Cable and premium channels offer a wide variety of returning shows this fall. The CW's shows are mostly about good looking people hanging out in a supernatural world or good looking people hanging out in a normal world. On cable, though, there are zombies to watch, motorcycle gangs and Claire Danes. On premium channels, i.e. HBO, Steve Buscemi walks around in 1920s fashion beating people up, or one could enjoy David Simon's Treme, which is a great series about life in New Orleans post-Katrina. I wrote last year that the great thing about TV now is, if you don't like something on one channel, just switch to another, and you'll probably find something you enjoy. I've become a fan of the shows on Syfy because summer TV sucked last year, and I decided to watch Alphas and then gave Lost Girl a shot; and, of course, I always watch Friday Night Smackdown. I even watch the nonsense pawn shop show on TruTV. I've just started watching old Phineas and Ferb episodes, and I am convinced Doofenschmirtz is one of the greatest characters ever created.
So, sit back in your computer chair, pour yourself a beverage, get a snack or two, and settle in for today's preview of returning shows.
THE CW
HART OF DIXIE returns Tuesday, October 2 at 8PM on The CW
Hart of Dixie is a sweet and charming show. I watched two episodes last season. The finale in particular was a pleasant experience and made me regret spending so much time on The Secret Circle, because TSC was a miserable show to watch whereas Hart of Dixie improved my mood. Season 2's premiere will immediately deal with the wedding aftermath, George's confession to Zoe, Wade hanging out naked upstairs waiting for more sex with Zoe, and so on. I'll guess things will get complicated and nothing will actually be solved by the end of the premiere.
SUPERNATURAL returns Wednesday, October 3 at 9PM on The CW
I never thought a Jensen Ackles show would have seven seasons, let alone eight. Jensen Ackles played Jen's shitty boyfriend in the sixth season of Dawson's Creek. I thought Ackles was flat, boring, and not the type to co-lead a show. Well, I was wrong. I feel confused each time I read about Supernatural. Dean's returning from purgatory? How'd THAT happen? DJ Qualls will return as Garth. Is Garth good or bad? The brothers will spend time apart as the season kicks-off because Sam ate the last ice cream bar in the refrigerator. Dean cannot forgive that.
90120 returns Monday, October 8 at 8PM on The CW
This series has no goddamn dignity. Carly Rae Jepsen's going to guest star as herself? Why? The CW promises "MORE!" More of good laughs and good times and good looking people smiling. According to The CW's 90210 May Press Release, the characters will face the toughest challenges of their lives. I'm fairly positive last year's press release stated the same thing about the characters because they were transitioning from high school to college. The characters have comfortably left "West Bev" behind but face the challenges of adults. Expect nothing less than "Life, death, love, loyalty, betrayal" in the season premiere, which seems like an awful lot of ground to cover in 41 minutes. Take away five minutes for Carly Rae Jepsen to perform "Call Me Maybe" and the show will have around 35-36 minutes for life, death, love and so on. Later in the season, Ryan Lochte's going to guest star. The Olympian swimmer can't get his head around delivering lines while in motion.
GOSSIP GIRL returns Monday, October 8 at 9PM on The CW
More people watch a cat hum the Game of Thrones theme than a single episode of Gossip Girl. The CW's marketing team deserves a collective raise for making this show seem like a must-see event for a few years in a row. It will finally end after 13 episodes. Among the plot points are a missing Serena, some rich guy trying to get his empire back (what the hell?), and the search to reveal who Gossip Girl is. Listen, I'll answer that question right here and now: it's Kristen Bell! I know, I know, that was lame. I'll also answer the Serena question: Blake Lively's time is clearly more valuable now. I mean, she took part in a group interview with Charlie Rose in promotion of Savages, and she dates Leonardo DiCaprio (I think). Bon voyage, Gossip Girl.
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES returns Thursday, October 11 at 8PM on The CW
Elena is a vampire now. Bonnie's going to confront the darkness within her. Damon and Stefan will continue to try to win the hearts of Vampire Elena. The season three finale was quite good and quite effective in changing the dynamic of the show. Julie Plec's the type of showrunner who seems overeager to dish about her show. The season premiere will focus on Elena's transformation; if one reads interviews with Plec, one already knows where Stefan's mind will be during it as well as Damon's. TVD is a good show, and its great episodes are must-watch episodes. Season 3 stumbled a bit in the middle. I learned Julie Plec doesn't keep a show-bible, makes a lot of stuff up as she goes along, is a fangirl and a shipper, and she's steering the ship now with Williamson writing about serial killers for FOX. I have concerns about season 4. I hope the quality is maintained along with the breathtaking twists and turns. If the show continues to falter, at least I can distract myself with Nina Dobrev, who is so, so pretty.
But this is interesting (from the press release): Season Four begins with the knowledge that everything is changing. As Elena and her friends enter into the final stretch of high school before graduation sends them off on different paths, their bond to their home town of Mystic Falls takes on a deeper meaning when a new villain seems intent on destroying it.
NIKITA returns Friday, October 19 at 9PM on The CW
Nikita has a new team in season 3. I think she's still fighting The Division. Nikita and Alex may be friends again, but Alex may be working with the enemy. The press release isn't clear.
ABC FAMILY
SWITCHED AT BIRTH returns Monday, September 3 at 8PM
The return marks the beginning of the second half of season one. Is that correct? Switched At Birth gets good reviews. People like the show. I watched a promo for the return. Many people yell during it. A male youth pushes another male youth down. The words "I Do" will, apparently, change everything. ABC Family promos have the same elements: friendly narrator announces the return of the show just before an abrupt shift in musical chords and then he gets down to business of drama and nonsense. I kept seeing promos for Pretty Little Liars; there are no differences between PLL promos and SaB promos. Well, that was an uninteresting remark.
AMC
THE WALKING DEAD returns Sunday, October 14 at 9PM (and TALKING DEAD returns the same night at 11PM, which is then followed by Kevin Smith's Comic Book Men at 11:30pm)
Carl is still wearing the cowboy hat! Now that that's out of the way, season three is supposed to be epic and intense and the best year of the show. Glen Mazarra feels enthusiasm for the new season. On a Nerdist Writers Panel Podcast, he and his fellow writers, Angela Kang and Scott Gimple, talked about how much happens in five episodes, compared to all of season two. The Governer shows up; the gang finds shelter the prison; Michonne will play a promiment role in the season. Season 2 finished strongly. I'm confident in Glen Mazarra. He's convinced me he and his staff know what they're doing, know what was wrong was wrong and will be fixed; plus, he thinks a lot about the show and the characters. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to season three. I dare predict the show will make a huge leap when it returns October 14th.
BBC AMERICA
DOCTOR WHO returns Saturday, September 1 at 9PM
A friend of mine and I talked about Doctor Who one time. He thought about watching the entire series, from 1960s onwards. I'd like to watch Doctor Who because of the show's creative team. They're the same guys who write and produce BBC's Sherlock. I originally posted an excerpt of the BBC America press release; however, the excerpt is too spoilery. The Doctor will have his hands full this season.
BEDLAM returns Saturday, October 6 at 9PM
The show "dares to imagine Melrose Place...if it were haunted!" Well, then. Ashley Medekwe's one of the leads. I recognize her from ABC's Revenge, and I'm not all surprised Europeans utilized her talents way more than American producers. 666 Park Ave seems like a rip-off of Bedlam. The series format is procedural but with an on-going mystery about the owners of the haunted hotel the characters inhabit. I don't know what to expect in season 2. I just might tune in because I suddenly have a crush on Ashley Medekwe.
COMEDY CENTRAL
TOSH.0 returns Tuesday, September 25 at 10PM
Daniel Tosh is a busy man this fall between his own show and his new animated show. I don't know why I included this show in the post. I have nothing to write about it. Here's hoping for more amusing Internet Redemption videos.
SOUTH PARK returns Wednesday, September 26 at 10PM
It's difficult to preview South Park due to the creative process of Trey and Matt. They won't know what they're doing until a week before the air date. The first half of season 16 had its moments. I loved the "Cash for Gold" episode. "Butterballs" had the great Butters storyline followed by Stan's "Jackin It in San Diego" video. I look forward to the second half of the season.
KEY & PEELE returns Wednesday, September 26 at 10:30PM
This sketch comedy show returns for a second season. They'll make you laugh throughout their ten episode season.
ESPN
30 FOR 30 returns Tuesday, October 2 at 8PM
Billy Corben directed film that'll air on October 2. The film follows athletes who lost all the money they earned. Cliff Floyd is among them, a name I did not expect to see. 30 for 30 produced terrific films two years ago. The films set to air in October vary in subject matter, from Bo Jackson to the senseless murder of a star athlete in Chicago the day before his senior season was set to begin.
FX
SONS OF ANARCHY returns Tuesday, September 11 at 10PM
Ashley Tisdale will be involved in a multi-episode arc on Sons of Anarchy. Tisdale, who's last series work was on The CW's Hellcats, is the last actress I expected to appear in this motorcycle drama. My questions about the new season would piss of Kurt Sutter and loyal SOA fans. See, I want to know if Opie's beard will remain the same. Opie's beard is a work of art. I know Opie wanted to kill Ron Pearlman's character in the finale, but I don't know what happened. In between seasons, Kurt Sutter attacked critics for their weekly criticism of shows. Sutter specifically targeted The A.V. Club. In turn, critics turned on Sutter and tried to engage him in intelligent and reasonable discourse about weekly reviews. I think Sutter responded with a string of expletives. Joel McHale will try out drama; he'll appear in a multi-episode arc. Zap2It reported from Comic-Con last month about Sutter's comments on the new season: Jax's leadership of SAMCRO will be front and center. Cool.
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM returns Wednesday, October 17 at 10PM
Season 2 is set in a medical hospital. Ryan Murphy said the season will be set in a new time period, completely separate from season 1 (thanks to screenrant for the info). New actors and actresses have been cast. Entertainment Weekly is set to release an issue that covers the second season of the show. New viewers can tune in easily.
IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA returns Sometime in October
It's Always Sunny doesn't have an official premiere date. It should return sometime in October. The FX promos are Japanese-themed. That says nothing about the eighth season.
THE LEAGUE returns Sometime in October
The same thing is going on with The League. No premiere date. No information about the new season.
HBO
BOARDWALK EMPIRE returns Sunday, September 16 at 9PM on HBO
Season 2 had a shocking twist that'll reverberate into season 3. Nucky Thompson's a harder man now, more ruthless and dangerous. I lost interest in the show after the season two premiere. The tag for Season 3 is: "War is Here." I'd expect violence, corruption, and all that jazz.
TREME returns Sunday, September 23 at 10PM
I think Treme is a tremendous series. Season 3 will tackle stories about the continued rebuilding of New Orleans and the realization that people can only rely on themselves to get things done. David Simon's talked about the never-give-up attitude of New Orleans, the endurance and fortitude of its people, and he plans on highlighting that in the newest season, which could be its last. I'm excited to watch Lucia Micarelli's Annie front her own band; some of my favorite scenes are when she's just playing the violin. It also appears she'll get a little sexy this season. I suggest anyone reading to watch the show if you haven't. I'm not sure if Treme will get the love The Wire got after it ended, but it could, so be there when the show was actually on the air.
PBS
WALLANDER returns Sunday, September 9 at 9PM
Kenneth Branagh plays a Swedish detective. PBS is airing its third series (season), if I'm not mistaken. I'm not familiar with the show beyond knowing Branagh plays Wallander.
UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS returns Sunday, October 7 at 9PM
From the PBS Press Release: Set in 1936, the lives of masters and servants have never been so captivating, as two new arrivals make their mark and Lady Agnes reveals a dark secret.
SHOWTIME
DEXTER returns Sunday, September 30 at 9PM
Wow, so quite a bit happened in the season six finale. I won't write about it in case anyone who's innocently reading the preview happens upon this and doesn't want Dexter spoiled. Season 7 seems to have new direction. The producers will tell a story from season 7 until season 8, its final season.
HOMELAND returns Sunday, September 30 at 10PM
I might eventually watch the show, and I don't want to spoil myself by researching what happened last season. Just remember the day and time the second season premieres. Perhaps the producers should hire Treat Williams for a multi-episode arc.
SYFY
HAVEN returns Friday, September 21 at 10PM
Syfy's website promises the characters true colors will be revealed. The series has been off the air for 11 months. Syfy held the show back from a summer premiere for reasons unknown to me. I thought the show was cancelled. Audrey Parker promised season 3 is the 'season of answers.' Okay then.
TRAVEL
ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS returns Monday, September 3 at 9PM
The final season of No Reservations kicks off in Austin, Texas, during SXSW. Bourdain's moved onto CNN to produce different features for them. No Reservations is a great show. Don't miss out on Bourdain's last No Reservations excursions.
USA
BURN NOTICE returns Thursday, November 8 at 10PM
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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