For those who remember how terrible the majority of the new shows were last fall, it will come as a relief that this new season will usher in a multitude of promising new programs.J.J. Abrams, the creator of “Lost,” and Jonathan Nolan, the writer of “Memento,” bring to CBS perhaps the most interesting plot premise. Starring Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson, “Person of Interest” focuses on a mysterious billionaire (Emerson) whose supercomputer provides him with the information about a single person who is about to commit a crime or become the victim of one, but not which role this specific person will play. Knowing his or her social security number only, this billionaire needs the help of a former special agent (Caviezel) to crack the case. This Minority Report, crime-predicting plot isn’t completely original, but it’s our duty as a post-“Lost” audience to trust Abrams and thank him for not casting Tom Cruise. Another indication that CBS trusts “Person of Interest” is that it has chosen to move the extremely popular “CSI” to another timeslotfor this new enterprise.
Fox is known for having very cut-throat standards for its television series and has a reputation for canceling shows if viewership drops in the slightest (in the case of “Arrested Development,” for example), but this September, Fox will premiere possibly the most expensive show of the season. “Terra Nova,” pretty much a carbon copy of Steven Speilberg’s Jurassic Park, follows a group of time travelers 85 millions years into the past. Produced by Spielberg himself, “Terra Nova” does a fantastic job of ensuring that the dinosaurs appear shockingly realistic, so the show won’t have any fake-mechanical-sharks-from-“Jaws” moments. The premise is pretty basic: A group of time travelers must colonize the dinosaur-infested area and somehow manage to survive. Add an ex-con (Jason O’Mara), some children and a hot babe, and we have a mediocre television series. Let’s give it two seasons.
For the men out there, NBC has your back — the next big thing is titled “The Playboy Club.” Although our generation never turned to Playboy Magazine for … you know … “the articles,” its name is synonymous with scantily-clad blonde babes. Set in Chicago, “The Playboy Club,” will be sure to have some of the same 1960s feel and success as AMC’s “Mad Men.” This show will follow a newly-hired Bunny, a seasoned Bunny and a Bunny lawyer (that is, a lawyer that represents Bunnies). This show is about Playboy Bunnies, not Playmates, with their sexual escapades, mysterious murders and classic60s music. Expect to see “The Playboy Club” attain popularity and success, because even if the plot lacks in certain areas, sex will always be in the air. And I like the smell of it.
Perhaps it’s the enduring bad economy or the thought that the United States might be losing its grip on economic supremacy, but ABC is presenting yet another 1960s-era show. “Pan Am,” set during the booming jet age of American history, focuses on the post-war boom that brought a whole new world of freedom to women. Creators Jack Orman (“ER”) and Tommy Schlamme (“The West Wing”) have created a nostalgia-inducing soap opera centered on a group of Pan American stewardesses. As you can imagine, there will be plenty of drama, beautiful women and “layovers,” but so far its most interesting plot includes a weak storyline with a CIA agent. Popular context, attractive cast, weak storylines. The success of “Pan Am” really depends on whether or not the writers can come up with something that can intrigue and capture a large audience.
By a show of hands, who thought the Grimm Fairy Tales were just for children? You’re all wrong. NBC will air a new twist on these beloved stories and creatures called “Grimm.” Set in present-day Portland, Ore., “Grimm” follows a homicide detective (David Giuntoli), who discovers that he is a descendant of an elite group of hunters called “Grimms.” Since he is the last of his kind, it’s now his job to protect humanity from all the supernatural creatures of the world that only he can see. This show is literally about Grimm creatures trying to kill everyone in real life. Again, however, this show isn’t completely original. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” covered this idea a few times but never really latched onto it. Compliments to the creators, “Grimm” will appeal to the violence lovers, fantasy nerds and DaveGiuntoli admirers. A blue-eyed Italian? Don’t trust him.
To end on a lighter, yet still-about-fairy-tales note, here’s “Once Upon a Time.” Welcome to Storybrooke, Maine where time is frozen and characters from all of the famous fairy tales appear in real life. Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), the new girl in town, must somehow defeat the Evil Queen who has frozen time and stolen everyone’s memories. Everyone, meaning Snow White, Prince Charming and the whole fairy tale dream team. But fear not, there is a little boy who knows exactly what’s going on, so it’s his job to help Emma in order to defeat the Evil Queen and save the day. Arguably a better movie premise than television series, you have to give it up for “Once Upon a Time,” because this is the most original premise seen in years. The show will hopefully receive good ratings and a sizeable audience, that is, unless the producers somehow fumble the “frozen time” concept or get too cheesy and quaint. Because — let’s be real here — those problems are like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, because nobody likes a cliche.
