The PopFilter Fall TeeVee PreVee

FOX

 

 

GOTHAM

WHAT IT BE:

The most famous fake city of all time gets to become the main character of its own show. Starting from the death of the Wayne family, Gotham follows the rise of Detective Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie), as he watches Gotham go from bad to worse, hoping some little fucked up kid at some point will dress like a bat and give a brother some help.

WHY IT MIGHT BE DECENT:

The trailer looks pretty pro, balancing a quick dose of grit and fun in its short runtime. Show runner Bruno Heller was the man behind Rome, a show that took some of the stuff we knew, and threw in a shit ton of awesome soapiness. This seems like as surefire a hit as Fox could hope for this season, and early reviews of the show say it has the quality to live up to the buzz.

WHY IT MIGHT SUCK BUTT:

Impatience. A show like Gotham seems like as HBO as a channel like FOX can go, and I mean that in a good way. But if they can keep away from internet complaints, and not put anyone in a costume before the story or world of the show dictates, then this show could have legs. There are so many ways it could jump the shark, however.

HOW MANY EPISODES BEFORE I QUIT IT?

I’ll never quit it. I’ll be watching every god damn one.

 

GRACEPOINT

WHAT IT BE:

If you dodged the critical hit Broadchurch, because it seemed a little too British, well here’s your chance to catch up. If you dodged it because you’ve watched too many dead children on TV recently, well…Mulaney might be funny.

WHY IT MIGHT BE DECENT:

Another entry into the official trend of 2014 television, this 10 episode mini-event had the knowhow to have Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall write this one as well. A fairly strong cast (including Breaking Bad‘s Anna Gunn) and one director for all ten episodes make this FOX’s attempt at having a True Detective this season.

WHY IT MIGHT SUCK BUTT:

I can’t think of a single American show that was better than its British counterpart. Oh wait…I just remembered Coupling. My bad.

WHAT CHANNEL SHOULD THIS HAVE BEEN ON?

Until we have some proof that networks can do the event miniseries (and I’m on record that this season will produce one good one), then we’re always going to wish that this was on HBO or FX. But maybe this is the one!

MULANEY

WHAT IT BE:

John Mulaney stars as John Mulaney, a stand-up comedian who hangs out with his three wacky friends. Before you jump to compare this to a different show, Mulaney has already made it known that he recognizes the similarities, and doesn’t care.

WHY IT MIGHT BE DECENT:

Because John Mulaney is both funny and likable, two traits that rarely meet in the same person. Likable people try to be funny, funny people try to be likable, and this is how the world is awkwardly supposed to be. But everyone loves John Mulaney…

WHY IT MIGHT SUCK BUTT:

…except for NBC. NBC passed on the show last fall, and it has since been re-tooled and re-networked. No one thinks that NBC has the best taste in comedy, but it’s still not the best sign. Throw in the fact that this show has a laugh track, which is extremely disappointing, and you have a potential mess on your hands.

WHAT CHANNEL SHOULD THIS HAVE BEEN ON?

It should have been at FOX the whole time, sans laugh track. How do shows still have laugh tracks?!?

RED BAND SOCIETY

WHAT IT BE:

Red Band Society follows a group of sick kids stuck in a hospital together, and the doctors who care for them.

WHY IT MIGHT BE DECENT:

Reviews so far have been mostly positive, which is a sign that the show can avoid the schmaltziness that the trailer displays. Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer, attempting to avoid the curse of the Supporting Oscar, doesn’t hurt.

WHY IT MIGHT SUCK BUTT:

“Your body isn’t you. Your soul is you, and they can never cut away your soul.” In all honesty, my prediction is that this is going to be one of those shows that has a terrible pilot with much too much to do, but then settle down right after that. I’m going to avoid this until it I can see three or four episodes.

HOW MANY EPISODES BEFORE I QUIT IT?

Let’s try and get past those first four.