The new fall SF TV season kicks off with a bang this Monday with the return of The Sarah Connor Chronicles and on Tuesday, with the premier of Fringe, by supposed new uber-geek, J.J. Abrams. I’ve seen the pilot, and it’s enough to get me to watch the next few in the series. Certainly it was better than what Heroes has become.

But there is a lot more to this new season than just Fringe. I’m going to take a look at each day, starting with Monday, and I’ll go over my thoughts for each genre show that we find (thanks to Futon Critic for this awesomely detailed guide to the Fall season for the assist).

Monday

Chuck (NBC, 8/7pm, Sept. 29) – Oh yes, the series so fun NBC ordered a full second season without a single new episode having aired yet. I have to say, I really enjoy Chuck. There is a lot of geeky humor here and I especially like they way the writers toss in the odd gaming joke or shout out. I still have an issue with how useful the info in Chuck’s head will be after oh, say, 6 months. But it’s still a fun show.

Verdict – Definitely DVR, make an effort to watch later that nigh.

Heroes (NBC, 9/8pm, Sept. 22) – It’s back after a, thankfully short, disastrous second season. Tim Kring has stated that he knows the writing wasn’t good last season and they will do better this time around. Can we trust them? After all, they must have thought the writing last season was good too, until the fans told them otherwise. Even though they are going darker this season, I sense they are going overboard, and will take each character darker

Verdict – Maybe DVR, definitely catch the first 1 or 2 episodes only and go from there.

My Own Worst Enemy (NBC, 10/9pm, Oct. 13) – Christian Slater stars in this True Lies meets Total Recall riff, minus Ahhhnold. Henry Spivey is a man with a dual nature: mild mannered office worker, and secret super agent, but neither knows about the other. Could be interesting I suppose, could also be this year’s Bionic Woman…

Verdict – No DVR, try to catch the episodes online.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX, 8/7pm, Sept. 8) – What’s more to say about this one? More Summer Glau, more Terminators, and a show my wife will actually watch with me.

Verdict – Definitely DVR, make an effort to watch later that night.

Tuesday

Eli Stone (ABC, 10/9pm, Oct. 14) – Season 2 is on tap for this legal, what would you do if you were the Messiah dramedy. I enjoyed the first season even with the writers’ propensity to preach and beat you over the head with the ‘issue of the day’ (I’m looking at you, gay monkey trial episode). Johnny Lee Miller plays a sympathetic Eli Stone plus, anything with Natasha Henstridge is automatically appealing, but don’t look for a repeat performance of Species, she’s actually acting here. I’m glad this one got a chance for a new season, hopefully more people will tune in.

Verdict – Definitely DVR, will watch later.

The Mentalist (CBS ,10/9pm, Sept. 23) – This show sounds like CBS’ take on USA Network’s successful show, Psych (which you should be watching, BTW. It’s darn funny.) It deals with a man, Patrick Jane, a modern day Sherlock Holmes with keen powers of observation and intellect, who has posed as a psychic medium in the past to be more ‘acceptable’ to people. I’m not sure if they will go the humor route or note. In any case, I’m not sure I’m that interested in this one.

Verdict – No DVR, may watch a few episodes online to gauge further interest.

Fringe (FOX, 9/8pm, Sept. 9) – Actually, I think this week’s episode kicks off at 8/7pm, while future eps get kicked back because of House. In any event, the small screen debut of Abrams’ new TV venture comes out swinging with a gross out first ten minutes, followed by all the pieces being put into place for future stories. Ultimately, the resolution involves a bit of Altered States and Dreamscape, the ‘fringe’ science of the title. If Abrams can keep the conspiracy and unanswered questions under control, it could be a big hit.

Verdict – Definitely DVR, make an effort to watch later that night.

Wednesday

Pushing Daisies (ABC, 8/7pm, Oct. 1) – The further adventures of the Pie Maker, his ‘undead’ girlfriend and the rest of the Pie Hole crowd continues with season 2. Silly, quirky and funny, if you haven’t seen Pushing Daisies, you should. It’s a top notch comedy and unlike anything you’ve seen on TV, which is surprising coming from a broadcast network. Heck, they even had some of the leads sing a song from They Might Be Giants.

Verdict – Definitely DVR, make an effort to watch that night.

Knight Rider (NBC, 8/7pm, Sept. 24) – You’ve been waiting and now, it’s almost here! Knight Rider debuts at the end of this month and I know, just know, it will be, well, terrible. But! Will it be fun, campy terrible, worthy of viewing? I don’t know. I thought the movie was okay, but an entire series like that I couldn’t handle. Justin Bruening is no David Hasselhoff, which, in this case, is bad.

Verdict – Probably DVR one or two, and watch later.

Thursday

Life on Mars (ABC, 10/9pm, Oct. 9) – The Americanized version of the BBC series of the same name finally makes it to the air, but without first producer David E. Kelley, or Colm Meaney, but with Harvey Keitel and Lisa Bonet. From the trailers I’ve seen, I’m not sure they can pull this one off. And by going with an open ended storyline, they’ll have to string along the audience with the whole ‘is he or isn’t he in a coma’ thing. I can see that becoming very annoying.

Verdict – Watch the pilot online.

Eleventh Hour (CBS, 10/9pm, Oct. 9) – Jerry Bruckheimer’s version of the the British series of the same name, Eleventh Hour follows Dr. Jacob Hood, a brilliant biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, as he investigates scientific crises and oddities. It looks to be a series where the ‘scientist’ is a good guy, so we’ll see how this turns out. Probably more CSI than X-Files, which means I’ll probably not be watching.

Verdict – Watch the pilot online.

Friday

Sanctuary (Sci Fi, 10/9, Oct. 3) – The web series, starring Amanda Tapping, makes its cable debut in October. I’ve seen some not so good things about it, but who knows? Since this is the only thing even remotely interesting in the science fiction wasteland that is Friday night, I’m thinking it’s worth a look.

Verdict – Definitely DVR, watch later.

Saturday/Sunday

I spoke too soon. Friday isn’t the wasteland, the weekend. There’s nothing even semi-interesting SF/F-wise on over the Fall weekends. Sad. The silver lining being that opens up time to watch all the stuff recorded over the week! And maybe some football.

So what are you interested in?

Related posts:

  1. SF and the Fall TV Season
  2. A Sneak Peek at the Fall 2005 TV Season
  3. SF on TV This Season
  4. Reminder: BG Season Returns Tomorrow
  5. POLL RESULTS: 2005 Fall TV Season (Part 1)

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