The Skinny: Upcoming Fall TV

It’s mid-August, and you know what that means: school’s in session. Kids have started hitting the books, college students have moved into dorms, families are settling into routines—all that jazz. It can be a bummer, sure, but you know what’s great about all this? We’ll finally be getting back all our favorite TV shows! Plus, with a whole bundle of new shows on the way, there might even be some new favorites just waiting to dazzle us.

I’ll eagerly await the return of some of my regular shows, of course, but there are several newbies I’ve noticed in the fall lineup that I intend to keep an eye on. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 14 shows—some new, some not—that have my attention this coming fall. In order of premiere date, here’s the skinny:

#1: Sleepy Hollow (Sept. 16)

Synopsis: “Ichabod Crane wakes up 250 years later to find the world on the brink of destruction and learn he’s humanity’s only hope.” –www.fox.com

Why I’m Interested: I love the eerie tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Washington Irving’s original short story is the best, of course, but I also like the Sleepy Hollow film with Johnny Depp, and I even like that dinky little Disney cartoon they made years ago. So, naturally, I’m curious about this Fox series. But I have my reservations. It has the potential to be massively corny and/or plain silly—especially if the script is weak. And I don’t know how I feel about the modernization. I’m not sure if I’ll watch the premiere, but I’ll be paying attention to what the critics say. The trailer is very “National Treasure meets Supernatural.” See what you think of the trailer.

#2: Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Sept. 17)

Synopsis: “A detective who doesn’t take anything seriously gets a new tightly-wound boss who wants him to grow up and respect the badge.” –www.fox.com

Why I’m Interested: There are so many police dramas out there that it’s nice to come across a comedic interpretation—even though the show’s tagline, “an arresting new comedy,” is so cringeworthy that it physically hurts me to even think about it. Fox might be taking a cue from NBC on this one because there’s very much an atmosphere of The Office or maybe even Scrubs in the trailer. Though that’s not necessarily a bad thing given that both of those shows were huge hits. Again, I might wait to see what the critics have to say, but I’m cautiously optimistic about this one. The trailer even made me laugh a little. Maybe you’ll laugh, too.

#3: New Girl (Sept. 17)

Synopsis: “Jess Day is an offbeat and adorable girl in her late 20s who, after a bad breakup, moves in with three single guys.” –www.fox.com

Why I’m Interested: I just realized that this is three Fox shows in a row. Apparently, Fox just gets me right now. Seriously though, if you haven’t seen New Girl and you’re generally a fan of comedies, do yourself a favor and check this one out. While I’m not a regular viewer, every episode I’ve caught of New Girl has been genuinely funny. The characters are lovable and quirky, and the script is pretty clever. It’s easy to get sucked in—especially now that season one is available on Netflix. No trailer available yet, but find out more about the show here.

#4: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Sept. 24)

Synopsis: “Clark Gregg reprises his role of Agent Phil Coulson from Marvel’s feature films, as he assembles a small, highly select group of Agents from the worldwide law-enforcement organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D.” –www.abc.com

Why I’m Interested: Two words: Joss Whedon. He may not be penning every episode, but if he’s involved, it’s safe to say that this show has pretty hefty potential. If you’re not familiar with Whedon, let me sum it up by saying everything this man touches turns to gold. Originally best known for his shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Whedon’s been involved in a slew of other great things—Cabin in the Woods, Firefly, Toy Story (1 and 3). Oh, yeah, and that little movie called The Avengers. It’ll be interesting to see how ABC presents the plain old human organization of S.H.I.E.L.D., and I’m super excited to see Clark Gregg return to the action. He’s a great comedic actor, but it looks like he’ll be flexing his dramatic muscles, too. Feel free to geek out with me.

#5: Criminal Minds (Sept. 25)

Synopsis: “Criminal Minds revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country’s most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again.” –www.cbs.com

Why I’m Interested: This CBS show has been one of my staples for a few years. Now on its ninth season, there’s a reason Criminal Minds has been able to stand the test of time: it’s just really interesting. The episodes can get pretty formulaic, sure, but watching the team figure out the identities of these serial killers is always fascinating to me. They’re able to learn so much from so little. Plus, over the course of nine seasons, the cast has stayed relatively the same, which is nice because you get fairly attached to the group. I can’t find a trailer, but go here to learn more about the show.

#6: Modern Family (Sept. 25)

Synopsis: “Three different, but related families face trials and tribulations in their own uniquely comedic ways.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: Unfortunately, I have only seen the first season of this show, but I fully intend to return to it in the near future. Because it’s hilarious. Modern Family has collected multiple Emmy awards over the years, and once you see the show, you’ll understand why. The script is great, the characters are wonderful, and the overall story connecting the families is both unique and very heartfelt. ABC has quite a comedic gem on its hands—possibly the funniest thing on television right now. Again, no trailer, but check out the site and see if it’s your style.

#7: Super Fun Night (Oct. 2)

Synopsis: “Three nerdy female friends decide to have super fun every Friday night.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: I’m gonna be honest—the only reason I have any real interest in this show is because I love Rebel Wilson. Her zany, offbeat sense of humor made me laugh in Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect, so I’m crossing my fingers that Super Fun Night measures up. The trailer is fairly funny, and it does seem to have that wacky humor she’s best known for, so we’ll see if ABC can deliver. The strangest part of this show is going to be adjusting to her American accent. Check it out here.

#8: American Horror Story: Coven (Oct. 9)

Synopsis: “An anthology series that centers on different characters and locations, including a haunted house, an insane asylum and a witch coven.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: I firmly believe that this is one of the coolest, creepiest, and most unique series on television right now. FX has been producing a lot of great shows lately, and American Horror Story is one of its stars. What’s great about AHS is that every season is different. The first season is about a family that moves into a haunted house in 2011, the second season is about an insane asylum in the 1960s, and the third season will be about witches from Salem and New Orleans during various eras. The stories and the characters change, but many of the actors remain, trading out old roles for new ones. I’ve never seen anything like this show, and I love it. If you’re remotely interested in horror, tune in. Here’s one of the creepy teaser trailers for the upcoming season.

#9: The Tomorrow People (Oct. 9)

Synopsis: “The story of several young people from around the world who represent the next stage in human evolution, possessing special powers, including the ability to teleport and communicate with each other telepathically.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: Is this show kind of an X-Men ripoff? Yeah. Or, more accurately, it’s kind of an X-Men/Jumper/Push mashup. Still, it looks interesting. I’m usually not a CW fan, but the channel has gradually collected its share of hits. If nothing else, it does seem to excel at superhero shows (Smallville, Arrow), so it could be good. I think the trailer makes it look promising—cool powers, a devious villain, lots of action, and such. See if you agree.

#10: Arrow (Oct. 9)

Synopsis: “Spoiled Billionaire playboy Oliver Queen, is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: Once again, we’ve got a CW superhero show. When I first heard about Arrow, I wasn’t sure it would last. But it seems to be getting a lot of positive feedback, and now I’m itching to get my hands on the first season. It looks dark and filled with action—as most DC films/TV shows/comic books are, I suppose. And it doesn’t hurt that leading man Stephen Arnell is easy on the eyes. For all of these reasons, I’m hoping to get caught up on season one and be ready for the second season. Fresh from Comic Con, here’s a taste of what you can expect.

#11: Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (Oct. 10)

Synopsis: “Alice in Wonderland-themed spinoff of Once Upon A Time.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: It’s weird—I’m not huge on Alice in Wonderland, and I hated the pilot script for Once Upon a Time so much that I couldn’t stand to keep watching it, but this ABC spinoff has me curious. It seems to be a peculiar mix of Alice in Wonderland and Aladdin. From the trailer, it looks very visually impressive, and it adopts a much darker tone than Once Upon a Time. The real test for me will be if the script holds up. I’ll give it a chance, but if the dialogue (and the acting) is as painfully corny as it was for Once Upon a Time’s premiere, I’ll definitely be dropping it from my lineup. Watch the trailer and see how you feel.

#12: Almost Human (Nov. 4)

Synopsis: “In a not-so-distant future, human cops and androids partner up to protect and serve.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: My initial interest in this was simply Karl Urban, whom I love, but after watching the trailer, I think the show has potential. Another Fox series, Almost Human is a cop show, but what’s cool is that it’s set 35 years in the future. Police officers are each assigned to androids, and Karl Urban’s character winds up with an android that is a little different—a little more human (hence the title).  It’s like buddy-cop meets I, Robot. Could be good. Actually, IMDB is already giving it good reviews, I guess from early screenings. It might be worth your while—just watch.

#13: Doctor Who (Nov. 23)

Synopsis: “The further adventures of the time traveling alien adventurer and his companions.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: I’m cheating a little with this one. What’s airing on BBC One/BBC America on Nov. 23 is the series’ 50^th anniversary special, so it’s not really the start of a new season. But I’m as excited for this one episode as I am for an entire season of other shows because it will bring together current Doctor, Matt Smith, and previous Doctor, David Tennant. I love these actors, and to see them both playing such a phenomenal character stirs up so much geeky excitement in me that it should be illegal. If you don’t know anything about Doctor Who and/or my love of it, you can read my review here. Also, here’s Smith and Tennant discussing the special and just being bros.

#14: Sherlock (Fall 2013 for U.K., Early 2014 for U.S.)

Synopsis: “A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.” –www.imdb.com

Why I’m Interested: Again, I’m cheating a little. Yes, this airs in the fall on BBC One for the U.K., but it’s not showing Stateside on PBS until early next year. Unless someone just happens to stumble upon it online…Ahem. Anyway, I listed the many merits of this show in my review (read it here), but to sum it up, it is unbelievably awesome. Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock is awesome, Martin Freeman as John is awesome, EVERYTHING is awesome. Plus, there’s a big cliffhanger from last season that simply must be resolved. No word on an exact airdate for the premiere yet, but you can bet I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, check out this teaser trailer.

That finishes up my list! What do you think? Any of these shows stir your interest? Are there fall shows you’re looking forward to that I haven’t listed here? Comments are love—give me lots!