intriguing new fall tv

grinderWell there’s not a ton that seems to be sticking out as a new breakout hit but there are a few shows that look like they could end up being added to the repertoire. Other than those already aired I don’t see these ahead of time so most of my intrigue is developed by cast, creators, and critics’ tips as to what looks good. Like each season the pilot is often only a nominal indicator of what’s to come but when one neither can nor wants to watch a full season of everything cuts come quick.

  • The Bastard Executioner (Fx, 9/15) – I still haven’t cracked this one open but with my appreciation for most of Sons of Anarchy it will definitely get a watch.
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW, 10/12) – A musical comedy about a stalker seems like a tough sell but folks are saying it works.
  • Grandfathered (Fox, 9/29) – John Stamos is back and willing to give him a chance with his new found family.
  • The Grinder (Fox, 9/29) – Rob Lowe and Fred Savage’s latest step into comedy is supposed to be a great fit and format.
  • Heroes Reborn (NBC, 9/24) – I enjoyed the start of this original series, will the return in limited format recapture the magic or the demise.
  • The Player (NBC, 9/24) – The first episode was fun and promises some good campy event of the week with a lot of over the top action, I don’t see real quality but we’ll see if it lives up to the promise.
  • Quantico (ABC, 9/27) – Dubbed as sort of a Greys Academy we’ve got a fresh batch of recruits and some sexy romance and political intrigue?
  • Supergirl (CBS, 10/26) – I’m due for another good superhero show and this is getting enough good buzz.

And the others to dabble or drop:

  • Angel from Hell (CBS, 11/5) – I’ll give the new Jane Lynch vehicle a shot but the commentary indicates Jane is the only good thing about it.
  • Best Time Ever (NBC, 9/15) – I love NPH as much as anyone but the format of the show doesn’t quite shine.
  • Blindspot (NBC, 9/21) – The first episode introduced the stupid premise with talent without much chemistry but another episode could be more promising.
  • Blood & Oil (ABC, 9/27) – The latest entrant to the evening soap, though seems as if Don Johnson is the only high point.
  • Chicago Med (NBC, 11/17) – If you like Chicago Fire or Chicago PD
  • Code Black (CBS, 9/30) – This looks like it will hit all the standard medical drama but perhaps not much more.
  • Dr Ken (ABC, 10/2) – Ken Jeong’s latest is getting pretty bad buzz though rumor has it there is improvement post pilot.
  • Fear the Walking Dead (AMC, 8/23) – I’ve only caught the first and the look at a life before dragged but I’ll wait to see a little more of the world.
  • Life in Pieces (CBS, 9/21) – The premiere didn’t win me over but the cast has enough potential to give it another shot.
  • Limitless (CBS, 9/22) – Another case of not being enamored enough by the leads or the premise, I’m tempted to give it one more shot to see what the weekly feels like after the pilot of introductions.
  • Minority Report (Fox, 9/21) – The future of crimes doesn’t have any future in my book.
  • The Muppets (ABC, 9/22) – I enjoy a muppet but am yet to be sure of the new tone and humor of the show week to week.
  • Rosewood (Fox, 9/23) – The ‘charming’ lead just came across as smarmy, though there’s room for him to be likable, I’m not sure the private pathologist in Miami premise is worth it.
  • Scream Queens (Fox, 9/22) – I didn’t find enough humor, suspense, or originality in this latest killer endeavor.
  • Truth Be Told (NBC, 10/16) – I can’t imagine Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Vanessa Lachey having frank conversations will be all that amusing but who knows.
  • Wicked City (ABC, 10/27) – Ed Westwick gets extra wicked as serial killer, perhaps.
And then of course there’s cable, and mid-season, and… What are you most excited about?

Shows mostly listed in alphabetical order and premiere dates subject to change so stay tuned to ‘next week’s for more info. 

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new and noteworthy tv: 9/21-9/27

quanticoFall television is officially here, in addition to some returning reccos I’ve basically underlined anything new, your guess is as good as mine for most part. Hearing some potential for Life in Pieces (Modern Family meets Parenthood), Blindspot (Blacklist + tattoos), Scream Queens (Mean Girls meets Scream), Quantico (Grey’s FBI), and cautious about a Heroes reboot. Looking lacking but I’l take a look are sadly The Muppets, Limitless, Rosewood, The Player, and Blood & Oil.

  • Monday – The Big Bang Theory/Life in Pieces/Scorpion/NCIS: Los Angeles, Season/Series Premiere (CBS, 8/8:30/9/10pm), Gotham/Minority Report, Season/Series Premiere (Fox, 8/9pm), The Voice/Blindspot, Season/Series Premiere (NBC, 8/10pm), Castle, Season Premiere (ABC, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – The Muppets/Fresh Off the Boat, Series/Season Premiere (ABC, 8/8:30pm), NCIS/NCIS New Orleans/Limitless, Season/Series Premiere (CBS, 8/9/10pm), Scream Queens, Series Premiere (Fox, 8pm), The Bazillion Dollar Club, Series Premiere (Syfy, 10pm), If Loving You Is Wrong, Season Premiere (OWN, 10pm)
  • Wednesday – The Middle/The Goldbergs/Modern Family/Black-ish/Nashville, Season Premieres (ABC, 8/8:30/9/9:30/10pm), The Mysteries of Laura/L&O: SVU, Season Premieres (NBC, 8/9pm), Rosewood/Empire, Series/Season Premieres (Fox, 8/9pm), Survivor, Season Premiere (CBS, 8pm)
  • Thursday – Grey’s Anatomy/Scandal/How To Get Away With Murder, Season Premieres (ABC, 8/9/10pm), Heroes Reborn/The Player, Series Premieres (NBC, 8/10pm), Fashionably Late With Rachel Zoe, Series Premiere (Life, 10:30pm), Are You The One, Season Premiere (MTV, 11pm)
  • Friday – The Amazing Race/Hawaii Five-0/Blue Bloods, Season Premieres (CBS, 8/9/10pm), Last Man Standing/Shark Tank, Season Premieres (ABC, 8/9pm), Step It Up, Series Premiere (Life, 10pm)
  • Saturday – Fame Kills/Behind the Screams, Series Premieres (Reelz, 8/9pm), 48 Hours, Season Premiere (CBS, 9pm)
  • Sunday – Once Upon a Time/Blood & Oil/Quantico, Season/Series Premieres (ABC, 7/8/9/10pm), Super Soul Sunday, Season Premiere (OWN, 7pm), 60 Minutes, Season Premiere (CBS, 7:30pm), Bob’s Burgers/The Simpsons/Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Family Guy/Last Man on Earth, Season Premieres (Fox, 7:30/8/8:30/9/9:30pm), Indian Summers, Series Premiere (PBS, 9pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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next week 9/21

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Heroes (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – I just couldn’t take it anymore so I have no idea what they’re up to and I’d like to keep it that way.
  • House (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – I am not entirely sure why I still watch this show, every episode they almost kill someone until they save them and House is an ass, but now I just need to see if he’s an insane ass.
  • Dancing with the Stars/Castle (ABC, 8/10pm) Season Premiere – I don’t watch the dance but I am taken in by Fillion on Castle.
  • How I Met Your Mother/Accidentally on Purpose/Two and a Half Men/The Big Bang Theory/CSI: Miami (CBS, 8-11pm) Season/Series Premiere – Accidentally is supposed to be a stinker but Mother and Big Bang are pretty consistently funny, and I never watch Caruso on CSI.
  • Brick City (Sund, 10pm) Series Premiere – First of a five-part series on Newark NJ.
  • Misadventures (Trav, 10pm) Series Premiere – First Brazil and then Burma.

Tuesday

  • NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles/The Good Wife (CBS, 8-11pm; GW repeats Sat 9pm) Season/Series Premieres – First the original which I’ve honestly never see, then LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell head up the latest spinoff, does this mean CSI: L&O: NCIS: Boston is next? But wait, Wife is supposed to be a great mix of drama and cases.
  • The Forgotten (ABC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Christian Slater heads up volunteers helping to fight crime.
  • The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck (Oxy, 10pm) Series Premiere – More reality fare on the menu as they follow a chef and her team.
  • Table for 12 (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – I think this is the one with more kids and no tabloid divorce.

Wednesday

  • The New Adventures of Old Christine/Gary Unmarried/Criminal Minds/CSI: NY (CBS, 8-11pm) Season Premieres – First some laughs and then some murder, not to give anything away.
  • Mercy/L&O: SVU (NBC, 8-10pm; Mercy repeats Sat 9pm) Series/Season Premiere – The lives of three nurses and then back to the special victims.
  • Modern Family/Cougar Town/Eastwick (ABC, 9-11pm; MF/CT repeat Fri 9pm) Series Premieres – With this chunk of new shows let’s hope for a winner, rumor has it Family is the best on this block.

Thursday

  • CSI/The Mentalist (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – I’ll pass on CSI but I do like Baker’s charms.
  • Flash Forward/Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 8/9pm; FF repeats Fri 8pm) Series/Season Premiere – First the blackout that is the premise for at least one season and then George is out and Izzie is in, except for the break Heigl takes to shoot her movie, would that be at the same time Mer is out maternity leave, damn me for still watching this show.

Friday

  • Brothers/Dollhouse (Fox, 8/9pm; Brothers repeats Sun 7pm) Series/Season Premiere – This new show isn’t supposed to be all that but tune in to see what the latest capers Echo and the crew get into.
  • Smallville (CW, 8pm) Season Premiere – Clark continues.
  • Ghost Whisperer/Medium/Numb3rs (CBS, 8pm) Season Premieres – Don’t tune into the two visions shows but do tend to catch the crime math.
  • L&O (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – And the longest running drama series is back.

Saturday

  • 48 Hours Mystery (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – I’m not even sure why it’s 2 days.
  • Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30pm) Season Premiere – Megan Fox hosts with U2 in the musical guest spot.

Sunday

  • Extreme Makeover: Home Edition/Desperate Housewives/Brothers & Sisters (ABC, 7/9/10pm) Season Premiere – Construction, soapy drama, whiny drama.
  • The Simpsons/The Cleveland Show/Family Guy/American Dad (Fox, 8pm) Season/Series Premiere – Animation all night long.
  • 60 Minutes/The Amazing Race/Cold Case (CBS, 7/8/10pm) Season Premieres –  News, racing, and an old crime set to old music.
  • Dexter/Californication (Show, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – I don’t get this channel but make someone else save Dexter for me, what will the season bring.
  • My Fair Wedding (WE, 10pm) Season Premiere – Something about a wedding.

Repeat times noted for new series on traditional network channels, please always consult your current local listings.

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lost loves

prison-break.jpgEvery year I drop at least one show. A show I loved or liked and find that I no longer watch or enjoy usually because I find it has somehow lost its way. Things that are soapy like BH 90210 (the original) definitely lose their luster over time, but that’s not the only category I lose.

This year the casualty was Heroes, but I was thinking of the others… Not counting shows that didn’t make it a season here are some that lost their sheen:

  • Cold Case – The procedural wasn’t a bad show, but as I was trying to cut back this wasn’t a keeper.
  • Criminal Minds – I still catch this brutal-killer-of-the-week procedural with special-fbi-behavioral-unit in reruns, but it doesn’t make the main lineup.
  • Desperate Housewives – The first year this soapy drama entertained me but with the sophomore slump it lost me.
  • Heroes – I finally gave this up, as the characters and situations became more ridiculous it actually pained me to watch.
  • King of the Hill – I still find this show amusing but as the years drag on it just stopped hitting the tivo.
  • Prison Break – I did love the first season, but the delight collapsed once they escaped from prison and though I stuck through the entire second season I was mostly yelling at the tv about how stupid it had become before I gave it up.
  • Without a Trace – Another procedural that isn’t bad but just didn’t keep me keeping it.
  • The Simpsons – Also amusing but after a decade I’m more than happy to catch the occasional rerun.
  • Smallville – I loved the complexity of Lex Luthor and Clark Kent’s early relationship, but the freak of the week lost me.
  • Survivor – This had a good dynamic but easy enough to drop with a new season of folks each year.

And an almost dishonorable mention to American Idol and Law & Order, both of which have been dropped and picked up again and dropped and picked up…

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next week 12/15

Monday

  • Chuck/Heroes/My Own Worst Enemy (NBC, 8/9/10pm) Season Finales – Heroes is noted as fall finale and Enemy is leaving for good.
  • Terminator (Fox, 8pm) Season Finale – Will anyone be terminated?
  • I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – Lucy and Linus’ brother ReRun kicks it up a notch for the holidays.
  • Drama High (ABC, 9pm) – The making of high school musical, sorry that’s not the high school musical, it’s some high school putting on the Wiz.
  • Intervention (A&E, 9pm) Season Premiere – This series kicks off following a 50 year old woman who suffers seizures if she tries to stop drinking.

Tuesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – It’s always heartwarming to see how far they’ve come, if you like that sort of thing.
  • Momma’s Boys (NBC, 10pm) Series Finale – 32 women, 3 bachelors, and yes 3 moms who help out the selection.

Wednesday

  • A Muppets Christmas (NBC, 8pm) – Will the muppets get the letters to Santa?
  • Life (NBC, 9pm) Season Finale – Zen principals might not be enough to solve crime, save your friends, and get justice in corrupt conspiracies?

Thursday

  • Million Dollar Password (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – Can Aisha Tyler kick William Shatner out of the spotlight.

Friday

  • Greatest Holiday Moments (NBC, 8pm) – A countdown of tv and film moments.

Saturday

  • WWE Tribute to the Troops (NBC, 9pm) – Wrestlers can bring up anyone’s spirits.

Sunday

  • The Shift (Inves, 10pm) Series Premiere – A docuseries that follows homicide detectives.
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my schedule

Well another year of television and almost everything has started. Until they cancel more stuff, move stuff around, or we get to midseason changes here is where things seem to be settling in for me.  I wouldn’t recommend it all but it’s what I watch, or at least what I tend to tivo (I am still trying to narrow this down to no more than two shows per timeslot).

Monday chuck.jpg

  • 8pm: NBC – Chuck (CBS – The Big Bang Theory/How I Met Your Mother) (CW – Gossip Girl)
  • 9pm: NBC – Heroes (CBS – 2 1/2 Men/ABC – Samantha Who?)

Tuesday

  • 8pm: Fox – House
  • 9pm: CBS – The Mentalist (CW – Privileged)
  • 10pm: NBC – Eli Stone (NBC – L&O: SVU)

Wednesday bones_main.jpg

  • 8pm: Fox – Bones (ABC – Pushing Daisies) (CBS – The New Adventures of Old Christine/Gary Unmarried)
  • 9pm: NBC – Life
  • 10pm: ABC – Dirty Sexy Money (NBC – L&O)

Thursday

  • 8pm: NBC – My Name is Earl
  • 9pm: NBC – The Office/30 Rock (ABC – Grey’s Anatomy)
  • 10pm: ABC – Life on Mars

Friday life.jpg

  • 9pm: CBS – The Ex List (CW – ANTM encore)
  • 10pm: CBS – Numb3rs

Saturday

  • Nothing

Sunday

  • 9pm: CW – Easy Money

But wait there’s more… known midseason and cable picks: Breaking Bad (AMC), Burn Notice (USA), Celebrity Rehab (VH1), The Closer (TNT), Dexter (Show), Eureka (SciFi), Flight of the Conchords (HBO), Greek (Fam), Lost (ABC), Project Runway (Bravo), Reaper (CW), Saving Grace (TNT), Scrubs (ABC), Sons of Anarchy (FX).

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volume 3

Forget where we left off with Heroes last season? Me too, but the premiere episode packed a lot of info, so let’s just dive right in:

The Petrellis and Friends

heroes_v1e2.jpgWell the Petrelli clan is back, apparently future Claire (indestructible) and future uncle Peter (absorbs others’ powers) live in a world where everyone knowing that they’re heroes is a problem, and they all wear a lot of black. So it was future Peter who came back to shoot his brother Nathan (flying man) to shut him up, and then sends Matt (mind reader) off to Africa. Nathan died-ish, and came back a religious nut. Last season’s thought to be dead Niki (split personality super strong Jessica) shows up with a governor who’s calling her Tracy. She’s recruiting Nathan to step back into politics when not using her turning people to ice power. And of course the future was changed, but not necessarily for the better.

The Formula

Hiro (time controller and teleporter) has inherited from his dad Sulu a new sacred duty to protect a secret half of a formula (and his father’s company). Though a new Speedster girl Daphne steals the formula. When Hiro goes to the future to check out what will happen he finds future Hiro getting zapped by future Ando (currently sidekick is ability free) and of course the end of the world. Hiro is torn about bringing Ando with him to track down Daphne but they find her and are on a continued quest to get one of the halves back. If they lose the formula their only hope is to find the person with purity of blood, whatever that means.

The Science

Last year Mohinder (scientist) was hard at work on the antidote to the virus that was stripping the heroes of their powers and even killing them. He was successful, but this season he was tempted to pack it all in. Instead he is talked into helping super annoying Maya (tears of death) and he begins to get more annoying himself. He finds the key ingredient in the abilities and becomes obsessed with being able to give mere mortals abilities of their own. Rather than do scientific testing, he randomly injects himself with the Maya ingredient. After he gets all super powered and spiderman-y, and sleeps with Maya, he crashes like nobody’s crashed before. This does not bode well for the future.

The Villains

Our original villain Sylar (absorbs others’ powers but by killing them) has gone back to his original goal to get Claire’s powers (remember ‘Save the Cheerleader, Save the World’). Turns out Claire is ‘special’ (perhaps pure of blood?) and survived Sylar, but in addition to stealing Claire’s ability he stole the files to the bad ability dudes stuck in Section 5, where Claire’s dad is hanging with present Peter stuck in Veronica Mar’s Weevil’s body. And speaking of VMars, Elle (electro girl) is trying to take down Sylar for killing her dad, but when he tries to kill her she basically explodes and knocks him out, and the power, which lets all of Section 5 out. Oh and did I mention that mama Petrelli is now taking over the organization and getting her son Sylar back in the game. Yes, son.

The one thing we can count on is that good and evil are rarely completely clear, and that someone will always do something stupid, and I’m yet again wondering what that will be. Stay tuned.

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next week 9/22

And the premieres are really cooking, get your tivos ready…. New and notable for the week ahead, procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Heroes (NBC, 8/9pm) Season Premiere – First we countdown, maybe that means they try to explain what the heck has happened in the first two seasons, then what’s normally an engaging but uneven series has some promising buzz as this year we meet the ‘villains’.
  • Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 8pm, second rounds Wed/Thurs) Season Premiere – Who will delight America this season and how long can we keep Cloris Leachman in the mix?
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – This show grew on me throughout last year, as the geeks and their straight woman/hot girl Penny make fun, super misfit Sheldon steals the show.
  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – This show has a great ensemble and the Barneyisms are almost worth it alone.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – They’re back with more odd couple shenanigans.
  • Worst Week (CBS, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – Folks are saying this could be funny, but again, not sure about one mishap after another for a whole season.
  • Boston Legal (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Is this show still on? Is this show still getting emmy nominations?
  • CSI: Miami (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – I think someone shot Horatio, can anyone really stand David Caruso?

Tuesday

  • Opportunity Knocks (ABC, 8pm) Series Premiere – A game show where families win based on knowledge of each other.
  • NCIS (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – I admit I’ve never seen this navy investigation show.
  • Eureka (SciFi, 9pm) Season Finale – Maybe we find out what happened all those years ago and how their new fixer was involved.
  • The Mentalist (CBS, 9pm) Series Premiere – Simon Baker solves crimes after years as a fake celebrity psychic.
  • Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Luke Perry won’t do 90210 so catch him in this ep, will he be creepy?
  • Without a Trace (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – I used to watch this show but no longer catch the FBI’s weekly missing person drama.

Wednesday

  • Knight Rider (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – Unless there were significant changes from the made for tv movie/pilot this one’s a pass.
  • The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – I actually like this ridiculous show where JLDreyfuss and her gang are obnoxious but funny.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Jay Mohr deals with his divorced dad lifestyle.
  • David Blaine (ABC, 9pm) – I’m always a little wary of these ‘magicians’ who do something like hang from a wire for days.
  • Criminal Minds (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – I think we ended last season with an explosion, is all the team coming back?
  • CSI: NY (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – This one isn’t as annoying as Miami and is a decent procedural.
  • Lipstick Jungle (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Of the identical average new chick shows of last season (the other was Cashmere Mafia) this one rolled over to this season, let’s hope they fine tuned things.

Thursday

  • Ugly Betty (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – I never quite appreciated this campy soap drama.
  • My Name is Earl (NBC, 8/8:30pm) Season Premiere – Last season’s coma didn’t quite work, let’s hope this season is back to its white trash misfit make amends roots.
  • Survivor: Gabon (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – So they’re in Gabon, wherever that is.
  • The Office (NBC, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – What’s in store this year for Michael and Pam and Dwight and that other main guy?
  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Now that we’re over most of the Mer/Der drama let’s get back to the rest of the gang.
  • ER (NBC, 10pm) Season Premiere – I recall hearing that this 15th season is the last and they’re trying to get as much of the gang back together as they can, Clooney is a long shot.

Friday

  • Presidential Debate (Various, 6pm/pst) – This election season feels like it has been going on forever but now we could really start to get down to it as Jim Lehrer moderates.

Saturday

  • Dirty Sexy Money (Soap, 9am) – Catch up on delightful season one with this marathon.
  • Chris Rock (HBO, 9pm) – In his Kill the Messenger special we see comedy from a few locations on his tour.
  • 48 Hours Mystery (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – I don’t know that I’ve ever watched this true-crime series.

Sunday

  • 60 Minutes (CBS, 7pm) Season Premiere – The stop watch still ticks.
  • Extreme Makeover: Home (ABC, 7/8pm) Season Premiere – I f I read this correctly a single mother of four took in her sister’s 10 children…. I can’t even take care of my plants, she deserves a house.
  • The Amazing Race (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – I understand this is one of the ‘good’ reality shows.
  • The Simpsons/King of the Hill/Family Guy/American Dad (Fox, 8-10pm) Season Premieres – The animation evening continues.
  • Desperate Housewives (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – As I understand it they’re refreshing things by skipping ahead five years.
  • Cold Case (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – Another one of those procedurals I didn’t keep up with.
  • Dexter (Show, 9pm) Season Premiere – Ok I’m still on season 3 on netflix but this one is addictive.
  • Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – So if anyone missed it the now making out Rebecca and Justin are not really related, she only thought she was his sister for a while.
  • The Unit (CBS, 10pm) Season Premiere – When the team protects the vice and president elects, they could just paste a current candidates head on the actor’s bodies.
  • Californication (Show, 10pm) Season Premiere – Too easy to make a David Duchovny joke.
  • Little Britain (HBO, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – A fav british sketch show may take a few weeks to get its new american legs.
  • The Life & Times of Tim (HBO, 11pm) Series Premiere – Steve Dildarian former ad guy and fun painter creates this new animated series.
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fall favorites

gg_omfg2.jpgWell I just saw a promo for Gossip Girl and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed the campy trashy show. What else am I most eagerly awaiting? Funny you should ask.

  • Bones (Fox, Wed 9/3) – Currently my favorite procedural because not only do they have fun cases with an anthropological science twist, but the leads Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz are good on their own but their chemistry is great, and the the quirky supporting cast works so well, I’ll forgive them for the weak wrap-up of last year’s serial killer.
  • Chuck (NBC, Mon 9/29) – Seeing Geek Squad Best Buy Nerd Herd Buy More employee, and accidental keeper of government secrets, forced into the spy world as well as the spy world stuck into Chuck’s life creates not only plenty of action but plenty of humor as well as a little potential romance with his CIA handler (the pretty one, not the hilariously stiff Adam Baldwin).
  • Gossip Girl (CW, Mon 9/1)/Dirty Sexy Money (ABC, Wed 10/1) – Who can pick between the two trashy campy soaps? Good thing you don’t have to as we catch the richest of rich families, and their lawyer who is trying to help out and not get sucked in, to more trouble each week than most folks do in a lifetime, unless that is you’re a bunch of rich private schoolers, being fashionable and popular and deceptive is such hard work.
  • Heroes (NBC, Mon 9/22) – Currently my favorite of the involved conspiracy shows, though it’s been uneven, we have followed our cast favorite regular folks who got special powers like time travel, indestructibility, and mind reading, and have to deal with other heroes, secret organizations, and of course saving the world, this season as they struggle with their own right and wrong actions it looks like they take on some real villains, but typically good and evil aren’t so clear cut.
  • Pushing Daisies (ABC, Wed 10/1) – Every aspect of this show was magical and captivating as I somehow fell for two characters who are so sweet and in love normally I couldn’t stand them, but I lament every moment they aren’t able to touch because what brought her back to life would take her from him forever, so in the meantime he and his supporting cast run the pie shop and solve crimes, who better to help out than a guy who brings the dead back to life for a minute.
  • 30 Rock (NBC, Thurs 10/30)/The Office (NBC, Thurs 9/25) – Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin just made me laugh a lot last season as they found a good rhythm with Fey running a late night sketch comedy show, her mess of a life, and keeping a crazy supporting cast together while the season finale of the Office made me appreciate how far this show has come from one that I saw more as a placeholder in the lineup to one I tune in for, because just when you think they’ve pushed the wackies too far in one direction they remind you to care.
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fall is in the air

Well we’ve had a week to wrap up the up fronts where networks tout their fall and onward tv seasons for advertisers, so let’s take a look at what looks like it will look like:

ABC

New:

  • Life on Mars – David E Kelley’s version of BBC series where cop transports back to 1970s
  • Opportunity Knocks – Game show where they knock on your door, or something

Returning: 20/20, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Boston Legal (final season), Brothers & Sisters, Eli Stone, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap
Midseason returns: According to Jim, The Bachelor, Lost, Scrubs (New from NBC)
Noteworthy not returning: Men in Trees, Miss Guided, October Road, Women’s Murder Club

CBS

New:

  • Eleventh Hour – Jerry Bruckheimer’s latest, adapting from the british 4 part sci fi series dealing with mysterious cases
  • The Ex List – This one is based on an Israeli show where a psychic tells a woman she has already met her true love and so she revisits the exes
  • The Mentalist – Simon Baker uses his powers of observation to solve crimes
  • Project Gary – Comedy starring Jay Mohr as a recent divorce, and contractor which might explain the ‘project’ part
  • Worst Week – This comedy of newly engaged couple is another BBC show made over american style

Returning: 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, Amazing Race, Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, New Adventures of Old Christine, Numb3rs, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, The Unit, Without a Trace
Midseason returns: Rules of Engagement
Noteworthy not returning: Moonlight, Shark

CW

New:

  • 90210 – The next generation, as a new brother and sister move and start at West Beverly High, including pop bys by Jennie Garth as Guidance Counselor
  • Surviving the Filthy Rich – With Reba’s JoAnna Garcia as nanny to rich kids, based on a book series
  • Stylista – New reality from Tyra Banks where folks compete to work at Elle

Noteworthy note: Contracting out Sunday nights to production finance company Media Rights Capital who will be responsible for two dramas and two comedies and selling the ad time.

  • FAT City, IM Valentine, Book of Murphy, Surviving Suburbia

Returning: ANTM, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural
Midseason return: Reaper
Noteworthy not returning: Aliens in America, Girlfriends, New Amsterdam

Fox

New:

  • Fringe – JJ Abrams latest starring Joshua Jackson teaming up to investigate unexplained phenomena, I wanna say like the x-files
  • Do Not Disturb – Comedy starring Jerry O’Connell working at one of NY’s uber hip hotels

Returning: American Dad, America’s Most Wanted, Bones, Cops, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Family Guy, House, King of the Hill, Kitchen Nightmares, Moment of Truth, Prison Break, Simpsons, Smarter than a 5th Grader, Terminator, Til Death
Midseason return: 24, American Idol, Hell’s Kitchen.
Noteworthy not returning: Back to You

NBC

New:

  • Crusoe – As in Robinson…
  • Kath & Kim – Molly Shannon and Selma Blair in remake of Australian sitcom about mother and daughter living together again
  • Knight Rider – If you caught the ‘hit’ tv movie you’re familiar with this remake
  • My Own Worst Enemy – Christian Slater as a gov agent/normal guy whose two lives start to blur
  • Thursday Night Live – Special SNL shows leading up to the elections

Returning: The Biggest Loser, Chuck, Dateline, Deal or No Deal, Heroes, E.R. (final season), L&O:SVU, Life, Lipstick Jungle, My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock
Midseason returning: Friday Night Lights, L&O, Medium
Noteworthy not returning: Bionic Woman, Journeyman, Las Vegas

Additional Notes:

Tons of new shows scheduled for after fall, but we’ll chime in later once those become more solid, other than the fact that I should note there’s an Office spinoff scheduled as well as the new Joss Whedon show Dollhouse with Eliza Dushku, scheduled for midseason. I miss the Grr Arg.

And if you want to see the current stab at the schedule you can check it out at TV Guide.

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