When I was a kid, those few weeks before Christmas were always the same for me. It’d start with the JC Penny Christmas catalog. It was awesome! Big, thick, catalog full of gifts, toys, and yes, some clothes (blech!). As soon as the catalog arrived, I’d sit down with a clean sheet of paper and pencil, and I’d start listing out the toys I wanted for Christmas. It was a laborious, meticulous process. First, I would list out the toys I wanted. Next, I would then organize them in order of preference: the absolute best toy first, then the next best second, and so on. Once the order of preference was established, I would then document all the necessary details per toy–page number, model number, price, ordering instruction, battery type (if needed). My goal was to make it as easy as possible for my parents to buy me Christmas presents.
It’s interesting that now as a grown up, I use a similar process for the upcoming Fall TV show pilots that are starting this month. As a producer and storyteller, I enjoy well-told stories whether television, film or webisode. And, when this time of year rolls around, just like the Christmas catalogs of yesteryear, I sit down and pour through the upcoming TV pilots to see what’s coming out. After finding some interesting new shows, I then sit down with my DVR and start scheduling them. Then, I wait, just like Christmas. Will I get what I want, or be disappointed?
Below is a list of some of the new TV shows coming out this fall. I’m not including current shows that I already watch, because they already have my loyalty. This is for a few new shows that look interesting to me.
2 Broke Girls
Comedy on Mondays at 8:30pm
This looks funny. The clips and commercials have captured my interest. It’s really just a female version of the Odd Couple, about two women with wildly different lifestyles who are thrown together as waitresses in a cafe, and end up being roommates.
Update: After watching the pilot episode last night, the show series has been removed from the DVR. It was bad. Very raunchy for a TV show. The sex jokes were not subtle and incredibly gross. Not only did I remove the series from my DVR, I had to turn it off half way through the pilot episode. That’s pretty bad!
Charlie’s Angels
Drama, Thursdays at 8pm
This has been overdone. First, an 80′s TV series with multiple seasons. Then, a couple movies. Now, another TV series. I’m not sure about this. I’ll give it one episode to see if the action and drama is different. Depends quite a lot on how they structure the series.
A Gifted Man
Drama on Fridays at 9pm
“I see dead people,” the TV show. That’s really about it, but instead of a cop (like the Sixth Sense), he’s a doctor. I don’t know about this. Sometimes these supernatural shows can drift and get all weird, but other times, they can play well, like Eli Stone. Verdict still out on this one.
Hart of Dixie
Drama on Mondays at 9pm
This looks interesting, but more something that my wife and I would watch. It’s a romantic dramedy about a young doctor who can’t make it in NY. So, she’s gets an opportunity to practice medicine in a small, southern town. It’s a “fish out of water” story, but it might be fun.
How to Be a Gentleman
Comedy on Thursdays at 8:30pm
This just looks stupid. It’ll be about sex and stereotypical guy stuff. Like that’s not been done before. I’ll pass.
Last Man Standing
Comedy on Tuesdays at 8pm
This looks fun. In Home Improvement, Tim Allen was the father of three boys. Now, it’s girls. Should provide for some fun comedy. Hopefully, we’ll be able to watch together as a family.
Once Upon a Time
Fantasy/Drama on Sundays at 8pm
This looks very interesting and very different. It’s kind of a fantasy meets real world story, and it seems to take place in two realities. It’s very unique from a storyline point of view. I’m curious about the effects and CGI work. Can they pull off quality effects for an episodic television show? I’ll check it out.
Pan Am
Drama on Sundays at 10pm
I don’t have a lot of hope for this. I’m not even sure I’ll watch the pilot episode. Looks retro and well produced, but the story lines are only interesting if you know much about the Pan Am way. I’m probably a bit too young to really understand that era. It just doesn’t look like something I would enjoy.
Person of Interest
Drama on Thursdays at 9pm
This looks very interesting. And, with quite the team: JJ Abrams, Jonah Nolan, Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel. A wealthy computer guru recruits a former CIA agent to fight crime in New York City with a high tech computer system predicts crimes before they happen. Feels a bit like Minority Report meets Deja Vu (another Caviezel project). I’m excited to see this. I enjoy good sci fis and procedurals.
Ringer
Drama on Tuesdays
This looks interesting. It’s about two twin sisters, a prostitute on drugs who sits in AA meetings, and a upscale socialite whose marriage is falling apart. The twist is that the down in the dumps poor sister takes over the identity of her socialite sister who supposedly kills herself. A decent fish out of water story. Acting isn’t that great, but the storyline is very interesting.
Update: Watched the pilot and for now, it’s staying on the DVR. Good mystery. Lots of hooks and twists. It seems a bit overly complicated. Now, socialite sister who is missing is pregnant, and not missing after all. Everyone is sleeping with everyone except their spouses. Everyone trying to kill both sisters for different reasons. It feels like they complicated the plot on purpose. We’ll see.
Suburgatory
Comedy on Wednesdays at 8:30pm
This really doesn’t look very appealing. It’s another “fish out of water” story, but I’m not sure it’ll do well. The comedy is not very strong. It’s about a high school girl who has to move from NY to a suburb school and doesn’t fit in. It feels a bit like Glee type storytelling. I don’t watch Glee.
Unforgettable
Drama on Tuesdays at 10pm
This show is based on a real life condition known as hyperthymesia, the ability to remember almost anything that happens even at the smallest detail. This will make for an interesting crime show, as she remembers every detail of the crime scenes. I’ll give this a few episodes to see if it’ll engage me enough to stay on board.
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