Mid-season fodder has one chance, maybe to get picked up. The quirky show with an interesting cast failed to make the most of it. From what I saw, I enjoyed. This of course means we have to link the video that got me to watch the dang things to begin with.

Note to television producers everywhere, while cop show footage and Sabotage works to lure me to the set, it’s unlikely that this combination has been effective on the rest of society in fifteen years, quite possible longer.

On an entirely unrelated note: the suggestion appearing in this space three and a half months go, regarding the missing element for Lie to Me, was in part implemented. (We get results!) The addition of Mekhi Phifer has balanced out the largely theoretical aspects of criminal investigation provided by Roth’s character. The chemistry between the duo works well.

My hope is that the producers will allow the growing tension between Lightman (Roth) and his associate, Dr. Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams), to continue to simmer rather than become a plot turning device. A comparable card was effectively played in the season finale, which should produce adequate tension in the office (of the non-sexual variety) to drive the show through the autumn commitment Fox made to it.

Finally, an observation. I never actually tuned in to see The Unusuals, opting instead to download the episodes and watch them via Apple TV. I’m curious to see how much demand from viewers like me would trip a partial season pick up. Productions costs being what they are, it would probably be a sizable number. At some point, and it is not far off, that’s how these decisions will be made. No more Nielsen numbers but digital downloads instead will drive decisions. I can live with that.