CBS All-Access' "Tell Me A Story"

Kevin Williamson, creator of "The Vampire Diaries" and the "Scream" films, has been pushing the boundaries of what network television censors will allow with shows like "The Following" and "Stalker." He's been transitioning to more adult fare, and moving to a streaming service allows him to provide darker, scarier offerings. Based on the initial episodes of his new show, Tell Me A Story, he's relishing his new found freedom.

The show, streaming on CBS All-Access, is a dark, modernized telling of a trio of fairy tales. Set in the concrete jungle of New York City, "Tell Me A Story" loosely tells the tale of "The Three Little Pigs," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Little Red Riding Hood." The three pigs are three bank robbers wearing pig masks when their job goes wrong, while Red Riding Hood, in this telling, isn't as innocent as the story portrayed her. As for Hansel and Gretel, the brother and sister duo may be finding their way, but they also have to cover up an accidental murder.

Due to the multiple stories the first pair of episodes involve a lot of set-up before getting down to business. Williamson (who wrote the premiere) and his team do a nice job job of seamlessly weaving the mostly unrelated stories together. Multiple times through the premiere the characters casually cross paths without realizing who they are passing on the street.

Make no mistake, though, these aren't the fairy tales you remember from your youth. They are filled with f-bombs as well as enough naked butts and gratuitous underwear shots to quench even the thirstiest of queens. For an extra bit of pandering to the gay audience, Kim Cattrall makes her juicy return to television, even offering a winking comment about how she was a slut in her younger days in her first scene.

Joining Cattrall is a large, recognizable cast that also includes James Wolk ("Happy Endings," "Zoo"), Billy Magnussen ("Into The Woods," "Game Night"), and Dania Ramirez (who recently tackled fairy tales in "Once Upon A Time"). The show is truly an ensemble, and the writers juggle all of the characters well. The actors also help to make each of their characters stand out while onscreen.

It remains to be seen if the show will succeed where many have failed; maintaining the tension and withstanding the pressures that come with a weekly serialized format. But, based on the first two episodes, this is one "Story" that is worth sticking around to see how it unfolds.