Fall TV is back in full force.
In case you’ve missed some of the new shows of 2016, here are some short reviews of shows that have premiered:
8:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS
Kevin James returns to TV, but “The King of Queens” star’s new comedy isn’t worth your time.
James is a writer and a producer on the show, but the plot is run-of-the-mill.
James plays a police officer preparing for retirement, but his plans change when his daughter comes home with a nerdy fiance and the announcement that she’s going back to diner work to support her fiance’s app development.
It’s nothing we have seen before on other family comedies, and it’s not funny.
Grade: C+
8:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC
Ted Danson (“Cheers,” “CSI”) and Kristen Bell (“Frozen,” “House of Lies”) unite for this original comedy.
Eleanor (Bell) lands in “the good place,” and her neighborhood is the first Michael (Danson) has designed. The good place is supposed to be full of harmony, eternal happiness and frozen yogurt…until Eleanor shows up.
Turns out she shouldn’t be there; there’s been a mixup. She’s not good at all, and her soulmate (yes, everyone has one at the good place) is the only one who knows.
While Bell is a fantastic physical comedian, the bit about how she can’t swear got old pretty fast. But with all the punishments the neighborhood might endure and some other quirky characters, it’s worth watching.
Grade: B
‘BULL’
9 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS
The facts are not enough in court cases. With social media, technology and a little psychology, many factors contribute to proving the truth.
That’s the idea behind this drama, based on the early career of Dr. Phill McGraw.
Bull, played by Michael Weatherly (“NCIS”), is a psychologist who is hired as a “jury consultant.” He helps win cases by setting up a mirror jury to see what others are thinking, as well as using social media and more to find other sides of the story.
The pilot wasn’t clear if the featured will continue throughout the series or if a new one comes each week.
It’s more than just another courtroom drama, but not much more.
Grade: B-
10 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC
According to Wikipedia, you share a birthday with 18 million people, even though it’s unlikely you’ll have a connection with them.
The pilot of this show follows four people who are all turning 36.
The show follows a struggling actor, a women desperately trying to lose weight, a corporate man who finds his birth father, and a man (Milo Ventimiglia, “Gilmore Girls“) whose wife is about to have triplets.
It seems like a lot at first. While I’m still not sure all the storylines will stay strong enough, by then end of the pilot it makes sense. (I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t watched it.)
But I’ll keep watching. It’s the first new show during which I laughed and cried.
Grade: A-
8 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox
Hey, look, another movie to TV show…
Murtaugh and Riggs are both coming back from something difficult, and they both were at the top of their game in the police force.
Riggs is a bit of an outlaw, and he’s OK with dying after his wife and unborn child die in a car accident. Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) is returning after surgery and wants to be there for his wife and kids. It’s a buddy comedy that resembles the movie in some ways.
The crime drama makes light of suicide in my opinion, but fans of the movie will most likely enjoy the show.
Grade: B
8:30 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC
Now here’s a family comedy with heart.
Minnie Driver plays a semi-aggressive mom who always has a purpose: her family, specifically her son.
Her oldest son has cerebral palsy, though I only know that because the show’s description mentioned it. The pilot never explicitly states what he has, which I appreciate. To help give him a “voice,” she’s moved her family six times in two years.
The comedy talks about discrimination, human dignity and taking care of every family member in a progressive way that’ll still make you laugh.
Grade: A
10 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC
In case of any attack, one cabinet member is not present during the State of the Union. He’s deemed the “designated survivor.”
And in this ABC drama, that designated survivor (Kiefer Sutherland) becomes the president.
According to the Washington Post, the designated survivor is a real thing, which makes the show all the more interesting – and scary – to watch.
Viewers see Tom Kirkman, an academic who was about to be shuffled out of his Secretary of Housing and Development position (one White House staffer calls him a”glorified real estate agent”) into an ambassador role, assume one of the highest stakes jobs in the world.
Fortunately the previews gave away only the first 15 minutes, so there was still plenty of plot to watch unfold in the pilot.
A few other storylines peeked out in the pilot, but Sutherland is the key to the show.
Grade: B+
9 p.m. Thursdays on ABC
This is one of those who-do-you-trust shows. But in a setting of cable news, it works so well.
Julia (Piper Perabo) is a producer of the No. 1 cable news show, Louise Herrick Live, who’s not afraid to stand up for herself. Jake (Daniel Sunjata) is a high-powered attorney who sometimes lets emotions seep into his work. They use each other to manipulate the public and make people look sympathetic. And they never lie to each other…for now.
I’m guessing it’s inevitable that the pair will get involved with each other, but viewers will enjoy the wait. And it’s not like there aren’t other flirtations and relationships to see.
This drama is so fast-paced, it’s like watching the behind-the-scenes work of a news show. And you won’t want to stop watching.
Grade: A-
‘PITCH’
9 p.m. Thursdays on Fox
For a show that’s not about crime, there are some high stakes.
The drama follows Ginny Baker, the first woman in the majors. As the pressure mounts, she has to decide why she’s doing this.
While you may not know Kylie Bunbury, the actress who plays Ginny, yet, many of the supporting actors are recognizable. Ali Larter, Mark Consuelos, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and more all make appearances.
In a time when gender roles are a hot topic, this show seems prepared to tackle the issue head-on.
Grade: B
‘MACGYVER’
8 p.m. Fridays on CBS
Another reboot is on this fall, but this one is of the late 1980s TV series of the same name.
Lucas Till stars in the title role. He also narrates the show, which, along with the writing over the shots, gets heavy-headed.
It’s pretty cliche, and although the problems reflect current issues such as biological weapons, it doesn’t feel fresh at all.
Grade: C
9 p.m. Fridays on Fox
Are demons real? Are they imagined? How do you get rid of them? Those questions are the heart of this drama, based on the novel of the same name.
If you want a scare every week, watch this show.
The plot is slightly predictable, but it’s still a creepy story about demons in a house, in dreams and in the world.
Grade: C+
8:30 p.m. Sundays on Fox
This Fox comedy presents an interesting concept for television: real-life actors along with animation.
Zorn, a mighty leader in an animated world akin to a video game/90s TV show, goes to another world to visit his ex-wife (Cheryl Hines) and his son.
After doing his usual I’ll-stay-for-barely-a-week bit, he decides to stay to get to know his son. For an animated show, it seems to have some heart.
That’s not to say it’s not also a bit silly…I mean, Zorn never goes anywhere without his sword…but the first episode shows promise.
Grade: B
What new shows are you watching?
