Author: Cordelia Kenney
Between schoolwork, having a social life and figuring out what to do after graduation, there doesn’t seem to be time to sit in front of a TV for even a solid hour. But look in any common room or check Facebook for reactions to last night’s scandalous “Jersey Shore,” and it instantly becomes clear that everyone still loves a good TV show. If you have been too overwhelmed by your first month back at school to catch up on your favorites, or are just in the mood for making new ones, then here is your cheat sheet for this season’s fall premieres. CAUTION: SPOILER ALERT
If you watch “Gossip Girl,” and we all know you do, then you’re already aware that its fourth season premiere was a highly anticipated event, considering last season left Chuck bleeding in the streets, Serena juggling Nate and Dan, and Blair and Chuck almost making it work. As always, “Gossip Girl” stirred up fresh drama on the Upper East Side, including Chuck’s new girlfriend from Vienna, Dan’s baby and Serena’s arrival at Columbia. As shocking as ever, the premiere forecasts yet another season of outlandish and wild stories. To get your fill of gossip and drama, tune in to the CW on Thursdays at 9 p.m.
After the scintillating finale of last season’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” in which a shooter seizes the hospital, season seven’s premiere picked up where the show left off, inviting viewers to cope with the beloved doctors of Seattle’s Mercy West. Featuring flashbacks of the shooting, an understated and nontraditional wedding and a cutting-edge, rather graphic surgery, this episode stuck with the common themes of Grey’s: surviving and moving on while focusing on “what really matters.” According to tvbythenumbers.com, it ranked third with viewers between ages 18 and 49 among last week’s premieres. Granted, it may not be the same as in the days of George and Izzie, but the surgery and drama are still prime. To see more, check it out on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on ABC.
If you are the type that can’t commit to a show or if you prefer shorter stints in front of the tube, then I would recommend “The Big Bang Theory,” which airs at 8 p.m. Thursdays on CBS, or “30 Rock” at 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays on NBC. Now in its fourth season, “The Big Bang Theory” takes place at a nearby campus, Caltech, and features four nerdy guys and their attractive neighbor stumbling and succeeding through their college years. This season started off with socially awkward Sheldon going on his first date and discussing the matter of reproducing via test tubes. “30 Rock’s” fifth season opener also featured matters of commitment, with Liz trying to take it slow with her aviator boyfriend. If you want to laugh, then these two will surely do the trick.
Or if you are looking for new courtroom drama, then check out “The Whole Truth” at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays on ABC. TVguide.com reports “The Whole Truth” as being this fall’s most popular show, with 83 percent of viewers giving positive responses. There are plenty of detective and law-related shows on air already, and though nothing will ever replace “Law & Order” (especially SVU), “The Whole Truth” is from the perspective of the lawyers rather than the investigators, and shows some serious promise with intrigue and plot twists. Brought to you by Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer of “Pirates of the Caribbean” and the three “CSI” series, “The Whole Truth” is bound to be a favorite drama this fall.
Another dramatic newbie this season is NBC’s “Outsourced,” on at 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays. “Outsourced” is about a manager who moves to India to oversee a phone center for an American company that sells novelties such as mistletoe belts and singing reindeer heads. The pilot showed potential, though on tvguide.com it ranked as a less favorably viewed show.
Many primetime networks seem to be focusing on the themes of togetherness, family and traditional American values. “Modern Family,” now in its second season on ABC and airing on Wednesdays at 9 p.m., featured one of the families selling their old car and reminiscing about their journey together as a family unit.
The new series “Nikita” on CW and “Outsourced” both offer similar themes of patriotism. In the pilot episode of “Nikita,” which aired last Thursday at 9 p.m., a boss for the top secret espionage team tells a new recruit to “serve [her] country instead of just serving [herself].” Perhaps in these times of economic uncertainty and warring, writers have taken notice and are emphasizing the value of sticking together as a country and keeping one’s family close.
So whether you are interested in seeing for yourself or if you are just looking for a study break, find yourself a TV (or, of course, a computer, since everything is online these days) and kick back for an hour or two with one of these programs.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
