New and Returning Fall TV Shows Excite Audiences

By Olivia Sledzik

Fall brings us all a certain joy—a new school year ahead of us, wearing new fall clothes, and watching the leaves change colors.  But for television lovers like myself, it’s the season where new shows come to fruition and old favorites return with a vengeance.  September is bringing us a cornucopia of programs, ranging from reality shows to period dramas.

Buffy fans, rejoice!  Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to primetime with her new show “Ringer,” airing on the CW Tuesdays at 9 p.m.  Although she is not the pasty-vampire-butt-kicking heroine we know and love, Gellar still brings the suspense.  Gellar plays identical twins Bridget and Siobhan.  Bridget is recently sober and witnesses a brutal murder, for which she must testify.  Siobhan is married to a wealthy man and has escaped the shadow of her twin.  Suddenly, Siobhan disappears, and Bridget has no other choice but to take her place.  If you enjoyed The Parent Trap but were looking for something a little darker, Ringer is right up your alley.

“Up All Night,” starring the equally hilarious Christina Applegate and Will Arnett proves to be one of those shows you’ll be quoting daily.  They play new parents Chris and Reagan, whose hard-partying nights and hungover mornings are finally behind them because of baby Amy, who is “so bleeping cute.”  The show is light, witty, and brings new meaning to the words “cool parents.”  It also stars the wonderfully crazy Maya Rudolph as an Oprah-like talk show host and Reagan’s boss.  If you want to get a look at what parenting is really like, check it out Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Simon Cowell is back with “The X Factor,” as if we haven’t gotten enough of his insults and tight black t-shirts.  He’ll even be able to bicker about contestants with his longtime true love, Paula Abdul.  The X Factor is like a mix of American Idol andAmerica’s Got Talent format-wise: auditions are held in front of a large audience, but the auditions are only for singing.  The show also includes L.A. Reid, the former chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group, and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, whoAmericakeeps trying to make happen.  I anticipate a lot of wasted time on what the four judges have to say and or argue about.  I also foresee much painkiller induced rambling from Paula.  But who doesn’t love that?  It’s on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on FOX.

If you are a “Mad Men” lover like myself, add the new 1960’s-set drama “Pan Am” to your Sunday night lineup.  It stars Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Colette Valois, and Kelli Garner as brand-new stewardesses for the iconic Pan-American World Airways.  It includes storylines about adultery, spiking cheating businessmen’s alcoholic beverages, and the stewardess’s home relationships. If this show sounds like your style, catch it Sundays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

I have two words for you that are sure to make you excited: Zooey Deschanel.  Everyone’s favorite hipster-indie cutie pie hits the small screen with her show “New Girl,” where she plays recently single Jess.  After a brutal yet comical breakup, Jess moves in with three guys she found through an ad on Craigslist and subjects them to her crying to Dirty Dancing, bad singing, and quirkiness. If you’re up for some quirky, silly fun, check it out Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX.

It’s always a great feeling to be reunited with your favorite characters when shows come back on after a summer hiatus.  Probably the most anticipated show for the fall is “Two and a Half Men” now that Charlie Sheen is out of the picture and Ashton Kutcher is in.  Even though season nine premiered on Sept. 19, you can still access it on the CBS website.  It’s on Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBS.

Gleeks everywhere have been waiting amidst numerous rumors about graduating characters for the show’s third season to start.   My favorite part of the “Glee” premiere is finding out that Blaine, Kurt’s boyfriend, will be a regular now that he transferred to McKinley. If you want to read some hilarious recaps of Glee, check them out on Gawker.com.  Or if you want to avoid the witty remarks, just watch the show Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on FOX.

“Modern Family” is fresh off sweeping up almost every Emmy Award this year and premiered Sept. 21 with two new episodes.  If you’ve never seen this show, I highly recommend it.  The acting is great, the storylines are often based off of true events, and basically, it’s hilarious.For some good laughs, check it out Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Dunder Mifflin is not the same without the beloved Michael Scott.  I’m sorry, but it’s true.  I think they should have ended “The Office” when Steve Carell left, but no one listens to me.The new season premiered Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. on NBC.

My doppleganger, Meredith Grey, is back for yet another season of “Grey’s Anatomy.”  I have to admit, it’s pretty lackluster and is getting monotonous, but I still watch for McDreamy.  And McSteamy.  Okay, I watch it for the men.  Don’t judge me. Expect really great music and lots of unneeded drama from all the characters this season.  It premiered Sept. 22 at 9 p.m on ABC.

My favorite show in the history of television (or maybe just Showtime), “Dexter”, is finally returning after what feels like the longest summer of my life.  A summer without Michael C. Hall gracing my screen is a sad time.   Colin Hanks and Mos Def guest star.  I am expecting an amazing, intense, dark season.  It premieres Oct. 2 at 10 p.m. on Showtime. I’ve been counting down the days since July.

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