Fall TV: New Series Preview

Does anyone remember when I tried to watch/review every new show that premiered last fall and it was a giant mess and totally didn't work at all because I just couldn't watch that much tv quick enough and as a result my plan failed? I'm trying it again! I think it will work better this time because the premieres seem to be a bit more spread out. And quite a few are 30 minute shows. I can do 30 minutes! In preparation for discussing all of the new shows, I am looking up and giving snap judgements on all the shows (because I have previously heard of approximately 4 of the 21 new shows).

Partners (premiering Sept 24) -- The good: it is from the creators of Will & Grace which was really entertaining and it stars Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), David Krumholtz (Numb3rs), Sophia Busch (One Tree Hill), and Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) all of whom I really like; the bad: the description reads like  Will & Grace if Grace were a guy so it just seems like it could go a bit 1990s. Situational comedies are not my favorite.

Revolution (premiering Sept 17) -- The good: J.J. Abrams, Jon Favreau, and Billy Burke are attached and it is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi show. The bad: I think people see J.J. Abrams name and sci-fi and immediately want the next Lost so expectations may be off. I saw a ton of previews for this during the Olympics, yet I remember nothing about it except Billy Burke.

The Mob Doctor (premiering Sept 17) -- The good: "The series follows a brilliant Chicago surgeon who must deal with protecting her career and reputation due to a family debt to the mob, even if it puts everyone, including her loved ones and friends, in jeopardy" (Wikipedia description). The bad: It doesn't have any big names attached to it and it is on Fox, which has a tendency to make bad shows and/or make good shows and cancel them way early. It is a hard sell to start watching a new show on Fox. (And for some reason I keep wanting this to be on The CW)

Vegas (premiering Sept 25) -- The good: It is a drama-western starring Michael Chiklis. The bad: There is no bad. It is a western starring Michael Chiklis. What more do you need?

Go On (premiering Sept 11) -- The good: John Cho is in it. I really like him. The bad: I have never seen an episode of Friends and therefore I don't care about anyone from Friends. The previews of this are weird and annoying. I'm pretty sure this is not going to be my show. It is something about a support group? I don't even care.

The New Normal (premiering Sept 11) -- The good: The cast is pretty sweet and the concept is timely. The bad: I'm pretty sure I've seen this show. It is called Modern Family. This is not going to be as good as Modern Family.

Ben and Kate (premiering Sept 25) -- The good: Lucy Punch is in it and it is created by a writer who is friends with Diablo Cody. The bad: Again, situational comedies are not my thing and this is a "siblings who are opposites" and "guy as a nanny" situational comedy.

The Mindy Project (premiering Sept 25) -- The good: Though I have never seen a full episode of the Office (more shocking than the Friends thing, right?), I know that Mindy Kaling is really funny. Also, Ned Ryerson from Groundhogs Day is in it. The bad: Mindy is described as being like Bridget Jones. I like Bridget Jones as a movie, but I'm not sure how it will be in tv form.

Emily Owens, MD (premiering Oct 16) -- The good: The star is Meryl Streep's daughter, so that is awesome. Also, I've been excited about this because Michael Rady, Max from Greek, is in it. Awesome! The bad: It is yet another medical drama on the CW. And it also stars the guy who played Green Arrow on Smallville, who was apparently not good enough to be Green Arrow on Arrow.

Animal Practice (premiering Sept 26) -- The good: Medical dramas are pretty popular and this is a medical drama but with a twist of animals! Also, the cast looks pretty solid. Tyler Labine is in it and I like everything he is in. The bad: Medical dramas are pretty popular. Do we really need another medical drama?

Guys with Kids (premiering Sept 26) -- The good: Jesse Bradford! The bad: Jess Bradford, why? Why are you in this? A show about guys raising kids? What? That never happens in real life. OH the comedy that will ensue! Everyone knows that women are the only ones who can raise kids. Prepare yourself for LOLS!

Chicago Fire (premiering Oct 10) -- The good: Jesse Spencer. And the show is making a donation to the Firefighter's Widows and Orphans fund. The bad: I feel like this could go very police procedure  or very medical drama, neither are really something we need more of on tv.

The Neighbors (premiering Sept 26) -- The good: It is created by the writer of Crazy, Stupid, Love, Tangled, and Cars. It is a sci-fi half hour comedy that has aliens who named themselves after sports stars. I mean...awesome. The bad: It has already gotten negative reviews for being too weird and high concept. I really enjoy weird high concept shows, which means that it will probably get canceled early.

Nashville (premiering Oct 10) -- The good: The cast is lead by Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) and Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) and seems to be banking on the popularity of other music based shows. The bad: it seems to be banking on the popularity of music based shows, but doesn't seem to be a musical of any sort. It could go very melodramatic.

Arrow (premiering Oct 10) -- The good: John Barrowman, John Barrowman, JOHN BARROWMAN. Also, every time I see a picture of Stephen Amell I think "that guy is hot, why is there a picture of him" and then I look it up and remember that he is Green Arrow. The bad: John Barrowman is only recurring.

Elementary (premiering Sept 27) -- The good: Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu, Watson is a girl, Sherlock is big right now. The bad: it won't be nearly as good as Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Also, Jonny Lee Miller looks kind of like Moriarty in Sherlock.

Last Resort (premiering Sept 27) -- The good: It has a good cast and a fairly unique plot. The bad: that fairly unique plot was sort of confusing to read, so I'm not sure how it will translate. Also, it reads more like a movie plot so I have no idea how it will sustain as a tv show.

Beauty and the Beast (premiering Oct 11) -- The good: Ummm...I mean, I like the Disney Beauty and the Beast movie, so concept is good? The bad: loosely based on the 1987 show of the same name. And as far as I can tell, the Beast is pretty damn hot. Weird.

Made in Jersey (premiering Sept 28) -- The good: I really like suits, so a law drama actually sounds pretty much right up my alley. The bad: It sounds like it is going to be a show about how Jersey is so trash and New York is so posh. Haven't we done this plot before? Isn't this overplayed yet?

Malibu County (premiering Nov 2) -- The good: Reba McEntire, Sara Rue, Jai Rodriguez, Lily Tomlin. The bad: The description sort of reads like The Beverly Hillbillies With Music mixed with Reba, the other show that Reba starred in.

666 Park Avenue (premiering Sept 30) -- The good: The cast is pretty stellar and Eric Palladino is in it and I really love him probably more than is necessary (I may have watched Make It or Break It because he was in it) and it is about an apartment building which is haunted, possibly along with the tenants. The bad: It is on Sundays at 10pm. That isn't exactly a time when I want to sit down and watch a scary tv show. But it is just after Revenge, so who knows.

The shows that I am more excited about: Arrow, Emily Owen, M.D., 666 Park Avenue, and The Neighbors

The shows I am dreading: Beauty and the Beast, Guys with Kids, Go On.

What shows are you excited about? What shows will you avoid?