While September surely means back to school, it also means a return from a summer full of SVU marathons and House Hunter International reruns to a regular schedule of more socially acceptable TV shows. (Although who can say no to an SVU marathon?)
While catching up with your old favorite shows is nice, the best part of a new season is checking out the networks’ brand new shows.
The Crazy Ones
This CBS comedy stars two friendly faces, Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar, as father/daughter combination Simon and Sydney Roberts. The two work together at an advertising agency along with James Wolk’s, Zach (Mad Men; You Again; For a Good Time Call…) and Hamish Linklater’s, Andrew (The New Adventures of Old Christine.)
If you visited a movie theater this summer, you might have caught the hysterical sneak preview of the show. The trailer includes plenty of funny family tension, as well as Williams and Wolk pitching a free-styled, McDonald’s theme jingle to Kelly Clarkson. The show airs Thursday, Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m.
The Michael J. Fox Show
Although this isn’t a reality show, the plot is rather close to Michael J. Fox’s own life. Billed as a “comedy inspired by the life of Michael J. Fox,” Fox plays Mike Henry, a former TV news anchor that has returned to work following a hiatus and diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease—sound familiar? It’s good to have Fox back at it again. The show premieres Thursday, Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m. on NBC.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Following his departure from SNL, Andy Samberg heads this FOX comedy as a lackadaisical New York detective. The only problem? There’s a new, strict captain in town that doesn’t mesh well with the detective’s lax attitude. Although cop shows tend not to be comical, Samberg is surely up to the task. The show debuts Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8:30 p.m.
The Millers
Fans of Gob Bluth, rejoice — Will Arnett is returning to your TV screens once again. (In a show hopefully better than that disappointing fourth season…)
In this CBS comedy — not to be confused with this summer’s We’re the Millers— Arnett plays the much more likable Nathan Miller, a recent divorcee. His father, played by Beau Bridges, decides to follow his son’s steps and divorce his own wife after 43 years of marriage. The show airs on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 8:30 p.m.
We Are Men
This CBS show is sort of like New Girl, if Jess was a man and the other guys were more, well, manly.
Left at the altar, Carter must quickly find a place to live. He is taken in by a trio of divorced guys, played by Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Jerry O’Connell, and Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar.)
Fun fact? Carter is played by Christopher Nicholas Smith, who you may remember from The Harvard Sailing comedy troupe. The comedy starts Monday, Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m.
Hello Ladies
This HBO show was developed by Stephen Merchant (The Office UK and best bud of Ricky Gervais) in partnership with Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (both writers for the US verison of The Office).
The show stars Merchant himself as well as Nate Torrence (She’s Out of My League, Mr. Sunshine) and Kevin Weisman (Alias) as three geeky friends trying to find women in L.A. With their attempts described by some as “painful,” this show is sure to make you laugh and cringe.
The show debuts on Mon. Sept. 29 at 10:30.
Super Fun Night
Rebel Wilson has won over hearts and many, many laughs with her turns on the big screen, and this fall she’ll make her mark on the small screen, too.
The show centers on three twenty-something year-old friends that have a standing tradition of “fun” Friday nights in lounging in their PJs.
Wilson herself is creator and writer of the show and the list of producers includes funny man Conan O’Brien. The show starts on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. on ABC.
Clear your schedules and invest in a DVR, HBO Go or Hulu Plus –this TV season is one you won’t want to miss.