We continue our look at the upcoming Fall television season by focusing on Fox's offerings.
Story by Sue Lukenbaugh
Fox did a fair amount of chopping as well, taking out 13 shows. It canceled long running shows American Idol, The Following, Kitchen Nightmares, Glee, The X Factor, and The Mindy Project, though Mindy did get saved by a Hulu pick-up. Also getting the ax were Backstrom, Gang Related, Gracepoint, Mulaney, Red Band Society, Utopia and Weird Loners.
The upcoming season has some real gems, let's just hope that FOX actually keeps a few around.
Bordertown – Release Date TBD
Plot: A new animated comedy about two families living in a Southwest desert town on the U.S. - Mexico border. It takes a satirical look at the cultural shifts occurring in America, where the U.S. Census forecasts that by 2017, ethnic minorities will become the majority. Set against this increasingly diverse backdrop, the series explores family, politics and everything in between with a cross-cultural wink.
My Verdict: It's extremely offensive, and only semi funny, but coming from Family Guy's Mark Hentemann and Seth MacFarlane it'll be on FOX far longer than it should be.
The Frankenstein Code – Release Date TBD
Plot: A modern re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic, about a man brought back to life by two scientists playing god. Seventy-five-year-old JIMMY PRITCHARD is a shell of his former self. A drinker, a womanizer and a father who always put work before family, Pritchard was forced to resign as L.A. County Sheriff for corrupt conduct more than a decade ago. He is killed when he stumbles upon a robbery at his son's home. But death is surprisingly short for Jimmy, who is brought back to life by billionaire tech-genius twins MARY GOODWIN and her brother, OTTO, founders of the social networking empire, Lookinglass. Resurrected as a younger version of himself, with physical abilities of which he never dreamed, a re-animated Pritchard is given a second chance at life.
My Verdict: It looks really good, but that's where the concern also lies. FOX is really good about bringing shows in with great special effects, but it also likes to cancel these high cost shows. The addition of Rob Kazinsky pretty much guarantees that I'll be tuning in.
Grandfathered – 8|7c THIS FALL
Plot: When you’re so skilled at bachelorhood that it’s on autopilot, what’s the fastest way to bring your cruise-controlled lifestyle to a crashing halt? Television icon John Stamos (“Full House,” “ER”) stars in a new comedy about the ultimate bachelor who discovers he’s not only a father, but a grandfather. Successful restaurateur and man-about-town JIMMY MARTINO (Stamos) is used to being the most suave, most handsome and most single person in the room. All that changes with the surprise appearance of Jimmy’s adult son, GERALD (Josh Peck, THE MINDY PROJECT), and his baby
daughter, EDIE. Now Jimmy has to unlearn a lifetime of blissful selfishness and grapple with the fact that he went straight from single to grandfather in six seconds flat.
My Verdict: John Stamos isn't as cool or slick as his character should be. I can't for one moment even remotely feel like he's a ladies man, in fact I completely feel like he's playing for the other team. All in all, while there are a few laughs, and even some touching moments, Stamos is probably better off focusing on the Full House Spin-off coming soon.
The Grinder – 830|730c THIS FALL
The Plot: How many TV lawyers does it take to try a real-life case in a real-life courtroom? One, and his name is THE GRINDER. THE GRINDER is a new comedy about a famous TV lawyer at a crossroads. When his legal series ends, he decides to move back home and join his family’s real law firm – despite having no formal education, no bar certification, no license to practice and no experience in an actual courtroom.
My Verdict: Rob Lowe and Ben Savage make a great pair. As far as comedies go, it's in a similar category as New Girl, and it'll feel right at home on FOX.
The Guide to Surviving Life – TBD
Plot: Wouldn’t it be great to have a friend who has made all the mistakes in life there are to make, and then tells you exactly where he went wrong, so you don’t have to? THE GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE is a new comedy that explores what we all go through on our way to figuring out what life is all about. Cooper still doesn’t have the job he wants; he’s accidentally fallen in love with his across-the-hall neighbor, Kelly; one of his roommates, Neal, just can’t seem to dump his bodybuilder girlfriend; his other roommate, Barry, is a “loveable jackass” who can’t stop getting into trouble; and his 40-year-old-brother, Josh, a married father of two, is constantly popping in to come hang with the fellas.
My Verdict: It like Old School and the Hangover had a baby that was slightly brain damaged and isn't really all that funny. This should be pure hilarity, its barely laughable.
Lucifer – Release Date TBD
Plot: The Devil has come to Los Angeles... Based upon the characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, LUCIFER is the story of the original fallen angel. Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR has abandoned his throne and retired to L.A., where he owns Lux, an upscale nightclub. Charming, charismatic and devilishly handsome, Lucifer is enjoying his retirement, indulging in a few of his favorite things when a beautiful pop star is brutally murdered outside of Lux. For the first time in roughly 10 billion years, he feels something awaken deep within him as a result of this murder. The murder attracts the attention of LAPD homicide detective CHLOE DANCER, who is immune to his charm, but intrigued by his
talent for drawing out people’s secrets and his desire to dispense justice, doling out punishment to those who deserve it.
My Verdict: Lucifer is a slick show with plenty of material to draw from. It likely has a high price tag, but it also already has a fan base. It's another DC addition to TV, and a very interesting one with a charismatic lead. The name and material may be a turn-off to some, but for those who actually tune in will find a lot to love.
Minority Report – MONDAYS 9|10C THIS FALL
Plot: The future is coming. Based on the international blockbuster film by executive producer Steven Spielberg and the first of his films to be adapted for television, MINORITY REPORT follows the unlikely partnership between a man haunted by the future and a cop haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen. Set in Washington, D.C., it is 10 years after the demise of Precrime, a law enforcement agency tasked with identifying and eliminating criminals...before their crimes were committed. To carry out this brand of justice, the agency used three precogs – “precognitives” Dash, Arthur and Agatha – who were able to see the future. Now, in 2065, crime-solving is different, and justice leans more on sophisticated and trusted technology than on the instincts of the precogs.
My Verdict: It feels a little too Sleepy Hollow with the fish out of water precog trying to help the kick ass female officer solve crime, minus the chemistry between the leads.
Rosewood - Release Date TBD
Plot: ROSEWOOD is the story of DR. BEAUMONT ROSEWOOD, JR., the most brilliant private pathologist in Miami. Using his wildly sophisticated autopsy lab, he performs for-hire autopsies to uncover clues that the Miami PD can’t see. His new partner-in-crime is Detective VILLA, a Miami PD detective with attitude and demons to spare. While she’s impressed by Rosewood’s incredible abilities, his constant optimism is more annoying than it is infectious. But somehow, week-to-week, this unlikely tag team will solve many crimes together.
My Verdict: Another Doctor/Detective team-up. It's faster paced than Forever was without the eternity shtick. The show certainly has potential.
Scream Queens – TUESDAYS 9|8c THIS FALL
Plot: The girls of Kappa House are dying for new pledges. SCREAM QUEENS is a new killer comedy-horror series. Wallace University is rocked by a string of murders. Kappa House, the most sought-after sorority for pledges, is ruled with an iron fist (in a pink glove) by its Queen Bitch, CHANEL OBERLIN. But when anti-Kappa DEAN MUNSCH decrees that sorority pledging must be open to all
students, and not just the school’s silver-spooned elite, all hell is about to break loose, as a devil-clad killer begins wreaking havoc, claiming one victim, one episode at a time. Part black comedy, part slasher flick, SCREAM QUEENS is a modern take on the classic whodunit, in which every character has a motive for murder...or could easily be the next blood-soaked casualty.
My Verdict: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan the guys behind Glee and American Horror Story are bringing this one, and it looks like so much win. Not only does it have a stellar cast, and some equally stellar guest stars, it's a much better looking looking trailer than MTV's Scream was.
X-File Event Series – Rlease Date TBD
Plot: Thirteen years after the original series run, the next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES will be a thrilling, six-episode event series helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter, with stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson re-inhabiting their roles as iconic FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY. This marks the momentous return of the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. FBI special agents Scully (Anderson) and Mulder (Duchovny), as they investigate unexplained cases – “X-Files” – for which the only answers involve paranormal phenomena. Mitch Pileggi also stars. Chris Carter serves as creator and executive producer. Glen Morgan also is an executive producer. The X-Files is produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Ten Thirteen Productions.
My Verdict: There's no trailer, and while they're getting the gang all back together both in front of and behind the camera, it can still go either way. I vaguely remember that there was a second X-files movie, but I remember that it was horrible. I'm hoping that it goes more of the 24 route, and brings back what we loved about the show in its early years. With all the flashy choices over on Fox only The Frankenstein Code, Lucifer and Scream Queens make it to my viewing schedule.
Friday ends our preview with NBC!
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