SUNDAY
New night/new twist: "The Unit" (9 p.m. CT, Sept. 28, CBS). Within minutes of the opening episode, the stakes increase dramatically for the Army's elite command unit. A coup attempt on the U.S. government has all the marks of an inside job, which means everyone is potentially at risk, including the families of Jonas, Mack and the rest of the squad. That will force the wives and children off the base into undisclosed locations and uncertain futures.
New twist: "Desperate Housewives" (8 p.m. CT, Sept. 28, ABC). Fast forward five years: Why is Gabrielle making dinner for twin girls, without Carlos? How did Susan get herself a new man? Why are Lynette's kids in trouble with the law? Expect answers to these and other questions raised by the shows compelling cliffhanger from last season.
"Valentine" (7 p.m. CT, Oct. 5, the CW). A pair of eternal Greek gods use their powers of persuasion to put couples together for all time.
"Easy Money" (8 p.m. CT, Oct. 5, the CW). Americas first prime-time TV show about a family-run payday loan business. And, judging from the pilot, hopefully its last.
MONDAY
"Best new show of the fall: Worst Week" (8:30 p.m. CT, Sept. 22, CBS). This intricately- designed slapstick comedy left my audience gasping for breath when I screened it at Watch the Pilots with Aaron this month. Kyle Bornheimer plays a likable sad sack (and fiance of Erinn Hayes) who has a knack for wreaking disaster every time he comes near her parents house. Inevitably, something insanely funny raises the question -- how are they going to pull this off every week? That's a good problem to have.
"My Own Worst Enemy" (9 p.m. CT, beginning Oct. 13, NBC). Christian Slater plays a good cop and a very bad cop in this Jekyll-and-Hyde updating. Judging from the promos on NBC, it looks like a lot of on-screen time will be devoted not to storyline but to promoting Chevy vehicles specially designed for the show by its automotive integration partner, as each of Slaters split personalities gets his own ride.
New twist: "Heroes" (8 p.m. CT, returning Sept. 22, NBC). Season 3 of Heroes is all about the villains. New adversaries will pop up, and old ones will rear their ugly heads like never before. Look for a cameo from Star Treks George Takei and a fetching new, anime-inspired rival for Masi Oka in the first hour. Also, someone will spill their brains -- literally. One of TVs most adventurous series, Heroes shows no sign of slowing down.
TUESDAY
"90210" (7 p.m. CT, began Sept. 2, the CW). Two Freaks and Geeks producers are behind this effort to disguise a witty high school dramedy as a remake of one of the 1990s signature shows. So far, Jessica Walter -- playing the boozy Beverly Hills grandma who plays host to her Kansas kin -- is the actor Id vote most likely to steal a scene on this show.
"Privileged" (8 p.m. CT, began Sept. 9, the CW). A down-on-her-luck college grad takes a job teaching math The Great Gatsby to spoiled party girls in Florida. You either want to watch a show with that description or you don't.
"Opportunity Knocks" (7 p.m. CT, beginning Sept. 23, ABC). Ashton Kutcher's latest brainstorm is a game show held on a lucky family's lawn. It could be anybody -- earlier this month ABC demonstrated how it works at a Weatherby Lake home. The audience consists of neighbors, and the prizes are potentially huge. Think of it as Extreme Makeover only without the guarantee of a happy ending.
"The Mentalist" (8 p.m. CT, Sept. 23, CBS). After being wasted in his last CBS drama role (a creepy killer on Smith), Simon Baker returns in this procedural crime drama with a twist: He plays a reformed TV psychic who now uses his powers of observation for good. Well, mostly for good. No actor on TV makes more happen with fewer lines than Baker, and in The Mentalist he has found a character well-suited to his talents.
"Fringe" (7 p.m. CT, began Sept. 9, Fox). This rehashing of two popular cult formats -- the serial thriller and the paranormal detective show -- stars Anna Torv as an FBI agent in search of answers to a series of unexplained phenomena that are, as they say on the show, above top secret. Joshua Jackson plays the rogue brainiac who's called in to help her, along with his mad-genius dad, played by John Noble. Their chemistry alone is reason to recommend this show.
New night: "Without a Trace" (9 p.m. CT, beginning Sept. 23, CBS). Someday CBS is going to look back and wish it hadn't jerked this show around the schedule so much. A solid hit, it has never risen to the cult status of NCIS or even that cheesy show with David Caruso. Hopefully it will not wither and die on Tuesday nights in a time slot that has killed off two other CBS shows.
New twist: "NCIS" (7 p.m. CT, Sept. 23,-epguides.com -rf CBS). Vance (Rocky Carroll) is breaking up the team, much to the consternation of Gibbs (Mark Harmon), and bringing in three new agents (Jonathan LaPaglia, Liza Lapira, and Jonathan Magnum Mangum). But the others aren't going away -- which means that one of the simplest TV shows to follow will require a scorecard, at least for the time being.
WEDNESDAY
New night: "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7 p.m. CT, Sept. 24, CBS). Its sink or swim for Julia Louis-Dreyfus as CBS tries once again to carve out an hour for comedy on Wednesday nights. If audiences don't follow Christine here, it will probably likely be curtains for that show and for...
"Gary Unmarried" (7:30 p.m. CT, Sept. 24, CBS). Jay Mohr plays Gary, and he's freshly divorced from Allison (Paula Marshall), but the two remain best of frenemies even as they hook up with other people while trying to manage two kids. In other words, its the CBS version of "Reba," with younger stars and racier punch lines.
"Knight Rider" (7 p.m. CT, Sept. 24, NBC). Last season NBC aired a movie remake of the 1980s show that has been unjustly considered a classic, even in the ironic sense of the word. Unfortunately, lots of you people watched that movie, so now we have a series based on it. KITT is now a souped-up Ford Mustang, affording endless promotional opportunities to another troubled American auto maker. Dogs and cars: If they're given co-billing, its never a good sign.
"Stylista" (8 p.m. CT, beginning Oct. 22, the CW). From Tyra Banks, this "Project Runway" meets "I'm from Rolling Stone" meets "The Devil Wears Prada" reality competition has 11 would-be fashion editors vying for a single spot at Elle magazine. (Sample challenge: Plan a top editors nieces birthday party.) I always think that with shows like these, the job itself must be a major letdown after the tryout.
"Do Not Disturb" (8:30 p.m. CT, began Sept. 10, Fox). Do not watch. This hateful sitcom set at a hotel, with Jerry OConnell and Niecy Nash (in one of the few starring roles afforded a minority actor this fall), is an early frontrunner for the Worst Show of the Year honor.
"Pushing Daisies, Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" (7-10 p.m. CT, Oct. 1, ABC). In what is effectively a reboot of last season, these three sophomore shows -- all of which had their freshman seasons cut short -- will try to win over the public anew. "Daisies" (shooting above, with Chi McBride and Lee Pace) has the most upside, with 12 Emmy nominations (for nine episodes!), and critics who are still in love with its pie-making, dead-raising hero (Lee Pace). "Dirty Sexy" was working for me, too, but "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off "Private Practice" was DOA last season, and let's just say its condition hasn't improved much since then.
THURSDAY
Not one, not two, but three new shows this fall are adapted from TV series in countries with much cooler accents than ours. And they're all debuting on the same night: Oct. 9.
"Kath & Kim" (7:30 p.m. CT, Oct. 9, NBC). This ideal companion for My Name Is Earl stars Molly Shannon and Selma Blair as a mother and daughter who have issues (to say the least). Like the two other shows, I can only judge from previews, but this has the potential to become NBCs next cult comedy.
"Life on Mars" (9 p.m. CT, Oct. 9, ABC). Behind-the-scenes turmoil has muddied the waters for this still-promising adaptation of the critically acclaimed British TV show about a detective who gets literally knocked back to the 1970s. Despite changes in casting, storyline and even production companies, I'm looking forward to seeing what the Yanks do with this.
"Eleventh Hour" (9 p.m. CT, Oct. 9, CBS). The paranormal-est show of the season comes to us from Jerry Bruckheimer, purveyor of action films and CBS crime shows. Rufus Sewell stars as a doctor called in to investigate bizarre happenings. Judging from the preview, this one will make Fringe seem tame. Like "Life on Mars," this one is based on a British series.
"SNL Weekend Update" (8:30 p.m. CT, Oct. 9-23, NBC). For three weeks the SNL writers and anchors will take over prime time to weigh in on what I'm sure will be a very boring fall political season. I would look for weekly, if not twice-weekly, encores by Tina Fey performing as the breakout character of the fall campaign, Sarah Palin (or is the breakout character Tina Fey as Sarah Palin?).
FRIDAY
"The Ex List" (8 p.m. CT, Oct. 3, CBS). While the concept of this romantic comedy isn't bad -- Elizabeth Reaser plays Bella, a likable single woman who is told by a psychic that she has one year to find her soul mate, or live out her years as an old maid -- I'm surprised that CBS decided to make it an hour show. The pilot just seemed too thin, though the producers could fix that by expanding Bella's circle of friends.
"Crusoe" (7 p.m. CT, Oct. 17, NBC). Robinson Crusoe, the original castaway, is brought to life in a 21st-century retelling that includes flashbacks to Robbie's days before his island exile. NBC seems to be throwing a lot of money at a show it plans to air on Fridays, but until I can see the two-hour movie that launches the series, I can't tell if it's money well-spent.
New time/new twist: "Life" (9 p.m. CT, Oct. 3, special premiere Monday, Sept. 29, NBC). One of last year's overlooked new shows promises to be one of this year's as well, thanks to NBC's decision to bury it on Friday nights. Charlie (Damian Lewis) gets a new boss this year, a cheerfully charmless lout played by Donal Logue. I'm not a fan of cop shows generally, but if I were, Id watch this one religiously.
New network: "WWE Friday Night Smackdown!" moves to MyNetworkTV, which airs locally on KSMO-TV. While MyNetworkTV still feels more like MyHalfaNetwork to me, this was a smart pickup from the CW, which has decided to focus on shows that appeal to females.
More of Aaron's Fall TV preview:
I think that moving WWE to a different channel sucks because some people like me doesn't have cable and cant watch wrestling after Oct 3rd
Posted by: Jenn | September 16, 2008 at 04:06 PM