Upfront 2016: NBC Trailer Verdicts Roundtable Reactions

Let’s find out if Timeless can withstand the travel or if This Is Us can be relatable and entertaining enough to have us tuned in every week or will The Good Place deliver the laughs needed to keep us coming back.

NBC released three new series for the fall during upfront 2016 starring some of our favorites such as Matt Lanter, Milo Ventimiglia and Kristen Bell. With the line-up of producers from The Blacklist and directors from “Crazy, Stupid, Love” at the helm of two of the series announced, our TV After Dark contributors will most likely have high standards when delivering our trailer verdict on the shows we’ll be watching live, taking a pass or giving it a chance with our four episode challenge.

Want to be featured on our next fans react to the trailer verdict article? Comment below and deliver your own verdict. Let’s see what the future hold for these series on TVAD watchlist.

Plot – From Eric Kripke and the producers of The Blacklist comes a thrilling new action-adventure series. Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter and Malcolm Barrett star as a team chasing a criminal intent on destroying America through time.

Watch Live 4/10 | Pass 3/10 | 4 Episode Challenge 3/10 

Here’s what our TVAD Roundtable had to say about Timeless:

Romancia (Editor in Chief): Squeee! I’ve been rooting for Matt Lanter to land a role I think would show what his acting ability is capable off and he lands himself in a lead role with two of my favorite subjects, time-travel, and history. If this series wasn’t attached to the producers from The Blacklist and I had to rely on the trailer, it did an excellent job in delivering the right tone for viewers that have no clue what the series is about. I also enjoyed the large scale production and music score in the background. I seriously can’t wait to see what this is about. I’ll be watching this live and praying it does not disappoint. NBC may have another winner here.

Shenna (Social Media Director): No! The CGI looks hella fake. I’m a lover of history and time travel, but this doesn’t interest me at all. I’ll have to pass.

Stephanie (News Editor): Not super into time travel. Wouldn’t plan to watch, but might give it a shot if nothing else is on that night.

Jessenika: The cast is great but the show feels like another copy of Legends of Tomorrow and 12 Monkeys. Trailer Verdict: Pass

Theresa: At first glance this is exciting. Time travel? Who wouldn’t want to watch this? Considering I’m a big history fan and Whovian, this intrigues me. I’d at least give it a few episodes to see if the initial quirkiness holds through the entire series. The jumps back into important moments in history will be worth the watch. The music, production, all of it makes me want to give this show a shot.

Nicola: ‘Timeless’ is a concept where when you first hear of it, you think: “ah, the classic old time-travel story”–but I really like the premise because this isn’t about someone going back in time to do good. It’s about someone going back in time to seriously, seriously do bad–and of course, the consequences that could befall it–not just of his heinous to-do list. There are a couple of anachronistic problems, but it’s good to see Matt Lanter holding his own in a potentially thrilling, time-warp witch-hunt.

Andrea: Time travel is the new zombie! I’m a sucker for history, so this one has me intrigued.  Seems like a good mix of drama, intrigue, mystery, action and comedy.  I’m definitely in for this one.  I’d probably even watch it live.

Lisa: A little time travel anyone? NBC’s fall offering, Timeless, combines time travel with the hunt for a villain bent on destroying America through changing one historical event after another. The humor infused promo is prompting me to give this one a two episode try despite the low budget feel of the special effects (did I actually see a green screen?) and less than promising premise of the good guys thwarting the bad guy one episode at a time. I’ll add this one to “a couple of views until final judgement” watchlist.

Dominic:  INCREDIBLE! I was completely blown away by the trailer and found myself looking for more trailers and/or teasers online. From the trailer it’s evident this show has to potential to be epic. The casting was great and even hours after seeing the trailer I find myself smiling about the the black man going back in time bit (classic). For those of us who actually studied history and watched the footage of the Hindenburg crashing, the modern-day footage makes you sit straight up in your chair as hear voice of Herbert O. “Herb” Morrison providing instant credibility. The production looks beautiful and the story concept takes your breath away. I cannot wait for this one! Well played NBC…well played indeed.

Danielle: Oh my god, is that Max Theriot from Catch That Kid?! Kristen Stewart’s little buddy from Disney Channel! (I’m a big fan of hers, if you couldn’t tell.) But anyway, this looks good. Are they just trying to stop the Hindenburg from blowing up, or will there be other historical disasters too?

Plot – From the writer and directors of “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” this refreshingly honest and provocative new series stars Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia.

Watch Live 4/10 | Pass 3/10 | 4 Episode Challenge 3/10 

Here’s what our TVAD Roundtable had to say about This Is Us:

Romancia: Not sure if this series will survive but the only two things that make me interested in watching this trailer, is the fact I am a fan of the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love and an even bigger fan of Milo Ventimiglia work. For that reason alone I’ll give this show four episodes, besides we can always use this kind of feel-good storyline on television.

Shenna: Yes! Yes! Yes!

Stephanie: Would totally watch. Has a family and real life relate-able feeling like Parenthood did and I loved Parenthood. Also has a really good cast.

Jessenika: I really like it because it reminds me of Parenthood: Heartwarming and will make you feel all the feels. Great casting as well. Trailer Verdict: Watch Live.

Theresa: Tempting. But the whole shared birthdays and pull at your heartstrings gig really isn’t my regular thing. This one looks like it’s cramming too many situations into one. New parents losing one of their babies, overweight woman trying to find love, actor struggling in his career, man finding his long lost father. Pick one. I’m not interested, though this preview did give me a laugh and a smile or two.

Nicola: ‘This Is Us’ is a welcome and sweet return for Milo Ventimiglia in a feel-good looking series, that has some very real-life twists. Telling the story of multiple protagonists at the same time calls for some promising moments, but also some split divisions–there may be one story you absolutely loathe, and one you absolutely love. However I think television needs more feel-good series like these, and reliably from the writer of ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’, it could be a success.

Andrea: I had feels just watching the trailer for this one. Plus any show where I get to watch Milo Ventimiglia again is ok by me.  Props to NBC- I really like seeing diverse characters on television, and I can’t wait to watch an overweight character (Chrissy Metz) in a leading role in a drama.

Lisa: Not gonna lie… I almost cried with this promo. Seriously. Not the first episode but the two minute, thirty four second trailer. Pregnant woman (Mandy Moore, guys!) giving birth to triplets and one doesn’t survive. Single tear. This is going to be one of those hit ya in the feels dramas that follows the lives of characters we care way too much about. I’m all in and am adding this one to TVAD’s watchlist. Hey, can I tweet this one, TVAD? Pretty please.

Dominic: I guess I don’t understand the concept and purpose of this show. I don’t shy away from dramas so I appreciate each of the beautiful arcs presented, but I don’t understand the connection other than the birthday and I guess that was bugging me each time I reviewed the trailer. If I was simply looking for something to watch, I guess I would watch this show…but it didn’t really grab my attention as it kind of seemed like sporadic stories tied together for the sake of producing a show. Again, individually I liked them, but nt enough for me to watch the show religiously.

Danielle: Milo Ventimiglia’s ass is in this? Give!! Lmao. But yes, this looks ok. It gives me a fairytale feeling, which is cute. But we had something like this earlier called Parenthood. And with that show done, I guess they’re bringing in something similar. I’ll check out the first episode and see from there.

Plot – From Creator Michael Schur comes the unique new comedy The Good Place, starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson.

Watch Live 4/10 | Pass 4/10 | 4 Episode Challenge 2/10

Here’s what our TVAD Roundtable had to say about The Good Place:

Romancia: Meh, just not feeling it but I love Kristen Bell. I’m going to have to pass only because I’m not huge on comedy and well, I didn’t laugh at all when I watched this.

Shenna: Just… no.

Stephanie: Watching for sure! Kristen Bell is a perfect fit. Uniquely funny and nothing like I’ve seen done before on TV.

Jessenika: The plot is somewhat unique and it looks fun and vibrant, however, I’m not sure it will make it to a second season because the storyline is mostly cliché. Trailer Verdict: 4 Episode Challenge.

Theresa: “You are dead.” Great way to start out the preview. And Kristen Bell? Creators of Parks and Rec. Cool. Looks entertaining but not something that I would watch live. This might have been better left as a straight to video movie rather than an entire series. Kind of reminds me of “Dead Like Me” but not as good.

Nicola: You’re always onto a winner when you’ve got the beloved Kristen Bell in my opinion. ‘The Good Place’ for me holds an idea that could be funny if executed correctly, and with Kristen Bell as the lead, I think that could be the case. It’s got a dark-comedy, ‘Pushing Daisies’ vibe to it, which I enjoyed. It wasn’t the best, and it wasn’t the most convincing, I have to admit–but I think with ‘Timeless’ looking to be picked up (in my opinion), ‘The Good Place’ wins out for the feel-good, slightly off-beat and quirky comedy here. From that, my Trailer Verdict would have to be a four episode challenge to see if this is a good place indeed on NBC’s schedule. To put everything on a star–a famous name–is risky, and so far the only charm has been Kristen Bell herself.

Andrea: NBC seems to be going 3/3.  The cast looks spot on, the jokes actually made me laugh out loud, and I’m charmed by the plot because it looks like something I haven’t seen before.

Lisa: This one looks hilarious! And original! Two words that don’t always go together when we take a look at upcoming new shows. Kristen Bell stars as a newly deceased woman who’s been sent to The Good Place. One snafu, she was really supposed to go to the The Bad Place. Bell’s fish out of water portrayal of a bad girl trying to go good (sort of) is so funny; the promo had me laughing out loud, especially when she discovers the worst F word she can let rip is “fork.” Adding this one to the TVAD Do Not Miss Watchlist.

Dominic: HILARIOUS! I’d watch this show based on the concept and the casting alone. Wonderful ideas that have been toyed with for years and never developed into this level of entertainment. Kristen Bell is going to be great in this role based on the character completely fitting her style of acting. I can’t wait to see more scenes with her and her “soul-mate” who seems reluctant to support her (that arc is hilarious in itself!). Ted Danson will definitely provide a fan-following for those of us that have always loved him as an actor. This promises to be one of the shows we count down for each week. Another great choice for the NBC lineup.

Danielle: Wow this looks so funny! And you can’t curse in Heaven? That sucks. I’m not that big of a Kristen Bell fan, but this looks adorable. Like Pushing Daisies and Samantha Who. I don’t see it lasting very long, though.