Tube Talk: Fall Premiere Guide, The Marathon Begins
This week is the biggest set of premieres for television this season with nearly 40 shows airing. In order to survive this week, it’s crucial to narrow down your list of shows to watch. This proves to be a difficult task, but Tube Talk has rounded up some of the most noteworthy series for which you should be sure to tune in. Prepare your mind for the challenges that lie ahead in this week, and remember that there is always Hulu.
Sept. 23
“How I Met Your Mother” Photo (Courtesy of CBS)
Monday will be a mixed bag of shows, both in terms of genre and network. The popular comedy “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS) returns for its ninth season with an hour-long premiere. Although the mysterious “Mother” has now been revealed, the loose ends will keep the gang together for another season, which is hopefully as full of rollicking as the past eight. Another hit comedy for CBS, “2 Broke Girls” comes into season three prepared to wow viewers. Although viewership tapered off some in the first two seasons, the show has kept over 10 million viewers on average, and gained increasingly positive reviews ensure it will continue long past this third season.
“The Voice” (NBC) also makes its return on Monday night. The decision to switch to the original cast of judges — Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera — has already caused division among fans of the show, but NBC is banking on this change to continue the show’s upward tendencies in viewers.
Other notable premieres include “Mom,” CBS’ perhaps not-so-family-friendly family comedy, “The Blacklist” (NBC), “Castle” (ABC) and “Hostages” (CBS).
Sept. 24
“Marvel” Photo (Courtesy of ABC)
Tuesday night kicks off with the series premiere of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC). Reception so far has been mixed, with many critics saying the plot is hard to follow and worrying that ABC may not be the right network for such a show. However, San Diego Comic-Con International goers gathered round to see the pilot, which was met with a very positive reaction from the crowd.
Another new series, “The Goldbergs” (ABC), makes its small-screen debut Tuesday. Set in the 1980s, this sitcom uses situational comedy to reveal the crazy that lies under the surface of a suburban family. Before dedicating this slot to “The Goldbergs,” check out the pilot, which was released on Hulu prior to the TV airing.
Three other notable new shows — the drama “Lucky 7” (ABC), situation comedy “Trophy Wife” (ABC) and crime drama “Person of Interest” (CBS) — premiere Tuesday, with the returns of “NCIS” (CBS), “NCIS Los Angeles” (CBS) and “Chicago Fire” (NBC).
Sept. 25
“The Middle” Photo (Courtesy of ABC)
“The Middle” returns to ABC this fall for its fifth season. This comedy series examining daily life of the American middle-class has received encouraging reviews throughout the first four seasons and seen a steady increase in viewership, with an average of 8.4 million U.S. viewers tuning in during season four.
Another returning show, “Revolution” (NBC), is back for a second season. With post-apocalyptic shows and movies churning out every other day, this drama has held its ground through the first season, receiving mostly positive reviews. If season two is capable of introducing a more creative plot, “Revolution” is bound to take off in popularity.
Wednesday is chock-full of other popular returning shows as well with “Criminal Minds” (CBS), “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC), “Modern Family” (ABC), “CSI” (CBS), “Nashville” (ABC) and “South Park” (Comedy Central) coming back for promising seasons. In addition, ABC’s new show “Back in the Game,” a situation comedy about a former All-Star softball player, will premiere.
Sept. 26
“The Millers” Photo (Courtesy of CBS)
The returns of “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) and “Parks and Recreation” (NBC) kick off the biggest night for comedy premieres this season. Along with “Two and a Half Men” (CBS) and “Parenthood” (NBC), the bar is set high for newcomers to the screen.
“The Millers” (CBS) follows the story of Nathan Miller (Will Arnett) and his family. Although two consecutive divorces fractured the family in the beginning, this situation comedy will provide laughs that keep the subject matter light-hearted. CBS airs another new comedy, “The Crazy Ones,” starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar, this fall. Williams plays Simon Roberts, a Chicago advertising executive capable of selling anything to anyone, but as the backstories of characters unfold, “The Crazy Ones” will prove to be full of more than just witty lines.
NBC is also getting in on the new comedy action with one of the most anticipated shows this season, “The Michael J. Fox Show.” However, the show focuses on the Henry family, with Fox playing Michael “Mike” Henry, a father struggling with going back into the workplace after a five years break due to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Viewers and critics alike are holding their breath for the premiere, and it will surely deliver.
Other notable premieres include “Glee” (Fox), which is airing its first episode since the death of Cory Monteith, the tenth season of “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) and season two of Sherlock-inspired drama “Elementary” (CBS).
Sept. 27 – Sept. 29
“SNL” Photo (Courtesy of NBC)
The rush of premieres takes a break on Friday and Saturday nights with only a few shows airing. The latest “MasterChef” spin-off, “MasterChef Junior” (Fox), begins on Friday. Emmy Award-winning television series “Undercover Boss” has been produced in many countries, and the U.S. series will start its sixth season on CBS this weekend.
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC) will air the first episode of its 39th consecutive season on Saturday. Gearing up for yet another cast change with Seth Meyers leaving in February to host the “Late Night” show on NBC, Cecily Strong will become a more prominent anchor of the “Weekend Update” segment as she is expected to fully take over in February.
On Sunday, premieres pick back up quickly. A slew of beloved shows will return for new seasons, including “Once Upon a Time” (ABC), “The Simpsons” (Fox), “Family Guy” (Fox), “Homeland” (Showtime), “Revenge” (ABC) and “The Mentalist” (CBS).