For TV Fans, Fall Is The Best Time Of The Year

Fall means the end of summer for most people, but it is the time of year that most TV fans look forward to.  It’s the time when most shows come back from their long summer break and return to the airwaves with new episodes.   This year is no different.  While some shows will wait until October to make their return, most shows are returning this month.  It’s also the time of the year when most new shows will make their debut. 

There are a few shows that I’m looking forward to seeing based on what I know about them so far.  One of them is CBS ‘Scorpion.’  The series is loosely based on IT genius Walter O’Brien, who recruits other geniuses to help solve the complex problems of the world.  It stars Terminator 2’s Robert Patrick, Katherine McPhee, and former Game of Thrones actor, Elyes Gabel.  It premieres September 22^nd at 9, on CBS. 

Another show I’m looking forward to is FOX’s limited series ‘Gracepoint.’  It stars Breaking Bad star Anna Gunn, former Doctor Who actor David Tennant, and Nick Nolte.  This series is a remake of the UK drama ‘Broadchurch,’ in which Tennant also starred, but in a different role.  The show follows the investigation into the murder of young boy in a small California seaside town.  The media frenzy that ensues throws the entire town and the lives of its residents into turmoil.  ‘Gracepoint’ will last for 10 episodes and premieres Thursday, October 2^nd at 9 on FOX.

FOX’s ‘Gotham’ is a show that is generating a lot of buzz.  When the show was originally conceived, it was to follow the early career of Batman’s Commissioner Gordon on the Gotham City Police Force.  However, the show evolved and will now tell the origin stories of the characters of Bruce Wayne, and several Batman villains such as Penguin, The Riddler, Catwoman, The Joker, and Harvey Dent, among others.  Southland’s Ben McKenzie is playing the legendary police commissioner.  The series will premiere September 22^nd at 8 on FOX. 

One more show that seems intriguing is FOX’s ‘Red Band Society.’  This show centers on a group of teenagers living together in a hospital’s pediatric ward, and the staff members who often serve as their teachers, mentors and surrogate parents in addition to overseeing their medical care.   The show comes from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin television production company, and it stars Oscar winner Octavia Spencer and Dave Annable. FOX has already put the premiere On Demand if you don’t want to wait to watch it.  ‘Red Band Society’ premieres on September 17^th at 9 on FOX. 

Then, of course, we have the returning shows.  There a quite a few notable returns that will happen in September and October.  A couple of them are entering their last seasons.   HBO’s Boardwalk Empire will premiere its final season on Sunday, September 7^th and the final season of Sons of Anarchy will hit the airwaves with a 90 minute season premiere on Sunday September 9^th on FX. 

Here are some other new and returning shows of note:

·         Dancing With The Stars – ABC, September 15^th at 8. 

·         The Good Wife – CBS, September 21^st at 9.

·         The Blacklist – NBC, September 22^nd at 10.

·         The Big Bang Theory – CBS, September 22^nd at 8.

·         The Voice – NBC, September 22^nd at 8.

·         Survivor – CBS, September 24^th at 8.

·         Modern Family – ABC, September 24^th at 9.

·         Scandal – ABC, September 25^th at 9. 

·         Homeland – Showtime, October 5^th at 9.

·         The Walking Dead – AMC, October 12^th at 9.

Bill's TV Mailbag

From time to time my column will feature questions asked by readers regarding the world of TV.  Feel free to email me with any questions you may have about TV at BillsTVTalk@gmail.com, and I’ll do my best to answer you and may feature your question in a future column.  Here’s what we got!

Bill, My favorite show is The Blacklist.  Can you tell me anything about the upcoming season, are we going to find out what happened to Tom, and when will it be back? -  Marion from Methuen, MA.

Marion, I can tell you that the producers have confirmed that we will learn of the fate of Tom before the season is over, and they also confirmed that we haven’t see the last of the character of Berlin.  The show will return to NBC on September 22 at 10.  However, enjoy it while you can.  It will run until November 10, and then it will be taking a ten week break.  It will return on Super Bowl Sunday and then move to its new night and time, Thursdays at 10.  In casting news, Mary Louise Parker is joining the cast in a recurring role. 

I’m so excited that Netflix has decided to bring back The Killing for one final season.  What can you tell me about the new season? – Julie from Tewksbury, MA.

By the time you read this Julie, the show will be back.  It premieres August 6^th on Netflix.  As far as what we can expect in this final season?  Remember the character of Bullet from Season 3.  Well she may be gone, but she is certainly not forgotten.   Series creator Veena Sud said that the teen’s Season 3 death will continue to haunt Holder. “That was a game-changer in terms of Holder’s life,” she explains. “Up until that point, he was a homicide detective who had not lost anything in the course of his work.”  Sud promises that there will be “a final moment” that will honor the Bullet-Holder relationship.  This season’s case will revolve around a student at an all boys military academy whose family was murdered and Academy Award nominee Joan Allen will be joining the cast.

Please give me some info on the final season of Sons of Anarchy.  I need to know what’s going to happen.  – Mike from Amesbury, MA

Well Mike, prepare yourself for one hell of a ride.  According to Theo Rossi, who plays Juice, this season is going to be a bloodbath.  He says, “People are dropping like flies, literally, every two seconds you're like, 'Oh, that person's gone.  There's always a big clap-off it feels, every scene, every episode, somebody's leaving."  Yikes!  I can also tell you that the premiere is 1 hour and 45 minutes long, and picks up 10 days after the events of the 6^th season finale.   Sons of Anarchy’s final season premieres September 9^th at 10 on FX.

I absolutely loved Fargo.  I heard it was one season and done though.  Is it coming back or not? – Sandy from Manchester, NH

I have some good news and some bad news for you Sandy.  The good news is that Fargo is absolutely coming back for a 2^nd season.  The bad news is that none of the cast from the first season will be returning.  Season 2 will take place in 1979 and will center on the Sioux Falls case that Molly’s dad Lou was describing in an episode at the end of the season.  Producer Noah Hawley said that while the original cast will not return for season 2, he didn’t rule out some of them returning for a possible season 3.  Fargo is slated to return in the fall of 2015. 

I was a huge Breaking Bad fan, and I’m really looking forward to the spinoff Better Call Saul.  Can you tell me anything about it? – Jimmy from Westford, MA

Better Call Saul is a prequel that follows Saul in the days before his dealings with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman -- though creators have said the show's timeline could move back and forth over several decades, including the years during and after Breaking Bad which means there's the potential for Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and others to make cameos. There is no set date for Better Call Saul to premiere but it’s expected to hit the airwaves sometime in the last half of 2015.