2011-2012 Fall TV Preview: the New Shows on The CW, FX, HBO, STARZ, SHOWTIME

Welcome to the third day of the 2011-2012 Fall TV Preview. As per usual, The CW’s too small a network to develop a ton of new shows every year, so I’ve included the various new shows premiering on cable and premium channels in the fall.

The star of The Secret Circle (fanpop.com)

The CW continues to befuddle entertainment reporters and TV critics. No one knows how The CW makes a profit each season. No one knows how the network continues to exist when the ratings for their highest-rated show would be the lowest on the established, powerful networks. The CW replaced Dawn Ostroff with a 50 year old male who cracked jokes about his age, the demographic and confessed that he’s trying to catch up with each program whilst exercising in the morning. The network struggles with its new shows. They haven’t launched a hit, by their standards, since 2009. Their veteran shows get older each year. Eventually, One Tree Hill will run out of renewals as will Supernatural, and The CW has next to nothing as potential replacements. The  CW should be hopeful about the new shows, though. They have star power and built-in audiences. The executives need their three scripted dramas to find success or they’ll need a huge development season.

The new shows on cable and premium channels should satisfy the pretentious group of individuals who don’t dare watch network filth. The shows are diverse and interesting. Read on to find out what exactly will air on your flat-screens this fall:

THE CW

HART OF DIXIE

Created By Leila Gerstein

Premiere Date: Monday, September 26 at 9PM

Premise: (from The CW's press release, May 2011) Fast-talking New Yorker and brand new doctor Zoe Hart has it all figured out - after graduating top of her class from medical school, she'll follow in her father's footsteps and become a cardio-thoracic surgeon. But when her dreams fall apart, Zoe decides to accept an offer from a stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes, to work with him at his small practice in Bluebell, Alabama. Zoe arrives in this small Gulf Coast town only to find that Harley has passed away and left his half of the medical practice to her in his will. She quickly finds that Southern hospitality isn't always so hospitable.

Thoughts: Initially, upon reading about Hart of Dixie some months ago, I thought the show would harken back to the glory days of TheWB. The premise reminded me of Everwood until I read a story on Deadline comparing Gerstein's drama to Northern Exposure. In fact, that article made the show less interesting to me. Leila Gerstein described the show as "escapist" and called the show "city girl porn." Whereas I hoped for a series with the heart of Everwood, I realized how much of a CW show it is. The show's been criticized for its lack of African-American characters considering its Alabama setting. Gerstein's never been in the south hence her 'escapism' crutch she employs during interviews. Hart of Dixie might be a mess. Josh Schwartz, the OC's creator as well as Chuck's, works as an executive producer. I'm not sure how involved he'll be as he's working on the final season of Chuck. Rachel Bilson stars as Zoe Hart. Bilson's delightful. I'll watch the pilot and possibly the second episode. Despite the red flags, I'm still curious.

Chance of Weekly Review: 45%

RINGER

Created By Eric Charmelo & Nicole Snyder

Premiere Date: Tuesday, September 13 at 9PM

Premise: (from The CW's press release, May 2011) Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as a woman who, after witnessing a murder, goes on the run, hiding out by assuming the life of her wealthy identical twin sister - only to learn that her sister's seemingly idyllic life is just as complicated and dangerous as the one she's trying to leave behind.

Thoughts: CBS originally developed Ringer. During Upfronts, news broke that The CW swooped in to broadcast Sarah Michelle Gellar's return to TV. According to some, Ringer doesn't fit into The CW's brand. As you read above, the show's neo-noirish with elements of soap. The series will no doubt meditate on themes of identity and duality through Sarah's two characters. I'm drawn to series because of my never-ending crush on SMG. The premise and the trailer haven't hooked me though. The trailer's too vague. The full plot summary offers more about the characters and the central conflict but its relatively bland. SMG's good enough to compensate for weaknesses in the show.

Chance of Weekly Review: 50%

THE SECRET CIRCLE

Created By Andrew Miller; Based on the book by L.J. Smith

Premiere Date: Thursday, September 15 at 9PM

Premise: (from The CW's press release, May 2011) Cassie Blake was a happy, normal teenage girl - until her mother Amelia dies in what appears to be a tragic accidental fire. Orphaned and deeply saddened, Cassie moves in with her warm and loving grandmother Jane in the beautiful small town of Chance Harbor, Washington - the town her mother left so many years before - where the residents seem to know more about Cassie than she does about herself. She soon learns that her new friends are descended from powerful witches as is she. What don't they know is that dark powers are at play, wielded by the adults in Chance Harbor.

Thoughts: Kevin Williamson essentially developed the Secret Circle. Miller wrote the pilot, then The CW brought in Williamson for the heavy lifting (I think he re-wrote the script). No, the show isn't a companion piece to The Vampire Diaries. Yes, it involves pretty teenagers with supernatural abilities. Williamson's said that he aims The Secret Circle to appeal to both genders of all ages. The trailer's somewhat cheesy as the teenagers perform magic. I'm not going to write the series off, though, because of how great The Vampire Diaries became. It never hurts a show or a network to cast Britt Robertson. She's incredibly pretty with terrific screen presence. Williamson's proven that he operates separately from Twilight and Teen Wolf. His shows are more Whedon than Meyer. Don't write it off, friends and well-wishers. The Secret Circle might be good.

Chance of Weekly Review: 61%

FX

AMERICAN HORROR STORY

Created By Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk

Premiere Date: Wednesday, October 5 at 10PM

Premise: (from the FX Press Release, July 2011) American Horror Story revolves around The Harmons, a family of three who move from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish.

Thoughts: Mystery surrounds the series. There are various "clue" videos on YouTube. The advertisement that airs during FX shows reveals nothing about the show, which means I don't have much to write about Ryan Murphy's new series. Horror series haven't succeeded in the past but Murphy's riding a hot streak. I won't watch the series because I think the man's a d-bag who treats people like trash. The cast isn't too great. If you're interested in a horror series, though, , check it out.

Chance of Weekly Review: 0%

AMC

HELL ON WHEELS

Created By Joe Gayton & Tony Gayton

Premiere Date: Sunday, November 6 at 10PM

Premise: (from AMC Press Release, July 2011) "Hell On Wheels" transports audiences back to post Civil War America and examines the struggles and hardships of rebuilding and repairing our country after the bloodiest war on American soil. The series examines the railroad's institutionalized greed and corruption, the immigrant experience, the plight of the newly emancipated African-Americans during Reconstruction, and the ravaging of the Native American land and people, in the name of progress. The main throughline of "HELL ON WHEELS" is the story of Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) and his quest for revenge over the wartime death of his wife. Over time, "Hell on Wheels" chronicles this potent turning point in our nation's history, and how uncivilized the business of civilization can be.

Thoughts: Hell on Wheels is ambitious. The scope of the series seems too much for a TV show to tackle. AMC has taken a hit since The Killing disaster. Many wonder if the network's reputation took a bad hit after the public spats during negotiations for Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Hell on Wheels seems like the show to restore AMC's image, except the show's been reviewed badly. The scenes in the trailer resemble Deadwood. The subject matter's worthwhile. I have reservations the "main throughline" of the series because revenge-driven protagonists and "how uncivilized the business of civilization can be" has been done many times before in westerns. I'm more interested in how the show portrays emancipated African-Americans, the ravaging of Native American lands in the name of progress and the immigrant experience. The revenge, greed and corruption of the time's old hat. I'm intrigued. I wonder, though, about the ability of the show runners to handle the immense scope of the narrative.

Chance of Weekly Review: 77%

HBO

ENLIGHTENED

Created By Mike White

Premiere Date: Monday, October 10 at 9:30PM

Premise: (from HBO's press release, July 2011) This new show focuses on a self-destructive woman (Laura Dern) who has a spiritual awakening after a meltdown. Determined to live a more enlightened existence, the former career executive's new lifestyle wreaks havoc both at home and at work.

Thoughts: HBO comedies are odd. Shows like Bored To Death, How To Make it in America and Hung elude me. The comedies aren't funny (Curb's the only show that's funny). The comedies either deal with dis-enchanted career people or groups of people attempting to make a name for themselves. Enchanted falls into the former category as Laura Dern portrays who suffers a breakdown then transforms her life, much to the chagrin of her family and co-workers. Mike White's a talented writer. His show's too damn similar to the other comedies, though. I have no interest in following this potentially quirky show with its cast of quirky and chaotic characters.

Chance of Weekly Review: 0%

SHOWTIME

HOMELAND

Created By Alex Gansa, Gideon Raff, and Howard Gordon

Premiere Date: Sunday, October 2 at 10PM

Premise: (from Showtime's press release, July 2011) HOMELAND is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), a CIA officer battling her own demons, who becomes convinced that the intelligence that led to the rescue of Sgt. Nick Brody (Damian Lewis) a U.S. soldier who had been missing and presumed dead for nine years, was a set-up and may be connected to an al-Qaeda plot to be carried out on American soil.

Thoughts: Homeland has potential. The show taps into America's fear of terrorism and espionage. I'm interested the dynamic between Carrie and the U.S. soldier, who presumably might find themselves in a continuous game of cat-and-mouse. I'm not sure if the series can sustain a psychological thriller over the course of thirteen episodes. Psychological thrillers become tiresome in features after 90 minutes. A lot depends on Danes' character and the depth of terrorism plot. I'll probably tune in.

Chance of Weekly Review: 23%

STARZ

BOSS

Created By Farhad Safinia

Premiere Date: Friday, October 21 at 10PM

Premise: (from Starz's press release, June 2011) Mayor Tom Kane (Kelsey Grammer) sits like a spider at the center of Chicago's web of power; a web built on a covenant with the people. They want to be led; they want disputes settled, jobs dispensed, and loyalties rewarded. If he achieves through deception and troubling morality, so be it. As long as he gets the job done, they look the other way. Yet despite being the most effective mayor in recent history, a degenerative brain disorder is ripping everything away from him. He can't trust his memory, his closest allies, or even himself.

Thoughts: Presumably, Farhad Safinia's asking the audience to root for someone whose behaved terribly because other people will treat him terribly now that his brain disorder's ripping everything away from him. The character spun his web of power with deception and "troubling morality." I appreciate the effort to create an anti-hero who became one, and shade of grey, because of his business and the people within that world. But, boy, Boss seems bland. If I want complicated characters trapped within a world of backstabbers and power plays, I'll read A Song of Ice and Fire.

Chance of Weekly Review: 0%

THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK