On other (non-USA) forums, fans seem to be getting more disappointed by the week. And I am with them. The pilot for this show really grabbed me by the throat and I couldn't wait to see more of it. But right from episode two, it's been extended letdown. Here's what I think is wrong:

1. Ditch that Costanza clown in the shark tank! Like his namesake George, everything this guy does is tedious and pathetically unfunny. And they let him go on and on and on and... This actor may well have a niche in TV, but he simply cannot carry such a large load. He's a bore. My remote finger starts itching the minute I see his face with its phony expression; when he opens his mouth, that finger can never resist the mute button. Help. Back to Queens, bro.

2. More, LOTS more of the rich kid with haemophilia (and slightly less of his girlfriend.) As soon as this actor hits the screen, fireworks go off. There's a great telegenic talent there. And as for Andrew McCarthy..!! YES! LOTS more please.

3. I don't think the producers get the fact that the romance with the uh, "hospital administrator" (in a job whose description has never been duplicated in any real venue in the actual world) is as flat and dull as Brooklyn in August. It's a giant "who cares?" which takes up an inordinate amount of screen time. The actress is pretty but lights no fires. The "relationship" is like from a test tube. RESET.

4. Divya. I like her. Keep her.

5. Lots more McGyver. (and lots less "As the World Turns.")

5. Lastly, the producers should take a cue from those fabulous miracle-workers at "The Closer." The show needs a lot more really good character actors, and for God's sakes, a script. A real script. These bumbling interactions aren't holding up.

I agree. More action, less soap opera. Hank just isn't interesting when he's not doctoring. I think Divya should be a little less haughty. Serious and efficient is great, uppity isn't. Forget Evan altogether. Maybe if he could have a real job of his own, a more serious focus.

From TV by the Numbers.


With no new Burn Notice as a lead-in, Royal Pains suffers series lows

Posted on 14 August 2009 by Robert Seidman

royal-pains

Thursday night’s airing of Royal Pains averaged 5.56 million viewers and a 1.5/5 rating with adults 18-49. These were the lowest numbers of the summer (and series) for Pains, though it still was the most-watched program on cable Thursday night. The show’s premiere episode, its prior low drew 5.57 million. Last week, with the Burn Notice summer finale in front of it, Pains hit series highs with 6.69 million.

It was also its first night the freshman hit lacked a new episode of Burn Notice as its lead-in. Its lead-in last night was a repeat episode of NCIS. Though Pains sometimes eclipsed Burn Notice in both viewers and adults 18-49, the Burn Notice lead-in no doubt helped with more people watching the net on Thursday nights.

I’m sure USA would’ve been happy with Pains standing taller on its own, but I doubt last night’s numbers make the net unhappy.