After much more reading and research on this coming season and shows, wow I'm actually really looking forward to TV this year for the first time in a long while. So for a final analysis on the new fall season, I'll take it day by day on the schedule. There's alot of excitement, even for shows I don't watch.
Mondays
NBC
I'll start with the network that needs to gain alot of ground after last year's awful Jay Leno experiment. First smart move is bringing back the wildly popular show Chuck as a fall show instead of a spring replacement. In a wise move also then have completed the night with new dramas, The Event and Chance. I think this is a brilliant move. While CBS mostly concentrates on comedy and ABC has it's reality money maker, competing against FOX's drama block is the way to go.
FOX
Speaking of FOX, they went the smart route and kept House going as well as giving their new show Lone Star as fantastic lead in.
ABC
For the first time in years, I'm actually looking forward to watching Dancing With the Stars. Other than that, the network has brought back Castle which got surprisingly good ratings last year. But that show should be fine in the shadow of DWTS because well ABC knows not to really worry about Monday nights anymore.
CBS
CBS made one of the boldest moves of the season and moved Big Bang Theory, the station's hottest show, and moved it to Thursday nights (more on that later). In it's place they have included a new comedy Mike & Molly, which me and Mandy will be checking out (believe it or not we did enjoy Accidentally on Purpose last year), after the powerful lineup of How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement and Two and a Half Men. The other spotlight on this night is the new reformation of Hawaii Five-O, which I still haven't fully decided if I want to get into yet. I really have to make that decision soon because the show starts on Monday night. Overall CBS is taking a risk moving their hottest show but hopefully Mike & Molly sticks around and helps continue the popularity of this comedy block. As for Hawaii Five-O, well I guess let the ratings speak for themselves and see what happens.
The CW
I almost completely forgot about this network in general, I never watch it anymore. They did what they had to do, they kept their two biggest shows on the air in 90210 and Gossip Girl.
Tuesdays
FOX
Last year at this time, there was questions if FOX could even have a competitive schedule on Tuesday night during the Fall till American Idol started in the springtime. Well that was before the Glee phenomenon happened. Now one of the hottest shows on TV is leading FOX's lineup on Tuesdays. Do I even have to tell you where my TV will be on Tuesday nights? As for the rest of the lineup, they have put two new comedies, Raising Hope and Running Wilde to closeout the block. I've heard shaky reviews on both shows, but am definitely intrigued by Hope, so I will be giving it a chance.
The CW
To be honest I didn't even know that One Tree Hill was still on the air till about a half hour ago when I was reading that CW renewed it for this season. That's cool for them, it is a very popular show. Following it is also the returning Life Unexpected.
ABC
Other than the DWTS Results Show, ABC is premiring two new dramas No Ordinary Family and Detroit 1-8-7. I guess that's a smart move, I just don't know if people are really going to care as much because there are sooo many drama and dramadies on Tuesdays nights as it is. I hope I am wrong.
CBS
Tuesday night=NCIS night on CBS. Both the original series and the Los Angeles editions have returned back to the back. And rounding out the block, the same way it did last year is the returning show The Good Wife. CBS is playing is very smart and safe on this night.
NBC
This is a huge night for this network now. The popularity of The Biggest Loser and Parenthood have made NBC a real force to reckoned with on Tuesday nights, which is why they kept their block perfectly intact this year.
Wednesdays
ABC
If CBS has their comedy block on Mondays, ABC has taken back Wednesday nights. The no surprise return of the Emmy winning Modern Family is the spark of the block as well as the returning The Middle and Cougar Town. The one new edition to the group is the new comedy Better Than You. After the comedies there is the new show The Whole Truth. It's always good to see ABC back on the map for comedies, especially since they were the start of the rebirth back in the TGIF/Must See TV era.
NBC
I don't care how good the new show Undercovers is but NBC is really going to kicking itself for not taking the opportunity to literally have a solid all Law & Order night. It would have given the original series the proper chance to sign off and then given a proper lead-in to SVU and the new branch Los Angeles.
CBS
I'm starting to get convinced that there is nothing that will get Survivor canceled and nothing will be able to follow Criminal Minds in the lineup. Every year they try and fail, this year's attempt is a show called The Defenders, hopefully it has better luck then shows in the past.
The CW
Well I have to say it's refreshing to hear rave reviews about a show on The CW. The show is questions is the new dramedy Hellcats which premiered last week after the new season America's Next Top Model, another show that will never go away. CW might have something going, if they don't mess it up like they always do.
FOX
First of all, didn't Hell's Kitchen JUST end? I mean I'm not complaining at all, but the last season just ended last a month of so ago and the new season is already starting on Wednesday night. I guess this is FOX's way of keeping a Gordan Ramsey show on the air all year round. Before Hell's, they have put the returning Lie to Me, which got surprisingly high ratings last year in this very time-slot, so here's hoping it happens again.
Thursdays
NBC
This has been NBC's money night for years and with the returning Community, 30 Rock and The Office, it should be no different. (Side note, I'm actually going to have to watch 30 Rock for the first time because of their big live episode.) The new comedy on the block this year is a show called Outsourced, which could be really good or really terrible. I'm not sure which yet. The one major surprise for me is The Apprentice coming back with no celebrities for the first time in a few years, and I think I'm actually going to check it out this season.
The CW
I might as well just get this out the way. The vampire craze continues in this country with the returning Vampire Diaries as a lead-in for the new show, that's more than likely would be destined to fail if on other network, Nikita.
FOX
This night was a gimmie for FOX. Complete against comedy blocks with popular dramas Bones and Fringe. Very simple.
ABC
Now that Lost is off the air, ABC needed a new drama to fill as the lead-in for returning favorites Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. That risky honor went to the new show My Generation which should, if ABC gives it a proper chance, fills the open vacancy on this network very nicely.
CBS
As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest risks of the new season was CBS moving the mega-hit Big Bang Theory to Thursday nights. For me personally, it's great because it doesn't interfere with any other programming anymore. The reason it's a risk is because alot of people aren't sure if BBT can flourish without it's Monday night block lead-ins. I think the show is strong enough to not only survive, but because even more popular. It is also now the lead in for the new Twitter based comedy S#*! My Dad Says which is either going to bomb horribly or flourish to amazing heights. The lineup is rounded out with returning dramas, CSI and The Mentalist.
Fridays
FOX
This seems to be the one of the only stations that could get ratings nowadays on Friday. They have brought back their two hit shows Human Target and The Good Guys. That's fine for ratings hell that is Friday.
ABC
Speaking of ratings hell. What has happened to ABC over the years? During the TGIF era this used to be the home for great comedy and then 20/20. While 20/20 is still around nowadays they air shows like Secret Millionaire and Body of Proof. There is no turning back for ABC, it's over on Friday nights.
The CW
Well this year marks the end of Smallville on its lineup. (Note: I'm going to have to see the finale because Clark is finally going to wear the Superman suit!) This return presides the return of a rare CW hit Supernatural.
CBS
Somehow CBS always seems to get ratings on Fridays no matter what. they seem to be able to continue that with hits like Medium and CSI:NY. With such good leadins, new drama Blue Bloods should have no problem getting some sort of an audience.
NBC
Other than Dateline NBC does anyone care about Fridays on NBC? It's like news shows School Pride and Outlaw just don't stand a chance at all. Seems like they were just trying to fill the lineup.
(Note: The other notable change on network TV is WWE Friday Night Smackdown moving off MyNetwork and going to SyFy on 10/1. This will more than likely spell the end for the little watched MyNetwork as a channel.)
Saturdays
Really? Are you kidding me? Other than FOX renewing COPS and America's Most Wanted, there is NOTHING to note on Saturday nights.
Sundays
(Note: I am not including NBC because of the NFL and The CW because they just show reruns of other programming.)
CBS
Sundays has and always will be the home of 60 Minutes. That will never change. It also has turned into the home of CSI:Miami. So it's save to say CBS is good. The other show in between is the surprising popular Undercover Boss. (Note: I'm going to have to watch one episode of Boss since Frontier Airlines is going to be profiled.)
ABC
Sundays on ABC in the last few years has been a simple stable of programming that is not changing this year. America's Funniest Home Videos, which I am stunned is still going after all these years, Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters.
FOX
Speaking of a regular stable of shows, Animation Domination will continue this year, to no one's surprise. Like last year it will include the continuing to rewrite the record books The Simpsons (Note: I will like always be watch the Treehouse of Horror episode this year but now I will have to tune into the season premiere because of the Glee cast making a special appearance.), The Cleveland Show, the show that will never go away Family Guy and American Dad.
