Fall means sweaters, pumpkin-flavored everything and, most importantly, new television shows. Last year, a good number of shows were picked up, leaving us with a smaller number of pilots this year. Still this fall brings us many comedies, a couple dramas and one Avengers spin off.
In the way of comedies, we have “The Crazy Ones.” This multi camera comedy features comedian Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar, and it’s a big deal for both of them. Aside from a handful of guest spots, an “Aladdin” cartoon and one mini-series, this marks Robin Williams’ first starring role in a television series since “Mork & Mindy” (which aired from 1978-1982).
Gellar returned to television with the now defunct “Ringer” last year, but this will be her first attempt at a comedy series. She’s familiar, though. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” had plenty of comedic elements, and she did create some laughs as Daphne in “Scooby Doo.”
So great cast? Check. Great story? Check. The series follows Gellar and Williams as a father daughter duo working at an advertising agency. Simon (Williams) is half-crazy and half-brilliant, but the former is making the company want to let him go. Sydney (Gellar) is the logical one that keeps them focused on the brilliant part. Though set in the advertising world, the show also explores the relationships between adults and their parents.
“The Crazy Ones” is the only comedy that I’m sure will get picked up for a full 22 episode season (honestly, who doesn’t love Robin Willliams?). Watch the premiere Thursday September 26 at 9 pm on CBS.
Less stable is “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Someone finally realized that a buddy cop movie could also work as a television show, and I’m not quite sure they hit the mark. The single camera comedy follows the a Brooklyn precinct of the NYPD. Andy Samberg stars as Jake Peralta, a detective who is a bit of a slacker, who has to adjust to a new Captain (Andre Braugher), a tough guy who doesn’t appreciate rule breaking.
The comedy aspect is refreshing, especially considering how many cop dramas there are. Plus, Samberg opens the door for plenty of “Saturday Night Live” actors to guest star. Beyond that, some jokes were funny while others weren’t and some of the actors are really good while others could use some work. If the show manages to find their feet in a few episodes, they could do as well as other FOX comedies, such as “New Girl” and “The Mindy Project.”
Catch “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” on Tuesdays at 8:30 pm on FOX.
For dramas we have “Hostages.” The hour-long suspense series follows Ellen Sanders (Toni Collette), a surgeon who must operate on the president of the United States. When her family is taken hostage by an FBI agent (Dylan McDermott), she must choose whether to keep her family alive or protect the president.
Collette and McDermott are heavy weight champions when it comes to dramatic acting. They know what they’re doing and can handle this mix of politics, espionage and family drama. Both have been a part of complicated series before that turned out to be fantastic (“United States of Tara” for Collette, “American Horror Story” for McDermott).
The only question that remains: Can this last as a series? How do you hold a family hostage for 22 episodes? How do you stretch a storyline about a surgery out over a year or more?
“Hostages” premieres Monday September 23 at 10 pm on CBS.
Then we have “Sleepy Hollow.” The mystery series starts off with Ichabod Crane (Tim Mison), the original character in the “Sleepy Hollow” book, digging himself out of his grave in the present day after being buried in during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, he brings his nemesis, the Headless Horseman, along for the ride. When the police find Crane, they realize he might be able to help them with some of their unsolved occult-related cases.
It’s a good start. We already have lots of questions that we don’t know the answers to, and it shows that it has some historical aspects as well. We also get to see a lot of action elements in the trailers, from battle sequences to fight scenes.
This pilot doesn’t quite have the star power of the others. It does, however, have a movie director. Len Wiseman, who helmed all the “Underworld” movies, directed the pilot. This means that the flashback to the Revolutionary War battle scenes should be pretty epic.
“Sleepy Hollow” airs on Mondays on FOX at 9 pm.
Finally, we have “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” also known as the show I’ve been waiting for since the credits rolled in “The Avengers.” It’s Joss Whedon’s return to television! Kind of! Okay, so technically Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tachroen are the showrunners because Joss is busy writing “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” However, Joss did help create the show, will executive produce it and directed the pilot.
Joss Whedon shows don’t really need star power because he’s just that good. He knows how to balance action, comedy, romance and tragedy so well that I’m not even sure I should be calling “S.H.I.E.L.D.” a drama. The hour long show features a lot of unknowns along with Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson (who isn’t quite as dead as “The Avengers” made it appear). “How I Met Your Mother” star Cobie Smulders will also reprise her “Avengers” roles as Agent Maria Hill for a couple episodes.
Whedon is also known for casting the same actors in various projects. “Angel” alum J. August Richards will be featured as a currently unknown villain, and Whedon has hinted that he wouldn’t mind casting other familiar faces.
“S.H.I.E.L.D.” will follow the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division as they deal with the aftermath of the Battle of New York (the epic 30 minute action sequence in “The Avengers” where the city gets destroyed). They track down people developing powers or unexplainable events (which we saw in “Thor” and “Iron Man 2” very well) and figure out how best to deal with them.
Okay, I’ve watched every television show and movie Joss Whedon has ever created, so I’m pretty psyched for this show. It’s the most hyped up show of the fall for a reason: Whedon knows how to do this. He has a great premise, he knows how to cast great actors and he knows how to put together an amazing team of writers. With a supportive network and studio behind him, this show has everything it needs to be incredible.
“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” premieres Tuesday September 24 at 8 pm on ABC.
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