FOX Upfronts!
It's that time of the year again. The time when we find out if our favourite TV shows are coming or going and which new shows might we look forward to in the coming year.
FOX was today and it confirmed what I already knew: Dollhouse, Glee, and Fringe were on it. I also wasn't too worried about Bones. I'm not going to be picking up many shows for this season and will be dropping a great number of shows from the past because of the upcoming New Zealand travels, but I will try to include Glee with my watching at the very least until I leave and maybe vintagejoy can get me Glee until my Internet situation is more secure ;)
So what's in and what's out for me is as follows. 5 stars = definitely in. 4 stars = more than likely in. 3 stars = maybe in, maybe out. 2 stars = more than likely out. 1 star = definitely out. If it's not listed, I never watched and I'm not planning on starting now.
***** Dollhouse
**** Glee
*** Bones (I need to catch up!)
* Fringe (I will try to catch up on season 1 though)
So under the cut, here's FOX's schedule. The links on the new shows will jump down to the bottom of this entry where you can read more about them. All info is taken from FOX's press release.
Fox Prime-Time Schedule: Fall 2009
(All Times ET/PT)
Monday
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM Lie to Me
Tuesday
8:00-10:00 PM So You Think You Can Dance (Performance Show)
Wednesday
8:00-9:00 PM So You Think You Can Dance (Results Show)
9:00-10:00 PM Glee
Thursday
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
Friday
8:00-8:30 PM Brothers
8:30-9:00 PM 'Til Death
9:00-10:00 PM Dollhouse
Saturday
8:00-8:30 PM Cops
8:30-9:00 PM Cops
9:00-10:00 PM America's Most Wanted
11:00 PM-Midnight The Wanda Sykes Show (working title)
Midnight-12:30 AM Animation Domination Encores
Sunday
7:00-8:00 PM The OT (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30 PM The Simspons
8:30-9:00 PM The Cleveland Show
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM American Dad
Fox Prime-Time Schedule Midseason 2010
(All Times ET/PT)
Monday
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM 24
Tuesday
8:00-9:00 PM American Idol (Performance Show)
9:00-10:00 PM Past Life
Wednesday
8:00-9:00 PM American Idol (Results Show)
9:00-10:00 PM Human Target (January) / Glee (spring)
Thursday
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
Friday
8:00-8:30 PM Brothers
8:30-9:00 PM 'Til Death
9:00-10:00 PM Dollhouse
Saturday
8:00-8:30 PM Cops
8:30-9:00 PM Cops
9:00-10:00 PM America's Most Wanted
11:00 PM-Midnight The Wanda Sykes Show (working title)
Midnight-12:30 AM Animation Domination Encores
Sunday
7:00-7:30 PM Animation Domination Encores
7:30-8:00 PM American Dad
8:00-8:30 PM The Simspons
8:30-9:00 PM Sons of Tuscon
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM The Cleveland Show
Glee
Glee is an uplifting series with biting humor that features a soundtrack of hit music from past to present. The show follows an optimistic high school teacher, WILL SCHUESTER (Matthew Morrison), as he tries to refuel his own passion while reinventing the high school's glee club and challenging a group of outcasts to realize their star potential. It's not an easy task when the pitch-imperfect club includes MERCEDES (Amber Riley), a forceful diva-in-training; ARTY (Kevin McHale), a geeky guitarist; KURT (Chris Colfer), a dramatic soprano; TINA (Jenna Ushkowitz), a punk rocker; and self-proclaimed "star" RACHEL (Lea Michele), a perfectionist firecracker. McKinley's cruel high school caste system prevents the glee club from flourishing, so Will recruits FINN (Cory Monteith), the quarterback with movie star looks, to join the group even though he wants to protect his reputation with his holier-than-thou girlfriend, QUINN (Dianna Agron), and his arrogant teammate, PUCK (Mark Salling). With harsh criticism from everyone, including Will's tough-as-nails wife TERRI (Jessalyn Gilsig) and McKinley's egotistical cheerleading coach SUE SYLVESTER (Jane Lynch), he is determined to prove them all wrong and lead the glee club to the greatest competition of them all: Nationals.
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
Past Life
Have you ever experienced déjà vu or met someone you thought seemed familiar? Do you believe in karma, fate or love at first sight? From writer David Hudgins (Friday Night Lights), and inspired by the book The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose, comes Past Life, a new drama series about an unlikely pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before. DR. KATE MCGINN (Kelli Giddish, All My Children) is not your typical psychologist. Confident, outspoken and highly educated, she works at The Talmadge Center for Behavioral Health in New York City, a world-renowned institute dedicated to the study of the science of the soul. After experiencing a past-life regression in her 20s, Kate became a believer in reincarnation. Using regression therapy and her natural gift for reading people, Kate helps solve the mysteries of her troubled clients who suffer from present-day problems caused by past-life traumas. She believes there are levels of consciousness and explanations for human behavior that science can't begin to explain. Accustomed to skeptics, but not bothered by them, Kate is an unapologetic believer and a force of nature who marches to the beat of her own drummer. Her partner, PRICE WHATLEY (Nicholas Bishop, Home and Away), is a different story. A former NYPD homicide detective, pragmatic and cynical, Price is a damaged soul who constantly battles grief and guilt over the accidental death of his wife. Price feels that Kate, though not certifiable, certainly operates on the fringes of science. It's a volatile relationship, but with Price's solid detective skills, and Kate's penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, together they make a formidable, if somewhat dysfunctional, team. A fast-paced emotional thrill ride, each episode finds Price and Kate working with their colleagues to unravel a new mystery involving the past-lives of their clients. DR. MALACHI TALMADGE (Richard Schiff, The West Wing) is Kate's mentor and the center's namesake, an avuncular but gruff elder statesman who is a legend in the field of cognitive research. DR. RISHI KARNA (Ravi Patel, Scrubs) is the rookie of the group, a baby-faced therapist from Calcutta who loves bad American TV, Cuban jazz and driving everyone crazy.
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
Human Target
It takes a brave, selfless man to make himself a "human target" in order to save the lives of those in danger. Based on the popular DC Comics graphic novel, Human Target is a full-throttle action drama centered on CHRISTOPHER CHANCE (Mark Valley, Fringe), a unique private contractor/security guard hired to protect. Call him what you like, because for Chance, it's about one thing only: saving his clients' lives. When there is an unusual or imminent threat that can't be solved through "normal" means of protection, Chance is hired to completely integrate himself into his clients' lives to become the human target. If you're a corporate manager whose disgruntled employee has gone violently off the deep end, Chance is your new auditor. If you're the president of a bank who's been tipped off to a potential heist, Chance is your unassuming bank teller. During each job, Chance, assisted by his business partner WINSTON (Chi McBride, Pushing Daisies) and hired gun GUERRERO (Jackie Earle Haley, Watchmen), puts himself directly in the line of fire as he races against time to save his client, while unraveling the truth behind the mission. With every new danger, Chance's dark history will also unravel. Does anyone know who Christopher Chance really is, or what secrets lay buried in his past? What would make a man willingly become a HUMAN TARGET?
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
Brothers
Starring Michael Strahan (FOX NFL Sunday) and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell (Ed, Veronica's Closet), Brothers is a new half-hour comedy about a former NFL hot shot who learns that even though you can always go home again, the trip back might be tougher than you think. MIKE TRAINOR (Strahan) seemingly has it all he's a good-looking, wealthy and recently retired NFL player living the high-life in New York City, but he's about to get sidelined. When Mike gets a phone call from his MOM (CCH Pounder, The Shield) who orders him home to Houston, he quickly realizes the more his life has changed, the more his family has stayed the same. His brother CHILL (Daryl "Chill" Mitchell), whose life was altered drastically after a car accident left him in a wheelchair, is struggling to keep his restaurant afloat with the help of his loudmouth associate, ROSCOE (Colton Dunn, MADtv). The dynamics between Mike and Chill are the same as when they were kids, and their sibling rivalry hasn't lessened with age. If they can stop their bickering, put aside their differences and learn to be teammates, the brothers might just turn out to be each other's biggest asset. Wedged between Mike and Chill are their parents. Their father, whom everyone refers to as COACH (Carl Weathers, Rocky), is the local high school football coach and the conservative, opinionated alpha male of his clan. Coach thinks he runs the show, but really it's Mom who calls the shots. Saucy, stern and a schemer, she is the mastermind of the family. And when she learns that Mike's business manager took off with all his money, she orchestrates a plan to keep Mike in Houston, save Chill's restaurant and bring the family back together under one roof again all without anyone realizing what she's up to. Mom's plan helps Mike realize that his family however dysfunctional they may be is the only family he's got. And although he may not have a penny to his name, as long as he's surrounded by people who love him, he'll always be a rich man.
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show is a new animated series that follows everyone's favorite soft-spoken neighbor, CLEVELAND BROWN (Mike Henry), to his hometown in Virginia as he settles down with his high school sweetheart, her unruly kids and his own 14-year-old son, CLEVELAND JR. (Kevin Michael Richardson). Many years ago, Cleveland was a high school student madly in love with a beautiful girl named DONNA (Sanaa Lathan). Much to his dismay, his love went unrequited, and Donna wound up marrying another man. Cleveland once told Donna he would always love her, and if this man ever done her wrong, he'd be there when she called. Well, this man done her wrong. Donna's husband ran off, leaving Donna with a teenage daughter and a young son. Now she's open to Cleveland and has offered him another chance at love. Unattached after the Loretta-Quagmire debacle and true to his word, Cleveland joyously reunites with Donna, and he and Cleveland Jr. move to Virginia to join their new family. Once in Virginia, there are a few surprises in store for Cleveland, including ROBERTA (Reagan Gomez-Preston), a rebellious new stepdaughter; RALLO (Henry), his new 5-year-old stepson who loves the ladies; and a collection of neighbors that includes a loudmouth redneck, LESTER (Richardson); a hipster wanna-be, HOLT (guest voice Jason Sudeikis); and a religious pair of talking bears, TIM (Seth MacFarlane) and his wife ARIANNA (guest voice Arianna Huffington).
[Read even more on The Futon Critic. Also, yep, this is a Family Guy spin-off.]
Sons of Tuscon
In the tradition of Malcolm in the Middle and The Bernie Mac Show, Sons of Tuscon is a family comedy about three brothers who hire a charming, wayward schemer to stand in as their father when their real one goes to prison. What begins as a business relationship evolves into something more complex and compelling: a family unlike any we've ever seen. The three brothers find their dad-for-hire, RON SNUFFKIN (Tyler Labine, Reaper), at the local sporting good store. Ron will be forced to draw on a wide array of skills and a vast bag of tricks as he steps into the patriarch role to take care of the boys of the Gunderson family. ROBBY GUNDERSON (Davis Cleveland, How I Met Your Mother), 8, is a loose cannon who doesn't respond well to authority; GARY GUNDERSON (Frank Dolce, Doubt), 11, is a bright and street-savvy leader who is every bit the con man his father is; and BRANDON GUNDERSON (Troy Gentile, Entourage), 13, is a gentle free spirit who simply goes along for the ride. MAGGIE MORALES (Natalie Martinez, Saints & Sinners), Robby's second-grade teacher and the object of Ron's affection, might just be the only stable figure in the lives of this quirky quartet. While Sons of Tuscon is grounded in the day-to-day challenges of a single-parent home, nothing in the Gunderson household is quite what it seems. An ongoing chess match between Ron and the boys will keep both parties on their toes, as neither side can afford to give up too much power or independence.
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
Phew, all done. Stay tuned tomorrow for ABC and NBC!
FOX was today and it confirmed what I already knew: Dollhouse, Glee, and Fringe were on it. I also wasn't too worried about Bones. I'm not going to be picking up many shows for this season and will be dropping a great number of shows from the past because of the upcoming New Zealand travels, but I will try to include Glee with my watching at the very least until I leave and maybe vintagejoy can get me Glee until my Internet situation is more secure ;)
So what's in and what's out for me is as follows. 5 stars = definitely in. 4 stars = more than likely in. 3 stars = maybe in, maybe out. 2 stars = more than likely out. 1 star = definitely out. If it's not listed, I never watched and I'm not planning on starting now.
***** Dollhouse
**** Glee
*** Bones (I need to catch up!)
* Fringe (I will try to catch up on season 1 though)
So under the cut, here's FOX's schedule. The links on the new shows will jump down to the bottom of this entry where you can read more about them. All info is taken from FOX's press release.
Fox Prime-Time Schedule: Fall 2009
(All Times ET/PT)
Monday
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM Lie to Me
Tuesday
8:00-10:00 PM So You Think You Can Dance (Performance Show)
Wednesday
8:00-9:00 PM So You Think You Can Dance (Results Show)
9:00-10:00 PM Glee
Thursday
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
Friday
8:00-8:30 PM Brothers
8:30-9:00 PM 'Til Death
9:00-10:00 PM Dollhouse
Saturday
8:00-8:30 PM Cops
8:30-9:00 PM Cops
9:00-10:00 PM America's Most Wanted
11:00 PM-Midnight The Wanda Sykes Show (working title)
Midnight-12:30 AM Animation Domination Encores
Sunday
7:00-8:00 PM The OT (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30 PM The Simspons
8:30-9:00 PM The Cleveland Show
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM American Dad
Fox Prime-Time Schedule Midseason 2010
(All Times ET/PT)
Monday
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM 24
Tuesday
8:00-9:00 PM American Idol (Performance Show)
9:00-10:00 PM Past Life
Wednesday
8:00-9:00 PM American Idol (Results Show)
9:00-10:00 PM Human Target (January) / Glee (spring)
Thursday
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
Friday
8:00-8:30 PM Brothers
8:30-9:00 PM 'Til Death
9:00-10:00 PM Dollhouse
Saturday
8:00-8:30 PM Cops
8:30-9:00 PM Cops
9:00-10:00 PM America's Most Wanted
11:00 PM-Midnight The Wanda Sykes Show (working title)
Midnight-12:30 AM Animation Domination Encores
Sunday
7:00-7:30 PM Animation Domination Encores
7:30-8:00 PM American Dad
8:00-8:30 PM The Simspons
8:30-9:00 PM Sons of Tuscon
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM The Cleveland Show
Glee
Glee is an uplifting series with biting humor that features a soundtrack of hit music from past to present. The show follows an optimistic high school teacher, WILL SCHUESTER (Matthew Morrison), as he tries to refuel his own passion while reinventing the high school's glee club and challenging a group of outcasts to realize their star potential. It's not an easy task when the pitch-imperfect club includes MERCEDES (Amber Riley), a forceful diva-in-training; ARTY (Kevin McHale), a geeky guitarist; KURT (Chris Colfer), a dramatic soprano; TINA (Jenna Ushkowitz), a punk rocker; and self-proclaimed "star" RACHEL (Lea Michele), a perfectionist firecracker. McKinley's cruel high school caste system prevents the glee club from flourishing, so Will recruits FINN (Cory Monteith), the quarterback with movie star looks, to join the group even though he wants to protect his reputation with his holier-than-thou girlfriend, QUINN (Dianna Agron), and his arrogant teammate, PUCK (Mark Salling). With harsh criticism from everyone, including Will's tough-as-nails wife TERRI (Jessalyn Gilsig) and McKinley's egotistical cheerleading coach SUE SYLVESTER (Jane Lynch), he is determined to prove them all wrong and lead the glee club to the greatest competition of them all: Nationals.
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
Past Life
Have you ever experienced déjà vu or met someone you thought seemed familiar? Do you believe in karma, fate or love at first sight? From writer David Hudgins (Friday Night Lights), and inspired by the book The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose, comes Past Life, a new drama series about an unlikely pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before. DR. KATE MCGINN (Kelli Giddish, All My Children) is not your typical psychologist. Confident, outspoken and highly educated, she works at The Talmadge Center for Behavioral Health in New York City, a world-renowned institute dedicated to the study of the science of the soul. After experiencing a past-life regression in her 20s, Kate became a believer in reincarnation. Using regression therapy and her natural gift for reading people, Kate helps solve the mysteries of her troubled clients who suffer from present-day problems caused by past-life traumas. She believes there are levels of consciousness and explanations for human behavior that science can't begin to explain. Accustomed to skeptics, but not bothered by them, Kate is an unapologetic believer and a force of nature who marches to the beat of her own drummer. Her partner, PRICE WHATLEY (Nicholas Bishop, Home and Away), is a different story. A former NYPD homicide detective, pragmatic and cynical, Price is a damaged soul who constantly battles grief and guilt over the accidental death of his wife. Price feels that Kate, though not certifiable, certainly operates on the fringes of science. It's a volatile relationship, but with Price's solid detective skills, and Kate's penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, together they make a formidable, if somewhat dysfunctional, team. A fast-paced emotional thrill ride, each episode finds Price and Kate working with their colleagues to unravel a new mystery involving the past-lives of their clients. DR. MALACHI TALMADGE (Richard Schiff, The West Wing) is Kate's mentor and the center's namesake, an avuncular but gruff elder statesman who is a legend in the field of cognitive research. DR. RISHI KARNA (Ravi Patel, Scrubs) is the rookie of the group, a baby-faced therapist from Calcutta who loves bad American TV, Cuban jazz and driving everyone crazy.
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
Human Target
It takes a brave, selfless man to make himself a "human target" in order to save the lives of those in danger. Based on the popular DC Comics graphic novel, Human Target is a full-throttle action drama centered on CHRISTOPHER CHANCE (Mark Valley, Fringe), a unique private contractor/security guard hired to protect. Call him what you like, because for Chance, it's about one thing only: saving his clients' lives. When there is an unusual or imminent threat that can't be solved through "normal" means of protection, Chance is hired to completely integrate himself into his clients' lives to become the human target. If you're a corporate manager whose disgruntled employee has gone violently off the deep end, Chance is your new auditor. If you're the president of a bank who's been tipped off to a potential heist, Chance is your unassuming bank teller. During each job, Chance, assisted by his business partner WINSTON (Chi McBride, Pushing Daisies) and hired gun GUERRERO (Jackie Earle Haley, Watchmen), puts himself directly in the line of fire as he races against time to save his client, while unraveling the truth behind the mission. With every new danger, Chance's dark history will also unravel. Does anyone know who Christopher Chance really is, or what secrets lay buried in his past? What would make a man willingly become a HUMAN TARGET?
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
Brothers
Starring Michael Strahan (FOX NFL Sunday) and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell (Ed, Veronica's Closet), Brothers is a new half-hour comedy about a former NFL hot shot who learns that even though you can always go home again, the trip back might be tougher than you think. MIKE TRAINOR (Strahan) seemingly has it all he's a good-looking, wealthy and recently retired NFL player living the high-life in New York City, but he's about to get sidelined. When Mike gets a phone call from his MOM (CCH Pounder, The Shield) who orders him home to Houston, he quickly realizes the more his life has changed, the more his family has stayed the same. His brother CHILL (Daryl "Chill" Mitchell), whose life was altered drastically after a car accident left him in a wheelchair, is struggling to keep his restaurant afloat with the help of his loudmouth associate, ROSCOE (Colton Dunn, MADtv). The dynamics between Mike and Chill are the same as when they were kids, and their sibling rivalry hasn't lessened with age. If they can stop their bickering, put aside their differences and learn to be teammates, the brothers might just turn out to be each other's biggest asset. Wedged between Mike and Chill are their parents. Their father, whom everyone refers to as COACH (Carl Weathers, Rocky), is the local high school football coach and the conservative, opinionated alpha male of his clan. Coach thinks he runs the show, but really it's Mom who calls the shots. Saucy, stern and a schemer, she is the mastermind of the family. And when she learns that Mike's business manager took off with all his money, she orchestrates a plan to keep Mike in Houston, save Chill's restaurant and bring the family back together under one roof again all without anyone realizing what she's up to. Mom's plan helps Mike realize that his family however dysfunctional they may be is the only family he's got. And although he may not have a penny to his name, as long as he's surrounded by people who love him, he'll always be a rich man.
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show is a new animated series that follows everyone's favorite soft-spoken neighbor, CLEVELAND BROWN (Mike Henry), to his hometown in Virginia as he settles down with his high school sweetheart, her unruly kids and his own 14-year-old son, CLEVELAND JR. (Kevin Michael Richardson). Many years ago, Cleveland was a high school student madly in love with a beautiful girl named DONNA (Sanaa Lathan). Much to his dismay, his love went unrequited, and Donna wound up marrying another man. Cleveland once told Donna he would always love her, and if this man ever done her wrong, he'd be there when she called. Well, this man done her wrong. Donna's husband ran off, leaving Donna with a teenage daughter and a young son. Now she's open to Cleveland and has offered him another chance at love. Unattached after the Loretta-Quagmire debacle and true to his word, Cleveland joyously reunites with Donna, and he and Cleveland Jr. move to Virginia to join their new family. Once in Virginia, there are a few surprises in store for Cleveland, including ROBERTA (Reagan Gomez-Preston), a rebellious new stepdaughter; RALLO (Henry), his new 5-year-old stepson who loves the ladies; and a collection of neighbors that includes a loudmouth redneck, LESTER (Richardson); a hipster wanna-be, HOLT (guest voice Jason Sudeikis); and a religious pair of talking bears, TIM (Seth MacFarlane) and his wife ARIANNA (guest voice Arianna Huffington).
[Read even more on The Futon Critic. Also, yep, this is a Family Guy spin-off.]
Sons of Tuscon
In the tradition of Malcolm in the Middle and The Bernie Mac Show, Sons of Tuscon is a family comedy about three brothers who hire a charming, wayward schemer to stand in as their father when their real one goes to prison. What begins as a business relationship evolves into something more complex and compelling: a family unlike any we've ever seen. The three brothers find their dad-for-hire, RON SNUFFKIN (Tyler Labine, Reaper), at the local sporting good store. Ron will be forced to draw on a wide array of skills and a vast bag of tricks as he steps into the patriarch role to take care of the boys of the Gunderson family. ROBBY GUNDERSON (Davis Cleveland, How I Met Your Mother), 8, is a loose cannon who doesn't respond well to authority; GARY GUNDERSON (Frank Dolce, Doubt), 11, is a bright and street-savvy leader who is every bit the con man his father is; and BRANDON GUNDERSON (Troy Gentile, Entourage), 13, is a gentle free spirit who simply goes along for the ride. MAGGIE MORALES (Natalie Martinez, Saints & Sinners), Robby's second-grade teacher and the object of Ron's affection, might just be the only stable figure in the lives of this quirky quartet. While Sons of Tuscon is grounded in the day-to-day challenges of a single-parent home, nothing in the Gunderson household is quite what it seems. An ongoing chess match between Ron and the boys will keep both parties on their toes, as neither side can afford to give up too much power or independence.
[Read even more on The Futon Critic.]
Phew, all done. Stay tuned tomorrow for ABC and NBC!