Film School Rejects » 2008 Fall TV Preview

Prepare Yourself for the Heroes Season 3 Premiere

Neil Miller — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:45:06 +0000

It’s Monday — nothing interesting is happening. Yet. But by the end of this evening there will have been a Brett Favre sighting on Monday Night Football as well as another episode of Gossip Girl. Oh, and this little show called Heroes will slip into its third season, quiet as a mouse. Or not.

And in honor of the highly anticipated 3-hour premiere event that NBC is putting on for its most popular show, the web is all abuzz with Heroes-related goodness. And it appears that even though I don’t have much more to say about the show, plenty of other people do. Therefore, I’ve chosen a selection of articles from around the web to help you get in the mood for more cheerleader-saving, time-stopping, villainy excitement.

And away we go…

Villains, Heroes, and Ratings [Crave Online]

Feliz Vasquez Jr. writes a really interesting piece for our partners-in-crime over at Crave Online. Vasquez goes on the defensive, setting the record straight for those out there who were heavily critical of season 2:

You have to admit that even in the face of potential cancellation in season two, “Heroes” has remained true to itself. At least give them that. And while “Smallville” has gone on for eight seasons by completely selling Superman down the river in favor product placements and teen melodrama, “Heroes” has somewhat retained its scruples and creative vision with a second half of the sophomore season that was quite good when all things were considered.

Five Crucial Plot Points to Remember Before Watching Heroes Tonight [io9]

The always fine folks at io9 remind us of some of season two’s most prevalent plot-lines, all of which should come into play as season three comes rolling in. One that I will be watching very closely is the moment where season two ended, the mirror-image of season one’s end:

(1) Nathan Petrelli: Seemingly Dead. Then Alive. Now Seemingly Dead Again.
At the end of season one, the burgeoning politico saved the world by using his powers of flight to zoom his his radioactive little brother, Peter, into the air — so he detonate in space. Nathan was severely burned . . . until a self-healer/immortal named Adam Monroe befriended Peter and convinced the sibling to let him heal Nathan. The latter made a full recovery. However, at the end of season 2, the older Petrelli faced mortality once again when a mysterious person in a black coat shot him just as he was about to out himself while giving a public speech about superhumans.

Will Heroes Finally Impress with ‘Villains’? [Rope of Silicon]

Though he is a hardcore skeptic, as evidence by the quote below, RoS’ David Frank can’t stop watching. And with tonight’s premiere, he is still hoping that Heroes will go all “villain-like” on his ass:

I endured every episode of that first season. It was like crack, which is supposedly bad for you, but quite addictive. I couldn’t stop checking in every week despite knowing “Heroes” was a blue-balling cock-tease that made old mythology episodes of “The X-Files” seem like goddamn Shanghai orgies of information. The first season of “Heroes” was excruciatingly plodding and sloshing over with so much filler and unneeded characters it felt like it took 7 episodes for someone to walk across the living room. And most of those characters were so awful (Ali Larter, worst actress…ever) I was wishing for an epidemic of severe strokes to strike them down – no hero is safe from blood clots.

8 Clips from the Heroes Season 3 Premiere [MovieWeb]

MovieWeb has 8 new clips from tonight’s episode — including one where Claire’s cheerleading trophy leaves another character with a wicked headache.

Heroes: Villains Promotional Photo Gallery

A few weeks back we posted a big gallery of Heroes promo photos — if you missed them, you might want to take a look before you watch tonight’s episode.

So what do you think — is tonight’s Heroes season three premiere going to be badass, or more of the season two disappointment?

Spaceballs: The Animated Series Gets a Sexy, Stupid Promo

Neil Miller — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:43:30 +0000

Like any obedient fan, I would follow Mel Brooks down any road upon which he chose to take one of his classic properties. I followed as he put Get Smart in the hands of the guy who directed Tommy Boy and the star of The Office, and that turned out just fine. And now I will follow him as he hands off Spaceballs to the folks at G4 — even though this first promo looks dumb.

Yes, I said it — it looks dumb. And don’t take this the wrong way, I am not going soft on my red-blooded, 18-25 year old male constituency — I still like boobs just as much as the next guy, but this promo doesn’t tell us anything new about what this series is going to be. All we know is that it looks like something that some mid-level animator at Cartoon Network would make on his own time and throw up on StripClubList.com because its too pointlessly perverse for his real job animating for Adult Swim.

But then again, that’s me. I am anxious to hear what everyone else thinks about it. Space Balls: The Animated Series is set to premiere on G4 September 21st at 5pm.

[See post to watch Flash video]

Heroes Season 3 Promo Images Look Sexy, Lack Kristen Bell

Neil Miller — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:20:33 +0000

NBC has released some sexy, sleek new promotional photos for the upcoming season of “Heroes,” which will begin with the “Villains” volume when it kicks off on Monday, September 22nd at 8/7c. The premiere will include an hour-long compilation show that will lead into an all new, two-hour premiere at 9/8c.

The promo pictures, seen below, should help get you in the mood for the new season. Though, I am not excited about the fact that there is no Kristen Bell.. Shame on you, NBC.

Just click on any of the images below to enlarge:

Fall TV Preview: What to Watch on Friday Nights

Neil Miller — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:00:19 +0000

We bring our Fall TV Preview to a close with a look at the best shows that Friday night has to offer…

Life (NBC) Airs Fridays 10/9c, Special Premiere on Monday, September 29th
Detective shows and courtroom dramas — two types of TV shows that I could never get into. No “Law & Order” or “NYPD Blue” for this guy. Then, as if happenstantially, I stumbled across the NBC show “Life,” which stars Damian Lewis as a cop who served 12 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, only to return to the force upon his release to become one of the LAPD’s most zen-like homicide detectives. It is a fresh, incredibly creative, yet simple premise that is the base for one of the most fascinating shows on television. In season 1, we saw detective Charlie Crews get closer to uncovering the conspiracy behind his incarceration, as well as uncover some interesting information about his new partner, played by Sarah Shahi. In season 2, Crews is back to finish the job and move on with his life, but don’t be surprised if this season is filled with even more outlandish murders and intriguing characters. Take it from a guy who doesn’t like this kind of show, there is something about “Life” will have you under its spell in no time.

Recommendation: Season 1 just hit DVD shelves. Go check it out and get ready to be hooked by the time season 2 starts. - Neil Miller

Monk (USA) Airs Fridays 9/8c, New Episode on September 5
A decade ago, Tony Shalhoub was just “that foreign guy from Wings.” Now, he’s got a legacy of his own in Monk. As a former detective with the San Francisco Police Department, Adrian Monk (Shalhoub) is brought in on various cases (usually murder investigations) because of his keen eye and uncanny deductive ability. An obsessive-compulsive germaphobe, Monk was crushed ten years earlier when his wife Trudy was killed by a car bomb. Although he’s not stable enough to be reinstated to the force, Captain Leland Sottlemeyer (Ted Levine) and Lieutenant Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) rely on him to help solve the toughest of cases. Helping Monk along the way is the spunky widowed mother Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard) as his personal assistant, helping him in every way from driving him around town to reorganizing his silverware drawer. Tragedy struck the show in preparation for this season when Stanley Kamel, who played Monk’s therapist Dr. Kroeger, died of a heart attack. This was written into the show, and Monk reluctantly found help in Dr. Neven Bell (Héctor Elizondo). With season seven rumored to be a final season, the show is hitting a milestone this week as it airs its 100th episode, quaintly titled, “Mr. Monk’s 100th Case” (although it has been noted in the fifth season that he has already solved more than 100 murders).

Recommendation: Forget Jessica Fletcher. Adrian Monk is the current standard in quirky murder mysteries. - Kevin Carr

Psych (USA) Airs Fridays 10/9c, New Episode on September 5th
Miss Cleo has nothing on Shawn Spencer (James Roday). While neither may be psychic, Shawn has more people believing he is. In truth, he’s really just very observant, but he puts on a good show for the Santa Barbara Police Department, who routinely call on his services to solve crimes. Shawn was originally warned that he would be prosecuted if it turned out his powers were fake, but now the police seem to be totally committed to his abilities. To take his ruse the full extent, Shawn opened a psychic detective service with his childhood best friend Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill). Their biggest supporters at the SBPD are Chief Karen Vick (Kirsten Nelson) and junior detective Juliet O’Hara (Maggie Lawson). Senior detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) is a skeptic and often at odds with the pair, but he concedes that Shawn does help in solving crimes. Sharing Lassiter’s views is Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen), Shawn’s father and a former cop with the SBPD. Most episodes begin with a flashback (often to 1987) when Shawn and Gus were kids, and this flashback often holds a clue to the mystery at hand. Be sure to catch the shows on USA to watch the minisodes of “Lil’ Shawn & Gus” and select “Psych-Out” moments (otherwise known as bloopers).There’s also a pineapple featured in each show… sometimes in stealth mode, sometime hidden on set. In the upcoming episode, Shawn and Gus are put to the test when they try to solve a string of robberies at a roller derby… and the hilarity ensues.

Recommendation: The show never takes itself too seriously, and sometimes you can guess the culprit, which can lead to psychic delusions of grandeur. Check it out for some silly escapism on a Friday night. - Kevin Carr

Stargate: Atlantis (SciFi) Airs Fridays 10/9c, New Episode on September 5
Five years ago, while “Stargate: SG-1″ was winding down, SciFi Channel launched a new chapter in the ever-expanding Stargate universe. “Stargate: Atlantis,” currently in its fifth season, follows an international, joint civilian/military mission to the Pegasus Galaxy, where the Ancients once lived. They live in a lost city of the Ancients, which is capable of shielding itself from attack, cloaking to avoid detection and even flying off into space. Lieutenant Colonel John Shepherd (Joe Flanigan) leads a team of soldiers and scientists to various planets in the Pegasus Galaxy, looking for help in fighting the Wraith, a deadly race of vampire-like beings that literally suck the life out of their human prey. Over the past four and a half years, the Atlantis team has faces other adversaries, including human-form replicators, Wraith hybrids, military rebels and energy beings. The fifth season saw Colonel Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) of SG-1 fame replaced by Richard Woolsey (Robert Picardo) as expedition leader. The deceased Dr. Carson Beckett (Paul McGillion) has shown up again as a clone, and resident brain Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett) has started a potential romance with the new doctor, Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite). Teyla Emmagen (Rachel Luttrell) continues to work with the team despite being a new mother, and Ronon Dex (Jason Momoa) continues to kick a whole lotta ass. With the replicators (and ultimately original expedition leader Dr. Elizabeth Weir) put to rest for good this season, the major villain is the genetically altered Wraith Michael (Connor Trinneer) who is trying to take over the galaxy with human-Wraith hybrids.

Recommendation: Whether you’re a die-hard sci-fi fan or not, Stargate Atlantis is worth watching. - Kevin Carr

For more, check out our 2008 Fall TV Preview page.

The Ten Must-See Shows of the Fall TV Season

Neil Miller — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:35:58 +0000

Blood, sweat and tears were poured into this week’s Fall TV Preview by the FSR staff, and what better way could there be to bring it all to an end than to compile our favorite upcoming shows into one of our world famous top ten lists? Of course, we still have a few shows to talk about in Friday’s line-up, but it doesn’t look like any of them will be making it onto this list. The likes of NBC’s “Life” and Sci-Fi’s “Stargate: Atlantis” probably deserve an honorable mention, but they certainly aren’t going to top the ten shows below. That said, we’ve mixed the new with the old and dug through this fall’s entire prime time line-up to bring you the Ten Must-See Shows of the Fall TV Season:

10. Fringe (Fox) Airs Tuesdays 9/8c, Premieres September 9th 8/7c
One of several new shows for Fox this year, Fringe is the latest from the evil genius JJ Abrams, examining the relationship between science and the paranormal. When a flight from Germany to Boston lands with a crew and passenger manifest of grizzly bodies, Special FBI agent Olivia Dunham is brought in to investigate the cause. Dunham’s trails lead her to a mad scientist named Dr. Walter Bishop, (John Noble, aka the Steward of Gondor himself!) whose experiments in the area seem tailor made for the situation but the only way to him is through is his estranged son, good ol’ Pacey Witter. Sorry, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson). Cue much experimentation on Dunham in a desperate effort to solve the case, experimentation which may have lasting effects. Despite the pilot’s storyline revolving around an airline disaster, the show seems to share more elements with “The X-Files” than “Lost.” Though it has buckets of potential, it remains to be seen whether Fringe will have the popularity of JJ’s other smash. - Michelle Graham

9. Entourage (HBO) Airs Sundays 10/9c, Premieres September 7th
The finale of season 4 was less than stellar for our favorite posse, unless you count Johnny Chase’s three hour sex encounter with his new French love interest. Season 5 will offer a chance at redemption for Vincent Chase and friends, including Ari, who overplayed his hand on the Cannes bomb Medellin. Can Harvey Weingard, who bought the flick for a dollar, turn it into the next Shakespeare in Love? We don’t know. We do know this, the 5th season of “Entourage” will bring more laughs, more Johnny Drama, more women, and the return of Vinny’s publicist, Shauna. Vince’s friend, Dom (who fans were mixed about) also will show up, possibly in a more serious storyline where he deals with terminal cancer. Now’s a good time to join the entourage, if you aren’t in already. - Rob Hunter

8. True Blood (HBO) Airs Sundays 9/8c, Premieres September 7th
HBO is a reliable home for cutting edge series, and this fall’s “True Blood” seems to be no exception. Japanese scientists have perfected a synthetic blood which aside from more common medical uses also is found to satiate the thirst of vampires. Now that the bloodsuckers are no longer a threat to humanity, they find themselves “coming out of the coffin” and attempting to join society. While events around the world are discussed, most of the action centers on a small town in Louisiana where one psychic waitress (Anna Paquin) will confront intolerance, mystery, and bad tips. “True Blood” is created by Alan Ball (”Six Feet Under”) and based on the novels of Charlaine Harris. I personally find vampires to be incredibly boring, but I’ll be giving True Blood a chance based on its pedigree and possibility. - Rob Hunter

7. The Shield (FX) Airs Tuesdays 10/9c, Premieres September 2nd
This was a very tough preview to get done, because it turns out that very few of our staff members are all caught up on “The Shield,” but many of you probably are. So here’s what you need to know: “The Shield” is a television powerhouse, a multiple Emmy award winner and one of the most heralded cable shows of all-time. This year, it enters its seventh and final season, a season that will finally answer the burning question that is on the minds of all of its fans: How will it end for Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis)? All will be revealed by the end of this final season to this extraordinary show. If you are a “Shield” fan, then you don’t need me to tell you to watch it — your DVR is already set. If you aren’t on this bandwagon yet, then you’ve got 6 seasons to catch up on, so get moving. - Neil Miller

6. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) Airs Thursdays 10/9c, Premieres September 18th
Prostitution. Dumpster babies. Mental and physical disabilities. Abortion. These are just a few of the less-controversial topics dealt with in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” The breakout show that may have cost as little as $85 to get off the ground has become an institution for those bored with conventional television. Mac, Dennis, Charlie, Sweet Dee, and Frank are hands down the worst people in sitcom history, doing and saying things that would leave Archie Bunker slackjawed and making the sign of the cross. They’ve exploited a faux-religious miracle, pretended to be pro-life in order to score chicks and developed a hilarious crack addiction. Hilarious. Crack. Addiction. Basically, it’s not so much pushing the envelope as it is shoving it to the ground, pissing on it, and then making love to its mother in front of it. And we’ll be laughing the entire time. - Cole Abaius

Gossip Girl (The CW) Airs Mondays 8/7c, Premieres September 1st
That’s right. I watch “Gossip Girl.” And not just for Kristen Bell. Although it would be easy to do the macho thing and claim that the two main reasons I watch are Blake Lively, I’ve never been known to pull off the macho act. Besides, it’s probably the trashiest, most unrealistic, bourgeoisie-infested show on TV, and that’s a great thing. It’s eye candy in more ways than one. Pretty, young things living the high life and sleeping around are good to look at, but the plotlines are incredibly easy to digest despite being hard to swallow. Still, marketing the show by using the negative quotes from major outlets was ingenious, and the continuing current of attractive people doing things we wish we could do with money we wish we had make it difficult to deny. After the first season of following around Dan and Serena fall in and out of love, Blair and Nate falling in and out of love, and Chuck falling deeper in love with himself, the second season promises more of the same dramatics. This time, from scenic The Hamptons! - Cole Abaius

4. 30 Rock (NBC) Airs Thursday 9:30/8:30c, Premieres October 30th
There’s only one question to ask when it comes to the Emmy Award winning comedy. Why the hell aren’t you watching it? The show is the funniest and most random show on television, thanks in large part to show creator and star, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and the highly underrated Tracey Morgan. Season 2 ended with Liz (Fey) ready to adopt a child after a false pregnancy. Jack (Baldwin) returns from his horrendous government job after coming up with plans for a “gay bomb”, and the rest of the ensemble continued to live out their lifelong dreams, whether is was Tracey Jordan making Benjamins off a porn video game, or pageboy Kenneth ending up with Asian beauties at the Beijing Olympics. The third season will bring stars galore with “Friends” and John Mayer alum Jennifer Aniston stopping by. Aniston will play a stalker who grows lose to Jack. The biggest ratings boost for “30 Rock” might be coming, however, with a guest spot by media mogul and creator of the largest female cult following since Tampax, Oprah Winfrey. Seriously, this woman could tell ladies everywhere to shave their heads because it helps cool them down, and the next day America would be filled with Natalie Portman in V For Vendetta clones. Hell, whatever it takes to keep this brilliant show on the air, I am up for. I’ll just have to buy wigs for all the female viewers. - Adam Sweeney

3. The Office (NBC) Airs Thursdays 9/8c, Premieres September 25th
After each season finale of “The Office” I expect to hear that the show has been canceled. Not due to anything negative mind you, but because lead Steve Carell is now a movie star, and when TV stars get big enough to open a film they usually kiss the boob tube goodbye and never look back… Ted Danson and David Caruso for example. We’re heading into the fifth season this month, and the show’s still going incredibly strong thanks to sharp writing and the best ensemble cast on TV. ‘The Office’ also managed to survive Jim and Pam’s “will they won’t they” friendship changing into a romantic relationship, which has been a death knell for other great shows. Last season did end on a downer with the departure of Toby (Paul Lieberstein) whose understated and subtle comedic genius will be sorely missed, but after four solid seasons I’m no longer doubting that the quality and character of ‘The Office’ will continue. - Rob Hunter

2. Heroes, NBC, Airs Mondays 9/8c (Premieres September 22)
If there’s one thing “Heroes” do well, it’s saving the world, right? So they did again in the Season 2 finale, destroying a deadly strain of the Shanti Virus. The stakes have been raised in Season 3, titled Villains, as each hero’s loyalty will be tested, new foes will emerge, some from Level 5, the prison to the deadliest threats to the world, and some within the heroes themselves. Mohinder and Maya look to turn up the heat with a possible relationship, we will get the much anticipated return of Sylar, Season 1’s supreme badass, as he sets out to turn everyone’s favorite cheerleader, Claire’s world upside down, and Hiro will meet his match, a lightning fast vixen who’d give Usain Bolt a run for his money. For the heroes, this is only the beginning of their sensational saga. “Heroes” has changed the way we watch television, made it cool to like superheroes, and the 3^rd season “Villains” will be groundbreaking, Earth shattering, and as compelling as any show on television. - Adam Sweeney

1. Dexter (Showtime) Airs Sundays 9/8c, Premieres September 28th
“Dexter” is all about upping the ante. When you’re telling the story of a serial killer who works as a blood splatter technician for the Miami metro police who still hasn’t told his sister or girlfriend about his hellish hobby, it’s easy to keep the tension at the breaking point. Dexter Morgan has braved his psychopathic brother, the looming threat of a suspiciously obsessed coworker, and the wiles of a gorgeous woman with a penchant for arson. It stepped out at the end of Season 2 uncaptured, unscathed, and back in the arms of the woman he loves. But all is not well. Dexter is on the brink of existential crisis – questioning the very foundations of why he does what he does, hoping to create lasting relationships for the first time in his life, and destroying the mental idol he’s created of his father Harry’s memory. Season 3 promises to find Dexter getting sloppy, violating his moral code and discovering spontaneity. From a show that’s already kept audiences breathless and cheering for the serial killer, the next frontier is to give that charismatic anti-hero the freedom to do anything he wants. And with freedom, comes an even greater chance of getting caught. If you aren’t already obsessed with this show, now’s a good time to breeze through the first two seasons and start settling in for an unsettling Sunday night. - Cole Abaius

For more, check out our 2008 Fall TV Preview page.

What shows are you looking forward to most in the upcoming Fall TV season?

Fall TV Preview: What to Watch on Thursday Nights

FSR Staff — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:03:59 +0000

We continue our Fall TV Preview with a look at the best shows that Thursday night has to offer…

Burn Notice (USA) Airs Thursdays 10/9c, Premieres September 11th
The second season of “Burn Notice” is already in full swing. Jeffrey Donovan plays a likable, compelling character named Michael Westen. Westen was a spy before getting a “burn notice,” which is a super secret document informing the intelligence community that he is no longer a reliable asset. Cut off from his funds and hounded by the FBI, Michael lands in Miami, where he takes on odd jobs to maintain himself while seeking the identity of the person or group who had him burned. At the end of last season Michael was on the verge of discovering the identity of the person who got him burned. On the premier episode of season two, we met Carla as played by Tricia Helfer (who also portrays the sexiest Cylon on “Battlestar Galactica”). Carla has now set herself up as Michael’s new handler, threatening his family and friends if he refuses to do her bidding. Each episode so far in the second season has juggled a trio of storylines: Michael receives an assignment from his new handler, he attempts to discover more about this agency that has him doing its errands, and he meets some regular person in dire need of the kind of assistance only a master tactician like himself can handle. The show features a cast of appealing characters and is always entertaining, even when it feels a little formulaic. So far, the second season has not been quite as good as the first, but I’m still on board. Every week you’ll receive instructions on how to build some sort of cool safe tracking/wiretapping/booby-trapping device from various cell phone parts. The show also features cult movie and fanboy geek icon Bruce Campbell as an alcoholic, womanizing former special forces operative who who is handy with a sniper rifle.

Recommendation: This is a highly entertaining show with broad appeal. Watch it. - Mister Hand

Smallville (CW) Airs Thursday 8/7c, Premieres September 18
The seventh season finale of Smallville gave Superman fans what they’ve been waiting for, the beginnings of the bitter rivalry between the son of Krypton and Lex Luthor. Lex turned on Clark, weakening him and destroying the Fortress of Solitude. The premiere of the eighth season brings the Justice League and the Green Arrow into the picture as they try to find a now powerless Clark. The eighth season will offer a new CEO of Luthorcorp, the enigmatic Tess Mercer, who takes over while Lex is on hiatus. (By the way, if Smallville wants any chance of future success it HAS to get Michael Rosenbaum under contract.) Chloe has her own issues, coming to terms with a group who wants to exploit her newfound meteor powers, and will have to make a decision about her relationship with Jimmy Olsen. Clark and Lois will be forced upon each other (maybe literally?) as they have to team up at the Daily Bugle. Most exciting will be the introduction of Doomsday, the adversary who killed Superman in the comics. Season 8 will take Clark Kent off the farm, into Metropolis, and on the cusp of realizing his destiny as the Man of Steel.

Recommendation: Hum the John Williams theme song as you watch the show Brian Singer should have based a new Superman film off of. - Adam Sweeney

The Office (NBC) Airs Thursdays 9/8c, Premieres September 25th
After each season finale of “The Office” I expect to hear that the show has been canceled. Not due to anything negative mind you, but because lead Steve Carell is now a movie star, and when TV stars get big enough to open a film they usually kiss the boob tube goodbye and never look back… Ted Danson and David Caruso for example. We’re heading into the fifth season this month, and the show’s still going incredibly strong thanks to sharp writing and the best ensemble cast on TV. ‘The Office’ also managed to survive Jim and Pam’s “will they won’t they” friendship changing into a romantic relationship, which has been a death knell for other great shows. Last season did end on a downer with the departure of Toby (Paul Lieberstein) whose understated and subtle comedic genius will be sorely missed, but after four solid seasons I’m no longer doubting that the quality and character of ‘The Office’ will continue.

Recommendation: Tune in now because I think this may be the final season. - Rob Hunter

My Name is Earl (NBC) Airs Thursday 8/7c, Premieres September 25
Jason Lee may be hit or miss when it comes to choosing movie roles (one day it’s Mallrats, the next day it’s Stealing Harvard), but he owns the role of the karmically challenged Earl. Sadly, season 3 often strayed from the feel good humor that came from a reformed criminal making amends in favor of showing a more vengeful main character. Season 4 will look to right the ship as Earl is done with psychotic wife, Billie, and back in love with the list. Seth Green will guest-star as a former Make-a-Wish kid who had his dreams of being an action film hero crushed by Earl. Jenna Elfman will also guest star, perhaps in an attempt to change her own karma by forcing Dharma & Greg on us) as a facially scarred leader of a cheer camp. As long as the show sticks to the original formula and gives us more of the hilariously trashy Jaime Pressley and Crabman, you can bet that “Earl” will turn bad to good.

Recommendation: Put off plans until the weekend and enjoy a show that kicks off the funniest two hours on television. - Adam Sweeney

Kath and Kim (NBC) Airs Thursday 8:30/7:30c, Premieres October 9th
All due respect to the late Bernie Mac, but NBC is the original king of comedy. The network is also superb when it comes to adapting comedy shows that gained popularity overseas, “The Office” proved that. So chances are good that this comedy taken from Australia will bring the goods. “SNL” alum Molly Shannon and Hellboy’s Selma Blair, who we have a soft spot for, star in a story about Kath, a mother who lets her spoiled divorcée daughter, Kim, move back home and into a whole new world of dysfunction. Shannon’s comedic capabilities are unquestioned, but I think Blair will stand out in her part. She can play a ditz. Watch Cruel Intentions if you need a refresher. Sorry guys and gals, no kiss with Sarah Michelle Gellar on this show. And while Shannon and Blair will get the spotlight, it will be fun to watch John Michael Higgins play Phil, the diva husband of Kath. Anyone who has seen him in Best in Show or A Mighty Wind knows his talent level.

Recommendation: Give the new kid on the NBC Thursday lineup block a chance. It wasn’t that long ago that “My Name is Earl” and “The Office” were in its’ shoes. - Adam Sweeney

30 Rock (NBC) Airs Thursday 9:30/8:30c, Premieres October 30th
There’s only one question to ask when it comes to the Emmy Award winning comedy. Why the hell aren’t you watching it? The show is the funniest and most random show on television, thanks in large part to show creator and star, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and the highly underrated Tracey Morgan. Season 2 ended with Liz (Fey) ready to adopt a child after a false pregnancy. Jack (Baldwin) returns from his horrendous government job after coming up with plans for a “gay bomb”, and the rest of the ensemble continued to live out their lifelong dreams, whether is was Tracey Jordan making Benjamins off a porn video game, or pageboy Kenneth ending up with Asian beauties at the Beijing Olympics. The third season will bring stars galore with “Friends” and John Mayer alum Jennifer Aniston stopping by. Aniston will play a stalker who grows lose to Jack. The biggest ratings boost for “30 Rock” might be coming, however, with a guest spot by media mogul and creator of the largest female cult following since Tampax, Oprah Winfrey. Seriously, this woman could tell ladies everywhere to shave their heads because it helps cool them down, and the next day America would be filled with Natalie Portman in V For Vendetta clones. Hell, whatever it takes to keep this brilliant show on the air, I am up for. I’ll just have to buy wigs for all the female viewers.

Recommendation: Guitar Hero and “Rock of Love” can piss off. This is the real source of pop culture to rock to. - Adam Sweeney

Ugly Betty (ABC) Airs Thursdays 8/7c, Premieres September 25th
The question on everyone’s mind as we come back to Betty this fall is “where was that plane headed?”. At the end of the last season we witnessed Betty leaving her family home, frazzled from getting a marriage proposal from the ex-love-of-her-life, Henry, and romantic getaway plans with her new flame, Gio, thrown at you at the same time. The only question is, where did she go? To the arms of her true love (Henry), to her new spicy connection (Gio) or to find her place in the world without defining herself by her man? The way this show goes, it’s more than likely door number 3. Last season as a whole suffered not only from the writer’s strike cutting it short, but also from a generally weak story arc. With season 1, we had the mystery of Alex/Alexis, the car crash that nearly killed Bradford Meade and the ever present shadow of Faye Summers. Unless the third season kicks off to a strong start (a real battle between Daniel and Wilhelmina for the job of Editor in Chief would be nice, rather than him slinking off quietly), the show will rapidly drop from beloved to boring.

Recommendation: Now is not the time to come to the party, but if you’re already hooked, don’t miss the big reveal of Betty’s decision. - Michelle Graham

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) Airs Thursdays 9/8c, Premieres September 25th (2 hour premiere)
The will-they-won’t-they portion of Grey’s Anatomy has finally ended! At least, that’s what we all hope. Grey’s suffered a lot from the “Ross and Rachel” syndrome last season, with the back and forth between McDreamy and Meredith (M & M) being stretched to an all-time low. Even worse, there was a boring character brought in to reinforce it! However, though the M & M plot was shakey, others fought to make up for it. Lexie Grey, a character whose appearance at the end of season 3 surprised and worried a few, rapidly became a great addition to the show, bringing some spark to even the drabbest of Meredith scenes. Relationships (almost) came out of left field, old characters came back and dropped bombshells and we learned more about some established characters than we really wanted to know. Perhaps with the dawn of a new cheerful McDreamy era in Meredith’s life, the show can move out of that relationship’s shadow and keep the focus on the more entertaining ensemble.

Recommendation: You know you’re already hooked. Stick with it, and as long as M & M stay together the good times should start rolling on again. - Michelle Graham

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) Airs Thursdays 10/9c, Premieres September 18th
Prostitution. Dumpster babies. Mental and physical disabilities. Abortion. These are just a few of the less-controversial topics dealt with in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” The breakout show that may have cost as little as $85 to get off the ground has become an institution for those bored with conventional television. Mac, Dennis, Charlie, Sweet Dee, and Frank are hands down the worst people in sitcom history, doing and saying things that would leave Archie Bunker slackjawed and making the sign of the cross. They’ve exploited a faux-religious miracle, pretended to be pro-life in order to score chicks and developed a hilarious crack addiction. Hilarious. Crack. Addiction. Basically, it’s not so much pushing the envelope as it is shoving it to the ground, pissing on it, and then making love to its mother in front of it. And we’ll be laughing the entire time.

Recommendation: Tune in or be ostracized by friends and family. - Cole Abaius

For more, check out our 2008 Fall TV Preview page.

Fall TV Preview: What to Watch on Wednesday Nights

FSR Staff — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:44:06 +0000

We continue our Fall TV Preview with a look at the best shows that Wednesday night has to offer…

Criminal Minds (CBS) Airs Wednesdays 9/8c, Premieres September 24th
Entering its fourth season, “Criminal Minds” is another in a long line of successful police procedurals for CBS. The twist? It focuses on the criminal instead of the crime. Even though Mandy Patankin isn’t on anymore, the show still features some solid acting from Thomas Gibson and Joe Mantegna. At first glance, it’s hard to delineate between this show and every other procedural created since “CSI” became a smash, but “Criminal Minds” stands out because it focuses on an FBI team at Qauntico which gives them quite a bit of range in dealing with crimes. We still have to deal with the usual personal lives of cops – messy divorces, personal dedication to old cases, and in-office flirtation, but the depth of some of the issues and scenarios they deal with is a lot darker than most other shows. Dealing with serial killers, torture and psychotic behavior gives this show’s tone an edge over the cookie-cutter-copies of police shows out there.

Recommendation: If you’re a detective-show junky that hasn’t discovered this one yet, do yourself a favor and tune in. - Cole Abaius

Knight Rider (NBC) Airs Wednesday 8/7c, Premieres September 24th
When our esteemed editor Neil Miller was looking to assign each of us a television show to preview for the fall, and then to keep up with each week for recaps, I would have done well to remember the line from Goodfellas: “Never say nothin’, and always keep your mouth shut.”

“Hey, I’ll take Knight Rider,” I said. Heh-heh. It was a joke. A lark. Irony.

But Neil, either a strict literalist or a cruel sadist, gave me the job. So here’s your fall preview for a show proceeding from one of the worst pilots I’ve ever seen on television. Basically, a scientist builds a talking car that can transform its paint job using nano-technology. It can also access traffic photos from satellites that can’t possibly exist, and use GPS to navigate itself–something that anyone with a car made after the year 2007 probably has by now. Not surprisingly, this remake of the 1980’s show starring David Hasselhoff has nothing new to offer. It does, however, give us a wealth of inane dialogue, a criminal disregard for logic, and, most damning of all for a show about a car with artificial intelligence, a lot of boring chase scenes. If I had a rating system, I would use beer for this one, because it took me upwards of twelve beers to get through the pilot, and by the second hour I was shooting tequila hoping to die of alcohol poisoning before the end credits. There is a ray of hope, however, in that a new show runner has been brought on board, and he also thought the pilot was crap. Screenwriter for the Fast and the Furious films, Gary Scott Thompson has said that his goal is to reinvent the series and offer viewers “something cool” every week. So even if you saw the pilot and thought it was unbearable, it might be worth seeing if they can turn it around now that it’s gone to series. I’ll be watching every week if alcohol-induced stomach cancer doesn’t incapacitate me before the show is canceled.

Recommendation: DVR it if you’re curious. You definitely want a way to skip the commercials. With a heavy tie-in to Ford Motors (the new K.I.T.T. is a Ford Mustang), the commercials during the pilot were almost as inane as the show itself. - Mister Hand

Pushing Daisies (ABC) Airs Wednesdays 8/7c, Premieres October 1st
“Pushing Daisies” is the kind of show that is just ridiculous enough to work. It’s your basic detective story where crimes are solved by the pie-maker who has the magical ability of bringing back dead things to life, the woman he loves whom he brought back to life but can’t touch ever again because she’ll fall back down dead, and a private detective that never seems impressed unless he’s knitting. Apparently, when you can bring things back to life, it’s easy to ask the dead who killed them. This show is probably one of the sweetest, quirkiest shows on television today – looking like something Lewis Carroll and Tim Burton (in his primary color phase) teamed up to make. The storylines are always funny, and it somehow manages to blend musical interludes with death.

Recommendation: If you like surreal, primary colors, and quirky-sweet murder mysteries, check it out. If you think it’ll be too weird for you, you’re probably right. - Cole Abaius

Sons of Anarchy (FX) Airs Wednesdays 10/9c, Premieres September 3
FX looks to add to its ever increasing resume of awesome and cutting edge shows with the premiere of Sons of Anarchy, a new darkly comedic drama about an outlaw rebel motorcycle club. Starring Charlie Hunnam and genre bad-ass Ron Perlman, Anarchy promises to pack in the thrills, the laughs, the action, and plenty of bullets tearing through the air; not to mention the earth shaking roar of dozens of bikes trekking down the highway. This adrenaline charged ride follows the club as they explore the other side of the law while protecting their small town from encoraching drug dealers, overzealous lawmen, and big corporations moving in. View the violence and the drama through the eyes of Jackson “Jax” Teller (Hunnam) as he copes with the changing face of the motorcycle club and new developments in his unstable home life. In case you’re worried about the idea of Robin Hood-esque bikers, make no mistake -the gang is also dedicated to preserving their ruthless and highly illegal gun running business.

Reccomendation: Put on your lather and straddle this hog every week as FX looks to have another surefire winner on tap with the balance of action and dark comedy in “Sons of Anarchy.” - Robert Fure

For more, check out our 2008 Fall TV Preview page.

Fall TV Preview: What to Watch on Tuesday Nights

Joe Ngo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:26:27 +0000

We continue our Fall TV Preview with a look at the best shows that Tuesday night has to offer…

90210 (The CW) Airs Tuesdays 8/7c, Premieres September 2nd
“90210″ is a revamp of the show that launched the teen soap opera craze. It’s also being born on the heels of sappy pedestrian CW shows like “One Tree Hill” and the far more daring “Gossip Girl.” Essentially, this show is the television equivalent of going back in time and murdering your grandfather. This is its blessing and curse, since fans will be expecting a continuation of more-of-the-same while also hoping the show can push a few envelopes. There may be few envelopes left, though, since we’ve covered a lot of ground since the original incarnation, “Beverly Hills, 90210″ went off the air. In order to be shocking, the new zip code will probably need to feature an on-air abortion and have one of the cast members become addicted to eating cigarette ash. Is the same audience going to be impressed by the dramatics surrounding hook ups and eating disorders? Maybe. Shock value aside, the show has some tricks up its sleeve – namely some really attractive no-namers who’ll be making out a lot and wearing beachwear. The biggest curve ball, though, comes in the form of the fanboy triple-threat. Jessica Walters from “Arrested Development” has a main role, as does Shenae Grimes from “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” Plus, the biggest player is the one who had to bow out due to running two other shows – Rob Thomas, the creator of “Veronica Mars.” With an AD, Degrassi, and Mars connection, even a few curious fanboys might check in to see what’s happening in Beverly Hills. I have a feeling that people are going to either love or hate this show with passion, and that’s probably just what the producers were going for.

Recommendation: Skip it if you enjoy good television. Dive into the deep end if you love gorgeous, vapid people in various states of drama and undress. - Cole Abaius

Eli Stone, ABC, Airs Tuesdays 10pm ET/PT, Premieres October 14th
Honestly, I’m surprised to see “Eli Stone” returning for a second season. I happen to enjoy the show, but I know very few people who actually watch it aside from myself. (Granted, “JAG” ran for twenty-seven seasons and absolutely no one admitted to watching that one…) The first season ended with Stone (played by likable Brit, Johnny Lee Miller) undergoing surgery to remove a pesky brain aneurysm. This same malady may be causing Stone to experience visions, or it may be his link to a higher calling. Stone follows these visions which usually lead him to people in need of his lawyerly help. The surgery went bad, leaving Stone on the brink of death, and found him face to face with George Michael appearing from a flash of light. “Are you God?” Stone asks. “Some men have said so,” replies Michael. That’s funny shit. The show has a great sense of humor, strong relationships between Stone and his brother, friends, and co-workers, and a sense of wonder missing from most of the primetime lineup.

Recommendation: Watch this show. It has more heart than a box of Lucky Charms. - Rob Hunter

Eureka (SciFi) Airs Tuesdays 9/8c, New Season starts September 9th
America’s smartest little town is back for a third season. Colin Ferguson plays Sheriff Jack Carter, a man of average intelligence trying to keep a town of geniuses in line. Eureka is a small, hidden treasure in the Pacific Northwest where the government has brought together some of the most brilliant minds in the country. However, that brainpower comes with a price. When things go wrong – whether it be overzealous AI, genetic mutations or forgotten weapons gone horribly awry – someone needs to clean up the mess. Season Three began with the introduction of Carter’s latest adversary, Eva Thorne (Francis Fisher), a corporate downsizer intent on making Eureka more profitable. It also saw the re-engagement of Allison Blake (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) to Nathan Stark (Ed Quinn), and in the current season, tragedy ensues upon their relationship. If this isn’t enough for Sheriff Carter to deal with, his free-spirited and pregnant sister Lexi (Ever Carradine) has blown into town, giving his daughter Zoe (Jordan Hinson) a new friend to confide in. As season three continues, we hope to discover the real reason why Eva Thorne came to Eureka, whether Henry Deacon has learned to forgive and what may come between Sheriff Carter and Allison Blake.

Recommendation: Catch this show on Tuesdays for your weekly dose of whimsical sci-fi and technobabble. - Kevin Carr

Fringe (Fox) Airs Tuesdays 9/8c, Premieres September 9th 8/7c
One of several new shows for Fox this year, Fringe is the latest from the evil genius JJ Abrams, examining the relationship between science and the paranormal. When a flight from Germany to Boston lands with a crew and passenger manifest of grizzly bodies, Special FBI agent Olivia Dunham is brought in to investigate the cause. Dunham’s trails lead her to a mad scientist named Dr. Walter Bishop, (John Noble, aka the Steward of Gondor himself!) whose experiments in the area seem tailor made for the situation but the only way to him is through is his estranged son, good ol’ Pacey Witter. Sorry, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson). Cue much experimentation on Dunham in a desperate effort to solve the case, experimentation which may have lasting effects. Despite the pilot’s storyline revolving around an airline disaster, the show seems to share more elements with “The X-Files” than “Lost.” Though it has buckets of potential, it remains to be seen whether Fringe will have the popularity of JJ’s other smash.

Recommendation: Unmissable pilot, but will the show deliver week on week? – Michelle Graham

House (Fox) Airs Tuesday 8/7c, Premieres September 16th
Last season was capped off with the death of Amber, Dr. Wilson’s girlfriend. This happened despite the fact that House, after being in a bus accident and suffering a head injury, sensed that someone else on the bus needed his diagnostic help. This turned out to be Amber, but it was already too late. Her death, in addition to being a tragedy, also put a rift into the friendship between House and Wilson. Coming up this season, we’ll have to see how the writers decide to proceed with repairing the hurt relationship between Wilson and House, as this is one of the more important relationships in the show. Without Wilson, House wouldn’t really be able to develop a sense of compassion, as it seems Wilson is the one who can hold him in check, and make him think about what he does. Also, Number 13 will have to deal with learning that she in fact does have the incurable genetic disorder, Huntington’s Disease. Looks like another great season for one that ended on an incredible note.

Recommendation: My DVR is already set… is yours? - Joe Ngo

The Shield (FX) Airs Tuesdays 10/9c, Premieres September 2nd
This was a very tough preview to get done, because it turns out that very few of our staff members are all caught up on “The Shield,” but many of you probably are. So here’s what you need to know: “The Shield” is a television powerhouse, a multiple Emmy award winner and one of the most heralded cable shows of all-time. This year, it enters its seventh and final season, a season that will finally answer the burning question that is on the minds of all of its fans: How will it end for Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis)? All will be revealed by the end of this final season to this extraordinary show.

Recommendation: If you are a “Shield” fan, then you don’t need me to tell you to watch it — your DVR is already set. If you aren’t on this bandwagon yet, then you’ve got 6 seasons to catch up on, so get moving. - Neil Miller

For more, check out our 2008 Fall TV Preview page.

Win Devious Prizes from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia!

Neil Miller — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:25:42 +0000

Alright, so maybe devious isn’t the best word for a few t-shirts and a poster, but what else can you really say about the hit FX comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”? The show’s devious nature has captivated audiences on a level that wasn’t even expected by its three creators, who are pictured above. And just as the gang gears up for their fourth season, we’ve got a chance for you to win one of a few sweet little prizes.

One (1) lucky grand prize winner will take home an “It’s Always Sunny” season 4 poster and an “Always Sunny” branded t-shirt. Three (3) other first prize winners will each score a t-shirt.

All you have to do is follow the standard drill. Step one is to be a subscriber to our daily email updates, powered by Feedburner. It is the one daily email to rule them all — all the best of the Rejects right in your inbox. No spam, no selling of your information, just the best movie news from all of the best writers on the web, every single day. If you aren’t already a subscriber, you can do so via the form below:

The second is that you must answer a question in the comment area at the bottom of the page. But before I get to that, I have a few more rules: You must be a legal resident of the United States or Canada in order to win, you must enter prior to September 12th and you must be awesome — which all of our readers are, so that should be the easy part. And now, the question:

The “Always Sunny” gang has taken on North Korea, dumpster babies, the mob and serial killers in their first three seasons. What kind of topics would you suggest for season 4?

Fall TV Preview: What to Watch on Monday Nights

FSR Staff — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:10:08 +0000

We continue our Fall TV Preview with a look at the best shows that Monday night has to offer…

Chuck (NBC) Airs Mondays 8/7c, Premieres September 29th
The last time we saw “Chuck,” it was a show that was definitely getting into a good stride. Action, intrigue and a love triangle were forming as season 1 came to an abrupt close. But despite that, it still seemed to be one of those shows on the bubble, a fact that was cleared up recently when NBC picked it up for a full second season. Up until last week, it wasn’t clear whether we’d be getting the half Chuck or the full Chuck. Now, with the full season press on, the creative team behind the nerdy super spy series are looking to raise the stakes. Casey (Adam Baldwin) begins to get torn between Chuck (Zachary Levi) and his responsibility as an agent, Chuck is forced to match wits with his nemesis Bryce (Matthew Bomer), both in the world of spies and the world of Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), and a host of new characters will be introduced. As well, we can only assume that Chuck’s sister’s marriage to Captain Awesome will create some serious complications. Anyone can tell you that there are plenty of spy shows out there, but there is nothing else out there quite like “Chuck.”

Recommendation: One of the most clever, fun shows on TV. Set your DVR. - Neil Miller

Prison Break (Fox) Airs Mondays 9/8c, Premieres September 1st
When I first heard about “Prison Break” a few years ago, I wondered if it was a single episode show. How long could a prison break take anyway? The Great Escape only took three hours to get an entire barracks-worth of POWs out of the camp and into the streets of Germany. After checking out the first episode of “Prison Break,” though, I realized there was a lot of genius in it. Last season was cut short because of the Writer’s strike, but heads got mailed as warnings, people got kidnapped, and revenge was avowed. With Season 4, the producers are promising that a character we thought was dead will return, and resident bad ass Michael Rapaport will be playing an FBI officer that teams up with the crew to take down the Company. After a strong first season, and a second season that featured a lot more escapees, Season 4 should prove to redeem the half-season that fans couldn’t see because of the strike. More heads getting mailed would be a great start.

Recommendation – It’ll be tough to get interested this late in the game, but if you’re already a fan, this season might be the strongest yet. - Cole Abaius

Recommendations: If you need depth, skip it, but if you like teenagers drinking heavily, partner swapping and lounging around counting their money and life-opportunities, pencil it in on Mondays. - Cole Abaius

Heroes, NBC, Airs Mondays 9/8c (Premieres September 22)
If there’s one thing “Heroes” do well, it’s saving the world, right? So they did again in the Season 2 finale, destroying a deadly strain of the Shanti Virus. The stakes have been raised in Season 3, titled Villains, as each hero’s loyalty will be tested, new foes will emerge, some from Level 5, the prison to the deadliest threats to the world, and some within the heroes themselves. Mohinder and Maya look to turn up the heat with a possible relationship, we will get the much anticipated return of Sylar, Season 1’s supreme badass, as he sets out to turn everyone’s favorite cheerleader, Claire’s world upside down, and Hiro will meet his match, a lightning fast vixen who’d give Usain Bolt a run for his money. For the heroes, this is only the beginning of their sensational saga. “Heroes” has changed the way we watch television, made it cool to like superheroes, and the 3^rd season “Villains” will be groundbreaking, Earth shattering, and as compelling as any show on television.

Recommendation: Monday Night used to be time for football. Now it’s fun to be a geek and time to be heroic. - Adam Sweeney

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX) Airs Mondays 8/7c, Premieres September 8
The season 1 finale of “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” was all Terminator fans had hoped for, adding more interest to the upcoming Terminator: Salvation. After new villain Margos Sarkassian blew the hot Terminator Cameron to high hell (wow, I just said a cyborg’s hot. Ouch), John Connor and his mother are seemingly left on their own as they rush to escape the grasps of Agent Ellison, evil Terminator Cromartie, and Sarkassian. Season 2 will introduce Catherine Weaver, a new CEO of a corporation that may look to get its’ hands on The Turk. We also will get more pieces to the puzzle, such as why Cromartie let Ellison survive the FBI shoot-out, a new Terminator possibly being sent back, and the most important matter at hand, how much face time will 90210’s Brian Austin Green get in the role of Derek Reese. Cameron will definitely return, but rumor has it that a damaged CPU in the explosion may cause her to turn on John, risking the future of the human resistance to Skynet. Season 2 promises to be one hell of a ride.

Recommendation: Get out your post-work aggression by embracing your inner badass and do your best Schwarzenegger during commercials. - Adam Sweeney

For more, check out our 2008 Fall TV Preview page.

Introducing FSR’s 2008 Fall TV Preview

Neil Miller — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:30:29 +0000

I know that we may have mentioned this before, but its now finally here: the FSR 2008 Fall TV Preview. As many of you may note, we have been covering more and more primetime TV-related stuff over the past few months, and now we are going to be diving in head first. All this week we will be breaking down for you what to watch during the week, as well as highlighting some of our favorite shows.

To kick it all off we have Adam Sweeney taking a look at the New Shows of Fall, picking 5 We Like and 5 We Don’t. As well, we will be previewing each day individually, picking the prime time shows that we will be keeping a close eye on throughout the Fall TV season. So tonight, we will have a preview of the best of Sunday’s shows, including “Dexter,” “Californication,” “Entourage,” “Mad Men” and Alan Ball’s new HBO series “True Blood.” And as you will noticed, we’ve left out a few shows, namely all of the reality TV out there, because our coverage fits into the “TV for Movie Lovers” theme — if you love movies, then these are the shows that might interest you the most.

To top it all off, we will also be launching our brand new column, called “Control Freaks.” This is a new collaborative column that will follow these shows throughout the season. Our highly trained, tactical television watching team will recap and review your favorite shows on a daily basis. So set those DVRs, pull up your favorite chair and lets get rolling into the 2008 Fall TV Preview.

For more, check out our 2008 Fall TV Preview page.

Fall TV Preview: What to Watch on Sunday Nights

FSR Staff — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:30:13 +0000

As of tomorrow, summer will be officially over. And with the closing of summer goes the prime season for big budget action flicks and star-studded comedies known as summer movie season. For die hard movie fans, it can be a rather depressing time of you. But here at FSR, we are intent on pushing forward into the fall and finding something to pass the time until all the Oscar wannabes hit the silver screen. And in order to do that, we are going to have to shift some of our attention from the big screen to the small screen. And with that, we’ve put together a week-long Fall TV Preview, highlighting some of the shows that we will be watching throughout the next few months. As well, we are launching our brand new column called Control Freaks, a daily column that will recap and review all of the best shows on TV.

Today we kick off our Fall TV preview by giving you a look at what you should be watching on Sunday nights. Have a look at what the FSR staff has to say about Sunday’s line-up below. And don’t forget to check back in throughout the week with our 2008 Fall TV Preview.

Californication (Showtime) Airs Sundays 10/9c, Premieres September 28th
The second season of “Californication” faces two incredible challenges when it premieres later next month. First, it follows what was perhaps the best first season of any show ever. The show introduced David Duchovny as Hank Moody… a novelist struggling with writer’s block, a loving father pining for his ex, and an all around drug/alcohol/sex addict. He’s also the funniest goddamn bastard on TV. The second challenge will be overcoming the absolutely terrible final minute of last season’s finale. Hank’s ex, Karen, spurns Hank and goes through with marrying the dull and reliable Bill, but then hops into Hank’s car and runs off with him and their daughter, Becca. Where can you go with that? Season one rode high on Hank’s seemingly unrequited love for Karen, but also on his fleshy escapades with all manner of naked women. Without the constant emotional conflict and the steady parade of nubile sexpots the show can’t possibly maintain the high (and dirty) standards of last season. That said, the first episode of season two is called ‘Slip of the Tongue’ so there may still be hope. (And as a side note, Duchovny deserves kudos for the lengths he’ll go to as a method actor… entering rehab for sex addiction one month before the show returns… bravo sir, bravo.)

Recommendation: You should be watching this sexy, funny, unpredictable, and bawdy show. (Ideally with lubricious lady friends… yes, even if you yourself are a lady. Trust me.) - Rob Hunter

Desperate Housewives (ABC) Airs Sundays 9/8c, Premieres September 28th
What started out as a guilty pleasure has turned into a powerhouse hit on Sunday nights. The women of Wisteria Lane have endured adultery, divorce, ex-strippers, politicians, murder, a writer’s strike and a well-aimed tornado. At the end of last season, we saw the ladies five years in the future. Gabrielle became a mom, twice over. Bree became an author and her son became legit. Lynette saw another child get in trouble with the law. And Susan fell into the arms of another man. This coming year has been ripe with rumor and speculation that creator and executive producer Marc Cherry refuses to comment on. But we’ll find out soon enough. So many questions will be answered this fall… Who is Susan’s new mystery man? What happened to Mike Delfino? Will Edie come back to town? What the hell has Gabby been feeding her oldest child? Will Mary Alice continue to narrate even though her entire family hasn’t been seen since season three? Tune in on Sunday nights this fall to find out.

Recommendation: Fans won’t want to miss it. Others can probably dismiss it. - Kevin Carr

Dexter (Showtime) Airs Sundays 9/8c, Premieres September 28th
“Dexter” is all about upping the ante. When you’re telling the story of a serial killer who works as a blood splatter technician for the Miami metro police who still hasn’t told his sister or girlfriend about his hellish hobby, it’s easy to keep the tension at the breaking point. Dexter Morgan has braved his psychopathic brother, the looming threat of a suspiciously obsessed coworker, and the wiles of a gorgeous woman with a penchant for arson. It stepped out at the end of Season 2 uncaptured, unscathed, and back in the arms of the woman he loves. But all is not well. Dexter is on the brink of existential crisis – questioning the very foundations of why he does what he does, hoping to create lasting relationships for the first time in his life, and destroying the mental idol he’s created of his father Harry’s memory. Season 3 promises to find Dexter getting sloppy, violating his moral code and discovering spontaneity. From a show that’s already kept audiences breathless and cheering for the serial killer, the next frontier is to give that charismatic anti-hero the freedom to do anything he wants. And with freedom, comes an even greater chance of getting caught. If you aren’t already obsessed with this show, now’s a good time to breeze through the first two seasons and start settling in for an unsettling Sunday night.

Recommendation: Not Watching This Show Makes You Uncool. - Cole Abaius

Entourage (HBO) Airs Sundays 10/9c, Premieres September 7th
The finale of season 4 was less than stellar for our favorite posse, unless you count Johnny Chase’s three hour sex encounter with his new French love interest. Season 5 will offer a chance at redemption for Vincent Chase and friends, including Ari, who overplayed his hand on the Cannes bomb Medellin. Can Harvey Weingard, who bought the flick for a dollar, turn it into the next Shakespeare in Love? We don’t know. We do know this, the 5th season of “Entourage” will bring more laughs, more Johnny Drama, more women, and the return of Vinny’s publicist, Shauna. Vince’s friend, Dom (who fans were mixed about) also will show up, possibly in a more serious storyline where he deals with terminal cancer. Now’s a good time to join the entourage, if you aren’t in already.

Recommendation: Tell your own entourage to come over Sunday night and watch how Hollywood’s high rolling hopefuls really do it. - Adam Sweeney

True Blood (HBO) Airs Sundays 9/8c, Premieres September 7th
HBO is a reliable home for cutting edge series, and this fall’s “True Blood” seems to be no exception. Japanese scientists have perfected a synthetic blood which aside from more common medical uses also is found to satiate the thirst of vampires. Now that the bloodsuckers are no longer a threat to humanity, they find themselves “coming out of the coffin” and attempting to join society. While events around the world are discussed, most of the action centers on a small town in Louisiana where one psychic waitress (Anna Paquin) will confront intolerance, mystery, and bad tips. “True Blood” is created by Alan Ball (”Six Feet Under”) and based on the novels of Charlaine Harris. I personally find vampires to be incredibly boring, but I’ll be giving True Blood a chance based on its pedigree and possibility.

Recommendation: Worth a sample bite, but may not be to everyone’s taste. - Rob Hunter

Honorable Mention: Mad Men (AMC) Airs Sunday at 10/9c — “Mad Men” may have already started it’s new season, but it’s definitely one of the best shows on TV. We’d be seriously disappointed if you were to miss out on it.

New Fall TV Shows: 5 We Like, 5 We Don’t

Adam Sweeney — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:30:09 +0000

The Fall of 2008 represents a moment where America will wrestle with how to replace one of the most polarizing leaders of our country. No, I’m not talking about whether Obama or McCain will replace Bush, I, of course, am wondering what the CW will do to replace “The Pussycat Dolls: Girlicious,” a show at least 3 high-schoolers labeled “must-see TV.” Many new television shows will offer you empty promises, but the fine young patriots at FSR have forged ahead to bring you the 5 new TV candidates you must see, along with the 5 that would rather have us watch John McCain on a remake of “Temptation Island.”

5 New Shows We Like

Fringe
If there is one thing J.J. Abrams does well, it’s generate excitement for an upcoming project. The “LOST” creator, along with co-creators Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, spared no expense in using $10 million on the 2 hour season premiere about FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham’s (Anna Torv) attempt to uncover the details behind Flight 627, a plane that landed with no signs of life. Her journey pairs her with Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), our generation’s Einstein, an expert in fringe science (telepathy, mind control, invisibility) before being locked up for 17 years, and the scientist’s son (Joshua Jackson). Equal parts “The Twilight Zone” and “The X-Files,” “Fringe” promises an arcing mythology and answers the burning question: What has Pacey been doing since “Dawson’s Creek?” Airs Tuesday nights at 9pm on Fox

True Blood
“Six Feet Under” creator Alan Ball’s latest HBO project centers around a fictional town in Louisiana where humans and vampires have agreed to a truce after TruBlood, a Japanese-made synthetic blood, is created to quench the thirst of bloodsuckers. The show stars one of our favorite young actresses, Anna Paquin, as Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress who has telepathic powers and falls for a vampire, Bill Compton. While some critics may think True Blood is an attempt to jump on the bandwagon after the Twilight craze, we’re hoping the show can offer an outside-of-the-box look at racial tensions that exist in the modern world. At worst, it gives us a chance to yell “Aww, Sookie Sookie now!” or “Straight Outta’ Compton!” every time there’s a sex scene. Airs Sundays at 10pm on HBO

Sons of Anarchy
Nearly every show on FX brings the heat – Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn style – and this drama about a “notorious outlaw motorcycle club” intent on protecting their town from overzealous officers, drug dealers, and ruthless corporations looks to add to that list. Think “Touched by a Hell’s Angel.” Jackson “Jax” Teller’s a gang member who’s growing tired of the gang’s lawlessness, while the always solid Ron Perlman (Hellboy) teams with Katey Segal, at her best on “Futurama”, her worst on “Married with Children,” as a couple intent on taking the biker gang to darker extremes. Airs Wednesdays at 10pm on FX

The Life & Times of Tim
Last year HBO brought “Flight of the Conchords,” a hilarious look at a marginally popular New Zealand folk duo. This season we get the cartoon story of Tim, a self-conscious New Yorker who seems to live in a world of awkwardness. Whether it’s arguing with a homeless man about whether a handout of a tuna sandwich is offensive or pretending he doesn’t know what a BJ is when his parents walk in on him with a hooker, “The Life & Times of Tim” seems to be ready to touch on humor that other cartoons like “Dr. Katz” never could. Airs Sundays at 11pm on HBO

90210
Chalk this one up to being a guilty pleasure. CW has ditched the Beverly Hills tag (even show titles are obsessed with thinning down in Hollywood) and are letting a new school of heartthrobs take over. But they were smart enough to bring back back Shannon Doherty, Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, who we LOVED in her workout video, and even Joe E. Tata, as Nate, the Peach Pit cafe owner. Now that’s dedication. For better or worse, the fact is that television loves a show like this, fodder for water cooler talk the way shows like “Melrose Place” and “Desperate Housewives” were before it. If they can bring back Luke Perry in a season finale, the heart rates of 30+ year old women will go through the roof. Sigh, Dylan. Airs Tuesday nights at 8pm on The CW

5 New Shows We Don’t

Knight Rider
Yes, the souped up version of Knight Rider looks cool. I love Mustangs to begin with. But there’s one key ingredient missing from this NBC remake: The Hoff. David Hasselhoff is one of the most ridiculously compelling TV stars of all-time, and not to get him in on the action kills any chance of this show making it into the 2nd season. Plus, you didn’t get the original voice of K.I.T.T., William Daniels, who kicked ass as Mr. Feeney from “Boy Meets World.” Allow me to go Johnny Cochran on NBC. If it don’t got the Hoff, I’m turning it off! You bombed with “Bionic Woman,” now you’ll fail with this 80s retread. Call up Erik Estrada, I’m sure he’d pay YOU to be on a remake of “C.H.I.P.S.” Airs Wednesday nights at 8pm on NBC

Gary Unmarried
How we loathe thee, Jay Mohr, let me count the ways. You’re the poor man’s Frank Caliendo, you’ve tanked in “Camp Wilder,” which had a young Hilary Swank on it, Fox’s bomb “Action,” had a failed stint on SNL that made Chris Elliot look creative, and you even made us sympathetic to Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire. Plus, you’re apparently a brilliant magician, as proven by how you tricked “Las Vegas” hottie Nikki Cox to marry you. Now you’re in a show about a divorced couple who somehow are “forced” to live with each other and raise a family. CBS is really selling us on this show. “He’s the fun parent and she’s the strict one,” they explain. Hilarious! Jay, you could do a half-hour of Christopher Walken impersonations, and it wouldn’t save this show. Airs Wednesday Nights at 8:30pm EST on CBS

My Own Worst Enemy
Question: What is worse than having to watch Christian Slater in a TV show? Answer: Having to watch Christian Slater play two roles in the same TV show. “My Own Worst Enemy” sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy centered on Slater, (who a critic in 1988, clearly fresh off an 8-ball of cocaine, said was the next Jack Nicholson) playing both a middle-class efficiency expert and trained killer who exist in the same body and yet somehow don’t know of each other. Huh? The show also stars “Yes, Dear” star, and we use the term loosely, Mike O’Malley, and Saffron Burrows, who was oh-so-badass in Deep Blue Sea. Christian, I don’t know what to say. Was “Celebrity Fit Club” booked? Could you not have talked VH1 into making a reality rehab/romance show called “Clean Slater?” Airs Monday nights at 10pm EST on NBC

Do Not Disturb
This is turning into a Jerry Maguire reunion, as Jerry O’Connell makes an appearance in this, I guess you could call it, comedy about one of the hottest hotels in New York. The upside is that Arrested Development star Jason Bateman directed the pilot, and you have a writer from “Arrested Development”, Abraham Higginbotham, and producers from “Reno 911!” attached. The bad news is you’re placing all your expectations on the star of Joe’s Apartment, Kangaroo Jack, Mission to Mars, Tomcats, Buying the… to hell with it. This show is doomed. When your landmark role as an actor is the fat kid in Stand By Me, there’s just not much hope. Airs Wednesdays at 9:30pm EST on Fox

The Ex List
When Bella Bloom (what an unrealistic name, almost as unbelievable as the fact I dated a girl named Larkin Cummings. True story.), a 30-something business owner, finds out that she has already dated her future husband, she’s in for a shock. Even worse, she is surprised to hear that if she doesn’t find him in the next year, she’ll remain alone forever. What the hell? This plot makes less sense than Donnie Darko the first time I watched it. Even more insulting is the fact that it caters to the insecurities of women in their thirties. Ladies, put the Haagen Dazs down for a second and say this with me: It’s okay to be single, Oprah is not my salvation, and I am beautiful, no matter what size, skinny or big, I am. Now flip the channel to “90210.” Jennie Garth’s nipple just popped out. Airs Friday nights at 9pm EST on CBS

Could ‘No Heroics’ Be the Best New Show of the Fall… That You Can’t Watch?

Rob Hunter — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:00:02 +0000

The Fall 2008 television season is almost upon us, but in all the coverage you’ll be seeing here at FSR and elsewhere one show is conspicuously (and criminally) absent. Imagine if “Heroes” and “Cheers” met in a night club, went back to “The Office,” and had mad, sloppy sex on the copy machine. The result would be “No Heroics”, a new series premiering September 6th on Britain’s ITV2. The show follows four friends and superheroes who spend their off-duty time hanging out at the local hero pub, The Fortress. They drink, curse, bitch, moan, and complain about the lack of respect they get from the populace at large. It’s a peculiarly British take on the world of superheroes, which means self-loathing, self-deprecation, and sexual innuendo. Sounds awesome doesn’t it? Check out the trailer and let us know if you agree.

No word yet if “No Heroics” will be aired on BBC America, so expect this show to up the traffic on the Bit Torrent sites. And for the record, I predict an American spin-off announcement by early next year.

Find out more at ITV.com.

Heroes to Go From Villains to Fugitives in Season 4

Neil Miller — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:03:58 +0000

Now that the Olympics are over, only one thing is certain — I will go back to actually updating FSR. Alright, maybe two things are certain: the Fall TV season is almost upon us, giving us a much needed break from the lackluster menu of movies that will hit between now and November. One show that is coming back with a vengeance is “Heroes,” back for season 3 with its badass new volume, entitled “Villains.”

As fans of the show will note, each season has included a volume of sorts. Season 1 consisted of the first volume, known as “Genesis.” The second season, which hits DVD shelves this week, was primarily taken up by the second volume, known as “Generations,” but ended with the beginning of volume 3, known as “Villains.” And now “Villains” will take up the first half of the hopefully epic third season. So what will take up the second half? According to a Digital Spy report from the Edinburgh TV Festival, series creator Tim Kring has confirmed that it will be called “Fugitives.” The “Fugitives” storyline will start in the 14th episode of season 3 and run through the final 12 episodes.

So if you thought that “Villains,” a volume that is said to include a lot more Hero-on-hero action sounded like fun, wait until you get a load of “Fugitives,” which also has a nice ring to it.

Is Heroes one of the shows that is on your must-watch list for the fall?

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