Fall TV Preview


The new fall TV season is upon us. Some new and returning shows are already back (Thanks NBC) and others are getting going. In an effort to get ready, over the next two weeks, I'll be previewing some new and returning shows to get excited about and some to avoid.

This week we get started with the returning shows. Below are three returning shows worth finding on the dial and two that have fallen into the give up category.

Watch:
Fringe, Fridays at 9 p.m. on FOX
Why: "Fringe" is easily the best show on network television. It is highly serialized, but that being said this fifth and final season will be a fascinating new chapter. Set in the future, our team will have to fight for the survival of humanity. It's not too late to get in on the most creative, thought-provoking, and original show on television. The acting is great — with Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, and especially John Noble all turning in Emmy-worthy performances. The show will wrap up with a short, 13-episode season that will answer all the questions and tie up all the loose ends.
When to Watch: The show premiers on Friday, Sept. 28

Homeland, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime
Why: This is an incredible show. Coming from the people behind "24," this is another interesting story about terrorism, patriotism, and the grey area in between. Claire Danes and Damien Lewis are FANTASTIC in the lead roles. There is a reason this show's first season earned so many Emmy nominations. The pace is great, the performances are great, and the story is engrossing. I can't wait to see where it evolves this season.
When to Watch: The show premiers on Sunday, Sept. 30

The New Girl, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX
Why: This is TV's best, most rewarding comedy. "The New Girl" was one of the best new shows of last season, and it promises even more fun this season. Zooey Deschanel is great in the lead role, but it's the supporting players that have made this show stand out. Max Greenfield is incredible as Schmidt, while Jake Johnson, Hannah Simone, and Lamorne Morris round out this great cast. This show is hilarious and fun.
When to Watch: The show offers two episodes, at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., when it returns on Tuesday, Sept. 25

Avoid:
Glee, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on FOX
Why: Remember everything that made "Glee's" first season so magical? Well, the writers clearly don't. This show has devolved into a political commentary with popular songs of the day thrown in. The magic is gone, and the bifurcated story lines this year won't help. The "Glee" bubble has burst.
When It's On: The show premiers on Thursday, Sept. 13

The Mentalist, Sundays at 10 p.m. on CBS
Why: Remember the unique plot twists and the fun of season one? That magic has turned into a rote crime-of-the-week format with occasional — and unsatisfying — recurring stories featuring Red John. Producers promise this season will be different. The stakes are higher for the show, which was bumped off Thursday nights into the slot occupied by CSI: Miami before it departed. That's not an encouraging sign. The show is starting to lose steam, and I don't really believe the producers promises to improve.
When It's On: The show premiers on Sunday, Sept. 30

Comments

  1. Emma PerrySeptember 12, 2012 at 8:49 PM

    I love Homeland so much. One of my Dish co-workers let me borrow her DVDs of the first season and I watched it in a weekend. It’s so addicting. I can’t wait to see where they go with it in the second season. I’m never home on Sunday nights, so I’m going to be counting on my Hopper to record the show for me. I will, of course, be turning it on the second I walk in the door. Now that I’m in the Homeland loop, I refuse to ever be out of it again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Matthew FoxSeptember 13, 2012 at 6:52 AM

    I agree. I think "Homeland" is proof that Showtime is catching up to the same kind of quality that established the HBO brand.

    ReplyDelete

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