Fall TV: The Best Returning and New Shows of 2010

It’s that time of year again – the homework assignments are starting to pile up and every day at school seems to drag on forever. Thankfully, the rainy season has brought with it a great television lineup! As voted on by Youthink readers, here is a rundown of the most anticipated returning and new shows this fall, along with some insider info from TV Week Editor Brent Furdyk.

Your Favourite Returning Shows

The Vampire Diaries
When The Vampire Diaries premiered last September, it received the highest number of viewers in the history of the CW Television Network. While the modern vampire craze may have had something to do with the show’s initial popularity, The Vampire Diaries is definitely not just another Twilight spinoff. The series depicts a traditional love story amidst supernatural occurrences and ancestral curses. Nothing is sugar-coated, which leads to some squirmy scenes for those who are not fans of blood and gore. The first season finale included several dramatic deaths, a few tender moments (courtesy of Damon), and one heck of a twist ending when Elena’s doppelganger Katherine is mistaken for her. One thing is for sure: viewers were on the edge of their seats by the time the season came to an end. So what’s up for season two? “Following in the footsteps of Twilight and True Blood, the second season of The Vampire Diaries will be introducing a werewolf into the storyline for yet another variation on the werewolf/vampire/human love triangle,” reveals Furdyk. Ladies (and gentlemen with an addiction to guilty pleasures), the wait is finally over – The Vampire Diaries returns with a new season of suspense and drama.
Thursdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.

Glee
What began as an underdog idea for a film has evolved into what is now known as the Glee television phenomenon. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, Glee is like a combination of The Breakfast Club and High School Musical. With characters from every possible high-school clique, Glee is genuine and relatable to teens today. The first season finale left viewers feeling all warm and fuzzy – Rachel and Finn kissed, Quinn gave birth to a baby girl and the antagonistic Coach Sylvester finally redeemed herself by advocating for the continuation of New Directions. This fall, our favourite high-school glee club returns to Fox with three new cast members, some unforeseen drama and a whole lot of show tunes. And Furdyk promises it will be even more exciting! “As big as it was last season, Glee is poised to become even bigger this year, with guest stars such as Britney Spears, Gwyneth Paltrow and Justin Timberlake already confirmed, the addition of John Stamos as a romantic rival to Will Schuester, and everyone from Rosie O’Donnell to Jennifer Lopez clamouring to appear.” The cheese factor is high, but unlike most television shows, Glee makes it work. Turn on your TVs this fall and sing along with your favourite gleeks!
Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Global.

The Big Bang Theory
Thanks to the popularity of TV and movie characters such as Seth Cohen (The O.C.), McLovin’ (Superbad) and Paul Bleeker (Juno), geeks have taken over pop culture – now add Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper to the mix. The Big Bang Theory, which premiered on CBS three years ago, revolves around the lives of two fictional Caltech prodigies and their attractive neighbour, played by actress Kaley Cuoco. Although the two college graduates are school smart, their social skills are less than impressive, and this often leads to hilarious situations. Aside from its charming cast of characters, The Big Bang Theory is full of cute quirks and smart laughs. In the season three finale, Leonard and Penny decide to head off in different directions while Sheldon finds a new love interest online. And there are some big changes in store for the upcoming season. “Season four is going to be a turning point for The Big Bang Theory,” says Furdyk. “Now that the show has gone into syndication, the cast has negotiated huge raises, and by moving the show to a new time slot, CBS is expecting the show to really explode this season. This should be the year that The Big Bang Theory becomes TV’s highest-rated comedy.”
Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CTV.

Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl, often described to be a more mature version of the television show The OC, has gained cult status since its original airing in 2007. With its full dosage of gossip and betrayal, more scandal is added to the plot line with every unsuspecting turn. There have been few season finales that can compare to the episode that ended season three of Gossip Girl. Controversy circulated the entire season, with one episode in particular causing discontentment among parents. The season finale definitely did not disappoint fans who were hungry for more drama. In a condensed frame of one hour, viewers went on a virtual roller coaster while Blair discovered Chuck cheated on her with Jenny, Georgina told Dan she was pregnant with his baby and Chuck was shot by robbers. Somehow, the producers of Gossip Girl managed to make everything seem relatively realistic. But will they push it too far this year? “Like any good soap opera, Gossip Girl faces the challenge of amping up the drama for the new season, so expect even more outrageous situations than we’ve seen in the past,” says Furdyk. Gossip Girl is arguably one of the most anticipated returning television series on the CW, and for good reason.
Mondays at 9 p.m. on The CW.

Your Favourite New Shows

Hellcats
Hellcats, another new addition to the CW lineup this fall, is based on a book by Kate Torgovnick called, Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders. The TV series is described to be a combination of the comedy films Election and Bring It On. Set in Memphis, Tennessee (but filmed in Vancouver, BC), Hellcats revolves around a competitive cheerleading team at a fictional school called Lancer College. Aly Michalka and Ashley Tisdale are cast into fitting roles – Michalka plays a quirky small-town girl in pursuit of a scholarship and Tisdale plays a preppy cheerleading captain. “Michalka and Tisdale are both recognizable faces to the tween crowd, who’ll probably follow them here,” predicts Furdyk. Enter an attractive blonde womanizer (who is in fact really sensitive) and every piece of a conventional teenage comedy falls into place. That said, with its lighthearted humour and abundance of good-looking cast members, you will find yourself enjoying Hellcats nonetheless. If you are looking for a break from action-packed television shows that make your heart pump at an unhealthy rate, kick back and turn on Hellcats for a laugh.
Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW.

$#*! My Dad Says
After author Justin Halpern broke up with his long-time girlfriend, he found himself living back at home with his parents. Enter the silver lining. Halpern began a Twitter feed as a way to record his father’s hilarious one-liners, hoping that he would be able to use some of them for writing future scripts. To his surprise, he gained a thousand followers within days. Halpern eventually signed with Harper Collins to release a book based on the Twitter feed. After his book topped the New York Times Best Seller list, Halpern decided to write a television adaptation for $#*! My Dad Says. This brand new sitcom stars William Shatner as the father and Jonathan Sadowski as the son. If you have read the Twitter feed and/or the book, you’d know that the television series has very big shoes to fill. “The bottom line on how much you like this show depends on how much you enjoy Shatner insulting people,” says Furdyk. For a promising laugh, tune in to $#*! My Dad Says this fall.
Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS.

Nikita
Based on the French film Nikita and the TV series La Femme Nikita, this latest remake evidently has a lot to live up to. Executive producer Craig Silverstein says that major changes have been made in the new Nikita series to ensure that the storyline is kept fresh for viewers – and so far, Furdyk is sold. “When I first found out they were doing another remake of La Femme Nikita, I wondered why. But after seeing how entertaining the pilot was, I’m hooked.” Unlike its predecessors, this version focuses on Nikita’s life after she breaks free from her job as an assassin. Played by actress Maggie Q, Nikita is reminiscent of the character Lisbeth from Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy. “Maggie Q may not be a household name yet, but I predict she’ll be the breakout star of the season,” says Furdyk. While on the run from her former employers, Nikita seeks revenge against the government agency that recruited her when she was a teenager. Modern television has been lacking a strong female figure for some time; thankfully, the CW Television Network has found one in the form of the beautiful, yet ruthless, Nikita. The television drama’s nail-biting suspense will have you coming back for more.
Thursdays at 9 p.m. on The CW.

No Ordinary Family
No Ordinary Family, a new addition to ABC, is a science fiction television drama that centres around a family whose plane crashes into the Amazon River. Although it sounds a little too much like the television series Lost, No Ordinary Family does not take its supernatural aspect to an unrealistic extreme. If anything, the new series can be described as a non-animated version of the film The Incredibles. After surviving the devastating crash, members of the Powell family gain special powers such as super strength, telepathy and super intelligence. The confused family members try to avoid drawing attention to themselves, but many unforeseen problems undoubtedly arise. If the show sounds a little too weird for your taste, don’t worry: the family-friendly television series promises to include its fair share of down-to-earth drama and comedy as well. “According the producers, No Ordinary Family isn’t a show about superheroes, it’s a show about a family,” says Furdyk. “And the network is selling this as a show the whole family can watch together.” Tune in to No Ordinary Family on ABC to catch a first glimpse at what seems to be a very promising television drama.
Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CTV.