2010 Fall TV Spotlight

It's ABC day for the TCA, and the press tour got a little lighter and funnier when the cast of Mr. Sunshine took the stage. This is Matthew Perry's vehicle, who stars as Ben, the manager of the Sunshine Center, a mid-tier sports arena in San Diego. He was joined by cast members Allison Janney, Nate Torrence, James Lesure, and Andrea Anders, as well as the producers to talk about the new midseason comedy.

• Wondering why the show is set at a sports arena? Perry said because it's exciting — "a place where the most interesting, most insane things happen." The group of employees are like a dysfunctional family, he said, who "have to get it together every night because 18,000 people are showing up."
• Allison Janney plays Crystal, the eccentric owner of the Sunshine Center, whom she assured us is the exact opposite of her beloved character C.J. on The West Wing. "I spent seven years being politically correct on The West Wing, and now I get to just be completely wrong on so many levels."
• On whether Perry will pull some strings to have former costars — from Friends to Salma Hayek, his love interest in Fools Rush In, Perry said, "Yes, I will probably ask them," as long as it doesn't take away from the new characters. "I don't want to use them as a launching pad. I want to show these new people and what their lives are like."

To hear more details about Mr. Sunshine, including more Matthew Perry cracks, just read more

I've been giving you the 411 on the most talked-about TV shows coming at you this Fall, and today I have yet another series to plug: No Ordinary Family.

• Who's in it: Michael Chiklis of The Shield is Jim, the patriarch of the Powell family; Dexter's Julie Benz costars as his wife, and Kay Panabaker (Fame) and Jimmy Bennett (Star Trek) play their kids.
• What it's about: In an attempt to reconnect with their children (and with each other), the Powells decide to go on vacation. But when their plane crashes over the Amazon River, the chemicals in the water leave the family members with superpowers.
• Why it caught my attention: Several critics are touting this as a live-action version of The Incredibles, which seems to bode well — especially in the wake of the cancellation of Heroes when many viewers may be hankering for their superhero fix. Plus, it also stars Romany Malco, who cracked me up in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
• Show most likely to: Make me nostalgic for The Secret World of Alex Mack.

To check out a preview of the show, just read more

I've already given you a glimpse of some of the Fall TV offerings, but it's time to hit on one of the season's buzziest newbies: The Event. It's a conspiracy theory series shrouded in mystery, so we don't know much, but let's go over what we do know:

• Who's in it: Blair Underwood and Jason Ritter lead a cast that includes Sarah Roemer (you may recognize her from Disturbia) and TV vets Zeljko Ivanek (True Blood, Damages) and Laura Innes (ER).
• What it's about: Ritter plays Sean, a newly engaged guy whose fiancée (Roemer) goes missing on vacation. As he tries to sort out her disappearance, he uncovers a government conspiracy that even the president (Underwood) didn't know about.
• Why it caught my attention: It seems like every TV critic out there is talking about this one. The intrigue, the complex storyline, the prevalence of crashing airplanes in the promo — could this be TV's next Lost?
• Show most likely to: Spawn watercooler talk.

To watch a preview for the show, just keep reading

As Summer carries on, I'm getting you prepared for the future: the Fall TV Schedule, anyway! For my latest TV spotlight, I'd like you introduce to My Generation, a new drama from ABC.

• Who's in it: Jaime King and True Blood's Mehcad Brooks are the most recognizable faces of this ensemble.
• What it's about: A documentary-style look at nine friends 10 years after they graduated from high school together.
• Why it caught my attention: It kinda reminds me of the short-lived series Reunion, but this more down-to-earth premise about how their lives have turned out (read: no murder mystery) seems easier to get into.
• Show most likely to: Make you dread your own high school reunion.

To watch a preview, just read more

The CW only has two new shows on tap for the Fall season, which means the pressure's on. Now that we've already taken a peek at cheerleader-tastic Helllcats, let's get into the network's other fresh blood: Nikita. Oh, and be sure to check out all of my new show spotlights!

• Who's in it: Shane West, Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca, Melinda Clarke
• What it's about: A female assassin who's being hunted by the CIA.
• Why it caught my attention: The CW usually sticks to its tried-and-true guilty pleasure soaps, so I'm excited to check out the network's foray into action/thriller.
• Show most likely to: Suffer from its competitive time slot (it's on Thursdays at 9 p.m.)

To see a preview, just keep reading

I'm getting you prepped for the new TV coming your way in a few months with my Fall TV spotlights, my series of preview clips and important bits about the new Fall shows. Today I'm turning my attention to a Fox comedy starring perennial favorite Will Arnett, Running Wilde.

• Who's in it: Will Arnett and Keri Russell.
• What it's about: An obnoxious billionaire (Arnett) reunites with his earth-crunchy old flame (Russell) and her daughter.
• Why it caught my attention: The Arrested Development pedigree. Obviously star Arnett is an alum, plus AD's creator Mitch Hurwitz is also behind Running Wilde.
• Show most likely to: Make you wish Arrested Development was still on.

To see a preview clip of Running Wilde, just read more

Hey, Lost widows! I've been highlighting the upcoming Fall shows, but for my latest TV Spotlight, I bring you the latest from your man J.J. Abrams: Undercovers. This time, Abrams is returning to the world of espionage (that's sure to please a few Syndey Bristow fans!). You'll be seeing the series pop up as part of your Wednesday night programming, but since that's still a few months away, let's break down what to expect.

• Who's in it: The series centers around two lesser-known actors who you may not recognize — Boris Kodjoe (Soul Food) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Dr. Who) — but backing them up is Gerald McRaney (aka Major Dad!).
• What it's about: Kodjoe and Mbatha-Raw play an ex-CIA couple who run a catering company until one of their fellow spies gets kidnapped, and they once again go undercover to save him.
• Why it caught my attention: It looks like part Alias, part Mr. and Mrs. Smith, so how could it not be fun? As a long-time J.J. Abrams fan, I fully plan on tuning in.
• Show most likely to: Use suggestive double entrendres.

Check out two preview clips when you read more

It's hard to believe that we're already nearing the end of June, which means that Fall is slowly creeping up on us. OK, not really, but it's still fun to predict the future, and I've been helping you figure out which new shows you'll be DVRing in a few months. Today I'm bringing you some insight into CBS's reboot of Hawaii Five-0.

• Who's in it: Scott Caan and Alex O'Loughlin (The Back-Up Plan) are joined by Lost's Daniel Dae Kim (Jin lives!) and Battlestar Galactica's Grace Park.
• What it's about: A new team of cops fightin' crime in — wait for it — Hawaii.
• Why it caught my attention: Reboots are always buzz-y, so I'll be watching to see if this one can live up to the hype. And there's also the fact that Alex O'Loughlin takes his shirt off in the preview. I might be in love.
• Show most likely to: Have the best visual backdrop and gorgeous scenery.

Check out the preview after the jump.

Maybe you just got used to most of your regular TV shows being on Summer hiatus, but I'm taking this time to look ahead to the Fall season and the spate of new series that come with it. We've checked out a a few of the offerings, and today I want to get you up to speed on the Fox comedy Raising Hope.

• Who's in it: Newcomer Lucas Neff is the main character, while Martha Plimpton, Cloris Leachman, and No Country For Old Men's Garrett Dillahunt also star. Bijou Phillips pops up in the pilot.
• What it's about? Twenty-something Jimmy accidentally impregnates a convict, and everyone in his down-on-their-luck family helps to raise the baby.
• Why it caught my attention: Martha Plimpton's character is a grandma! She most memorably played a rebellious teen in 1989's Parenthood, so to see her as a grandmother (albeit a young one) kind of blows my mind.
• Show most likely to: Be so wrong it's right.

To watch a preview clip of Raising Hope, just read more

In my continued efforts to keep fresh TV alive and well all Summer long, I'm keeping you up-to-date on the new shows with my Fall TV spotlights. Today let's check out Outsourced, which will get a coveted spot in NBC's Thursday night comedy lineup.

• Who's in it: The new series is made up of mostly fresh faces, with Ben Rappaport, Rizwan Manji, Rebecca Hazlewood, and Sacha Dhawan as the major players.
• What's it about: Todd (Rappaport) is the last man standing when his entire office is laid off and outsourced to India. He heads overseas to manage the new group of people, who also need a few lessons about America to help sell novelty items like beer helmets and fake vomit.
• Why it caught my attention: I've been intrigued by this show ever since we first got wind of it back in 2007. Plus, it'll be taking the place of my beloved Parks and Recreation for the first half of the season, so I have to see if it's a worthy replacement!
• Show most likely to: Depend heavily on racist jokes.

Check out a preview of the show after the jump