New Shows for Fall '09

I'm sure SOMEONE has talked about the new shows that are going to be bombarding the networks this fall, but I wanted to throw in my two cents anyway.

NBC

I'm glad they renewed Parks and Recreation.  It really is a quality show and deserves a little more time to be as big as some of its comedy predecessors.  After all, The Office was nearly canceled after its first season...  I'm a little sad Kath and Kim was canceled, but I'm realistic.  It was only a matter of time.  Anyway, moving on to the new shows.

There really aren't that many on NBC.  I was surprised, though I think that they have been the smartest network about canceling and saving shows.  FOX and ABC are really rushing into things lately.  FOX was always like this, but it's starting to surprise me coming from ABC.  Of course, no one can be as stable as CBS.  Just saying. 

So...new shows on NBC.  There's a new sitcom-type show called Parenthood, a new medical drama Trauma, and Jay Leno's new show.  I'm sorry to say, but the only new show I think is worth watching is the new one with Joel McHale called Community.  McHale plays a lawyer whose degree has been found out to be not so valid in the U.S. and he has to go back to community college in order to finish and return to his practice.  It looks like sort of a dramedy (sp?)  and I have little doubt it will be funny.  :)  There's an extended preview under the cut below that I embedded from NBC's website.  Check it out.  Community will be on Thursdays at 8:00/7:00c.

The CW

As far as networks go, the CW has to be at the bottom of the barrel.  Everyone knows that this was a floundering network from the start.  All of their hit shows but a few have been stretched beyond their means.  I know that there are plenty of Smallville fans out there, but I also know the series has taken a crazy downturn in the last few seasons.  Also, I kind of keep up with One Tree Hill through info I get from my brother.  (He's a huge fan.)  Apparently, two of their very important and main characters have left the show, yet they are continuing into the next season.  The only show I really haven't gotten sick of and hasn't overstayed its welcome has been Supernatural.  The CW has really been kept afloat a lot of the time by reality shows such as America's Next Top Model and such.  There's also those teenage dramas like 90210 and Gossip Girl...  Oh well. 

Okay, new shows!  Hmmm...there's something called the Blonde Charity Mafia which is a documentary-like series about 20-something socialites in Washington, D.C.  There's also a re-make of Melrose Place.  The Beautiful Life is about the cutthroat world of fashion modelling, the Vampire Diaries is about two brothers who are also vampires fighting over a mortal girl, and Parental Discretion Advised is about a 15-year-old girl who is sick of foster care, becomes an emancipated minor, then finds her parents who are like kids themselves, then they have to figure out how to live with each other.  I have to say that the only show that looks good for the new season is Parental Discretion Advised.  The rest seem cliched or I feel like I want to roll my eyes at them.  (I'm sorry for the personal bias, everyone.  I just feel like, sometimes, The CW doesn't try hard enough.)  Unfortunately, this looks to be a mid-season replacement show.  Info is HERE on The CW website.  :)


ABC

This network has a plethora of new shows.  Castle is returning as a full-season show, which I find incredibly exciting.  This will have the same time slot as it did this past spring: Mondays at 10/9c.  Because there are so many new shows, I'm going to link to ABC's website for the new season, and just talk about the show's that seem interesting.  Website is HERE.

Flash Forward is the first show that piqued my interest.  It stars Joseph Finnes and John Cho.  Description: "A mysterious global event causes everyone to black out simultaneously for two minutes and seventeen seconds, and each person sees a glimpse of their lives six months from now. When they wake up, everyone is left wondering if what they saw will actually happen".  The cast seems promising for this one, and the description is definitely intriguing.  Flash Forward is on Thursdays at 8/7c. 

The Forgotten is about civilian crime solvers helping the police identify missing people's remains.  It also looks interesting and different.  This is on Tuesdays at 10/9c.

Happy Town is centered on a small, quiet town where nothing really happens...until a secret from the past stirs up questions.  Amy Acker is in the starring cast.  It looks promising.  The show does not have an airing time or date, so I'm almost certain it's a mid-season show.  :/

There's also a comedy/mockumentary-style show called Modern Family.  This may be good as there certainly have been great mockumentary comedies in the past that have hit our screens (The Office and Arrested Development just to name a few).  This one is on Wednesdays at 9/8c. 


CBS

Lots of old favorites are returning.  Of course, I'm most excited about The Mentalist.  :)  Again, there are a lot of new shows, so I'm only going to highlight the ones that have sort of piqued my interest.  HERE are the descriptions of all the shows. 

First of all, I had NO idea Medium moved networks!  Shows how much I pay attention.  The only show that's really grabbing my interest at the moment is Three Rivers.  Alex O'Loughlin from Moonlight stars in this drama as a transplant surgeon.  The show revolves around the lives of organ donors, recipients, and transplant surgeons.  Sounds interesting, and I'll probably give it a decent chance.  I just hope CBS doesn't cancel it like 3 Lbs.  :/


FOX

Last, but not least.  Lie to Me is back for a full season.  I'm a bit happy about that.  Fringe was (without a doubt) renewed.  Of course, we have Glee.  :D  If you have not seen the preview episode yet, WATCH IT!  It's fabulous, and I truly hope it lasts on this network.  I almost have a feeling that this show would have done better on a network like NBC or even ABC.  In the fall, Glee is going to be on Wednesdays at 9/8c. 

HERE is a list of FOX's fall and winter line-ups.  There really isn't that much that's new in the fall.  Winter looks to be a bit more packed.  24 is returning for at least one more season.  Sons of Tuscon is a comedy in which three brothers hire a con-man to be their father.  That may be funny...  Past Lives is a show in which investigators use their clients' past lives in order to help them with their investigations...yeah...  That's really it. 


So, there's my (very detailed) two cents on the subject of the Fall 2009 line-up.  I feel a little bit better about it compared to last season.  Here's hoping for the best.  :)