Image courtesy of cravetv.com
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.”
—Robert Frost
The juggernaut that is 2020 continues slouching toward oblivion as people bounce from dire emergency to dire emergency like a tennis ball in the dryer from hell. While so many things have been canceled, one tradition that will remain is the fall television season, but it will be significantly altered. Many premiere dates are TBA and all are subject to change. A considerable number of series coming to mainstream television are originally Canadian or BBC productions as networks are trying to pad their autumn schedules. With a desperate need for new programming, it’s time to step out of your comfort zones and try something new.
Image courtesy of nytimes.com
“Star Trek Lower Decks” – CBS All Access
Considering the sheer volume of Star Trek spinoffs, it’s surprising that this is the first animation series borne from the Gene Roddenberry classic. The show focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships, the USS Cerritos, in the year 2380. The first episode is available for free on YouTube.
Image courtesy of nytimes.com
“LoveCraft Country” – HBO
With this summer seeing race relations in America reaching a boiling point, this JJ Abrams and Jorden Peele produced series couldn’t come at a better time. Based on the Matt Ruff novel, Lovecraft Country, the series follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) as he meets up with his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America. The series puts a supernatural spin on the very real horrors that African Americans faced at that time (and many will argue never went away). This is going to be a wild, exciting, terrifying and eye-opening ride into America’s past (and current) racial scars.
Image courtesy of imdb.com
“Woke” – Hulu
In another shockingly timely series addressing racism in America–hmm, maybe these issues have been reaching a critical momentum since before George Floyd’s and Breonna Taylor’ murders–“Woke” tells the story of Keef (Lamorne Morris), a black cartoonist set to break into mainstream success. After his life is shaken to the core, due to a misunderstanding borne out of an abuse of power and systematic racism, Keef suddenly sees inanimate objects coming to life and cracking wise. This show addresses many of the same issues as “Lovecraft Country,” but with an absurdist comedic tone.
Image courtesy of imdb.com
“The Undoing” – HBO
Were you underwhelmed by the 2nd season of “Big Little Lies”? You and everyone else. Get ready for “The Undoing.” Written and produced by David E Kelly, it’s a new mini-series starring Nicole Kidman based on the 2014 novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz set to premiere on HBO this fall. Joyfully living the life of wealthy elite New Yorker, Grace Fraser’s world is rocked due to a violent death and the fallout that threatens to consume her.
image courtesy of filmdaily.com
“Mr. Mayor” – NBC
Have you been missing Ted Danson since “Good Place” ended? Never fear, he will return in this upcoming series created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. (The powerhouses behind such shows as “30 Rock” and “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”.) The crux of the show is a wealthy businessman runs for office and becomes the mayor of Los Angeles. It is a story inspired by a New York politician whose name rhymes with Schloomberg.
Image courtesy of nextepisode.com
“Big Sky” – ABC
Visionary storyteller David E. Kelly (“Big Little Lies”) has created this thriller based on a series of books by CJ Box. The show builds around two private detectives search for two missing teenage girls along a stretch of Montana highway. They promptly discover the mystery goes far deeper than anyone could have imagined. Ryan Phillipe stars as Cody Hoyt.
Image courtesy of denofgeek.com
“Clarice” – CBS
Hannibal Lecter has been portrayed in multiple movies and TV series (many say it peaked with Mad Mikkelsen performance) but are we forgetting someone? Juliana Moore portrayed Clarice Starling in 2001 but that was almost 20 years ago! It’s time to bring her back. Set in 1993, a year after the events of “The Silence of the Lambs” (when Agent Starling was played by Jodie Foster), the series takes a hard look at the FBI agent as she traverses the murky waters of investigating murderers and sexual predators amid the landscape of Washington DC politics.
Image courtesy of blackfilm.com
“The Equalizer” – CBS
The 1980 TV show has already inspired two theatrical films and now yet another reboot, but with a fabulous twist. This CBS series will feature none other than Queen Latifah! The Grammy-winning performer stars as an enigmatic figure who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn. Created by Andrew Marlowe who also helmed ABC’s long-running “Castle.”
Image courtesy of FOX
“Bob’s Burgers” – Fox
With COVID-19 messing with so many production schedules, we are likely to see more animation because it can be produced while safely social distancing. With a firm start date of Sept 27th, viewers will once again greet the Belcher clan at their seaside restaurant with their burger of the day puns (“She’s a super leek burger,” “Hit me with your best shallot burger,” “The Roquefort Files Burger”) and bizarre but delightful musical numbers for their 11th season! Seasons 1-10 are available on Hulu.
With COVID making safe production of shows difficult, if not impossible, many TV series are being pushed back. A lot of shows have premiere dates that are yet to be announced. Here is a quick list of streaming shows you may have missed to help you pass the time.
“Search Party” – HBO Max
Bored Millennials get overly involved in the search for a missing college classmate with horrifying results.
“At Home with Amy Sedaris” – HBO Max
Part crafting DIY, part sketch comedy with a hefty dash of wildly inappropriate humor thrown in, featuring the deliciously charming Amy Sedaris.
“The Floor is Lava” – Netflix
Fun game show where contestants get a cash prize if they can make their way across a room w/o touching the floor. This frequently results in them getting beaten up badly.
“Get Even” – Netflix
Teen girls at an elite British school form a squad to get revenge on bullies only to find themselves framed for murder.
“Pushing Daisies” – CW Seed
This forensic fairytale of a show is filled with brutal murders while bursting with color, humor, music, and heart.
“Alias Grace” – Netflix
Based on the Margaret Atwood novel of the same name, it tells the true story of a murderous maid in 19th century Canada.
“The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell” – Netflix
Ever wondered what a cooking show written by Tim Burton and directed by David Lynch would be like? This is your chance to find out.
—Cameron Grey Rose
Speak Your Mind