October means more fall TV shows.
Here are my thoughts on the latest new shows, based on only the pilot.
10 p.m. Mondays on ABC
If Shonda Rhimes had her hand in “Conviction,” it would probably air on Thursdays instead of Mondays.
This drama has scandal, backdoor deals, politics, investigations…all under the umbrella of a newly created Conviction Investigation Unit. The CIU investigates claims of innocence by convicted people, but it’s not as nice as it sounds.
Set in NYC, the head of the CIU, Hayes Morrison (Hayley Atwell, “Agent Carter“) is a former first daughter, and the district attorney hires her as a bargain after she’s arrested. And guess what? They have chemistry, because of course they do.
The show is a mix of politics and crime, but it doesn’t grab you. The end of the pilot highlighted many of the characters’ backstories, but I’m not sure the show will have time to uncover it all.
Grade: B
‘TIMELESS’
10 p.m. Mondays on NBC
For a show that’s steeped in historical events, “Timeless” is quite a thrill ride.
A quickly put-together trio of a historian, soldier and coder travel back to time to find a rogue agent, though he might not be the bad guy.
This drama combines sci-fi and history and questions how much one event can change time. Hints of government overrule and security issues pepper the drama, which seems timely.
For those whom enjoy history, it gives a personal touch. I doubt the show will last more than a season, but the mystery will intrigue some.
Grade: B+
9 p.m. Wednesdays on the CW
“Frequency” also deals with how changing events affects time, and it’s based on a movie with the same name.
It’s a cop drama, though instead of a father and son communicating 20 years apart through a radio, it’s a father and daughter.
The pilot focuses on saving the father’s life, which of course affects numerous other events in time.
It’s heavy-handed with its foreshadowing and a bit predictable, but since only part of the movie was covered in the pilot, it might deviate from the movie plot in time.
Grade: B-
9 p.m. Tuesdays on the CW
Apocalyptic TV meets romantic comedy.
A man (Joshua Sasse, “Galavant“) thinks the world is going to end, so he has a bucket list. He meets a girl who isn’t sure what she wants and has a health scare during the pilot.
He tries to control her and get her out of her shell, frustrating her, but eventually she stands up for herself.
It’s all a bit cliche, especially the cliffhanger ending, but it’s cute and fits in at the CW.
Grade: B
8:30 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC
If you’re not skinny, you must be real. Or at least that’s what this sitcom tries to proclaim.
Katie Otto (Katy Mixon, “Mike & Molly“) is the center of the the story, and she’s one of the fattest woman in Wesport, Conn. And yes that’s a huge part of the storyline.
She’s also the narrator, though half the narration was unnecessary and made the character unlikeable.
The sitcom could’ve been good, but it’s full of characters who are fake and superficial. The concerns about weight and family are real, but the show doesn’t come off that way.
Grade: B-
What shows are you enjoying this fall?