I still remember crisp autumn days in my youth. When the TV Guide Fall Preview issue would come, everything stopped for me as I pored over the possibilities. These where the days when broadcast TV wasn’t just the best show in town, it was the only show in town. Of course, that’s long since been true, with cable, satellite, and streaming now taking their seats at the table. Broadcast TV seems to have given up trying to compete on overall quality, and happily indulges the public’s desire for comfy fare that appeals to our nostalgia or salacious urges. Here are the shows that networks hope to use to ensnare you this time around.
Today, we’ll be looking at the old guard: ABC, CBS, and NBC. Tomorrow we’ll follow up with Fox and CW. Personally I don’t think there are a lot of winners here, but hey I didn’t think This is Us would work either.
ABC
Alaska Daily
The basics: It’s Northern Exposure but probably less funny
This time, it’s Hilary Swank who moves to Alaska and finds a group of quirky funny friends. They set it at a newspaper this time. A NEWSPAPER! How could that fail to resonate with younger viewers?
Avalon
The basics: The Andy Griffith Show with water
David E. Kelley has made a career of combining humor and drama. This time he does it while telling the story of a small-town sheriff on the island of Catalina off the Southern California coast. Full-size cars are all but illegal on the island, so it should be fun to watch the cops chase people on golf carts, if nothing else.
Celebrity Jeopardy
The basics: Played for real, not just the SNL skit
Mayim Bialik hosts this celebrity version of Jeopardy which will lack both the intelligence of the regular show and the wit of the SNL satire of it. Oh I think we are all just hoping they get Sean Connery to play.
Not Dead Yet
The basics: Could be surprisingly serviceable
Yeah, the ’00s kind of mined the “she’s on her own for the first time ever” sitcom to death, but with Gina Rodriguez and Hannah Simone, it could actually be pretty decent. We’ll find out midseason when it premieres.
The Rookie: Feds
The basics: Literally a show no one asked for, but hey, Niecy Nash is always amazing.
It’s a spinoff of The Rookie, which I didn’t think really needed a spinoff. Same idea, though: she’s a rookie at the FBI academy this time. See it or skip it, depending on if you agree with me about Niecy.
Will Trent
The basics: It’s a cop show. What else do you need to know?
Another procedural about a troubled yet brilliant police operative. This time he’s a former foster child. So expect them to mine that for about 4 episodes until this turns into yet another Ironside clone.
NBC
Found
The basics: Surprisingly, not a sequel to Lost.
One of two missing persons dramas this year, this one seems to play it pretty straight and by the book. There does seem to be more of a focus on diverse and underprivileged groups, which is good but it’s hard to know if it will make for good TV. Perennial cell-phone carrier Mark-Paul Gosselar is the name you’ll probably know.
LA Fire and Rescue
The basics: Wait, another fire and rescue show? Color me surprised!!
This seems to be a mix between the CSI/Law&Order mold and the old TV show Emergency. I guess everything old really is new again. In this case everything is very, very old.
Lopez vs. Lopez
The basics: Wait, NBC knows how to make sitcoms again?
It seems to me like, well, you know how Tim Allen did Last Man Standing which was essentially a continuation of his earlier show? Well George Lopez seems to want to do the same thing for people of color. ‘Nuff said.
Night Court
The basics: Dan Fielding is still a slimeball.
The 1980s original was one of my favorites, but it’s near-unwatchable today due to the low-quality SD cameras used. This one gives Melissa Rauch the opportunity to shine as the daughter of the Harry Anderson character. It promises to be a sharply written sitcom, but is it too old-fashioned to live? I hope not.
Quantum Leap
The basics: Maybe we’ll find out if Sam ever got home
This is a reboot, or a continuation, it’s not clear. It’s an all new cast but it seems to acknowledge that this isn’t the first time this has all been done. So there is the possibility that we’ll see Scott Bakula come back in some way. I’ll probably watch it.
CBS
East New York
The basics: A cop show, but Richard Kind?
There seems to be absolutely nothing new about this show. It’s a police procedural set in New York. I think that says it all, other than… Richard Kind? The accomplished yuckster sems to be playing it straight for once, and I will have to watch at least one episode to see if this is even possible.
Fire Country
The basics: It’s like the other fire shows except it’s in a small town
In this fire procedural where the firefighters are guaranteed to act like detectives, some of them are convicts and it’s in a tiny town in Northern California. My guess is it will run for 10 years and I won’t watch a single episode.
The Real Love Boat
The basics: Come on, like you’re really surprised they did this?
When you think about it, Survivor is basically “The Real Gilligan’s Island” so this doesn’t seem too far off brand for CBS. Hosted by the power couple of Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, it’s otherwise just what you think. Let’s just simply hope Charo was unavailable.
So Help Me Todd
The basics: There is no way even a talented cast can save this
I am just guessing someone lost a bet. This show, in which a private eye works with his mom, would have fit in perfectly in the 1970s CBS lineup but haven’t we gotten past this sort of thing? Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin have roughly 100,000 more talent than I will ever have, and I’m just assuming they owed someone money and that’s how they got into this show.
True Lies
The basics: Well, he did say he would be back.
Based on the very well-done 1994 film, this one is more about how the professional spy works with his wife. If it’s anything like the original film it should be a hoot.
Tune in for more
Tomorrow we’ll be finishing up with the rest of the broadcast schedule. If you agree or disagree with my drive-by shots, leave a comment below!
