Saving Grace needs Redemption

Oh, how I so wanted to love this show. Instead, I'm beginning to resent it and only after the second episode. Of course, many good things take time but I'm not one to assume that a television show is one of them; there's just too many other good re-runs to watch. Here are the problems as I see them:

1. Grace is not likeable and it doesn't work. Unlike "House," who's gruff, ass-like qualities somehow draw the watcher toward the character, hoping eternally for him to see the light, Grace just makes me want to run away from her. Everything employed to make this character like the other diamond-in-the-ruff characters is too forced: the snappish dialogue is too snappy, her misgivings and failures too devastating and morally repugnant. Every redeemable character has something redeeming about them and I don't think Grace does.

2. The Angel dude needs to go. You know what...the concept of the "not yer typical" angel has been done...in a movie called "Michael"...and it sucked. Move on. Plus, it's cartoonish. I don't want to see the angel, I just want to know it's there. It would be much more complex if the only way we knew the angel existed was through Grace reacting to it. Instead we get angel blood last week and this week we have angel feathers. Hell, I'm a Catholic and even I know angels don't have physical qualities--that's why they're angels.

3. The "detective and her staff" set up is old. Question: How many other shows use this formula? Answer: TOO MANY. For a brand new show to employ this same old setting...not excusable.

To "Saving Grace" people in charge: I really want to like your show. Please fix it. Thank You.

"Saving Grace" Debuts on TNT

So, I was totally pumped about this new show starring Holly Hunter (one of my favorites) as a tough detective haunted by demons from her past called "Saving Grace."

It was hyped and cleverly scheduled to run after "The Closer" which was TNT's huge hit drama of last year starring Kyra Sedgwick. It seems that TNT is becoming the channel of drama series led by quirky-yet-strong female characters who are deeply flawed yet ultimately redeemable on their own merits. But I digress.

A couple things really surprised me about "Saving": First, there was a lot of "God" and "Religion," involved...way more than I expected even though the commercials clearly showed an angel coming to her drunken rescue. Second, I was thrilled by the appearance of Laura San Giacomo (who we know better from Just Shoot Me and the movie Pretty Woman). I always thought she was a better actress than the aforementioned tv show permitted. I think this series confirms it. Third, I was pleased at how natural and normal the women look for their age. Both have wrinkles, freckles, and appear as they have for years. Thank god they've not yet succumbed to the pull of Botox or Dr. 90210.

I don't have much to say about the show right now; I like to take into consideration the whole arc of the show before I judge. But I'll say this: "The Closer" hasn't disappointed yet and my hope is that "Grace" will follow suit.