2010 Fall TV Show Preview

Returning Fan Favorites

The Office (NBC)

The seventh season of The Office begins this year, but more importantly, this will be the last season for Steve Carell, who plays Michael Scott on the show.  Last season was very focused on Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam’s (Jenna Fischer) marriage and baby, so hopefully this season will involve a large overdose of Michael Scott.  A recurring theme on the show has been Michael’s romantic life (and proceeding dramatization and failure of relationships), so fans might be hoping to see him finally find the one.  The end of the last season included a reference to Holly, one of Michael’s ex-girlfriends.  Hopefully that wasn’t just a teaser and she will actually be making a comeback this season.  The show does plan to continue beyond this season, so it will be interesting to see the evolution of the office with the boss leaving.  This season of The Office will premiere September 23rd on NBC.

How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

The sixth season of HIMYM begins on September 20th.  Will this be the season where Ted (Josh Radnor) finally meets “the mother?”  Last season the mother was revealed to be Cindy’s (Rachel Bilson)  roommate.  Rachel Bilson is set to return this season, so there must be some plot development for Ted, but I wouldn’t expect to meet the mother just yet.  Once that information is revealed the show is essentially over, and I don’t see this show ending for at least a few more seasons.  There will also be a large focus on Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel), who decided they were ready to have a baby.  Personally, I’d like to see some development of Barney’s character, who is played by Neil Patrick Harris.  He’s been a pretty constant source of comedy for the show and has stuck to his swinger roots, but sometimes shows a serious side, which could be expanded on this season.

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

The fourth season of two genius astrophysicists living across the hall from a pretty waitress will premiere on September 23rd on CBS.  The third season capped off with Raj and Howard signing Sheldon (Jim Parsons) up for online dating, at which point he met essentially what is the female version of his personality, played by Mayim Bialik.  Leonard (Johnny Galecki) slept with Penny (Kaley Cuoco, aka “the pretty waitress”), but was extremely hurt to learn she regretted her actions.  At Comic-Con this past July, writer Lee Aronsohn revealed Bialik would be back for the fourth season, who should be able to provide added comedy to the show and potentially grab more of a female audience for The Big Bang Theory.

Best New Shows

The Event (NBC)

What looks to be the hottest upcoming show this season is NBC’s The Event.  Since the departure of Lost last season, fans will be looking for a new show to fill the void, and this might be it.  The story follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter), who gets sucked into a government conspiracy involving new president Elias Martinez and a mysterious prisoner named Sophia Maguire after his girlfriend disappears.  The Event could end up being very similar to last year’s FlashForward, but some good reviews and a strong yet confusingly effective marketing campaign makes me think otherwise.  The Event may be the  first show to tap into Lost’s unique mix of sprawling casts, convoluted mystery, and non-stop cliffhangers in an effective way.  If you were a fan of Heroes, you won’t have to change much, because this show is replacing that time slot.  Tune in September 20th to catch the series premiere of The Event on NBC.

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)

Why is Hawaii Five-0 on this list?  I know, I know…it’s yet another cop and robbers show, and a remake at that.  Well for starters, Hawaii Five-0 has caught my attention with its surprisingly strong and sci-fi heavy cast, beautiful setting, and light hearted tone.  Alex O’Loughlin stars as detective Steve McGarret, a Navy lieutenant turned cop who returns to Hawaii to lead a federal task force, and also investigate his father’s murder.  He’s joined by Ocean Eleven’s Scott Caan, Lost’s Daniel Dae-Kim, Battlestar Galactica’s Grace Park, and Heroes’s Masi Oka (recurring character) as fellow good guys.  Quick tip if you are searching the web for this show.  The old version of this show uses an “O” (oh), and the new version uses a zero.  Big changes, right?  Check it out Monday September 20th on CBS at 10 pm Eastern.

Questionable Fate

Chase (NBC)

Jerry Bruckheimer is at it again with the next installment in his television legacy, Chase, which will air on NBC.  Chase, a one-hour procedural drama that follows a highly trained fugitive-apprehension team of U.S. Marshals.  The show will feature Kelli Giddish (Past Life) and Cole Hauser (Good Will Hunting), and apparently thirteen episodes have already been shot.  I honestly think this show is going to tank and will just add to the pile of shows NBC quickly cancels.  The previews look terrible, and make the show out to look like 45 minutes of watching a girl run, with very bad dialog mixed in.  Watch at your own risk.  Chase premieres September 20th on NBC.

No Ordinary Family (ABC)

No Ordinary Family is based around the Powell family as they embark on a journey of self-discovery after surviving a terrifying plane crash.  While Jim Powell (Michael Chiklis) learns that he’s become increasingly strong and seemingly invulnerable, his wife Stephanie (Julie Benz) finds herself to be faster than a speeding bullet.  Their kids J.J. and Daphne also get nifty new powers as well, of course.  Take Heroes, The Fantastic Four, and The Incredibles, mix well…and you get this show.  This concept has been done before and didn’t work out very well, so I don’t see it lasting more than a season or two.  This show premieres September 28th, so check it out Tuesdays at 8 pm on ABC if nothing else is on.