Fall TV Roundup, Week 1

We’re past Labor Day, which means the fall TV schedule is upon us. There will be plenty of new shows to check out, but which are worth your time? Let this weekly post be your guide as I look at the pilot and second episode of new series this Fall.

Thursdays:
NCIS: Tony & Ziva, Streaming Thursdays on Paramount+ (Premiered September 4)
About: Fall is typically a time when the networks spring back to life with our traditional broadcast series. While that won’t take place for a couple weeks, we’re certainly in range as two of this week’s streaming releases feel like something right off the broadcast calendar. That includes this new NCIS spin-off, which bring back a couple classic and beloved characters. Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) were among the favorites on NCIS. Their characters were drawn to each other and had plenty of playful banter. But they last shared the screen together as these characters in 2013, when de Pablo left as a series regular. In 2015, Weatherly also departed as a series regular. Now, more than a decade later, they are back in these roles in a new series that picks up and tries to explain the gap since they were last on NCIS. All the while, it creates a new journey. This doesn’t so much feel like a police procedural as more of a playful spy drama. In fact, it has little to do with NCIS, other than these characters having originated on that franchise. The first three episodes were released in a block Thursday, with subsequent episodes dropping weekly. It’s a 10-episode season, with each episode about 40-50 minutes. It moves at a good pace and de Pablo and Weatherly are good together. This is a bit of fun, and some fan service for those who miss these characters.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Sundays:
Task, Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered September 7)
About: This new crime drama comes from the creator of Mare of Easttown and is set in Philadelphia. It focuses on an FBI Agent (Mark Ruffalo) who leads a task force that is trying to put an end to a string of robberies. We follow both our FBI Agent and his team of green local cops, and the man behind the robberies, Robbie (Tom Pelphrey). Turns out, both men are struggling in their personal lives. Both have family issues. And both are trying to turn things around. The first hour is about showcasing these characters, their world, and the conflict of the series. There’s a solid supporting cast, including Emilia Jones, Raul Castillo, and Martha Plimpton, among others. I liked the general vibe and flow of the first episode, which also feels very specific to this region. I felt the same about the last series from creator Brad Inglesby. This could be a fascinating dive into the world and characters. New episodes air Sundays on HBO and stream on HBO Max. Episodes are about an hour, with a seven-episode limited series season. For fans of the genre, this will be worth diving in.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
The Paper, Now Streaming on Peacock (Premiered September 4)
About: Do you miss The Office? If so, you’re in luck. The second streaming series that feels like something pulled out of the heyday of Network television is The Paper, which is a spin-off from The Office. In fact, as the series makes clear in the opening five minutes, this is something of a continuation of the world. The documentary crew from that series tries to catch up with Dunder Mifflin 20 years later, only to learn the company was sold to another company located in Toledo, Ohio. That new company invests in all kinds of paper products, including the local newspaper The Toledo Truth Teller. Enter Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) who has dreamed of working in real, honest, local journalism. He takes over as Editor of the paper and plans to give it a kick it needs to improve. That’s if he can get some good buy-in. That ends up being a tall order. The full 10-episode season is available to stream, each episode around 30 minutes. It has more connective tissue to The Office than expected, including Oscar Nunez reprising his role. I liked the first two episodes and I think this will be a fun series.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Dr. Seuss’s Red Fish, Blue Fish, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 8)
About: This one is squarely for the kiddos. But if you’ve been a fan of Dr. Seuss in the past, and you’re looking for something for younger viewers, this will likely hit the spot. The series is five episodes, each about 30 minutes. It moves at a decent pace and offers brightly colored, kid-friendly stories. It’s not deep and won’t hold the gauze of older viewers, but it’s a fine distractions for younger viewers.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C