VH Corner

Wow. It is hard to find trailers for show debuting this week. Where is the promotional push from the networks? It is a very sad state of affairs.

Update: I did only have Sunday up earlier, but now I have the entire week done.

Pick of the Week

The Amazing Race
Channel: CBS
Time: 8/7c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Phil Keoghan
Trailer

Synopsis: They will travel to new locations this 13th season, such as Cambodia and Kazakhstan. Also, one team will make a huge mistake that will keep them for making it to the finish line.

My Take: This is my favorite reality show. I love to see the destinations and the challenges are usually related to something specific about that culture. Also, the people that know each other already have the built-in mechanisms for arguing, which is fun to see heightened with lack of sleep.

Recommended

The Simpsons
Channel: FOX
Time: 8/7c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith
Trailer: none

Synopsis: Homer and Ned become bounty hunters, Bart switches places with a rich kid, and guest stars include Denis Leary, Joe Montana, Jodie Foster, Anne Hathaway and Seth Rogen.

My Take: It is still good, even after 20 years. Crazy!

Cold Case
Channel: CBS
Time: 9/8c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Kathryn Morris, Danny Pino, John Finn, Jeremy Ratchford, Thom Barry, Tracie Thoms
Trailer: none

Synopsis: After a very dark season, Lilly started to flirt with obnoxious narcotics cop Eddie. He’s around again this season. Her absent father shows up too. The show wants to lighten up and get back to how it was in the first season.

My Take: I always liked the recreations of things that happened in the past along with the music choices. It did get a little too dark and dreary the last couple seasons, so I hope it gets back to what I liked about it before.

Desperate Housewives
Channel: ABC
Time: 9/8c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria Parker, Dana Delany, Nicole Sheridan, Ricardo Antoni Chavira, James Denton, Kyle MacLachlan, Doug Savant, Shawn Pyfrom, Brenda Strong
Trailer

Synopsis: The show flash forwards five years in the future with Bree as a businesswoman, Susan is with someone that isn’t Mike, Lynette has two hooligan teenagers, and Gaby has two kids of her own.

My Take: I like the show when it is goofy and the women interact with each other more. I thought they went back to that last season so as long as they keep it up, I’ll keep watching it.

Brothers & Sisters
Channel: ABC
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Calista Flockhart, Balthazar Getty, Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys, Rachel Griffiths, Sally Field, Emily VanCamp, Ron Rifkin, Patricia Wettig, Rob Lowe, Sarah Jane Morris
Trailer

Synopsis: Kitty publishes a book and plans to adopt a baby with Robert, Sarah works on a business outside the family business, Justin and Rebecca start a relationship after realizing they are not related (still a bit icky!), and Ryan is the missing extra kid no one knew about.

My Take: I found the sibling/not sibling thing last season icky, but I still like the rest of the show.

Dexter
Channel: SHO
Time: 9/8c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Velez, David Zayas, James Remar, C.S. Lee, Jimmy Smits
Trailer

Synopsis: After finding out Harry killed himself, Dexter decided he doesn’t need to follow his code anymore. Also, Dexter becomes friends with the new assistant DA played by Jimmy Smits.

My Take: I love this show! Michael C. Hall is incredibly awesome.

Californication
Channel: SHO
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: David Duchovny, Natascha McElhone, Madeline Zima, Madeleine Martin, Evan Handler, Pamela Adlon
Trailer

Synopsis: Last season, Hank finally won over his ex-girlfriend at her wedding. They ran off together, but Hank manages to screw it up again now that he has what he wants. Charlie loses his job and ends up ditching his coke-addicted wife.

My Take: It wavers between hilarious and annoying, but the funny wins me over enough to keep watching.

Chuck
Channel: NBC
Time: 8/7c
Premieres: Monday, September 29
Starring: Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez, Sarah Lancaster
Trailer

Synopsis: Chuck gets a new boss at Buy More and it is Buster from Arrested Development. He also tries to start really dating his handler Sarah. There is the final problem where a new Intersect is almost done, which means the government won’t need Chuck any more. Casey has the mission of killing Chuck.

My Take: It is a totally adorably, goofy show. My favorite part though is Adam Baldwin as Casey. He’s awesome.

Life
Channel: NBC
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Monday, September 29
Starring: Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Adam Arkin, Donal Logue
Trailer

Synopsis: Charlie gets a new captain and he wants to focus on getting back together with his ex-wife.

My Take: I really did not expect to like this show, but the oddness of Charlie won me over. He’s very weird.

Pushing Daisies
Channel: ABC
Time: 8/7c
Premieres: Wednesday, October 1
Starring: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Ellen Greene, Kristin Chenoweth, Swoosie Kurtz
Trailer

Synopsis: Ned and Emerson actually start working together better, Olive goes off to a nunnery after learning Lily’s secret, and Chuck finds out Ned caused her dad’s death.

My Take: It can almost be too cute, but for some reason, it is still watchable. I credit Chi McBride for being awesome. I also love the bright colors and cinematography.

Private Practice
Channel: ABC
Time: 9/8c
Premieres: Wednesday, October 1
Starring: Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Amy Brenneman, Audra McDonald, Taye Diggs, Paul Adelstein, Chris Lowell, KaDee Strickland
Trailer

Synopsis: Addison moved to Santa Monica to join the Oceanside Wellness Group where things where a bit flitty and frothy. It gets a little more serious this season with more interesting cases. Addison will start dating Officer Nelson that showed up briefly last season, her brother comes to visit, and Coop and Charlotte are still having their secret affair.

My Take: At times the show made me crazy, but I really liked the actors so I got into it.

Dirty Sexy Money
Channel: ABC
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Wednesday, October 1
Starring: Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland, William Baldwin, Natalie Zea, Glenn Fitzgerald, Seth Gabel, Zoe McLellan, Blair Underwood, Jill Clayburgh
Trailer

Synopsis: Last season, Nick and Brian found out they were half-brothers, Juliet took off for an island adventure and Karen started plotting with her father’s rival Simon Elder. This season, Juliet will only be around occasionally since the actress is no longer a series regular. Lucy Liu is joining the cast as a lawyer.

My Take: I enjoyed the show with all its twists and turns.

Everybody Hates Chris
Channel: CW
Time: 8/7c
Premieres: Friday, October 3
Starring: Tyler James Williams, Tichina Arnold, Terry Crews, Tequean Richmond, Imani Hakim, Vincent Martella
Trailer

Synopsis: Chris is finally in high school, but he didn’t end up in the same one as his best friend.

My Take: It is a cute, funny show.

Numbers
Channel: CBS
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Friday, October 3
Starring: Rob Morrow, David Krumholtz, Judd Hirsch, Alimi Ballard, Navi Rawat, Dylan Bruno, Sopina Brown, Peter MacNicol
Trailer: none

Synopsis: Charlie helped his Pakistani colleague and ended up being arrested for suspected terrorist activity last season. This season, he is without FBI clearance that he wants back. Amita and Larry cover his cases while he tries to get it back. Diane Farr is leaving the show and being replaced with a former LAPD officer.

My Take: I watch this show while half paying attention since it only interests me half the time. If it ever conflicted with anything, I wouldn’t watch it, but it never seems to so I keep watching.

Willing to Try

Sanctuary
Channel: SCI
Time: 9/8c
Premieres: Friday, October 3
Starring: Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, Emilie Ullerup, Christopher Heyerdahl, Ryan Robbins
Trailer

Synopsis: A scientist knows that strange beings live among regular humans and she works to protect their secret.

My Take: I have no idea why Amanda Tapping has a British accent, but I’m willing to see if the show is cool.

Not My Thing

King of the Hill
Channel: FOX
Time: 8:30/7:30c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Brittany Murphy, Johnny Hardwick, Kathy Najimy, Mike Judge, Pamela S. Adlon, Stephen Root, Toby Huss
Trailer: none

Synopsis: After two seasons, Luanne has her baby while Peggy and Bobby try really hard to be hip.

My Take: I used to watch it a long time ago, but I became tired of it.

Family Guy
Channel: FOX
Time: 9/8c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Alex Borstein, Mike Henry, Mila Kunis, Seth Green, Seth MacFarlane
Trailer

Synopsis: Stewie gets left behind when the family goes on a road trip, Mort falls into Stewie’s time machine and runs into Nazis in 1933, and Peter is injected with a gay gene.

My Take: Whenever I try to watch it, I just find it as a lazy rip off of The Simpsons.

American Dad
Channel: FOX
Time: 9:30/8:30c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Dee Bradley Baker, Rachael MacFarlane, Scott Grimes, Wendy Schaal
Trailer: none

Synopsis: Stan and Francine’s marriage is tested when Francine falls for Jesus Christ.

My Take: Since I didn’t like Family Guy, I didn’t give this one a try.

The Unit
Channel: CBS
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Sunday, September 28
Starring: Dennis Haysbert, Scott Foley, Robert Patrick, Regina Taylor, Max Martini, Michael Irby, Demore Barnes, Abby Brammell, Audrey Marie Anderson
Trailer

Synopsis: The team is uprooted with their families and given new identities.

My Take: It always looked boring to me, so I have never given it a shot.

The Game
Channel: CW
Time: 8:30/7:30c
Premieres: Friday, October 3
Starring: Tia Mowry, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Brittany Daniel, Pooch Hall, Coby Bell, Hosea Chanchez
Trailer

Synopsis: More relationship drama after Melanie broke up with Jerome and told Derwin she was ready to be with him.

My Take: I have never watched it since it was surrounded by sports.

Ghost Whisperer
Channel: CBS
Time: 8/7c
Premieres: Friday, October 3
Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Camryn Manheim, Jamie Kennedy
Trailer: none

Synopsis: Melinda found out the truth about her father. Jay Mohr’s character will be going on a sabbatical while he has his own show, but Jamie Kennedy will be joining the cast as a professor who had a near-death experience.

My Take: I watched the pilot and then never watched it again.

The Ex-List
Channel: CBS
Time: 9/8c
Premieres: Friday, October 3
Starring: Elizabeth Reaser, Rachel Boston, Adam Rothenberg, Alexandra Breckenridge, Amir Talai
Trailer

Synopsis: A psychic tells a woman that she has already met the man she will marry. He’s one of her exes and if she doesn’t get back together with him in the next year, she will lose him forever. It is yet remake. This one is based on an Israeli comedy.

My Take: It is one of TV Guide’s pickfor new fall shows. They love Reaser and says she makes the cheesy dialogue actually work. They wonder if it has any longevity beyond a first season. The Futon Critic doesn’t enjoy yet another neurotic character on tv and for it being sold as a romantic comedy, there aren’t a lot of laughs in it. Watching the trailers, it does not appeal to me and I find myself rolling my eyes. I also find that Reaser’s hair is too big for her skinny body. I am afraid she is going to topple over.

Why?

Wife Swap
Channel: ABC
Time: 8/7c
Premieres: Friday, October 3
Trailer

Synopsis: Two very different families swap wives to see how each family will handle. They will also let viewers pick their favorite families to swap again for their 100th episode.

My Take: I have no idea how this show is still on the air.

Supernanny
Channel: ABC
Time: 9/8c
Premieres: Friday, October 3
Trailer

Synopsis: Jo helps out families with unruly children.

My Take: Everyone is so annoying that I’m not sure if anyone should be helped.

Tags: Abby Brammell, Adam Arkin, Adam Baldwin, Adam Rothenberg, Alex Borstein, Alexandra Breckenridge, Alimi Ballard, Amanda Tapping, amazing race, american dad, Amir Talai, Amy Brenneman, Anna Friel, Audra McDonald, Audrey Marie Anderson, Balthazar Getty, Blair Underwood, Brenda Strong, Brittany Daniel, Brittany Murphy, brothers & sisters, C.S. Lee, californication, Calista Flockhart, camryn manheim, Chi McBride, Chris Lowell, Christopher Heyerdahl, chuck, Coby Bell, cold case, Damian Lewis, dan castellaneta, Dana Delany, Danny Pino, Dave Annable, David Conrad, david duchovny, david krumholtz, David Zayas, Dee Bradley Baker, Demore Barnes, dennis haysbert, desperate housewives, dexter, dirty sexy money, Donal Logue, donald sutherland, Doug Savant, Dylan Bruno, Elizabeth Reaser, Ellen Greene, Emilie Ullerup, Emily VanCamp, eva longoria parker, Evan Handler, everybody hates chris, family guy, Felicity Huffman, ghost whisperer, Glenn Fitzgerald, hank azaria, Harry Shearer, hosea Chanchez, Imani Hakim, James Denton, James Remar, Jamie Kennedy, Jennifer Carpenter, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jeremy Ratchford, jill clayburgh, Jimmy Smits, John Finn, Johnny Hardwick, Joshua Gomez, Judd Hirsch, julie benz, julie kavner, KaDee Strickland, Kate Walsh, Kathryn Morris, Kathy Najimy, king of the hill, Kristin Chenoweth, Kyle MacLachlan, Lauren Velez, Lee Pace, life, Madeleine Martin, Madeline Zima, Marcia Cross, Matthew Rhys, Max Martini, michael c hall, Michael Irby, Mike Henry, mike judge, Mila Kunis, Nancy Cartwright, Natalie Zea, Natascha McElhone, Navi Rawat, Nicole Sheridan, numbers, Pamela Adlon, Pamela S. Adlon, Patricia Wettig, Paul Adelstein, peter krause, Peter MacNicol, Phil Keoghan, Pooch Hall, private practice, pushing daisies, Rachael MacFarlane, Rachel Boston, rachel griffiths, Regina Taylor, Ricardo Antoni Chavira, rob lowe, rob morrow, robert patrick, Robin Dunne, Ron Rifkin, Ryan Robbins, Sally Field, Sanctuary, Sarah Jane Morris, Sarah Lancaster, Sarah Shahi, Scott Foley, Scott Grimes, Seth Gabel, Seth Green, Seth MacFarlane, Shawn Pyfrom, simpsons, Sopina Brown, stephen root, supernanny, Swoosie Kurtz, Taye Diggs, Tequean Richmond, Teri Hatcher, terry crews, the ex list, the game, the unit, Thom Barry, Tia Mowry, Tichina Arnold, Tim Daly, Toby Huss, Tracie Thoms, Tyler James Williams, Vincent Martella, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Wendy Schaal, wife swap, William Baldwin, Yeardley Smith, Yvonne Strahovski, zachary levi, Zoe McLellan