[/caption]Once upon a time, FOX cancelled every promising show on the schedule. In recent years, the executives allowed shows find an audience and grow. What a concept. House is about to begin its seventh season while Bones will launch its sixth. They even let Joss Whedon's Dollhouse have 26 episodes and the little engine that could (aka the Tim Roth show) hasn't been cancelled yet. Glee is a hit and they have a very successful Sunday lineup. The network is in a good place. Imagine if they landed Conan a few months ago.
Before the FOX preview commences, a quick reminder about the 2010 TV Preview as a whole. Unlike the preview of new shows, I am not evaluating which shows to review for the 2010-2011 schedule. I dislike reality television immensely; therefore, I only preview returning scripted series. There will be no speculation about the new American Idol judges in this space.
Anywho, let me dive into FOX's 2010-2011 schedule of returning shows.
The Show: American Dad
What Season?: The Sixth
Returns To Air: October 3 at 9:30PM
What To Expect: Well, I haven't watched a Seth MacFarlane show in eight years. The plots center on the misadventures of the Smith family so expect more misadventures as well as the 100th episode in the show's sixth season. In the first episode, Hayley and Jeff elope and Stan offers a reward everyone wants to claim while Wheels and Legman return.
The Show: Bones
What Season?: The Sixth
Returns To Air: September 23 at 8PM
What To Expect: Oh, Bones. Every May, Bones creator Hart Hanson and his team of writers manage to anger their fanbase. First, it was Zach and Gormogon then it was the 'the finale took place in Booth's head.' As for reaction to the most recent finale, I am unsure. In recent years, the show has embraced its romantic comedy elements while remaining true to the procedural, murder-of-the-week stories. People still love the show and the characters. I can never commit to a full Bones viewing. I enjoy the occasional episode but the format and the structure loses my interest. Fans, in the sixth season, will want to see Bones and Booth get together. In the show's 100th episode, the episode dealt with the budding romance between the two. Booth wanted it but Bones hesitated because she's Bones.
The series moves forward one full year. The team disbanded during that time. Angela and Hodges went to Paris. Bones and Daisey went somewhere for research while Booth became an army instructor hooked up with a great looking army girl. The big bad of season six is going to be a sniper and an old villain will return. I do wonder how things will be between Booth and Bones as yet another person stands in the way of a relationship.
The Show: The Cleveland Show
What Season?: The Second
Returns To Air: September 26 at 8:30PM
What To Expect: The show earned a third season pick-up as well. This show was the highest rated show in the 18-34 male demographic.
In the second season premiere, Cleveland wants to help Kenny West's rap career take-off. Also President Barack Obama will visit Stoolbend.
The Show: Family Guy
What Season?: The Ninth
Returns To Air: September 26 at 9PM
What To Expect: The intended season finale did not air because of the subject matter. It dealt with abortion in the Family Guy way. So, the actual season finale was the sequel to their Blue Harvest episode. How does Seth MacFarlane and crew follow that up?
A murder mystery at the house of James Woods opens the ninth season. Peter, his family and other residents of Quahog got caught in a whodunnit game when guests of Woods continue to turn up dead. In true Family Guy form, the episode is a parody of the Agatha Christie novel And Then There Were None. Does MacFarlane have ANY original ideas in him? ANY AT ALL? Drew Barrymore and Ashley Tisdale lend their voices for the season premiere. Also, James Woods voices his own animated character.
The Show: Fringe
What Season?: The Third
Returns To Air: September 23 at 9PM
What To Expect: I think I know what non-LOST fans experienced when discovering what kind of story the show was telling as I begin writing about Fringe. I watched the pilot a few days after the show premiered but the show didn't capture my interest. Fringe is now a complete cult show.
Last season's finale explored the alternate universe introduced in the first season finale. Olivia has a doppleganger with dark hair and they fought. Good Olivia is now trapped in a dungeon in the alternate universe while Alternate Brunette/Sexy Olivia is in the true universe impersonating the Good Olivia. This entire plot seems ripped off from Doppelgangland (season three of Buffy). I wonder where Pacey Witter fits into this as well as Matthew Abaddon. Yes, I refer to Lance Reddick's LOST character.
The Show: Glee
What Season?: The Second
Returns To Air: September 21 at 8PM
I asked Janice Redington, the girl who gives out stuffed animals week after week for Post Collegiate-Apocalypse, to write about Glee. She is an associate of PCA author Colin McGlinchey and a proud Gleek. Here is what she wrote:
What To Expect: Glee premiered last fall and quickly gained the attention of many viewers. The shows premise was something new- the formation of a glee club at a high school. The show was going to incorporate comedy, drama, and musical numbers all in one to help tell the story. Not far into the season it was clear that Fox had a winner and fans were already wanting more.
As season one began we were introduced to a variety of characters:
First we have the glee club members, a mix of high school students ranging from popular to unpopular and those in between.
Rachel Berry (Lea Michelle): the head gleek
Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith): the football gleek
Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer): the flamboyant gleek
Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron): the pregnant gleek
Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale): the handicapped gleek
Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley): the diva gleek
Puck Puckerman (Mark Sailing): the babydaddy gleek
Tina Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz): the goth gleek
Santana Lopez (Naya Riveria): the slutty cheerleader gleek
Brittany (Heather Morris): the ditzy gleek
Mike Chang (Harry Shum jr) and Matt Rutherford (Dijon Talton): the background gleeks.
Along with the glee members there is glee coach Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), and guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays).
The show begins with a small glee club, New Directions, ; Rachel, Kurt, Artie, Mercedes, and Tina, being led by Schuester. The club is in desperate need of new members and Schuester and the glee members begin their search. Enter Finn: quarterback with an amazing singing voice. When plans to recruit him do not go as well as planned, Schuester plants marijuana in Finn’s locker, thus blackmailing him to join the group. Soon after Finn’s fellow football players (Puck, Mike, and Matt) join him in the glee club as well.
Then Quinn Fabray, girlfriend to Finn, and her fellow cheerleaders (Santana and Brittany, are sent by Coach Sylvester to join the glee club and be her spies. Sylvester’s hates Schuester and his club and hopes to tear it down for the inside out.
As the glee club begins its singing and dancing, with songs ranging from Kayne’s “Golddigger” to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”, the drama of the show unfolds. First we have Schuester, a financially struggling teacher with an overbearing wife who is desperate to have a child. As his wife is soon faking her own pregnancy Schuester becomes close to school guidance counselor Emma Pillsburry. The two begin a flirtation that the viewer knows will soon become something more. By midseason Schuester is getting a divorce and is starting a relationship with Pillsburry. Unfortunately, his reaction to her OCD behaviors forces a wedge between the two and the relationship quickly fizzles.
Back on the teenage front, Finn and Quinn, the cliché couple, are dealing with the issue of sex in their relationship. Leader of the celibacy club, which is gone from the show rather quickly, Quinn refuses to sleep with Finn. When she miraculously becomes pregnant everyone is left wondering how that was possible. Quinn finally tells her parents who kick her out of their house and Quinn moves in with Finn and his mother. As the season continues we learn that the father of Quinn’s baby is actually Puck, fellow glee cluber, football player, and school bully. Finn soon discovers the truth and the perfect couple is torn apart. Quinn is stuck to deal with her imminent pregnancy, attempting to mold puck into a father, being kicked of the cheer squad, and the social repercussions of her actions at school.
Then Rachel and Finn begin a relationship, which is rocky from the start, as the season progresses. The other characters have a few background issues that are touched upon. Kurt is dying for his father’s acceptance, Mercedes is fighting for more singing roles, Artie dreams of walking and is desperate for love, Tina is trying to find herself, Santana is still playing secret agent to the cheer squad, and Brittany, Matt, and Mike are just the extras that give us brief glimpses of their talent.
Before the midseason break, the New Directions compete in Sectionals. Upon arrival they discover that the other two teams have gained access to their set list, from cheer coach Sylvester. New Directions quickly decides on some new songs to sing and they win the trophy for sectionals.
After four months of waiting, season one returned mid-April to the delight of fans. This half of the season gave us the Madonna and Lady Gaga tribute episodes and viewers are hoping these tributes will continue. New Directions is now preparing for regionals against current champions, Vocal Adrenaline. Soon season one is becoming filled with new characters and some twisting story lines.
Vocal Adrenaline’s lead singer is Jesse St. James (Johnathan Groff) who quickly grabs the attention of Rachel. Rachel and Jesse soon begin a relationship, against the wishes of the rest of New Directions members who feel Jesse is just with Rachel for spying tactics. Surprisingly Jesse enrolls into school with the New Directions members and joins their club, leaving Vocal Adrenaline behind. Finn, still hung up on what Rachel and him could have been, is not only jealous of the new couple but is also fighting Jesse for the lead male spot.
Soon viewers lean that New Directions was right and Jesse does indeed have motives for his relationship with Rachel. Rachel is the daughter of two gay men, who hired a surrogate mother, to bear their child. Rachel who has always wondered who her mother is, is recruiting Jesse to help her in her search. She eventually discovers that her mother is Vocal Adrenaline’s coach and the two begin to talk. The coach realizes that it is too late to begin a relationship with Rachel and once again Rachel must deal with her womanly issues alone.
Finally after a lot of little issues that all begin to wrap up the finale premieres. It is time for the team to compete in regionals and New Directions is ready, including nine months but not looking it, pregnant Quinn. Coach Sylvester, Josh Grobin, and Olivia Newton John are judging the Regionals and Schuester is worried how Sylvester will try to sabotage his team now. New Directions takes the stage and pays a fitting tribute to Journey. Right after New Directions performs Quinn’s mother comes to the show and the two forgive one another and Quinn is invited to move back home. Suddenly Quinn’s water breaks and the club rushes to the hospital for the birth of her baby. The viewers soon discover that Vocal Adrenaline coach is going to adopt Quinn’s baby so she can finally have a child of her own to raise. With judging of Regionals complete New Directions places last and the school principal is intend on disbanding the club. At the end of the show Schuester discovers that even though Coach Sylvester can’t stand him as a person, she admires his work with the club members and talks the principal into letting the club stay together one more year.
Of course with all this drama going on, and plenty more that was just too much to mention, there was an abundance of great covers by New Directions and other guest cast members. One of the best by far was the appearance by Neil Patrick Harris late into the season. NPH and Schuester sing a duet of Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” that left viewers hoping for a reappearance by NPH in seasons to come. Other hit songs included “I’ll Stand by You”(The Pretenders) “Imagine” (John Lennon) “Jump” (Van Halen) “Ice, Ice Baby” (Vanilla Ice), “The Climb” (Miley Cyrus), “Loser” (Beck), and many more.
With season two quickly approaching fans cannot wait to see what will happen next. So far this is what we know: Brittany, Tina, Mike, and Matt will have larger roles, new characters will be introduced, their will be a Brittany Spears tribute episode, the season will go to the nationals but producers aren’t promising New Direction will compete, Rachel and Finn will be together, sex secrets will be exposed (including the virginity truths of Rachel and Finn), Schuester’s wife will be fighting for his love back, we will discover more about Coach Slyvester’s love life, Javier Bardem is supposed to have a guest appearance, John Stamos is supposed to play Emma Pillsburry’s love interest (and her dentist), and there is hope for NPH and other guests from last year to return.
So far fans have a lot to go on and there should be a lot going on for season two. We can also assume that Quinn will be dealing with her choice for adoption, Sylvester will be finding new ways to terrorize Schuester, and the rest of the cast will have a lot of new drama unfolding.
Not a lot of the songs have been announced, with the exception of “New York State of Mind” for the premiere and a handful of Britney Spears songs for her tribute episode, which is supposed to be the second week. Hopefully the producers will continue to pick a variety of music to keep fans coming back for more.
The Show: House
What Season?: The Seventh
Returns To Air: September 20 at 8PM
What To Expect: More medical cases and plenty of dysfunction between House and Cuddy now that those two are romantically involved. I'm not sure which actors remain on the show. The fanbase wants new creative energy injected into the series but they are doubtful of such creative energy existing in the writer's room. I'd like Jennifer Morrison back in the cast but that won't happen. Something to watch for is an episode that could get Hugh Laurie an Emmy next year. Some critics expected Laurie to win because of the mental hospital storyline. An interesting House/Cuddy relationship would help calm the anger.
The Show: Human Target
What Season?: The Second
Returns To Air: October 1 at 8PM
What To Expect: Goons kidnapped one of the characters so two of the other characters will rescue him. A female is being brought into the trio of males. TWoP compares this show to MacGyver and The A-Team. McG is a producer of the show.
The Show: Lie To Me
What Season?: The Third
Returns To Air: November 2010
What To Expect: The show that features Tim Roth's unique walks got a third season after airing half of season two during the summer. Expect the same structure return--uninteresting supporting characters and cases that have 56 twists in every act. It's a very convoluted show but Tim Roth's walk is awesome.
The Show: The Simpsons
What Season?: The 22nd
Returns To Air: September 26 at 8PM
What To Expect: I was a huge fan of the first ten seasons of the show and then I ignored the show for the last eleven years; however, I saw the movie opening night. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the 21st season was the funniest the show has been in a long time.
Season 22 opens with an episode titled "Elementary School Musical." Yes, South Park did it first but I'll forgive The Simpsons. Lea Michele of Glee heads a group of five people lending their voices to the show.
Tomorrow will be the very timely CW Fall TV Preview because their season begins tomorrow night.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
1 comment:
oh well, i am a gleek myself and i really really love GLEE,,
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