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Fall TV 2021 Freshmen Series First Impressions

ABC


This cast gels nicely! The pilot was a lot of exposition, even by pilot standards, but was still nicely done. I am interested in seeing where this goes. I appreciate that there appears to be an effort toward character development more than we are used to seeing from dramas that are kinda soapy in nature, as we miiight be looking at with Queens? Time will tell. So far, great start!


Have you ever been so incredibly excited about something that right before it finally arrives, you panic because you wonder if anything can possibly rise to the level of your excitement? That was me regarding The Wonder Years and let! me! tell! you! by the time it ended, half of me was crying because of the show and the other half was crying because for me, it's absolute perfection. I cannot recommend this show highly enough. My heart runneth over.


CBS


Full disclosure: I don't keep up with any of the other CSIs. However, I really enjoyed this! If you like a solid procedural, this one will fit the bill. The cast gels nicely, the city is woven into the show well, and there are much worse ways to spend an hour of your week.


I so wanted to like this as I really enjoy this franchise, but sadly, I spent the entire hour wondering why it was made at all. It's not really bringing anything new to the table and the leads are quite stiff. I hope it improves over time!


Cute! CBS released so many clips that it felt a lot like I'd already seen the first two episodes, but I still chuckled a good bit. This show is charming and funny. I hope you will give it a try!


Full disclosure: I also don't keep up with any of the NCIS shows. That may explain why I found it to be enjoyable when so many others grumbled about it. I'm not sure yet if I would call it a good show, but with a likeable cast and easy viewing, it does appear to fit the bill for comfort TV.


FOX


What to make of Fox's newest "wait, what?!" competition series, Alter Ego, which debuted Wednesday night? My favorite part was the very end when the eliminated contestant briefly performed with their avatar. I wasn't really hooked, but I do appreciate the novelty of it.


Oh, how I love The Big Leap and strongly suspect it will find a passionate audience quickly! If you have a heart for underdogs, second chances, and dreaming big in the face of life's obstacles and drama, I have a feeling you will love this show, too.


I was eager to see what Yaya DaCosta would leave Chicago Med to do because April was an amazing character and I will miss her. After watching the pilot, I'm not yet sure if I'll stick around. If it's a drama with a penchant for going off the rails, it could be a lot of fun. If it's an emotional drama that gives DaCosta room to show her range, that could be excellent. This is Lee Daniels, so I'm guessing it's probably the former, so let's see what week two brings. And let us not forget how wonderful Joe Morton is. He makes everything he's in better and doesn't get nearly enough credit for that voice! Yeah, I'm probably spending the fall in Oak Bluffs.


NBC


This show is sweet. I am curious to see if all of the people cast are going to be as open and calm as the two families in the pilot. Friday night is the perfect time slot. It's comfort TV.


Huh. La Brea was a spectacle more than anything else. It feels very much like a mosaic of all the disaster and supernatural broadcast fare that came before it. I don't know that the show is bringing anything new to the genre. If you like these kinds of shows, maybe you'll enjoy this. I might try another episode or two, but will be pleasantly surprised if I stick around the entire season. I wish the pilot showed us what sets it apart!


The debut of Ordinary Joe does not appear to be appointment viewing for me. It has a likeable cast, but it felt a little sleepy to me and I'm someone who likes an early bedtime, so a 10 p.m. start is a big ask and in Ordinary Joe's case, too big of an ask. That being said, I will give it another episode to see if the pilot was just piloty. But not until the next day on Peacock!


STREAMER FRESHMEN SERIES DEBUTS


Do your kids enjoy puzzles, crafts, storytelling, oh --- and watching parents stumble their way through challenges? Give Create the Escape a try! This is a kids versus parents competition series in which kids create escape rooms that their parents must complete in no more than 30 minutes. It's a fun little show and especially cute to watch the kids revel in their handiwork as their parents work through the challenges. All eleven episodes are available to stream now.


Prepare to be angry all over again. Dopesick covers the perfect storm of manipulation that led to OxyContin becoming the ubiquitous "miracle solution" to pain and ultimately resulting in the opioid epidemic that is still harming people from all walks of life today. This show will stress you out, but it's worth the watch. It's very well made, the cast is top notch, and it's capturing a painful era in history that hopefully will help the future powers that be to think twice if something doesn't feel right.


To quote my friend, Angie: "It's pleasant nonsense." I hope you will give it a try because amidst all the serious and dumb stuff out there, there's something comforting about pleasant nonsense. It's funny and hard not to enjoy watching and rooting for the competitors. I enjoy Frogger so much more than I expected to!


Two episodes in and folks, this show is a head-scratcher and I am not referring to the mystery at the center of the show. I'm talking about my feelings toward the show. The opening scene is gratuitously gory. Kate Beckinsale is supposed to be an accomplished journalist, but she truly does "come across lightweight dumb, for real" as the murder victim's brother tells her. I'm going to give it another episode or two, but it's a little uneven so far.


This adaptation of The Tonight Show is cute, silly, joyful, and high energy. Clocking in at around seventeen minutes per episode, TKTS should hold your kiddos' attention with ease. No Peacock? No problem! The first episode is available on YouTube and linked above. Give it a try and let me know what you think!


I will not be sticking with this one, but don't hold that against The Lost Symbol. I was never able to get into The DaVinci Code either, but this series feels very much like they've transitioned well to television. If you like The DaVinci Code, you will probably like The Lost Symbol. It's just not my cup of tea.


I watched all three episodes and while this show seems to love swimming in the cliches, I do find myself wanting to know who killed off xoxoGossipGirl Simon. It won't be priority watching, but I'll probably finish it.


I didn't know what this was when I hit play and I think that's a good way to jump into this series, so I will just say that the first episode and the second episode could not be further apart in tone, so be prepared for that. Overall, I found The Premise to be smart and well done. It asks questions and shows a scenario, but still leaves room for examination.

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