It’s been a long dry spell, but this month fall television is finally back in session. Expect to see some old favorites, some new hits and some startling story lines. Here’s my take on what to look out for.
Matthew Perry is back on television this season with his new NBC comedy Go On (Tuesdays, 9 PM). The former Friends actor plays sports anchor Ryan King, who attends group therapy after the death of his wife. The motley crew of group members promises lots of laughs, as we saw during this year’s Olympics, where Go On was featured in parody commercials with former Olympian Shawn Johnson, and a post-closing ceremonies preview episode.
Also new and exciting on NBC this season is Glee-creator Ryan Murphy’s comedy The New Normal (Tuesdays, 9:30 PM). The New Normal features Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells as David and Bryan, a gay couple looking to become parents. They choose a surrogate named Goldie (Georgia King) to carry their child and soon Goldie, her daughter Shania (Bebe Wood) and her outspoken, homophobic mother Jane (Ellen Barkin), all become part of David and Bryan’s growing family. Reality TV star NeNe Leakes also joins the cast as Bryan’s assistant, Rocky. The New Normal promises to be a new take on the modern American family…sound familiar?
Season four of fan favorite Modern Family is shaking things up for the extended Pritchett clan. Sexy step-mother Gloria (Sofia Vergara) is pregnant, which means lots of changes for everyone. Jay’s (Ed O’Neill) daughter Claire (Julie Bowen) will be fascinated by Gloria’s surprise pregnancy, and Gloria’s young son Manny (Rico Rodriguez) will be nervous as ever about taking on the role of big brother. With daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) in preschool, Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) will have new parenting difficulties as Lily struggles to get along with one of her classmates.
Things are also changing on The Big Bang Theory this season. Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) is officially Mrs. Howard Wolowitz, and married life is off to a soaring start for the couple as Howard (Simon Helberg) prepares for a mission to space on this season of CBS’ nerdy comedy. Romance is also in the air for Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) this season: Amy is fed up with Sheldon’s lackluster loving and plans to step their relationship up a notch. And watch out for more Leonard/Penny troubles this season as Penny (Kaley Cuoco) responds to Leonard’s (Johnny Galecki) marriage proposal.
Can you imagine the Big Bang crew without electricity? NBC’s third new show Revolution (Sept. 17 at 10 PM) takes place fifteen years in the future, when the world’s electricity has been wiped out by an unknown force, sending the world back to the days of farming and hunting. Teen heroine Charlie (Tracy Spirdakos) is reminiscent of Katniss from The Hunger Games in her fearless quest to find her brother, who was kidnapped by a military group that killed their father. Charlie is aided by her uncle Miles, a crusty character played by Billy Burke. Expect lots of flashbacks to create a backstory, but producer J.J. Abrams tells Entertainment Weekly, “The mystery of why the power went out isn’t as interesting as the quest to turn it back on.”
Star power, however, is still alive and well on ABC’s new show Nashville. After the success of musical shows like Glee and Smash, ABC is hoping for a hit with this country-themed drama that takes place in — you guessed it, Nashville. Connie Britton (an alum of Friday Night Lights and American Horror Story) plays Rayna Jaymes, an experienced country singer who’s quickly losing her edge to rising newcomer Juliette Barnes (played by Hayden Panettiere). Soapy drama will run rampant as both Rayna and Juliette compete for the skills (and the affections) of Deacon, Rayna’s guitarist and former boyfriend. Both Britton and Panettiere will be singing throughout the show, and you can expect guest singing appearances by members of Civil Wars and other country crooners.
Speaking of singing, The Voice is back and ready for action on NBC. Amid several judging changes on our favorite singing shows, The Voice (NBC, Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 PM) has stayed true to its fab four: Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, and Blake Shelton (although Cee Lo has been spotted with a parrot this season instead of his usual Persian cat). Instead, The Voice is switching up their contestant routine with twelve hours of blind auditions and a new feature called the Steal, where coaches can take up to two contestants from their fellow judges. Also new (and unlikely to last) this season: Adam Levine tells Entertainment Weekly, “Christina and I are no longer bickering like brother and sister. We’re all just kind of getting along.” Can’t get enough Adam Levine? Catch him on American Horror Story this season as well.
American Horror Story is back on FX starting October 17 at 10 PM, this time with a new setting and several new cast members. Maroon 5’s Adam Levine plays Leo, a husband visiting the supposedly deserted Briarcliff Asylum with his new wife Teresa, played by Jenna Dewan-Tatum (yes, the lucky wife of Magic Mike hunk Channing Tatum). Jessica Lange is back to terrify viewers, this time as Sister Jude, a Catholic nun ministering over Briarcliff in its heyday (circa 1964), when it was an asylum for the criminally insane. The infamous Rubber Man has been replaced by a deadly killer called Bloody Face; new monsters will come to light as the season progresses and that’s all I can tell you without some major spoilers.
In other cable TV news, season three of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (beginning Sept. 16 at 9 PM) has lots of changes in store for city treasurer (and resident mob boss) Enoch “Nucky” Thompson and his gang. As the 1920s dawn upon Atlantic City, the town will be shaken up by several new faces. Gyp Rossetti (played by Bobby Cannavalle) will fill the gaping hole left by the untimely death of Nucky’s former ally Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) in the explosive finale of the second season. “It’s fairly unprecedented that you would kill the second lead this early in a series,” creator Terence Winter told USA Today, but all signs are clear that Jimmy will not be returning to the show. His twisted mother Gillian (Gretchen Mol) is still around, and you can expect her to pick up a new line of work in order to support Jimmy’s orphaned son.
This fall is shaping up to be a pretty exciting TV season for everyone. There are family-themed comedies (Modern Family, The New Normal), fun reality shows (The Voice) and intriguing dramas (Nashville, Revolution). Everyone is sure to find something they will enjoy.
Illustration by Isabel Ulatowski
Thanks for previewing this years crop of new shows, Jessica. So far, the only one that has caught my eye is Go On. I just got finished with Tuesdays episode; I work nights at DISH, so I rely on my Hopper DVR and the Primetime Anytime feature to record my network shows. I have found that this show has grown on me with every episode. While it isn’t new network show, I am looking forward to this season of American Horror Story. It was one of the few shows from last season that really left me wanting more.