intriguing new fall tv

Since I’m not privy to any early looks my eager to watch list is most influenced by early critical chatter, pedigree of cast and creators, and a good premise doesn’t hurt. But like the rest of the world it’s a matter of watching an episode, or four, to see what’s really worth watching.

Following are what has most caught my attention:

• American Horror Story (FX, 10/5) / Homeland (Show, 10/2) – The two shows I’m actually most intrigued by, first a weekly family drama/horror story… we’ll see how it works ongoing but Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott…  And then good buzz about this who’s the bad guy in Iraq POW returns home with Life‘s Damien Lewis and Claire Danes, did I mention I don’t get Showtime?
• Grimm (NBC, 10/21) / Once Upon a Time (ABC, 10/23) – I’m a fan of a fairy tale reinvention and these two shows each bring a different take, first a police procedural, only with the possibility that the murderer is the actual big bad wolf, while the second is a slightly lighter look as a woman in the ‘real world’ find she’s the descendant of Snow White and we get a look at the characters in both fantasy and present day worlds, described as a good mix of mythology and whimsy.
• Hart of Dixie (CW, 9/26) / New Girl (Fox, 9/20) – Don’t fight it, Zoey Deschanal and Rachel Bilson are adorable, so here’s hoping their fish out of water shows are well done with the big city doc goes country and the newly single awkward gal moves in with the dudes.
• Person of Interest (CBS, 9/22) / Prime Suspect (NBC, 9/22) – New procedurals worth a shot, looking to solve crimes before they happen with a mix of technology and brute force, bringing Lost creator and previously creepy Ben Linus back caught my eye and Maria Bello’s turn as detective may not match the English version but could hold interest on its own.
• Ringer (CW, 9/13) – Three words, Sarah Michelle Gellar, but to be honest this drama about a twin on the run taking over the life of her sister that no one knows is believed to be dead has some mixed reviews, but I’ll give it a couple goes to see what the former Buffy can bring.
• Suburgatory (ABC, 9/28) / Two Broke Girls (CBS, 9/19) / Up All Night (NBC, 9/14) – Bring on the funny, a little quirky and a few good casts may work in these, quirky moved to a new odd suburb, odd couple gals with no dough, and Will Arnett and Christina Applegate raising a baby with Maya Rupdolph as comic relief.
• Terra Nova (Fox, 9/26) – The talk on this hasn’t been awesome but everyone seems to want to see the Steven Spielberg big concept big budget folks from the future living in an alt dinosaur living world show.
• The X-Factor (Fox, 9/21) – I’m not sure if the fact that I’m totally over American Idol bodes well for my liking of this show, but my missing of Simon might be enough, though to be honest I’m not sure how the format differs.

These are looking less favorable for one reason or another but there’s often a gem in the bunch:

• Allen Gregory (Fox, 10/30) – The latest in the animation domination, this has Jonah Hill voicing a fish out of water rich kid hits public school.
• Boss (Starz, 10/21) – Kelsey Grammer’s latest turn as ruthless politician looks intriguing but I just don’t get Starz.
• Charlie’s Angels (ABC, 9/22) – I actually enjoyed the Drew Barrymore movies so had hopes with her exec producing, but pretty girls may not be enough.
• Enlightened (HBO, 10/10) – I haven’t heard much about this new half hour dramedy where Laura Dern has some sort of office break and tries to turn things around.
• Free Agents (NBC, 9/14) – Bad critical buzz makes me doubtful about PR office romance with Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn.
• A Gifted Man (CBS, 9/23) – Neurosurgeon’s dead wife acts as his conscience, perhaps lands on the sappy side.
• H8R (CW, 9/14) – You couldn’t pay me to watch celebs confront people who hate them.
• How to Be a Gentleman (CBS, 9/29) – More bad buzz for another odd couple take as the rough and the refined roommates try to balance each other out.
• I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox, 11/30) – And yet more bad critical buzz about popular and maybe not nice daughters and the mothers that may not always like them.
• Last Man Standing (ABC, 10/11) – If you missed Home Improvement Tim Allen is back with more family – this time he has daughters – jokes.
• Man Up! (ABC, 10/18) – Video gamers try to be men doesn’t look worth more than a look.
• Pan Am (ABC, 9/25) – This is one of the two period shows that is supposedly not as good as Mad Men, though this is thought to be the better of the two.
• The Playboy Club (NBC, 9/19) – This is the other period show not supposed to have much of interest.
• Reed Between the Lines (BET, 10/11) – Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Cosby) play a therapist and professor couple.
• Revenge (ABC, 9/21) – This looks cheesy, which isn’t bad, but I don’t see the legs in the premise of girl hits the Hamptons for soapy justice.
• The Secret Circle (CW, 9/15) – I always kind of want to like these cheesy other worldly shows, this one witches, but my hope is not high.
• Unforgettable (CBS, 9/20) – This is one of those gimmick procedurals, she never forgets anything… not sure the cast and writing hold up.
• Whitney (NBC, 9/22) – Whitney is actually supposedly funny but this pilot at least is supposedly not.

Shows mostly listed in alphabetical order and all premiere dates are of course subject to change.

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