Red Band Society arrives on Fox tonight as a new show that takes an old premise in a new direction. Officially being called a dramedy, Red Band Society has the ability to be a polarizing show. If fans are not quite ready for it, however, it could be done fairly early in the season.
At the root of the idea is the basic premise of teenagers from all walks of life and backgrounds being grouped together. Add in a teacher, a fun principal or any other schoolhouse employee and you have seen the show a thousand times over. Not so quick with this one.
That’s where the red band in Red Band Society comes in. Each of these kids are living out their teenage years in the Oak Park Hospital.
The show is told from the narration of a young man who is in a coma within the hospital. His friends, the hospital staff and the various parents make up the majority of the interactions. Quite a few of the faces are new but the show is anchored by Octavia Spencer and Dave Annable. Spencer, an Academy Award winner, is most known for her work on The Help. Annable is recognizable from his work on Brothers & Sisters and 666 Park Avenue.
Here’s the description from the network:
RED BAND SOCIETY is a provocative, unconventional and unique coming-of-age dramedy about a group of rule-bending friends and the adults who mentor them through the ups and downs of adolescence in Los Angeles’ Ocean Park Hospital. Exploring everything from strong friendships, and first loves, to humorous mishaps and heartbreaks, the series is a story of life, with an edgy comedic tone all its own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPEI4CnAC4c
The show may be worth setting your DVR for, assuming you are not already overloaded with this year’s television schedule. The hardest challenge facing the success of this very unique show is sheer competition. The fall schedule is full of new and exciting shows that are joining an already full schedule. Being forced to choose, viewers may lose Red Band Society in the shuffle.
Share your thoughts on Red Band Society in the comments below and stay tuned to Comic Booked for Fall Television Previews on many more shows.
might be worth checking out.