By Jewel Wicker
TGIT is on hiatus.
To accommodate Kerry Washington as she prepares to give birth to a gladiator of her own, the season five premiere of "Scandal" has been pushed back to mid-season.
But, as an ABC commercial points out, the network can’t just "run color bars in the meantime."
To fill the space, the network is premiering a new show, “Notorious.” Thursday nights on ABC won’t be called TGIT until “Scandal” returns, even though “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How to Get Away with Murder” will still run in their normal spots at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.
“Notorious” has a few things in common with your favorite Shondaland shows, although it is not a Shonda Rhimes creation. There’s sex (the pilot literally starts off with a steamy scene), a powerful female lead (played by Piper Perabo) who isn’t afraid to put her career needs above everything else and subplots that finds the main characters trying to “fix” a problem.
Based on the real-life friendship between former Larry King Live producer Wendy Walker and high-profile defense attorney Mark Geragos, “Notorious” follows the two lead characters’ unlikely relationship as they banter and scheme to shape the news.
So, should you give “Notorious” a chance?
Sure.
If you’re a TGIT fan, chances are you’ve already settled in with your popcorn and red wine for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How to Get Away with Murder.”
With “Notorious,” the framework for a good show is there, but the pilot (filmed in Atlanta) doesn’t give viewers any incentive to care about the characters, their relationships or their problems. It falls short of meeting the standards set by the hour-long dramas that it’s sandwiched in-between.
As annoying as Olivia Pope and her all-consuming relationship drama can be, “Notorious” is still no “Scandal.”
It isn't worth altering your schedule to catch "Notorious," but it's a decent enough filler.
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