TV Preview 2012/2013 – 25 Must-See Series, Part 6: Anticipated New Series

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The Newsroom

Genre: Drama

Creator(s): Aaron Sorkin

Cast: Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr., Alison Pill, Olivia Munn, Adina Porter, Chris Chalk, Margaret Judson, Thomas Matthews, Trieu Tran, Dev Patel, John F. Carpenter, Wynn Everett, and Charlie Weirauch

Channel: HBO

Premiere Date: June 24, 2012

Plot Summary: The series is about respected news anchor Will McAvoy who is very comfortable on his nightly cable news show. However, his world is shaken up when he is forced to work with a new team of colleagues.

Why It Made the List: The Newsroom is the new show from Aaron Sorkin who gave us the TV series Sports Night (my personal favorite of his), The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, as well as the screenplays for A Few Good Men, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Social Network, and Moneyball. To say the least, he is a wonderful writer, who seems to be at the top of his game when writing a series about making a TV program (alas Sports Night and Studio 60). It also features a great cast. Fans of great writing and Sorkin’s past work should definitely be watching this. Reviews so far have been very strong.

Revolution

Genre: Adventure Drama

Creator(s): Eric Kripke

Cast: Billy Burke, Tracy Spiridakos, Anna Lise Phillips, Graham Rogers, JD Pardo, Zak Orth, Maria Howell, David Lyons, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Guinee, and Elizabeth Mitchell

Channel: NBC

Premiere Date: September 17, 2012

Plot Summary: One day fifteen years ago, all the planet’s power sources stopped working. Now, humanity carries on surviving the way people lived before there was electricity. Charlie Matheson is a young woman living in a small fringe community. Her life is further changed when a local militia shows up and murders her father, leading to her discovering a mysterious secret – something linking her family to the blackout fifteen years ago. She set out on a journey to find answers.

Why It Made the List: Revolution is the new show from creator Eric Kripke, who gave us Supernatural, and executive producer J.J. Abrams, who has had a few TV missteps lately but has a great track record overall. The premise of the series is what fascinates me. It sounds very ambitious and different from anything on TV right now. I also usually enjoy dystopian narratives. I imagine that NBC hopes that this could be the new Lost (something that a new series claims to be each year, but none have lived up to the hype – this certainly has the potential to be great). Fans of adventure dramas/mysteries should check this out.

Last Resort

Genre: Adventure Drama

Creator(s): Shawn Ryan

Cast: Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman, Robert Patrick, Autumn Reeser, Daisy Betts, Dichen Lachman, and Jessy Schram

Channel: ABC

Premiere Date: September 27, 2012

Plot Summary: While out on patrol, the USS Colorado, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, is relayed orders to fire nuclear missiles towards Pakistan. The order is given without confirmation or explanation, thus the commanding officer Captain Marcus Chaplin refuses to carryout it out, and loses his command. The vessel’s XO also refuses the order, and the sub is fired upon and the crew is left for dead. However, they survive and take refuge on the island of Sainte Marina. As enemies of their own country, they declare the island a sovereign nation with nuclear capability, while also trying to find out who set them up. 

Why It Made the List: Last Resort is the new series from Shawn Ryan, one of TV’s great talents. He is responsible for The Shield and The Chicago Code. He also worked on season two of Angel, and executively produced Terriers (one of the great short-lived series) and The Unit. Writer Karl Gajdusek (who worked on Dead Like Me) is executively producing the show with Ryan. The Shield is one of the greatest TV series of all-time, and so whenever Ryan is working on a new show it is well worth paying attention and checking it out (though, with Terriers and The Chicago Code, he has had bad luck on his last two projects). Fans of adventure/action dramas should tune in.

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TV Preview 2012/2013 – 25 Must-See Series, Part 1: 25-21

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Happy Endings

Rank: 25

Genre: Comedy

Creator(s): David Caspe

Cast: Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans, Jr., and Casey Wilson

Current Season: Third

Channel: ABC

Return Date: October 23, 2012

Plot Summary: Set in Chicago, the sitcom centers around six friends facing the struggles of adulthood.

Why It Made the List: Basically, Happy Endings is the best ‘Friends’ comedy on TV right now (taking over from How I Met Your Mother and maybe The Big Bang Theory which have both sort of fizzled out and become overly repetitive and tired). The show is very funny led by the antics and great performances of Coupe, Pally and Wayans, Jr. While season one was funny, it struggled a bit and the show was almost cancelled. However, season two is fantastic, propelling Happy Endings into the conversation discussing the best sitcoms on network television. It is defiantly worth checking out for fans of shows like HIMYM and Community (as it shares a similar scene of humor).

The Office

Rank: 24

Genre: Comedy

Creator(s): Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

Cast: Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms, Ellie Kemper, Craig Robinson, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Kate Flannery, Creed Bratton, and Oscar Nunez

Current Season: Ninth

Channel: NBC

Return Date: September 20, 2012

Plot Summary: Set as a mockumentary, the series presents the day-to-day exploits of the employees of Dunder-Mifflin’s Stanton, PA, branch – romances, ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, friendships, and so on.

Why It Made the List: The eighth season of The Office, its first without Michael Scott (Steve Carell), is the weakest so far. The ninth season also faces many challenges as the show is losing its executive producers, writers and actors Mindy Kaling and Paul Lieberstein. B.J. Novak (actor/writer) is also going to appear in less episodes, and Wilson is going to be leaving midway through the season for a Dwight spin-off. Clark Duke and Jake Lacy are joining the cast as new members of the office (much like Kemper did in season five or Helms in season three), and writer/producer Brent Forrester (with the show since season three) is taking over as executive producer along with new series writer Dan Sterling. This season will be pivotal to whether or not the show is cancelled or continues on, phasing out old cast members and bringing in new cast members (similar to the way Grey’s Anatomy has progressed). This show barely made this list, but I am giving it the benefit of the doubt as seasons two through seven were all quite good. I hope it can find some rejuvenating magic with the new writers and cast members and return to is spot among TV’s best five comedies.

Girls

Rank: 23

Genre: Comedy

Creator(s): Lena Dunham

Cast: Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Adam Driver, Jemima Kirke, and Zosia Mamet

Current Season: Second

Channel: HBO

Return Date: April 2013

Plot Summary: The series is about the experiences of women in the early twenties in New York City.

Why It Made the List: Dunham and Judd Apatow have given HBO a new modern version of Sex and the City (for the more hipsterish/slacker crowd) with Girls. Dunham is a great new voice for woman on TV, both as the show’s star and its creator/writer (of every episode). TV, like film, is short on female voices, and Dunham brings one that speaks to her generation on their level, and is fresh and different. Girls is not a comedy that is going to work for everyone, as it is specifically stylized for younger viewers, but for fans it offers a unique almost interactive relatable experience (especially for those in urban settings).

Shameless

Rank: 22

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Creator(s): Paul Abbott

Cast: Emmy Rossum, William H. Macy, Justin Chatwin, Ethan Cutkosky, Shanola Hampton, Steve Howey, Emma Kenney, Cameron Monaghan, Jeremy Allen White, Laura Wiggins, and Joan Cusack

Current Season: Third

Channel: Showtime

Return Date: January 2013

Plot Summary: The Gallaghers are a poor family living in Chicago. Their mother left and has a new family and their father is in a perpetual alcohol induced stupor. Led by the oldest Fiona, the six kids work together to get by and stay together as a family.

Why It Made the List: Shameless has replaced Weeds as Showtime’s best comedy/drama (as Weeds has rapidly declined in quality). While it is dramatically compelling with great characters and writing (which is to be expected coming from Abbott – who gave us the fantastic miniseries State of Play), it is the crude comedy that often takes center stage and makes this series stand out (much like another Showtime comedy Californication). However, unlike many comedy/dramas on television, Shameless is also steeped in reality and is very relatable, as it touches often on fundamental emotions (while still being silly at times). Fans of family oriented comedies and dramas who do not mind more adult and crude material should really enjoy this series.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Rank: 21

Genre: Comedy

Creator(s): Rob McElhenney

Cast: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito

Current Season: Eighth

Channel: FX

Return Date: September 2012

Plot Summary: Charlie, Dennis, Mac, Dee, and Frank own an Irish bar in Philadelphia. Each member of the group has an overabundance of arrogance and a huge ego mixed with sheer cluelessness and insensitivity, often leading the group into wacky misadventures and extensive arguments.

Why It Made the List: Simply put, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is one of the funniest comedies on TV. Even after seven seasons, the material still works and feels fresh (which very often not the case). The antics of the group are just a pleasure to share in. This series is a must-see for fans of un-politically correct, zany and awkward humor.

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TV Preview 2011/2012 – 25 Must See Series, Part 1: 25-21

Has television programming ever been better than it is right now? Not in terms of great individual shows, but in terms of lots of really great shows (many of which did not make this list, and I had some tough decisions) on the air right now. This is a list of the best twenty five series in the upcoming 2011/2012 season.

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True Blood

Rank: 25

Genre: Fantasy Horror/Romance

Network: HBO

Creator(s): Alan Ball

Cast:  Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, and Alexander Skarsgard

Premier Date: June 26, 2011

Current Season: Fourth

Plot Summary: The series is about Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress working in rural Louisiana who discovers a new world of creatures, falling in love with a vampire named Bill Compton.

Why It Made the List: While True Blood is a bit on the over-dramatic side (like a supernatural soap opera), there is no denying that it is a great series featuring wonderful imagery and characters (typical of most HBO dramas). This is a show I always look forward to each season, regardless of how crazy it gets. Paquin, Moyer and especially Skarsgard have really made this show great, as well as the other actors. Deborah Ann Woll is also brilliant. While not all the stories and narrative arcs have been strong, Ball’s best stuff is outstanding (I love all the material with the characters Sophie-Anne Leclerq and Godric). This is a must for fans of romance and/or supernatural genre shows.

The Big Bang Theory

Rank: 24

Genre: Comedy

Network: CBS

Creator(s): Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady

Cast: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nyyar

Premier Date: September 22, 2011

Current Season: Fifth

Plot Summary: The series is about a young woman who moves across the hall from two physicists, who are brilliant but socially awkward. While hesitant at first, she befriends them becoming part of their group of friends.

Why It Made the List: The Big Bang Theory at its best is very funny, sweet and even dramatically engaging. But, many of the episodes are repetitive to an extent. Also, (and maybe this is just me) the character of Leonard is not nearly likable enough to be the main protagonist. Parsons’s Sheldon Cooper and Cuoco’s Penny are both great characters and carry the show, and make it worth watching and very enjoyable despite the joke-scheme becoming a little tired. This is a must for fans of sitcom comedies, especially if you identify with these characters.

Modern Family

Rank: 23

Genre: Comedy

Network: ABC

Creator(s): Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd

Cast: Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, and Ty Burrell

Premier Date: September 21, 2011

Current Season: Third

Plot Summary: The series is about three families (all related to one-and-other) and trials and tribulations they go through each day.

Why It Made the List: Modern Family started out very funny in season one only to get better in season two. The dynamic between the three families is great – how they interact both with each other and within their own family unit. The mundane normalcy of life is done in a hysterical fashion of slapstick and awkward comedy. This is one of the best sitcom comedies on TV, and while it plays better for 25 year-olds and older viewers who can relate with the characters it is still worth checking out for younger viewers as well.

How I Met Your Mother

Rank: 22

Genre: Comedy

Network: CBS

Creator(s): Carter Bays and Craig Thomas

Cast: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, and Alyson Hannigan

Premier Date: September 19, 2011

Current Season: Seventh

Plot Summary: The series is the story of how Ted Mosby met his wife, as told to his kids through a series of antidotal stories.

Why It Made the List: How I Met Your Mother is great because it has a wonderful cast. NPH steals many an episode. The show took a little dip in quality in season five, as creators Bays and Thomas were developing a new show in addition to running HIMYM. But, season six was much better and a return to form (though, still not as great as the first three seasons). The seasons are uneven in terms of episode to episode quality, but season six had some really good stuff. The show has sort of a limited timeline in its future as Ted is well past thirty now and needs to meet his wife. Season seven has been rumored to be the show’s last – but a change in format once Ted meets his wife could prolong it. HIMYM also has had a fantastic group of guest actors (both for single episodes and season arcs), and I look forward to see who will show up in season seven. This is a must for fans of shows like Friends, as this is essentially this generation’s Friends.

Treme

Rank: 21

Genre: Drama

Network: HBO

Creator(s): Eric Overmyer and David Simon

Cast: Kim Dickens, Melissa Leo, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, and Steve Zahn

Premier Date: Spring 2012

Current Season: Third

Plot Summary: The series is about the city of New Orleans – recovering, reinventing and rejuvenating its identity after Hurricane Katrina.

Why It Made the List: First thing you need to know about Treme is that it is by David Simon who also created The Wire and Generation Kill – both of which are excellent. Next, the cast is fabulous (featuring a number of The Wire alumni). Third, it is an HBO drama, which means it has marvelous character work and is not afraid to go down any narrative road. And fourth, the show incorporates the music of New Orleans – its heart and soul. Fans of HBO dramas life Six Feet Under should check Treme out.

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Fall TV Preview – 2010 – Part 1: ABC

LeapBackBlog’s Fall TV Preview gives you a rundown of the good stuff that is out there – and there is so much of it, too much really. It is broken down by network – ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, The CW, and then shows on Cable. Finally, I list the top five shows most worth your time this fall.

Here is the stuff worth checking out:

Part 1: ABC - No Ordinary Family, Grey's Anatomy and Modern Family

ABC

No Ordinary Family (premiers – Sep 28, 8PM)

Synopsis: The new show is about a committed cop, Jim Powell, and his family. He has been married to his wife, a respected scientist, Stephanie for 16 years and things are not as good as they once were. They both have demanding jobs and are losing touch with their two teenage kids, Daphne and JJ. In an effort to reconnect as a family, they decide to take a vacation to South America as a family when Stephanie is sent there on a business trip – but it is cut short. Their plane crashes into the Amazon River – somehow they survive and shake it off, returning to their normal lives. But something is different – they have developed superpowers.

Why Should You Watch: First off the show stars Michael Chiklis (The Shield), Julie Benz (Angel, Dexter), Romany Malco (Weeds, The 40 Year Old Virgin), Autumn Reeser (The O.C., Entourage), and Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) – maybe the best cast of all the new shows. Second, the show’s co-creators, Greg Berlanti and Jon Harmon Feldman have worked on Dawson’s Creek, Roswell, Everwood, Tru Calling, Eli Stone, and Brothers & Sisters.  Berlanti is also attached as a producer to the upcoming Green Lantern and possible The Flash movies. But credits aside, the main reason to watch this show is for the potential for great characters crafted by wonderful actors (especially Chiklis, really you must watch The Shield) – Malco and Chiklis should have some fun stuff between them.

Potential Issues: Do we really need another superhero show? Heroes imploded completely – a cool fresh show turned into a show in which no one could care less if any or all characters suddenly died – not good. Heroes left a bad taste in the mouth of fans of superhero-type fare. Co-creators Berlanti and Feldman have not brought forth a hit show – Eli Stone was decent but unsuccessful. Their other show Dirty Sexy Money had an abysmal season two (critically and ratings wise) and was cancelled.

Verdict: This is a must check out show – at least the first few episodes until it is clear if this is a win or a fail. There is enough awesomeness here to give it a chance. Let’s just call the verdict ‘pending’.

Grey’s Anatomy (season 7 premiers Sep 23, 9PM)

Synopsis: The medical drama is about Meredith Grey and her friends and colleagues and their trials and tribulations at Seattle Grace Hospital.

Why Should You Watch: Being that the show is a serial drama and this being its seventh season, chances are either you watch it or do not already – but should you decide to jump in here, after a few episodes you will know the characters and the new arches will carry you forward with the story. The show does boast quite a cast with leads Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, and James Pickens, Jr. as well as newer characters that have been great additions played by Eric Dane, Chyler Leigh, Kevin McKidd (yes, I have to mention Rome, he is in it, watch it), Jessica Capshaw, and Kim Raver (among others). The show also has some good single episode and short-arch stories and characters/actors. The big arches for the leads and primary supporting players can be very good, and if you allow yourself to be sucked into the nonsense (aka, not be bothered by how much drama is seemingly artificially forced into the show) you will find yourself cheering with and for your favorite characters (kind of a backhanded compliment – but I watch the show).

Potential Issues: At this point the characters have sort of become caricatures of themselves and the absurdly dramatic theatrics that occur in the show have driven away some fans – will this continue to get worse or be tempered by good storytelling? Hopefully it will be the later, but the former does show its eye-rolling/gag-inducing head now and then.

Verdict: For those that still like it – it is fun to follow and the characters are some of the better developed ones on TV (they have gone through a lot after all).

Modern Family (season 2 premiers Sep 22, 9PM)

Synopsis: A comedy sitcom about three interconnected families who each and together have everyday misadventures and trials that play in a satirical way.

Why Should You Watch: The cast is brilliant and extremely funny – Ed O’Neill (Married with Children), Eric Stonestreet (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) and Ty Burrell (Out of Practice) kill it. The writing is also very funny and pointed – what makes it great is that it is ridiculous but completely relatable. It is the best family-centric comedy on TV. It won the 2010 Emmy for best comedic series.

Potential Issues: Season one was so good, can season two really live up to it?

Verdict: Really funny, a must watch for those looking to laugh.