“Mixology”…The novel premise of this show is that it’s centered entirely in a bar during one night, and there’s ten single people (five straight guys, five straight girls) and we have to wonder who gets with who by the end of the night. Last night mainly focused on one of those horribly bitchy women who’s at a bar mainly to ice guys out and the recently dumped, nice-guy puppy who tries to win her over (but winds up crying a little about his ex). There’s no shot this show will get a second season, which actually makes me want to keep watching. Limited run series won’t eat up too much of your time, and I guess I’m curious…for now. Grade: C+
“Mind Games”…I want to like this show, I really do. Steve Zahn in manic mode, Megalyn Echikunwoke looking beautiful as ever (when will she break out as the millennial Rosario Dawson/Paula Patton already?), and then it’s from series creator Kyle Killen who specializes in interesting, quickly-cancelled network series (“Lone Star” which lasted two episodes, and the underrated “Awake”). But something about this hour just wasn’t quite clicking together, and I’d like to see a greater focus on the weekly manipulations the brothers try to pull off, and less scenes of internal group disfunction. [The character of Christian Slater’s ex-wife can leave immediately. Plus, less of Slater and Zahn bickering.] Grade: C+…but it’ll probably get better as it keeps going, if it gets a chance to keep going.
“Game of Arms”…I’ve become terrified that AMC is slowly turning from a tiffany provider of quality dramas (Mad Men, Rubicon, Breaking Bad) into a thinking man’s A&E network since they’re now catering to an ultra-macho reality demographic. First, they had Owner’s Manual about guys loving big machines and now a show that’s literally an arm wrestling competition. It doesn’t get much more meat and potatoes than that.
I wasn’t really captivated with the premiere episode but then again I don’t have any real interest in this subject matter. Some of the meatheads are more likable than others though, I have to say that. Grade: C- [Although it is really well shot and edited, so the technical aspect is tight, I just didn’t get involved in anything they’re showing us.]