The New Fall T.V. Season: Best Bets
First off, a large variety of shows will no doubt interest viewers in many different directions. I am in no way claiming that my picks are going to be big hits, but I do know that my picks are the most promising. Here is what to look for in the upcoming season.
Comedy- The majority of comedies have moved away from the typical sit-com genre and have entered a somewhat new stylistic portrayal of life. Satires such as ‘The Office’ and ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ have seemed to pave the way for a new direction of the television comedy. ’30 Rock’ is a new show that will air on NBC this season starring Alec Baldwin and SNL’s retired Tina Fey (Oh, yeah, that means you can definitely stop watching SNL now). The comedy is set in the behind the scenes atmosphere of a Saturday Night Live-type show. Look for the comedic talents of Tina Fey’s writing and Alec Baldwin will no doubt add a fair amount of smart humor to the show. Similar to ‘The Office’, ’30 Rock’ will attract those looking for a little satirical humor of a daily work atmosphere.
Another Comedy to keep your eye on is ‘Til Death’ starring Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Joely Fisher. ‘Til Death’ takes viewers into the life of two newlyweds who move in next door to a more experienced couple. While it is not technically a spin-off, ‘Til Death’ will no doubt take on the same sort of humor sit-coms such as ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ and ‘Yes, Dear’. ‘Til Death’ is promising because it brings the talents of Brad Garrett, a master of pessimism back to the screen, but this time, he is in the spotlight instead of the monotonous Ray Romano. ‘Til Death’ airs on Fox this season.
Dramedy- One show stands out in this category far above and beyond any others. ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’ is almost a surefire. ‘Studio 60’ is bringing the talents of Matthew Perry (Friends) and Amanda Peet together in a humoristic portrayal of Hollywood lifestyles. Perry and Peet are both accomplished performers who will no doubt portray a lot of chemistry on screen. This show, like ’30 Rock’ covers a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of the producers of a live comedy show. ‘Studio 60’ airs Monday nights on NBC starting this season.
Drama- ‘Six Degrees’ has been teased at us since last April. With little information on the show, we waited and now we have a synopsis, but not much more. ‘Six Degrees’ is a drama focusing on the theory that everyone on the planet is connected to one another through six people. There is a small ensemble cast containing many new faces and somewhat familiar ones. Six degrees will air on ABC Thursdays.
Another drama to keep an eye out for is ‘Kidnapped’ on NBC. Centered around the kidnapping of a wealthy couple’s teenage son, this show will no doubt keep you on the edge of your seat. The family hires a professional renegade detective (Jeremy Sisto) to work alongside an FBI agent (Delroy Lindo). The teasers of ‘Kidnapped’ demonstrate a lot of potential in the plot department. Kidnapped should contain all the aspects of a successful show. I am personally excited because of one teaser statement: “What the kidnappers don’t know is that he (the kidnapped boy) is smarter than they are.” Everyone enjoys seeing a victim outsmart their captors.
One more show to shine a little light on is ‘Friday Night Lights’. Based on the movie, this show is one of the first of its kind in centering in on a sport team. It focuses on a high school football team as they have struggles and triumphs, and of course it will contain all the drama of any typical American high school. Don’t get too excited about ‘Friday Night Lights’, sports shows have not shown a lot of strength before, and neither have shows based on films, but there is a first time for everything. ‘Friday Night Lights’ is on NBC, but is still a month away.
Thriller- Finally, NBC has a response to ABC’s ‘Lost’. ‘Heroes’ is perhaps the most exciting new show that will hit television this year. ‘Heroes’ contains an ensemble cast of regular people who are awakened almost simultaneously to inner powers. Some can fly while others stop time and some can read thoughts and even tell the future. This show will not be another Marvel or DC epic, but instead focuses on the lives of the individuals who inherit these powers. Many of the characters do not even have anything to do with one another as they all live in several different cities. But just as the characters in ‘Lost’ struggle to know why they are on the island, so ‘Heroes’ will approach the question of the how these powers came to dwell in the individuals. With a cast including Ali Larter and Milo Ventimiglia, ‘Heroes’ is my best pick of the season. Look for it on NBC on Monday Nights.
‘Jericho’ is my second thriller pick, while much of the plot still remains in the dark, we do know that the small Kansas town is subject to a nearby nuclear explosion. The residents of the town do not know why or how the explosion occurred, but that is for us to find out during the length of the show. The thriller narrows in on the lives of the individuals as citizens of American, and how we all react to uncertain circumstances. The cast includes Skeet Ulrich, and the show airs on CBS.
Crime Series/Action Drama- ‘Smith’ is the number one pick in this category. This show will probably take very well with audiences since there has not been an authentically new crime series since before shows like CSI and Law and Order simply made spin-offs. ‘Smith’ is about a group of individuals who lead seemingly normal lives, but pull high-risk robberies in their spare time. While many shows focus in on the good guys getting the bad guys, this series shows the other side of the spectrum and how they manage to do their work. ‘Smith’ will air on CBS as well.
Well, those are your best bets for this season’s new shows. Hopefully you will find these brief reviews helpful as you decide which shows to invest your time in. Don’t forget about returning shows such as ‘Lost’ and ‘The Office’ which will be worth your time due to the past success of the shows.
