FALL TV
Posted On: 10/10/14
Written By: Nate Brunet
*Click images below to view larger versions.
As the MLB playoffs continue, we’ve seen some amazing performances (especially from the Orioles!) that have kept me glued to the television for the whole week. But I have to remember that baseball isn’t all that exists on television, especially since there are some great new shows coming out as we begin the fall season. From light-hearted family comedies to dark comic book adaptations, there are a handful of intriguing new series that could become future television staples. Most of these shows are a couple of episodes into their first season, but past episodes are available to watch on your cable (or satellite) provider’s On Demand service so you can catch up. As we are still early on in the season, here are six new television series that look to be the most entertaining of the year.
Red Band Society
Network: Fox
Premiere air date: Sept. 17
A coming-of-age story featuring a predominantly teenage cast, Red Band Society is a dramedy focused on a group of teenagers who are patients in the pediatric ward of a hospital. For many of the actors, this is their breakout role, and because of the young cast, the show has a Breakfast Club vibe. Emmy Award winning Margaret Nagle (Warm Springs, Boardwalk Empire) developed the characters and premise of the series, which is based off a Spanish show called Polseres vermelles (Red Band Society in English) that began airing in 2011.
Gotham
Network: Fox
Premiere air date: Sept. 22
Yes, this is the Gotham you are thinking about. Named after the famed home of Batman, we follow the early career of Detective James Gordon, played by Ben McKenzie (The OC, Southland), before he becomes Police Commissioner and close ally of Batman. Speaking of the billionaire superhero, Bruce Wayne is in this series as well, but only as a child learning how to continue life after witnessing his parents’ murder. The show will also act as an origin story for many of Batman’s classic enemies such as The Penguin and Harvey Dent.
Black-ish
Network: ABC
Premiere air date: Sept. 24
While executive producer and star Anthony Anderson is famous for his more action packed roles in productions like The Shield, Law & Order and Transformers, he’s also been the lead of a couple of family sitcoms like this one in the past. Anderson plays Andre “Dre” Johnson, the father of an upper-class African-American family with four children who goes through much cultural hilarity. Just as an example of the ridiculous plotlines in this show, in the first episode, Dre must deal with his son’s 13th birthday wish to convert to Judaism and have a Bar Mitzvah. Add in Laurence Fishburne as Dre’s father and you know this is going to be good.
Gracepoint
Network: Fox
Premiere air date: Oct. 2
I hesitated putting this show on the list because it’s only a 10-episode miniseries, but it truly looks to be one of the most engaging shows of the season. Starring Dr. Who fan-favorite David Tennant and wife of Breaking Bad’s Walter White, Anna Gunn, the two are detectives who are investigating the murder of a child in a close-knit coastal town. The show is based off British crime drama Broadchurch, which also stars Tennant and is slated to begin its second season early 2015. With a big cast, the show is said to be inferior to its British counterpart, but still a sophisticated and compelling drama.
Network: Fox
Premiere air date: Sept. 17
A coming-of-age story featuring a predominantly teenage cast, Red Band Society is a dramedy focused on a group of teenagers who are patients in the pediatric ward of a hospital. For many of the actors, this is their breakout role, and because of the young cast, the show has a Breakfast Club vibe. Emmy Award winning Margaret Nagle (Warm Springs, Boardwalk Empire) developed the characters and premise of the series, which is based off a Spanish show called Polseres vermelles (Red Band Society in English) that began airing in 2011.
Gotham
Network: Fox
Premiere air date: Sept. 22
Yes, this is the Gotham you are thinking about. Named after the famed home of Batman, we follow the early career of Detective James Gordon, played by Ben McKenzie (The OC, Southland), before he becomes Police Commissioner and close ally of Batman. Speaking of the billionaire superhero, Bruce Wayne is in this series as well, but only as a child learning how to continue life after witnessing his parents’ murder. The show will also act as an origin story for many of Batman’s classic enemies such as The Penguin and Harvey Dent.
Black-ish
Network: ABC
Premiere air date: Sept. 24
While executive producer and star Anthony Anderson is famous for his more action packed roles in productions like The Shield, Law & Order and Transformers, he’s also been the lead of a couple of family sitcoms like this one in the past. Anderson plays Andre “Dre” Johnson, the father of an upper-class African-American family with four children who goes through much cultural hilarity. Just as an example of the ridiculous plotlines in this show, in the first episode, Dre must deal with his son’s 13th birthday wish to convert to Judaism and have a Bar Mitzvah. Add in Laurence Fishburne as Dre’s father and you know this is going to be good.
Gracepoint
Network: Fox
Premiere air date: Oct. 2
I hesitated putting this show on the list because it’s only a 10-episode miniseries, but it truly looks to be one of the most engaging shows of the season. Starring Dr. Who fan-favorite David Tennant and wife of Breaking Bad’s Walter White, Anna Gunn, the two are detectives who are investigating the murder of a child in a close-knit coastal town. The show is based off British crime drama Broadchurch, which also stars Tennant and is slated to begin its second season early 2015. With a big cast, the show is said to be inferior to its British counterpart, but still a sophisticated and compelling drama.
The Flash
Network: The CW
Premiere air date: Oct. 7
Way back in 1990, comic book nerds were ecstatic to see a television series based on the faster-than-light super hero, but were bummed when the rising popularity of The Simpsons and The Cosby Show moved the DC Comics adaptation out of its primetime time slot, which led to its cancellation after one season. Now that comic books are cool again, Barry Allen is back, played by Grant Gustin in his first starring role. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this incarnation of The Flash, as he first appeared in a couple of episodes last year in The CW’s Arrow, about another DC Comics superhero, Green Arrow. His introduction gave a promising outlook and there is much anticipation for this show.
Constantine
Network: NBC
Premiere air date: Oct. 24
Well, I did say that comic books are cool again, right? This series is a reboot of the DC Comics character and ignores the 2005 film of the same name. Sorry Keanu fans, The One will not be slaying demons this time. Starring Matt Ryan (notable for playing main character Edward Kenway in the 2013 video game Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag), he plays John Constantine, a con-man turned supernatural detective who helps humanity from being taken over by evil forces. LOST fans can celebrate, as Harold Perrineau (Michael on LOST) returns to television as Manny, an angel who watches over Constantine. The show is said to be more faithful to the comic book than the previous film, which gives fans hope.
«Go back to the previous page.Network: The CW
Premiere air date: Oct. 7
Way back in 1990, comic book nerds were ecstatic to see a television series based on the faster-than-light super hero, but were bummed when the rising popularity of The Simpsons and The Cosby Show moved the DC Comics adaptation out of its primetime time slot, which led to its cancellation after one season. Now that comic books are cool again, Barry Allen is back, played by Grant Gustin in his first starring role. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this incarnation of The Flash, as he first appeared in a couple of episodes last year in The CW’s Arrow, about another DC Comics superhero, Green Arrow. His introduction gave a promising outlook and there is much anticipation for this show.
Constantine
Network: NBC
Premiere air date: Oct. 24
Well, I did say that comic books are cool again, right? This series is a reboot of the DC Comics character and ignores the 2005 film of the same name. Sorry Keanu fans, The One will not be slaying demons this time. Starring Matt Ryan (notable for playing main character Edward Kenway in the 2013 video game Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag), he plays John Constantine, a con-man turned supernatural detective who helps humanity from being taken over by evil forces. LOST fans can celebrate, as Harold Perrineau (Michael on LOST) returns to television as Manny, an angel who watches over Constantine. The show is said to be more faithful to the comic book than the previous film, which gives fans hope.