Now that the big four networks have released their fall lineups (oh, and The CW, too), I can talk about the new shows which excite me most—with the added bonus of knowing that each of them will air for at least one episode! Will all of these shows be Emmy-worthy? Probably not. But, sight unseen, I think the following nine shows (ranked in descending order of can’t-wait-ness) are the most original and/or interesting.

‘Tis the season for development, and Lynette Rice at EW.com has released a list of the pilots the broadcast networks are considering. (Bear in mind that only a fraction of these shows will make it to the airwaves.) After perusing the list, I’ve reached the following conclusions:

• The public’s desire for shows about cops, doctors, and lawyers is still insatiable. By my count, 25 of the pilots are about these three professions. But some of these procedurals might be worth watching because of the attached talent: Forest Whitaker is heading up CBS’s Criminal Minds spin-off, NBC is pursuing Julianne Moore for their adaptation of BBC’s Prime Suspect, and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, 24) will star in a yet-to-be-titled detective series.
• Multi-camera comedies are coming in droves. If the term “multi-camera” doesn’t ring a bell, it refers to the traditional type of sitcom with live (or implied) audiences, three-sided sets, and cue cards. Seinfeld is a multi-camera comedy, whereas 30 Rock is a single-camera one. After the critical success of 30 Rock, there was high demand for single-camera comedies, but now it looks like the trend is reversing, probably because multi-camera ones are cheaper to produce. The multis on the development slate outnumber the singles 21 to 12. This disappoints me. I have a knee-jerk disgust to the very word “multi-camera.” I don’t like for the canned laughter, the fake-looking sets, the bland lighting, and—often times—the type of comedy itself. I know good work is being done on sitcoms like How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory, but I just haven’t been able to get into them. I’m not even making much headway on Seinfeld.
• The remake fever might not be a the pitch it was a couple of seasons ago, but we still have a few. CBS is updating Hawaii Five-O with Lost’s Daniel Dae Kim and Moonlight’s Alex O’Loughlin. NBC is taking another stab at The Rockford Files, this time under the direction of David Shore (House). And, interestingly, the CW is producing Nikita, an adaptation of La Femme Nikita.
• Spies and the CIA are once again in vogue. Now this is a trend I can get behind, mainly due to my undying love for Alias. All of the espionage series on the slate sound intriguing. CBS’s Chaos has Freddy Rodriguez heading up a “ragtag group of CIA operatives ensnared by backstabbing and bureaucratic snafus.” Fox’s The Station is a single-camera (huzzah!) comedy focusing on a “covert CIA operative and his work buddies embedded in South America.” Even the CW is getting in on the action with Nomads, a drama about “free-spirited” backpackers who carry out CIA missions around the world. But the pilot that I’m most excited about bar none is Undercovers, an NBC drama about married spies who pulled back into service. Why am I pumped? It’s created by my hero, god-among-men J.J. Abrams.
• Remember the 2005-2006 season when everyone wanted a piece of delicious Lost pie? Now everyone seemingly wants to replicate the critical and commercial success of Modern Family. ABC’s It Takes a Village and NBC’s Perfect Couples and Love Bites are all about various couples and their various intersections and intertwinings. I’m thanking God that Love Bites isn’t the name of another vampire series.
• I kind of miss the Lost knock-off trend, though. I want more heavily-serialized stuff, like this season’s intriguingV and FlashForward. There’s only one enigmatic-sounding pilot on the list, NBC’s The Event, a “thriller about a regular Joe caught up in a large conspiracy.”
• We may have dodged a bullet on Love Bites, but terrible names abound elsewhere. Some names are yawningly on-the-nose (Friends with Benefits), some are pun-ishing (Strange Brew—a brewery comedy), some have unfortunate connotations (The Wyoming Project, which brings to mind The Laramie Project), and some are just bizarre (Edgar Floats—a type of inner tube or a soda-fountain treat?). The worst one, however, is The Quinn-Tuplets. Naming characters to serve a pun in the title is a practice that needs to end. I’m still not convinced that Meredith Grey was so-named before the show was christened Grey’s Anatomy.
• Shonda Rhimes’ new show Off the Map is, once again, about doctors (presumably) in love. Okay, Shonda, you have a formula that works—I understand. But what’s neato about this ABC pilot is that it’s being filmed in Puerto Rico. As much as I love Los Angeles, New York City, and Vancouver (woohoo!), I appreciate when a show is filmed in the actual place (like Breaking Bad, which is filmed in New Mexico) or a reasonable stand-in (like Lost and Hawaii).
• There are two dramas about superheroes, NBC’s The Cape and ABC’s No Ordinary Family, the latter of which marks the small-screen return of The Shield’s Michael Chiklis.
• The rotten banana of the bunch seems to be Chuck Lorre’s latest sitcom for CBS, Mike and Molly, about “a couple that overeats.” If that right there is the punchline for the whole show, it sounds abysmally bad. As much as Eddie Murphy might disagree with me, obesity isn’t that funny, especially in today’s America.
• But on the other end of spectrum are pilots that seem quite promising. Reno 911! creators and Night at the Museum scribes Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant are producing a sitcom for NBC about a ex-child star who opens a bar in Vegas. ABC has a drama pilot in the works called Matadors, which centers on two feuding Chicago families and stars David Strathairn (of Good Night, and Good Luck fame). And the Alphabet Network is also developing a comedy called Mr. Sunshine starring Matthew Perry as a “self-absorbed manager of a sport arena” and co-starring Allison Janney. (Both of those stars previously guest-starred on each other’s Aaron Sorkin show, Perry on Janney’s The West Wing, and Janney or Perry’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.)

Of course, everything is subject to change before May, when the networks present the shows that survive this phase to the advertisers at their “upfront” events. That’s when all this speculation will end, and hopefully by then the wheat will be separated from the (ahem, Mike and Molly) chaff.

Last week, Entertainment Weekly sent me a preview of TNT’s new comedic drama Men of a Certain Age. (I know—it’s kind of legitimate-TV-blogger of a thing to happen!) It premieres tonight at 10/9c, so I thought I should watch the preview and get my thoughts up here post haste. The show centers on three men (played by Ray Romano, Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula) who became friends in college and stayed close throughout their somewhat-successful adult lives. But now that they’re hitting the half-century mark, they’re realizing that their dreams didn’t quite make it to fruition. They’re not have midlife crises, per se, but midlife assessments.

Having just checked it out, I found the show to be nice and pleasant. That sounds like I’m damning it with faint praise, but I mean it in the best sense. Nothing climactic or explosive happened, nor did anything like that need to happen. Men of a Certain Age is quieter and more introspective (and funnier) than TNT’s other cops-and-lawyers fare. I equate it to Garden State in content and tone, if the Zach Braff character was over-the-hill. All three of the stars give reputable performances, especially Romano, who co-created the show. I’m going to give this show a shot. I may not be of that “certain age,” but I’m a fan of any show that encourages taking a breather and pausing to take stock.

First off, forgive me for not updating sooner.  My laptop computer apparently aired its series finale, so to speak, and my internet access has been limited. But TV shows go on, blog or no blog, so this show must go on!

In a little over an hour, the final show to make a fall premiere will make its debut: V on ABC. Just another example in the everything-old-is-new-again trend, V is a reimagined version of a miniseries-turned-sequel-miniseries-turned-series that NBC aired 25 years ago. In those productions, the “Visitors” were reptilian aliens who made camp above the world’s major cities and attempted a hostile takeover. And, by all reports, the shows were campy fun with an emphasis on the campy. (I hear the aliens ate guinea pigs…?)

The remake seems pretty similar, if perhaps a bit more serious. The motherships swoop in and play videos on huge jumbotrons in which a pleasant spokesperson (Firefly’s Morena Baccarin) tells humanity, “Do not be afraid,” and, “We are of peace.” Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet from Lost) plays an FBI agent who, with the help of a rogue Visitor agent (Morris Chestnut, Boyz N the Hood), discovers that the aliens have been here for quite some time, priming the pump for a takeover. But her son is one of scores of people swayed to the “dark side” by the seemingly-benevolent beings. (That dupe!) So a debate arises between the people impressed by pretty faces and cool technology and the small faction of people who know better.

I wonder how this story will fare riding, as it does, on the coattails of this summer’s District 9, which explored similar themes. I don’t think that will make or break the show, though: V seems different enough. My hope is that it goes the Battlestar route: using science fiction as a way to discuss political and social issues facing society today. And if a few guinea pigs lose their lives in the process, so be it.

V airs tonight at 8/7c on ABC and will be available on Hulu.

Though it might not reach our screen until late 2010 or 2011, I’m very excited for HBO’s Game of Thrones, a prospective series based on George R. R. Martin’s book series A Song of Ice and Fire. Admittedly, I haven’t read any of the novels, but anything that brings medieval fantasy to television piques my curiosity (excepting Merlin, that is).

Since I am totally ignorant about the plot, here’s what Wikipedia has to offer:

The story of A Song of Ice and Fire takes place in a fictional world, primarily upon a continent called Westeros but also on a large landmass to the east, known as Essos. Most of the characters are human but as the series progresses other races are introduced, such as the cold and menacing Others from the far North and fire-breathing dragons from the East, both races thought to be extinct by the people of the story. There are three principal storylines in the series: the chronicling of a dynastic civil war for control of Westeros between several competing families; the rising threat of the Others who dwell beyond an immense wall of ice that forms Westeros’ northern border; and the journey of Daenerys Targaryen, the exiled daughter of a king who was murdered in another civil war fifteen years previously (War of the Usurper) and now seeks to return to Westeros and claim her rightful throne. As the series progresses, all three storylines become intensely interwoven and dependent on each other.

Another facet of the series of books is that it’s told through the point-of-view of over twenty characters, so I wonder whether the television adaptation will do the same. After all, Martin—who is also a co-producer—did say that the script is very faithful. Reports tout that each season of the show would follow the plot of a novel in the series, and at that rate, there would be enough material for seven seasons of the show. Writer David Benioff jestingly called the show “The Sopranos in Middle Earth,” but it could be just as expansive as that landmark series.

The cast lineup is impressive. Many seem to be no-names (for now) from across the pond, but there are some familiar faces, like those pictured above: Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings), Jennifer Ehle (BBC’s Pride and Prejudice), Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent), Lena Headey (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (New Amsterdam). These actors and the rest of the large cast—and the roles they fill—can be seen in this fansite’s handy chart.

As far as I know, HBO has yet to pick up the series, but production for the pilot episode is slated to begin next week in Ireland (and perhaps Scotland and Morocco). Stay tuned for more news at it comes down from the castle.

Update: The folks behind the Westeros fansite tweeted a link to a blog post with two photos of the Kingdom of Heaven set in Morocco that will be revamped for Game of Thrones.  (Updated update: the blog post seems to be gone.)  They also mentioned that Doune Castle in Scotland (used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail) will be another filming location.

2009-2010 New Series Preview, Part 4

I was prepared to love Community, NBC’s latest venture into single-camera comedy. The premise is funny: a fake lawyer goes to community college to become legitimate and ends up becoming a fake Spanish tutor in a study group full of misfits. The actors (like Joel McHale and Chevy Chase) are all well-cast for their roles. The humor is, for the most part, fresh and unexpected. (For example, a slighted study-groupie tells the lawyer, “I thought you were like Bill Murray in any of his films, but you’re more like Michael Douglas in any of his films.”) And to top it all off, there’s no laugh track.  But for some reason, I only liked it.

Incidentally, I can actually speak with authority about this show, because I have seen the first episode. (Being the minor-league TV critic that I am, I jump at any chance to preview new shows.  Hell yes, I’ll become a fan of Community if it means I can watch the pilot!) I was expecting to be bowled over, since the show has gotten a lot of positive hype from other critics. But instead, I was only mildly entertained.

Then again, I believe I had the same lukewarm reaction to the first episode of 30 Rock, and now it’s the funniest show on TV in my book. Shows like these—e.g. 30 Rock, The Office, and now Community—are shows that get funnier each episode as we become more acquainted with the characters, their foibles, their quirks. So I’ll give the show a chance, and you may want to do the same when it premieres on Thursday, September 17 at 9:30/8:30c. It wasn’t love at first watch, but Community could eventually be something great.

2009-2010 New Series Preview, Part 3

ABC has four new comedies in the pipeline, and three of them have unfortunately unfunny previews: Hank, The Middle, and Cougar Town. If producers do put all the best bits in the previews, well… the outlook for those shows is bleak. But the fourth, Modern Family, looks to be riotous, and it has been earning acclaim from television critics more reputable than I. (You know, the ones who don’t have to rely on previews to pass judgment!)

Modern Family follows three couples (and their progeny) in an Office-like mockumentary way: a couple raising three children, a newlywed couple with a May-December age gap, and a gay couple with an adopted daughter. And, in a hitherto secret twist, all the couples are related.

Many shows of this ilk require a few episodes for the viewers to really understand the characters and thus understand the humor, but this one seems to deliver right out of the gate. I won’t spoil any of the jokes here, but check out the preview below if you are still unconvinced.  Modern Family premieres Wednesday, September 23 at 9/8c.

Even though the countdown clock reminds us that we have 147 days yet to wait, I’m already excited for Season 8 of 24. Granted, it’s not often that I feel pumped about the eighth season of a show. But last season brought the goods, and next season might do the same. The casting department has eclectic and savvy choices that I find commendable.

Starting with the actors pictured above, the new cast members for the upcoming season include:

• Anil Kapoor, a Bollywood star who is best known to American audiences for his portrayal of the smarmy game-show host in Slumdog Millionaire.
• Katee Sackhoff, the woman who made Kara “Starbuck” Thrace a fan-favorite character of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.
• Callum Keith Rennie, who (coincidentally) played the Starbuck-obsessed Leoben on Battlestar Galactica, as well as libidinous record-producer Lew Ashby on Californication.
• David Anders, a master of duplicitous roles like Julian Sark on Alias and Adam Monroe on Heroes.
• Freddie Prinze, Jr., star of teen comedies galore, as well as an eponymous sitcom on ABC.
• Jürgen Prochnow, a German actor who had starring roles in submarine epic Das Boot and sci-fi classic Dune.
• Jennifer Westfeldt, co-writer and star of indie film Kissing Jessica Stein who has had roles in Notes from the Underbelly and Grey’s Anatomy.
• Mykelti Williamson, an veteran actor to whom the world is indebted for his shrimp dissertation as Pvt. Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue in Forrest Gump.

A cool bunch, no? These actors and more (including several from last season) will appear in Mr. Bauer’s eighth bad day when it kicks off on January 17 at 9/8c. And to tide you over, here’s a photo of some of the cast from Comic-Con.

2009-2010 New Series Preview, Part 2

Statistically, only a third of all new shows avoid cancellation during their first seasons. I have no doubt in my mind that Glee will be among them this year. It’s riding the wave of popularity for all things song-and-dance, and yet it’s edgier, funnier, and so much more fulfilling—for my money, at least—than That Which Shall Not Be Named.

Glee follows a teacher who, unsatisfied by his stagnant life, rekindles his dream of taking McKinley High’s glee club to fame and glory. He finds club members in some of the school’s most derided outcasts: a showbiz-obsessed goody-goody, a paraplegic nerd, a stuttering goth, a flamboyant fashionisto, and a Jennifer Hudson wannabe. And to bolster the social standing of the group, he also recruits a quarterback, one who actually starts to enjoy the club.

In addition to the talent and humor of the student characters, the supporting roles are quite good, too. The ever-likable Jayma Mays plays a sweet guidance counselor, and Jane Lynch seems to have been born for her role as an acerbic cheerleading coach. (Here’s an example of her cutting remarks: “Our school is starting a glee club. Oh sure, these kids are nerds, misfits, tools… crusty, little cross-eyed nerdlets… I forget where I was going with this. I guess I’m done.”)

Last summer, FOX made a very smart move. (And how often can we say that?) It treated us to the pilot episode of Glee months in advance of the fall season to pump up hype. Plus, they aired it after ratings-juggernaut American Idol. And since then, the network has been running ads like crazy. Luckily, they’ve had some great critical blurbs to tout: “It is so good” from TVGuide.com; “The best thing you’re going to see on TV this year,” from the Los Angeles Times; “I am officially obsessed,” from Entertainment Weekly.

The praise is certainly not faint, and I can hardly disagree. Creator Ryan Murphy, who explored the superficiality of beauty on Nip/Tuck, is now plundering the social caste system of high school. The characters are exaggerated to the point of stereotypes, but Murphy does this intentionally and originally—much like previous high-school satires like Mean Girls and Election. (In fact, the character of Rachel Berry owes a lot to Tracy Flick in her unabashed, perky ambition for stardom.) But despite the snarkiness and edgy humor, the essence of the show is wholesome and winning. Because, at its core, Glee is an ode to the underdog.

As good as the writing and acting are, however, the music often steals the show—and there’s a lot of music to love. The pilot offered two deft covers—one of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and one of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”—both of which have become hits on iTunes. Entertainment Weekly reports that a staggering 70 songs have been recorded for the first 13 episodes. Unsurprisingly, the first two soundtrack albums are already in the works.

There is so much to look forward to for this show, and luckily, we only have weeks to wait.

The following post was originally published on my old blog on April 20, 2009.

2009-2010 New Series Preview, Part 1

ABC has a lot of fine prospects for the 2009-2010 season, but one of the most exciting is a pilot called Flash Forward, based on the Robert J. Sawyer novel of the same name. (I don’t love that title, but that’s neither here nor there.)

The story begins with a worldwide event: the population of the world blacks out for two minutes and seventeen seconds, during which everyone experiences a vision of his or her future. FBI agent Mark Benford, horrified by what he sees, assembles a team to figure out what the event means and how to prevent the future it projected. The team assembles a vast mosaic of visions as they ask people the same question: “What did you see?”

It’s an ambitious premise that could set off a tangled, enigmatic plot in the vein of Lost. And I’m all for shows with serialized storylines, as I consider them to be more worthwhile and rewarding than many procedurals. (There are a lot of cop/lawyer/doctor shows on the slate for next season.) Indeed, this show seems like one that will take some mightily attentive viewing but could also be fiendishly addictive—assuming it remains on the air long enough.