Monday, September 12, 2016

2016 Fall Television Preview

It’s September, and the fall television season is almost upon us. Most of the shows will return in a couple of weeks. I think I’ll try out nine new shows. It usually takes me three to four episodes to commit to them though, so we’ll see what happens. Here’s the run down (starting with Sunday):

THE SIMPSONS [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 28
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 25 @ 8pm
Genre: Animated Comedy
Starring: Dan Castellaneta (Hey Arnold!)
Hank Azaria (Smurfs, Ray Donovan)
Creator: Matt Groening (Futurama)
Showrunner: Al Jean (The Critic)
Why I watch: I’ve seen every episode, why stop now?
Coming up: The 600th Episode will be their annual Treehouse of Horror

[NEW!] SON OF ZORN [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 25 @ 8:30pm
Genre: Live & Animated Comedy
Starring: Jason Sudekis (Last Man on Earth, SNL)
Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Creators: Reed Agnew & Eli Jorne (Wilfred)
Showrunner: Sally McKenna (newcomer)
Premise: Zorn, an animated hero tries to win back his human wife
Why I’ll give it a chance: Interesting premise, looks kinds funny
What could hurt it: Both original showrunners/creators stepped down

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 3
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 25 @ 9:30pm
Genre: Apocalyptic Comedy
Starring: Will Forte (SNL, Nebraska, MacGruber)
January Jones (Mad Men, X-Men: First Class)
Creator: Will Forte (That 70’s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun)
Showrunner: Dan Sterling (The Office, Sarah Silverman Program)
Why I watch: The concept still works and Forte is cringingly good
Coming up: Pat and his armed hazmat suited companions invade

[NEW!] WESTWORLD [HBO]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Oct 2 @ 8:00pm
Genre: Western/Sci-Fi
Starring: Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs)
Ed Harris (Truman Show, Pollock, The Rock)
Creators: Jonathan & Lisa Joy Nolan (Person of Interest, Dark Knight)
Showrunners: Jonathan & Lisa Joy Nolan
Premise: A futuristic theme park with artificial beings go haywire
Why I’ll give it a chance: The cast and HBO is promoting it endlessly
What could hurt it: Looks a little dark and confusing

THE WALKING DEAD [AMC]
Upcoming Season: 7
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Oct 23 @ 9pm
Genre: Drama / Horror
Starring: Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Strike Back)
Norman Reedus (Boondock Saints)
Creator: based on Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel
Showrunner: Scott Gimple (Chase, Flash Forward)
Why I watch: It’s an intense hour of drama and zombies
Coming up: Someone’s dead from a brutal batting

LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER [HBO]
Upcoming Season: Still in Season 3
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, still running @ 10pm
Genre: ‘News’ program
Starring: John Oliver (Daily Show, Community)
Creator: John Oliver
Showrunner: Tim Carvell (The Daily Show)
Why I watch: Love Oliver’s rants
Coming up: More focussed news stories

THE BIG BANG THEORY [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 10
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 19 @ 8pm
Genre: Friends Comedy
Starring: Jim Parsons (Garden State, The Muppets, Normal Heart)
Johnny Galecki (Roseanne, In Time, Christmas Vacation)
Creators: Chuck Lorre (2½ Men) & Bill Prady (Dharma & Greg)
Showrunners: Prady & Steven Molaro (The Class, All That)
Why I watch: Great cast chemistry
Coming up: An actual wedding for Leonard and Penny

GOTHAM [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 3
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 19 @ 8pm
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Starring: Ben McKenzie (Southland, The OC)
Donal Logue (Vikings, Terriers, Zodiac)
Creator/Showrunner: Bruno Heller (Rome, The Mentalist)
Why I watch: The Riddler is even more fun than Penguin
Coming up: More villain backstories, and maybe Joker

[NEW!] CONVICTION [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Oct 3 @ 10pm
Genre: Courtroom Drama
Starring: Haley Atwell (Agent Carter, Captain America)
Eddie Cahill (CSI:NY, Friends, Glory Days)
Creators: Liz Friedlander (Stalker), Liz Friedman (Jessica Jones)
Showrunner: Friedlander and Friedman
Premise: Former bad girl first daughter is blackmailed to do some lawyering
Why I’ll give it a chance: I like Haley Atwell and courtroom shenanigans
What could hurt it: Like Friedman’s credits, not Friedlander’s

THE ODD COUPLE [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 3
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Oct 17 @ 9:30pm
Genre: Friends Comedy
Starring: Matthew Perry (Friends, Mr. Sunshine, Go On)
Thomas Lennon (Sean Saves the World, Reno 911)
Creators: Danny Jacobson (Mad About You), Joe Keenan (Frasier)
Matthew Perry (Mr. Sunshine, Go On)
Showrunner: Bob Daily (Frasier, Desperate Housewives)
Why I watch: Lennon is hilarious a persnickety Felix
Coming up: More roommate antics.


[NEW!] ATLANTA [FX]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 6 @ 10pm
Genre: Dramdey
Starring: Donald Glover (Community, The Martian)
Brian Tyree Henry (newcomer)
Creator: Donald Glover (Childish Gambino videos)
Showrunner: Glover & Paul Simms (Newsradio, Divorce)
Premise: A rapper’s cousin tries to help him make it big in Atlanta
Why I’ll give it a chance: Donald Glover has some great subtle humour
What could hurt it: I’m not really into rap 

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 4
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 20 @ 8pm
Genre: Workplace Comedy
Starring: Andy Samberg (SNL, Hot Rod, Celeste & Jesse Forever)
Andre Braugher (Last Resort, Homicide:Life on the Street)
Creator: Michael Shur (SNL, The Office, Parks & Recreation)
Showrunners: Shur & Dan Goor (Daily Show, Parks & Recreation)
Why I watch: Such a great ensemble. Braugher is awesome.
Coming up: Jake and Holt hiding from Jimmy Figgis in Florida

NEW GIRL [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 6
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 20 @ 8:30pm
Genre: Friend Comedy
Starring: Zooey Deschanel (Elf, 500 Days of Summer, Yes Man)
Jake Johnson (Safety Not Guaranteed, Let’s Be Cops)
Creator: Elizabeth Merriwether (new)
Showrunners: Brett Baer & David Finkel (Just Shoot Me, 30 Rock)
Why I watch: Love the camaraderie among the roommates
Coming up: CeCe & Schmidt married life and Nick makes a choice

[NEW!] THIS IS US [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 20 @ 9pm
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Starring: Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember, Tangled)
Sterling K Brown (ACS: The People vs OJ Simpson)
Creator/Showrunner: Dan Fogelman (The Neighbors, Grandfathered)
Premise: Follow a group people who share the same birthday
Why I’ll give it a chance: It seems Parenthood-ish
What could hurt it: Fogelman’s previous series were not that great.

MARVEL’S AGENTS OF SHIELD [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 4
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 20 @ 10pm
Genre: Action/Drama/Sci-Fi
Starring: Clark Gregg (Avengers, New Adventures of Old Christine)
Ming-Na Wen (ER, Mulan,The Single Guy)
Creators: Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Avengers)
Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog)
Showrunner: Jed Whedon & Tancharoen (Dollhouse)
Why I watch: Every episode is full of action, humour & great stories
Coming up: Daisy is rogue, there’s a new director and maybe Ghost Rider

THE FLASH [CW]
Upcoming Season: 3
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Oct 4 @ 8pm
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Grant Gustin (Glee, 90210, Arrow)
Jesse L Martin (Law & Order, Smash, Rent)
Creators: Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Everwood, Eli Stone)
Andrew Kreisberg (Boston Legal, Arrow) & Geoff Johns (Arrow)
Showrunner: Gabrille Stanton (Grey’s Anatomy, Haven)
Why I watch: Reminds me of Smallville with a little less angst
Coming up: ‘Flashpoint’ past reboot storyline.

THE MINDY PROJECT [HULU]
Upcoming Season: 5
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Oct 4
Genre: Workplace Comedy
Starring: Mindy Kaling (The Office, Wreck-It Ralph)
Chris Messina (Newsroom, Damages, Argo, Ruby Sparks)
Creator: Mindy Kaling (The Office)
Showrunner: Matt Warburton (Simpsons, Community)
Why I watch: The quick comedy one-liners
Coming up: Mindy makes a choice between Danny & Jody

MODERN FAMILY [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 8
Premiere Date/Time: Wed, Sept 21 @ 9pm
Genre: Family Comedy
Starring: Ty Burrell (Back to You, Out of Practice)
Julie Bowen (Boston Legal, Weeds, Lost, Ed)
Creators/Showrunners: Steve Levitan (Just Shoot Me, Frasier, Wings)
Christopher Lloyd (Wings, Frasier, Out of Practice, Back to You)
Why I watch: Best family sitcom on television
Coming up: Haley tries to get over Andy, Claire is boss but now Jay’s there

[NEW!] DESIGNATED SURVIVOR [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Wed, Sept 21 @ 10:00pm
Genre: Drama Thriller
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland (24, Touch, The Lost Boys)
Kal Penn (House, How I Met Your Mother, Battle Creek)
Creator: David Guggenheim (Safe House)
Showrunner: Amy B Harris (Sex and the City, Gossip Girl)
Premise: A cabinet minister becomes president after a terror attack
Why I’ll give it a chance: This political thriller looks very intriguing
What could hurt it: Worried it’s just going to become a 24 clone.

[NEW!] FREQUENCY [CW]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Wed, Oct 5 @ 9pm
Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Mystery
Starring: Peyton List (Jessie, Bunk’d)
Riley Smith (Nashville, 90210, Drive)
Creator/Showrunner: Jeremy Carver (Supernatural, Being Human)
Premise: A detective teams up with her dead father through a radio
Why I’ll give it a chance: The trailer actually got me interested
What could hurt it: Doesn’t look like the premise can last long

[NEW!] THE GOOD PLACE [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 19 @ 10pm (usually on Thursdays)
Genre: Divine Comedy
Starring: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Forgetting Sarah Marshall)
Ted Danson (Cheers, Becker, CSI:, Fargo)
Creator/Showrunner: Michael Shur (Parks & Rec, Brooklyn Nine Nine)
Premise: A terrible person somehow makes it to heaven to start anew
Why I’ll give it a chance: Michael Shur is involved, so it should be funny
What could hurt it: The premise does not seem that strong.

NNEW!] MACGYVER [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Fri, Sept 23 @ 8pm
Genre: Action Adventure
Starring: Lucas Till (newer X-Men films)
George Eads (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
Creator: Peter M Lenkov (Hawaii Five-O) & Lee David Zlotoff (MacGyver)
Showrunner: Lenkov
Premise: A young MacGyver starts a new organization to stop terrorism
Why I’ll give it a chance: I loved MacGyver & the original writer is returning
What could hurt it: The original was cheesy, hopefully this one isn’t

[NEW!] LUKE CAGE [NETFLIX]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Fri, Sept 30 @ 12:01am
Genre: Crime Drama
Starring: Mike Colter (Jessica Jones, Zero Dark Thirty)
Frankie Faison (The Wire, Banshee, Silence of the Lambs)
Creator/Showrunner: Cheo Hodari Coker (Ray Donovan, NCIS: LA)
Premise: A hero with impenetrable skin becomes a superhero for hire
Why I’ll give it a chance: Other Marvel Netflix shows are pretty awesome
What could hurt it: Don’t know much about this character

MASTERCHEF JUNIOR [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 5
Premiere Date/Time: Fri, Nov TBD @ 8pm
Genre: Reality Competition
Starring: Gordon Ramsay (Hell’s Kitchen, Hotel Hell)
Christina Tosi (Unique Sweets)
Creator: Based on the British version of the show by Franc Roddam
Showrunner: Robin Ashbrook (As Seen on TV)
Why I watch: Great dishes and the judges are a bit nicer
Coming up: More kids that make me feel bad about my lack of skills

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 42
Premiere Date/Time: Sat, Oct 1 @ 11:30pm
Genre: Sketch Comedy
Starring: Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters)
Cecily Strong (The Awesomes)
Creator/Showrunner: Lorne Michaels (30 Rock, Portlandia)
Why I watch: It’s an institution. Always something to talk about.
Coming up: A season without Taran Killam and Jay Pharaoh

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIIMY FALLON [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 4
Premiere Date/Time: ongoing @ 11:30pm
Genre: Talk Show
Starring: Jimmy Fallon (SNL, Fever Pitch, Whip It)
Creator: Lorne Michaels & NBC
Showrunner: Josh Lieb (The Daily Show, Newsradio)
Why I watch: It’s always filled with fun moments and games

What new shows are you going try this year?

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Emmy Predictions, Snowden

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