crane. Mad-TV alumni Will Sasso and Nicole Sullivan much easier to take in revised pilot as older son and daughter-in-law. Joke joke joke format like Twitter water torture. Sensors indicate S#*!e.
Outsourced (9:30 p.m., NBC and Global)
Rookie manager Todd (newcomer Ben Rappaport) is shipped to India to head up an office call centre for an American novelty company. The locals are baffled by crass catalogue items they have to sell like fake barf. Rizwan Manji, Sacha Dhawan, Parvesh Cheena and Dietrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show) form the mainly Indian ensemble.
STARWEEK RATING: Screened this with my 17-year-old son. Is this offensive or hilarious, I asked him. “Dad,” he said, “it’s hilarious because it’s offensive.” Rappaport is well cast and Bader note perfect. Indian scenes could be spicier and more authentic but Canadians used to Little Mosque will go with the flavour. Dig in.
