Tuesday, September 08, 2009

TV: Fall 2009 Schedule

The new fall season is upon us and new shows will be premiering all month. Here's a list of the season premieres set for the next two weeks. Find out who's starring in them and why you should watch.

Tuesday, September 8:
*90210, 8 p.m. (The CW)
This season...you'll find out what happened to Liam and who Annie hit with her car. Plus, Trevor Donovan ("Days of Our Lives") will be filling the void that Dustin Milligan's Ethan character leaves behind.
*Melrose Place, 9 p.m. (The CW)
Cast: Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Michael Rady ("Greek" and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), Jessica Lucas ("90210"), Stephanie Jacobsen ("Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles"), Colin Egglesfield ("All My Children"), and Katie Cassidy ("Harper's Island").
Plot: An updated version of the early 90s series. It's like "90210," except it has way more drama and murder mysteries.
Watch if...you like a trip down memory lane and you're a fan of revivals.
Watch a sneak peek!
*Sons of Anarchy, 10 p.m. (FX)


Wednesday, September 9:
*Glee, 9 p.m. (Fox)
Cast: Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele (Spring Awakening), Cory Monteith ("Kyle XY"), Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Amber Riley, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays (Paul Blart: Mall Cop), Jessalyn Gilsig, and Dianna Argon.
Plot: A musical dramedy about kids from different cliques who join glee club, and try to navigate their way through high school, while their coach (Morrison) tries to follow his musical dream in spite of mounting obstacles.
Watch if...of course, you love music and musicals. And also if you were as amazed as I was when you realized that Cory is the same actor who played the two-timing jock on "Kyle XY," and are now intrigued by his hidden singing talent.
Watch the pilot!


Thursday, September 10:
*The Vampire Diaries, 8 p.m. (The CW)
Cast: Nina Dobrev ("Degrassi: The Next Generation" and The American Mall), Paul Wesley ("Fallen"), Ian Somerhalder ("Lost"), and Hollywood royalty Steven R. McQueen ("Everwood" and Minutemen).
Plot: An adaptation of the teen book series. It's about a tormented vampire (Wesley) who tries to avoid human relationships, but becomes intrigued by a girl (Dobrev) who looks just like his first love...the love who killed herself so she wouldn't come between him and his evil brother (Somerhalder). Centuries later, after she turned them both into vampires, he grows ever more tormented, while his brother grows increasingly more powerful. Blaming him for their true love's death, his evil brother returns to seduce her doppleganger away as revenge.
Watch if...you like Twilight, "True Blood," or even "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer." The romance between a human and a vampire has always been a suspenseful and alluring relationship.

*Supernatural, 9 p.m. (The CW)


Monday, September 14:
*One Tree Hill, 8 p.m. (The CW)
This season...they'll jump two years ahead and try to explain away Lucas and Peyton's departure from the series. From the sneak peek below, it's clear that everyone is doing well professionally, playing pro-ball (Nathan), recording music (Haley), making movies (Julian), and even selling books (Dan), but their love lives are slightly tangled. Brooke and Julian are doing the long distance thing, but it seems Haley and Nathan are the ones suffering from their time apart. We can also look forward to three new cast additions: Robert Buckley ("Lipstick Jungle" and "Privileged") as Nathan's agent and best friend, Shantel VanSanten (The Final Destination) as Haley's broken-hearted, older sister Quinn, Jana Kramer ("90210" and "Friday Night Lights") as an overly dramatic model/actress who'll be the new face of Brooke's clothing line, and Danneel Harris, who'll reprising her role as Rachel.

*Gossip Girl, 9 p.m. (The CW)
This season...You've probably already heard that Chuck will be having a steamy make-out session with one lucky guy for reasons only Blair could conjure up, and from paparazzi shots all over NYC, you've probably deduced that Dan will be hooking up with Hilary Duff's movie star/student character, Vanessa will fall into the arms of Dan's illegitimate brother, Serena will find herself getting closer to Carter Baizen, and Nate will be under a sassy Southern girl's (Privileged's Joanna Garcia) thumb. Well, you'll also find that the blogs are a buzzin' about Lil J's newfound power as Queen B, Chuck and Blair's unorthodox ways of "making it work," Blair's fish-out-of-water complex now that she'll mingle with Vanessa and Dan in their territory: NYU's Lower East Side, Georgina's stint as Blair's roommate, and the fact that one of the guys is planning on skipping college all together. Also expect cameos by Tyra Banks and Lady Gaga.


Wednesday, September 16:
*The Beautiful Life, 9 p.m. (The CW)
Cast: Mischa Barton ("The O.C."), Sara Paxton (The Last House on the Left and Aquamarine), Corbin Bleu (High School Musical), Ashely Madekwe ("Secret Diary of a Call Girl"), Ben Hollingsworth, Nico Tortorella, and Supermodel Elle Macpherson.
Plot: It's about a group of models trying to make it in the industry while living together in New York. The main plot revolves around two new models (Paxton and Hollingsworth) who are trying to acclimate to their new lifestyle, and a well-known model (Barton) who has to revitalize her career after a mysterious hiatus.
Watch if...you like "Gossip Girl" (i.e. scandal and backstabbing), and if you want to see the behind-the-scenes of the fashion world, complete with designer and model cameos like Zac Posen.



Thursday, September 17:

*Bones
, 8 p.m. (Fox)
This season...the series will open a few months after Booth's operation and apparently his problem isn't "remembering who Brennan is, but which Brennan she is," as in the one in his dream as opposed to the one in real life. Also, Angela and Brennan;s friendship will be tested in a big way. As for guest-stars, Cyndi Lauper will play a psychic, and Emily Deschanel's sister, Zooey, might make a cameo as her cousin if they can agree on a date.
*SNL Weekend Update Thursday, 8 p.m. (NBC)
*Parks and Recreation, 8:30 p.m. (NBC)
This season...there will be more awkward yet hilarious humor. For example, SNL's Fred Armisen will play Amy Poehler’s counterpart from a Venezuelan city. "They're very confused because in Venezuela the government is so powerful; their parks department travels with military escorts and motorcades and stuff. They have all the money in the world because of their oil and they [don't understand] why Pawnee's parks department is so rinky-dink...Armisen and his fellow Venezuelans 'take a real shine' to Ron 'because they value his mustache. They call him El Jefe the whole time. They revere him and they present him with all sorts of gifts and stuff.'" Appropriately bizarre.
*The Office, 9 p.m. (NBC)
This season...we will see the wedding, meet Pam's mom, and watch as Michael clumsily falls in love yet again.
*Fringe, 9 p.m. (Fox)
This season...unfortunately, Kirk Acevedo's character Agent Charlie was unceremoniously cut from the series, but at least he exits in an interesting way. We can look forward to seeing more of Leonard Nimoy's Dr. William Bell, and to most of the plot taking place in two dimensions, as we begin to notice how one reality affects the other.
*Community, 9:30 p.m. (NBC)
Cast: Joel McHale ("The Soup"), Chevy Chase, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie ("Mad Men"), Yvette Nicole Brown ("Drake & Josh"), Donald Glover, Ken Jeong (Hangover), and John Oliver ("The Daily Show").
Plot: It's about a sketchy lawyer (McHale) who has to go back to college because he forged his law degree. But instead of trying to be legit this time around, he wants to cheat his way through. Along the way, he meets a few characters that represent the stereotypical students of community college, from the injured high school athlete who was supposed to go pro to the working mom who takes night classes. I saw the pilot. It was pretty hilarious.
Watch if...because McHale and Chevy know how to bring the funny.

*It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 10 p.m. (FX)


Friday, September 18:
*Brothers, 9 p.m. (Fox)
Cast: Michael Strahan (former New York Giants football player) and Daryl Mitchell ("Ed" and "Veronica's Closet")
Plot: It's about two brothers who have to reconcile their differences now that the one (Strahan) considered to have been the most successful has gone broke and has to move back into his parent's house.
Watch if...you want to enjoy a family comedy and/or you're a fan of the Giants.



Sunday, September 20:

*Curb Your Enthusiasm, 9 p.m. (HBO)
This season...three words: Seinfeld reunion spoof.
*Bored to Death, 9:30 p.m. (HBO)
Cast: Jason Schwartzman (Funny People), Ted Danson, Zach Galfianakis (Hangover), Heather Burns (Miss Congenialty), Trieste Kelly Dunn, Patton Oswalt, Oliver Platt, Parker Posey (Superman Returns), and Kristen Wiig ("SNL").
Plot: A recently dumped mystery writer tries to mend his broken heart with a new hobby: solving real-life crimes, and we get to watch him fumble his way through it.
Watch if...you like funny mystery shows like "Monk" and "Psych," but without the clairvoyance or...skill.


Monday, September 21:
*Heroes, 8 p.m. (NBC)
*House, 8 p.m. (Fox)
*How I Met Your Mother, 8 p.m. (CBS)
*Accidentally on Purpose, 8:30 p.m. (CBS)
Cast: Jenna Elfman ("Dharma & Greg"), Ben Foster ("Life As We Know It" and The Door in the Floor), Ashley Jensen ("Ugly Betty"), and Lennon Parham.
Plot: A woman of a certain age has a one-night stand with a 20-something guy, and gets knocked up.
Watch if...you liked Knocked Up and miss Jenna.


*Two and a Half Men, 9 p.m. (CBS)
*The Big Bang Theory, 9:30 p.m. (CBS)
*Castle, 10 p.m. (ABC)


Tuesday, September 22:
*NCIS: Los Angeles, 9 p.m. (CBS)
Cast: Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J
Plot: It's a drama about the high stakes world of the Office of Special Projects, a division of NCIS that goes undercover to apprehend criminals that pose a threat to the nation's security.
Watch if...you're a fan of police procedurals and LL Cool J.







*The Forgotten, 10 p.m. (ABC)
Cast: Christian Slater, Michelle Borth ("Tell Me You Love Me"), Rochelle Aytes ("Drive"), and Anthony Carrigan
Plot: A team of volunteers who work together to find
Watch if...you're a fan of "Without a Trace."
Watch a promo!
*The Good Wife, 10 p.m. (CBS)
Cast: Julianna Marguiles ("Canterbury's Law" and "ER"), Matt Czuchry ("Gilmore Girls" and "Friday Night Lights"), Josh Charles ("Sports Night"), and Christine Baranski ("Cybill")
Plot: It's a drama about the ex-wife (Marguiles) of a philandering and corrupt politician who goes to jail, forcing her to pursue a career as a defense attorney after 13 years out of the courtroom. Her main "competition among the firm's 20-something new recruits is Cary (Czuchry), a recent Harvard grad who is affable on the surface, but is competitive to the core."
Watch if...you're a fan of girl power and law procedurals, and generally not a fan of two-timing politicians.
Watch promo!


Wednesday, September 23
*Cougar Town, 9:30 p.m. (ABC)
Cast: Courteney Cox ("Friends"), Christa Miller ("Scrubs"), Busy Philipps ("Dawson's Creek"), and Dan Byrd ("Aliens in America")
Plot: A recently divorced woman decides to find some excitement in her dating life, while trying not to lose integrity in her real estate business or humiliate her teenage son.
Watch it if...you miss Courteney's quirky sense of humor, love female-driven comedies, and have a thing for cougars.
*Eastwick, 10 p.m. (ABC)
Cast: Rebecca Romijn ("Ugly Betty"), Lindsay Price ("Lipstick Jungle"), Jaime Ray Newman ("Eureka"), Sara Rue ("Less Than Perfect"), Paul Gross, Jon Bernthal ("The Class"), Johann Urb ("The Mountain"), Matt Dallas ("Kyle XY")
Plot: A mysterious man bestows unique powers to three women, giving them the self-confidence they need to be happier.
Watch it if...love magical tales and female empowerment. Not to mention, the film the series is based on The Witches of Eastwick.
*Gary Unmarried, 8:30 p.m. (CBS)
*Mercy, 8 p.m. (NBC)
Cast: Newcomer Taylor Schilling, Jaime Lee Kirchner ("Just Legal"), Michelle Trachtenberg ("Buffy" and "Gossip Girl"), James Tupper ("Men in Trees"), James LeGros (Point Break), Diego Klattenhoff (Ivan on "Men in Trees"), Guillermo Diaz ("Weeds")
Plot: It's about a nurse who knows more about medicine than most doctors because of her recent tour in Iraq. She has to wade through the haunting memories of the war and the emotional aftermath of her love life in order to get through every day.
Watch it if...you love the Owen-Christina plot line on "Grey's Anatomy."
*Modern Family, 9 p.m. (ABC)
Cast: Julie Bowen ("Boston Legal"), Ty Burell ("Back to You"), Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("The Class"), Eric Stonestreet ("CSI"), Ed O'Neill ("Married with Children"), and Sofia Vergara ("The Knights of Prosperity")
Plot: A satirical look at three different families and the trials they face in each of their own uniquely comedic ways.
Watch it if...you like to laugh. It's hilarious. Seriously. Burrell and Ferguson bring the funny in a major way.
*The New Adventures of Old Christine, 8 p.m. (CBS)
Rumor has it Richard marries Barb since she needs a green card again and he's given up on New Christine.

Thursday, September 24:
*FlashForward, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Cast: Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love), John Cho (Harold & Kumar), Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys II), Sonya Walger (Penny on "Lost"), Courtney B. Vance ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent"), and Zachary Knighton ("Life on a Stick")
Plot: When the world’s population is given a glimpse of their future due to a mysterious global event, it forces everyone to come to grips with whether their destinies can be fulfilled or avoided or in one case, of a character who saw nothing, created.
Watch it if...you like global conspiracies, scientific anomalies, and cryptic mysteries.
*Grey’s Anatomy, 9 p.m. (ABC)
Watch the first five minutes:



*The Mentalist, 10 p.m. (CBS)

Friday, September 25:
*Dollhouse, 9 p.m. (Fox)
*Ghost Whisperer, 8 p.m. (CBS)
*Smallville, 8 p.m. (The CW)

Sunday, September 27:
*Brothers & Sisters, 10 p.m. (ABC)
*Desperate Housewives, 9 p.m. (ABC)
*Dexter, 9 p.m. (Showtime)

Monday, September 28:
*Lie to Me, 9 p.m. (Fox)
*Trauma, 9 p.m. (NBC)
Cast: Cliff Curtis (Live Free or Die Hard), Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher), Aimee Garcia ("Greetings from Tucson"), Kevin Rankin ("Friday Night Lights"), Anastasia Griffith ("Damages"), Jamey Sheridan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent"), Taylor Kinney ("Fashion House")
Plot: It's a look at the lives of first-responder paramedics in disastrous situations like 10-car highway pile-ups.
Watch it if...you liked the over-the-top disaster episodes of "ER."

Wednesday, September 30:
*Hank, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Cast: Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier"), Melinda McGraw ("Mad Men"), and David Koechner (Talladega Nights)
Plot: An entrepreneur is forced to downsize and move his family back to his wife's home town.
Watch it if...you still find Grammer amusing.
*The Middle, 9 p.m. (ABC)
Cast: Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Love Raymond") and Neil Flynn ("Scrubs")
Plot: The daily mishaps of an overworked woman and her semi-dysfunctional family and their attempts to survive life in general in the city of Orson, Indiana.
Watch it if...you miss "Malcolm in the Middle."

Thursday, October 1:
*Private Practice
, 10 p.m. (ABC)

Friday, October 2:
*Til Death, 8:30 p.m. (Fox)

Sunday, October 4:
*Three Rivers, 9 p.m. (CBS)
Cast: Alex O'Loughlin ("Moonlight"), Katherine Moennig ("The L Word"), Justina Machado ("Six Feed Under"), Daniel Henney (X-Men: Wolverine), and Alred Woodward ("My Own Worst Enemy")
Plot: A medical show about organ transplants seen through three points of view: the doctors, the donors, and the recipients.
Watch it if...you miss O'Loughlin and like to be brought to tears after every episode.

Monday, October 5:
*Sherri, 7 p.m. (Lifetime)
Cast: Sherri Shepherd ("The View"), Tammy Townsend, Elizabeth Regen ("Whoopi"), Malcolm-Jamal Warner ("The Cosby Show"), and Kali Rocha ("Grey's Anatomy" and "Buffy")
Plot: Sherri is a single mother, a full-time paralegal, a part-time comedian/actress and a recent divorcée from her cheating husband, who has to figure out how to get back into the dating game.

Friday, October 9:
*Ugly Betty, 8 p.m. (ABC)

Thursday, October 15:
*30 Rock, 9:30 p.m. (NBC)

Friday, October 23:
*Southland, 9 p.m. (NBC)
*White Collar, 10 p.m. (USA)
Cast: Matt Bomer ("Chuck" and "Tru Calling"), Tim DeKay ("Carnivale"), Tiffany Amber Thiessen ("Saved by the Bell"), Willie Garson ("Sex and the City"), and Natalie Morales ("Middleman")
Plot: It is about the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years. When Neal escapes from a maximum-security prison to find his long-lost love, Peter nabs him once again. Rather than returning to jail, Neal suggests an alternate plan: He'll provide his criminal expertise to assist the Feds in catching other elusive criminals in exchange for his eventual freedom.
Watch it if...you like "Burn Notice," "Chuck," and spy shows in general.

Wednesday, October 28:
Friday Night Lights, 9 p.m. (DirecTV)

Tuesday, November 3:
*V, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Cast: Morena Baccarin ("Firefly"), Joel Gretsch ("4400"), Elizabeth Mitchell ("Lost"), Scott Wolf ("Party of Five"), Laura Vandervoort ("Smallville"), Morris Chestnut (The Perfect Holiday), Lourdes Benedicto ("The Nine"), and Logan Huffman
Plot: At all corners of the Earth humans awaken to the sight of spaceships hovering over every major world city. The Visitors say they come in peace, but they're actually infiltrating our governments and businesses in an attempt to dominate mankind.
Watch it if...you like alien invasion stories and conspiracy theories.

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