Fox reveals trailers for new shows THE FOLLOWING and THE MOB DOCTOR

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While we here at Criminal Complex aren’t afeared of the odd high concept televisual entertainment (heck, our own Josh Converse has a mighty love affair with the sadly cancelled Awake), network offerings like these can leave us mighty puzzled.

While it isn’t for us mere mortals to comprehend the hefty decision making that goes into what appears on our screens, I figured I’d give it a crack, anyway: due to their long-honoured agreement, Fox has yet again summoned their High-Concept Griffin into their production rooms. Just in time for their new season, the pesky Griffin has expurgated plotlines for two series from its “crime-thriller” cauldron.

As is the Griffin’s want, Fox executives have begun shooting the shows, and released trailers for each. And both look, well, lacking, to be honest.

Let’s first look at The Following – the place to get your RDI of Kevin Bacon (that’s a freebee, Fox marketing). This Kevin (Scream, Dawson’s Creek) Williamson show follows Bacon as a disgraced former FBI agent who comes back into the field when the serial killer he caught years ago escapes and, of course, goes on a rampage. The best (and worst) part of The Following looks to be its central conceit, which is that serial killer Carroll (James Purefoy) has got an army of serial killers who will do his work across the country, like some sort of… of… emulating… or perhaps, some sort of… supporting…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=f8H4ewQzKFM#!

Well, wherever they got the title, The Following has its work cut out making me not think that its plot looks stupid. It features all the clichés one expects of a “gritty” cop thriller made in the wake of Seven and James Patterson – shots of Kevin “I’m not an agent anymore” Bacon sneaking booze on the job; tense Silence of the Lambs-esque interrogations where the killer Turns The Tables; apparently the serial killer was “making art” – which is said with such po-faced dickery that Kevin Bacon needs to get an Emmy for making it seem like this is a reasonable thing a person would say, ever. But hey, Justified’s Natalie Zea is here, fulfilling some sort of contractual obligation to always play the bitter, sassy ex-wife.

There is a part of me that hopes this show could give in to its more bug-nuts nature, and could turn into a Western Death Note, but then I realise that No.

Now, the other show that we’ve got previewed has a bit of a cooler (and less ridiculous) premise that doesn’t require me writing 400 words to summarise, in fact, just two: mob doctor. It’s even called The Mob Doctor. Perfect. Simple. Clean. There. Sold. Fucking cool idea, make a million dollars, guys.

Oh, wait? Watch the trailer? Ok, sure, I can’t see why that would… oh… oh dear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YDu2q_vjOkY

This one starts off okay enough, some all right dark humour, but like The Following, it feels the need to layer its cool premise (MOB DOCTOR!) with what looks like a horrible medical dramedy and dialogue from that sounds like cliché factory seconds.

It seems that our perfect Dr. Perfect has a deal with the mob to save her fuck-up brother, that causes her to lead a double life tending to the mob’s sick. Even Complex-favourite, William Forsythe, doesn’t appear to be able to save this one.  Although, having said that, this one looks like it could end up being okay once it finds its feet. So, let’s not be too hasty with judgement. Solid premise, nice cast, but the tone of that trailer is pretty grating. So let’s muster leavened dampened enthusiasm for The Mob Doctor!

While it’s possible that some rock hard shows are presiding beneath the awful pants of these trailers (although, The Mob Doctor seems to have more chance of that than The Following), both shows appear to have arrived feeling tired.

But then again, maybe that’s the point – the whims of the High-Concept Griffin aren’t for you or I to know.