The Worst of Times, The Best of Times
It’s that time of year again. The excitement of learning what new shows will be premiering in the fall is tempered by regret over the end of the current TV season. Yes. I do take my television viewing too seriously. I did make a career out of it, after all.
With a tip of Bryan’s fedora (read DRAMA! The Four Dorothys if you don’t understand the reference), I bid a fond farewell to Gilmore Girls, Jericho, and … well, I simply refuse to believe that Veronica Mars is gone, so I can’t bring myself to say goodbye yet.
I would also like to thank NBC for bringing back Friday Night Lights next year. I implore the two-or-three people who actually read this blog to start watching this show. It is seriously one of the best dramas on television.
And now, with an eye to the future, I’d like to share what new series I’m most looking forward to in the fall season.
Please bear in mind, that I haven’t actually seen any of these pilots, I’m just basing my interest level on what I know about them from things I’ve read and the people involved in creating them. I expect some of this might change by the time the fall season arrives and I’ve learned more about the shows. Until then, here are the five (and a half) new series that have piqued my interest:
#1 Gossip Girl: This is the one I’m most looking forward to, by far. Take the guiltiest of teen reading pleasures, add in Josh Schwartz, the creator of The O.C., and you’ve already got my attention. But then I hear they’ve brought in Kristen Bell—the inimitable Veronica of Veronica Mars herself—as the narrator and titular Gossip Girl and I’m already hooked. (Also from Mr. Schwartz is the new series, Chuck, which I also want to see. We’ll call this #1-and-a-half.)
#2 Pushing Daisies: A series about a pie-maker who can briefly resurrect the dead to help solve crimes? It’s the “pie-maker” part that hooked me. I got to meet the series creator, Bryan Fuller, when he worked on Star Trek: Voyager. He’s got a fun writing style that has always found critical praise, if not popular success (See: Wonderfalls. No, really. See it. You can check it out on Netflix.) Considering critical praise is often the death knell for series television, it should also be noted that Bryan’s also worked on the hugely popular (in spite of its critical acclaim) Heroes. Let’s hope the critics don’t like this one too much, though, just to be safe.
#3 Private Practice: This show boasts one of the most talented casts on television. Like many, I wasn’t entirely impressed by the backdoor pilot they intertwined in the two hour Grey’s Anatomy, but I have faith that the writing staff can pull it together for the new season. (The staff is headed by Shonda Rhimes and Buffy-vet Marti Noxon, so it’s in good hands.) And again, I say: one of the most talented casts on television.
#4 Bionic Woman: I so want to love this show, but considering it’s on against Private Practice, Gossip Girl, and Bones, I’m worried that it might be the one that gets dropped from my personal schedule first. I only have two VCRs. (And please don’t bother extolling the virtues of TiVo to me … although I know that wouldn’t help in this situation either.) Why do networks insist on putting all the good shows on against each other? It’s not like they have that many.
#5 Viva Laughlin: A drama/mystery with music? I’m intrigued.
There are also some interesting shows coming at midseason, but that’s just too far away to think about right now. Let’s just say, I want to know more about The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Return of Jezebel James, and Lipstick Jungle.
Until fall, I’ll be catching up on my reading … and writing, too.