Reports from the upfronts continue as CBS and the CW, the slower children of the network family, finally catch up to the other kids and establish their schedules for the fall season. For a look at the ABC, Fox, and NBC pickups, click here.
Two Broke Girls (Mondays at 8:30 p.m.)–Pretty ladies in Manhattan show the rest of us what life is like without money! So, basically, it’s like watching either yourself or a woman you know, if said woman looked like Kat Dennings. Michael Patrick King of Sex and the City is a co-writer, so expect to jam a Payless stiletto into your TV screen if we’re forced to pretend that being broke in Manhattan looks like Carrie Bradshaw’s life again.
Unforgettable (Tuesdays at 10 p.m.)–This highly original show about–no, just kidding! It’s another cop drama. This one capitalizes on that phenomenon that’s suddenly on one episode of every procedural show about being able to remember every single thing and how it can be great for your professional life while screwing your personal one. You can really just watch the episode about it from this past season of House and call it a day.
How to Be a Gentleman (Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.)–The end of a number of series freed up a whole bunch of stars, and several seriously random ones gathered together to form this cast of this buddy comedy, including24‘s Mary Lynn Rajskub, Entourage‘s Kevin Dillon, and Flight of the Conchords’ Rhys Darby. Newsradio‘s Dave Foley also stars.
Person of Interest (Thursdays at 9 p.m.)–J.J. Abrams strikes again, this time with a drama about two unlikely partners–an ex-CIA agent played by James Caviezel and a billionaire played by Michael Emerson–who team up to fight crime in NYC.
A Gifted Man (Fridays at 8 p.m.)–You didn’t think we were going to get away without a serious medical drama, did you? Oh, you did! That’s so cute! Well, joke’s on you, because Patrick Wilson plays a newly widowed surgeon whose wife’s death is teaching him about life.
Unlike the other four networks, all of the CW’s scripted pickups will be airing this fall, with old standby One Tree Hill shifting to midseason for its final 13-episode run. Other scheduling shakeups include a breakup of the current Monday night lineup and a Nikita shift to Friday nights.
Hart of Dixie (Mondays at 9 p.m.)–Another easy buy for the CW, this show marks the return of The OC‘s Rachel Bilson, who’s stayed remarkably famous for doing nothing but playing beard getting engaged to Hayden Christiansen and looking good since that show’s end. Here, Bilson plays a New York doctor who inherits a medical practice in a small southern town. Expect many shocked-by-politeness jokes. Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights) and Jaime King (Slackers, modeling stuff) also star. The show will be paired with Gossip Girl, which moves back to its old 8 p.m. time slot, with 90210 now jumping to Tuesdays.
The Ringer (Tuesdays at 9 p.m.)—The CW’s first pickup is easily one of the most buzzed about, as it marks the return of TV’s beloved Buffy, Sarah Michelle Gellar, to television. Although the pilot was originally considered by CBS, the show about a young woman who poses as her own twin sister to avoid the mob, only to discover that her sister’s also on the most-wanted list, will now be appearing on the same network as 90210 and Gossip Girl come fall.
H8R (Wednesdays at 8 p.m.)–I’m embarrassed to even talk about this one. It’s a reality show. It’s hosted by Mario Lopez. It somehow pairs stars with the peasants who hate them, although in what capacity, I have no idea. I’m sorry, I need to forget this exists. Bye.
The Secret Circle (Thursdays at 9 p.m.)–Sad about Life Unexpected‘s cancellation? Well, this might help–Lux (Britt Robertson) has already got herself a new home on the CW, starring in this supernatural drama about a young woman who discovers she’s both a witch and a member of an old coven. Tired as all these supernatural shows may be getting, this one’s produced by Kevin Williamson, who’s already doing great things for the CW with Vampire Diaries (which will be airing in the immediately preceding time slot), so if you’re already worshiping at the altar of the Salvatore brothers like I am, it may be worth a shot.
