2013 Fall TV Preview

With Dexter and Breaking Bad finishing their runs, the fall television season is almost upon us. This week, Fox rolls out their new and returning shows, while all the other networks will do so next week. From last year, only three of my new series lasted and are returning (Mindy Project, Revoluton, Elementary). This year, I’m trying ten new shows. Here’s my crammed schedule (starting with Sunday):

THE SIMPSONS [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 25
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 29 @ 8pm
Genre: Animated Comedy
Starring: Dan Castellaneta (Hey Arnold!)
Hank Azaria (Smurfs, Huff, Godzilla)
Creator: Matt Groening (Futurama)
Showrunner: Al Jean (The Critic)
Three Observations:
1 Even after 24 seasons this show can still bring the funny
2 It’s starting to get more random, like Family Guy
3 I vow to watch this show until it is put out to pasture

ONCE UPON A TIME [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 3
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 29 @ 8pm
Genre: Fantasy Drama
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love, Ed)
Jennifer Morrison (House, Star Trek)
Creators: Adam Horowitz & Edward Kitsis (Lost, Tron: Legacy)
Showrunners: Horowitz & Kitsis
Three Observations:
1 Love the twists they give to familiar fairy tales
2 Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting) as Rumplestiltskin is fantastic
3 Looking forward to Neverland and a creepy Peter Pan

AMAZING RACE [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 23
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 29 @ 8pm
Genre: Reality Competition
Starring:Phil Keoghan (No Opportunity Wasted)
Creator: Elise Doganieri (Amazing Race Philippines, Asia, etc.)
Showrunners: Bertram VanMunster & Evan Weinstein
Three Observations:
1 By far, the best reality show out there
2 It’s all about location, location, location
3 Looking forward to rooting for another couple

BOARDWALK EMPIRE [HBO]
Upcoming Season: 4
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 8 @ 9pm
Genre: Crime Drama
Starring: Steve Buscemi (Fargo, Reservoir Dogs, Monsters Inc.)
Kelly Macdonald (Brave, Anna Karenina)
Creator: Terence Winter (The Sopranos)
Showrunner: Winter
Three Observations:
1 Looks like they’ll be looking into Richard Harrow’s massacre. Nice!
2 Kinda happy that the crazy Gyp is out of the picture
3 Hoping to see more of Al Capone this coming season

HOMELAND [SHOWTIME]
Upcoming Season: 3
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 29 @ 9pm
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Starring: Claire Danes (Romeo+Juilet, My So-Called Life)
Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers, Life)
Creator: based on Israeli series Prisoner of War by Gideon Raff
Showrunner: Howard Gordon & Alex Gansa (24, X-Files)
Three Observations:
1 Looks like Brody is on the run for the events of last season
2 Looking forward to seeing Saul in charge as the last man standing
3 Hoping the season continues to move at breakneck speed

THE WALKING DEAD [AMC]
Upcoming Season: 4
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Oct 13 @ 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, Life)
Three Observations:
1 Wonder if Glenn and Maggie will tie the knot this season
2 I was surprised at some of the deaths last season, who’s next
3 Carl Grimes seems a little too psycho to me

[NEW!] HELLO LADIES [HBO]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Sun, Sept 29 @ 10:30pm
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Stephen Merchant (Extras, Life’s Too Short)
Nate Torrence (Get Smart, Studio 60, Mr. Sunshine)
Creators/Showrunners: Stephen Merchant (The Office [UK])
Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky (The Office [US])
Premise: A gawky Brit tries to find his dream girl in the USA
Why I’ll give it a chance: Stephen Merchant is hilariously awkward
What could hurt it: Comedies don’t tend to last long on HBO

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 9
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 23 @ 8pm
Genre: Friend Comedy
Starring: Josh Radnor (Liberal Arts, Happythankyoumoreplease)
Colbie Smulders (Veritas, The Avengers)
Creators/Showrunners: Carter Bays & Craig Thomas (Letterman)
Three Observations:
1 Looking forward to seeing Ted’s incredible long story wrap up
2 I hear the entire season will take place over one weekend
3 It’s been slumping a little lately, so I hope they can end strong

[NEW!] SLEEPY HOLLOW [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 16 @ 9pm
Genre: Sci-Fi  / Thriller
Starring: Tom Mison (Parade’s End, One Day)
Orlando Jones (MadTV, Evolution, Drumline)
Creators: Phillip Iscove (new)
Alex Kurtzman & Robert Orci (Alias, Fringe)
Showrunner: Mark Goffman (West Wing, White Collar, Studio 60)
Premise: Ichabod Crane is transported from 18^th century to present
Why I’ll give it a chance: Premise is intriguing and Kurtzman & Orci
What could hurt it: Fox is pretty impatient with sci-fi shows

[NEW!] MOM [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 23 @ 9pm
Genre: Family Comedy
Starring: Anna Faris (Scary Movie, The House Bunny)
Allison Janney (West Wing, Mr. Sunshine, Hairspray)
Creators/Showrunners: Chuck Lorre (Big Bang Theory)
Gemma Baker & Eddie Gorodetsky (Two and a Half Men)
Premise: A newly sober mom tries to raise her kids
Why I’ll give it a chance: A find Anna Faris and Nate Corddry funny
What could hurt it: Might be more 2 Broke Girls than Big Bang funny

[NEW!] HOSTAGES [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 23 @ 10pm
Genre: Drama Thriller
Starring: Toni Collette (United States of Tara, The Sixth Sense)
Dylan McDermott (The Practice, American Horror Story)
Creators: Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Day After Tomorrow, Chicago Fire)
Alon Aranya (Red Widow), Omri Givon (new)
Showrunners: Nachmanoff & Rick Eid (CSI:, Law & Order)
Premise: A surgeon to operate on the president is held hostage
Why I’ll give it a chance: It looks pretty intense and full of twists
What could hurt it: The premise seems pretty limiting

[NEW!] THE BLACKLIST [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Mon, Sept 23 @ 10pm
Genre: Crime Drama
Starring: James Spader (Boston Legal, Stargate, The Office)
Megan Boone (Law &Order: LA, Step Up Revolution)
Creators: Jon Bokenkamp (The Call, Taking Lives)
Brandon Margolis (new) & Brandon Sonnier (new)
Showrunner: John Eisendrath (Alias, My Own Worst Enemy)
Premise: A wanted criminal helps catch terrorists with a new officer
Why I’ll give it a chance: I like James Spader
What could hurt it: Too Hannibal Lechter-ish and could be repetitive

[NEW!] MARVEL’S AGENTS OF SHIELD [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 24 @ 8pm
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)
Premise: The agents that  help the Avengers behind the scenes
Why I’ll give it a chance: Joss Whedon, duh.
What could hurt it: People expecting cameos from Iron Man

[NEW!] BROOKLYN NINE-NINE [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 17 @ 8:30pm
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)
Premise: A slacker cop runs up against a no-nonsense new boss
Why I’ll give it a chance: Andy Samberg is pretty funny
What could hurt it: The poor lead-in of Seth MccFarlane’s Dads

NEW GIRL [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 3
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 17 @ 9pm
Genre: Friend Comedy
Starring: Zooey Deschanel (Elf, 500 Days of Summer, Yes Man)
Jake Johnson (21 Jump Street, Safety Not Guaranteed)
Creator: Elizabeth Merriwether (new)
Showrunners: Brett Baer & David Finkel (Just Shoot Me, 30 Rock)
Three Observations:
1 Nervous about Jess and Nick’s relationship stealing too much focus
2 I hear that Damon Wayans Jr. is returning
3 More douche jar moments please

THE MINDY PROJECT [FOX]
Upcoming Season: 2
Premiere Date/Time: Tue, Sept 17 @ 9:30pm
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 Watburton (Simpsons, Community)
Three Observations:
1 I hope this series avoids the sophomore slump
2 Messina is awesome
3 I hope they don’t go the New Girl route with Mindy & Danny

REVOLUTION [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 2
Premiere Date/Time: Wed, Sept 25 @ 8pm
Genre: Action Drama
Starring: Billy Burke (24, Twilight, Red Riding Hood)
Tracy Spiridakos (Being Human)
Creator/Showrunner: Eric Kripke (Supernatural, Boogeyman)
Three Observations:
1 Burke, Zak Orth & Giancarlo Esposito are pretty good
2 The story better get really good really fast
3 Is it wrong to hope they kill off Spiridakos and Elizabeth Mitchell?

MODERN FAMILY [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 5
Premiere Date/Time: Wed, Sept 25 @ 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)
Christopher Lloyd (Wings, Frasier, Out of Practice, Back to You)
Three Observations:
1 It’s a consistently funny show and still going strong
2 More of Luke Dunphy please
3 I hope they don’t’ spend too much time on Jay & Gloria’s baby

PARKS AND RECREATION [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 6
Premiere Date/Time: Thu, Sept 26 @ 8pm
Genre: Workplace Comedy
Starring: Amy Poehler (SNL, Blades of Glory, Baby Mama)
Nick Offerman (Axe Cop, Men Who Stare at Goats)
Creators: Greg Daniels & Michael Shur (The Office)
Showrunner: Michael Shur (SNL, The Office)
Three Observations:
1 I believe that this is the funniest show on television right now
2 Looking forward to Ron Swanson with a pregnant girlfriend
3 I’m not concerned with Chris & Amy leaving half way through

THE BIG BANG THEORY [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 7
Premiere Date/Time: Thu, Sept 26 @ 8pm
Genre: Friends Comedy
Starring: Jim Parsons (Judging Amy, Garden State, The Muppets)
Johnny Galecki (Roseanne, In Time, Christmas Vacation)
Creators: Chuck Lorre (2½ Men) &  Bill Prady (Dharma & Greg)
Showrunners: Prady & Steven Molaro (The Class, All That)
Three Observations:
1 I kinda feel bad for Amy in her “loveless” “relationship”
2 Sheldon has been getting meaner lately, I hope he lightens up
3 I hope they spend a bit more time on the guys over the girls

[NEW!] ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND [ABC]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Thu, Oct 10 @ 8pm
Genre: Fantasy Drama
Starring: Sophie Lowe (new)
Naveen Andrews (Diana, Lost, Planet Terror)
Creators/Showrunners: Adam Horowitz & Edward Kitsis (see OUAT)
Premise: Doctors try to cure Alice of her ‘imaginary’ experiences
Why I’ll give it a chance: I got hooked on Once Upon a Time
What could hurt it: Too much Once Upon a Time in a week maybe

[NEW!] THE CRAZY ONES [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Thu, Sept 26 @ 9pm
Genre: Workplace Comedy
Starring: Robin Williams (Mork & Mindy, Mrs. Doubtfire)
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy, Ringer, Scooby-Doo)
Creator: David E Kelley (Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, Harry’s Law)
Showrunners: Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally (Will & Grace, Ugly Betty)
Premise: A responsible daughter tries to reign in her eccentric father
Why I’ll give it a chance: Robin Williams could pull this off
What could hurt it: Williams is better in dramas than comedies

[NEW!] THE MICHAEL J FOX SHOW [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 1
Premiere Date/Time: Thu, Sept 26 @ 9pm
Genre: Workplace Comedy
Starring: Michael J Fox (Family Ties, Spin City, The Good Wife)
Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad)
Creator: Sam Laybourne (Cougar Town)
Showrunners: Laybourne & Alex Reid (Malcolm in the Middle)
Premise: An anchor with Parkinson’s disease returns to work
Why I’ll give it a chance: Fox can’t miss when it comes to TV
What could hurt it: People get uncomfortable with Parkinson’s jokes

ELEMENTARY [CBS]
Upcoming Season: 2
Premiere Date/Time: Thu, Sept 26 @ 10pm
Genre: Crime Drama / Mystery
Starring: Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone, Dexter,Trainspotting)
Lucy Liu (Kill Bill, Charlie’s Angels, Ally McBeal)
Creator/Showrunner: Rob Doherty (Tru Calling, Ringer, Medium)
Three Observations:
1 He’s no Cumberbatch, but Miller is still pretty darn good
2 I like that Holmes and Watson won’t end up in love
3 There were some great twist last season, hoping for more

PARENTHOOD [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 5
Premiere Date/Time: Thu, Sept 26 @ 10pm
Genre: Family Drama
Starring: Peter Krause (Sports Night, Six Feet Under, Lost Room)
Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls, Bad Santa, Evan Almighty)
Creator/Showrunner: Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights)
Three Observations:
1 I like that Ray Romano is coming back, he was pretty good
2 I hear that Julia & Joel will have problems; that makes me sad
3 I’m sorry but I did not like the adopted kid last season

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE [NBC]
Upcoming Season: 39
Premiere Date/Time: Sat, Sept 28 @ 11:30pm
Genre: Sketch Comedy
Starring: Seth Meyers (New Year’s Eve, The Awesomes, Late Night)
Kenan Thompson (Kenan & Kel, Snakes on a Plane, Fat Albert)
Creator/Showrunner: Lorne Michaels (30 Rock, Late Night)
Three Observations:
1 Sad there will be no more Stefon at the update desk
2 Glad Seth is there for half the year (but who will take over?)
3 More screen time for Taran Killam and Cecily Strong please

Of the new shows, it’s Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. that I’m most looking forward to. What new shows are you going try this year?

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Dexter Farewell, Emmy Award Predictions

Film: The World's End

GENRE: Sci-Fi Action Comedy
RATING: 14A for language and sexual references
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 49 minutes
STARRING: Simon Pegg (Star Trek, Mission Impossible 3 & 4)
Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz); Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Hobbit)
DIRECTOR: Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs The World)
WRITERS: Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead)
PLOT: Five friends reunited to attempt an epic pub crawl but the apocalypse is approaching.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 This is my least favourite of Wright’s ‘Cornetto’ trilogy. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and far better films than this one. The previous two have better genre parodies and much more laughs. The World’s End is pretty weak on all accounts.
2 I’m sorry but I can’t go along with Simon Pegg as a ‘cool’ loner. Even in Hot Fuzz, while he might have been an awesome cop, he was at least nerdy in his straight-laced-ness. I just didn’t buy Pegg’s character in this film.
3 Nick Frost has been utterly hilarious in the previous films, he was so happy and shlubby you couldn’t help but root for him. In this one, he’s angry and not as fun. I guess one of my main issues with this film is that I didn’t find myself caring too much what happened to these characters.
4 After watching him play a retired boxer suffering from Parkinson’s on Ray Donovan, it was fun to see Eddie Marsan in a completely different role.
5 I did appreciate the tie-ins to the other two films. The reoccurrence of the Cornetto ice cream, the jumping of fences and the similar situation of being in a town surrounded by an evil element. I just wished this last installment was far better.

RECOMMENDATION: Maybe TBS for the curious
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Fall Film Preview, Fall TV Preview, Emmys

Film: The Butler

GENRE: Biography, Drama
RATING: 14A for violence, language, thematic elements
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 12 minutes
STARRING: Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland, Panic Room)
Oprah Winfrey (The Color Purple); David Oyelowo (Jack Reacher)
DIRECTOR: Lee Daniels (Precious)
WRITER: Danny Strong (Game Change, Recount)
PLOT: The civil rights movement is explored as Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents as a White House butler.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 I know some have dubbed this film a black Forrest Gump but this one has way more bite and less whimsy. Whitaker’s Cecil is more of an observer and quiet sage as opposed to a participant. Still extremely well done and eye-opening.
2 Whitaker and Oprah are fantastic. They easily command the screen and make you feel every emotion that fills their fragile household. 
3 While there are many stand-out supporting performances, I was most enthralled with Alan Rickman (Die Hard, Harry Potter) as Ronald Regan. While the last half-hour usually drags in a film like this, I found the final years invigorating and part of that is due to Rickman’s entrance into the sprawling story.
4 I was a little annoyed with the editing of the film. There was some intercutting of scenes that I found a little distracting. I also didn’t like that the editing made it seem like JFK was assassinated as a response to civil rights issues.
5 I don’t know why this makes me smile but the writer, Danny Strong, played nerdy Jonathan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s cool to see him make his mark on the industry. In fact, I just found out that he’s writing the screenplays for Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I & II. I’m even more excited now.

RECOMMENDATION: Theatre for Oscar-worthy stuff
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The World’s End

Film: Elysium

GENRE: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama
RATING: 14A for violence and language
RUNTIME: 1 hours and 49 minutes
STARRING: Matt Damon (Bourne series, Contagion)
Jodie Foster (Inside Man); Sharlto Copley (District 9, A-Team)
DIRECTOR: Neill Blomkamp (District 9)
WRITER: Neill Blomkamp (District 9)
PLOT: A sick man on the trashed and overpopulated earth tries to get to the space Station Elysium, where the wealthy live.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 This film is definitely District-9ish, if you know what I mean. It has an independent South African sensibility while still being a sci-fi flick. If you liked District 9, you would probably like this one as well.
2 I was hoping for more time and visuals of Elysium. They spent a little too long on Earth. I guess it’s a lot cheaper to shoot it that way.
3 I was also hoping for more sneaking around. They pretty much go everywhere guns a-blazing. And hand-to-hand stuff as well.
4 While Damon and Copley do fine work as adversaries, I also enjoyed some of the supporting cast as well. Wagner Moura (newcomer) as the hacker Spider is fun to watch as is the slimy William Fichtner (Armageddon, Lone Ranger).
5 At some points, watching Damon and Copley fight is like seeing a skeletal version of Iron Man. Just a bunch of metal beings hitting each other really hard; this seems more brutal and painful though.

RECOMMENDATION: DVD or theatre, it’s a toss-up
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Butler

Film: 2 Guns

GENRE: Action, Crime
RATING: 14A for violence, language and brief nudity
RUNTIME: 1 hours and 49 minutes
STARRING: Denzel Washington (Man on Fire, Training Day)
Mark Wahlberg (The Other Guys, Pain & Gain); Bill Paxton (Twister)
DIRECTOR: Baltasar Kormakur (Contraband)
WRITER: Blake Masters (Brotherhood tv series)
PLOT: Undercover agents (who are unaware of each other) botch the infiltration of a drug cartel and pay the consequences.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 This film reminded me of old-school Jerry Bruckheimer films like Bad Boys, The Rock, Bad Company and Gone in Sixty Seconds. Get two good actors to play well off each other and shoot lots of stuff up. It maybe formulaic but it’s still pretty entertaining.
2 The film works because of the great chemistry between Washington and Wahlberg. They both get their share of funny lines and action-packed stunts. Wahlberg is pretty hit or miss with me and in this film he does pretty well.
3 After watching this and FX’s The Border, I’m going to steer clear of Mexico/US border cities; maybe forever. They all seem full of crime and corrupt agencies.
4 It’s fun watching Bill Paxton and Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica) play bad guys. They are gleefully intimidating. James Marsden (X-Men, Superman Returns), on the other hand, continues to turn in ‘meh’ performances. He so not dynamic on screen.
5 I was not a fan on Denzel’s facial hair in this film. Just sayin’.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for DVD or TBS
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Elysium