School is back in session. Leaves are turning colors. Old shows are coming out of hibernation and new shows are getting their chance on the boob tube. Television is the hot place to be now, with celebrity guest appearances and television shows everywhere. Movie stars? What's that? And while I've long believed that Television is continuing to move closer and closer to another golden era (despite what VH1 and reality television may force you to think), we won't know until we watch.
Without further ado, I present to you a listing of Fall 2009 Television Premieres, with a couple of must sees (Squees!) and must misses (Mehs!). Please note that some premieres are listed that have already passed—I've left them on the list as a reference point for when that show will air and what channel it will be on.
GLEE
Glee is FOX's breakout hit. Maybe that is premature, but Ryan Murphy, of Nip/Tuck fame, has obviously given us yet another edgy show. Like Nip/Tuck (in its earlier seasons), Glee offers character depth, a new subject matter (plastic surgeons? A glee club?) and a ton of humor. With three strong episodes and a remarkably talented cast, expect FOX's Glee to continue to soar as a comedic drama, filled with heart, humor, and amazing songs. Season 1 has started off strong, and at this point, there is literally no reason to doubt that Glee will continue to rock our hearts.
It's a Squee!
PARKS AND RECREATION
Tina Fey may have found her niche in the brilliant 30 Rock, but Amy Poehler seems to have found herself in a rough spot with NBC's Parks and Recreation. Formulaic and unfunny, the premiere offered little to no promise for the series. The characters are generic and the writing seems forced. Poehler is a fantastic comedic actress and I personally believe there is place for her on television or film, but Parks and Recreation isn't good for anybody.
It's a Meh!
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
SYTYCD isn't just another reality show. Sure, it has the symptoms of one. You have normal people showing their talents on a nationally televised show where the audience selects the winner. This is misleading, as SYTYCD stands out as a remarkable show. While American Idol and other talent shows focus often on singers, where talent is widely subjective, there is absolutely no question that the men and women on SYTYCD are sweating talent out of their pores. Also unlike Idol, where you have a producer and several random or washed up individuals "judging the talent," SYTYCD offers judges who are extremely knowledgeble in dancing, and even the horribly obnoxious Mary Murphy is a technical dance afficianado. Even more impressive is that the first 5 weeks of the show, American might vote, but the judges decide who stays and goes. By the time our top 10 are decided and JUST the votes count, you can be sure that the judges have made sure every single one of the top 10 is deserving. SYTYCD offers some of the best choreographers in the world and breathtaking talent. People pay hundreds of dollars to see phenomenal dancers perform, but FOX is offering it to you for free.
It's a Squee!
EASTWICK
It seems like the successes of True Blood, Twilight (ugh), and Harry Potter have convinced some of the "Powers that be" that anything supernatural is good. Eastwick, an ABC show based off of, well, the movie Witches of Eastwick, is about...witches. Forgive my skepticism, but this is the third attempt for this show to be made. First was 1992, second was 2002. Both times were unsold pilots. Maybe execs expect the timing to be better for Eastwick now, but I'd doubt it. Remember Charmed? It went off the air because viewership works. I'm sure Eastwick is different from Charmed, but my guess is that the show will not offer enough to differentiate itself. The previews make the show out to be "Desperate Housewives with SuperPowers!" Who cares?
It's a Meh!
COMMUNITY
Hilarious and smart, NBC's Community shows much promise this season. E! channel's The Soup's Joel McHale masterfully plays the role of Columbian (the country) trained lawyer, who is told by the Bar that he must get a degree in America to continue practicing law. Set in your average community college, Community brings a funny cast, great writing, an Office feel, and comedy to NBC. Coupled with 30 Rock, NBC may have found a way to regain their reign over Thursday Primetime.
It's a Squee!
THE CLEVELAND SHOW
When Family Guy returned to television, it was a grand victory for fans of cancelled shows across the world. That goodwill quickly disappeared, as Family Guy became unfunny and desperately random. For a time it seemed that American Dad would take the place as Seth McFarlane's masterpiece. Before long, though, American Dad began to incorporate the same desperate, random scenes as Family Guy. The Cleveland Show, based on arguably one of the weaker Family Guy supporting cast members, has offered trailers that are dripping in redundant, unfunny crap. The family dynamic seems almost exactly the same (but the teenager daughter isn't, well, a Meg) and the trailers leave a viewer waiting for the laughs. If McFarlane wasn't already stretched thin with Family Guy and American Dad, The Cleveland Show will do it.
It's a Meh!
SNL Weekend Update Thursday
This is a hit or miss show, but I'll err on the side of hit. Weekend Update continues to be one of the strongest aspects of SNL, and even in some very weak recent years, Weekend Update has remained funny. Giving the Weekend Update team a weekly format in which they can further work their craft on the news of the week could very well end up being the best thing to come from SNL since "Dick in a Box". The first episode was not only funny, but it seems like the Weekend Update crew (with Amy Poehler back at the news table) has found a comfort zone in their new extended format.
It's a Squee!
HEROES
Heroes, in my opinion, should have been cancelled at the end of Season 2. Heroes debuted on NBC strong and offered promise, with a unique sci-fi plot and interesting characters. They rapidly spiraled into crap, becoming predictable and weighed down in too many characters and predictability. The premiere of season 3 was interesting, but by episode 3 it was clear that Heroes didn't have any spark to get back. Season 4 might be marketed as something completely different from the past, but the writing will still be the same. And that means it'll probably suck.
It's a Meh!
FLASHFORWARD
ABC brought us LOST. At the risk of sounding like a fangirl, this means a lot. Why? Simple. At some point, ABC was willing to look at their cash-cow (LOST) and acknowledge the request of Lindenoff and Cuse to give them an end date. What does this say to me? It says that ABC is willing to appreciate a great show, even a great show that borders on the sci-fi. Enter: FlashForward. Based on the 1999 novel by Robert J. Sawyer, FlashForward is a show that tackles the eery moment where the entier human population experiences 2 minutes and 17 seconds of blacking out. In this period, they all see visions of their lives 6 months from now. The trick? Finding out why this happened, and what 6 billion plus visions mean for the future. Tick tock tick tock tick tock...will they understand what these visions mean? Will they not? Hopefully we'll find out, but if ABC's experience with LOST has taught us anything, its that ABC is quickly learning what it means to make a great fantasty/sci-fi show. Let's hope FlashForward takes us further along that path.
It's a Squee!
NIP/TUCK
F/X's Nip/Tuck is, frankly, a guilty pleasure of mine. I admit that I will be watching the final season, but that is only because I've watched all of the seasons. My curiosity will win out, and the way the McNamara/Troy saga ends is, on some viewing level, important to me. All that said, if you're a casual fan of the show or haven't yet started watching it, don't bother. Leaving Miami was the first sign that Nip/Tuck had peaked beyond its creative abilities, and season 5 basically proved that. Unless you're invested in the show, don't bother starting. If you want to watch Nip/Tuck and haven't started? Start at the beginning, and stop when the head to L.A.
It's a Meh!
Notes undeserving of a full paragraph:
• House, while not as good as its earlier years, is hitting a very mature stride, where the character of Dr. Gregory House is becoming more intricate than we'd imagined them delving into. Watch it.
• NCIS > NCIS: Los Angeles. Don't even bother on the latter.
• Law & Order: SVU > Law & Order: Criminal Intent. See above on not bothering.
• Jay Leno's show isn't funny.
Fall premiere calendar:
September, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 9
Glee, 9 p.m. (Fox) (Series Premiere)
So You Think You Can Dance, 8 p.m. (Fox)
Thursday, Sept. 10
Supernatural, 9 p.m. (CW)
The Vampire Diaries, 8 p.m. (CW) (Series Premiere)
Saturday, Sept. 12
America's Most Wanted, 9 p.m. (Fox)
Cops, 8 p.m. (Fox)
Robin Hood, 9 p.m. (BBC America)
Monday, Sept. 14
Gossip Girl, 9 p.m. (CW)
The Jay Leno Show, 10 p.m. (NBC) (Series Premiere)
Lincoln Heights, 8 p.m. (ABC Family)
One Tree Hill, 8 p.m. (CW)
Tuesday, Sept. 15
The Biggest Loser, 8 p.m. (NBC)
Wednesday, Sept. 16
The Beautiful Life, 9 p.m. (CW) (Series Premiere)
Thursday, Sept. 17
Bones, 8 p.m. (Fox)
Community, 9:30 p.m. (NBC) (Series Premiere)
Fringe, 9 p.m. (Fox)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 10 p.m. (FX)
The Office, 9 p.m. (NBC)
Parks and Recreation, 8:30 p.m. (NBC)
Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday, 8 p.m. (NBC) (Series Premiere)
Survivor: Samoa, 8 p.m. (CBS)
Friday, Sept. 18
Crash, 10 p.m. (Starz)
Sunday, Sept. 20
Curb Your Enthusiasm, 9 p.m. (HBO)
Bored to Death, 9:30 p.m. (HBO) (Series Premiere)
Monday, Sept. 21
Accidentally on Purpose, 8:30 p.m. (CBS) (Series Premiere)
The Big Bang Theory, 9:30 p.m. (CBS)
Castle, 10 p.m. (ABC)
CSI: Miami, 10 p.m. (CBS)
Dancing With the Stars, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Heroes, 8 p.m. (NBC)
House, 8 p.m. (Fox)
How I Met Your Mother, 8 p.m. (CBS)
Two and a Half Men, 9 p.m. (CBS)
Tuesday, Sept. 22
The Forgotten, 10 p.m. (ABC) (Series Premiere)
The Good Wife, 10 p.m. (CBS) (Series Premiere)
NCIS, 8 p.m. (CBS)
NCIS: Los Angeles, 9 p.m. (CBS) (Series Premiere)
Wednesday, Sept. 23
Cougar Town, 9:30 p.m. (ABC) (Series Premiere)
Criminal Minds, 9 p.m. (CBS)
CSI: NY, 10 p.m. (CBS)
Eastwick, 10 p.m. (ABC) (Series Premiere)
Gary Unmarried, 8:30 p.m. (CBS)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 9 p.m. (NBC)
Mercy, 8 p.m. (NBC) (Series Premiere)
Modern Family, 9 p.m. (ABC) (Series Premiere)
The New Adventures of Old Christine, 8 p.m. (CBS)
Thursday, Sept. 24
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, 9 p.m. (CBS)
Flash Forward, 8 p.m. (ABC) (Series Premiere)
Grey's Anatomy, 9 p.m. (ABC)
The Mentalist, 10 p.m. (CBS)
Friday, Sept. 25
Brothers, 8 p.m. (Fox) (Series Premiere)
Dollhouse, 9 p.m. (Fox)
Ghost Whisperer, 8 p.m. (CBS)
Law & Order, 8 p.m. (NBC)
Medium, 9 p.m. (CBS)
Numb3rs, 10 p.m. (CBS)
Smallville, 8 p.m. (CW)
Saturday, Sept. 26
Saturday Night Live, 11:30 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Sept. 27
60 Minutes, 7 p.m. (CBS)
The Amazing Race, 8 p.m. (CBS)
American Dad, 9:30 p.m. (Fox)
Brothers & Sisters, 10 p.m. (ABC)
Californication, 10 p.m. (Showtime)
The Cleveland Show, 8:30 p.m. (Fox) (Series Premiere)
Cold Case, 10 p.m. (CBS)
Desperate Housewives, 9 p.m. (ABC)
Dexter, 9 p.m. (Showtime)
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, 7 p.m. (ABC)
Family Guy, 9 p.m. (Fox)
The Simpsons, 8 p.m. (Fox)
Monday, Sept. 28
Lie to Me, 9 p.m. (Fox)
Trauma, 9 p.m. (NBC) (Series Premiere)
Tuesday, Sept. 29
The City, 10:30 p.m. (MTV)
The Hills, 10 p.m. (MTV)
Hell's Kitchen, 8 p.m. (Fox)
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Hank, 8 p.m. (ABC) (Series Premiere)
The Middle, 8:30 pm. (ABC) (Series Premiere)
October, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 1
Private Practice, 10 p.m. (ABC)
Friday, Oct. 2
'Til Death, 8:30 p.m. (Fox)
Stargate Universe, 9 p.m. (Syfy) (Series Premiere)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, 8 p.m. (Cartoon Network)
Sunday, Oct. 4
America's Funniest Home Videos, 7 p.m (ABC)
Three Rivers, 9 p.m. (CBS) (Series Premiere)
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Scare Tactics, 9 p.m. (Syfy)
Wednesday, Oct. 7
South Park, 10 p.m. (Comedy Central)
Friday, Oct. 9
Sanctuary, 10 p.m. (Syfy)
Ugly Betty, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Nip/Tuck, 10 p.m. (FX)
Thursday, Oct. 15
30 Rock, 9:30 p.m. (NBC)
Friday, Oct. 23
Southland, 9 p.m. (NBC)
White Collar, 10 p.m. (USA) (Series Premiere)
Wednesday, Oct. 28
Friday Night Lights, 9 p.m. (The 101)
November 2009
Tuesday, Nov. 3
V, 8 p.m. (ABC) (Series Premiere)
Saturday, Nov. 7
Legend of the Seeker (syndication)
The Wanda Sykes Show, 11 p.m. (Fox) (Series Premiere)
