Fall TV Schedule

Here it is: a roundup of the good, the mediocre/bad, and the ugly. Also, the status and reviews of this fall's new shows. What's missing from this list? Breaking Bad, the United States of Tara, and Flight of the Conchords as their season premieres have not been announced (with the exception of the FotC which may not see a third season. Sad, sad face. I hope Bret/Jemaine opt to do one or else I'll cry myself a river.) Also missing are the season premieres of 24 and Lost, which premiere in 2010. 24's 8th season will premiere on January 17th, 2010 and Lost's last season will premiere early February.

SUNDAY:

• 8pm: The Amazing Race (CBS): About: adventures throughout the world with teams who compete for $1 mil. With an endless amount of new locations and interesting challenges, this show never disappoints and I'm happy to watch it season after season.
  >>Up against: Extreme Makeover (ABC), The Simspons/The Cleveland Show (FOX), Sunday Night football (NBC)
  

• 9pm: Dexter (Showtime): About: A serial killer that doubles as a blood splatter analyst for the Miami P.D. I have a love/hate relationship with this show. The tension in last season was great and Jimmy Smits pretty much stole the show. However, I have gripes about the dialogue in this show. It's too cheesy and can be very distracting. I'm watching to see if this season can match up to the last. John Lithgow guest stars as the elusive serial killer and villain this season.
  >>Up against: Desperate Housewives (ABC), Three Rivers (CBS), Family Guy (FOX), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
  

• 10pm: Mad Men (AMC): About: An ad agency set in the 50s. There is a reason why this is AMC's shiny hit show two seasons in a row. Great actors, great scripts. Worth watching. I'd warm up to it a little more if it wasn't such tight awards season competition against my all time fave: House.
  >>Up against: Brothers and Sisters (ABC), Cold Case (CBS), Californication (Showtime)
  

MONDAY:

• 8pm: House (FOX): About: A dysfunctional, but genius diagnostic doctor. If it wasn't already painfully obvious, I'm the biggest fan of this show. I will continue to pimp this show for all it's worth until the bitter end. With that said, I thought last season ended with a great finale, and this season's opener blew me away. I loved the 2 hour cinema-style premiere. Definitely, definitely worth watching as Hugh Laurie and company continue to deliver. Stay tuned for major character changes this season.
  >>Up against: Dancing with the Stars (ABC), How I Met Your Mother (CBS), One Tree Hill (CW), Heroes (NBC)
  
  
• 9pm: No pick. What's on: Dancing with the Stars (ABC), Two and a Half Men/Big Bang Theory (CBS), Lie to Me (FOX) Gossip Girl (CW), Trauma (NBC)
  
  

TUESDAY:
Honestly, Tuesday is a tank for TV. FOX should move Fringe back to Tuesdays so it doesn't have to compete with a slew of other shows worth watching. Take a look of what's on:

• 8pm: NCIS (CBS), The Biggest Loser (NBC), 90210 (CW)
• 9pm: Dancing with the Stars, after that concludes, Scrubs/Better Off with Ted (ABC), NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), The Biggest Loser (NBC), Melrose Place (CW)
• 10pm: The Forgotten (ABC), The Good Wife (CBS), Sons of Anarchy (FX)
  

WEDNESDAY:

• 8pm: No pick for 8pm. I'm ambivalent towards ABC's new 8pm comedy programming and NBC's new medical drama, Mercy. What's on: Hank/The Middle (ABC), The New Adventures of Old Christine/Gary Unmarried (CBS), So You Think You Can Dance (FOX), Mercy (NBC), America's Next Top Model (CW)
  
  
• 9pm: Glee (FOX) About: a high school glee club, I am big fan of FOX's new musical comedy and I am a big fan of the show's creator, Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck, Popular). I've been loving the upbeat feel and musical injections. Watch to see how they mashup the classics with more modern hits.
  Honorable Mentions: Modern Family (ABC): This is ABC's underdog. I watched the fall preview of this show without much excitement, but this show is surprisingly great. Also, Law&Order: SVU (NBC): great guest stars this season, which include Wentworth Miller (Prisonbreak) and Eric McCormack (Will&Grace).
  >>Up against: Cougar Town 9:30 (ABC), Criminal Minds (CBS)
• 10pm: No pick. What's on: Eastwick (ABC), CSI: NY (CBS)
  
  

THURSDAY:
This is by far, the most concentrated, densely grouped night. There are too many good shows on, all competing for the top spot and because of that, I'm constantly trying to keep up.

• 8pm: Vampire Diaries (CW) About: A teen falls in love with a vampire, This is a new fall show, and it's easily CW's top ratings earner and because of that, it has received a full season pick up. This show is Twilight-esque with the slightest bit of edge. I had high hopes for ABC's Flash Forward and I wanted so much to recommend it, but it's been a disappointment. See review below.
  Honorable Mention: Bones (FOX). Watch out for Zooey Deschanel's guest spot coming up soon. It should be interesting to see her star opposite her real life sister and star of the show, Emily Deschanel. No word on whether or not it will be for just one ep, or a multi-episodal arc.
  >>Up against: Flash Forward (ABC), Survivor (CBS) Community/Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  

• 9pm: The Office/30 Rock (NBC): About: a mockumentary office comedy/a show about a show (a comedy about a variety show to be precise), This is a toss up hour for me, but I love NBC's The Office a little bit too much. Season five was a little bland at times, but this season has been great so far. Check out the episode titled 'Niagara'. I am a big fan of NBC's 30 Rock, especially after season 1 and 2, but I have to say, this show has been going a little downhill for me. It can be hilarious at times, but it's been losing its premise and plot points. Things get a little muddled and too crazy at times, and not in a funny way, just in a ridiculous way (See: season 3 finale, the ridic kidney telethon? Come on.).
  Honorable Mention: Fringe (FOX): I love this show, and I'm happy it got another season. Joshua Jackson and John Noble are just too amazing on this show. Plus, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is on it, what could beat that?
  >>Up against: Grey's Anatomy (ABC), CSI (CBS), Supernatural (CW)
  
  
• 10pm: No pick, but ABC's Private Practice is still going strong, along with CBS' The Mentalist, and FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
  
  

FRIDAY:
No picks for Friday, either. Friday is where shows go to die (i.e. NBC's Southland recent cancellation). It's not a strong ratings night, which is not surprising since everyone is usually out and about at the end of the work week, and all shows on this night are pretty much suffering, including ABC's once immensely popular Ugly Betty. Fox's eleventh hour save last season, Dollhouse, has also been moved to this night and it's not looking good. Syfy's Stargate Atlantis has been kicking it's butt in ratings. Translation? Cable network performing better than a primetime TV? Yikes. Looks like Dollhouse may be headed for another fate of cancellation chopping block. Here's what's on:

• 8pm: Supernanny (ABC), The Ghost Whisperer (CBS), Brothers/'Til Death (FOX), Law&Order (NBC), Smallville (CW)
• 9pm: Ugly Betty (ABC), Dollhouse (FOX), Medium (CBS), Stargate Universe (Syfy), Monk (USA)
• 10pm: 20/20 (ABC), Numb3rs (CBS), White Collar (USA)
  

NEWBIE ROUNDUP: Which new fall shows to watch, and which ones that have been picked up, or in danger of cancellation.

ABC:

1. Eastwick, This show plays off the premise of the Witches of Eastwick (a John Updike novel), but the plot is muddled and cheesy. Status: In danger. Verdict: skip it.
   
2. Hank, ABC uses Kelsey Grammer's star power to fuel this show, but the show itself is alot of fluff. Verdict: skip it.
   
3. The Middle, This show is alot like Malcolm in the Middle, so it's a little difficult to differentiate, and because of that, I'm iffy. Status: back nine picked up, Verdict: DVR it.
   
4. Modern Family, Surprisingly really great, and very enjoyable. The relationships aren't shallow and actually have some depth and the characters are very lovable and hilarious. Status: back nine, Verdict: watch it.
   
5. Cougar Town, I wanted to like this show because it stars Courtney Cox Arquette, but it's just unfunny and it tries too hard. Status: back nine. Verdict: skip it.
   
6. Flash Forward: I had high hopes for this show. Previews looked awesome, the premise was strong (the whole world blacks out and sees a small glimpse of the future) and it looked like it could be a hit (with a very Lost-esque feel), but it just wasn't so. It continues to disappoint. Because I had such high hopes, I will continue to watch and hope it'll get better, but so far, it's not looking so good. Verdict: DVR it.
7. The Forgotten, a very appropriate title as I nearly forgot it from this list. Verdict: skip it.
   

CBS:

1. Three Rivers, It's harsh, but this hospital show just bores me. Verdict: skip it.
   
2. NCIS: Los Angeles, alot more action oriented and alot less funny than the original NCIS. Verdict: skip it.
   
3. The Good Wife, Great cast (Julianna Margulies, Chris Noth), and promising premise of a woman caught in a political scandal with her state attorney husband. Verdict: watch it.
   

CW:

1. Melrose Place, Bad reviews, bad ratings=not a good sign. Status: CW orders 5 more eps, Verdict: skip it.
2. Vampire Diaries, CW's ratings earner. No brainer for a pick up. Status: full season pick up, Verdict: watch it.
   

NBC:

1. Trauma, Nothing in particular about this show stands out as an original medical drama. Status: in danger. Verdict: Skip it.
2. Community, I want to like this show because it seems like it has potential, especially with Joel McHale as the show's star, but I'm iffy as it doesn't seem too funny to me. Status: *edit* back nine, Verdict: DVR it.
   
3. Mercy, I'm not too impressed with this show as it tends to fade into the background of many other shows with similar premises (i.e. the long running ER). It has started to pick up in ratings, so we'll see how it goes. It may surprise us. Status: *edit* back nine, Verdict: DVR/skip it

FOX:

1. Glee: I already reviewed this show above, so it should be pretty obvious where I stand, and where the critics stand. Status: full season pick up, Verdict: watch it
2. Brothers, Status: in danger, Verdict: skip it.