Friday, September 2, 2011

The New Fall Shows

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Any true television fan knows that deciding what to watch every fall is a big deal... and it gets more difficult with each passing year. Now that some networks are utilizing 7-11pm instead of 8-10pm, and there's some showing original programming every day instead of just weeknights, there is a LOT out there! And that's not even considering all of the new shows coming to cable networks that didn't used to feature their own programming!

So, today's post looks at the TEN shows that I'm planning to try out this fall. See if you agree and consider persuading me to check out what you're looking forward to!

Sundays:
Pan Am, starting Sunday, September 25th at 10pm on ABC. Set in the 1960s, this drama is based on real Pan Am stewardesses' experiences. The cast and guest star lineup looks pretty promising, plus Jack Orman (ER, folks!) is a writer on the show.

Hell on Wheels
, starting Sunday, November 6th on AMC. Set in the 1860s, this western drama is centered around the transcontinental railroad. It will include slaves, Native Americans, and a single woman in the regular cast. Chinese laborers are avoided, as the present episodes focus on the east side of the railroad.

Mondays
:
2 Broke Girls, starting Monday, September 19th at 9:30pm on CBS. It will normally hold the 8:30-9pm slot, right after How I Met Your Mother. The basic premise is that two young gals in New York City are living together (think Odd Couple) and working together (in odd jobs and as waitresses... like Laverne & Shirley) who have much larger dreams.
Photo: Michael Lavine/FOX

Terra Nova
, starting Monday, September 26th at 8pm on FOX. I've already seen the bulk of the two-hour pilot, and the setting (both in 2149 and in 85 million BCE) certainly grabbed my attention. Dystopias and utopias are favorite genres of mine, so this show attempting to encompass both intrigues me greatly. Short season orders, however, are pet peeves of mine, so it may not work out in the end.

Tuesdays:
24 Hours in the ER, starting Tuesday, September 27th, at 9pm on BBC America. This is a 14-part documentary that was filmed over the course of four weeks in a London emergency room. It's a major trauma center that also deals with community issues, so I think it will be a nice mix. Plus, the clips I've seen show it being rather different than American hospitals, so I think that will be an educational experience.

Last Man Standing, starting Tuesday, October 11th, at 8pm on ABC. I'm drawn to this one solely because of the similarities and differences between it and Home Improvement, Tim Allen's last comedy. In this one he has three daughters instead of three sons. It probably has the worst outlook of the shows I'm trying, so let's see how it goes!

Wednesdays:
Suburgatory, starting Wednesday, September 28th at 8:30pm on ABC.This is another show that isn't getting the best press, but I think the basic idea is cool. After a single father finds condoms in his 16-year-old daughter's room, they move from Manhattan to the suburbs. The daughter must adjust to the new environment while her father takes a whole new perspective on parenting.

The Exes, starting Wednesday, November 30th at 10:30pm on TVLand. I'm already in love with the cast and the clips that I've seen so far (not to mention that Mark Reisman of Frasier fame is a writer for it!). The plot pusher (three recently-divorced men live together in an apartment owned by their attorney) isn't a total win, but I think this show has the potential to be another star for the network. 

Fridays:
Boss, starting Friday, October 21st at 10pm on Starz. Kelsey Grammer as the mayor of Chicago... sounds like a winner to me. While the short episode order is a bit annoying, the bit of mystery that seems inherent in this show just piques my interest enough. 

No Specified Day:
All-American Muslim, date and time TBA (probably starting in November) on TLC. Focusing on five Muslim families in the Detroit area, this show will look at the lives, communities, and customs of those adhering to various degrees of the Muslim faith. Listening to several of the "cast members" really sealed the deal on my interest in this series - I am very much looking forward to this show as bringing the "Learning" aspect back to TLC.

I am working full-force to catch up on The Middle episodes I've missed, as I've decided to pick that up full-time this season. I will also start covering Two and a Half Men, of which I've seen every episode since the Charlie Sheen scandal began early this year. I did consider joining the bandwagon fans on both Parks and Recreation and Mike and Molly, but I've ultimately decided to pass on those. The former is just a little too much like The Office for me, while I still think the latter just doesn't have the staying power to go beyond a few seasons of storylines. And I'm just too late to the game to start on Rules of Engagement, which I enjoyed random bits of here and there last season, and Border Wars, which I just recently found out existed.

There are a few things that won't premiere until mid-season (aka 2012), so I'll check in later with those! Also, stay tuned for my ultimate TV schedule for the fall, coming soon.
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