As we head into a drama-heavy season, we have selected ten of the Big 5 network’s best-looking Fall 2015 television shows which you should have on your radar.
Like a book and its cover, it’s important to not completely judge a television show based on its trailer — for good or for bad. A look at a show through the trailers below are designed to sell the show to advertisers. That could mean explaining the entire premise in five minutes, or squeezing in as many car chases and flying bullets or laughs as possible.
There are some 22 new shows premiering this fall, and even more once you factor in mid-season shows, so chances are there will be something, somewhere you’ll want to check out.
Also, you’ll notice, we are heading into another heavy drama season. While many of these shows look great, only one on our list is a half-hour comedy. There’s also a revival of NBC’s Coach, and some questionable comedies (sorry, People Are Talking).
‘Supergirl’ (CBS)
Starring: Melissa Benoist as Supergirl/ Kara Danvers, Derek Mio as Hayashi, Mehcad Brooks as James ‘Jimmy’ Olsen, Jeremy Jordan as Toyman, and Laura Benanti as Alura Zor-El
Premise: When Kara followed in her cousin’s footsteps, venturing to Earth, she wasn’t quite content to be the coffee girl at work. When she jumps (literally) at the chance to save an airplane full of people and her identity is revealed, she embraces her superpowers. More importantly, she surrounds herself with people who want to help her, and she defies those who do not. Also, Jeremy Jordan is in this show (heart-eyes emoji).
‘Grandfathered’ (FOX)
Starring: John Stamos as Jimmy, Josh Peck and Gerald, Paget Brewster as Sara, Christina Millian as Vanessa, Kelly Jenrette as Annalise, Ravi Patel as Ravi
Premise: In what seems to be Fuller House before Fuller House even premieres, John Stamos stars as a playboy restaurant executive with “the life.” Enter: Josh Peck as Gerald, the son Jimmy never knew he had, and Gerald has in tow his baby, the granddaughter Jimmy never knew he had. Overall, the trailer looks enjoyable as Jimmy has to fumble his way through being a responsible adult and maturing past his glory days.
‘The Catch’ (ABC)
Starring: Mireille Enos as Alice, Alimi Ballard as Evan, Damon Dayoub as Kieran, Jay Hayden as James, Jacky Ido as Emil, Bethany Joy Lenz as Zoe, Rose Rollins as Andie and Elvy Yost as Maria
Premise: If the fact it’s executive produced by Shonda Rhimes and her TGIT team, then we don’t know what will make you watch. A woman who sees beneath the veneer of almost any of her marks manages to get involved with one jerk of a con artist. When her so-called ‘fiancé’ clears out her bank account and gets out of town, she oscillates between wanting to break down and tracking him down and doing some probably imaginable things.
‘Quantico’ (ABC)
Starring: Priyanka Chopra as Alex Weaver, Tate Ellington as Simon Asher, Aunjanue Ellis as Miranda Shaw, Graham Rogers as Caleb Haas, Johanna Braddy as Shelby Wyatt and Jake McLaughlin as Ryan Booth
Premise: This one took us a while to get into. As FBI recruits, Alex Weaver and her fellow trainees are put to the test, mentally, physically and emotionally. Being forced to fight each other to weed out the unpromising recruits, everyone is on edge, but some might get pushed over. When someone frames Alex for committing a terrorist attack, she runs from the government and in a desperate search for the truth. Unsure who to trust or who was really behind the attack, the season is sure to be thrilling.
‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ (CW)
Starring: Rachel Bloom as Rebecca, Santino Fontana as Greg, Vincent Rodriquez III as Josh, and Gina Gallego as Mrs. Hernandez
Premise: For those of you who are questioning my sanity right now, hang on. When Jane the Virgin was announced for pick-up, pretty much everyone rolled their eyes. But then, practically three episodes in last fall, people fell in love with the show and its characters. I personally doubted the CW then, but then binged JTV during its winter hiatus and because of that, I am giving the CW one shot at the “kooky-girl-obsessed-with-a-boy-BUT-WAIT-it’s-also-a-musical” premise. Join me, won’t you?
‘Legends of Tomorrow’ (CW)
Starring: Arthur Darvill as Rip Hunter, Caity Lotz as White Canary, Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer, Ciara Renne as Hawkgirl, Wentworth Miller as Captain Cold and Dominic Purcell as Heat Wave
Premise: Can DC strike gold thrice? Last year, The Flash found critical and mass ratings success as The Arrow‘s more-lighthearted cousin and had a fantastic first season. The two will have annual cross-over ‘event’ episodes and regularly acknowledge they live in the same universe. Now, a third super hero show stars characters from both franchises — including one we thought was dead! Hey, White Canary! As much as we love Ray Palmer as Atom on The Arrow, we’re excited to see him take more of a spotlight in Legends of Tomorrow, and, we can’t wait to get to know Rip Hunter better (Arthur Darvill’s mustache is another story.)
‘Limitless’ (CBS)
Starring: Jake McDorman as Brain Sinclair, Jennifer Carpenter as Rebecca, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Nasreen Awad, Hill Harper as Boyle and Bradley Cooper as recurring guest star, Eddie Mora
Premise: In a continuation of the 2011 film staring Bradley Cooper, the show looks to be a second act, not necessarily a sequel or a remake. We’re sure if you haven’t seen the movie yet (like some of us), you won’t need it to follow this show’s story, but it can’t hurt. Limitless looks to try to break the stand thriller/drama norm of TV, but whether or not it can do so successfully remains to be seen.
‘Life in Pieces’ (CBS)
Starring:Zoe Lister Jones as Jen, Colin Hanks as Greg Short, James Brolin as John Short, Betsy Brandt as Heather Short, Thomas Saoski as Matt Short, Dianne Wiest as Joan Short, and Angelique Cabral as Colleen
Premise: Life in Pieces might be CBS’s response to Modern Family. Following a grown family, the siblings are all at different stages of life. One just had her first baby, another has their first kid going off to college, and another is still trying to find The One. Oh, and James Brolin, as the patriarch, holds a fake funeral for himself as his 70th birthday party. We’re in.
‘Scream Queens’ (Fox)
Starring:Emma Roberts as Chanel Oberlin, Jamie Lee Curtis as Dean Cathy Munsch, Lea Michele as Hester, Skyler Samuels as Grace, Abigail Breslin, Keke Palmer as Zayday, Nick Jonas as Boone
Premise: Fox defines it as “part black comedy, part slasher flick,” we see it if Scream and Gossip Girl got together and had a baby. Produced and written by Ryan Murphy, the show has some serious AHS vibes. Will they be toned down for network’s sake or will it be just as nuts as its FX counterpart? We’ll have to wait and see — but judging by the trailer, we’re assuming the former.
‘The Player’ (NBC)
Starring: Wesley Snipes as Johnson, Charity Wakefield as Cassandra, Philip Winchester as Alex
Premise: The Player is from the producers of The Blacklist, which just stuck the landing on season 2, so you know this show will build from the pilot. Watching this trailer, we know that there is so much more to this universe that we don’t know yet, meaning if you’re not completely sold, that’s understandable. Maybe give the whole pilot a shot in September.
It’s hard to believe now, with all our shows going into hiatus, but before we know it autumn will be here. Fall 2015 television will be new and fresh, and for advertiser’s and network’s sake, hopefully good.