Project Fandom Fall TV Guide 2012

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While I don’t watch nearly as much TV as I used to - my household is now down to two TiVos from four - I still love it. It seems the past few seasons of television has been really blah, or at least not as good as what I like to call The Golden Age of Television. You know, around 2005-2010 when all the great shows were on: LOST, Battlestar Galactica, 24, etc. Oh, we still have a few shining stars like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones, but those are all on once a year. Whatever happened to good old network television?

There was a time when every night of the week - from September to May - had something good on one of the four major networks. Hell, Thursday nights were the reason we needed four TiVos because it seemed like ALL the good TV came on that night. Now, I have a hard time remembering anything besides ER.

Anyway, I want to feel excited about TV again, and not just every March when Game of Thrones returns or every October when The Walking Dead starts. Below, I’ve highlighted some new fall debuts that have promise and listed the return dates for some favorites. (Shows in red are shows I actually watch.)

Sunday

Returning:

• CBS
  • The Good Wife (9/30)
  • The Amazing Race (9/30)
  • The Mentalist (9/30)
• ABC
  • Once Upon a Time (9/30)
  • Revenge (9/30)
• FOX
  • The Simpsons (9/30)
  • American Dad (9/30)
  • Family Guy (9/30)

New:

• 666 Park Avenue (ABC) - 9/30

 

ABC’s 666 Park Avenue is on the top of my list of highly anticipated new shows. It’s based off a novel of the same name and takes place in an expensive apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side called The Drake. The building’s owners are a married couple played by Terry O’Quinn (Locke on LOST) and Vanessa Williams (most recently on Desperate Housewives). I’ll let that marinate for a minute. Locke is married to Vanessa Fucking Williams! I’m glad to see ABC keeping the talented Lady V employed after ending both Ugly Betty and DH, and I’m curious to see what kind of chemistry she has with O’Quinn, who we know can play spooky from his turn as Locke/The Man in Black.

 

As the residents of the swank building realize that all their dreams are coming true, they learn that they may have signed more than a lease. They may have signed over their souls.

http://youtu.be/PQy44VCA-w0

Monday

Returning:

• CBS
  • How I Met Your Mother (9/24)
  • Mike & Molly (9/24)
  • 2 Broke Girls (9/24)
• FOX
  • Bones (9/17)
• NBC
  • The Voice (9/10)
  • Grimm (8/13)
• ABC
  • Dancing with the Stars (9/24)
  • Castle (9/24)
• CW
  • 90210 (10/8)
  • Gossip Girl (10/8)

New: 

• Partners (NBC) - 9/24
• Revolution (NBC) - 9/17
• The Mob Doctor (FOX) - 9/17

I’m a huge J.J. Abrams fan so I’m watching Revolution. Sure, he made Alcatraz, but he also made Felicity, Alias, and LOST, and he directed Star Trek and Super 8. For that, he has my allegiance. Check out the trailer:

 

http://youtu.be/JwfCRAtkYEI

Tuesday

Returning

• CBS
  • NCIS (9/25)
  • NCIS: Los Angeles (9/25)
• NBC
  • Parenthood (9/11)
• FOX
  • The New Girl (9/25)
• ABC
  • Don’t Trust the B**** in Apt. 23 (10/23)
  • Happy Endings (10/23)
  • Private Practice (10/25)

New

• Vegas (CBS) - 9/25
• The New Normal (NBC) - 9/11

Vegas is a drama which blends both grit and glitz as it tells the true story struggle between the law and the mob in 1960’s Las Vegas. I’m willing to give it a go since it stars both Dennis Quaid (first time doing television) and Michael Chiklis (The Shield, No Ordinary Family).

 

http://youtu.be/RuHRnqMkwXY

Wednesday

Returning

• CBS
  • Survivor: Philippines (9/19)
  • Criminal Minds (9/26)
  • CSI (9/26)
• NBC
  • Law & Order: SVU (9/26)
• FOX
  • The X-Factor (9/12)
• ABC
  • The Middle (9/26)
  • Modern Family (9/26)
  • Suburgatory (10/17)
• CW
  • Supernatural (10/10)

New

• Chicago Fire (NBC) 10/10
• Nashville (ABC) 10/10
• Arrow (CW) 10/10

First of all, why the hell do I have to wait so long for Supernatural to return? October? Pffft. And as much I love Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights, American Horror Story), I’m not sure Nashville is for me. It seems to be another attempt to bring back the nighttime serial (90210, Dallas, etc.)

 

http://youtu.be/mB9WHtAv7ts

Correction: I just watched that trailer… Connie Britton may be enough.

Thursday

Returning

• CBS
  • Two and a Half Men (9/27)
  • Big Bang Theory (9/27)
  • Person of Interest (9/27)
• NBC
  • 30 Rock (9/20)
  • Parks and Recreation (9/20)
  • The Office (9/20)
• FOX
  • Glee (9/13)
• ABC
  • Grey’s Anatomy (9/27)
  • Scandal (9/27)
• CW
  • The Vampire Diaries (10/11)

New

• Elementary (CBS) 9/27
• Beauty & the Beast (CW) 10/11

 

I am a huge fan of BBC’s Sherlock. It’s so smart and well-written. And of course, there’s this: 

He will always be my Sherlock. But I will give CBS’ adaptation, Elementary, a shot. It stars Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes relocated to NYC with a female Watson played by Lucy Liu. I’ve give it five episodes to work its magic.

 

Friday

Returning

• CBS
  • CSI: NY (9/28)
  • Blue Bloods (9/28)
• NBC
  • Whitney (10/19)
  • Community (10/19)
  • Grimm (moves to Fridays 9/21)
• FOX
  • Fringe (9/28)
• ABC
  • Shark Tank (9/14)
• CW
  • America’s Next Top Model (10/19)
  • Nikita (10/19)

The only thing of note on Friday nights, it seems, is that Fringe returns this September 14th for its final season. *sob*

 

 

Cable Shows:

• Boardwalk Empire (HBO) 9/16
• Dexter (SHO) 9/30
• The Walking Dead (AMC) 10/14
• Homeland (SHO) 9/30

 

Which returning shows are you most looking forward to seeing? How about the new ones? Which will you definitely be checking out?

If you’re interested in recapping a show for VaginaCon, drop us an email at vaginacon(at)gmail(dot)com. We’ll explain what’s involved and determine if the show is a good fit for our site and readers. To get an idea of what we’re looking for, check out our recaps for True Blood, The Newsroom, and Falling Skies.  We will be recapping Dexter, Doctor Who, The Walking Dead, Downton Abbey, Guys With Kids, Being Human (US), and The New Girl.