Fall TV 2016: ‘Timeless,’ ‘Frequency’ examine time, skip ‘American Housewife’

October means more fall TV shows.

Here are my thoughts on the latest new shows, based on only the pilot.

CONVICTION

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+

FREQUENCY

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-

NO TOMORROW

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

AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE

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?

Fall TV 2016: Watch ‘This is Us,’ ‘Notorious,’ skip ‘Kevin Can Wait’

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+

THE GOOD PLACE

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-

THIS IS US

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-

LETHAL WEAPON

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

SPEECHLESS

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

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR

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+

NOTORIOUS

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

THE EXORCIST

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+

SON OF ZORN

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?