2012 Boob Tube Escapades

If you remember, two years ago I posted a blog about the new fall shows and what I thought. I didn't do it last year, mostly because there weren't many new shows that I liked. Most of the new shows from the last year were mid-season programs. 

After an overwhelming vote of yes, I'll be posting in the coming weeks about the new shows that are coming out this fall season. I will be posting about primetime shows mostly, since I know not everyone has premium cable channels like HBO, Showtime, etc. A handful of the new shows coming out are already available through OnDemand, and there's a few premiering this week as well. I've seen a few already through my cable provider's Primetime OnDemand channel. 

So, here we are!

Go On - When I first saw previews for this show, I didn't think much of it. I love Matthew Perry, but after Friends, he hasn't had a stellar reputation. A few seasons ago he had a show called Mr. Sunshine that I really enjoyed, but I think it only lasted about 8-10 episodes. 
Go On is about a radio host (Perry) that is trying to come back to work after the loss of his wife. He swears he's ready to be back at work, but it hasn't been long since his wife has died, so his boss sends him to a therapy group. The therapy group is a mismatched group of people going through losses. Its an eclectic group with a weird creepy guy, the type A personality that writes down everything, a young kid that doesn't talk about why he's there, a Spanish grandma type, a loud bossy bitchy lady. You get the idea. He hates the group, obviously, and doesn't understand why they're dwelling in their sorrows. So, as part of the pilot episode, before the group leader comes in he starts them off in a March Madness type competition, to see who has the saddest story. They call it March Sadness. Hilarious. The show is really funny, but it has a serious theme to it, so I did find myself tearing up in a couple scenes. I hope it gets a good run, the premiere was very promising.

The New Normal - I really really enjoyed this series premiere. There's two stories to the show. One side is about a young single mom, Goldie, with a nine year old girl that lives with her bossy well-to-do grandmother. She's down on her luck, working as a waitress and catches her boyfriend cheating on her. But she loves her daughter, and decides they'll take off and start on their own. The other side of the story is about a gay couple wanting to have a baby. They've found a program where they pick the egg of a woman, one of them will be the dad, and they'll have a surrogate carry their baby. Sounds great, right? Well, the first woman they meet immediately starts black mailing them, threatening to drink and smoke if they don't give her money. So they're devastated. Cue the meeting of Goldie and her daughter. They need money, the guys want a baby. The premiere made me laugh out loud in several parts with witty quips, but it has a nice meaning behind it as well. I like the idea of a show about people helping each other and becoming a family. I'm sure there'll be a lot of protests regarding the show's premise, but  I hope that won't stop it from having a fantastic first season.

Ben and Kate - The last couple seasons Fox has been coming out with some really funny comedies. Ben and Kate is another one on that list. Its about a brother and sister, the sister is a single mom with her stuff together. Ben is the older brother that shows up randomly, makes a mess of things for Kate, and takes off. Ben and Kate have great chemistry together, which makes it fun to watch. In the premiere Ben comes in on his whirlwind as he's prone to do, but realizes his sister needs him and maybe he needs her, too. The cast is good, the little girl is the kid from We Bought A Zoo, and she's really cute. Ben's best friend is hilarious. It'll be a good addition to Fox's Tuesday night comedy lineup.

Revolution - This show has a fantastic premise. It starts in present day, with a guy rushing home to his family, saying "it's going to happen in fifteen minutes". They're freaking out, calling his brother who is in the military and just so happens to be on the interstate. Well, "It" is a total loss of power. One by one they show the houses in the neighborhood losing power, cars just stop on the interstate and die out. Planes start falling from the sky. 
Fifteen years later, society is still without power. There's kids that don't know what tv is or what having electricity was like. There's a militia that seems pretty terrifying. They come after the dad from the beginning of the show, wanting him and his brother. His daughter goes off in search of her uncle with one of the guys from the community and her dad's girlfriend (or something, not really sure). In search for the uncle they run into more scary militia guys. At one point the girl's brother finds a house in the middle of nowhere, and the woman living there has what seems like a generator running a computer, communicating with who knows who. 
The show is really interesting, I'm looking forward to see how it will go on. The idea itself is really great, because what would we do if all of a sudden everything lost power? But I'm just slightly afraid it'll go the way of last year's Terra Nova. Which also had a great premise, but they didn't know what to do with it so it kind of fizzled out and was cancelled. 

The Mindy Project - Mindy Kaling is an amazing writer, so funny and talented. I'm really looking forward to her new show. I enjoyed the opener, it was funny and snarky. The same kind of humor we're used to from The Office. But she's not reprising her Kelly Kapoor character, she's Mindy. A doctor that should be on top of things, but instead is crushing on another doctor and can kind of be a hot mess. There's great chemistry in this cast too, so it should be a fun watch.

Saving Hope - I'm not sure how new this show is, I think it started this summer. I watched the premiere earlier this week, and absolutely loved it. Its about a couple that are surgeons, headed to get married. On the way, they're involved in a car crash. He saves someone else's life, and then just collapses. He had head trauma and is now in a coma. His fiancé is at the hospital with him, trying to care for him and her patients as well. As he's laying in a coma, he's also walking around the hospital and witnessing everything. His spirit, I guess. But as he's going through the hospital seeing everything (and things he may not have noticed before) there are other people like him, that are stuck in the hospital for one reason or another. I liked it a lot.

I've been using this link to keep up with the new and returning shows. September is a big month, there's a lot coming out! Thank goodness for DVR.

More shows I'm looking forward to watching:
Guys With Kids - Dad's are easy comedy, and from the previews it looks so funny. Guys at a bar watching the game with their babies on their chests? Easy comedy, sure. But sometimes you need that!
Last Resort - They're saying it'll be like a new LOST. I'm doubtful, but they have a good cast and it looks interesting.
666 Park Avenue - It has Terry O'Quinn in it. That's really all I need to watch the show. But from the reviews I've read it's supposed to be good. It looks kind of creepy.
Chicago Fire - I love cop/fireman shows. I loved Rescue Me. I think following Fire Departments makes for a good tv show. I like the way firehouses are like a family, but also seeing the guy's in action and with their own families outside of the fire house.
Mob Doctor - I love mob anything. Godfather will always be one of my favorite movies. It looks like it'll be interesting. 

New Shows I'm not sure about yet:
Made In Jersey - Do I have to say why?
The Neighbors - Apparently they're supposed to be aliens? Who knows. I just like comedies.
Animal Practice - It looks dumb. They'll use the animals for overused roll your eyes jokes. I can just tell.
Nashville - I get the feeling it'll be like that Katherine McPhee show, Smash. 
Beauty And The Beast - Really? Really.


There were a lot of great shows from this past season and mid-season you should also check out, given the chance. 
Scandal - I'm not a politics person, but this show was shocking and kept me guessing. It's about a group of lawyers (that aren't really a law practice) that "fix" things. Helping people that are being investigated,  even working with the President. 
Revenge - This was a big show last year. It's currently on Netflix, so I recommend getting caught up before the new season. I originally thought it'd be awful. How could they have it run long term, when its about a girl revenging her dead father who was betrayed? But its very smart and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Once Upon A Time - A show about fairytale characters that don't know they're fairytale characters? It sounds dumb, right? Not at all. It's fun to see the characters as they lived in "their" world with magic, and revisiting the fairytale stories. The way the show is written, its interesting the way they portray the characters in the "real" world, and figuring out who they are. It's a fun fantasy show, different from everything else that's out there.
New Girl- Probably one of my favorite new shows in the last few years. The cast is fantastic, the jokes are hilarious. It's sweet, and snarky. I could watch it every day. 

I'll keep you posted as I watch more shows, and like I did last time, I will post with updates with what I'm still watching, what's been cancelled, and what I deleted off my dvr. 

Happy Watching! And please let me know if there's new shows I missed, or something I should be watching!