By: Molly Cody (Penn State University)
Football game Saturday’s, spiked apple cider, and throwing on a sweater instead of a tank top are all indications that summer is gone, and fall is here. But there’s no better indicator that fall is in full swing, than the beginning of television seasons, which start at the beginning of the school year and run until May. Every fall we welcome back our old favorites, eager to see what our favorite characters have been doing, and ready to watch where the writers take them next.
This year starts a new decade of TV, and the 2010 season is loaded with new shows suited for every personality and taste. Here is a list of five shows that I think are worth watching for the Fall.
No Ordinary Family – ABC
The sci-fi family drama series starring Michael Chiklis (The Shield) and Julie Benz (Dexter) follows a family that acquire supernatural powers after a plane crash. The Powell’s realize that they have new abilities; dad, Jim, now has super strength; mom, Stephanie, has unmatchable speed; daughter, Daphhe, is telepathic; and son, JJ, is now grossly intelligent. The series looks promising as long as the writers don’t take the series down a completely unbelievable route. The show looks appealing to a wide age demographic, and I personally can not wait to see Julie Benz in a lead role. The series will premiere on ABC on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 8 pm.
Running Wilde – FOX
Starring Will Arnett and Keri Russell, “Running Wilde” follows Arnett as Steven Wilde, a wealthy heir to an oil company who gets everything he wants, when he wants. Eveything that is except for his childhood sweetheart, Emmy (Russell). Emmy is a tree-hugging hippy trying to the save the rainforest, who sees Wilde again after his oil company threatens to hurt her beloved trees. Opposites attract, an old love is rekindled, and now he has millions in his pocket, doesn’t seem like a bad deal. If the chemistry between Russell and Arnett is there, people will watch as the two lead actors (at least to me) are extremely likeable. Running Wilde premieres Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 9:30 pm.
Boardwalk Empire – HBO
The newest series, to debut on the uncontested king of cable networks, HBO, follows Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson during the Prohibition era in Atlantic City. Lots of buzz has been surrounding Boardwalk Empire as Martin Scorsese directed the pilot and is expected to be involved creatively throughout the show’s run. Buscemi plays Nucky Thompson a politician and a gangster, flitting between the two roles easily as the person who can get you alcohol illegally. Terrence Winter, writer of The Sopranos created the series which is set to premiere on HBO Sunday, Sept. 19 at 9 pm.
Top Chef: Just Desserts – BRAVO
A spin-off of the successful, Emmy award-winning Top Chef series debuts this fall with a slew of new contestants and a familiar face as serving as host and judge. Gail Simmons takes over Padma’s job and hosts the new desserts spin-0ff with Johnny Iuzzini, acclaimed pastry chef serving as head judge, and Chef Hubert Keller and Daily Candy editor-at-large Dannielle Kyrillos also serving as judges. If you have a sweet-tooth and are already a fan of the extremely well-done Top Chef, then this spin-off is the perfect new reality series to catch every week. Top Chef: Just Desserts premieres Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 11 pm.
The Event – NBC
The show follows Jason Ritter as Sean Walker, a young-man searching for his missing girlfriend who unexpectedly discovers what is referred to as “the biggest cover-up in U.S. history”. The show then chronicles the effects “the event” has on different sets of people, including the President of the United States played by Blair Underwood. The show reminds me of something J.J. Abrams would produce, but producers from The Event say story lines and audience’s questions will be answered in a timely manner. The Event premieres on NBC Monday, Sept. 20 at 9 pm.
Let us know if you have any other Fall TV shows that you are looking forward to by dropping us a line in the comments section below.
