2010 Fall TV Preview: Three Shows I'm Banking On
I gotta tell ya', so far, very few of the fall TV shows are getting me excited. I've seen a few pilots, read some press releases, watched some clips, and so far I've decided there are only three new shows that will make me set my DVR religiously: Hawaii Five-0, Undercovers and Outlaw.
1. Hawaii Five-0 because it's based on the iconic CBS classic which starred the late Jack Lord as the tough guy cop with the forelock that wouldn't quit, Steve McGarrett. As with the original, the Hawaiian setting is a huge draw, and the cast is very promising: Alex O'Loughlin (Three Rivers), is the new McGarrett and Scott Caan (Entourage, son of James Caan), is Danny Williams of "Book 'em Dano" fame. It also stars Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica), Daniel Dae Kim, just off his stint on Lost, James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Jean Smart (24, Samantha Who?).
All I've seen of this show are clips but it seems to me they'll have to work pretty hard not to have this show become a hit.
Hawaii Five-0 will premiere September 20th and air Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.
2. Outlaw because it stars the incomparable TV veteran Jimmy Smits. The last time we saw Smits on TV, he was the slightly deranged, legal eagle BFF of serial killer Dexter Morgan on Dexter. Based on the pilot of Outlaw--which wasn't a review copy, so may change significantly before it premieres--Smits' star power and the intriguing character he plays, Cyrus Garza may make this show "must see TV."
Garza is a conservative supreme court justice who quits after deciding he can do more good as a litigator. He also has a gambling problem and is in debt to what appear to be loan sharks. Hmm, I sense some major conflict a comin'.
Outlaw will have a special premiere on Wednesday September 15th and then air Fridays at 10/9c on NBC.
3. Undercovers because it's from J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias) and has a very attractive and personable couple, Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, as its stars. The plot? Two former CIA agents, Steven and Samantha Bloom, currently running a catering business, are called back into action to locate a missing operative. Based on the pilot--which once again, wasn't a review copy, so may change significantly before it premieres--the show appears to want to be a cross between Alias and Hart to Hart. So far it's not up to the level of either of those shows, but we'll have to see where the producers go with what could be a very fun show.
Oh and one final, kind of significant thing. Did I mention that the stars of Undercovers are black? And guess what? The show isn't about them being black caterers, or black CIA agents, or even a black married couple trying to make it in the suburbs. The show mercifully has absolutely nothing to do with them being black.
I love that.
Undercovers will premiere September 22th and air Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
After all this, no matter how excited I may be about these shows, it's nothing compared to my excitement of seeing some returning shows like Dexter, House, The Good Wife, Desperate Housewives (with new addition Vanessa Williams), Grey's Anatomy, Glee, and How I Met Your Mother.
And what about burning TV questions from last year?
- Who are the new judges gonna be on American Idol?
- Who's part of the new cast of Dancing with the Stars?
- On Survivor, how's this year's Youngsters vs. Oldsters gonna work out?
- Who on America's Next Top Model is gonna be the first contestant to say, "I didn't come here to make friends, I came here to win!"?
- Remember Conan O'Brien? How's his show on TBS gonna do?
- And finally, where oh, where will Betty White turn up next?
Stay tuned for the answers.
You can check out the complete Fall 2010 TV schedule at TV Guide.com.
Related Links:
Tales from TammyLyne: 2010 Fall TV
What MimI Writes: New Fall TV Shows
Fancy Fembot: Sci-Fi TV Schedule, Fall 2010
Undercovers Photo courtesy NBC
