When I watched the pilot for Revolution, I was hesitant.

Sure, there were some fun elements (science fiction on network television!) and the fight sequences were well conceived (especially on a television budget), but the show didn’t blow me away.  Even in the next couple of episodes, much of my thought process went through one of the following phases:

1. Poor Gus Fring.  Stuck here after having so much fun getting blown up in New Mexico.
2. Ooh fancy swordfights.
3. SHOCKING TWIST THAT I SAW COMING

But around episode three, things started to change.  Most fundamentally, the episodes began to take on a more Lost-ian quality, becoming more solidified thematically around a single idea, and focusing more and more of their narrative point of view (and most importantly, the narrative point of view in the flashbacks) around one character.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise for them to make this transition, considering that the show is executive produced by JJ Abrams, but after last night’s episode (which gave us an insight into the past of Aaron, currently functioning as the show’s less-entertaining version of Hurley), the show has converted structurally to full-on Lost mode (complete with dissonant sound effect alongside slow camera push-in to remind us just which character is providing POV for the flashbacks).

It’s not as good as Lost.  In particular, they haven’t yet mastered the greatest feat that Lost managed to pull off (especially in early seasons), in finding balance between telling a highly serialized story while making each episode emotionally stand-alone (in particular because of the way it managed to focus on whatever our lead for that week was dealing with emotionally via flashback and the present).

But it’s showing promise.  So it stays on the DVR.

Ordinarily I’d save these for another day, one in which I don’t already have a topic in mind, but these popped up today and led to a few thoughts:

First, due to Hurricane Sandy, a number of stations have cancelled shows or will replace them with repeats, including CBS (what do you mean there’s no new HIMYM tonight?).  Shows that tape live (including Jimmy Kimmel, who is taping in Brooklyn this week) have either be cancelled (Kimmel, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report) or are taping without audiences (Letterman, Jimmy Fallon).

 

Second, do you watch NBC’s Up All Night?

Yeah, I don’t either.  But apparently they’re switching mid-season from a single-cam to multi-cam.  Ratings haven’t been great for the show, which is more than likely on the bubble for renewal, but this change at least gives them a couple of benefits:

1. The show gets cheaper (multi-cam costs less than single-cam to produce, generally).
2. If NBC is serious about trying to open a new beachhead in the multi-camera comedy world (where CBS is king), then taking a shot at keeping an existing property on the air next year by converting it to a multi-cam (where the network currently has no hits, unless you count Whitney as a hit) – especially if it was probably going to be cancelled anyway – isn’t the worst idea in the world.

One ancillary benefit also comes from the fact that since this means the show will have to go on break for a few months to re-tool, that scheduling void (likely to hit sometime in January or so) could be when Community finally returns.

Been a few weeks since I did one of these.  A shocking turn of events for those of you who have seen my previous notions that I was turning toward Fox for my comedy fix.  So here we go:

Current Top Ten – October 29th, 2012

1. Homeland – I worry that at some point they’re going to write themselves into a corner they can’t get out of, but for now it’s still on top.

2. Parks and Recreation – Continues to provide a masterful combination of comedy and heart.

3. Happy Endings – After only one episode this season, the HE crew debuts at #3 this week.

4. How I Met Your Mother – The elder statesman of the list drops down a spot after the weakest episode of the season (two weeks ago).

5. Last Resort – Although the ratings still leave me worried for the long-term survival of the show, creatively it’s starting to tick up.

6. The Walking Dead – Okay, so far they’ve done a pretty solid job this year.  I’m starting to let my guard down.

7. New Girl – This show continues to confound me in that I honestly don’t know how memorable it is, but I am still enjoying it.

8. Suburgatory – Another later entry this season takes another spot away from the Fox comedy block.

9. The Daily Show – TDS remains relevant at least through the election.

10. The Colbert Report – Same with Colbert.

 

Dropped From Rankings:  The Mindy Project (#5), Raising Hope (#7), Ben and Kate (#8).

 

Waiting To Return:

Community – October 19th will come someday: