TV lineup for fall annouced
Now that “Pretty Little Liars’” summer season has come to a close, it is time we look at what else is coming on television this fall.
This fall’s TV lineup definitely goes to the girls. Both NBC and ABC have given prime-time slots to shows featuring leading ladies. ABC is featuring both “Charlie’s Angels” and “Pan Am.” These two shows hope to replace fallen dramas “Brothers and Sisters” and “Off the Map” from last season. To achieve this goal, ABC will have to revitalize the 60s with the help of three new angels and vintage-styled stewardesses.
NBC plans to add to the 60s throwback with “Playboy Club.” This show has already received big hype in the news. NBC takes a risk with such a sexually themed TV show during prime time. It is definitely not a typical family show, with the ladies of Playboy in their signature bunny suits.
FOX tries to compete with the estrogen-filled schedule with the new comedy “The New Girl.” Although it’s unknown how much of an audience this show will draw, critics are giving rave reviews of funny front woman Zooey Deschannel.
Another comedy hoping to enter the neighborhood of the prime-time powerhouse comedies is “Up All Night.” Saturday Night Live star Maya Rudolph and Christina Applegate, making her return to TV after a stint with breast cancer, make up the cast of this new show about parenting.
Comedies and dramas are not the only prime-time genres with new shows this fall. Science fiction and fantasy fans, get ready for three big premieres.
For the fans of “Avatar” and “Jurassic Park,” there comes Steven Spielberg’s creation “Terra Nova” on FOX. With the world no longer safe to live in, humans flee back in time to when the dinosaurs roamed to set up the beginnings of a new world.
Accompanying the dinosaurs is a new breed of fairytales for television. ABC offers “Once Upon A Time,” and NBC introduces “Grimm.”
“Lost” creator JJ Abrams is at it again. No more islands or science fiction; this time, it’s just criminal investigation in “Person of Interest” on CBS.
Also coming to television this fall is the widely talked about “X-Factor,” a talent show and signing competition from Simon Cowell, who tries to outdo his already popular series “American Idol” with this British phenomenon. Who knows how this UK invasion will turn out in the U.S.
Finally, for teenage girls addicted to “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill” come two new CW originals, “The Ringer” and “The Hart of Dixie.” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Sarah Michelle Gellar returns in “The Ringer,” which emphasizes an unusual twist on the twin-sister bond when one sister mysteriously falls overboard during a boat trip.
Rachel Bilson leaves “The O.C.” behind for southern hospitality in “The Hart of Dixie,” where she puts her medical skills to the test in a small-town environment totally opposite from her big-city upbringing.
Besides the TV newcomers, the fall prime-time lineup also features several returning fan favorites. CBS brings back police drama “Hawaii 5-O” and Emmy winning comedies “The Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men.” The question on everyone’s mind this season is how “Two and a Half Men” will fare without Charlie Sheen, who will be replaced by comedian and actor Ashton Kutcher.
NBC keeps a game-show-heavy prime-time schedule with the return of “The Sing Off” and “Biggest Loser.” Unfortunately, “Outsourced” did not make the cut. The first American TV show based in India did not gain the support it needed to beat out the channel’s other competing programs.
FOX returns highly popular favorites such as “House” and “Glee.” Hugh Laurie seems to keep his show on top of the charts with his portrayal as the cynical Dr. House. “Glee” is all the rage nowadays, too. Unfortunately, this season marks the end of leading characters Rachel, Finn and Kurt.
A New York City “Glee” spinoff is rumored to be in the works; we hope it is!
ABC has a full prime-time schedule with veteran shows such as “Dancing with the Stars.” This program is always a hit, with celebrities dueling it out on the dance floor.
The ABC lineup also welcomes back Emmy nominated “Modern Family” and hospital drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” and Sunday nights would not be complete without the return of “Desperate Housewives.” How will writers bring Wisteria Lane to an end in this final season? We better tune in to find out.
The CW returns most fan favorites from “Vampire Diaries” to “90210”, but two of last year’s new shows, “Life Unexpected” and “Hell Cats,” just could not make an impression on the loyal CW fan base and were not asked back this fall.
Hopefully, all these new shows don’t fall prey to the same one-year lifespan.
We say goodbye to our favorite shows that did not make the cut, hello to the newcomers entering the lineup and welcome back to our returning series.
All in all, this fall primetime TV schedule looks to be a promising addition to our weeknight entertainment.