It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . .
Well, fine, maybe we shouldn’t compare the fall television premiere season to Christmas. We shouldn’t. Right?
Okay, so we won’t. But I also won’t deny that I am ridiculously (though, unsurprisingly) excited for old shows to return and new shows to start. Especially after the past two weeks of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BEING ON.
I asked on Facebook which shows you all are most looking forward to beginning this fall, and you had lots on your lists! You’re excited for Parenthood (tons of votes for this one, no surprise), The Good Wife, Scandal, Blacklist (the previews are making me question my choice to not watch this one last year…thoughts?), Person of Interest, Grey’s Anatomy, Supernatural, Newsroom, Agents of Shield, Big Bang Theory, NCIS, Galavant (I can’t wait for this one, but unfortunately it’s a mid-season premiere.), Gotham, Scorpion, and NCIS: New Orleans.
Wow! That’s a lot of shows and a lot of variety. You all have good taste! (Although I’ll confess I’ve never watched a single Batman movie and I’m just not sure Gotham would make sense to me.)
So let’s talk specifics. Shows. Dates. Thoughts. Opinions.
(NOTE: All times are CST because that’s where I live.)
Returning Shows I’ll Be Watching:
- Once Upon a Time (Sundays at 7pm, premieres 9/28)
- Castle (Mondays at 9pm, premieres 9/29)
- NCIS (Tuesdays at 7pm, premieres 9/23)
- New Girl (Tuesdays at 8pm, premieres 9/16 – tomorrow!!)
- The Mindy Project (Tuesdays at 8:30 pm, premieres 9/16)
- Arrow (Wednesdays at 7pm, premieres 10/8)
I’ll probably DVR Brooklyn 99 (Sundays at 7:30 pm, premieres 9/28) and About a Boy (Tuesdays at 8:30 pm, premieres 10/14), but I’m not quite ready to commit. Oh, and Hart of Dixie and Parks & Recreation are returning mid-season.
New Shows I’m Thinking About:
[Don’t worry. I’m not planning to watch all of these. Yikes! Can you imagine? TOO MUCH TV!!!]
- A to Z (NBC, Thursdays at 8pm) – This one feels like How I Met Your Mother all over again – partly because the main female character is The Mother, partly because the concept of the show is based on a relationship with an expiration date. I watched the pilot on Hulu, and it was cute. I’m not sure it’s a keeper, but I’m going to give it a try for now.
- The Flash (CW, Tuesdays at 7pm) – A spinoff of Arrow, based on comic books. I don’t read comic books, but I do watch – and like – Arrow. So I’ll at least watch the first episode of this one.
- Forever (ABC, Mondays at 9pm) – So. This show is about a guy who can’t die. Every time he does, he comes back to life, waking up naked and in water. Also, he’s a medical examiner and works with a pretty cop. I realize that might just sound a little ridiculous, but I will be watching it anyway.
- Gotham (Fox, Mondays at 7pm) – Batman before Batman was Batman, apparently. Lots of people are real worked up about this one, but since – like I said – I haven’t watched any of the Batman movies, I think I’m going to sit this one out.
- How to Get Away with Murder (ABC, Thursdays at 9pm) – Lots of you mentioned this one and lots of critics have talked about it. But…I don’t know. I gave up Grey’s Anatomy a long time ago and never got started with Scandal, so I’m not really inclined to add the latest Shonda Rhimes show to my list.
- Jane the Virgin (CW, Mondays at 8pm) – A Christian girl accidentally gets artificially inseminated and then her show is compared to Ugly Betty. Ummm…okay? I figure I’ll give this one a try, since I liked Ugly Betty. We’ll see.
- Madam Secretary (CBS, Sundays at 7pm) – Former CIA agent becomes Secretary of State and “shakes things up.” The preview looks good, so I’ve already put this one on my schedule. (Yes. I have a schedule.)
- Manhattan Love Story (ABC, Tuesdays at 7pm) – Oh my gosh, shoot me. You know how people joke about reading each other’s thoughts and how it might not be a good thing? Yeahhhh, it’s NOT. Just watching the preview was painful. And this is coming from someone who’s currently watching Greek and loving it (the show this one’s main character was in).
- Marry Me (NBC, Tuesdays at 8pm) – I liked Happy Endings, Penny included. And Vinnie Van Lowe from Veronica Mars always cracked me up. But I do not buy these two together, and I am not interested in this show. Watching the preview felt like watching a bit, like they could not possibly be serious – BUT THEY WERE.
- Mulaney (Fox, Sundays at 8pm) – It’s the new Seinfeld. It might be funny. I’ll maybe watch it if it’s on On Demand.
- NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, Tuesdays at 8pm) – No, I do not need another procedural in my life. But I liked the episodes that previewed this new spinoff last year, soooo…I don’t know. Maybe? I’ll try it? I guess?
- Red Band Society (Fox, Wednesdays at 8pm) – Uggggghhhhhhh. You guys! It’s another show about sick kids! I blame John Green for this new trend, and I do not approve. Because TEARS. But the critics are all over this one. And I don’t want to miss out on the Next Hot Show (unless it’s about Batman). So I’ll watch the pilot. If it makes me cry, though, I’m out. (I mean, not really. Reruns of HIMYM make me cry. So.)
- Scorpion (CBS, Mondays at 8pm) – A crew of super smart people save the world. I believe I saw one critic say it’s Big Bang Theory meets the Justice League of America and/or Fast and the Furious. Clearly I will be watching this from Day One.
- Selfie (ABC, Tuesdays at 7pm) – I don’t know why (I was bored?), but I watched this pilot on Hulu. It was not good. I don’t plan to watch. Annnnnd that’s all I’ve got to say about that.
- State of Affairs (NBC, Mondays at 9pm) – Katharine Heigl is a CIA agent, working with the president and tracking down the terrorists who killed her fiance. I know, okay? But I’m going to watch it anyway.
Some TV Resources for You:
- Full premiere calendar at TV Guide
- Summaries of all the new fall shows at TV Guide
- Previews of new shows at TV Guide
- Day-by-day fall schedule at TV Guide
- Reviews based on pilots at Hitfix
- Spoilers on returning shows at TV Line
I can’t believe you haven’t watched Blacklist! Yes, you need to pick that one up. It’s good. The main character isn’t as endearing as she should be. But James Spader makes up for it.
Are you really sticking with New Girl? I can’t. I just can’t do their crazy anymore.
a
ps–I’m sad you’re not into Survivor.
I totally agree with the Blacklist comment! You need to catch up and get on that train girl!
I watch New Girl in the background. You know? I watch it, but I don’t watch-watch it. As for Blacklist…*SIGH*…I just don’t know if I have the energy to catch up on a whole season. I really need to? For real?
P.S. I don’t know what to tell you except I just don’t like reality TV. Except for SYTYCD.
At our house, we’re watching America Ninja Warrior (of course!) and The Voice. I am curious about the Red Band Society (curse you, John Green) and will probably scope out the new superhero spin-offs to see if they are family friendly. So much to watch, so little time =) Thanks for the summary!
You know, I have never watched The Voice. Is it really that good? Better than American Idol? (Which I don’t normally watch but did watch last year and liked quite a bit.)
I am with you on Scorpion! I can’t wait for that one. Loved your reviews for the rest.
Thanks, Chandra! We’ll have to compare notes on Scorpion after it starts!
I don’t make time for network TV, really. But Madam Secretary has got me hooked. I just really love Tea Leoni, I think. Do you know that I’ve never, ever watched West Wing? But I’ve gathered from the commercials for Good Wife that it’s not really a political theme, but just more draaama. Maybe west wing was, too.
We try to watch (again, not on schedule) Blue Bloods, White Collar, Elementary, and my husband likes Hawaii 5-0. But I don’t know if they’re back, or new episodes, or what…
I’ve never watched West Wing either!! I want to; I’ve heard so many times how amazing it is. I love White Collar, too – you know it only has a 6-episode season left, right? The premiere calendars I linked to in the post will tell you when all your shows come back on!
The girl is so excited about Once Upon a Time she can hardly stand it. That’s one of the few we watch as a family. Love that we have that one.
I’m just looking forward to turning on the DVR late at night and my shows being back. Scheduled to record so far are Castle, The Blacklist, NCIS in all forms (did LA go somewhere? what happened there?), Criminal Minds and Person of Interest. In fact, we’re recording this week’s episodes so I can remember what happened at the end of last season. My mind is a blank.
New ones I’m planning to give a try are Scorpion and now reading your thoughts Madame Secretary.
Thanks for the GREAT list!
Yes, I think NCIS:LA got moved – maybe to Monday? One of those links at the bottom of my post will tell you for sure. (Yep, I’m too lazy to look it up. ;) ) And yes, I really wish I’d watched Blacklist last year but now I just don’t know if I can get caught up!
New shows I’ll try: How to Get Away with Murder (because I binge watched Scandal over the summer and now love Shonda Rhimes and because Viola Davis), Cristela, Jane the Virgin, Madam Secretary, Black-ish, State of Affairs
I might give Gotham and The Mysteries of Laura a try. We’ll see.
As a side note, I worked at a Children’s Hospital and the preview for Red Band Society had me shouting “THAT’S NOT REALISTIC AT ALL!”
Haha, yes, I’m pretty sure everything I saw in the Red Band trailer is completely unrealistic! Is The Mysteries of Laura the one with Debra Messing? Because that show is getting panned by critics. So if you watch, I’ll be anxious to hear what you think!
I just LOVEEEE your Fall TV posts! They make me so happy! This is the first year I was actually on top of things so I’d already made my Excel spreadsheet (yep, that totally happened), shared it on Google drive with hubster, and was feeling pretty set to go. But you mentioned a few I hadn’t even heard of yet that sound interesting so I’m going to need to do some digging! There’s always so much I want to watch, but with our crazy lives now, I’m not sure that we won’t fall utterly behind on some of them.
I’m the most excited for Chicago Fire starting back up (can you say, obsessed?!), NCIS:LA (getting bored with the original), The Millers, and Mike & Molly. I am most looking forward to watching the new show NCIS: New Orleans. Though Madam Secretary (because hello, Tea Leoni rocks everything she’s in) and A to Z (that guy from “The Perfect Man” and that girl from “HIMYM” coming together… um, yes please!) both look like they could be keepers. I really want to like The Flash but I’m doubtful. I hadn’t heard of Gotham yet (I never watch Fox except for New Girl so I wasn’t aware of its coming) but am very intrigued.
I somehow have missed the bandwagons for Parenthood and Parks & Rec. We didn’t watch The Blacklist either, but any drama on NBC usually requires at least 1 year before you try it out since most end up cancelled prior to the end of that 1st year. So I don’t think you missed it, but like me you might feel the need to get caught up on it now that it’s gained a good amount of momentum.
Anyway, going to be a fun TV season! Here’s to getting nothing done but watching TV and snuggling babies! ;)
Oh my gosh, I do love that you make an Excel spreadsheet!! And even though this is the last season for Parks & Rec, I highly recommend starting with season two and watching it as soon as you can. It is the best.