TVDoaN: So Far, No References To "Champions"

As I watch the CBS late night offerings, I keep thinking that I'm flashing back about 7-8 years whenever I see this promo for a new TV show.

Have you seen it? It's about a vampire who is a private eye in modern day Los Angeles. It deals with all of the pluses and minuses of being a creature of the night, has something of a smart-alecky feel to it, and the lead is this tall, dark-haired brooding type who wears a long coat.

It's called Ange--no, sorry--it's called Moonlight.

Uhm...what?

Does this guy also have a yen for bratty blondes? Is Joss Whedon's Mutant Enemy getting royalties?

I could go on the predictable rant about the dearth of imagination in Holly--bored now; this just takes the cake. Craig Ferguson, while talking about the up-fronts (where the major networks debut the fall season), used to joke that really the networks were unveiling the shows they were going to cancel by November.

Here is candidate number one. It may or may not last longer than the Geico Caveman sitcom.

This is akin to having NBC unveil "Police Soul" three seasons after ABC's disastrous run w/"Cop Rock" (levide, do you still have that clip?).

The thing is, who does CBS expect to attract with this show? Whedon-fans are bound to look at this thing with proper levels of disgust. Also, it's not like Angel drew massive numbers...fiercely loyal numbers, but not enough to...well, that may not be true.

CBS is placing this during their "weak imitation shows" juggernaut on Fridays (home to The Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs), so expectations aren't exactly high.

Still though...what? I'm sorry, but this is too direct a rip-off...this isn't even an homage, or a redux of a classic (like "Night Stalker" a few years back)...This looks like Angel, without the personnel, charisma (as in "magnetism", not "carpenter" and I sincerely hope she's not this desperate), and wit.

Witness the latest batch of promos, which feature the vampire in question ("Mick St. John"...I mean, really), being interviewed. "What's it like being a vampire?" asks the off-screen interviewer. "Being a vampire sucks," is the reply.

Much like being contracted to do this thing, I'll wager.