#NerdsUnite: New Network Fall Lineup Shows Worth Watching
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Aaron ... he's a writer, and goth nerd. For reals, he's got some crazzyyyyy ass stories from some of the peeps he's met online, and is now here to share those crazy ass stories with you all. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT AARON!!! </editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @aaronflux
I'm a bit of a television geek. I watch a lot of shows. A LOT.
That being said, it's Up Fronts season, which basically means we get announcements from every Network showcasing their upcoming fall lineups. With this announcement, begins the real buzz of new shows that will be hitting the television airwaves in the fall.
While I tend to mostly watch programming on AMC and FX, I have noticed in recent years the Networks have been scrambling to bring more cutting edge programming to the masses to keep up. Looking through the list of new shows being announced, I am a bit intrigued. Below is the list of shows that sparked my interest.
First up is CBS. There are two shows announced that had me scratching my head because I never watch CBS. Ever. That just may change.
ELEMENTARY
My first reaction here was, 'A little late America'. With the Guy Ritchie movies and the amazing BBC program "Sherlock", it seems that the concept of another Sherlock Holmes program would be a bit overkill. But, one must take a moment and breathe. Each take on the concept can work on their own much like the numerous shows about vampires that seem to grace our TVs now. Plus, look at this cast! Jonny Lee Miller is a brilliant actor and with Lucy Liu's recent stint on Southland, it's only right to have her in a show like this. I'm just hoping it's as great as it looks and audiences take note.
VEGAS
Ok seriously? It's like this show was made for me. 60's Vegas? Check. Dennis Quaid as a cowboy sheriff? Check. Michael Chiklis? Yeah...I'm sold.
Next up is NBC. Now, I have been having a bit of a love/hate thing with NBC recently. It seems like whomever has been bringing in the shows there recently has been sniffing the funny stuff. I've lost interest in The Office, haven't been able to really get into Parks And Rec, 30 Rock hasn't been funny for some time, and Community is going to be ending after a short final Season. But, the list of new shows look intriguing and maybe someone over there is trying to throw everything against the proverbial wall to see what'll stick.
ANIMAL PRACTICE
I know what you're probably saying. Really, Aaron? Well, yeah, the concept seems a bit silly to me as well. But, I'll pretty much watch anything with Tyler Labine and Bobby Lee in it. And that Justin Kirk ain't half bad either. Plus the appearance of Matt Walsh in the trailer clinched it for me. I'll watch this.
GO ON
I will watch anything with Matthew Perry. Anything.
THE NEW NORMAL
Ryan Murphy has a new show and it's gay! Ok, well so is Glee...and I suppose American Horror Story...but yeah GAY! I'll give this show a chance because honestly, we need more gay themed sitcoms on mainstream TV. Plain and simple. Plus, Ellen Barkin!
DO NO HARM
Honestly, I'm not too sure about this one. It seems like a modern day TV telling of the Jeckyll and Hyde story. And honestly, BBC's Jekyll was so fucking amazing, it'll be difficult to not compare the two. I liked Steven Pasquale in Rescue Me, so I'll give this show a chance.
CHICAGO FIRE
Speaking of Rescue Me, here's a new show about firefighters! The cast doesn't look half bad. Plus it's from Dick Wolf, so we know it'll have some good procedural elements to it. It's nice to know Chase has left working for House to become a fire fighter...but he probably needs to stop doing the American accent. It's a little distracting. Also some details to take note: it's nice to see Monica Raymund back on TV. After Lie To Me was canceled, she was one of those actors I had hoped to see on some sort of screen again soon. Also, Eamonn Walker has seemed to be a very underrated actor. I first took note of him in Cadillac Records playing the legendary Howling Wolf. He appeared in FX's Lights Out last year and he delivered such a great performance, I'm excited to see how his role in this pans out.
REVOLUTION
Probably the number one show debuting on NBC in the fall that I'm excited about. Of all the shows listed here, this one looks like it's the closest in bringing the buzz and excitement that TV has been missing since Lost. The heavy weights behind this will make this a sure fire hit. JJ Abrams (Lost, Star Trek), Jon Favreau (Iron man), Eric Kripke (Supernatural), Bryan Burke (Fringe, Star Trek)....if this show doesn't deliver, NBC is fucked. Having JJ Abrams' name attached looks great but as we've seen from Alcatraz, having a name attached isn't everything. Still... if it does succeed, it'll probably put NBC back on track with the ratings numbers they've been lacking in recent years.
I never used to watch The CW. The channel seemed to me like it was just The WB all over again. The network's branding gives off a very cheesy feel so I just wrote off their programming. That was until a friend turned me onto Supernatural. Seriously, that show is great and I admit I was wrong. Still, I've only watched that one show on The CW but that might just change very soon.
ARROW
Another super hero themed TV show. When they work, they work. Heroes was great during its first season. Then there was the cheesy failure that was The Cape. But super heroes have made their home on television before and The CW is bringing their version of DC's Green Arrow to the small screen. This trailer makes me think someone finally has gotten things right, maybe? We'll see.
And while that's the only new show slated for the fall that I'll check out, they have also announced some interesting mid-season replacements for 2013 including Cult which'll star the always engaging Robert Knepper (that's Tea Bag from Prison Break, if you don't know).
ABC seems to be bringing some goofy new shows to their fall lineup. I suppose they are trying to bank on their comedy successes Modern Family and Happy Endings, to name a few.
THE NEIGHBORS
Ok, this is bizarre. Last year, ABC brought us the horrible show Work It, which was canceled in it's 3rd or 4th episode (I honestly don't remember). Now they're bringing us The Neighbors. The trailer has this Arrested Development style narration which makes me wonder if the whole show's story will be told in that fashion. And let's be honest here, the concept is simply bizarre. Not a safe bet for network TV but I like weird and bizarre so I'll definitely tune in.
LAST RESORT
From the creator of The Shield, Shawn Ryan, comes back to television with Last Resort. One of my favorite films is The Hunt For Red October and whether this show succeeds or not, it'd be nice having a submarine actioner on prime time. It's always a plus to have a show take place on a tropical island, right?
666 PARK AVENUE
Goddamn this looks cheesy. The only reason I even clicked to look at the trailer was because Terry O'Quinn stars as...Satan? I'll give the show a shot just because he's in it. The show is based on the book by the same name but after viewing the preview, it'll be hard to not be reminded of The Devil's Advocate upon watching.
Finally we are at Fox. With the 8th and final season of House in the bag and Fringe's final season being announced for next year, I've been wondering how Fox is going to move forward. There was a time when 24 was their legacy show and I feel like the Kiefer vehicle Touch hasn't really hit like they were expecting. Plus, there were the major disappointments Alcatraz and Terra Nova (which I'm still pissed at for causing the cancellation of Human Target and Lie To Me). There are three shows scheduled for the fall that look worth my time.
THE FOLLOWING
Alright, so maybe this one is scheduled for a mid-season replacement but still. Immediately, I get a 24 vibe from this trailer. Kiefer Sutherland reignited his career from film to tv as the world was introduced to Jack Bauer. And in the first minute, we're introduced to former FBI agent Kevin Bacon. Oh and the subject matter here is about a serial killer network. I'm so in.
THE MINDY PROJECT
I like Mindy Kaling. A lot. She was great in her small role in The 40 Year Old Virgin. She has been amazing in The Office. And now she is branching out to focus on her own show which she has a hand in as writer and producer as well as star. The trailer comes off guy friendly while ultimately looking like a chick show. Which means, I'll be able to watch this with my girlfriend.
THE MOB DOCTOR
I like medical procedural shows and I like mob stories and it looks like this just might be both. It's your basic story about a surgeon who owes a debt to the mob and thusly begins working for them. What makes this look worth-while is the writing as well as the cast which includes Jordana Spiro, Michael Rappaport, William Forsythe, and Zeljko Ivanek.
So there you have it! Those are my picks of new Network shows to look out for. I didn't even begin to cover the upcoming Fall lineup for USA, AMC, and FX. A man needs to stop typing eventually, you know!