For the next few weeks, the networks will try to suck you in with all those bright and shiny new shows… and then about a month after that, they’ll start being quietly canceled.
Well, not all of them, of course. Which ones are you going to watch? I’m most interested in “Last Resort,” “Nashville,” “Ben and Kate,” “Animal Practice” and “Revolution.” Then again, I’m also kinda intrigued by “The New Normal,” “Elementary” and “666 Park Avenue.” What can I say… I like bright and shiny.
Here’s a look at what’s coming to your TV — at least for now.
NBC:
After last year’s failed “Mr. Sunshine,” Matthew Perry makes another go at sitcoms with “Go On” as a radio host in grief counseling (premieres 10:30 p.m. Sept. 10 before moving to its regular timeslot at 9 p.m. Sept. 11).
On “The New Normal,” a gay couple bonds with their surrogate (premieres 10 p.m. Sept. 10 before moving to its regular timeslot at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 11).
“Animal Practice” (8 p.m., Sept. 26) stars Justin Kirk as a veterinarian, but his sidekick is arguably a bigger star: Crystal the monkey has starred in “Hangover Part II,” “Night at the Museum” and had a recurring role on NBC’s “Community,” among other appearances.
“Guys With Kids” is a comedy about three dads dealing with fatherhood (preview 10 p.m., Sept. 12; 8:30 p.m., Sept. 26)
In “Revolution,” (10 p.m., Sept. 17) the power goes out, making all those electronic gadgets obsolete. (No cell phones, TVs or video games? At least one of the characters has got to be an angry teen.)
The drama “Chicago Fire” premieres at 10 p.m. on Oct. 10.
CBS
“Partners,” (8:30 p.m., Sept. 24) deals with the relationship between two longtime friends, one gay, one straight.
If you like crime dramas, CBS has two new ones. The first to premiere is the 1960s-era “Vegas,” (10 p.m., Sept. 25) with Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis. (Bet you can guess which one is the cop and which is the mobster, since Chiklis does bad so well.)
The second, is a modern reimagining of one of the all-time great fictional detectives. “Elementary” stars Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, premieres 10 p.m. Sept. 27.
CW
“Made in Jersey” (9 p.m., Sept. 28) is about a working-class woman employed at an uptown law firm.
The comic book drama “Arrow” premieres at 8 p.m. Oct. 10. It’s a take on the Green Arrow. Superhero fights bad guys. You know the drill.
On “Beauty and the Beast,” (9 p.m., Oct. 11), Detective Catherine Chandler is the former and a doctor whose DNA was tampered with is the latter. After the beast saves her life twice – once as a teen and again as an adult – Detective Chandler vows to protect his secrets.
“Emily Owens M.D.,” a soapy drama about a young doctor premieres 9 p.m. Oct. 16.
Fox
On “The Mob Doctor” (9 p.m., Sept. 17), Jordana Spiro plays a surgeon with, you guessed it, ties to the mob.
On “Ben and Kate” (8:30 p.m., Sept. 25), a carefree brother moves in with his more rational single-mom sister.
Fox is giving Mindy Kaling of “The Office” her own show called, appropriately enough, “The Mindy Project” (9:30 p.m., Sept. 25). Kaling plays a doctor and, of course, it’s a comedy.
ABC
The alien comedy “The Neighbors” premieres at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 26, before moving to its regular timeslot at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 3.
Owing to the success of shows like “The Walking Dead” and “American Horror Story,” the networks are taking more chances on shows with a supernatural element, like “666 Park Avenue” (10 p.m., Sept. 30), starring Vanessa Williams and Terry O’Quinn. Manhattan rents are usually steep but at this apartment building, the cost to tenants is even higher – they pay with their souls. Suddenly, Sonoma County rents don’t seem so bad.
ABC goes a little bit country, with comedy “Malibu Country” (8:30 p.m., Nov. 2) starring Reba McEntire and drama “Nashville” (10 p.m. Oct. 10) with Connie Britton as a country music singer who has hit a rough patch in her career and Hayden Panettiere as a young up-and-comer.
And finally, on “Last Resort” (8 p.m., Sept. 27), starring Andre Braugher, a submarine crew refuses an order to blow up Pakistan – and becomes a target themselves. Here’s hoping the show isn’t as doomed as the submarine crew.
— Heather Chavez
