Progress Report: Fall TV Preview and Selection for 2021-2022 Shows (2021)
This Progress Report…is later than usual. But this year…is unusual. With a pandemic affecting every major studio, network, and workspace in the USA and beyond, the dust is only now settling when it comes to what new shows will premiere this season.
To that end, Couch Potatoes Unite! delayed all of our annual Progress Reports to make sure we are understanding the TV landscape in such a way that we would be able to effectively communicate it to you, gentle reader and listener. We think we’re almost there. There is quite a lot still unsorted, but the main five networks are trying to resume their traditional rhythms, and some of the other content outlets are attempting to follow suit.
Thus, we now present Progress Report 3 of 2021, the first progress report for the new pilots of the 2021-2022 season! At this point, the primary TV viewing season is over (we think, who knows what is being defined as the “TV season” now), and the calendar has struck the month of October…the fall TV season, such as it is in these pandemic-influenced times, is upon us! Thus, it’s time to shop for new pilots! Since up-fronts were held in May, new TV offerings by networks and some cable outlets (as well as streaming networks) have been announced. It’s time to examine them closely and choose which will be added to the extremely extended lineup covered by this blog!
Thanks to TVLine and Metacritic for helping a girl out.
*Note: with the expansion of CPU!, these initial thoughts are based upon the CPU! Chief’s assessments. As with previous seasons, a growing number of CPU! members may find shows initially passed by the CPU! Chief and choose to review them. CPU! readers will be informed if the show’s status changes regarding coverage as the season progresses through the handy CPU! Progress Reports, and all written reviews will be published!
**Second Note: If you haven’t already figured it out, we measure the TV year from June 1st to May 31st.
4400, The CW
PREMIERE DATE: Oct. 25
TIME SLOT: Mondays at 9/8c
WHO: Joseph David-Jones (Arrow), Brittany Adebumola (Grand Army), Jaye Ladymore (Chicago P.D.), AMARR (American Housewife), Cory Jeacoma (Power Book II: Ghost), Derrick A. King (Call Your Mother), Khaliah Johnson, TL Thompson, Ireon Roach, Autumn Best
WHAT: Based on the original USA Network drama, the new take follows 4400 overlooked, undervalued, or otherwise marginalized people who vanished without a trace over the last hundred years are all returned in an instant, having not aged a day and with no memory of what happened to them. As the government races to analyze the potential threat and contain the story, the 4400 themselves must grapple with the fact that they’ve been returned with a few… upgrades, and the increasing likelihood that they were all brought back now for a specific reason.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Welcome to the 2021-2022 CPU! network pilot review, always full of snark and real talk about upcoming TV from your friendly neighborhood TV podcast, whose business is otherwise unaffected by global pandemics, because TV is an indoor, mask-less activity! Unite with us (and wear a mask/get vaccinated/stay socially distant because this thing ain’t over yet)!
We start off with a Pick Up because the original 4400 has been mentioned to us every so often as a podcast coverage topic (not necessarily accompanied by volunteers…unless you, gentle reader, would like to be the first), so it seems like this reboot would lend itself well to a “Looking Back to Look Forward” series for both the original and new versions. Plus, adding the twist that the “4400” affected by what is likely extraterrestrial goings-on are from underrepresented and marginalized communities gives the original premise a decidedly spooky and socially relevant context veering into alterna-history places, while also freshening up the premise somewhat to keep it from feeling totally recycled in this era of far too many reboots. Also, the CW airs the kind of stuff that our Couch Potatoes tend to like. So, that’s just a few of the 4400 reasons why we’re aiming to pick up 4400.
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ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, ABC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Quinta Brunson (A Black Lady Sketch Show), Tyler James Williams (Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Everybody Hates Chris), Chris Perfetti (In the Dark), Lisa Ann Walter (Emeril), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Ray Donovan, Instant Mom), Janelle James
WHAT: In this workplace comedy, a group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.
Teaser trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. A few chuckles could be had in this sitcom/one camera comedy, and it certainly covers some relevant subject matter. Plus, ABC might be searching for more programming that falls within the same category as black-ish, which is about to air its final season. Still, as winning as Quinta Brunson seems to be in this trailer, the jokes are not exactly inspired, and there will probably be a few “kids say the darndest things” type shenanigans. There seems to be some pro-family viewing possibilities, but will it appeal to our Couch Potatoes? Right now, the bets are no. So, to get this bit of annual flavor out of the way, if buzz and steam and starvation for new network sitcoms in these, our COVID times – or your more direct contact with us via comment on any post, a visit to our guestbook or our social media, or an email to couchpotatoesunitepodcast@gmail.com – convince us to change our minds, which is very easy to do with the right amount of minimal persuasion, we most certainly will go back to school and do the thing.
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AGT: EXTREME, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Judge Simon Cowell
WHAT: Showcases the most outrageous and jaw-dropping daredevil acts. Each week, extreme contestants will go head-to-head in the most wild, wacky and craziest stunts to vie for the ultimate title.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. We don’t cover reality/game show competitions like your Voices and your American Idols and your America Having Talents-type goings-on – no matter what kind of withering gaze Simon Cowell might throw our way.
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ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING, The CW
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Geffri Maya (All American), Peyton Alex Smith (Legacies), Cory Hardrict (S.W.A.T., The Oath), Kelly Jenrette (Manhunt, Grandfathered), Sylvester Powell (Five Points), Camille Hyde (Katy Keene), Netta Walker
WHAT: The spinoff follows a young tennis hopeful from Beverly Hills and an elite baseball player from Chicago as they contend with the high stakes of college sports, while also navigating the highs, lows and sexiness of unsupervised early adulthood at a prestigious Historically Black College.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. The original All American is still on our “Pass” list. No one has requested it for viewing or podcast dissection. Until that changes, we will also pass on relevant spin-offs. Feel free to comment or message with persuasion oriented toward changing our minds.
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ALTER EGO, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Sept. 22
TIME SLOT: Wednesdays at 9/8c
WHO: Judges Alanis Morissette, Nick Lachey, Grimes and will.i.am, plus host Rocsi Diaz
WHAT: A singing competition where lost dreams and second chances are reignited when singers from all walks of life become the stars they’ve always wanted to be. However, these contestants won’t perform as themselves. Rather, they’ll be given the chance to show how they’ve always wanted to be seen, creating their dream avatar alter ego to reinvent themselves and perform like never before.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. We still don’t cover reality/game show competitions on the podcast or blog. Even if we like the judges here (and their music, more or less).
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AMERICAN AUTO, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Ana Gasteyer (Suburgatory), Harriet Dyer (The InBetween), X Mayo (The Daily Show), Jon Barinholtz (Superstore), Humphrey Ker (Mythic Quest), Michael B. Washington (Ratched), Tye White (Greenleaf)
WHAT: A single-camera workplace comedy set at the headquarters of a major American automotive company in Detroit, where a floundering group of executives try to rediscover the company identity amidst a rapidly changing industry.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. Honestly, the only reason this reviewer is suggesting the potential of CPU! perusal here comes down to two of the most hesitant reasons: Ana Gasteyer, whose claim to fame is Saturday Night Live, really, but who is a very funny lady, and the fact that this comedy is set in Detroit, which is 2 hours away from our home base in Grand Rapids, Michigan. If we see a trailer, as one is not currently available, to help us review more profoundly the possibility of whether or not this comedy revs our American Auto-type engines, we might reconsider, but this is the minimal of the benefit of the doubt that we can afford based upon home-state pride and, you know, Ana Gasteyer. You go, Ana Gasteyer.
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AMERICAN SONG CONTEST, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHAT: Based on the worldwide phenomenon Eurovision Song Contest, the U.S. version will feature live original musical performances, representing all 50 states, five U.S. territories and our nation’s capital, competing to win the country’s vote for the Best Original Song. An incredible solo artist, duo, DJ or a band will represent each location and will perform a new, original song, celebrating the different styles and genres across America. The live competition consists of three rounds as the acts compete in a series of Qualifying Rounds, followed by the Semi Finals and the ultimate Grand Final, where one state or territory will emerge victorious.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. What a mass quantity of reality/game show competitions being introduced this year, particularly on NBC. Et tu, Peacock?
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THE BIG LEAP, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Sept. 20
TIME SLOT: Mondays at 9/8c
WHO: Scott Foley (Scandal, Whiskey Cavalier), Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs), Teri Polo (The Fosters), Mallory Jansen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Kevin Daniels (Council of Dads), Ser’Darius Blain (Charmed), Ray Cham (Five Points), Jon Rudnitsky (Catch-22), Simone Recasner
WHAT: A group of diverse underdogs from all different walks of life compete to be part of a competition reality series that is putting on a modern, hip remake of Swan Lake. What they lack in the traditional dancer body type, they make up for with their edge, wit and desire to reimagine an iconic story to fit their own mold.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. If we’re going to pick up one show set in Detroit, we might as well pick ’em all up. More to the point, however, this show has many more of the ingredients that convincingly appeal to our Couch Potatoes – an underdog story, some snappy social commentary, theater and dancing (!), and an appeal to our larger world. Having a trailer is helpful when making these sorts of observations, you know. Plus, Scott Foley is somewhat underrated, quite possibly ever since his Felicity days. Maybe this new series will be one that sticks. Note: this show has already premiered at the time of publication of this Fall Preview, so if you have any snap judgments, let us know by commenting below!
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THE CLEANING LADY, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Élodie Yung (Marvel’s Daredevil, The Defenders), Adan Canto (Designated Survivor), Oliver Hudson (Rules of Engagement), Martha Millan (The OA, As the World Turns), Sebastien LaSalle & Valentino LaSalle
WHAT: Based on the Argentine series La Chica que Limpia, this darkly aspirational character drama follows a whip-smart doctor who comes to the U.S. for a medical treatment to save her ailing son. But when the system fails and pushes her into hiding, she refuses to be beaten down and marginalized. Instead, she becomes a cleaning lady for the mob and starts playing the game by her own rules.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Well, this Americanized retooling of an Argentine thriller bears the hallmarks of potential, drawing upon a premise that has not been overly done on any US TV series, much less on network TV. There are two problems here, however. One is that the trailer suggests something soapy and sexy but without much substance. One is that the featured player is Elodie Yung, otherwise known as Elektra in Marvel’s Daredevil and the related Netflix Marvel properties. For our Marvel’s Defenders Series panel, and primarily for the Chief Couch Potato (aka me), who moderated the panel, Yung was a bit of a weak spot performance-wise in an otherwise exemplary adaptation of a beloved comic property. Elektra is not really a sympathetic character; however, Yung did not really bring nuance to the lack of sympathy owed to Matt Murdock’s toxic love interest. She feels about as convincing in this role as she did in that one. She might be able to pull off some more sweet fight choreography if the eponymous cleaning lady is able to throw down at a mob-sponsored hoedown, but the emotional character development is the stretch we’re reaching for here, and, granted, a trailer is but two minutes, but we have a dossier of less convincing dimensionality for a less dimensional character (seemingly). If buzz or steam convince us to take another look, we’ll be more than cheerful to scrub the floor of this initial hot take, but for right now, call housekeeping and take this one to the corner. Sorry, Ms. Yung.
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CSI: VEGAS, CBS
PREMIERE DATE: Oct. 6
TIME SLOT: Wednesdays at 10/9c
WHO: Original CSI stars William Petersen, Jorja Fox and Wallace Langham, plus Paul Guilfoyle, who will guest-star. New cast includes Matt Lauria (Friday Night Lights, Kingdom), Paula Newsome (Chicago Med, Barry), Mel Rodriguez (The Last Man on Earth) and Mandeep Dhillon (After Life).
WHAT: The series opens a brand new chapter in Las Vegas, the city where it all began. Facing an existential threat that could bring down the entire Crime Lab and release thousands of convicted killers back onto the neon-lit streets of Vegas, a brilliant new team of investigators led by Maxine Roby (Newsome) must enlist the help of old friends, Gil Grissom (Petersen), Sara Sidle (Fox) and David Hodges (Langham). This combined force will deploy the latest forensic techniques to do what they do best —follow the evidence — in order to preserve and serve justice in Sin City.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. We are not currently covering any entry in the CSI franchise and have no percolating requests to do so. If we start to receive some indication that people want to hear our opinions about any of the CSIs, we will probably start with the original show and work our way out from there. For now, CSI: Vegas will just have to stay in Vegas.
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COME DANCE WITH ME, CBS
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Host Philip Lawrence with judges Jenna Dewan, Tricia Miranda and Dexter Mayfield
WHAT: Young dancers from across the country invite one inspirational, untrained family member or other adult who has supported their dance dreams, to become their dance partner for a chance to strut their stuff for a grand prize.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. It’s a dance/reality competition. We don’t cover those on our podcast, but we do like to keep you informed, gentle listener. For the pilot season, anyway.
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DOMINO MASTERS, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Host Eric Stonestreet
WHAT: The competition series features teams of domino enthusiasts facing off in an unbelievable domino toppling and chain reaction tournament.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Hey – isn’t that the guy from Modern Family? This is a game show. With dominoes. We don’t cover those on our podcast, either. With or without dominoes. Tell us how the topples go.
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DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS!, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Host Niecy Nash
WHAT: The game show returns to challenge contestants’ musical memory, as they get one song closer to winning $1 million if they don’t forget the lyrics. Contestants will choose songs from different genres, decades and musical artists. Then they’ll take center stage to sing alongside the studio band as the lyrics are projected on screen – but suddenly the music will stop, and the words will disappear.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Another game show, another pass. Though, music is nice.
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THE ENDGAME, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Morena Baccarin (Gotham), Ryan Michelle Bathe (All Rise), Costa Ronin (The Americans), Noah Bean (Nikita), Kamal Bolden (Rosewood), Jordan Johnson-Hinds (Nurses), Mark D. Espinoza (Major Crimes)
WHAT: A pulse-pounding, high-stakes thriller about Elena Federova (Baccarin), a very recently captured international arms dealer and brilliant criminal mastermind who even in captivity orchestrates a number of coordinated bank heists, and Val Turner (Bathe), the principled, relentless and socially outcast FBI agent who will stop at nothing to foil her ambitious plan.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. A trailer would be so helpful, but as this series is a midseason entry, we want what we can’t have. The reason we are giving this a hesitant shot: Morena Baccarin. She has nerd cred for days with our resident Couch Potatoes, and her portraying some kind of antihero/criminal mastermind orchestrating crimes from prison seems like an interesting premise to play off Morena’s trademark sense of dramatic delivery. The endgame of The Endgame could fall flat, but Morena induces the slowly rising thumbs-up. Let’s see what the future holds here.
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FBI: INTERNATIONAL, CBS
PREMIERE DATE: Sept. 21 at 10/9c (special time)
TIME SLOT: Tuesdays at 9/8c
WHO: Luke Kleintank (The Man in the High Castle, Bones), Heida Reed (Poldark), Vinessa Vidotto (Lucifer), Christiane Paul (Counterpart), Carter Redwood (The Long Road Home)
WHAT: Debuting in a crossover episode of FBI and FBI: Most Wanted next season, the offshoot follows the FBI’s International Fly Team as they travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be. Not allowed to carry guns, the Fly Team relies on intelligence, quick thinking and pure brawn as they put their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Like the CSI franchise, we have no one clamoring for our opinions about the now apparent FBI franchise. Until someone wants to discuss or wants us to discuss the flagship show, we’re going to have to remand this back to Quantico. Unless Fox Mulder or Dana Scully appear in it. Then we can talk about the FBI, International and otherwise.
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GHOSTS, CBS
PREMIERE DATE: Oct. 7
TIME SLOT: Thursdays at 9/8c
WHO: Rose McIver (iZombie), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Brockmire, The Mindy Project), Brandon Scott Jones (The Good Place)
WHAT: In the single-camera comedy, a struggling young couple’s dreams come true when they inherit a beautiful country house, only to find it’s both falling apart and inhabited by many of the deceased previous residents.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Maybe it’s because we’re completing our Fall Preview reviews late and during spooky season, but this trailer and the premise for this sitcom are both fresh and funny. The comedy comes from a group of spirits haunting a house that the couple, part of whom is played by the erstwhile Liv from CPU! favorite iZombie, Rose McIver, wants to turn into a bed and breakfast. The problem is, the place is haunted by some decidedly sassy spirits, who all seem to team up to render the living couple’s nightmares some of the living dead, only Rose’s character hits her head, spends time in a coma, and begins to commune with the deceased occupants of the property. It’s a premise that takes a bit from a few genres, mixes the bits up in a blender, and pairs the resulting goo with some snappy joke-telling. I see a lot of appeal for our CP’s and for those who listen to them, so possessing these ghosts on our watchlist we shall.
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GRAND CREW, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Nicole Byer (Nailed It!), Echo Kellum (Arrow), Aaron Jennings (Pure Genius), Carl Tart (Bajillion Dollar Propertie$), Justin Cunningham (When They See Us)
WHAT: A group of Black friends unpack the ups and downs of life and love at a wine bar.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Wine bars are appealing, and this friendship-based comedy might have some grand (crew) potential, but we need a trailer to do a full evaluation. If you see one, let us know, though Mr. Terrific from Arrow, i.e. Echo Kellum, is a welcome face that we love at CPU!
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GOOD SAM, CBS
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Sophia Bush (Chicago P.D.), Jason Isaacs (The OA, Star Trek: Discovery), Michael Stahl-David (Narcos, The Deuce), Skye P. Marshall (Black Lightning), Edwin Hodge (Mayans M.C., Chicago Fire), Davi Santos (Tell Me a Story), Omar Maskati (Unbelievable), Wendy Crewson (Saving Hope)
WHAT: A talented yet stifled surgeon embraces her leadership role after her renowned and pompous boss falls into a coma. When he awakens and wants to resume surgery, however, it falls to her to supervise this overbearing blowhard who never acknowledged her talents — and also happens to be her father.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. So many medical dramas pockmark the TV landscape, and they are hit or miss with our resident sofa-occupying taters. The trailer for this medical drama does not offer much in terms of new and different, except maybe Lucius Malfoy from the Harry Potter films sporting an American accent. This is really a family/father-daughter drama set in a hospital, and while that sort of dynamic is bound to appeal to some, this reviewer is not convinced that this will be a good entry for our Good Sam(antha) or any of our other panelists. Of course, please feel free to request it for podcast coverage if you see potential that we do not. We can change (and have changed) our minds.
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HOME SWEET HOME, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Oct. 15
TIME SLOT: Fridays at 8/7c
WHAT: Executive-produced by Ava DuVernay, the unscripted series follows two families who lead very different lives for a life-changing experience. It explores what it’s like to walk a mile in another person’s shoes by challenging racial, religious, economic, geographic, gender and identity assumptions as participants exchange homes for a week and experience the life of someone unlike them.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. This is an unscripted home-swap show. We cover scripted shows on the CPU! podcast. Someday, when our reality arm gets up and running… if you would like to be a producer for that arm, contact the Chief CP!
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KRAPOPOLIS, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: 2022
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: The voices of Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows), Pam Murphy (Mapleworth Murders), Duncan Trussell (The Midnight Gospel)
WHAT: Created by Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty), the animated comedy is set in mythical ancient Greece and is centered on a flawed family of humans, gods and monsters that tries to run one of the world’s first cities without killing each other.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. Fox’s newest primetime animation entry brings in a new creation of Rick and Morty‘s Dan Harmon, and while a teaser would be particularly helpful, we know that Mr. Harmon doesn’t produce c(k)rap. We have a few requests to cover R&M, but a cartoon set in mythical ancient Greece that has not been Disney-fied, and that could be satirical even as its animation is about the ancients, has some serious potential. How much potential remains to be seen – so seeing the season itself will probably be most informative in that regard. Thus, a hesitant pick up but one all the same.
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LA BREA, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Sept. 28
TIME SLOT: Tuesdays at 9/8c
WHO: Natalie Zea (The Detour), Eoin Macken (The Night Shift), Jon Seda (Chicago P.D.), Nicholas Gonzalez (The Good Doctor), Veronica St. Clair (13 Reasons Why), Jack Martin (All Rise), Rohan Mirchandaney (Hotel Mumbai), Chiké Okonkwo (Being Mary Jane), Josh McKenzie (Filthy Rich), Chloe De Los Santos (Tidelands), Zyra Gorecki, Lily Santiago
WHAT: When a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother and son from father and daughter. When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Though this show is on NBC, who does not do right by its genre entries often, this Land of the Lost meets Neverending Story mystery/sci-fi/fantasy vehicle feels like it would have likely appeal for our United Couch Potatoes, and there are some cool, cinematic visual effects that certainly present intrigue in this trailer. Will this fictional, primeval world entice for the long haul? We’ll have to visit La Brea ourselves to fully see.
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LA FIRE AND RESCUE, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHAT: The docuseries chronicles the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “From helicopter mountain rescues, lifeguard beach SOS, fireboats, hazmat units, to California’s raging wildfires… they do it all,” read the official synopsis. ‘These firefighters are true everyday heroes and their compelling stories will be told alongside the heart-pounding action of unpredictable and dangerous circumstances as they face the front lines of life and death.”
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. This is a docuseries. As in actual reality, not even stylized reality, like The Voice or similar. We talk about the long-form storytelling of the small screen. As in, we like to escape reality. Though we support all of our first responders, we prefer not to watch or talk about them (for now).
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LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE, The CW
PREMIERE DATE: Oct. 10
TIME SLOT: Sundays at 8/7c
WHO: Host Cristela Alonzo, Dee Bradley Baker returning as the voice of Olmec
WHAT: A reimagining of the Nickelodeon game show, now featuring adults as contestants. The new take will bring back fan-favorite elements, including the Moat Crossings, the Steps of Knowledge and the Temple Run. The team names — Purple Parrots, Blue Barracudas, Orange Iguanas, Red Jaguars, Silver Snakes and Green Monkeys — will also remain unchanged. This revamped Hidden Temple promises “tougher challenges” and “much bigger prizes” as each episode pits five teams against one other to enter Olmec’s Temple, discover a treasure and return it to its rightful place — all while avoiding the infamous Temple Guards.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Though it’s a fun, adult remake of a fun game show once produced on Nickelodeon, it’s still a game show. Tell Olmec we said hello.
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MAGGIE, ABC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Rebecca Rittenhouse (The Mindy Project), Nichole Sakura (Superstore), Angelique Cabral (Life in Pieces), Chloe Bridges (The Carrie Diaries), Kerri Kenney (Reno 911), David Del Rio (The Baker and the Beauty), Chris Elliott (Schitt’s Creek), Ray Ford (Grey’s Anatomy), Leonardo Nam (Westworld)
WHAT: Follows a young woman trying to cope with life as a psychic. Maggie regularly sees the fate of her friends, parents, clients, and random strangers on the street, but when she suddenly sees a glimpse of her own future, Maggie is forced to start living in her own present. Based on the short film of the same name by Tim Curcio.
Teaser trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. While placing a psychic at the center of this romantic comedy makes for an interesting premise, the teaser did not present enough establishing information to bear witness to any potential chemistry between the characters comprising the main couple. Also, as this comedy is based upon a short film, the question becomes whether or not this premise, clairvoyant though it might be, can sustain over several episodes, much less several seasons of episodes. If we hear or see buzz or steam suggesting the contrary, we’ll be happy to look into our crystal balls or do a bit of palmistry to walk back our initial snap judgment, but for now, there is too little to go on to make the future of this series seem like a bright one.
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MONARCH, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Jan. 30 (after the NFC Championship) and continuing Feb. 1
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Susan Sarandon (Feud), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), Trace Adkins, Josh Sasse (Galavant), Beth Ditto, Meagan Holder, Inigo Pascual, Martha Higareda, Emma Milani
WHAT: A Texas-sized, multigenerational musical drama about America’s first family of country music. The Romans are headed by the insanely talented, but tough as nails Queen of Country Music Dottie Cantrell Roman (Sarandon). Along with her beloved husband, Albie, Dottie has created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown Nicolette “Nicky” Roman (Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. This is a tough pass because Susan Sarandon is worth her weight in Oscar gold, but does this not seem like a slightly repurposed Nashville with a bigger star than Connie Britton at its forefront – and with a little Dallas thrown into the mix, given the size of the family and potential location? Convince us to give it a look when a trailer comes around, and maybe we’ll be singing some lowdown country confessional walking back our initial pass, but the echoes of other TV shows gone by reverberate a bit too closely to the premise of this series, which, for now, leaves our preview snap judgment reigning supreme.
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NAOMI, The CW
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Kaci Walfall (Army Wives), Barry Watson (7th Heaven), Alexander Wraith (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Cranston Johnson (Hap and Leonard), Mouzam Makkar (The Fix, Champions), Mary-Charles Jones (Kevin Can Wait), Aidan Gemme (Broadway’s Finding Neverland), Daniel Puig, Camila Moreno, Will Meyers
WHAT: Based on DC Comics characters, the drama follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes.
Teaser trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. The teaser offers little on which to base much of an assessment, particularly since the lead actress does not even get much chance to act; however, it is set in the DC Universe, and the premise description presents a small amount of intrigue, even as going into watching this new DC-based entry inspires a large amount of hesitation. We love our superheroes around here, though, so we’ll give Naomi a go.
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NCIS: HAWAI’I, CBS
PREMIERE DATE: Sept. 20
TIME SLOT: Mondays at 10/9c
WHO: Vanessa Lachey (BH90210, Call Me Kat), Yasmine Al-Bustami (The Originals), Jason Antoon (Claws), Noah Mills (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Brave), Tori Anderson (No Tomorrow), Alex Tarrant (800 Words, New Zealand’s Vegas)
WHAT: The franchise expands to the Aloha State, where the first female Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, Jane Tennant (Lachey), has thrived and risen through the ranks by equal parts confidence and strategy in a system that has pushed back on her every step of the way. Together with her unwavering team of specialists, they balance duty to family and country while investigating high-stakes crimes involving military personnel, national security and the mysteries of the sun-drenched island paradise itself.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Like the CSI and FBI franchises, we have no one clamoring for our opinions about the NCIS franchise. Until someone wants to discuss or wants us to discuss the flagship show, this one goes on the pass pile along with the other procedural spinoff series.
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NEXT LEVEL CHEF, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Mentors Gordon Ramsey, Nyesha Arrington, Gino D’Acampo
WHAT: Aspiring chefs compete in cooking challenges on each level of a three-story tower for the $250,000 grand prize.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. If it’s hosted by Gordon Ramsey, it’s probably ineligible for Couch Potatoes Unite! type podcast discussions. I wonder if he’ll still yell at the contestants?
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NIGHT COURT, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory), John Larroquette (the original Night Court, The Good Fight)
WHAT: Unapologetically optimistic judge Abby Stone (Rauch), the daughter of the late Harry Stone, follows in her father’s footsteps as she presides over the night shift of a Manhattan arraignment court and tries to bring order to its crew of oddballs and cynics, most notably former night court prosecutor Dan Fielding (Larroquette).
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. The original Night Court was enjoyable situation comedy comfort-TV from the 80s sitcom heyday, and we’re game to give this revival/reboot a teensy peek based upon the parent series’ strength of comedy and entertainment. Our hesitation, however, comes from the fact that most of the actors who comprised the cast have aged away from their decades-old roles or have passed away, including the inimitable Harry Anderson, the late actor who played the late, magic trick-performing Judge Harry Stone, the apparent father of the judge at the heart of this remake. Can only Dan Fielding as the character connective tissue to the original be enough to make this sitcom sequel as funny as its predecessor? We’re skeptical, but we’re nostalgic, and we like to Look Back to Look Forward around here. If the night court is in session, we’ll let the bailiff call us into the whole affair but only because it’s all at night.
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ORDINARY JOE, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Sept. 20
TIME SLOT: Mondays at 10/9c
WHO: James Wolk (Watchmen, Zoo), Natalie Martinez (Under the Dome), Charlie Barnett (Arrow, Russian Doll), Elizabeth Lail (YOU)
WHAT: Explores the three parallel lives of the show’s main character after he makes a pivotal choice at a crossroads in his life. The series asks the question of how different life might look if you made your decision based on love, loyalty, or passion.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Very Hesitantly Pick Up. The hesitation for this pick up rests with the fact that the show demands viewer identification with the main character three times over in a sort of This Is Us meets It’s a Wonderful Life telltale of three possible life trajectories. This could either be original and enticing, if all three of the trajectories are compelling, or could fall flat if neither the life at the center of the story nor his parallel lives offer a solid and universal enough connection to viewer to sustain over a season or more of this story. Points are awarded for originality, though, and the thought of the so-called Joe at the heart of the tale being able to “see” each of these life trajectories is intriguing – is it real, and what does it mean? This show has aired a few episodes at the time of publication; tell us what you think in the comments below!
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OUR KIND OF PEOPLE, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Sept. 21
TIME SLOT: Tuesdays at 9/8c
WHO: Yaya DaCosta (Chicago Med), Morris Chestnut (The Resident), Joe Morton (God Friended Me, Scandal), Rhyon Nicole Brown (Empire), Lance Gross (House of Payne, Star), Kyle Bary (Ginny & Georgia), Nadine Ellis (Greenhouse Academy), Alana Bright, recurring player Debbi Morgan (Power, All My Children)
WHAT: Executive-produced by Lee Daniels (Empire), the drama takes place in the aspirational world of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, a historical stronghold where the rich and powerful Black elite have come to play for over 50 years. Strong-willed single mom Angela Vaughn sets out to reclaim her family’s name and make an impact with her revolutionary haircare line that highlights the innate, natural beauty of Black women. But she soon discovers a dark secret about her mother’s past that will turn her world upside-down and shake up this community forever.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. The cast is fabulous. Hey hey, Morris Chestnut! The story, however, derivatively resonates from Empire meets Revenge or Dynasty. This show will find an audience, this reviewer suspects, but how much of one will be the podcasting kind of people? If the show gets requested for podcast coverage, we’ll readily put it on the list, but right now, this sudsy soap might be too like others that have come before to entice many of our discerning television viewers – at least for now.
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PIVOTING, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Eliza Coupe (Happy Endings), Ginnifer Goodwin (Why Women Kill, Once Upon a Time), Maggie Q (Designated Survivor), Tommy Dewey (Casual, The Mindy Project), JT Neal (Bless This Mess), Marcello Julian Reyes (Modern Family)
WHAT: The single-camera comedy follows three women after the death of their childhood best friend. Faced with the reality that life is short, in desperate attempts to find happiness, they make a series of impulsive, ill-advised and self-indulgent decisions, strengthening their bond and proving it’s never too late to screw up your life.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. Hm. This appears to be a wish fulfillment comedy, and while there is quite a trio of compelling actresses at the heart of this sitcom, the premise feels like it’s going to win some or lose some just by riding its foundations. In other words, this comedy will be funniest to people who have made similar choices and have learned to laugh at themselves and their circumstances and will be least funny to those who have made similar choices and don’t see the joke in their own lives. All other viewers will likely fall somewhere in between. The trailer also offers what feels like a stunted sampling of the best this sitcom has to offer, so if this is viewed and seen as funnier than the two minutes produced here, let us know. We can certainly be convinced to pivot ourselves (even if doing so reminds us of a large white couch in a decidedly narrow stairwell).
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PROMISED LAND, ABC
PREMIERE DATE: TBA
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: John Ortiz (Rake), Bellamy Young (Prodigal Son, Scandal), Cecilia Suárez (La casa de las flores), Augusto Aguilera (Made for Love), Christina Ochoa (A Million Little Things), Mariel Molino (Papis muy padres), Tonatiuh (Vida), Katya Martín (The Affair) as Juana, Andres Velez, Rolando Chusan
WHAT: An epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latino families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. It seems dramas featuring big, wealthy, powerful families – a la Dallas and Dynasty – are the genre du jour this season. Like Monarch and Our Kind of People, we are going to jump into the passing lane and find a different promised land, especially without a trailer available by which to evaluate the goods. If we’re not watching one of these ilk, we feel compelled to pass on all of them – at least, until someone recommends that we do otherwise, of course.
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QUEENS, ABC
PREMIERE DATE: Oct. 19
TIME SLOT: Tuesdays at 10/9c
WHO: Eve (Eve), Brandy (Moesha), Naturi Naughton (Power), Nadine Velazquez (My Name Is Earl), Pepi Sonuga (Famous in Love), Taylor Selé (P-Valley)
WHAT: In the drama, estranged and out-of-touch, four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as the Nasty Bitches, their ’90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Hesitantly Pick Up. While the drama of a reuniting 90s girl hip-hop group could get old fast if not handled well, there is something super enticing about pairing a less-sassy Eve with a sassier Brandy and seeing how the 90s nostalgia provides ample incidental underscoring for something that could just be fun and entertainment to watch. On the other hand, it could also be a little too “mad corny” as Brandy’s character opines in the trailer, so the hesitation in this evaluation emerges. Still, there are more than a few queens in this stellar cast with the promise of potential musical fun, so it’s worth a cautious look-see at least.
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SMALLWOOD, CBS
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Pete Holmes (Crashing), Katie Lowes (Scandal), Chi McBride (Hawaii Five-O)
WHAT: After being laid off from the assembly line at the GM factory, a seemingly ordinary man makes the extraordinary decision to provide for his family by following his dream of becoming a professional bowler. Based on professional bowler Tom Smallwood’s life.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. It’s a human interest story about a factory-worker turned professional bowler, but, beyond that, the tone is confusing. Is it a comedy? Is it a drama? Is it a comedy-drama? Also, the acting in this trailer is not the best, and it features canned laughter punctuating certain moments of this mundanely executed two minutes. This was, frankly, a boring preview, and there is nothing strong in what we see to entice us to go deeper. If you think that we’re being small about Smallwood, drop us a line, but we do not expect a long life for this series based upon this preliminary review.
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THAT’S MY JAM, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Host Jimmy Fallon
WHAT: An hourlong music and comedy variety event series that draws its creative DNA from The Tonight Show games such as “Wheel of Musical Impressions,” “Roots Name That Song” and “Slay It Don’t Spray It.” In each episode, two teams of two celebrities compete for charity in a series of music and dance-based games, performative segments and play-along trivia.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. We also don’t cover variety shows or shows featuring celebrity competition (see also: The Masked Singer). That isn’t to say we won’t be watching. We just won’t be talking about the fact that we’re watching. Though Daniel Radcliffe should get himself a slot on this show. His rendition of “Alphabet Rap” was pretty dope.
This was delayed from the 2020-2021 TV season, and our initial review was written in fall 2020.
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THE THING ABOUT PAM, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Renee Zellweger (What/If), Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas), Judy Greer (Kidding), Katy Mixon (American Housewife)
WHAT: The six-episode limited drama is based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria that resulted in her husband Russ’ conviction, but he insisted he did not kill her. His conviction was later overturned. This brutal crime set off a chain of events that would expose a diabolical scheme deeply involving Pam Hupp (Zellweger).
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. As much as we love Renee Zellweger around here (and Josh Duhamel and Judy Greer and Katy Mixon), this limited true-crime drama series does not seem to hold much in the way of storytelling new and different from the podcast(s) and journalism covering this same story. The thing about this show is, if this series is requested for podcast coverage, we will reconsider, but true crime is not one of the requested genres currently being discussed.
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TOM SWIFT, The CW
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Tian Richards (Being Mary Jane), the voice of LeVar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
WHAT: The Nancy Drew spinoff follows the serialized adventures of its titular Black, gay, billionaire inventor who is thrust into a world of sci-fi conspiracy and unexplained phenomena after the shocking disappearance of his father. Tom takes to the road on a quest to unravel the truth, leaving behind the comforts of his usual moneyed lifestyle, all while fighting to stay one step ahead of an Illuminati-scale group hell-bent on stopping him. Tom’s missions will require his genius and flair for innovation guided by love, romance, friendship and the mysteries of the universe yet-unsolved.
Teaser trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass For Now. Nancy Drew has been requested for podcast coverage and is on our long list of requested discussions waiting to be produced. Since this show is a spin-off of that venerable adaptation, we prefer to start by visiting the parent show before perusing the content surrounding Tom Swift. You don’t have to take our word for it, though (that one’s for you, LeVar).
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WELCOME TO FLATCH, Fox
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Chelsea Holmes, Sam Straley (The Kids Are Alright), Seann William Scott (Lethal Weapon), Aya Cash (You’re the Worst), Taylor Ortega (Kim Possible movie), Krystal Smith, Justin Linville
WHAT: In this half-hour mockumentary inspired by the BBC format, a documentary crew goes to a small town to study young adults and their current concerns. Their focus is the daily lives of cousins Kelly (Holmes) and Shrub Mallet (Straley) and their idiosyncratic surroundings. We follow the cousins as they pursue their dreams, confront challenges, and fight each other for frozen pizza. These two don’t have much, but they do have each other.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. With the creators and producers (and their sensibilities) of The Office behind this mockumentary-driven slice of small town, Midwestern life – a vantage point to which may of our resident Couch Potatoes can most likely relate – the potential for sincere comedy, so long as it stays above the line of too much judgment and/or criticism, is rife in this new series. We probably can all think of a place like Flatch. The question is, can we laugh at that notion over the course of multiple episodes (and/or seasons of episodes). The trailer leaves us thinking that it’s worth a trip to Flatch to find out.
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THE WHEEL, NBC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Host Michael McIntyre
WHAT: Based on the BBC game show, the series will put viewers into a spin each week as celebrity guests attempt to help contestants win big, with a 42-foot-wide spinning wheel.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pass. If it’s not a drama about a big, multi-generational, multi-geographical family with a heaping dose of entitlement seeping through the camera lens, it’s a game show this season. We’ll be spinning right round this wheel as a result, thanks.
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WOMEN OF THE MOVEMENT, ABC
PREMIERE DATE: Midseason
TIME SLOT: TBA
WHO: Adrienne Warren, Tonya Pinkins, Cedric Joe, Ray Fisher, Glynn Turman, Chris Coy, Carter Jenkins, Julia McDermott
WHAT: The limited series tells the story of Mamie Till-Mobley, who in 1955 risks her life to find justice after her son Emmett is brutally murdered in the Jim Crow South. Unwilling to let Emmett’s murder disappear from the headlines, Mamie chooses to bear her pain on the world stage, emerging as an activist for justice and igniting the Civil Rights movement as we know it today.
Teaser trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. It’s a limited engagement dramatization of the Emmett Till story. If you don’t know this tragic piece of history, and you are looking to understand more about the history of civil rights and the movement in this country, you should watch it simply for the educational value. Will Smith is among the show’s laudable production team.
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THE WONDER YEARS, ABC
PREMIERE DATE: Sept. 22
TIME SLOT: Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c
WHO: Elisha “EJ” Williams, Dulé Hill (Suits, Psych), Saycon Sengbloh (In the Dark), Laura Kariuki (Black Lightning), Milan Ray, Julian Lerner, Amari O’Neil, narrator Don Cheadle
WHAT: The reboot is a coming of age story set in the late 1960s that takes a nostalgic look at a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama through the point-of-view of imaginative 12 year-old Dean. With the wisdom of his adult years, Dean’s hopeful and humorous recollections show how his family found their “wonder years” in a turbulent time.
Trailer available here.
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PICK UP OR PASS?
VERDICT: Pick Up. Like the classic series starring Fred Savage and featuring narrator Daniel Stern, this version of The Wonder Years hearkens back to life in the late 1960s. The difference here is that this story shifts the narrative to the black/African-American perspective in the American South during that period, rather than focusing upon a white family from Anywhere, USA. The reviews of the new show have been somewhat middling; we hope that the series is just taking some time to find its footing. There is potential for a Looking Back to Look Forward CPU! compare and contrast exercise here. We hope that this series survives long enough to make it worthwhile.
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The following is a link to all premiere dates for shows covered beyond the main networks:
http://www.metacritic.com/feature/tv-premiere-dates
Non-Broadcast Network Pick-Ups
We Are Lady Parts (Peacock): It’s been requested for podcast coverage by resident Couch Potatoes (CP’s). (Premieres June 3, 2021)
| PhD student Amina Hussain (Anjana Vasan) is convinced to join a Muslim female punk band named Lady Parts as its lead guitarist in the British music comedy created, written and directed by Nida Manzoor. |
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Sweet Tooth (Netflix): It’s a fantasy adapted from DC Comics. (Premieres June 4, 2021)
| A half human and half deer-boy (Christian Convery) leaves his isolated home to find a post-apocalyptic world as he befriends other hybrids and humans in this series based on the DC comic by Jeff Lemire. |
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Starstruck (HBO Max): This one has also been requested for podcast discussion by a CP or two. (Premieres June 10, 2021)
| The one-night stand London twenty-something Jessie (Rose Matafeo) has with the famous movie star Tom Kapoor (Nikesh Patel) becomes something more in this British comedy created by Matafeo. |
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Loki (Disney+): Who doesn’t love Tom Hiddleston’s wily trickster god, now on TV? (Premieres June 11, 2021)
| Loki (Tom Hiddleston) returns as the God of Mischief after the circumstances of 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” |
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Kevin Can F**k Himself (AMC): Annie Murphy has a new show and a new character far from “Schitt’s Creek’s” Alexis that has generated quite a bit of buzz. (Premieres June 13, 2021)
| Allison McRoberts (Annie Murphy) has been living like a stereotypical sitcom housewife but after 10 years, she reaches her breaking point in this dark comedy created by Valerie Armstrong. |
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We the People (Netflix): It’s “Schoolhouse Rock” – but for civics – and it’s produced by the Obamas, who probably know a thing or two about civics. (Released July 4, 2021)
| Sort of a modern take on Schoolhouse Rock, these animated, three-minute-long civics lessons are set to original songs performed by the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Adam Lambert, H.E.R., Brandi Carlile, Andra Day, and Bebe Rexha. The series comes from Barack and Michelle Obama (true fact: one is a former U.S. president) along with Kenya Barris. |
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Monsters at Work (Disney+): The more Sully and Mike Wazowski, the better. (Premieres July 7, 2021)
| Rescheduled from July 2. A sequel to the Pixar films Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University, this animated series returns the voices of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Bonnie Hunt, John Ratzenberger, and Jennifer Tilly and adds Ben Feldman, Henry Winkler, Mindy Kaling, Lucas Neff, and Aisha Tyler. |
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The White Lotus (HBO Max, miniseries): This miniseries has been requested for podcast coverage. (Premieres July 11, 2021)
| Written and directed by Mike White (Enlightened), this six-episode social satire spends a week at an exclusive Hawaiian resort where the guests, employees, and resort itself turn out to be far less perfect than first appearances would suggest. The ensemble cast includes Connie Britton, Steve Zahn, Sydney Sweeney, Murray Bartlett, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Natasha Rothwell, and Molly Shannon. |
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Welling Paranormal (HBO Max/the CW): We have fans and requesters of podcast coverage of “What We Do In the Shadows,” so we’re banking on some crossover appeal. (Premieres July 11, 2021)
| Making its American debut three years after it first aired in New Zealand, this mockumentary-style TV series spinoff from the original What We Do in the Shadows film should appeal to fans of the hit FX TV show also based on that movie. Two of the movie’s stars, Karen O’Leary and Michael Minogue, reprise their roles in Wellington as clueless cops who are members of their city’s paranormal policing unit, and the series was created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, who were also responsible for both the film and its American TV spinoff. Two new episodes air back-to-back tonight, and all episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max the day after they air on The CW. |
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Dr. Death (Peacock, miniseries): A stellar cast and some critical acclaim make this true-crime miniseries one of intrigue. (Premieres July 15, 2021)
| One of the first shows ordered by Peacock when the streaming service was announced in 2019 (but delayed, like everything else, by the pandemic), this eight-episode limited series is a fictionalized adaptation of the first season of the true-crime podcast of the same name, focusing on the investigation into a Texas neurosurgeon who was accused of gross malpractice after over 30 of his patients were left seriously injured or dead. The delay in production led to numerous changes behind and in front of the camera, starting with the lead role of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, now played by Joshua Jackson after Jamie Dornan was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Alec Baldwin, AnnaSophia Robb, Carrie Preston, and the Mr. Robot duo of Christian Slater and Grace Gummer also star. Maggie Kiley (a late replacement for Stephen Frears) directs the first two episodes as part of an all-female director slate that also includes Jennifer Morrison and So Yong Kim. |
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American Horror Stories (FX): Our “American Horror Story Series” panel, now called our “American Horror Story Franchise Series” panel, is eager to take up this one for podcast coverage. (Premieres July 15, 2021)
| This FX on Hulu anthology series is a spinoff from Ryan Murphy’s long-running FX series American Horror Story. While the latter (which returns next month) tells a different story each season, the new show is an episodic anthology, similar to The Twilight Zone, with a different story and cast for each hour-long episode. (Some of those cast members include Matt Bomer, Evan Peters, Taissa Farmiga, and Danny Trejo, while Murphy regular Sarah Paulson will be one of the directors on the series.) Two episodes stream today followed by five additional weekly installments. |
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Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+): We have far too many musical-loving Couch Potatoes and Couch Potatoes Adjacent to ignore this new musical comedy. (Premieres July 16, 2021)
| Created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio (the writers of Despicable Me) and produced by SNL‘s Lorne Michaels, this six-episode Apple musical parody series stars Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as a couple on a backpacking trip who stumble upon a town in which all of the residents believe that they are living inside a 1940s studio musical. Unfortunately for them (but fortunately for us?), they find themselves trapped in the town until they are able to discover “true love.” Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Fred Armisen, and Jane Krakowski also star, while Martin Short guests. |
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Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz): We have “Power” fans and might have to do a podcast series. (Premieres July 18, 2021)
| Mekai Curtis, Omar Epps, Hailey Kilgore, and Patina Miller star in the latest Power spinoff—and the only one that’s a prequel. It’s set in the 1990s and follows the teenage years of future drug dealer Kanan Stark, the character originated by 50 Cent and played here by Curtis. |
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Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Netflix, miniseries): A surprising number of CPs and CPs Adjacent had stellar things to say about Netflix’s sponsorship of the return of He-Man. Of course, so many of us are Generation X and Millennials. (Premieres July 23, 2021)
| Picking up after the events of the 1980s syndicated animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, the Netflix-exclusive Revelation comes from Kevin Smith—yes, the one you are thinking of. He has crafted a series aimed at the Gen Xers who originally watched He-Man (as children) when it first aired. So expect something a bit talkier and more complex than the original, even if the visuals look familiar. Naturally, Jason Mewes is in the cast, but so are Mark Hamill, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chris Wood, Lena Heady, Stephen Root, Henry Rollins, Phil LaMarr, Diedrich Bader, and Alicia Silverstone. The series will air in two parts, so only five episodes will stream today, but they will be accompanied by an aftershow, Revelations: The Masters of the Universe Revelation Aftershow. |
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Reservation Dogs (Hulu): We have requests to discuss this comedy, featuring an all-Indigenous cast. (Premieres August 9, 2021)
| The latest “FX on Hulu” original series comes from Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo. Featuring an all-Indigenous cast and writing/directing staff, the comedy is set on a reservation in Oklahoma where four teenaged friends attempt to save (and steal) enough money to move to California. |
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What If…? (Disney+): It’ s Marvel characters, animated, and tossed into a salad bowl of mixed-up narratives, similar to the DC Elseworlds stories. Here, Peggy Carter might be Captain Britain, or T’Challa might be Star Lord. Plus, all the real actors from the films return to voice their characters! (Premieres August 11, 2021)
| Yes, it’s yet another Marvel series on Disney+, but this one’s different: It’s animated. It’s also literally different. Based on the comic book series of the same name, the anthology series What If reimagines classic Marvel characters in hypothetical situations that depart from the stories you know from the MCU films. What if it were Peggy Carter who took the Super Soldier serum and became Captain |
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Brand New Cherry Flavor (Netflix, miniseries): Some percolations of high praise have cropped up from the resident CP’s. (Premieres August 13, 2021)
| Todd Grimson’s hallucinatory horror novel gets an eight-episode adaptation from Channel Zero vets Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion. The series follows an aspiring film director (Rosa Salazar) who heads to L.A. in the 1990s, only to find her dream project turn into a nightmare—apparently, one that includes “zombies, hit men, supernatural kittens, and a mysterious tattoo artist.” Catherine Keener, Manny Jacinto, Eric Lange, and Mark Acheson also star. |
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Heels (Starz): Shirtless Stephen Amell wrestling…who cares what else it might be about (hearts hearts hearts)? (Premieres August 15, 2021)
| Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig star as small-town professional wrestlers (and brothers) in an eight-episode series from Michael Waldron (Loki) that also stars Mary McCormack, Alison Luff, and Kelli Berglund. |
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Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu, miniseries): From several minds behind “Big Little Lies,” the reviews have been mixed, but the talk (and requests for talk) have been palpable. (Premieres August 18, 2021)
| The latest star-filled cable drama from David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies) is an adaptation of the best-seller by Liane Moriarty set during a 10-day retreat at a luxury health-and-wellness resort. Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Manny Jacinto, and Samara Weaving star, while Jonathan Levine (50/50) directs all eight episodes (which will stream weekly following today’s triple-episode debut). |
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The Chair (Netflix): From the guys behind “Game of Thrones,” it boasts a superb cast with Sandra Oh at its forefront, and apparently anyone who works in higher education is going to feel this show acutely in the heart and mind spaces – it’s already been requested for podcast discussion. (Premieres August 20, 2021)
| For their first series since Game of Thrones (and their subsequent signing of an enormous contract with Netflix), the production team of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have opted for something very different: a six-episode dramedy set within the English department of a fictional university. Killing Eve‘s Sandra Oh, playing the newly installed first female head of the department, heads a cast that also features Jay Duplass, Holland Taylor, Bob Balaban, David Morse, Nana Mensah, and Everly Carganilla. Actress Amanda Peet created the series (with Annie Julia-Wyman) and serves as showrunner—it’s her debut in those roles—though she doesn’t appear in the show. |
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Only Murders in the Building (Hulu): Steve Martin! Martin Short! And a full panel waiting in the wings to discuss the apparent comedic genius of this new streaming entry. (Premieres August 30, 2021)
| Steve Martin co-created and stars in a comedic murder mystery about three |
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Q-Force (Netflix): We have an audience for this animated series built into our CP roster. (Premieres September 2, 2021)
| In development since 2019, Netflix’s latest animated comedy series centers on an elite gay spy (voiced by Sean Hayes) who is shipped off to a West Hollywood desk job after coming out to his superiors. There, he assembles a rogue team of LGBTQ+ geniuses known as the Q-Force who finally win the support of the agency after a decade, but with one catch: they must add a new member (David Harbour), who is straight. Gary Cole, Laurie Metcalf, Patti Harrison, Matt Rogers, Wanda Sykes, and Gabe Liedman also star in the series, which was created by Liedman (a writer on Kroll Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Broad City, and PEN15). |
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Kin (AMC): It’s set in Ireland and features Daredevil himself, Charlie Cox. (Premieres September 9, 2021)
| Charlie Cox, Aidan Gillen, Ciarán Hinds, and Clare Dunne star in a Dublin-set organized crime drama. |
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Y: The Last Man (Hulu): A science fiction series adapted from Vertigo comics and featuring all female episode directors. (Premieres September 13, 2021)
| This long-in-the-works FX on Hulu original series is an adaptation of the Hugo Award-winning, post-apocalyptic Vertigo series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. Like the comics, the TV series is set in a world in which a cataclysmic event has wiped out every male on Earth (except one), leaving a planet inhabited by women. Diane Lane, Amber Tamblyn, Olivia Thirlby, Ashley Romans, and Marin Ireland star. It has been a bumpy journey from page to screen: The original showrunners, Michael Green and Aida Mashaka Croal, departed the production in 2019 over creative differences, and were eventually replaced by Eliza Clark (Animal Kingdom, Rubicon), while original last man portrayer Barry Keoghan left the series in early 2020 and was replaced by Ben Schnetzer (Warcraft). Three additional stars, Imogen Poots, Timothy Hutton, and Lashana Lynch, were also replaced last fall when filming finally commenced. All 10 episodes were directed by women. Two of those episodes stream today, followed by weekly single-episode installments. |
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The Premise (Hulu): “The Office’s” BJ Novak gives us several thought-provoking premises within anthological episodic stories and a stellar cast. (Premieres September 16, 2021)
| B.J. Novak’s mysterious and experimental FX on Hulu episodic anthology series finally has a title—and a few details other than the fact that it is written, directed (in part), and hosted by the former co-star and writer on The Office. Said to tackle “the biggest questions of our modern era,” The Premise will blend comedy and drama across five half-hour episodes, which will revolve around stories like a woman who becomes obsessed with an anonymous online comment, a billionaire who offers his childhood bully an unusual opportunity, and an embarrassing sex tape that captures a disputed police incident in the background and with it the chance to save a wrongfully arrested man—if the tape goes public. The impressive cast will feature Jon Bernthal, Amy Landecker, Beau Bridges, Ed Asner, Ben Platt, Jermaine Fowler, Daniel Dae Kim, Lucas Kedges, Kaitlyn Dever, O’Shea Jackson Jr., George Wallace, and more. The first two episodes stream today. |
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Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol (Peacock): Can Robert Langdon and his exploits work on the small screen? Let’s find out. (Premieres September 16, 2021)
| Dan Brown’s 2009 novel—his third to feature Robert Langdon, following Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, was at one point going to be adapted into another Tom Hanks movie like those other titles (and Inferno). Instead, it became a prequel TV series, with Ashley Zukerman (Designated Survivor, Manhattan) taking over the role of a young Langdon, the Harvard symbologist who is enlisted by the CIA to help save his mentor and stop a global conspiracy. Valorie Curry and Eddie Izzard also star. |
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Midnight Mass (Netflix, miniseries): From the horrific brain of Mike Flanagan, who haunted a Hill House and a Bly Manor, a fast CP favorite. (Premieres September 24, 2021)
| Zach Gilford and Hamish Linklater head the cast for the latest Netflix thriller from Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) that is set on an island where the arrival of a mysterious young priest coincides with some supernatural happenings. All seven episodes stream today. |
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Foundation (Apple TV+): Who doesn’t love an Asimov adaptation? (Premieres September 24, 2021)
| The famed sci-fi novel trilogy by Isaac Asimov is now an Apple original series from David S. Goyer. (Originally, Josh Friedman was also on board as co-showrunner and co-writer, though he left the project back in 2019.) Jared Harris (playing Hari Seldon, the genius mathematician who forecasts an end to the empire that rules the galaxy and seeks to minimize the duration of the following dark age) and Lee Pace (as Brother Day, the current emperor) star in the series, which unlike Asimov’s books also appears to have room for a few female characters. Those Foundation books have never before been adapted to film or television in large part due to their immense scope, which spans centuries, and it is unclear how large a time period Goyer is planning to cover should the series progress to future seasons. Three episodes—including the opener directed by Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) in his TV debut—stream today, followed by seven additional weekly installments. |
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Just Beyond (Disney+): We have got some RL Stine fans in the house, and a “Twilight Zone” riff is spooky season satisfaction. (Premieres October 13, 2021)
| Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) adapts the R.L. Stine graphic novel series into a sort of supernatural and comedic take on the Twilight Zone episodic anthology formula. Instead of Disney+’s usual weekly rollout, all eight episodes of Just Beyond will be available to stream today. At least two of those episodes will be directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), while some of the actors who will appear include Mckenna Grace, Lexi Underwood, Henry Thomas, Nasim Pedrad, Tim Heidecker, and Riki Lindhome. |
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Invasion (Apple TV+): Give us aliens – or give us something else. (Premieres October 22, 2021)
| From frequent X-Men screenwriter Simon Kinberg and Hunters and Solos creator David Weil comes this long-in-the-works, big-budget, alien invasion drama. Shamier Anderson and Sam Neill head the large ensemble for a 10-episode series set (and filmed) in multiple locations around the globe. Expect a character-driven take on the oft-filmed War of the Worlds formula. |
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Maya and the Three (Netflix, miniseries): The previews for this animated fantasy are gorgeous, and the voice cast is outstanding. (Premieres October 22, 2021)
| An epic nine-part animated fantasy from animator/director Jorge R. Gutierrez (The Book of Life), Maya is inspired by Mexican mythology and features the voices of Zoe Saldaña (as the titular warrior princess), Gabriel Iglesias, Stephanie Beatriz, Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alfred Molina, Allen Maldonado, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Rosie Perez, Queen Latifah, Wyclef Jean, and Rita Moreno. |
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Star Trek: Prodigy (Paramount+): This latest animated “Star Trek” series will be covered by our Star Trek 50+ Series panel. (Premieres October 28, 2021)
| Originally ordered as a Nickelodeon series—and the cable network will still air it, but at a later date after its streaming debut—Prodigy is the third animated Star Trek series but the first intended exclusively for younger audiences. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing of interest for longtime Star Trek fans. That group might be delighted by the return of Kate Mulgrew as Voyager‘s Captain Janeway. Or, rather, as an emergency hologram version of Janeway on a derelict Federation ship that is stolen by a group of teen aliens who then take it to explore the universe, as teen aliens often do. (They are voiced by Jason Mantzoukas, Dee Bradley Baker, and Breet Gray, among others, while recurring guests include Jameela Jamil, Jason Alexander, Daveed Diggs, and Robert Beltran, the latter reprising his Voyager role of Chakotay.) Today’s premiere runs one hour, while subesequent episodes (arriving weekly) will be 30 minutes. |
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Head of the Class (HBO Max): Morbid curiosity will have us checking out this latest reboot. Plus Robin Givens. (Premieres November 3, 2021)
| Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time) is the head of the cast for this reboot of the high school sitcom that ran for five years on ABC in the late ’80s (and featured Howard Hesseman and then Billy Connolly in the lead role). Set at a different school, the new series is produced by Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Scrubs) alongside American Vandal vets Amy Pocha and Seth Cohen. Robin Givens guests as a grown-up version of Darlene Merriman, the role she played in the original series and who is now the head of the PTA at the school attended by her son. |
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Dexter: New Blood (Showtime): This revival has our “Dexter”-loving CPs all a-twitter with anticipation, particularly since many members of the original cast return. (Premieres November 7, 2021)
| Famed |
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The Shrink Next Door (Apple TV+, miniseries): It’s got Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell in it. That’s good by itself. (Premieres November 12, 2021)
| A darkly comedic, eight-part miniseries based on true events as chronicled in the podcast of the same name, Shrink focuses on the increasingly odd, dysfuntional, and manipulative relationship between a celebrity psychiatrist (Paul Rudd) and his longtime patient (Will Ferrell). (How odd? At one point the doctor moves into his patient’s summer home and attempts to take over his business.) Kathryn Hahn and Casey Wilson also star. Michael Showalter (The Big Sick, Search Party) and Jesse Peretz (GLOW, Girls) direct from a script by Georgia Pritchett (Veep, Succession). Three episodes stream today followed by single episodes each Friday through 12/17. |
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Marvel’s Hit-Monkey (Hulu): Read the description. Read it again. (Premieres November 17, 2021)
| Nearly two years ago many of Hulu’s planned Marvel series were scrapped as Marvel instead reoriented itself around Disney+. But not Hit-Monkey. The adult animated series comes from Josh Gordon and Will Speck (Blades of Glory) and could be TV’s only series to center on a revenge-seeking Japanese macaque who is mentored by the ghost of an assassin after his family his murdered. (At least this year.) Jason Sudeikis, Olivia Munn, George Takei, Ally Maki, and Fred Tatasciore head the voice cast. All 10 episodes stream today. |
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Cowboy Be-Bop (Netflix): I think it’s a live-action “Cowboy.” Inquiring minds need to know. (Premieres November 19, 2021)
| Delayed a year not (necessarily) due to the pandemic but because of an on-set injury to its star, Netflix’s live-action series adaptation of Cowboy Bebop finally makes its 10-episode debut. The original Cowboy Bebop was a Japanese-produced, jazz-inspired anime series from the late 1990s that later earned an American fanbase through airings on Adult Swim. This remake similarly attempts to blend science fiction and noir tropes as it depicts the adventures of a group of bounty hunters operating throughout the solar system. Some of those bounty hunters are played by John Cho (as Spike Spiegel), Mustafa Shakir (as Jet Black), and Daniella Pineda (as Faye Valentine), while Alex Hassell plays Vicious, part of the evil Syndicate. Yes, that jazzy soundtrack will return: Yoko Kanno, who scored the anime series, is back to put the bebop in the new series as well. |
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The Wheel of Time (Amazon Prime): We’ve been waiting on this fantasy adaptation a while. (Premieres November 19, 2021)
| In its quest for its own Game of Thrones, Amazon isn’t putting all of its (dragon) eggs in one basket. In addition to next year’s Lord of the Rings series, another epic fantasy novel adaptation is headed to Prime Video this fall. Amazon has already committed to at least two seasons of The Wheel of Time, which adapts the best-selling book series by Robert Jordan (and, after his death, Brandon Sanderson) that spans 14 individual novels plus a prequel. There have been several prior attempts to bring the books to both TV and the big screen, but the massive scope of the series made those projects ultimately untenable. Amazon’s version stars Rosamund Pike and comes from former Survivor contestant (and writer on Agents of SHIELD and Chuck) Rafe Judkins and like the books is set in a world where magic exists but only a select group of women are allowed to use it. (If you are keeping score at home, that makes two shows this year created by Survivor contestants—and the other one was pretty great.) The first three episodes stream today, followed by five additional weekly installments on Fridays. Season 2 has already begun filming (albeit with a different actor, Donal Finn rather than Barney Harris, playing Mat Cauthon), and Judkins has a total of eight seasons planned out if Amazon agrees to move forward. |
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Hawkeye (Disney+): Another eagerly anticipated entry in the Marvel Cinematic TV Universe by our superhero-loving CP’s. (Premieres November 24, 2021)
| What if … Disney+ went several months without a new live-action Marvel series? No need to think about such a dire scenario any longer; the next one is here. Hawkeye finds Jeremy Renner reprising the title role (which he has played in half a dozen Marvel films) of Clint Barton. But he’s not the only one: Joining the MCU is Hailee Steinfeld as a young fan who trains with Barton to become the next Hawkeye. The series comes from Jonathan Igla, who is new to the MCU but has written and produced for shows ranging from Mad Men to Bridgerton, and the cast also includes Vera Farmiga, Florence Pugh, Linda Cardellini, and newcomer Alaqua Cox, whose character (Maya Lopez/Echo) is being considered for a spinoff. Two episodes stream today, followed by single episodes on each of the following four Wednesdays. |
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The Book of Boba Fett (Disney+): Something about Star Wars. (Premieres December 29, 2021)
| Temuera Morrison (playing Boba Fett) and Ming-Na Wen (as fellow bounty hunter Fennec Shand) star in a spinoff from the hit Star Wars streaming series The Mandalorian that is set (at least in part) on Tatooine. Robert Rodriguez, who directed the Mandalorian episode that saw the return of Fett (a character that was first seen in The Empire Strikes Back—or, if you prefer, the Star Wars Holiday Special), will direct multiple episodes of the new series and serve as a producer alongside Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni (both of whom will also direct episodes, as will fellow Mandalorian director Bryce Dallas Howard). |
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Others on radar: The Lord of the Rings series in development at Amazon; The Chronicles of Narnia at Netflix; The Watch (BBC); Conan at Amazon; The Dark Tower at Amazon; and the Three-Body Problem adaptation at Netflix.
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There you have it! We will add Pick Ups to the CPU! Watchlist and cover them in this blog or via our ever growing podcast. For those passed, if you think we should give them another chance, head on over to the comments section and sound off! If you would like to be a guest blogger about any passed shows, send me a message, and we’ll talk terms!
In short:
Picked Up
ABC
Queens (hesitantly)
Women of the Movement (limited series)
The Wonder Years
CBS
Ghosts
Fox
The Big Leap (hesitantly)
Krapopolis (hesitantly)
Welcome to Flatch
NBC
American Auto (very hesitantly)
The Endgame (hesitantly)
La Brea
Night Court (very hesitantly)
Ordinary Joe (very hesitantly)
CW
4400
Naomi (very hesitantly)
Netflix
Sweet Tooth
We the People
Masters of the Universe: Revelation (miniseries)
Brand New Cherry Flavor (miniseries)
The Chair
Q-Force
Midnight Mass (miniseries)
Maya and the Three (miniseries)
Cowboy Be-Bop
Amazon Prime
The Wheel of Time
Hulu
Reservation Dogs
Nine Perfect Strangers (miniseries)
Only Murders in the Building
Y: The Last Man
The Premise
Marvel’s Hit-Monkey
AMC
Kevin Can F**k Himself
Kin
Starz
Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Heels
Paramount+
Star Trek: Prodigy
Disney+
Loki
Monsters at Work
What If…?
Just Beyond
Hawkeye
The Book of Boba Fett
Peacock
We Are Lady Parts
Dr. Death (miniseries)
Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol
HBO Max
Starstruck
The White Lotus (miniseries)
Wellington Paranormal
Head of the Class
Showtime
Dexter: New Blood
FX
American Horror Stories
Apple TV+
Schmigadoon!
Foundation
Invasion
The Shrink Next Door (miniseries)
Winning Network: Netflix
Passed
ABC
Abbott Elementary
Maggie
Promised Land
CBS
CSI: Vegas
Come Dance with Me
FBI: International
Good Sam
NCIS: Hawai’i
Smallwood
Fox
Alter Ego
The Cleaning Lady
Domino Masters
Don’t Forget the Lyrics
Monarch
Next Level Chef
Our Kind of People
Pivoting
NBC
AGT: Extreme
American Song Contest
Grand Crew
Home Sweet Home
LA Fire and Rescue
That’s My Jam
The Thing About Pam (limited series)
The Wheel
CW
All American: Homecoming
Legends of the Hidden Temple
Tom Swift (for now)
Losing Networks: Fox and NBC (tie)
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Remember, new episodes and blog posts are published weekly! Tomorrow, CPU! offers an encore presentation of one of our Patreon bonus episodes: our M*A*S*H Legacy Panel, entitled “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen,” in which viewers who have a better memory of watching the classic comedy in real time comment upon the series’ longevity and timeless appeal to younger generations of viewers. Stay tuned for this thoughtful and nostalgic discussion!
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