Notorious

This show can be a great one if they keep up the tempo from the first episode. I have not seen this tempo in events and the script since West Wing. Piper Perabo is as usual brilliant and this is a show where I really look forward to the 2nd episode.

The only thing I am afraid for is the tempo slowing down and the drama taking over too much. Looking at the first episode I feel there is a risk the writers wants the show to be more sexy. But it does not need that. Just give us what you gave us in the first episode and all will be fine.

If you like a fast-paced actiondrama, you will like Notorious. I hope we get a full season even though reviews generally have been poor.

I was drawn to this show (which is based on the backstage happenings at "Larry King Live") because of Piper Perabo. The premise sounded lame to me, but I was willing to give it a chance.

The first episode opens with a sex scene between Julia George (Perabo) and her fiancé. Louise, the star of the TV show Julia produces, is an attractive cougar who beds almost every younger guy she comes in contact with. Julia's assistant, Megan, used to be an escort. It doesn't take long to realize that titillation will be on the menu (along with the beefcake and the cheesecake).

Julia has a strong relationship with a local attorney, Jake Gregorian (Daniel Sunjata). Together they manipulate public opinion for their own ends. She wants ratings and he is always angling in the best interests of his clients.

In episode two, Julia mines a pro bono legal case for its juicier elements to stimulate viewership. Puff Daddy pops by for a few seconds. And there is a fairly interesting story about a mother whose child was abducted.

As a result, I have mixed feelings about "Notorious". Perabo is believable in her demanding leading role. The rest of the cast is fairly strong. But the subject matter is mostly frivolous. And it is not clear yet whether the stars of the show are likable enough to truly care about. I do know that Ms. Perabo's talents can be better used.

Update 10/18/16: After watching a few episodes, my worst fears have been confirmed. There is a smarmy yet sensitive vibe at the center of the show. The staff of the television news show pretend to be the conscience of America, the judge who hands their facts over to the public (jurors) in search of justice. They use their power to bully and coerce. They repeatedly drag the national conversation down into the gutter then seek the moral high ground. Their sources are shadowy and (conveniently) never ending. They cast themselves as the (pseudo-) custodians of conscience, but Julia is reckless and "a self-centered little bitch" according to her own on-air talent.

The worst thing about this show is that tries to normalize the sordid practices of TV news program that specializes in sensationalism, sex, celebrity and sin. We don't need to celebrate that and we don't need to accept it as the rightful and best practices of journalism.

Perabo (and others) can do better. I look forward to her next show. I am lowering my grade to "4".

This show wants to be a lot of things (behind-the-scenes drama, white- collar romance, mystery, legal procedural), and it might succeed at some of those if it weren't so dedicated to being a laughable soap -- and a girlie one at that. What do I mean by "girlie"? I mean that every woman on this show is self-empowered, while every guy on this show is either a wimp, a schemer, a liar, and/or is trying to figure out how to get the women to give him something. It's a feminist's dream, at the expense of any believability whatsoever. The only even remotely redeeming factor is that the mystery is actually pretty good. Unfortunately you have to wade through a lot of raw sewage to watch it. Not worth it for me.

yea i am a guy and will admit that i like scandle and h t g a w m a lot and this is another good scandles show its full of action thrills and mystery that you have grown to expect from abc dramas every character has a special something to do with the story in some way u wont believe some of this nore will u watch the local news the same way agin its full of surprises as i mentioned before so i say fasten your seatbelts and be ready for a fun thrill ride full of mysteries that any true abc junkie will just have to solve before time runs out and u will never expect lots of things happening here just watch and enjoy trust me u will like it

It boggles the mind a show like Two Broke Girls can go on seemingly forever but something watchable gets canned after just one season, probably because, once again, the dumbasses the look at the ratings/viewers aren't also counting people who stream shows.

I hope Netflix revives this and Limitless, because at this point i think they're the only ones who know what their doing anymore.