8/8/2019 Fall TV Preview

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“DETROIT 1-8-7” 10 p.m.,Tuesdays, ABC, Sept. 21

“Sopranos” star MichaelImperioli tries another round of being on the right side of the lawafter his former stint on the short-lived “Life on Mars.” This time,he’s a driven, damaged homicidecop who torments his new partner(Jon Michael Hill).

If you like ... damaged copslike Jimmy McNulty of “TheWire,” then Imperioi’s got a char-acter you’ll find intriguing.

“UNDERCOVERS” 8 p.m.,Wednesdays, NBC, Sept. 22

Producer J. J. Abrams createdthis spy drama about a marriedcouple getting back into the busi-ness after cooking up a newcareer as caterers. Both realizethey need to spice up their careers— and their marriage.

If you like ... “Chuck” with acouple juggling their day jobswith their spy jobs, then targetthis spy thriller.

“THE DEFENDERS” 10 p.m.,

Wednesdays, CBS, Sept. 22Jerry O’Connell and JimBelushi star as two rascals whoalso happen to be Las Vegas attor-neys. The two take on the morecolorful defendants in a glitzy city.

If you like ... “Vega$” — thePI series starring Robert Ulrich —you’ll like this insider’s look atSin City.

“THE WHOLE TRUTH” 10 p.m., Wednesdays, ABC, Sept. 22

This series ponders the questionof guilt or innocence by portrayingboth sides of the coin. MauraTierney stars as tough criminalprosecutor Kathryn Peale.

If you like ... the balance of “Law & Order,” this show’s foryou. It also offers more personalstories, and for those frustrated

“HELLCATS” 9 p.m. (all times ET), Wednesdays, CW, Sept. 8

Law student Marti Perkins(Aly Michalka) may be hip andcool, but she needs to join thecheerleading squad when her col-lege scholarship is discontinued.Enter Mean Girls, stage left.

If you like ... “Popular,” thedark high school drama aboutcheerleaders vs. nerds, you mightsee a resemblance in this“Popular-lite” series.

“NIKITA” 9 p.m., Thursdays,CW, Sept. 9Troubled teen Nikita (Maggie

Q) gets absorbed into a secretagency and trained to be an opera-tive in a covert spy operation. Sheeventually discovers that Division isevil and decides to bring it down.

If you like ... “Alias” or theprevious versions of “Nikita,” thisseries has the same sexy actionwith a beautiful lead.

“OUTLAW” 10 p.m., Fridays, NBC, special premiere 10 p.m.Wednesday, Sept. 15

Jimmy Smits stars as SupremeCourt Justice Cyrus Garza, son of a Cesar Chavez-like activist, whoturned into a politically conserva-tive, womanizing gambler. Cyrusreturns to private practice wherehe can help “the little guy” byusing insider knowledge.

If you like ... CBS’ “TheMentalist,” both feature protago-nists who know how to get insidecorrupt minds because they havebeen there themselves.

“MIKE & MOLLY” 9:30 p.m., Mondays, CBS, Sept. 20

Melissa McCarthy (“GilmoreGirls”) is Molly, a fourth gradeteacher who meets her soul mate,Officer Mike (Billy Gardell), at anOvereaters Anonymous meeting.

If you like ... “The Office”romance between Jim and Pam,ultimately this is a love story thatoffers up the same smart dialogueand tender moments.

“LONE STAR” 9 p.m., Mondays, Fox, Sept. 20

This Texas drama centers onaffable con man Robert Allen(James Wolk), who wants to gostraight. Yet he doesn’t want togive up his wife or his girlfriend,who know nothing about his

duplicitous lifestyle.If you like ... the oil dealings

of the old soap “Dallas” coupledwith a dash of “Big Love,” thiscomplex drama has it all.

“THE EVENT” 9 p.m., Mondays, NBC, Sept. 20

This thriller stars Jason Ritter(“The Class”) as Sean Walker,who is caught up in a governmentcover-up that is so secret even thepresident (Blair Underwood)doesn’t know what “the event” is.Oh, and there’s a plane on a crashcourse.

If you like ... “Lost” with allits mythology and unansweredquestions, this thriller promises tokeep you just as distracted anduninformed. Did we mention aplane?

“HAWAII FIVE-O” 10 p.m., Mondays, CBS, Sept. 20

Alex O’Loughlin and ScottCaan team up as reluctant policepartners Steve McGarrett andDanny “Danno” Williams. Lots of explosions and great scenery.

If you like ... the original“Hawaii Five-O”, this seriesoffers even better banter betweenMcGarrett and Danno.

“RAISING HOPE” 9 p.m.,Tuesdays, Fox, Sept. 21

Jimmy (Lucas Neff) has a one-

night stand with a murderer(Bijou Phillips) that results in aninfant daughter. His slacker fami-ly isn’t suited to help raise thekid. His only hope is new friendSabrina (Shannon Woodward), asardonic checkout clerk he met atthe local grocery store.

If you like ... “Malcolm in theMiddle,” you’re in luck. We haven’tseen a family this jacked up, or sofunny for so many wrong reasons,since that Fox series left the air.

“RUNNING WILDE” 9:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Fox, Sept. 21

An immature wealthy playboy(Will Arnett) hopes to hook up

again with his former childhoodcrush Emmy (Keri Russell).Emmy’s out to save the world,and self-absorbed Steven justwants to win back his first love.

If you like ... “Arrested Develop-ment,” then hope for the best.Creator Mitch Hurwitz made comicmagic with Arnett with that show,but this hurried pilot doesn’t showoff the considerable talents of either.

BY SUSAN YOUNG/FILM.COM

Don’t look for innovative TV series like the lush feast of last sea-son’s “Glee,” “Modern Family” and “The Good Wife.”

But when the fall season gets underway on Sept. 8, you will find theequivalent of mom’s home cooking with a bunch of familiar series

you can settle down to watch knowing there’s something satisfyingnonetheless. As usual, crime runs amuck and dominates the lineup.

And for those nostalgic for some good Friday fare, the networkshave put on five new series to pump up the night.

Here’s a look at what’s new … on Fridays and the rest of the week.

over the years by the “L&O”franchise’s arbitrary endings,you’ll get real closure here.

“$#*! MY DAD SAYS” 8:30 p.m., Thursdays, CBS, Sept. 23

William Shatner stars as Ed, aguy with no restrictor plate on hismouth. The comedy is based on apopular Twitter feed by writerJustin Halpern.

If you like .. . Red on “That’70s Show,” then you’ll bond withEd who also colorfully derides hisson for his numerous inadequacies.

“OUTSOURCED” 9:30 p.m.,Thursdays, NBC, Sept. 23

A novelty company specializingin such must-have items as fakevomit and foam fingers relocatestheir call center from the Midwestto India. Todd (Ben Rappaport) isthe new manager who moves toIndia to teach the American cultureto his new Indian team.

If you like ... “The Office,”then NBC’s banking on this simi-larly themed series that’s joiningthe Thursday night comedy block.

“BODY OF PROOF” 9 p.m.,Fridays, ABC, Sept. 24

A brilliant neurosurgeon (DanaDelaney) who put her careerahead of her personal life losesher surgical abilities after a caraccident and goes to work as anobnoxious medical examiner. Shesolves the mysteries, but can’tquite crack the code when itcomes to personal relationships.

If you like ... “House,” thisdrama covers the exact sameground but this time it’s a womanwho plays the brilliant but social-ly challenged doctor.

“BLUE BLOODS” 10 p.m.Fridays, CBS, Sept. 24

Tom Selleck heads up this fami-ly cop drama as the New York Police Commissioner trying to solvecrimes and keep his family in line.

If you like ... “Brothers &Sisters,” you’ll see this is just thesame type of rocky multigenera-tional relationship show.For more TV news and features, visit FILM.COM.

C H R I S W AR E / M C T