Aaaannnnddd....Cancelled: The New Show Slaughter

Statistically, only about half of new shows will survive into their second season, and this year's crop of boring crap looks to be no different. So who's first to the chopping block?

Let's cut them down to size, shall we?

The Playboy Club, NBC

Almost guaranteed to be the first victim of fall, no one is watching this well done show. It's a shame if for no other reason than no one is seeing the scene stealing Broadway vet Laura Benanti, who is fabulous as "den mother" Carol-Lynne.

Glad you got a keepsake, sweetie.  

Free Agents, NBC

I don't know what NBC is going to put on air (I'm guessing reruns of The Biggest Loser) but this show is losing a big chunk of its lead in audience from fellow new show Up All Night, and that wasn't a lot to start with. This rote and cliche show frankly deserves to be put out of its misery. Watch the original British version instead.

Mostly just to watch Giles be a dirty old man.

How to Be a Gentleman, CBS

Speaking of rote and cliche, this Odd Couple type sitcom premiered last night, losing more than half of its Big Bang Theory lead-in audience, and not being very funny doing it. CBS does not put up with this sort of thing for long, though the rest of the successful schedule might keep it on through midseason.

Charlie's Angels, ABC

This flashy and flat "action" show dropped more than half of its audience from week one to week two, and is ABC's only real dud of the season. So far, that is.

Because you do not believe that these girls, and whatever the hell they are wearing, are capable of ass-kicking.

Man Up, ABC

This show has not premiered yet, but I have high hopes for its ultimate demise.

Whitney, NBC

I tried, y'all. I really, truly tried. And I laughed. Once. In two episodes. It's just not working for me, and based on the ratings, I'm not the only one that feels that way. So off it goes into the comedians-who-make-crap-shows-that-get-cancelled ether. You've got good company, Whit. Say hi to Paul Rieser!

On an unrelated side note, did you repurpose all of the Will and Grace sets?
You should have borrowed some of their humor, too.

Prime Suspect, NBC

I wanted to like this one, too. I love Maria Bello. I think she's pretty, and a badass, and a really good actress. And she's playing a really unlikeable character who wears terrible hats. I'm also just having a really hard time with the whole "boys club" thing, and perhaps this is naive of me, but I just don't think the world is quite that way. Or if it is, then I have no interest in watching it. I'll give it another shot or two, but I'm not expecting much, and if ratings continue to decline like they have been, I won't get many more opportunities to tune in.

Person of Interest, CBS

I'm not completely convinced this will be eliminated right away, but I am convinced it will never earn a second season. It feels like too intense of a premise for me, and I don't see any chemistry between the leads. Michael Emerson is a brilliant character actor, but he's just not capable of carrying a show, and Jim Caviezel's voice bugs the crap out of me. Seriously, what is that accent? What are you doing?

Stop growling like that. You are not Batman.

 Grimm, NBC

Seriously, NBC. What are you going to put on?

Oh, god.

If you haven't yet, Like me on Facebook (TV Freak) and follow me on Twitter (@theTVFreak)!

Things I Love/Things I Hate: Premiere Week

Well, Freaks, I've logged a good 37 hours of TV in the last week, watching every new show that premiered as well as many returning favorites.

You know, for research.

And because I am so dedicated to you, my dear readers, I'll save you the trouble of forming your own opinions and tell you exactly who to love and hate.

What can I say? I'm a giver.


Thing I Hate

I've watched a million new shows this week, and with the exception of Up All Night, they just all feel a little....blah. It's really, really disappointing to a TV Freak like myself. Every year, there's one pilot that I finish thinking, "That was great and it's my new favorite show!" Not so much this year. The Playboy Club was really good but looks like it's headed for the chopping block, Pan Am was better than I expected but still not spectacular, Free Agents is trite, 2 Broke Girls and Whitney both need to get a lot better to keep me involved, and The Secret Circle proves that witches are not as interesting as vampires, even in silly teen dramas.

That's not to say that I won't keep watching some of these shows and a few others, I'm just disappointed that nothing has made me sit up and take notice. Or wet my pants with excitement.

I suppose I could have gone with another metaphor there...

Thing I Love

Most of my returning shows did so with a bang! Castle was a gasper, Community was a singing, dancing ball, The Vampire Diaries has been a hot and sexy ride, I'm digging the hell out of Spader on The Office, Parenthood has been great (minus whatever the hell happened to Hattie's head), and Modern Family seems to have elevated their own already sky-high bar. Way to bring it to the new kids, shows.

To be fair, they did have an advantage. Or two.

Thing I Hate

How I Met Your Mother brought back Victoria. Not Victoria! She made Ted so schmaltzy and ridiculous, the worst he's ever been, it will be such a backtrack for the character! Please....oh, wait.

Thing I Love

How I Met Your Mother got rid of Victoria! Yay!

Bye, chipmunk!

Thing I Hate

Fringe's ratings dropped for its season premiere, which is really a shame, because I just started watching it. FOX claims right now that they support the show and understand it has a cult following status, but I'm not sure how long it can survive if the ratings drop any further. So listen up, my sci-fi inclined readers (and I know there are a lot of you), this show is really, really good. It's trippy in an X Files way, has mythology like LOST (but not as hard to jump into for a new viewer), and great characters. I know I complained about Anna Torv when the show first began, but she's really found the character and is engaging to watch.

Also engaging to watch. Or listen to in voiceover. (It's a thing.)

Thing I Love

The addition of Terry O'Quinn to Hawaii Five-0. He brings some much needed gravitas to a previously enjoyable but fluffy show. He's making the other actors, particularly Alex O'Laughlin, seriously step up their game, and the character is a great addition to the team. He's only scheduled for a recurring guest spot right now, but here's hoping the producers pay attention to his bad ass charms and keep him around for a while.

Plus, this was fun. Because I am a huge nerd.

Thing I Hate

Charlie's Angels. It's so bad. I mean, really, truly terrible. I wasn't expecting much to start with, but it's terrible enough I can't even watch it for sparkly entertainment value. The actresses are awful, clearly having learned from the Tom Cruise "talking through gritted teeth equals badassery" school of acting, the plots are ridiculous, the giant anvils of "Hey! Bad Guy!" are flung mercilessly, and in a TV landscape littered with ridiculous cop-and-spy technology I needed to yell at the TV "That's not how a camera works!"

Get off my TV.

That is also not how a gun works.

Thing I Love

Hart of Dixie. Fine, some of the "southern town quirks" are annoying in their hackiness, but Bilson is freaking adorable, the cute guy is cute, it's nice to see Nancy Travis outside of crap sitcoms, the side characters are funny and quirky in fun ways, and it's generally just very enjoyable. I wasn't wrong about the whole O.C. meets Sweet Home Alabama thing, but turns out, I'm pretty OK with that. Take notes, Secret Circle: this is how you do great guilty pleasure TV.

And plot-obvious promo shots.

Thing I Hate

Is anybody else just totally over Glee?

Not you, sweetie. I'll never be over you.

So how about it, Freaks? What did you love this week? Hate? What did I get wrong? Head to the comments!

Wait, What Happened? Wrapping Up the Emmy's

The Emmy's have come and gone for another year, Freaks.

I know, so sad!

To recap, I'm going to hand out my own special brand of awards. The snarky kind.

Let's call them the Freakies!

Aren't I adorable?



Best Buffalo Bill Impression

FOX's red carpet guy (I am not bothering to look up his name) who told Rob Lowe he'd like to cut off his face and wear it as a mask.

I am not making this up.

Picture taken slightly before Rob Lowe quietly escorted his children away from the sociopath.

Most Ready for Thunderdome

Nancy O'Dell, whose hair looked like this:

Her earrings can be used as flotation devices.

Best Excuse to Watch High

The "Emmytones". I'm sorry, how the HELL did someone convince Zach Levi, Joel McHale, and Cobie Smulders to do this? I mean fine, Wilmer Valderrama doesn't have anything better to do, but the rest of you? Did you think it was the only way you'd be invited? Most of you are very pretty, it probably would have been fine. I'm just so embarrassed for you. If you missed it, don't watch the clip. Really. I say this as your friend.

Most Unnecessary Cameo

Leonard Nimoy as the "President of Television" didn't really work. I liked the song, but the whole opening "We all live in the same building" thing was weird. I mean, it wasn't Jimmy Fallon's awesome "Born to Run" opening last year, but it was fine. You just don't need to try so hard, guys.

When they asked her to host, they thought she was Ellen.

Best Lame Joke

John Slattery picking up the telephone in the Mad Men bit of Jane Lynch's opening number. I know it's a crap joke, but I just laughed and laughed. Don't judge me. Here's the opening in its entirety, in case you missed it. The Mad Men bit comes in around 4:15.

Best Jane Lynch Joke

"People ask me why I'm a lesbian. I'll tell you. Ladies and Gentlemen, the cast of Entourage."

Brilliant.

(Honorable mention to the "gay agenda" joke.)

Jesus, they can't even walk without looking like douchebags.

Worst Snub of the Night

Steve Carell has never won an Emmy for playing Michael Scott. This is criminal. Look, Jim Parsons is great, but Carell has been brilliant for eight seasons, and it's just wrong that he wasn't awarded for it. He deserves it for just being able to read the script for the "Scott's Tots" episode.

Can't you see the anger behind his eyes?

Best "Hey, We Really Liked You in That Other Thing" Award

Melissa McCarthy won an Emmy for her role in the movie Bridesmaids. That is the only explanation I have.

Look at who she beat. You know that was not right.

Best Use of Someone I Forgot Existed

Hey, Michael Bolton! What are you doing here? Dressed as Jack Sparrow...

Well, that got weird in a hurry.

Most Uncomfortable Moment

Oh, god. Why did anyone think it was a good idea to let Charlie Sheen make the Emmy's the most recent stop on his goodwill tour? Seriously, his new publicist must be guarding the hookers and drugs like a Rottweiler for how hard all that "Good luck Two and a Half Men!" stuff looked like it was for him to say.

This is a face that says, "I will cut you. With my coke razor."

Best Blink and You Missed It Joke

Kimmel reading Fallon's acceptance speech, "Hold the trophy like it's 'The Lion King' baby" and Fallon doing the motion. I just love the Jimmys!

There is never enough wrestling on awards shows.

Best Complete Lack of Humility

Kate Winslet's fist pump when her win was announced for Mildred Pierce. No fake gasp here.

It's OK, she's British. Even bitch is classy with that accent.

Best Outfit

Christina Aguilera from 1999.

You have to rub her the right way.

What other moments did you love? Hate? Bring it to the comments!




Please tune in to Black Sheep on GVB Radio September 20th at 12:00am EST/ 11:00 pm CST on http://www.gvbradio.com/ . I'll be talking Fall TV as well as a recap of the Emmy's! Check out the awesome Black Sheep show here


Can't get enough TV? Like me on Facebook (TV Freak) and follow me on Twitter (@theTVFreak)!

Emmy's 2011 Predictions : No Surprises Allowed

Oh, Freaks, don't you just love awards shows? All the glamour and pageantry, the pretty celebrities on parade?

All the stupid status quo awards they hand out every year?

This year looks to be no different, at least if the nominations are any indication, but we'll still watch all the pretty people smile politely while clapping for the people who beat them.

And I'll still yell at the TV enough my neighbors contemplate calling the cops.

Good times! So let's break it down, shall we? Who should win at TV's most prestigious awards on Sunday? Who will?

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Sophia Vergara, Modern Family
Jane Lynch, Glee
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live

Who should? Julie Bowen's fantastic work on Modern Family deserves to be awarded. She is brilliant as harried mom Claire, playing both straight man to crazy husband Phil and the character's numerous neuroses with aplomb. I think the Emmy's will give it to Bowen's costar Vergara instead, who is great as well. Unless they go sentimental and give it to Betty White. They're not that lame, right? I mean, she's a cute old lady, but that show is stupid.

I hate you, show. 

Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Ty Burell, Modern Family
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Chris Colfer, Glee
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Ed O'Neil, Modern Family

The Modern Family guys are all so great it really is hard to chose. It's possible that Emmy voters will feel the same way and hand it out to one of the other two, but my money's on Ed O'Neil who is both deserving and a sentimental choice. They love that!

Lead Actress in a Comedy

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly
Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

God, Amy Poehler should really, really win this. She's just so damn good. But Parks and Rec is too under the radar at this point, so I'm pretty sure Laura Linney will take it. Her show is about cancer.

It's the C. 

Lead Actor in a Comedy

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Louis C.K., Louie
Steve Carrell, The Office
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Steve Carrell is taking it home this year for his final season of The Office, and I think deservedly so. He made me cry at least three times.

Comedy Series


30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
Parks and Recreation

I wish Parks and Rec would get some love, because I just think it is an awesome show, but Modern Family is going to take it, and you just can't argue with that. It's hilarious every week, the actors are great, and even in the midst of all the sitcom hijinks, it still manages to feel real. Plus, and I mean this sincerely, I am in love with Nolan Gould, who plays Luke.

Can I adopt you?
Sorry, did I just make it weird? 

Supporting Actress in a Drama

Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Michelle Forbes,  The Killing
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Kelly MacDonald, Boardwalk Empire
Margo Martindale, Justified
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife

The buzz says this award is going to Kelly MacDonald, but I think it will be absolutely criminal not to give it to Margo Martindale, whose brilliant work on Justified not only made the entire season but will be hard to live up to for future baddies. Are you listening, Emmy? She was unbelievably good.

Supporting Actor in a Drama

Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Walton Goggins, Justified
John Slattery, Mad Men

I have the hardest time with who should win this one. Goggins is fantastic as Boyd Crowder on Justified, Peter Dinklage is massively entertaining on Game of Thrones, and Alan Cumming is killing it on The Good Wife. Buzz seems to indicate the award will go to John Slattery, but I think it will probably go to Cumming. The Emmy's love to award movie stars.

Lead Actress in a Drama

Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

So who should win best actress? Katey Sagal for her brilliant performance on Sons of Anarchy. Oh, wait, she's not nominated because awards shows are stupid. No one nominated is even close to how good Sagal is on Sons. Whatever. Margulies is taking it.

You win in my heart, you fabulous badass. 

Lead Actor in a Drama

Steve Buschemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Timothy Olyphant, Justified

Olyphant should win for his subtle and nuanced performance as the damaged Raylan Givens on Justified, but he won't. It will probably go to Hamm, although Buschemi could sneak in an upset.

But, hey, we get to see this in a tuxedo!

Drama Series


Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Mad Men

The epic, ambitious Game of Thrones should win, for its scope and brilliance, but the Emmy's will play it safe and probably go with Mad Men. The Good Wife could sneak in, they do love a good legal drama, but I'm betting on Don Draper and company to take home the gold.

And the Emmy for Best Use of a Hat goes to...

Follow me on Twitter (@theTVFreak) as I live tweet the show! I promise snarky, snarky fun and lots of overreaction! 

Fall 2011 TV Preview: What to Watch

We've reached the end, Freaks, only three more days until premiere week!

Bye, friends and family!

See you when everything goes repeats in December.



All shows premiere the week of September 19-25 unless otherwise indicated.

Fridays

A Gifted Man (8:00/7:00, CBS)

Taking over the feel good Friday spot from Touched by a Judging Ghost Whisperer, A Gifted Man stars the pleasant-to-look-at Patrick Wilson as a rich doctor who starts having visions of his dead wife who, naturally, wants to make him a better man. It will be heartwarming.

And possibly vomit inducing

Grimm (9:00/8:00, NBC, premieres 10/21)

Like Law and Order: Far Far Away, this show centers on a detective (David Giuntoli) who learns he's descended from a line of mythical hunters who can see past fairy tale character's disguises. In the real world. While they commit crimes. Sure, show. Part of the new "Friday night is genre night!" stance several of the networks are rolling out, Grimm will be the follow-up to Chuck when it returns in October for it's final half season. I don't imagine Grimm will last any longer.

Well, I mean I can watch it for a minute...

Boss (10:00/9:00, Starz, premieres 10/21)

Kelsey Grammer's attempt to break his typecasting looks good, like Sopranos and West Wing rolled into one. Grammer plays power-hungry Chicago mayor Tom Kane, a sleazy back-room deal kind of politician with a brain disease he's trying to hide. Connie Nielsen has a star turn as his Lady Macbeth of a wife, and the show is Exec produced by (among others) Gus Van Sant, so it looks to be a really well done show. If anyone will watch it on Starz.

That guy would kick Frasier Crane's ass.

So what should you watch?

Chuck (8/7, NBC), Fringe (9/8 FOX), Blue Bloods (10/9, CBS).

Or, I don't know, it's Friday.

Stop watching so much TV!




Please tune in to Black Sheep on GVB Radio September 20th at 12:00am EST/ 11:00 pm CST on http://www.gvbradio.com/ . I'll be talking Fall TV as well as a recap of the Emmy's! Check out the awesome Back Sheep show here


Come back tomorrow for Emmy predictions, and if you haven't already, like me on Facebook (TV Freak) and follow me on Twitter (@theTVFreak)!

Fall 2011 TV Preview: What to Watch

Thursdays

All shows premiere the week of September 19-25 unless otherwise indicated.

Charlie's Angels (8:00/7:00, ABC)

This flashy reboot stars pretty girls Minka Kelly, Rachael Taylor, and Annie Bonzeh as a car thief, cat burglar, and corrupt cop who get recruited by...well, you know. Bosley (Ramon Rodriguez) is young and hot, Isaiah "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" Mustafa is joining as a cop ex, and the ladies are sporting lots of sexy outfits, so it's pretty much going to be what you expect: fun, flashy, frivolous entertainment. I take no issue with this, I watch Hawaii Five -0 after all, and though I don't expect it to raise any bars, I'll be watching (along with the rest of America, I expect).

Pictured: The beginning of every tampon commercial

How to Be a Gentleman (8:30/7:30, CBS)

This new series, loosely based on the 1998 book of the same name, follows etiquette columnist Andrew (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's David Hornsby) and man's man Bert (Entourage's Kevin Dillon) through wacky Odd Couple hijinks and trying to be a little more like each other. What I've seen so far has been really inconsistent, so it could be a great follow-up to Big Bang Theory, or it could be.... Two and a Half Men.

Thin ice, show. Really thin ice.

Person of Interest (9:00/8:00, CBS)

I've done this show on my worst of the fall preview, because the premise just seems really done to me. I trust JJ a lot, so I'll be watching the pilot, but it better blow me away because at this point I just don't care.

Yeah, make all the concerned faces you want, I'm still not interested.

The Secret Circle (9:00/8:00, CW, premieres 9/15)

A great follow up to the sexy teen drama of The Vampire Diaries, this new CW guilty pleasure will be exactly the same show, and we will love it. I've made it one of my top five of the fall for just that reason. Well, and for this:

Hi, sexy! I missed you!

Whitney (9:30/8:30, NBC)

Not funny.

No. Just...No.

Prime Suspect (10:00/9:00, NBC)

I love Maria Bello. I think she is awesome. So I really want to like this show. I have a hard time with the whole "woman in a man's precinct" premise, which was fine when Helen Mirren did it in the 90's in Britain, but I'm not buying it for today in NYC. I mean, Benson's been doing just fine for 15 years. However, I really like Maria Bello. So I figure if she was willing to get on board, there has to be a reason.

It was the jaunty little hat.

So, what should you watch?

Thursdays are a bitch, Freaks. There's a lot of good TV, and it all wants your attention. If you are fortunate enough, like myself, to have four DVR channels, then just record everything and have a ball. If not, then do this:

Watch Community (8/7, NBC) and Parks and Recreation (8:30/7:30, NBC) live, DVR either The Vampire Diaries (8/7, CW)  or Big Bang Theory (8/7, CBS) and How to Be a Gentleman. (ABC will put the Angels online tomorrow). At 9:00/8:00, watch Person of Interest or The Secret Circle as is your preference (I'll be with the hotties), and DVR Grey's Anatomy (ABC) or Bones (FOX) when it returns in November. You can watch The Office (NBC) on Hulu.

Do not watch Whitney.

Then watch Prime Suspect and DVR The Mentalist (CBS).

Unless the combo hotness of Taye Diggs and Benjamin Bratt is enough to make you able to put up with Private Practice (ABC).

So close.

In exciting news, I will be a guest on the radio show Black Sheep on GVB Radio September 20th, talking Fall TV as well as a recap of the Emmy's! Tune in at 12:00am EST/ 11:00 pm CST on http://www.gvbradio.com/ and check out the awesome Back Sheep show here!


Stay tuned all week for the TV Freak's What to Watch guide, and if you haven't already, like me on Facebook (TV Freak) and follow me on Twitter (@theTVFreak)!

Fall 2011 TV Preview: What to Watch

Wednesdays

All shows premiere the week of September 19-25 unless otherwise indicated.


Up All Night (8:00/7:00, NBC, premieres 9/14)

I've already talked about this show on my top five of the fall post, but here's what you need to know if you missed it: Christina Applegate. Will Arnet. Maya Rudolph.

Or robot versions of them. Dear Photoshop Department...

Free Agents (8:30/7:30, NBC, premieres 9/14)

Starring Hank Azaria, Kathryn Hahn (How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days), and Anthony Head (Hey, Giles!), this show is an adaptation of a British comedy about co workers hooking up and the mess that follows. Azaria is in  full on crazy Hank Azaria mode, which is always fun, and if it stays edgy and original like the British version, it will be great.

That may have been a problem for NBC in the past...

Suburgatory (8:30/7:30, ABC)

I don't actually know much about this new sitcom, minus the basic premise that Jeremy Sisto moves his teenage daughter (Does anyone else feel weird that Elton is old enough to play a teenager's dad?) from NYC to the burbs, and she has to deal with...well, suburbia. It could be fantastic, and I've got high hopes if only because it earned the prime new show spot on ABC's comedy night (in between the underrated The Middle and comedy juggernaut Modern Family). Plus, Jeremy Sisto!

This was a long time ago. You are old.

Revenge (10:00/9:00, ABC)

I've already seen the pilot for this soapy show, starring Emily VanCamp (Brothers and Sisters) as a girl hell bent on revenge in the Hamptons, and it is exactly what you expect it to be, given what I just told you and the fact that it's on ABC. VanCamp is trying very hard and honestly almost pulling off some decent acting, and though the writers seem to feel the need to throw anvils at my head, (Really? The boy from her childhood is now a hot guy carrying a torch for her? I wouldn't have guessed that from the fact that he named his boat after her.) I am interested to see what happens. I imagine it will end up in the bin with all the other ABC shows for me, when the plot gets stale or the characters become utterly irredeemable, but I'm giving it a shot until then.

This has to be the worst picture of her ever.

American Horror Story (10:00/9:00, FX, premieres 10/5)

This new concept show from Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck, Glee) stars Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton as a couple who move with their teenage daughter into a haunted house complete with a creepy neighbor (Jessica Lange) and weird former residents (including Zachary Quinto). This show is a return to Nip/Tuck form for Murphy, and promises scares as well as lots of weirdo sexuality (the teen daughter has sex with a man in a rubber fetish suit, among other things). Not my cup of uncomfortable tea, but it's getting great reviews from critics.

Um, no thank you.

So what should you watch?

You're going to watch The X-Factor, aren't you? Don't lie to me. I know you too well.

In that case, throw some DVR love at Up All Night, Suburgatory, Modern Family (9/8, ABC) and Happy Endings (9:30/8:30, ABC), and then give Revenge a shot, unless you are watching Ted Danson join CSI (CBS) or the death knoll of L&O:SVU (NBC).

At least until October 12th, when Psych returns on USA network.

Then everything else is meaningless.






In exciting news, I will be a guest on the radio show Black Sheep on GVB Radio September 20th, talking Fall TV as well as a recap of the Emmy's! Tune in at 12:00am EST/ 11:00 pm CST on http://www.gvbradio.com/ and check out the awesome Back Sheep show here!


Stay tuned all week for the TV Freak's What to Watch guide, and if you haven't already, like me on Facebook (TV Freak) and follow me on Twitter (@theTVFreak)!

Fall 2011 TV Preview: What to Watch

Ready for some more, Freaks?

Let's do it.

All shows premiere the week of September 19-25 unless otherwise indicated.

Tuesdays

Last Man Standing (8:00/7:00, ABC, premieres 10/11) 

I've already covered this Tim Allen comedy in the worst shows of the fall post, so I won't rehash the whole thing here, but basically, Tim Allen is a man. Surrounded by women. It's hard for him.

That's what she said.

Man Up! (8:30/7:30, ABC, premieres 10/18) 

The companion piece to Last Man Standing, this show is more men having a hard time with women. Groundbreaking and original programming, no doubt.

Teri Polo? For shame!

New Girl (9:00/8:00, FOX) 

Apparently this post is going to be a lot of rehash for those of you who read regularly, because New Girl was featured on my top five shows of the fall post. I've already seen the pilot, and the adorable Zooey Deschanel does not disappoint. It's funny and well-written, and I'm looking forward to seeing the characters grow in interesting ways. Plus, more random singing!

To mimic the show's best running gag, I will be making one of these for my friends.
You know who you are.

Ringer (9:00/8:00, CW, premieres 9/13) 

Sarah Michelle Gellar is back in this twisty mystery, also one of my top five shows of the fall. With co-stars Nestor Carbonell and Ioan Guffudd, SMG stars as twins Bridgett and Siobhan and promises lots of fraught glances and deep dark secrets. Just like we like it.

Deep dark secrets and side boob.

Unforgettable (10:00/9:00, CBS) 

Poppy Montgomery (Without a Trace) stars in this CBS procedural, about a detective with perfect recall. If the show treats her ability to remember everything in an interesting way (that has to be a problem in a personal life sometimes, right?) then it could be one of the "good" procedurals, but otherwise it will be case-of-the-week standard CBS fare.

She's a redhead! It's different!

So what should you watch?

Sons of Anarchy (10/9, FX) started a new season September 6th, and you should really, really be watching this show. It's incredibly well written, well acted, and always a hell of a ride. Also:

Oh, my god, I want to be that cigarette. 

Otherwise, there's nothing new worth watching at the 8/7 hour, so continue with Glee or NCIS as is your preference. In the 9/8 hour, you should watch New Girl and the fantastic Raising Hope on FOX, and DVR Ringer- it's always helpful to be able to rewind those mysteries. I'll be watching Parenthood at 10/9 on NBC (and hoping that it will feel less inconsistent than last year) but there are procedural offerings over on CBS and ABC (Body of Proof) if you don't want to get down with the family drama.



Stay tuned all week for the TV Freak's What to Watch guide, and if you haven't already, like me on Facebook (TV Freak) and follow me on Twitter (@theTVFreak)!