There is just not a lot of good to say about either Notorious or Conviction, except that the two new ABC shows serve as a thankful reminder of just how good Shonda Rhimes is at what she does.
Otherwise, as I say in my video review above, the former starring Piper Perabo and Daniel Sunjata is at best coy where it could be curious, and the Hayley Atwell-led latter is cliché-addled where, well, it could show some conviction. Debuting on September 22 and October 3, respectively, Notorious and Conviction are at best watered-down Shondaland wannabes that lack any real kick or taste.
Stepping into Scandal‘s sharp shoes tomorrow between the Season 13 debut of Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away With Murder‘s Season 3 opener, the Josh Berman & Allie Hagan-penned Notorious is a clunky cable TV crossed with the law-themed show based on the relationship between small-screen-frequenting attorney and celeb-representing Mark Geragos and longtime Larry King producer Wendy Walker. Trust me, from what I’ve seen, it sounds much more interesting in theory than in execution.
As for the latest series for the former Agent Carter star, Conviction finds Atwell as a disgraced and decadent former First Daughter given a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card if she takes over a team that, get ready for it, looks into possible false convictions. The fact that the legally trained Hayes Morrison character now finds herself with a former First Lady of a mother with high-office ambitions of her own adds a shot of the zeitgeist to the series created by Liz Friedman and Liz Friedlander, but it’s soon dissipated. The fact is, from what I’ve seen, the 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. backstory serves more as an halting anchor than launch pad, and the redemption tale never takes off. Which is a real shame, because Atwell is a star awaiting her star vehicle — sadly, Conviction doesn’t give her the necessary lift.
Check out my video review above of Notorious and Conviction for more – and Kerry Washington, President Fitz, Senator Mellie and the rest of the Scandal gang, hurry back!
This review originally ran on September 21.
