HARPER’S ISLAND “Whap”: C-I-L-L The Bridal Party

While contemplating the sad fact that the brilliant season finale of Life was probably the brilliant series finale of Life, I got to wondering again about whether short series–the kind of format the BBC uses for series like Life on Mars–are really the wave of the future. We’ve asked this question before, but CBS’ new mystery show Harper’s Island is the first series in a long while to embrace the shortened format on purpose rather than because the story is being cut short by cancellation. This “tune in for a few weeks only” format works like gangbusters in reality television, where attention spans are extra short (I freely admit I have completely lost the American Idol thread this season–are they still singing?), and it works overseas–why couldn’t it work for CBS or NBC?

Is Harper’s Island a good test case for whether this format will work well on American television? Well…maybe. It’s got a solid built-in countdown hook, with the Ten Little Indians conceit of a new murder each week. Viewers might tune in just to see who is left standing, like they do for Big Brother or Survivor on the same network. The first murder was just plain nasty–I mean that as a compliment–and there were some nicely creepy moments. I know I’m easy when it comes to scares, but they should have cut down that murder tree a long time ago. And it has Jim Beaver, who classes up any joint.

On the other hand, my very first reaction to the whole show was, “Ooh! I hope Harry Hamlin kills all the rich people!” He…won’t be. In the Interesting Character Derby, then, we are left with Plucky Tragic Heroine Whose Mother Was Killed In The First Murder Spree And Whose Name I Cannot Remember (played by Elaine Cassidy), Kinda Cute Working-Class Groom Whose Name I Cannot Remember (the always welcome Christopher Gorham), Cheeky Outsider Trying to Propose Whose Name I Cannot Remember (Adam Campbell), and Creepy Little Prescient Girl Who Tries to Fry Snails with A Magnifying Glass But Whose Name I Cannot Remember (Cassandra Sawtell, recently seen tormenting Shawn and Gus on Psych). Oh, and Jim Beaver. A cast full of interchangable pretty people is not a good sign, although I suppose it is a classic horror trope. If you’re a classic horror-suspense fan, Harper’s Island might be worth a visit. The rest of us will be hoping the drama gets pumped up beyond the body count (and that Harry Hamlin will rise out of the water weilding a chainsaw), or we’ll be sailing away. Thursday nights at 10pm Eastern and Pacific on CBS.

SUPERNATURAL: So A Man Wakes Up In A Box

When last we saw The Brothers Winchester, Sam was standing over Dean’s body, which had been ripped up by an off-screen hellhound, while Dean was apparently in Hell, which looks like a neuron map. No, I’m not making that up, and if it sounds strange to you, you’re missing the best scary time on TV.

Supernatural follows the exploits of the aforementioned Winchesters, demon hunters and messed-up good guys. In a previous season, rebel with a cause Dean (Jensen Ackles, Smallville and Dark Angel) had negotiated for straight arrow Sam’s (Jared Padalecki, Gilmore Girls) life by offering up his own, and last season was all about how to stop that bill from coming due. One of the things that makes this show fun, however, is their willingess to go as dark as TV goes–the heroes failed, the debt was collected, and Deano’s in Hell. They must find some way out, as tonight’s season premiere is called “Lazarus Rising” and descriptions of it suggest that Dean wakes up in a pine box, apparently free of his demon overlords. The boys’ friend Bobby (Deadwood‘s wonderful Jim Beaver), that rare demon hunter who has survived to a reasonably old age, is suspicious, however–what new bargain has provided this little gift, and what new debt is ripening?

Supernatural does a nice job with overarching story arcs like this, but they’re just as good at creepy one-offs that focus on the real origins of fairy tales or ancient links to Christmas creatures that want to eat more than cookies left by the fireplace. Unlike recent entries to the goosebump genre (Fringe, I’m looking at you), Supernatural benefits from heaping spoonfuls of dark humor–we’ve mentioned previously that The Tick‘s brilliant Ben Edlund is on the writing staff, and it shows. Supernatural has the bad luck of airing opposite the terrific NBC comedy block (or, for people outside of TV Bacon’s immediate circles, CSI: Original Flavor) but it’s premiering a week earlier than its competition so you have a chance to dip your toe in their scary, dangerous, invisible universe. Give them a try–but leave your lights on. Tonight and every Thursday at 9pm Eastern/Pacific on the CW.