Best Served Hot

If you’re not watching Revenge, then something is missing from your life, and you don’t even know it.

I already discussed ABC’s breakout hit in October, albeit briefly, but I just can’t help raving about this series. Then again, I’m hardly the only one. The freshman drama is one of the fall’s most buzzed-about new shows, landing on several lists of the year’s best shows, and garnering a Golden Globe nomination for Madeleine Stowe.

From the very first episode, I was drawn in to Revenge’s world of secrets and lies. So much so, in fact, that I watched the first episode twice. The series, a throwback to evening sudsers like Dynasty, is just that good! A little over-the-top at times, sure, but never boring, and always lots of fun!

The premise is simple enough: Emily VanCamp’s Amanda Clark returns to the Hamptons with a new look and a new name, determined to take down everyone who had a hand in framing her father for a terrorist act years earlier. Her primary target? Stowe’s Victoria Grayson, the woman who loved him, only to betray him. You won’t believe how easily VanCamp sheds her good-girl image for her role as the revenge-bent Amanda. Stowe, meanwhile, delivers an incredibly layered performance as the icy Victoria. Rounding out the main cast are Joshua Bowman as Victoria’s son, Nick Wechsler as Amanda’s childhood friend, and Gabriel Mann as Amanda’s unlikely ally.

Bolstered by terrific storytelling, Revenge is not to be missed. The writers do a wonderful job moving the story along, deftly answering old questions and asking new ones. You’ll also be left wondering who you’re meant to be rooting for, which makes for great television.

If you’re not yet convinced about Revenge, then watch the series trailer below. After that, have a look at the promo for the next new episode. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you make a bleepin’ promo. It says so much, yet gives away so little. And the use of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata? Genius.

Revenge returns all new on Wednesday, January 4 at 10 p.m. on ABC. That gives you plenty of time to catch up on all the juicy drama!

 

Fall Television Roundup: 6 New Shows You Should Be Watching

Time flies when you’re watching TV. We’re nearly six weeks into the new season, with November sweeps right around the corner. Can you believe it? By now, most of us have decided what new shows we’re sticking with, and what won’t make the cut. I’m pleased to announce that four of the six shows I previously wrote about have secured a spot on my schedule: Ringer, 2 Broke Girls, The Secret Circle, and American Horror Story. Joining them are Revenge and New Girl.

Here’s just some of what you’ve been missing:

1) Revenge: Unabashedly soapy, Revenge is my newest guilty pleasure. Watching Emily VanCamp wreak havoc in the Hamptons is, in a word, delicious. I have but one question: Madeleine Stowe, where have you been all my life?

2) Ringer: Sarah Michelle Gellar’s latest star vehicle is a little uneven, sure, but it’s also insanely addictive. Just six weeks in, the twisty neo-noir thriller has already tackled identity theft, murder, adultery, and drug addiction. What’s next?

3) The Secret Circle: The latest offering from multitasker extraordinaire Kevin Williamson, The Secret Circle is the perfect companion to The Vampire Diaries. The supernatural series about a coven of witches recently introduced demons into the fold, and showed it means business by already killing off a main character this early in its run.

4) New Girl: Come for Zooey Deschanel, stay for the ensemble. This quirky new sitcom is a lot of fun, and has lots of heart.

5) 2 Broke Girls:  Kat Denning and Beth Behrs have great chemistry as waitresses from different backgrounds working in a Brooklyn diner. Full of hilarious one-liners, this sitcom is terrific, and would be even better if its supporting characters weren’t complete stereotypes.

6) American Horror Story: American Horror Story takes the term “haunted house” to a whole new level. Featured on the cover of the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, the much-anticipated series is Ryan Murphy’s ode to the horror genre. The pilot was a dizzying mess, but subsequent episodes have laid the groundwork for what is sure to be an exciting and memorable first season. After all, there’s nothing like a good scare.

What new shows are you hooked on this season?