A Look at the 2012 U.S. Fall TV Schedule: The New Dramas
Summer’s over, so it’s high time to take a look at The 2012 Fall season schedule for the major networks. It’s always interesting to know what’s being broadcast overseas, even though it’ll take about 6 to 24 months for any of these new shows to make their way to Finnish broadcasters. If only it were possible to pay up and stream them right away…
Here’s some basic info, promo clips and comments for the new drama series (recaps via WorldScreen.com):
A chart-topping country legend begins to see her popularity wane. Her record label plans a concert tour, where she will open for a sexy young up-and-comer. This sets up a power struggle for popularity.
Director: R.J. Cutler (The September Issue)
Writers: Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise, Something to Talk About)
Producers: Callie Khouri, R.J. Cutler, Steve Buchanan, Loucas George (Life, The O.C., Ed)
Starring: Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Powers Boothe, Charles Esten, Eric Close, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Robert Wisdom
Premiere: October 10, 2012
Definitely interested, especially since Callie Khouri is on board. I don’t remember seeing a country music drama series before, so looking forward to seeing the Southern aspect. Looks like there’s a political twist too. First impressions: as a fan of musical dramas, I’d say Nashville looks good and sounds good - thumbs up.
The U.S. ballistic missile submarine Colorado received orders to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan from a radio channel designed only to be used if their homeland is wiped out. After the captain refuses to fire without confirmation of the orders, the Colorado is targeted, fired upon and hit. The submarine and its crew are left crippled on the ocean floor and declared rogue enemies by their own country. The men and women onboard are brought to an exotic island, where they will find refuge, romance and a chance at a new life.
Director: Martin Campbell (Green Lantern, Edge of Darkness, Casino Royale)
Writers: Shawn Ryan (The Chicago Code, Shield, Nash Bridges), Karl Gajdusek (Dead Like Me)
Producers: Martin Campbell, Shawn Ryan, Karl Gajdusek, Marney Hochman (The Chicago Code, Terriers)
Starring: Scott Speedman, Robert Patrick, Jessy Schram
Premiere: September 27, 2012
Hmm. Not big on military dramas, so this doesn’t immediately tickle my fancy. First impressions: patriotic cliche overload alert - thumbs down.
The needs and desires of the residents at The Drake, found at the ominous address 666 Park Avenue, are met by the building’s mysterious owner. However, everything comes at a price. When an idealistic young couple from the Midwest is offered the opportunity to manage the historic building, they begin to experience the shadowy, supernatural forces within The Drake that imprison and endanger the lives of the residents inside.
Director: Alex Graves (Journeyman, West Wing, The Practice)
Writers: David Wilcox (Fringe, Law & Order), Gabriella Pierce (author of the original novel)
Producers: Gina Girolamo (The Nine Lives of Chloe King, The Secret Circle), Dave Lifshin (Southland), Matthew Miller (Chuck, Human Target), Leslie Morgenstein (Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries), David Wilcox
Starring: Mercedes Masöhn, Dave Annable, Rachael Taylor, Vanessa Williams, Terry O’Quinn
Premiere: September 30, 2012
Posh living overshadowed by mysterious demonic forces… why not. I could picture myself DVR-ing this, curling up on the sofa and watching it on a lazy Sunday afternoon. First impressions: one thumb up, one thumb down.
A modern-day take on the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes. The drama features a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD’s toughest cases.
Director: Michael Cuesta (Homeland, Dexter)
Writers: Rob Doherty (Headcases)
Producers: Rob Doherty, Sarah Timberman (Justified, Unforgettable), Carl Beverly (Justified, Unforgettable), Michael Cuesta
Starring: Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, Aidan Quinn
Premiere: September 27, 2012
Another update on the (apparently) ever fascinating Sherlock Holmes. Not overly excited about all these artificially witty crime solving series. On the other hand, a careful yay for Lucy Liu. First impressions: lame joke overload alert - thumbs down.
A young working-class woman uses her street smarts to compete with her pedigreed Manhattan colleagues at a prestigious New York law firm. With the support of her big Italian family, she is able to stay true to her roots while rising in a new intimidating environment.
Director: Mark Waters [pilot] (Mean Girls, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past)
Writer: Dana Calvo [pilot]
Producers: Kevin Falls (Journeyman, Shark), Jamie Tarses (Men at Work, Happy Endings), Julia Franz (Men at Work), Mark Waters
Starring: Janet Montgomery, Kyle MacLachlan, Stephanie March, Toni Trucks, Donna Murphy
Premiere: September 28, 2012
The Nanny meets Legally Blonde meets The Good Wife. I’ll take that. First impressions: fabulicious, thumbs up.
Vegas (CBS)
Inspired by the true story of former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, tasked with bringing order to the gambling mecca in the 1960s. Lamb clashes with Vincent Savino, a ruthless Chicago gangster who plans to make Vegas his own.
Director: James Mangold [pilot] (Walk the Line, Knight and Day)
Writers: Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas, American Gangster), Greg Walker (Without a Trace, Smallville)
Producers: Nicholas Pileggi, Greg Walker, Cathy Konrad (Men in Trees), Arthur Sarkissian (Rush Hour 1-3, Last Man Standing), James Mangold
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis, Jason O’Mara, Taylor Handley, Carrie-Anne Moss
Premiere: September 25, 2012
Yes! This one I’m really looking forward to. Interesting cast, old Vegas, crimes bosses, sheriffs… suck me in! Looks like the sixties keep on fascinating writers and producers. First impressions: there’s always room for some retro drama - thumbs up.
The Mob Doctor (FOX)
A fast-paced medical drama featuring a brilliant young female cardiothoracic surgeon who is split between two distinct worlds. She balances her promising medical career with her lifelong debt to Chicago’s Southside mob.
Director: Michael Dinner (Law & Order, Justified)
Writers:Josh Berman (Drop Dead Diva, Bones), Rob Wright (Drop Dead Diva, Charmed)
Producers: Josh Berman, Rob Wright, Michael Dinner
Starring: Jordana Spiro, William Forsythe, Floriana Lima, Zach Gilford, Jaime Lee Kirchner, Zeljko Ivanek, James Carpinello, Jesse Lee Soffer, Wendy Makkena
Premiere: September 17, 2012
This one premiered already, getting mixed/average reviews and a little over 5 million viewers for the pilot. First impressions: there might be something there, but fails to attract further attention in the midst of dozens and dozens of medical and crime dramas - thumbs down.
The Following (FOX)
A notorious serial killer escapes from death row and embarks on a new killing spree. The FBI calls in former agent Ryan Hardy to consult on the case. He was responsible for his capture nine years ago and is perhaps his only psychological and intellectual match.
Director: Marcos Siega (The Vampire Diaries, Dexter)
Writer: Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries, Dawson’s Creek, Glory Days)
Producers: Kevin Williamson, Marcos Siega
Starring: Kevin Bacon, James, Jeananne Goossen, Natalie Zea, Kyle Catlett, Shawn Ashmore, Valorie Curry, Adan Canto, Nico Tortorella
The Baconator is back! A serial killer vs. a seasoned agent… let the chase begin. First impressions: the plot synopsis seems intriguing and the tone sufficiently dark - thumbs up.
The world is thrust back into the dark ages after electricity mysteriously goes away. Flash-forward 15 years, life is back to what it was long before the industrial revolution. On the fringes of small farming communities, danger lurks. A young woman’s life is turned upside down when a local militia arrives and kills her father, who, unbeknownst to her, had something to do with the blackout. She sets out on a coming-of-age journey to find answers about the past in hopes of reclaiming the future.
Director: Jon Favreau [pilot] (Cowboys & Aliens, Iron Man 1 & 2, Elf)
Writers: Eric Kripke (Supernatural, Ghostfacers)
Producers: Jon Favreau, J.J. Abrams (Fringe, Person of Interest, Alcatraz, Lost), Eric Kripke, Bryan Burk (Fringe, Person of Interest, Alcatraz, Lost)
Starring: Billy Burke, Tracy Spiridakos, Anna Lise Phillips, Zak Orth, Graham Rogers, J.D. Pardo, Giancarlo Esposito, David Lyons, Maria Howell, Tim Guinee, Andrea Roth
Premiere: September 17, 2012
I’m thinking this could be the new Lost or Heroes. Some big names involved, the sets look good. Opened to 11.65 million viewers, which is pretty good. First impressions: hopefully a post-apocalyptic survival story for the win - thumbs up.
The drama centers on the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51. When tragedy claims one of their own, each blames the others for their fallen team member. They put their differences aside when it’s go-time, putting everything on line for each other in the face of danger.
Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Homeland, Detroit 1-8-7)
Writers: Michael Brandt (Wanted, 2 Fast 2 Furious), Derek Haas (Wanted, 2 Fast 2 Furious)
Producers: Dick Wolf (Law & Order, Dragnet), Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, Peter Jankowski (Law & Order, Dragnet), Danielle Gelber
Starring: Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney, Eamonn Walker, Charlie Barnett, David Eigenberg, Monica Raymund, Lauren German, Teri Reeves, Merle Dandridge
Premiere: October 10, 2012
Seems like a solid addition to the ‘every day heroes’ genre. First impressions: likely to be loaded with quite a bit of pathos, but could be good - one thumb up, one thumb down.
Dr. Jason Cole is a respected neurosurgeon with a dark secret: a dangerous alternate personality, Ian Price. He has battled Ian for years, keeping him in check with a powerful experimental sedative. His body has now developed a resistance to the serum, setting Ian free once again.
Director: Michael Mayer (Smash)
Writers: David Schulner (Event, Kings)
Producers: David Schulner, Michael Mayer, Peter Traugott (Samantha Who?), Rachel Kaplan (Ringer)
Starring: Steven Pasquale, Alana De La Garza, Mousa Kraish, Michael Esper, Ruta Gedmintas, Phylicia Rashad
A new take on the Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde story. For some reason, I find the set-up a bit boring and Steven Pasquale lacking charisma. First impressions: thumbs down.
Emily Owens M.D. (CW)
Emily Owens has graduated from medical school and gets the chance to work with a world-famous cardiologist. In her experience working as a surgical intern, Owens soon finds out that working in a hospital feels an awful lot like high school all over again.
Director: Bharat Nalluri (Spooks, Outcasts)
Writers: Jennie Snyder (90210, Lipstick Jungle, Gilmore Girls)
Producers: Jennie Snyder, Dan Jinks (Pushing Daisies, Down with Love, Big Fish), Bharat Nalluri
Starring: Mamie Gummer, Justin Hartley, Michael Rady, Aja Naomi King, Kelly McCreary, Necar Zadegan
Premiere: October 16, 2012
A bit like Grey’s Anatomy, perhaps? Starting a new job alongside a high school crush and a high school nemesis is not the most original of story lines. First impressions: seems somewhat simple and naive - thumbs down.
Arrow (CW)
After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen went missing and was presumed dead for five years. He is later discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. While integrating back into his old life, Queen hides the truth about the man he’s become. He secretly creates the persona of Arrow, a vigilante, to right the wrongs of his family and fight the ills of society. The show is based on a DC Comics graphic novel character.
Director: David Barrett (Castle, Mentalist, V, Cold Case)
Writers: Andrew Kreisberg (Warehouse 13, The Vampire Diaries), Marc Guggenheim (FlashForward, Eli Stone), Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern, Brothers & Sisters)
Producers: Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, David Nutter (Smallville, Supernatural, Game of Thrones), Melissa Kellner Berman (Eli Stone, Dirty Sexy Money)
Starring: Stephen Amell, Colin Donnell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Susanna Thompson, Paul Blackthorne
Premiere: October 10, 2012
Based on a DC comic + action & adventure + a secret mission = I’m in! First impressions: interesting group of writers and producers, promo clip looks good - thumbs up.
Beauty and the Beast (CW)
While investigating a murder, homicide detective Catherine Chandler is led to a handsome doctor named Vincent Keller, who was reportedly killed by enemy fired while serving in Afghanistan in 2002. She learns that Vincent is still alive and that he actually saved her life years earlier. Catherine agrees to protect his identity in return for any insight he may have into her mother’s murder.
Director: Gary Fleder (October Road, Life Unexpected)
Writers: Sherri Cooper (Brothers & Sisters, Everwood), Jennifer Levin (Brothers & Sisters, Without a Trace, Felicity)
Producers: Jennifer Levin, Sherri Cooper, Gary Fleder, Bill Haber (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow), Paul J. Witt (Blossom, The Office, Golden Girls), Tony Thomas, Ron Koslow (Moonlight, Beauty and the Beast - 80’s version)
Starring: Kristin Kreuk, Jay Ryan, Max Brown, Nina Lisandrello, Nicole Gale Anderson, Austin Basis, Brian White
Premiere: October 11, 2012
Loosely inspired by the 80’s CBS series of the same name. A pretty homicide detective destined to get involved with a part-man, part-creature… meh. First impressions: maybe interesting for a younger audience, but for me - thumbs down.
Well, that’s a wrap on most of the new drama series. Then there are the comedies… something to dissect in the next marathon post.