Fall TV preview: Will CBS, Will Arnett’s ‘The Millers’ benefit from ‘Big Bang Theory’?

Earlier this week, we posted a report saying that “Survivor Caramoan: Fans vs. Favorites” winner John Cochran had landed himself a job on the new CBS – Will Arnett series “The Millers,” which is premiering this fall following “The Big bang Theory” on Thursday nights. It’s a big spot for CBS to give to any show, there is obviously a certain amount of optimism that this will be the series for whatever reason to bring in similar numbers in the 18-49 demographic.

While we love Cochran (who had nothing to do with the video below), and while we also love “Justified’s” Margo Martindale, we don’t really have that much enthusiasm about the show itself. Despite having an executive producer that we like here in Greg Daniels, “The Millers” feels like most other male-centered family comedies these days. You have a big-name leading man, divorce, kooky parents, and kids saying somewhat-offensive things.

One of the biggest reasons that we are somewhat worried right now about “The Millers” in terms of success is actually Arnett himself. This is a guy who has appeared in three separate TV projects in the past four years, and it just hasn’t worked out for him. “Running Wilde” was dead on arrival on Fox, and last year, “Up All Night” failed to transition into a multi-camera sitcom as it was originally planned.

One of the other reasons that we have some concern for “The Millers” is that the series really does not have that much in common with its lead-in, save that they are both multi-camera sitcoms. We always felt like the appeal of “The Big Bang Theory” was that it genuinely brought something for everyone when it comes to entertainment. Does “The Millers” really do that? Take a moment or two and ponder that question to yourself after watching the trailer below.

Perhaps we’re being hard on the show, since sitcoms can never really judged by the pilot episode, anyway. Who knows? We never thought that Cochran was going to win “Survivor,” either, after his first time playing it, but here we are.

This piece is just one of many in our new Fall TV Preview series. If you want to read even more of them, all you have to do is head on over to the link here.

Photo: CBS