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Pilot Watch: "Cane"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:18:39 -0700

The networks have announced their fall schedules, but which of the series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. A lot can change before a show makes it to air, so these aren't comprehensive reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's installment: "Cane," a new drama from CBS.

What's it about? A Cuban-American family in Miami deals with internal struggles and external pressures that threaten their large, lucrative rum and sugar business.

Who's in it? Jimmy Smits, Hector Elizondo, Rita Moreno, Nestor Carbonell

The good: It's a CBS drama that's not another "CSI"! Jimmy Smits clearly knows how to carry a series, and when your supporting cast involves the likes of Rita Moreno, you're doing OK on the acting front. The pilot has an intriguing mix of soapy family drama, politics and mystery.

The bad: No, it's not a "CSI," but it still looks and feels like every CBS drama you've ever seen. And that's not all — as my boyfriend said, "I liked this show better when it was called The Godfather."

Will I watch? I have the same general feeling about it as I did about "Back to You": It's not likely to end up on my must-watch list, but at the same time, I wouldn't recommend against it.

To watch a preview clip and see a gallery of photos,

"Cane" Promotes Itself with an Ad You Can Eat

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:19:49 -0700

Sure, the whole scratch-and-sniff ad thing was revolutionary ... yesterday. We're way beyond that now. Today's hot new thing is ads you can eat.

The issue of Rolling Stone hitting newsstands on Thursday will include an ad for the new Jimmy Smits series, "Cane," that features a dissolving strip that tastes like a lime mojito. The idea is to promote the show and Duque Rum, the fictional brand that made Smits' character's family so wealthy. According to a CBS press release:

The insert includes a thin, tamper evident pouch with a non alcoholic lime mojito-flavored dissolving taste strip which will enable them to enjoy the full-flavor taste experience of a rum mojito, without any of the sugar, calories or alcohol.

OK, so I open up my magazine, find this ad, put a piece of paper on my tongue, and let it dissolve so I can taste the flavor of a drink without any of the things that make said drink taste good. This is supposed to make me want to watch TV? At least the "Reaper" drink promotion is actually, you know, a drink.

Mostly, this reminds me of those old spy movie scenes where the agents would eat the pieces of paper with their secret instructions written down ... or those dissolving breath strips, which have always made me feel a little squicky. What's next? A pair of special contacts that give you bionic vision? A geeky guy who just shows up at my door to tell me all about "The Big Bang Theory"?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Get a Sneak Peek of the New CBS Shows!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:05:36 -0700

CBS is joining ABC and NBC by giving us video previews of its new fall shows. Some info on the new series is over at the network's fall preview site, but I've got all the clips and photos right here — including a special look at Hugh Jackman singing in the first episode of "Viva Laughlin"! Check it out:

One more "Viva" clip, plus clips from the other shows and a ton of pictures, so

CBS Shakes Things Up with Edgier Shows

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 10:55:47 -0700

I usually think of CBS as the most boring and reserved of all the networks, but it might be getting a bit of an image makeover come fall. Announcing its new shows at today's upfronts, the network introduced some fairly unconventional dramas — including a musical, a vampire show, and a series about 1970s swingers — plus one comedy and one reality show. The network's president said the goal this year was "to be daring and different," and with "Viva Laughlin" alone (pictured above), I'd say they've got that covered.

The network also introduced a summer reality series hosted by Drew Carey called "Power of 10," which sounds a little like "Family Feud": Contestants will have to guess the results of nationwide surveys.

Among returning shows, here's some of the big news:

A whopping 17 CBS programs are returning.
"How I Met Your Mother," once in danger of cancellation, is back, while "The Class," "Close to Home" and "Jericho" are out.
"Shark" is moving to Sundays, while "Without a Trace" heads to Thursdays after "CSI."
"The Amazing Race" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" will be back at midseason.

Here's the network's official press release, and to see the full schedule and descriptions of the new CBS shows,