Amanda’s Picks: ‘Dr. Odyssey’, ‘Poppa’s House’, ‘Human vs. Hamster’, ‘The Pitt’, ‘Doc’, ‘no Good Deed’, and ‘Going Dutch’

With new shows debuting every week, Amanda can’t watch everything. These are a few more shows that have caught my attention.

Dr. Odyssey (ABC)

Dr. Odyssey – (ABC) There is A LOT going on in this hospital on the high seas drama from megaproducer Ryan Murphy, part Love Boat, Law and Order, Grey’s Anatomy and Days of Our Lives. Dr. Max Bankman (Joshua Jackson) leaves the world of land-locked medicine for cruise ship health care. With episodes like “Plastic Surgery Week” and “Singles Week” you know your brain won’t have to work too hard. I hope Don Johnson, as the ship captain, has more to do when the show comes back to finish its season.

Poppa’s House – (CBS) Thanks to the father-son team of Damon Wayans Sr. and Jr., Poppa’s House is more enjoyable than it really should be. The veteran and very talented comedians make the most of decent material and tired sitcom tropes, generational conflict, in-law conflict, ex-spouse conflict etc. Sr. plays a long-time popular New York City DJ and Jr. is a family man who dreams of being a filmmaker. A fine supporting cast and Wayans’ charisma, make Poppa’s House worth watching.

Human vs. Hamster – (MAX) tells you everything you need to know in the title. Looking for something weird and mindless? Why not watch humans compete against your garden-variety pet rodent? Contestants scale fake buildings, roll around in wheels and maneuver through a series of obstacles as hamsters do the same on tiny versions of the same obstacles. Before my kids graduated to cats, we had many hamsters. I have always felt that people underestimate the petworthiness of hamsters. I am thrilled to see others feel the same way. Saturday Night Live’s Sarah Sherman is a very enthusiastic host and avowed hamster lover, assuring us that it’s not so weird to watch humans and rodents crawling around in a maze, searching for cookies.

The Pitt -(MAX) Grey’s Anatomy might be in its 112th season, but we all know that ER (1994- 2008) is the gold standard of medical dramas and The Pitt may remind you of ER. Noah Wylie, who played young Dr. Carter in ER, plays older Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitz, the senior physician in a hectic Pittsburgh emergency room. The Pitt is set in real-time, with each episode representing one hour in a 15-hour shift. Patients who get admitted in episode one could still be around in episode five and the people who have been in the waiting room in episode two could still be there in episode six. The Pitt is intense but also uneven. It spends too much time trying to make us cry as siblings decide the fate of their elderly father but zips through cases that are more intriguing. The cast is massive so there are no real standouts besides Wylie. I’m sticking with The Pitt, because it’s fast-paced and I am kind of hoping they can work in a visit from ER’s Dr. Ross (George Clooney).

Doc – Who’d have thought I’d be watching two medical shows (three if you count Dr. Odyssey) this season. So far, the best thing about Doc is Molly Parker as Dr. Amy Larsen, an arrogant and brilliant physician who has a car accident and loses her memory. But it’s only the last eight years of her life, (I know it’s confusing but they explain it in the show, a lot). Losing all that medical knowledge and experience, means she has to start over as a lowly intern. Doc is not a great show, but Parker is terrific and who doesn’t love a bit of good old-fashioned amnesia?

No Good Deed (Netflix)

No Good Deed – This Netflix “dramedy” isn’t quite sure what it wants to be. Sitcom legends Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow play a couple who put their very desirable California home up for sale and everyone wants to buy it. The house, however, has a “dark secret.” Show creator Liz Feldman, also gave us Dead to Me, a show with a very similar, “But wait, there’s more” vibe. No Good Deed drags on a bit but boasts a terrific supporting cast including Linda Cardellini, Owen Wilson, Matt Rogers as a scene-stealing Realtor and Denis Leary. Things do wrap up nicely in eight episodes, making No Good Deed a nice option for binge-watching.

Going Dutch – Speaking of Denis Leary, he’s back in this throwback FOX military sitcom. After bad-mouthing a superior, Colonel Patrick Quinn (Leary) is punished by being sent to an inconsequential Army base in the Netherlands. Would you believe that’s where his estranged daughter is serving as interim leader? Going Dutch breaks no sitcom ground, but Leary, the king of seething, is having fun, and he’s surrounded by a game and requisite wacky crew.