Coming out of a few weeks of mostly reruns, my appetite for new shows is ravenous. Here’s a quick run-down of some brand-new series premiering over the next few months, roughly in the order of my curiosity about them.
1. Dollhouse (Fox, premiering Feb. 13) Joss Whedon in the (doll)house! With Buffy’s Eliza Dushku as part of a group of humans whose personality is erased and imprinted with a new one each time she goes on a new mission for a client. Sheesh, it sounds complicated, doesn’t it? But there’s no one I’d trust more to guide me into a tricky TV series than creator-producer-writer Whedon. Bring on the mind-bending…
2. Castle (ABC, premiering Mar. 9) Another Whedon alum–Nathan Fillion, from the great cult series Firefly–stars as a mystery-writer turned mystery-solver. Could be a lot of wry fun, or could be Murder, He Wrote; can’t wait to find out.
3. Lie To Me (Fox, premiering Jan. 21) Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction) stars as a scientist who specializes in reading people’s faces and body language to determine whether they’re telling the truth. He uses his ability to help cops solve crimes. I’ve seen this pilot, and suspect Fox is right in thinking it’s got itself a possible big hit. Roth is charmingly sardonic, and Kelli Williams, who’s kept herself pretty hidden since co-starring in David E. Kelley’s The Practice, radiates a smart glow.
4. Cupid (ABC, premiering Mar. 14) A guy claims to be the earthly manifestation of the Roman love-god Cupid (Will & Grace’s Bobby Cavanale), and tries to match up people destined for each other. Some folks think he’s crazy–including co-star Sarah Paulson (Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip) as his psychiatrist. If this show sounds familiar, it’s because its creator, Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) did a show a decade ago called Cupid starring Jeremy Piven in the title role. Same premise. It bombed. Maybe this concept’s time has come now?
5. Kings (NBC, premieres Mar. 19) I’ll be honest: Tell me this is about a mythical kingdom of kings and princes but set in the present-day, and I’ll give you a "Get outta here!" But tell me that the king is played by Deadwood’s Ian McShane, and involves a lot of ruthless plotting, and I’ll be in front of my TV, hoping it is good and worthy of the great McShane.
Which of these new shows are you looking forward to?
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i’ve been looking forward to Dollhouse for months, mostly because of Joss and Eliza. (i was one of the few people who watched tru calling) i think i’ll check out Nathan in Castle too, that looks like it might be interesting.
I’ve only just heard of Castle but, it’s Fillion, so I’m there. And I’ve been waiting anxiously for Kings for months.
I won’t watch any new shows on ABC, because as soon as you really get into them they get cancelled.
Here!Here! the longest list of enjoyable shows for one network…but they KEEP cancelling them.
I am looking forward to the Unusuals starring Amber Tamblyn. Sure it another police drama. But Amber was excellent in the short-lived Joan of Acadia. But of the ones you’ve listed. I am intrigued by Dollhouse and Kings. I heard Maculey Culkin will be an arc of episodes on Kings. Should be interesting. Don’t know much about the show. But can’t wait. Hopefully the shows will make it past a few episodes.
I’m SOOOOOOOOOOO happy. Nathan is back on TV!!! Love him!!! And I pray it’s not a ‘Murder he wrote’ show. That would just be annoying. Anything that puts Ian McShane on my TV screen is very welcome. The man is the best at playing good but sometimes evil, or truly evil characters. Drooling for Kings, I am. (and like Tucker, hoping that it is worthy of Ian’s talent) Looking forward to Lie to Me too. Hopefully it’ll not be as preachy as I found The Mentalist to be (loved the first few eps, then stopped watching). And OMG!!! Not ‘Cupid’ again. The Jeremy Piven show was good, just low rated…at least at first. If the second installment is as cartoony and ludicrous the show will have a quick death and this guy will maybe think about creating something else.
I’m uncomfortable with the premise of Joss Whedon’s new show, but would’ve been willing to watch it…until I read that Dushku was one of the principle actors. Couldn’t stand her on Buffy, not watching her now.
Oh wow thanks for letting me know about Castle. I had no idea Nathan Fillion had a new show coming out. I hope it fares better than Drive.
I’m also starved for new scripted series. But, I’ll wait for ratings to come in. I’ve invested way too much interest in shows that were cancelled before their time, while they they still make new episodes of According to Jim!!
I’m interested in Castle and Kings. Everything else pretty much sounds like variations to the cop/mystery shows that already fill our TV schedules. Don’t get me wrong…I like these shows, but a little variety would be nice. I am also desperate for a new quality sitcom.
Aren’t you TV guys (Mr. Tucker and your associates) ever going to mention two other upcoming shows that will undoubtedly be critical hit sensations? Showtime’s ‘Nurse Jackie’ with Edie Falco and TNT’s ‘Trust Me’ with the brilliant pairing of Tom Cavanagh and Eric McCormack.
Both shows foresee to be as smart and original as the five shows mentioned above.
Dollhouse. Hands down.
Im really looking foward to United States of Tara!!! It looks very interesting and promising!
The JAY LENO show (not!!!)
1- Dollhouse (hands down)
2- Nurse Jackie (with Edie Falco)
3- Kings
4- Castle
5- United States of Tara
1 – Cupid
2 – Dollhouse
3 – Kings
4 – Who needs new shows, we’ve got Lost!
1.United States Of Tara
2.Dollhouse
3.Cupid
4.Amy Poehler project
5.Melrose Place spinoff
TNT’s new series, “Trust Me,” with Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanaugh, looks to be good fun…I’ll at least give it a try.
I guess the author hasn’t heard about Toni Collette’s “The United States Of Tara” on Showtime.
LOST is back Jan 21st. That’s pretty much good enough for me. But I may check out Dollhouse. Seems intriguing. But a little worried its scheduled on Fridays. Is Fox not confident with this show? I don’t want to invest my time in a show if it’s going to be canceled after a season or two (Pushing Daisies sigh).
KINGS. hands down.
dear eliza dushku and nathan fillian,
you had your turn. you blew it. now go away.
An intense light.
With fine
manners the
mask of a child
invites me to
cry, when the
moonlight
appears; I hear
a blackbird
near the sound
of a small lamp,
and everything
shines like
a terse sensibility.
Francesco Sinibaldi
Cupid…they just cancelled a similar show on the CW. It didn’t make it a decade ago. Are the gods trying to tell you something? I am looking forward to Life on Mars. None of the new shows listed sound good to me at this time.
THE MIDDLE!!
There currently doing casting for it. Its like Malcolm and the middle and its super funny.
Wow, they all sound like crap and eerily similar (some supernatural power?). We need more comedies (and I don’t mean “reality). Can’t wait for the next 30 Rock!
I’m not looking forewards to any of those shows. They all sound boring.
Cupid was done once, no need to do it again. Lie To me is The Mentalist meet Criminal Minds. Why watch something that is like those shows? Better off watching The Mentalist and Criminal Minds instead and not just a pale copy. Castle IS Murder She Wrote all over again! And Dollhouse sound like Dullhouse.
Dollhouse, Kings, and Lie to Me sound really good. I also can’t wait for Damages, Lost, Battlestar and Burn Notice to return.
How about Damages back on the air Jan. 7th. Glenn close is amazing!
I’ve seen Castle and it was pretty good. I’d recommend everyone at least give it a shot.
I’ll watch Ian McShane and Tim Roth in anything, so count me in for Kings and Lie to Me. I owe Joss Whedon for the beauty that was Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog, so I’ll check out Dollhouse.
Damages for sure! its one of the best gritty, legal thrillers on the tv and i am hooked to it.. also United States of Tara looks really interesting, especially with Toni Colllette, Diablo Cody, and Steven Speilburg all on board
I’m right there with you regarding ‘Dollhouse,’ ‘Castle’ and ‘Kings.’ And, I’d like to add that I’m looking forward to checking out ‘Harper’s Island’ when it premieres (Jim Beaver, another ‘Deadwood’ alum is in it .. LOVED ‘Deadwood’!!! Plus, I have to say .. Jim does a great job portraying the recurring character of Bobby Singer on ‘Supernatural’). And I’m sure I’m missing some other show that will be premiering in the first half of 2009 that I plan to give a shot.