In the TV world, you're only as strong as your competition and with the scheduling choices made by the broadcast networks last week, there will be plenty of competition as shows try to grab an audience. Especially for new shows, the first few weeks of the TV season are crucial in determining which shows can break out and which ones will cling to life before October is even over. Below, I'll be taking a look at the schedules across all networks on a night-by-night basis to predict the fortunes of this fall's schedules.
FRIDAYS 8-9 PM
ABC: "Last Man Standing" & "Dr. Ken" CBS: "The Amazing Race" Fox: "Masterchef Junior" NBC: "Undateable" & "People Are Talking" The CW: "Reign"
Fridays are traditionally the lowest-rated night for original programming, but that doesn't mean audiences aren't watching. How else, then, do you explain CBS moving a flagship show like "The Amazing Race" to a Friday night? Regardless of the show's age, and although it is not pulling in the same ratings it did years ago, it's easily a top performer for the night. It's competition encapsulates a big range this season - comedy, reality-competition, drama, and even some live programming. "Last Man Standing" has been a stealth player for ABC for years now, and it'll help launch another family-based sitcom, "Dr. Ken," this year. Both shows revolve around their funny leading men and should compliment each other well enough. "Masterchef Junior" is on the Fox schedule, which is funny considering the other kitchen-competition shows Fox has aired in the past few years are not to be found. The light-hearted cooking competition will do fine here. NBC is taking a big gamble with producing live episodes of the sitcom "Undateable" on a weekly basis next season. That alone could boost ratings for the show regardless of it's Friday-night airdate. Audiences will be curious, and you certainly will be more likely to watch the live and unpredictable "Undateable" versus the ABC comedies. Unfortunately, NBC has partnered "Undateable" with a real dud of a newcomer in "People Are Talking," so although the ratings for live "Undateable" may help the show across the hour, it's quality may drive others away. Finally, The CW is moving "Reign" from the plum Thursdays-at-9 slot to Fridays, but that might actually help the show as it faces weaker competition. However, this network skews young, and young people aren't likely to stick around on a Friday night for this show. Delayed viewings via DVR or online streaming will need to be good to keep "Reign" around. 9-10 PM
ABC: "Shark Tank" CBS: "Hawaii Five-O" Fox: "World's Funniest" NBC: "Grimm" The CW: "America's Next Top Model"
Reality really takes over on Friday nights in the 9 o'clock timeslot as ABC, Fox, and The CW all have reality shows airing. Of course, only one of these is a competition series that might require "night-of" viewing so as not to be spoiled later, but since that's "America's Next Top Model" on The CW, it's not a big ratings threat. What is a threat here is stealth player "Shark Tank" and CBS' modest Friday night hit "Hawaii Five-O," which have aired on this night for the past two years (at least, since "Shark Tank" has been on Fridays its whole run) and dominated that whole time. These two shows easily win this timeslot, but NBC puts up a good fight as well with cult favorite "Grimm," which pulls in okay ratings but has a passionate fanbase that keeps it coming back. Finally, Fox has "World's Funniest," a kind of harmless alternative to the dramatic (or reality-dramatic) shows in this timeslot, but since this is Friday, I doubt the network is looking for much and won't chomp at the bit to replace it with a show it could launch on a better night. 10-11 PM
ABC: "20/20" CBS: "Blue Bloods" NBC: "Dateline"
We're almost better off not discussing this timeslot, since two news-programs are front and center here. Both have been utility players for their networks for years, decades, so the ratings are besides the point. And either way, CBS has had "Blue Bloods" in this timeslot for five years, and the show has been a surprisingly big hit in the Fridays-at-10 slot. In fact, it is one of CBS' best performing programs. They're smarter than to try moving it to another night, so "Blue Bloods" remains dominating here.
In the TV world, you're only as strong as your competition and with the scheduling choices made by the broadcast networks last week, there will be plenty of competition as shows try to grab an audience. Especially for new shows, the first few weeks of the TV season are crucial in determining which shows can break out and which ones will cling to life before October is even over. Below, I'll be taking a look at the schedules across all networks on a night-by-night basis to predict the fortunes of this fall's schedules.
THURSDAYS 8-9 PM
ABC: "Grey's Anatomy" CBS: "Thursday Night Football" ("The Big Bang Theory" & "Life in Pieces" in November) Fox: "Bones" NBC: "Heroes Reborn" The CW: "The Vampire Diaries"
Thursdays were shaken up quite a bit last season by the arrival of CBS' airing of "Thursday Night Football," giving them a pretty big advantage over the competition for the first two months of the season. Of course, even when football is gone, CBS is still a top dog on Thursday thanks to the slotting of broadcast TV's most-watched show, "The Big Bang Theory." So regardless of how you look at it, CBS definitely takes the cake during this hour, whether they're airing football or "Big Bang." But that's not to discredit what is happening on the other networks. ABC moved their signature medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" to the 8 o'clock hour last season to open their 9 and 10 PM timeslot opportunities, and the move worked well for the show which, despite, its age, is still a solid performer for the network. Likewise, "Bones" is a show who has seen its timeslot shift nearly every season. Yet, for the first time in the show's run, it is going to complete a season in the same timeslot and return to that hour again the following year. And when that happens for the first time in your show's ten-year run, it says something. Still, "Bones" is a good performer for Fox, pulling in a steady audience for most of its run, despite a decrease in ratings this year due to the competitive timeslot. It's something Fox is willing to overlook, I suppose. And finally, The CW's original hit "The Vampire Diaries" will obviously return to the timeslot that it has stayed in its whole run. As the show is about to undergo a major change after the departure of lead actress Nina Dobrev, it's still a flagship series for the network that performs well even on a competitive night. Still, change hits the Thursdays-at-8 hour for one network, which saw "The Biggest Loser: Glory Days" pull in mediocre ratings. Paired with a DOA comedy block at 9 and low-rated veteran "Parenthood" at 10, NBC began making some changes for the better in midseason by moving "The Blacklist" to the Thursdays at 9 slot, but again, surrounding it with newcomers "The Slap" at 8 and "Allegiance" at 10 was a non-starter. In an effort to quash the terrible year NBC had on Thursday nights, it appears they've surrounded 'The Blacklist" with similar programming, and in the 8 PM slot, NBC is taking a big gamble with a reboot of the beloved cult series "Heroes." I'm sure "Heroes" fans exist and they'll definitely be checking out the show, but it's also a good opportunity to reach out to TV viewers who are looking for action away from football. It's the next best alternative since "Grey's," "Bones," and "Diaries" are all a bit more female-heavy. I don't think, given the competition, that the numbers for "Heroes Reborn" will be staggering, but to impress the network, they'll have to at least be good or passable, and with an established brand like "Heroes," that seems plausible. 9-10 PM
ABC: "Scandal" CBS: "Thursday Night Football" ("Mom" & "Angel from Hell" in November) Fox: "Sleepy Hollow" NBC: "The Blacklist" The CW: "The Originals"
Again, with "Football" in this timeslot, things are a bit thrown off, but it's worth noting that beyond that, this timeslot is all about "Scandal" vs. "The Blacklist," two of the hottest shows coming into last season. Now, another year older, those shows are still running the show, even if they've taken a bit of wind out of each other's sails. Hot on their heels was "Mom," which is now anchoring the Thursday-at-9 slot. Although not as strong as it's 8 o'clock partner, it's still a hit for the network and is usually only off by a million viewers from "Scandal" and "Blacklist." Whether "Mom" will then boost "Angel from Hell" (and the same goes for "Big Bang" and newcomer "Life in Pieces" at 8) remains to be seen, but the competition from Fox and The CW isn't too harsh to expect otherwise. Fox moved the struggling "Sleepy Hollow" to this competitive timeslot in what I can only assume is a secretly smart move or a fine excuse to let the show die. I don't see the show gaining any new viewers in this slot, and it's in fact likelier that they'll lose some. On The CW, "The Originals" seems to finally be meeting its destiny of being paired with "Vampire Diaries," the show it spun-off. However, "Originals" is facing major competition, but since it is correct to assume many "Originals" fans are viewers of the original "Diaries" series, the ratings for "Originals" may remain steady as the show switches its timeslot. 10-11 PM
ABC: "How to Get Away with Murder" CBS: "Elementary" NBC: "The Player"
This timeslot sees two returning players and a new "Player." On NBC, the network (as mentioned above) is surrounding "The Blacklist" with similarly-themed shows, and "The Player" is the best likely match for a number of reasons. While the plots are not that similar, the action-heavy shows both come from the same production company, so the network is looking to rely on semi-synergy to power it's newcomer, and giving it the post-"Blacklist" slot will probably be a bit of help. CBS has had "Elementary" in this timeslot since it began three years ago, so entering the fourth season, "Elementary" has the longest run in this slot. Still, the show's ratings have been on a bit of a downward slide, despite still performing modestly. Certainly, last season saw "Elementary" facing off with one of the breakout hits of the season "How to Get Away with Murder," which returns to this timeslot again in the fall. The show was a massive hit for ABC, and with a shortened season, it should dominate the first few months of the season. Will the ratings hit the same levels they did last season? It wouldn't be smart to assume a huge fall-off, but I think the ratings will hit right around what we've come to expect from the show, and that should win the timeslot for ABC easily.
In the TV world, you're only as strong as your competition and with the scheduling choices made by the broadcast networks last week, there will be plenty of competition as shows try to grab an audience. Especially for new shows, the first few weeks of the TV season are crucial in determining which shows can break out and which ones will cling to life before October is even over. Below, I'll be taking a look at the schedules across all networks on a night-by-night basis to predict the fortunes of this fall's schedules.
WEDNESDAYS 8-9 PM
ABC: "The Middle" & "The Goldbergs" CBS: "Survivor" Fox: "Rosewood" NBC: "The Mysteries of Laura" The CW: "Arrow"
The networks (for the most part) saw varying degrees of success in this timeslot last year. As a result, every network, save Fox, is keeping their schedule the same in this hour. "The Middle" and "The Goldbergs" is a well-performing hour of family television for ABC that they definitely wouldn't want to mess with. "Survivor," which has been in this slot for a few years now, is still a solid performer for the network. "The Mysteries of Laura," although blasted by critics, had a fair amount of ratings success in this timeslot, enough so that it was able to keep it's position on the schedule. And "Arrow," arguably The CW's biggest show, is a major draw. Fox, however, was not looking to slot "Hell's Kitchen" in this timeslot this time around. Since this Tuesday timeslot eventually goes to "American Idol" at midseason, Fox put new show "Rosewood" in this timeslot. It makes sense to partner the show with "Empire," which airs after this. However, as we saw this year with "American Idol"'s ratings, the "Empire" effect doesn't mean the show before it will have record-breaking ratings as well. Still, Fox can at least hope for mild success with "Rosewood," which it could potentially find as it appeals to a diverse audience that "Empire" attracts. The show looks light and fun, which is a nice appetizer before the meaty main course of "Empire." But will the audience be hungry for "Rosewood"? That's the big challenge of Wednesdays for Fox. 9-10 PM
ABC: "Modern Family" & "Black-ish" CBS: "Criminal Minds" Fox: "Empire" NBC: "Law and Order: SVU" The CW: "Supernatural"
As above, the networks are sticking with their lineup in this hour, and it's an hour filled with some of each network's biggest hits. Think about it -- each of these shows are among the highest-rated on their respective networks. "Modern Family" is the comedy top dog for ABC and has occupied this spot since it's inception. This season, it found a worthy companion in "Black-ish," a task ABC has had a hard time with for years. They'd be crazy to move "Black-ish," so that stable comedy block will remain in tact. "Criminal Minds" is heading into its eleventh season and also has not moved once, and since it is one of CBS' biggest hits, they're not going to move it. "Empire," recently crowned the highest-rated show on broadcast television (sorry, "The Big Bang Theory"), became a massive hit in this timeslot last year, and while it is still early enough in the show's run that Fox could have moved it to a different slot (like Thursdays, where it would face major competition but draw in large advertising dollars), the network insisted the show was staying where it was strongest. "Law and Order: SVU" has been a team player for NBC for years, and it's the only show left of the franchise. The show has moved timeslots over its run, but has become a reliable player in the 9 o'clock hour in the past few years. It stabilizes a nightly lineup for NBC that consists of primarily young shows and is a good performer for NBC. Finally, "Supernatural," the only remaining show from the inception of The CW, is a vintage player in the same way as "SVU," and will stick to this timeslot. Each show manages to pull in respectable ratings in this timeslot despite the fact that the competition is fierce. With no new shows interrupting things, it should be business as usual. 10-11 PM
"Nashville," a show that had to fight hard for a renewal last season, got a vote of confidence with an early renewal this season at ABC, as well as the chance to keep its timeslot where, although not delivering stellar ratings, it performs solidly enough for the network. NBC has "Chicago PD," a show that has performed just as well as the original "Chicago" show at NBC, "Chicago Fire." The network isn't touching it. CBS didn't get stellar ratings from "Stalker" or "CSI: Cyber" in this slot last season, and while one of those shows ("Cyber") is sticking around, it's moving to a different night. Now, CBS is launching another new show in the Wednesdays-at-10 slot, the medical drama "Code Black," which looks more "ER" than "Grey's Anatomy." It could fit comfortably in this hour as it looks like it'll appeal equally to men and women, versus the other shows in this slot which are aimed a bit more at women. "Code Black" should perform comfortably here, although one should be wary if that "comfortable" performance is up to CBS' standards, since their idea of a hit and other network's ideas are two entirely different things.
In the TV world, you're only as strong as your competition and with the scheduling choices made by the broadcast networks last week, there will be plenty of competition as shows try to grab an audience. Especially for new shows, the first few weeks of the TV season are crucial in determining which shows can break out and which ones will cling to life before October is even over. Below, I'll be taking a look at the schedules across all networks on a night-by-night basis to predict the fortunes of this fall's schedules.
TUESDAYS 8-9 PM ABC: "The Muppets" & "Fresh Off the Boat" CBS: "NCIS" Fox: "Grandfathered" & "The Grinder" NBC: "The Voice" The CW: "The Flash"
There's no doubt that, in this timeslot, "NCIS" dominates in total audience numbers and "The Voice" takes the 18-49 demographic. Still, the networks have put up valiant efforts in their new schedules. The only show returning to its original timeslot here (besides "NCIS" and "Voice") is The CW's breakout hit, "The Flash." In it's first season, the show became a critical and (at least on a CW-scale) ratings smash, so of course the network wasn't going to move what is arguably it's biggest show. It appeals to a younger demographic that "NCIS" doesn't and that doesn't have interest in a reality-competition show like "The Voice." Fox had major difficulty filling this timeslot last year, so this year they're taking a bet on their two biggest comedy pilots, headlined by big TV stars John Stamos and Rob Lowe. Additionally, both shows have solid buzz and could attract a comedy crowd that is underserved. The only problem is that the comedy crowd will actually have plenty to choose from now that ABC is sticking with a comedy block in this timeslot. However, unlike last year's failed one-two punch of "Selfie" and "Manhattan Love Story," ABC is sticking with a major brand name and a returning sophomore show. ABC's new "Muppets" show has potential to be a very big hit for the network and could be the likeliest option for families (although Fox's "Grandfathered" could also do well with families). With a recognizable name and general love for those characters, it's hard to imagine the show won't at least do decent business. "Fresh Off the Boat" anchored Tuesdays in the winter and spring for ABC and did a good job, given the hard competition. The show's audience should only grow given the substantial lead-in it'll get from "Muppets." A combo of strong veterans and buzzy newcomers ensures that every network should see some degree of success in this timeslot. 9-10 PM
ABC: "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" CBS: "NCIS: New Orleans" Fox: "Scream Queens" NBC: "Heartbreaker" The CW: "iZombie"
As in the hour earlier, three networks stuck to their guns in the 9-10 hour on Tuesdays. ABC with "SHIELD," CBS with the "New Orleans" NCIS spinoff and The CW's newcomer "iZombie" all held the timeslot this year (although "iZombie" only occupied the spot for the last two and a half months of the year). Each of these shows saw some degree of success. With the shift from 8 to 9 for "SHIELD," ratings slid, but the show was still a solid performer for the network. The "NCIS" spinoff worked well behind the flagship series, and "iZombie," while not as solid as other newcomers like "Jane the Virgin" and "The Flash," held up well on its own. Meanwhile, at Fox and NBC, two comedy blocks faced low ratings and a lack of buzz. Fox's "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project" didn't pull in great ratings in the timeslot, while NBC's "Marry Me" and "About a Boy" didn't register much of a pulse and were pulled from the schedule by midseason. With three out of those four shows getting axed ("New Girl" is being held for midseason, although "Mindy" was recently picked up by Hulu), the networks needed new shows to fill in this timeslot. Given the testosterone-heavy "SHIELD" and "NCIS: NO," it's no surprise networks went with shows that might more heavily appeal to women. On NBC, "Heartbreaker" looks to be an heir to the "Grey's Anatomy" throne of primetime medical soap operas, which could either be a good thing (if it's a good show) or a bad thing (if it's not). The show will actually need to be, you know, good if it wants to attract an audience. On Fox, it's likelier that their new show will find more of an audience as it is the latest Ryan Murphy creation, "Scream Queens." With a cast filled with stars and a producer who has a pretty good track record, plus the inventive storyline, it's plausible that "Scream Queens" will be one of the buzziest new shows of the fall, and that could draw a major crowd to the network, especially younger viewers who are disinterested in "SHIELD" and "New Orleans." 10-11 PM
ABC: "Quantico" CBS: "Limitless" NBC: "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" ("Chicago Fire" in November)
Whereas stability defines the networks' schedules earlier in the evening, the three 10 PM programming channels are trying out new shows in the timeslot. Yes, "Chicago Fire" returns in November, but for two months before that, NBC is betting on live entertainment from Neil Patrick Harris. Given the format of the show and the star power of it's titular personality, I would at the very least expect good ratings for the first episode or two. From there, it depends on if the show is actually special. As for "Quantico" and "Limitless," the two shows have a little bit of action and a lot of drama, yet "Quantico" looks like it might appeal to a younger audience. Still, "Limitless" has the promise of Bradley Cooper in a recurring role, which could just be enough to attract a sizable audience. If the show's are good, they could all equally succeed here. But at the same time, if the quality isn't there for all three shows, this could be one low-rated hour of TV.
In the TV world, you're only as strong as your competition and with the scheduling choices made by the broadcast networks last week, there will be plenty of competition as shows try to grab an audience. Especially for new shows, the first few weeks of the TV season are crucial in determining which shows can break out and which ones will cling to life before October is even over. Below, I'll be taking a look at the schedules across all networks on a night-by-night basis to predict the fortunes of this fall's schedules. First, we'll start with Monday nights...
MONDAYS 8-9 PM:
ABC: "Dancing with the Stars" CBS: "The Big Bang Theory" & "Life in Pieces" ("Supergirl" in November) Fox: "Gotham" NBC: "The Voice" The CW: "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
For years now, this timeslot's greatest war has been between "Dancing" and "Voice," arguably the two biggest reality-competition shows on broadcast television (sorry, "American Idol"). Then last year, things got shaken up a bit when the most-watched show on television, "The Big Bang Theory," moved back to its original Monday night slot while CBS broadcast NFL games on Thursday nights for the first two months of the season. Additionally, Fox was launching it's biggest bid at a hit, the Batman-based "Gotham," in the same timeslot. Suddenly, putting "Big Bang" and "Gotham" in competition with "Dancing" and "Voice" wasn't just a timeslot war - it was a bloodbath. Each show succeeded in its own right, and although "Dancing" and "Voice" ratings slipped a bit, they still attracted major audiences. Once "Big Bang" moved back to Thursday nights, the dust cleared a little bit. However, the same process is going to start up again at the beginning of this season. How will things work out this time? I'm expecting much of the same -- "Big Bang" draws a big, broad audience as it is one of the most popular shows on television, and it's the likeliest option for those not interested in reality-competition shows. "Life in Pieces," assumingly, will hold onto a good portion of the "Big Bang" audience, so unless it is a terrible show that people have no interest in watching, it'll do just fine. "Dancing" and "Voice" will have their loyal audiences, and that's not going to change anytime soon, even as the former enters what will be its twenty-first season this fall. "Gotham" slipped a bit from its initial premiere numbers, but kept a steady and dedicated audience. Those numbers don't seem to be at potential to slip when the show comes back. The only potential loser in this timeslot? The CW's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," which, while tonally unique and definitely unlike anything else on TV, will have a big uphill battle for success. Last fall, The CW slotted "The Originals" here, and it's ratings dropped slightly from the previous season when it aired on Tuesdays. But that show came in with one season under its belt and a fan base already established. The same cannot be said for "Crazy," which is going to need to find an audience to support it. Otherwise, it is going to be caught up in the dust surrounding much bigger players here. Finally, there's one factor that needs to be discussed - the November arrival of "Supergirl." Once "Big Bang" and "Life in Pieces" move to Thursdays after football is done, CBS will slot it's biggest pilot of the season in this Mondays at 8 timeslot. "Supergirl" comes with huge brand awareness and a lot of buzz that will likely only grow throughout the summer and beginning of the fall season. That's not great news for the other networks, who thought they might get a break once "Big Bang" moved away from Mondays, since "Supergirl" certainly has breakout potential. It might be a little too early to judge there, but since ratings for reality-competition shows tend to be at their strongest in the beginning of the season before weaning off as the end draws near, that could boost "Supergirl" to be big.
9-10 PM: ABC: "Dancing with the Stars" CBS: "Scorpion" Fox: "Minority Report" NBC: "The Voice" The CW: "Jane the Virgin"
The arguments above for "Dancing" and "Voice" stay true here, although their competition isn't as strong as "Big Bang." Still, the arrival of "Big Bang" on Mondays last year did help boost ratings for "Scorpion," which became a hit for CBS. The audience for "Scorpion" is likely to remain in tact, except the fact that Fox has slotted a new show in the timeslot that "Sleepy Hollow" occupied last fall, and this one threatens to take a chunk out of the "Scorpion" audience. Whereas "Scoprion" was detrimental to "Sleepy" last year, "Minority Report" could do the same to "Scorpion" this year as they both cater to the same audience. Additionally, "Minority Report" has a recognizable title and is Fox's big bet on a hit this season. Again, "Dancing" and "Voice" won't be too hurt by their competitors, but "Scorpion" and "Minority" are definitely going to battle this fall. And on a smaller scale, "Jane the Virgin" was not a ratings powerhouse, but did become a breakout hit amongst critics. As audiences find the show over the summer, it's possible the ratings could see a slight boost this fall, although being on The CW, that doesn't mean the show is going to start pulling in ratings to rival the other networks.
10-11 PM:
ABC: "Castle" CBS: "NCIS: Los Angeles" NBC: "Blindspot"
This is more of the same except that NBC has a new show slotted here that, as tends to be a trend for Mondays this season, has potential to be a big hit for them. Last year, NBC started the season with "The Blacklist" in this slot, before moving it in November and welcoming the short-lived "State of Affairs," which did not attain the success that "Blacklist" did in that timeslot during its freshman season. What does that tell us? The show actually needs to be good to attract ratings. So it's possible that the success of "Blindspot" will depend on if it is actually a good show (if only that is how ratings worked for all shows!). The "Castle" and "NCIS: LA" audiences are loyal to their shows for the most part, so "Blindspot" will need to find its own audience for success. The lead-in from "The Voice" will surely help, but I think the key here is that it just needs to be a good show. If it is, it'll do solid business here.
I'll be back later this week to continue posting time-slot wars for other nights of the week!
It's a huge week in the world of television as the broadcast networks are announcing their schedules for the upcoming television season. While you wait to see if our favorite shows stick to their regular time slots, the real excitement is coming in watching the trailers for shows that could end up being a part of your TV viewing routine come September. All week long, in conjunction with announcing their schedules, the networks have been uploading previews of their new shows. Below, I'll be providing some commentary on these trailers and giving a verdict of "WATCH IT," "DVR IT," or "SKIP IT." Let's take a look at the shows vying to be your newest obsession this fall:
NBC Blindspot (Mondays at 10PM)
"Blindspot" has been hyped as NBC's best pilot of the year, which then makes sense why they would put it behind "The Voice," the network's highest rated show. That spot launched big hits like "Revolution" (well, at least that first season) and "The Blacklist" (at least for the first season and a half, until the show moved to anchor NBC's Thursday nights). It makes sense then why "Blindspot" would be put here if NBC has faith in it, but some of the similarities to "The Blacklist" also help the matter: there is a central mysterious figure who holds a bunch of clues to solving mysteries, each episode seemingly focusing on a new one. Granted, that is a bit of a stretch, but "Blindspot" looks like it will have a different case every week with the overarching story of finding out why and how this woman got to be covered in these tattoos that hold all of these secrets. I think the buzz behind this one, in addition to the post-"Voice" slot, at least warrants checking out the first episode. There's not too much star power in front of the camera, but executive producer Greg Berlanti is a reliable force in the world of TV. WATCH IT. Heartbreaker (Tuesdays at 9PM)
The tagline for this NBC medical drama starring Melissa George details her character as "an outspoken world-renowned surgeon" who, in addition to her high-stress job, "revels in a racy personal life that's a full-time job in itself." Luckily for this trailer, there isn't too much of that eyeroll-worthy "personal life" crap here. Sure, she's making out with Dave Annable while also (maybe?) flirting with another co-worker, but the main focus here is the job, which takes a little bit of the bite out of those "Grey's Anatomy" comparisons. That's not to say that the show doesn't possibly go down that road, but the trailer is focused on the medical side instead. That said, the show just doesn't look entirely...interesting. George looks like she'll be good, but isn't she always? Annable was a bright spot on the short-lived "Red Band Society" last year on Fox, but hopefully his new role isn't just a do-over of that. Again, as above with "Blindspot," "Heartbreaker" is getting a slot behind "The Voice," albeit the lower-rated Tuesday installment. In the past, NBC has attempted to launch comedies in this slot, so putting "Heartbreaker" here either means they have no comedies worth putting in the slot, or they have faith in "Heartbreaker." It's at least worth a shot, so I say DVR IT. Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris (Tuesdays at 10PM)
Okay, so this isn't really a preview at all of Neil's show, but that's because "Best Time Ever" is a live variety show. NBC is making a huge push into live entertainment, and it makes sense that they'd frontier that movement with one of the most versatile performers of the moment, Neil Patrick Harris, at the helm. We know he can dance, act, and sing, and we know he can be dramatic and comedic. That said, we don't really know what the show is going to look like. There will probably be big musical numbers, funny sketches, and pre-taped bits. At the very least, we can hope it's better than the latest season of "Saturday Night Live." For the singular reason that this is a big experiment that could either be really great or really bad, I say WATCH IT, at least for the first two or three episodes, before making a season-long decision. Heroes Reborn (Thursdays at 8PM)
Back in the day, I loved me some "Heroes." The first season is brilliant. Who didn't love "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World"? Of course, after that first season, things got kind of wonky and the show's popularity sank pretty quickly. Still, the idea of a "Heroes" reboot is kind of enticing. Bringing back Jack Coleman as HRG (if you watched the original, you know who that is) is a good bridge to the original series, and Zachary Levi is a welcome face to the show. Still, we don't really know a lot about this reboot as indicated by the super brief preview above. We don't know if "Heroes Reborn" is going to require the knowledge of the original series (and if you haven't seen it, it's on Netflix), so I'll say WATCH IT if you watched "Heroes," but cautiously await details about the reboot if you're unfamiliar with the original show (but get ready to love the first season). The Player (Thursdays at 10PM)
After NBC was able to pull of the transition of "The Blacklist" from Mondays at 10 to Thursdays at 9, it makes sense that they're taking this season to build up that show's surroundings. The "Heroes" reboot comes with an audience from the pre-existing series and its action tendencies mix well with "The Blacklist." Leading out of NBC's biggest scripted series would need to be a show that keeps up the high-octane action of those other two shows. Well, "The Player" certainly fits the bill and the trailer does a great job of assuring that. There's enough action in this two and a half minute preview to make one imagine this series could easily be retitled "Fast and Furious: The TV Series." However, we get some plot here: security mastermind is pulled into a high-stakes world of betting on crime on the grounds of getting revenge for the murder of his wife. It's oh so ridiculous, but it looks oh so fun, kind of like the "Fast and Furious" movies, and to a certain extent, "The Blacklist." NBC is smart to play up the action here as it will likely attract a largely male audience that needs direct catering if they're not interested in this show's biggest competition, ABC's "How to Get Away with a Murder." If you're going to need to pick between those two, then you're going to to have to go with the ABC legal soap because you won't want to miss those crazy twists live. As for "The Player," DVR IT unless "HTGAWM" isn't your thing and you're into shows that are less about story and more a visual treat. People are Talking (Fridays at 8:30PM)
The trailer for "People Are Talking" makes you wonder if NBC execs accidentally ordered the show, needed to slot it somewhere, and picked Friday nights to let the show wander off into the sunset. Launching a new comedy show on a Friday night is not only a risky move, but when the show looks as mediocre as "People Are Talking," it makes sense why they wouldn't waste their time putting it on another night during the week. Obviously, being paired up with the new all-live season of "Undateable" required another half-hour on the schedule, but I'm thinking NBC didn't want to put one of their strong comedy pilots on a Friday night, so instead they picked a weak one. That explains how "People Are Talking" got here. Yes, Mark-Paul Gosselaar is a bit of a sitcom star, but he's not exactly a big draw. Neither is the set-up for the show. The only upswing is that it's got a diverse cast, but the same old sitcom tropes are prevalent here: a bickering couple, misplaced prejudice, the "hot babysitter," and so on. The only problem is it doesn't look like a fresh take on any of that. Still, as goes with my predictions for all of these shows, I could be wrong but...I'm pretty sure I'm right on this one. SKIP IT.
As far as midseason shows go, NBC did not provide trailers for those new series, so we'll move forward to the next network. Fox Minority Report (Mondays at 9PM)
Fox's pilot season was lauded for the number of sci-fi/horror shows that were considered, and the series picked up reflect that handily. Of those pilots, "Minority Report" comes in with the most buzz as it is based on the popular Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise. I've never seen the movie, but the trailer does look like it makes for an enticing series. Stylistically, this looks really cool - the futuristic setting looks vibrant, although it seems to take itself very seriously. It doesn't look like a "fun" show, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It looks like the network will gamble on the sci-fi genre, as well as the relationship between the two main characters here, portrayed by Stark Sands and Meagan Good (who really deserves to be on a hit show). The storyline seems intriguing with more than enough material for a season's worth of storylines, and it seems like Fox is betting big on this show. WATCH IT, it has potential to be the biggest breakout show of the season amongst all networks. Grandfathered (Tuesdays at 8PM)
Boasting an ensemble with more than a few recognizable faces, "Grandfathered" has potential to be a successful show for Fox. The premise is a bit tired, sure, but it looks like the strength of the show will come from the ability of the ensemble to play off of each other and shine. Luckily, the cast looks pretty promising with a legitimately charming John Stamos leading the charge. Josh Peck, Paget Brewster, Christina Millian, Kelly Jenrette, and Ravi Patel complete the rest of the ensemble, and from the looks of the trailer, they're doing a good job of setting up these characters playing off of one another. While one can hope the restaurant scenes aren't too removed from the "family" scenes, the trailer gives off a bit of a "Raising Hope" vibe, which should be taken as a compliment. I think Stamos can attract a certain audience to the show, but it seems like the ensemble will make people stick around. WATCH IT and hope that I'm right about that call. The Grinder (Tuesdays at 8:30PM)
Much like "Grandfathered" before it, "The Grinder" boasts a great ensemble led by a TV veteran who looks made for the role. The set-up is pretty clever, almost as if were a male version of "Legally Blonde" where Elle decides to become a lawyer not because of an ex-boyfriend, but because of her family's career paths. The TV show within a show sets things up nicely, and Lowe is just the right person to pull off the role of the naive brother who thinks his skills as an actor will aid him in the real world. It's totally unbelievable, but Lowe is the right person to sell it. Fred Savage as his brother is the perfect antithesis to all of that and he also looks very funny here. William Devane, Natalie Morales, and Mary Elizabeth Ellis are all fine actors that will add to this cast. It's pretty surprising when a network builds a comedy block of two new shows back-to-back. It's even more surprising when both of those shows have a legitimate shot at being successful. It might just happen with "Grandfathered" and "The Grinder." WATCH IT? I think yes. Scream Queens (Tuesdays at 9PM)
Arguably the most anticipated Fox show this fall, the network has not made a full trailer available for this Ryan Murphy-produced horror comedy. This short thirty-second teaser will suffice for now. With minimal footage to judge, it's hard to get a sense of how good the show will be, but I'll try and give you a hint of where this could go based off of three facts. One, "Scream Queens" is an envelope-pushing horror anthology show, and the first season is based around a college campus that is the site of a series of murders. Second, producer Ryan Murphy's shows are often very divisive, but there's no denying that early seasons of his other shows like "Glee" and "American Horror Story" stood out for being unique and unrivaled in terms of buzz. Finally, here's a comprehensive listing of the cast of "Scream Queens": Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lea Michele, Abigail Breslin, Keke Palmer, Ariana Grande, Nasim Pedrad, Nick Jonas, Oliver Hudson, Niecy Nash, Diego Boneta, and Skyler Samuels. Yeah, you're definitely gonna want to WATCH IT. UPDATED: A new, full length-trailer has been released today that gives a better sense of the plot and tone. Basically everything I stated above remains true, and the trailer hints at a unique balance of humor and horror. If it's evocative of the cult classic "Scream" franchise, which also rode that line, this should be quite good. At the very least, it's going to be good campy fun that we've come to expect from Ryan Murphy. Enjoy the new trailer! Rosewood (Wednesdays at 8PM)
It makes absolute sense why Fox would pick up "Rosewood" and slot it here. For one, it serves as a nice lead-in for "Empire" as both shows have a very diverse cast. Second, "Rosewood" is a light and fun show by the looks of the preview that'll compliment the twisty, outrageous world of "Empire" right after it. It's like a fun appetizer before teh entree. Unfortunately, I might just skip right to the main course. It's not that "Rosewood" looks terrible, it just doesn't look great. It looks like a permissible show that will probably have decent ratings as it leads into the biggest show on broadcast TV at the moment. The whole quirky outsider teaming up with the detective has been done again and again, so the show isn't highly original. Morris Chestnut looks good, but I'm not drawn in enough to say I want to watch every week. This could turn out to be a fun little show, but I'm gonna SKIP IT for now, with the chance to come back later if it turns out to be more fun-filled than corny. Bordertown (Midseason)
The less I say about this show, the better. If you enjoy shows like "Family Guy" and "Bob's Burgers," you'll probably want to WATCH IT. If you're like me though and don't watch these shows, this probably won't be the one to turn you onto them, so you can SKIP IT. The Frankenstein Code (Midseason)
As the title insinuates, this is essentially a modern twist on the Frankenstein fable and with that built in awareness, the show could attract an audience. Just as easily though, it could flop. Why's that? Based on the trailer, it just looks okay and okay isn't really going to cut it. It's hard to really understand what's going to drive the show going forward since a lot of the action happens in the first episode, and the trailer doesn't really hint at that either. What is slightly encouraging is that Michael Cuesta and Howard Gordon, two of the men that launched "Homeland," are at the helm again on this project. But with this trailer, I don't immediately get the feeling that this should be something I watch, and for that, I'm likely going to SKIP IT. Lucifer (Midseason)
I imagine that half of the past that watch the trailer for "Lucifer" will have a reaction of, "That looks like it's going to be a great show!" The other half will likely finish the preview by proclaiming, "This looks like complete garbage." Where do I stand? I'm a little torn. On the one hand, I think this could be something special. Tom Ellis looks suave, slimy, and (forgive the pun) devilishly charming in his lead role as Lucifer. His chemistry with the lead detective (played by Lauren German) looks fun in an odd couple kind of way. The set-up is certainly unique and the idea of the devil running around ruining everyone's lives on Earth is funny in a messed up fashion. On the other hand, this could also be a disaster. The idea works to a certain extent, and I was with the trailer until around 1:20 when the angel(?) figure appeared. The other-worldly elements of the show will be something that needs to be tamed. Additionally, I can't figure out if the show is about Lucifer and the detective teaming up to solve crimes or if it's about his journey on Earth with the detective around for fun. It's ambitious, but I think it can be done. In a way, this reminds me of a show from many years ago on The CW called "Reaper." If "Lucifer" can pull off this story in the way "Reaper" did, it'll be worth it. But let's wait to see if the show is going to get there or not. In the meantime, DVR IT. ABC The Muppets (Tuesdays at 8PM)
Is this the funniest comedy preview of the week? No, probably not. But is it the one that makes me smile the most? Indeed, it might be. And why is that? It's for the same reason that ABC went ahead and launched the show and it's all right in the title: the Muppets. These characters are beloved, and they've always been a little self-aware, so it kind of makes sense that they'd launch a television show that uses a lot of the conventional TV comedy ideas while referencing to them. And what makes it funnier is that these are characters we already know and love (or at least like). We know Miss Piggy is a big diva, and that's why you just start laughing as soon as she appears on screen. That's just one example, but it works. What the trailer doesn't really dive into is how they'll blend in the live actors with the Muppets, but I guess that's not something we need to know right away since it's these puppets we're going to want to watch for anyway. I think this was a very smart move for ABC - this is the closest I think we've seen to a pure family comedy on broadcast television in some time, yet there are definitely jokes aimed at the adults. In that respect, it mirrors a lot of modern animated films and that formula should work for a TV show. Airing at 8 means it's still early enough for families to watch together before the kids go to bed, and with the built-in awareness of these characters, that'll be enough to keep the audience's attention. I just hope that the show actually is as good as the preview seems to suggest, and if it is, there's no reason this shouldn't be a success. WATCH IT. Quantico (Tuesdays at 10PM)
"Quantico" is slotted to air right after "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" and you can pretty much see why in the trailer, with the espionage theme running through both series. What makes "Quantico" interesting, though, is the shades of "Grey's Anatomy" running through it. You get the impression that these young agents are kind of the original interns from season one of "Grey's," getting to know each other, personally and professionally, while at work together. And interestingly enough, "Quantico" also seems to get some inspiration from another ABC show, "How to Get Away with Murder," with flash-forwards to the day of a devastating event. In this case, it's a terrorist attack, and the series sets itself up as the ensemble begins to learn about each other, giving audience's clues to piece together the mystery set up in the first episode. I'd be lying if I said this didn't look a little bit intriguing, so I'll say WATCH IT and hope that it lives up to what turned out to be a pretty promising trailer. Dr. Ken (Fridays at 8:30PM)
Ken Jeong is certainly a hit or miss comedian. You love him or you don't. I tolerate him, and here, he seems to have turned down the vulgarity (which makes sense for an ABC family comedy), but the focus around him with his family and co-workers as supporting characters is too much Ken for this viewer. There's nothing extraordinary about the plot, so again, the success of the show will fall on its characters, and unfortunately, only one of them gets defined in this trailer. So really the matter is this: if you like Ken Jeong, WATCH IT and if you don't like him, SKIP IT. I'm in the latter category, although I do wish all of the success in the world to two members of the ensemble: Suzy Nakamura (playing Ken's wife) and Albert Tsai (the best part of the criminally underrated ABC sitcom "Trophy Wife," and playing Ken's son here). Oil (Sundays at 9PM)
To begin, "Oil" is not a good title. It's just...not. Second, this cast has plenty of recognizable faces: Don Johnson ("Miami Vice," or for most recent credits, "Django Unchained"), Chace Crawford ("Gossip Girl"), Rebecca Rittenhouse ("Red Band Society"), Amber Valletta ("Revenge"), and Scott Michael Foster ("Greek"). Unfortunately, this show about the oil business just isn't really striking the right chord with me. To begin, the tone seems wildly uneven. Even the music selection ranges from overly dramatic to downright goofy. We know the central couple is looking to make it in the oil world and that world is about to expand. There are characters with complicated histories and foils. Yet, while I see shades of a good show, it's marred by straight up unrealistic moments like the collapse of the oil tower and the laughable bit with the spark landing in a pool of oil and igniting it. I mean come on. Unless this has a miraculous turnaround from a lame first trailer, SKIP IT. Of Kings and Prophets (Sundays at 10PM)
Oh, boy. You can so desperately see ABC marketing this as their version of "Game of Thrones," and that's the problem - that show already exists and when this show tries to mirror it, it fails miserably. This trailer is nearly laughable at points because of how ridiculous it is. Shall we start with the sets that pale in comparison to those on "Thrones" and thus look like a total knockoff? Or should we skip right to the scene where a man kills a lion with a bag of stones? It's like if "Game of Thrones" had been edited for a broadcast network, and then they stripped away everything interesting about the dialogue, reduced the budget by millions, and got a bunch of less talented actors in there. Maybe I'd be singing a different tune if "Thrones" didn't exist, but it does, and that does this show no favors whatsoever. SKIP IT. The Catch (Midseason)
Bearing the Shondaland label already makes this one a WATCH IT for me. Like I literally don't even need to watch the trailer to tell you that I'll be watching this show. However, that's not exactly fair criteria to judge a television show, so let's talk about the trailer. From the original tagline I read about the show, I didn't expect what I saw, but I really enjoyed it. Shondaland is, of course, known to produce smart, sophisticated, occasionally cold and oh-so-messy leading ladies, and Mirelle Enos' character seems to fit that bill pretty well. She's got a great career (another Shondaland necessity) and a life with an ensemble of characters (again, Shondaland staple) that I hope we'll get to explore going forward. The twist mid-trailer is a bit unexpected, but I have faith that because of the show's executive producer, we're going to get answers little by little and explore this mystery together. I'm not sure how the show will be structured with the wife getting revenge, but I have faith that because of this show's origins in Shondaland, it'll be just fine. This is scheduled to take over the Thursdays at 10 slot once the second season of "How to Get Away with Murder" concludes, and it looks to be a worthy successor to slide into the TGIT lineup with "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal." So again, I say WATCH IT. The Family (Midseason)
Could this be my favorite trailer of the week? I think so. The script comes from writer and executive producer Jenna Bans, whose previous work includes Shonda Rhimes shows "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal." Although "The Family" does not bear the Shondaland label like "The Catch," I think it might be the one that is more deserving of the attention. The setup seems simple enough (long-lost son returns home and creates tension within the family), but it is the effectiveness of the script, as seen in just a few minutes in this trailer, that sets up a tense ride. And that last-minute twist at the end of the trailer? Sign. Me. Up. There's a great cast here with Joan Allen leading the way and supported by underrated young actors like Allison Pill and Zach Gilford, veterans Rupert Graves and Andrew McCarthy, and what looks like a possible career-making turn by Liam James. This is set to replace "Of Kings and Prophets" on Sundays at 10 at midseason, and one can only hope that maybe this show's time comes a little bit sooner. This trailer makes a case that this could be the most promising new series of the season. WATCH IT. The Real O'Neals (Midseason)
The set-up for the show (a gay son stuck in a devoutly religious Irish-Catholic family) was done last season on CBS's "The McCarthys". Luckily, it looks like it's going to be done ten times better here. Why is that? The humor is sharper, the acting is less ridiculous and more witty, and the story feels a bit more real this time. The turning point of the trailer, in which each character details their conflict, shows that the main issue focused on until that point (that the middle son is having trouble hiding his homosexuality) isn't even really the main issue. It's just another issue for the family to overcome, and they're going to do it together. With Martha Plimpton at the forefront, there should be no worries about the cast's ability to rise to the occasion. In particular, it looks like we're going to see a breakout performance from Noah Galvin. The jokes land very well in this trailer, and I can see it fitting it quite comfortably among ABC's other comedies about misfit families. Particularly, the plan is to pair "The Real O'Neals" with "Fresh Off the Boat" on Tuesdays, which seems like a good fit. WATCH IT.
Uncle Buck (Midseason)
It would make sense that ABC would try and pair "Uncle Buck" with "Black-ish" at some point, but with limited comedy holes in its schedule, that may be hard to pull off. Still, you can see how the two would compliment each other beyond their all-African-American casts. Although "Uncle Buck" is a remake, it still works in the modern world. I don't know if it's something I would be particularly interested in watching, but it did make me laugh a few times. Although the pilot episode feels entirely self-contained, you can see the set up for having Uncle Buck around in the future. It's possible that this could be a pretty good show, so maybe you might want to DVR IT and see if it is worthy.
Wicked City (Midseason)
It's weird, the trailer for this series (and for all of these series, by the way) are based on footage from just the pilot episode. So why does it feel like the trailed for "Wicked City" encapsulates an entire season's worth of footage? Regardless, I'm interested in what I see here. To begin, Ed Westwick seems pretty much perfect for the role of the killer. Although he's not necessarily creepy, he never comes across as morally clean in any role he plays. Even as ladykiller Chuck Bass on "Gossip Girl," there was something so dark about him even in his vulnerable moments. That makes him a good fit for this show. However, I'm trying to see how the drama with his character will continue to play out over the season, especially since the first episode shows two potential victims who I'm to assume will be characters throughout the rest of the season. I make that assumption based on not seeing their murders in this episode, and because they're played by Erica Christensen (totally different from her days on "Parenthood") and Taissa Farmiga (underrated for her first season performance in "American Horror Story"). It's an interesting premise that looks like it might solve itself in the first episode, so for now, I'll DVR IT until I have a better idea of what the season is going to look like.
CBS Supergirl (Mondays at 8PM)
Arguably one of the most anticipated pilots of the season, this trailer does not disappoint one bit. Admittedly, the tone and look of this show doesn't fit the mold of other superhero shows on the air, nor does it look like CBS would ever air. That said, it does look like a hit. There's a lot of concern with this show going up against "Gotham" in the same timeslot, but the two shows look extremely different. "Gotham" is a crime procedural of sorts with a superhero twist, whereas "Supergirl" looks like a coming-of-age story in which the main character just happens to be a cousin of Superman. In fact, up until the whole crime-fighting/fighting/general superhumanness comes along, this show looks like your typical young adult comedy. That's a unique tone to hit on a superhero show, but I think it's one that'll be successful. It'll attract a young audience and a female audience that doesn't necessarily delve into other superhero shows on television. It may have a hard time getting the same audience that watches "Gotham," "Arrow," or "The Flash," but I still wouldn't count against that audience supporting another superhero show, especially if it's just flat-out good. And that looks likely here. There's some witty writing, self-awareness about superhero costumes and feminism in modern society, and it looks like we've got some great performances here, particularly from Supergirl herself, Melissa Benoist, and Calista Flockhart, in what promises to be a scene-stealing role. The build of the music at the end of the trailer matches the swell of anticipation that this trailer surely brings to not only those who were anticipating this project before, but others who are being introduced to "Supergirl" for the first time through this trailer. WATCH IT. Limitless (Tuesdays at 10PM)
In comparison to the other CBS trailers, this one is pretty short, getting right to the point of the show but only providing a little tease of what is to come. That's okay in my book, since a lot of these other trailers seem to be showing a condensed version of the pilot episode. Just a little taste works, especially when it's a project like "Limitless," based on a hit film starring producer/recurring guest Bradley Cooper (yes, Bradley Cooper is recurring on a network television show, I am shocked as you are). Essentially, there is a pill that a person can take that gives them access to all of the world's knowledge and our main character here is someone looking to utilize that ability. With the FBI on his side, you can see the set-up for a weekly procedural type of show with other elements of mystery. There's a lot of information at once here and it's okay to not get the gist of it. It seems like the trailer almost doesn't even want to give away all of the hints of the show. That's interesting, and that's worth it in my book. But maybe while we wait for a little more information about what kind of show this is going to be, let's DVR IT. Code Black (Wednesdays at 10PM)
"Code Black" seems to be an extremely straightforward medical show that does not veer into the soap territory of "Grey's Anatomy" and other "Grey's" wannabes of the past decade. Yes, there is some exploration into characters' personal lives, but this show seems to have most of the drama originating from the stories of the patients. In that sense, the show is almost more like "ER," where there are characters that you get to know and love, but the primary focus of the show is on the cases each week. "Code Black," or the person making this trailer, knows that this is the show's strongest card to play. You get some quick glances at stories that tug at the heartstrings and the climax of the trailer is the emergency delivery of a child in an ambulance, a moment that really highlights that this show isn't going to concern itself with the personal lives of its characters, but rather highlight their successes and failures in the emergency room. And if that's the case, they're gonna need to do it well to maintain success. DVR IT and see if that turns out to be a good thing. Life in Pieces (Thursdays at 8:30PM)
If you can remove yourself from the "Modern Family" comparisons that seem pretty obvious here and look at the trailer, there are hints of a great show here. Yes, the generational divide and the different stories every week is stuff we've all seen on "Modern" and other shows of that type. But at the end of the day, that doesn't matter; what we, the audience, care about is if the characters are likable and we want to watch them every week, and if the stories keep us laughing. So based on the trailer alone, we don't get too much development with every character but there are a few genuine laughs. It is to be expected that you wouldn't know what every character is like with such a small taste from this trailer. Heck, it might take multiple episodes to understand these characters. But there are funny moments in this trailer, capped off by (I think) the funniest part, with the family rushing their alive father inside a coffin to a Jiffy Lube across the street to get him out. It's weird, it's funny, it's family. With Dianne Wiest and James Brolin leading this ensemble as the parents, you've got veterans holding down the ship while established, yet underrated actors like Betsy Brandt and Dan Bakkedahl and hot TV breakouts like Colin Hanks and Zoe Lister-Jones fill out the ensemble. I'm always willing to give a comedy a few episodes to find its footing, and the promise in this one gives me enough to say DVR IT, and binge if the following episodes turn out to be the start of something great. Angel from Hell (Thursdays at 9:30PM)
Your feelings on "Angel from Hell" will rest solely on how you feel about Jane Lynch: there are those that truly love her and those that hate her. I really like Jane Lynch. She made Sue Sylvester on "Glee" an iconic character in a fashion that I'm not sure any other actress could've. Beyond that, she's been a great supporting comedic actress for years. In "Angel from Hell," it appears Lynch has found a vehicle that fully forms itself around her. Unfortunately, the resulting pilot episode isn't as strong as one might've hoped for. The plot is interesting, but kind of a thin premise for a show. In that case, you have to rely on the strength of the actors, or in the case of this trailer, the strength of Jane Lynch. Unfortunately, it's a lot to ask one person to carry an entire show on their back. You get the gist of this new character Lynch is playing within the first two minutes of the trailer. Still, Lynch is one talented actress, and this role could be a great fit for her. It's just too soon to tell. If you're patient to see if Lynch is worth it here (and I think I might be), then you're gonna wanna DVR IT. If you couldn't make it through the trailer because Lynch became overbearing, then SKIP IT.
CBS did not make trailers for their midseason shows available. The CW Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Mondays at 8PM)
The CW is starting to brand itself for being a home for genre television; it houses a number of superhero, supernatural, and sci-fi shows. The only night of programming that isn't dominated by this trend is Mondays with The CW's breakout hit "Jane the Virgin" (which I plan on bingeing this summer) and new show "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." The trailer is long and kind of gives away the whole first episode, but it's an interesting concept for an hour-long musical comedy about a main character who is seriously deranged. Rachel Bloom will have to really sell this role without being too much. Additionally, to keep audiences interested, the music had better be good and the story better amount to more than the story of a girl who chases after a childhood dream of dating the perfect boy. DVR IT in case it turns out to be really special, but also prepare to delete it if it's plain bad. It could really go either way. Containment (Midseason)
Probably the CW show I am most excited for because it's a concept that I really enjoy. The show seems a bit timely as it looks like it'll touch on topics that have been major talking points in the past year including rioting/protesting, police brutality, and government intervention. To give it the twist of having this occur because of a lockdown due to a deadly unknown virus brings that unknown element to the show. I don't want to call it a supernatural or sci-fi show because we don't know anything about the disease, and I'm okay with that as long as we build a compelling story and a strong cast of characters, which the trailer hints at. I also wouldn't bet against executive producer Julie Plec, who is The CW's version of Shonda Rhimes. This veers away from the vampire-focused shows she's created in the past, so this will be an exciting new challenge. If you're gonna give a CW show a shot this year, make it "Containment." WATCH IT. Legends of Tomorrow (Midseason)
Truthfully, I don't have much to say about this show because I have no prior knowledge coming from "Arrow" and "The Flash," both of which this show is a spinoff from. Still, it looks like it fits right in line with those shows, so if you're a fan of them, definitely WATCH IT. For the rest of us, it looks like it could be a fun time, if not a little bit cheesy in a way that most superhero shows are, so unless the show requires extensive background knowledge of those other DC-based shows, DVR IT.
Which trailers are your favorite and which shows are being added to your schedule right away? Or what trailers could you barely get through? What shows will be lucky to see five episodes hit the air? Post your thoughts in the comments section below! I'll be back later this week to analyze the schedules from all five networks so you can begin planning your fall television schedule. Until then...
Hi there everyone! As I'm now on summer break once again, I am going to be starting up my blog again. School and extracurriculars always prohibit me from fully immersing myself in this blog, but I'm not going to let that deter me this summer and onward. I have a lot of exciting ideas for this summer, and as we are currently in the midst of Upfronts weeks, there is going to be a lot in the next coming days detailing the upcoming television season. And as the current season winds down, I'll be offering my two cents on the best of TV this year, as well as some remarks on shows I'm binge-watching this summer. I'm hoping to provide film reviews for a lot of this summer's hottest movies, as well as keeping you up to date about the latest in summer music. Keep checking back regularly for updates!
