The Best New Shows of Fall 2011

Every year after the hubbub of all the new shows has died down, I like to look back and see which shows liked up to expectations and which ones did not. The networks already did a good job thinning the heard already with The Playboy Club, Free Agents, Charlie’s Angels, How to Be a Gentlemen, and H8R already canceled and being left off the midseason schedules do not bode well for Pan Am, Man Up, and Prime Suspects. With the holiday break fast approaching here are the shows you should be catching up on while everything is in repeats and where you can catch up at.

1. Homeland (Showtime)
Not just the best new show of the season, but the best show currently on television (at least until Justified returns). The crazier Claire Danes gets, the better the show is.

2. Suburgatory (ABC) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
Jane Levy is easily the breakout star of the season even if Emma Stone broke out with the same persona two years ago. And Dalia is easily the scariest thing on television, yes scarier than the zombies on The Walking Dead.

3. Revenge (ABC) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
I basically only started watching this show for Amy Abbott and she remained the only character I actually care about, yet this show is still extremely addictive.

4. Once Upon a Time (ABC) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
When I heard about this show (as well as Grimm) I was hoping for Pushing Daisies with fairytales but unfortunately we just got Lost with fairytales.

5. Two Broke Girls (CBS) CBS.com
Kat Dennings is comedy gold, but the rest of the cast certainly is not.


But who cares what I think, so I asked sometime contributor Doug, who apparently watched as many new shows this fall as I watched total, his thoughts and here is his favorite new shows of the fall.

1. 2 Broke Girls (CBS)
They need to get a new song for in-between songs. I'm already sick of it.

2. Revenge (ABC)
Classic trashy fun.

3. Suburgatory (ABC)

4. Ringer (The CW) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
Have no idea how they can keep this show going longer than 1 season.

5. Hart of Dixie (The CW) iTunes – Amazon Instant Video - Hulu
Cute throwback to the WB days. Hope The CW gives this time to develop.

The Best New Shows of Fall 2010

It seems like every other year, most people are complaining about how bad the new crop of shows are, and after the big buzz last year around Modern Family, Glee and Vampire Diaries, this year follows that tend with a dud of a season. Before we even went to the polls to vote in the midterm elections, we had already voted Lone Star and My Generation off our television with Outlaw and Undercovers joining the scrap heap once NBC burns off their remaining episodes. Thankfully cable saved us from the network slop with a few shows to talk about. Like I do every year, I invited some television blog buddies to help me compile a list, then take their votes, send them overseas, and this is the list that was sent back from India along with places where you can stream or download if you would like to catch up:

1. The Walking Dead (AMC) Hulu - iTunes

Sandie of Daemon’s TV says: It's on AMC, it has zombies in it, but it's really about the human condition. What's not to love?

Kim of TV Screener says: Totally not into the vampire or zombie thing in general, but this is just entertaining TV.

2. Raising Hope (Fox) Hulu – iTunes

Vance of Tapeworthy says: The crassest new show also has the most heart. Plus Martha Plimpton is simply amazing.

Kim says: It has the same mix of quirky humor and heart that made My Name Is Earl good, and it has the cutest baby I've ever seen on TV.

3. Terriers (FX) Hulu – Terriers

Scooter of the 9th Green says: Some people like to say that AMC is the best network on basic cable, but with Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Rescue Me and now Terriers, I’d rather tune into FX.

4. Blue Bloods (CBS) CBS.com – iTunes

5. Hellcats (The CW) CWTV.com - iTunes

Doug of the 9th Green says: Everyone loves a good guilty pleasure. Is better than a show about college cheerleading should be.

6. Outsourced (NBC) Hulu – iTunes

Vance says: Started off terribly, but improving along nicely.

7. Luther (BBC America) iTunes

8. Sherlock (BBC/PBS) iTunes

Sandie says: A modern Sherlock Holmes from the brilliant mind of Steven Moffat = Must See Television.

9. Glory Daze (TBS)

Scooter says: This is the funniest original show ever on TBS (sorry Outback Jack) and better than the similarly theme ABC Family show Greek (though not as good as similarly period piece Everybody Hates Chris).

10. No Ordinary Family (ABC) Hulu - iTunes

Doug says: Great concept but poor execution. I'm sticking with it for 1 reason only: Michael Chiklis

Also receiving votes: Nikita, The Big C, The Event, Tower Prep, Better with You, The Defenders, Detroit 1-8-7, IRT: Deadliest Roads


And in a measure of full disclosure, here is my list:

1. Terriers – Some people like to say that AMC is the best network on basic cable, but with Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Rescue Me and now Terriers, I’d rather tune into FX.

2. The Walking Dead – Suck it whiny vampires, this is the decade of zombies.

3. Glory Daze – This is the funniest original show ever on TBS (sorry Outback Jack) and better than the similarly theme ABC Family show Greek (though not as good as similarly period piece Everybody Hates Chris).

4. The Event – After being burned by the Lost finale just months before, I gave this show an episode by episode trial run and keeps me engrossed enough without annoying me.

5. Outsourced – I am still waiting until the show hits its stride, the elements are there, and once it does it would be one of the funniest shows on television.

The Best New Shows of Fall 2009

Every year in August and September we are bombarded by best new shows of the fall list which can be daunting. Add to that those list are typically only based on one episode of which the second one typically isn’t filmed until months later. That is why every November a corral up a cabal of television bloggers to see what live up to the hype and what what was a big a let down as the new Weezer album (*cough* Flash Forward *couch*). Then I throw in their ballots into my patent pending algorithm which so advanced that Sarah Palin accused it of being Communism. Here are the results and places to catch up if you missed the shows:

1. Glee (5) – Fox – Amazon VOD - Hulu



2. Modern Family (2) – ABC - Amazon VOD - Hulu



3. Vampire Diaries – The CW – Amazon VOD - Stream



4. Community – NBC – iTunes - Amazon VOD - Hulu

5. Cougar Town – ABC - iTunes - Hulu

6. V – ABC – iTunes - Amazon VOD - Hulu

7. White Collar – USA - iTunes - Amazon VOD - Hulu

8. The Good Wife – CBS - iTunes - Stream

9. Mercy – NBC - iTunes - Amazon VOD - Hulu

10. The Middle – ABC - Hulu

Numbers in parenthesis denote first place votes
Voters: Dan, Kath, Kim, Sandie, Scooter, TV Fan, Vance

In a measure of full disclosure, here is my ballot:

1. Modern Family – ABC
2. Mercy – NBC
3. Community – NBC
4. Trauma – NBC
5. Rescue Ink Unleashed – National Geographic Channel

And in one last television tidbit, let me remind you that you still have until Sunday to enter in The Prisoner Contest where I am giving away one DVD and one Blu-Ray set of the classic series.

Best New Shows of Fall 2008

In this I have to be first world we live in, there tends to be a rush to judgment. Take the first impression of The Big Bang Theory which was universally panned thanks to a sub-par pilot last year, many of the jokes that were killed by the overplaying of the promo before the show become much beloved by the end of the year. So once again I have rounded up a cabal of TV Bloggers to list their favorite new shows of the season now that they have gotten about a month of episodes under their belts. Then I put their list into my patented formula that is slightly more credible than token daily tracking poll. Here are the results. You can catch up by downloading the shows on iTunes and/or Amazon Video on Demand.

1. Privileged (The CW) iTunes - Amazon
2. Fringe (Fox) iTunes - Amazon
3. True Blood (HBO)
4. The Mentalist (CBS)
5. My Own Worst Enemy (NBC) iTunes - Amazon
6. Raising the Bar (TBS) iTunes
7. Busted (MTV) iTunes - Amazon
8. Gavin & Stacey (BBC America) iTunes
9. Kath & Kim (NBC) iTunes - Amazon
10. Gary Unmarried (CBS)

Also receiving votes: Life on Mars, 90210, Worst Week, Whatever Martha!, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Eleventh Hour, Sons of Anarchy, The Ex-List, Rita Rocks
Voters: Dan, Ducky, Matt, Rae, Sandie, Scooter McGavin, Tube Talk Girl, Vance

The closest thing to a consensus would be Privileged, then Fringe slightly behind and everything pretty much bunched up at the bottom. But considering some of the negative comments voters sent with their ballots, they are less than enthuse with the new slate of shows this fall much like I am which many are contributed to lingering effects of the writer’s strike. Honestly I was thinking of not hosting the poll this year but only did for prosperity sake so in 1000 years from now people in the future could tell just how poor this television season was. In a measure of full disclosure, here was my ballot:

1. Busted (MTV)
2. Gary Unmarried (CBS)
3. Raising the Bar (TNT)
4. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network)
5. The Ex-List (CBS)

The Best New Shows of 2007

At the beginning of the television season you were bombarded with a bunch of “Best Of” and “Must Watch” shows even though it is a little unfair to judge a show by one episode. For instance last year had you asked me at the beginning of the season, Friday Night Lights wasn’t even on my radar, yet a month later it was my favorite show of the new season. With that in thought I brought together some TV Bloggers to see what are the best new shows of the season now that we are a good month into the new season. Here is the list that I came up with after placing the votes into an algorithm that would make the dudes from The Big Bang Theory blush. You can catch up by streaming the shows, or downloading them on iTunes and/or Amazon Unbox:

1. Pushing Daisies - ABC (8) - Stream
2. Chuck - NBC (2) - Stream - iTunes - Unbox
3. Dirty Sexy Money - ABC - Stream
4. The Big Bang Theory - CBS - Stream - iTunes - Unbox
5. Gossip Girl - CW - Stream - iTunes - Unbox
6. Aliens in America - CW - Stream - iTunes
7. Samantha Who? - ABC - Stream - iTunes
8. Moonlight - CBS (1) - Stream - iTunes - Unbox
9. Reaper - CW - Stream - iTunes
10. Journeyman - NBC - Stream - iTunes - Unbox

(numbers in parentheses denote first place votes)
Also receiving votes: Life, Woman’s Murder Club, Private Practice, Bionic Woman, Cane
Voters: Dan, Ducky, Kath, Jo, Liz, Rae, Sandie, Scooter McGavin, Tube Talk Girl, TVFan, Vance

Not surprising that Pushing Daises took the top spot as it lived up to the preseason hype, the show and Chuck were easily the top two shows on the list. On the other hand, the shows 3-10 were fairly bunched together with very little separating them. There was a good mix from all the networks this year (sans Fox who didn’t even have one of their shows get a pity vote) unlike last year (see Best New Shows of 2006) that was dominated by NBC with the top three positions, and ABC taking the next four spots. In a measure of full discloser, here was my ballot:

1. Pushing Daises
2. The Big Bang Theory
3. Chuck
4. Journeyman
5. Bionic Woman

And for all the TV fans out there, you may want to check out your local Best Buy, Target, or store of that ilk because I saw ads in this weekends newspaper for both stores selling many Warner Brothers produced TV on DVD shows like Veronica Mars, Nip/Tuck, and Smallville for around $15.00 per season. So you can get the whole West Wing series for just over $100. In most cases the most recent seasons are not on sale, but with Christmas certainly you can find a show for someone on your list or even yourself.

Scooter Update: It looks like the sale has hit the Amazon store. Below are just some of the select seasons you can get for under $20 (note: if the price is above 20, you are too late):

The Best New Shows of Fall 2006

Recently of few television bloggers including myself put together a list of the best new shows on television the season. And here is what we came up:

1. Heroes - NBC (3)
2. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - NBC (1)
3. Friday Night Lights - NBC (1)
4. The Nine - ABC (1)
5. Ugly Betty - ABC

numbers in parentheses denote first place votes
Also recieving votes: Brothers and Sisters; Men in Trees; Ice-T’s Rap School; Dexter; Justice; Jericho; Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team
Voters: Ducky, Raelee, Scooter McGavin, Sheila, Tube Talk Girl, TV Fan

First off I guess I should mention that none of the voters are on the NBC payroll. But looking at the list, it looks like it’s a down year for new shows at least compared to recent years. Last year saw the return of the sitcom with My Name Is Earl and Everyone Hates Chris. The year before there was the debut of the two best shows this decade in Veronica Mars and Lost. And even the summer before those two aired was when Rescue Me started its run. Now keep in mind the list above does not reflect my personal tastes because I see enough ugly people in my everyday life that I have absolutely desire to see ugly people on my television, so in a measure of full disclosure here’s my ballot:

1. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)
2. Friday Night Lights (NBC)
3. Ice-T’s Rap School (VH1)
4. Dexter (Showtime)
5. Heroes (NBC)


As evident of the four different number one votes on the above poll, our television tastes vary a little, but if there is something that all of the voters can agree on is that you should be watching Veronica Mars if you are not already. And as I am writing this Amazon has both season of the show for for half price which is under thirty dollars (see bottom of post for ads). If you do the math, that’s just over a dollar per episode which is less than you can purchase an episode of a show on iTunes so here is your chance to get into the show at a low price or if you already watch the show, it would make a great Christmas present for someone who doesn’t (or for yourself if you haven’t picked them up yet). And to show you how great the show is, here is my personal favorite scene in the show’s history courtesy of YouTube:




One last television note, Linda Blair will be appearing on this week's installment of Supernatural and I have some exclusice pictures of the upcoming episode courtesy of The CW. So maybe this Thursday at 9:00 you can catch quality programming instead of a General Hospital in primetime ripoff, whatever city CSI is in this year, or the dude from Little Monsters saying "Deal or no deal" for an entire hour:

Best New Shows of Fall 2005

Now that we are a couple weeks into the new Fall TV Season and each new show has gotten a sweeps episode under their belt, it is time for me to unveil the top new shows of 2005. And if there are any TV execs reading this, you have my permission to use this list in promotions for you show. Now without further ado:

1. My Name Is Earl - Tuesday 9:00 NBC (See my first impressions)

2. Everybody Hates Chris - Thursday 8:00 UPN (See my first impressions)

3. Reunion - Thursday 9:00 Fox (See my first impressions)

4. How I Met Your Mother - Monday 8:30 CBS (See my first impression)

5. Supernatural - Tuesday 9:00 WB (See my first impressions)

The biggest surprise is that there is not one, not two, but three sitcoms in the top five. I haven’t watched a sitcom religiously since ABC started screwing with The Drew Carey Show’s scheduling and it has been over a decade since I watched three sitcoms in the same year. Apparently having a narrator is the key to comedy these days as each show utilizes one.

Even though Everybody Hates Chris was my preseason favorite, My Name Is Earl is this season’s breakout show and Jason Lee’s mustache being the season breakout star. With Earl’s insane list, there are limitless opportunities for Earl to get back on karma’s good side as seen in the episodes that have been shown so far. Stealing the golfer’s beer is the best wrong that Earl has had to right so far, by faking his death to get out of a relationship comes a close second. As for the coming in second on my list, Chris has some great laugh out loud moments, but sometimes the show get bogged down with too many Wonder Years moments.

Another big surprise would be with all the X-Files rip-offs (Surface, Invasion, Threshold) getting all the early buzz, which all turned out to be unwarranted a different sci-fi show and a show with an original concept were the two dramas that made the list. The concept behind Reunion, each episode is dedicated to a different year, even makes up to some poor acting and foreseeable plot twist, although they did through me for a loop with the last episode where they made me believe that I was right by saying it was the actress was the one who would bit the dust only to reveal that the chick from Angel’s interview was via a videotape from the night she died.

Bringing up the rear is another solid drama, Supernatural. In my original assessment of the show, I mention that I would most likely catch it when it came out on DVD because I’d be watching My Name Is Earl. But I figured I still tape the show until there was a episode I didn’t like but that day has yet to come.