Unsure what to watch now that Desperate Housewives is over? Never got over the season finale of Friday Night Lights? Still wishing that Mindy Kaling had a bigger role on The Office?
The start of the TV fall schedule can bring anxiety—with the passing or ending of old favorites, and the networks debuting a plethora of new shows. So I’ve scoped out the new lineup to find the gems, and picked five promising new shows to check out this fall. Read on to find your new weeknight obsessions!
1. Ben & Kate
This brother-sister comedy show starring Nat Faxon and Dakota Johnson promises to be delightfully charming. Ben and Kate decide to live together as adults, but they both have their issues: Ben is a dreamer who can’t quite get his life together, and Kate is a single mom who wants to date but is endearingly clueless about the whole process. The best part? Both characters’ struggles seem truly authentic.
Premieres Tuesday, September 25 at 8:30 PM on FOX
2. Last Resort
The show starts with the ballistic missile submarine USS Colorado, which receives an order to fire nuclear missiles at Pakistan. When Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) demands confirmation, he is relieved of his duties, and the crewmembers find themselves under attack by their own country.
If you’re looking for a scratch to satisfy a dramatic itch, this show could be the ticket. It’s unclear whether the premise will seem plausible as the series progresses (the U.S. government is going to chase down a stranded submarine crew in a time of war?), but it certainly has potential.
Premieres Thursday, September 27 at 8:00 PM on ABC
3. The Mindy Project
We flagged this show last spring, but it bears repeating: I am more excited for this show than any other. Mindy Kaling was a brilliant comedic voice on The Office, and if the series is anything like the trailer, the show will be a huge success. (Recap: Kaling stars as a single OB/GYN navigating a dating world fraught with mishaps.)
Premieres Tuesday, September 25 at 9:30 PM on FOX
4. Nashville
A musical drama with a compelling protagonist: Connie Britton stars as Rayna James, a renowned—but fading—country star. Her label sets her up on a tour with young country starlet Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), in hopes that her popularity will help revive James’ career. Complicating this attempt is James’ overbearing father and a husband who lives off her money. Panettiere is a toss-up casting choice, but her presence is trumped by the trailer’s heartfelt feel.
Premieres Wednesday, October 10 at 10:00 PM on ABC
5. The Following
If you can’t get enough Law and Order: SVU (and really, who can?), this show promises to be a great addition to your weekly lineup. Kevin Bacon stars as Ryan Hardy, an FBI agent who returns to the force to stop a network of serial killers masterminded and controlled by mass murderer Joe Carroll. How exactly Carroll controls his devotees is unclear, but it feels irrelevant to the meat of the show. The trailer touches on much of the strange phenomena surrounding serial killers (lovestruck women who visit in prison, copycat killers) and promises to serve up some whodunit thrills.
Premieres during the midseason on FOX
