Network TV Doesn’t Totally Suck This Fall. Here’s Proof.

Seven reasons to resist cutting the cord for one more season

June 3, 2016 9:00 am

Around this time of year, the major networks (remember them?) unveil the shows we can expect to see in the fall.

That’s when the floodgates of speculation open wide. So what’s the next big thing that will rob you of friends and sleep?

Here’s a look at some of the shows worth taking note of before they debut later this eyar.

Designated Survivor (ABC)

Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, a lowly cabinet member with a wife (Californication‘s Natascha McElhone) and a family. So how does suddenly get to be president? Washington gets attacked and everyone ahead of him in the line of succession is kaput.

This Is Us (NBC)
The trailer for this new series has been catching some serious buzz online. No superheroes or cops, just regular people. Billed as an ensemble dramedy (Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia are among the cast members), the series revolves around different people who share the same birthday — and possibly more.

Timeless (NBC)
NBC has been doing very well with The Blacklist, so the producers of that show teamed up with Supernatural creator Eric Kripke to create a series that blends sci-fi with action. Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter and Malcolm Barrett star as time-traveling triumvirate trying to chase down a criminal who has stolen a machine that could fundamentally alter history.

Speechless (ABC)
Good Will Hunting leading lady Minnie Driver stars as a larger-than-life mother of three, one whom has special needs. She is unstoppable and clever. Based on the trailer, it looks like a smart, well-written, human comedy with a side of melodrama.

Son of Zorn (Fox)
It’s hard to be the son of Zorn, particularly when you’re a live-action boy (Johnny Pemberton) and your dad is an animated character (Jason Sudeikis) who happens to have returned to earth from the land of Zephyria and wants to reconnect with you and his ex-wife (Cheryl Hines). His social graces are … lacking. As you can probably guess, it’s a comedy.

The Great Indoors (CBS)
What happens when you put a wilderness journalist in charge of managing a slew of millennials in the digital department of a magazine? Add a Stephen Fry. Wrap it up in a sitcom.

The Good Place (NBC)
Eleanor (Kristen Bell) dies and ends up in heaven. She even gets a best friend/soulmate (Ted Danson). It’s pretty great. Except every time you swear, your words get changed to something more PG-rated. Oh, and one more problem … a case of mistaken identity. Turns out Eleanor might’ve been on the naughty list. Hilarity ensues.

Katherine Brodsky

Main image via CBS

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