Fall TV Preview: What to Watch on Sunday Nights

Posted by FSR Staff (editors@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 31, 2008

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.

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