As always, if you’re looking for quality TV, you’re best off looking at cable. But.
Having seen almost none of the fall pilots, I present here the 10 new broadcast series that (on paper at least) look to me the most promising:
What’s It called? “Beauty and the Beast”
What’s It about? Homicide detective Catherine Chandler falls for handsome doctor Vincent Keller, who hulks out when you make him angry.
When does it air? 9 p.m. Thursdays, after “The Vampire Diaries.”
Why is Herc excited? Co-creator Jennifer Levin has written for a lot of great shows, including “Chicago Hope” and “Felicity.”
What could go wrong? Levin’s credits also include the less impressive “Brothers & Sisters” and the just-cancelled “Unforgettable.”
What’s It called? “Hannibal”
What’s It about? Years before star FBI profiler Will Graham captured serial killer Hannibal Lecter, the two men were a crimefighting team.
Where does it air? Midseason on NBC.
Why is Herc excited? Bryan Fuller, genius creator of “Dead Like Me,” “Wonderfalls“ and “Pushing Daisies,” is the showrunner. Fuller also did great work for two “Star Trek” series, scripted a fantastic pilot for an aborted “Carrie” series, and wrote the best-ever episodes of “Heroes.”
What could go wrong? They need to cast Lecter already.
What’s It called? “The Last Resort”
What’s It about? Per ABC: “500 feet beneath the ocean’s surface, the U.S. ballistic missile submarine Colorado receive their orders. Over a radio channel, designed only to be used if their homeland has been wiped out, they’re told to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan. Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) demands confirmation of the orders only to be unceremoniously relieved of duty by the White House. XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) finds himself suddenly in charge of the submarine and facing the same difficult decision. When he also refuses to fire without confirmation of the orders, the Colorado is targeted, fired upon, and hit. The submarine and its crew find themselves crippled on the ocean floor, declared rogue enemies of their own country. Now, with nowhere left to turn, Chaplin and Kendal take the sub on the run and bring the men and women of the Colorado to an exotic island. Here they will find refuge, romance and a chance at a new life, even as they try to clear their names and get home.”
When does it air? 8 p.m. Thursdays on ABC, opposite “Big Bang Theory,” “Two and a Half Men” and “The X Factor.”
Why is Herc excited? It’s not another cop show. Andre Braugher has been awesome at least since “Homicide.” It’s from “The Shield” mastermind Shawn Ryan, whose last series was the excellent “Chicago Code.”
What could go wrong? Its intriguing premise kind of seems too weird to live on broadcast television. Also, ABC is not great at programming 8 p.m. Thursday.
What’s It called? “Made In Jersey”
What’s It about? A lawyer with working-class roots finds herself excelling at an Manhattan firm full of Ivy Leaguers.
When does it air? 9 p.m. Fridays on CBS.
Why is Herc excited? It reunites writer-producers (and Aaron Sorkin associates) Dana Calvo and Kevin Falls, key forces behind NBC’s acclaimed but short-lived “Journeyman.”
What could go wrong? It’s on Friday nights, between ratings-starved CBS crime dramas “CSI NY” and “Blue Bloods.”
What’s It called? “The Mindy Project”
What’s It about? A successful female doctor works to overcome her own messy personal life.
When does it air? 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays on Fox, right after “New Girl.”
Why is Herc excited? Writer Mindy Kaling’s name has appeared on some of the funniest “Office” scripts ever produced.
What could go wrong? “New Girl” has been losing a lot of viewers lately.
What’s It called? “Mistresses”
What’s It about? Four women who like to bone the married.
When does it air? Midseason on ABC
Why is Herc excited? I’ll keep an eye out for anything from Rina Mimoun, the “Gilmore Girls” vet I credit for transforming “Everwood” from swill to something worthy of Chris Pratt. Also? Yunjin Kim.
What could go wrong? “Mistresses” was created by K.J. Steinberg, who previously created the dull flashback-happy ABC hourlong “The Nine.”
What’s It called? “Nashville”
What’s It about? A fading country star (Connie Britton) has to deal with an ambitious new co-headliner (Hayden Panettiere) and her family’s political ambitions.
When does it air? 10 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC.
Why is Herc excited? Series creator Callie Khouri wrote the superb “Thelma and Louise.”
What could go wrong? Khouri also wrote the not-as-good “Something To Talk About” (39% positive on Rotten Tomatoes) and “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” (44%).
What’s It called? “The Neighbors”
What’s It about? A human family unwittingly moves into a gated community comprised only of benign extraterrestrials.
When does it air? 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, right after “Modern Family.”
Why is Herc excited? I cheated and watched the pilot, which does contain quite a number of big laughs. It’s written by Dan Fogelman, whose feature credits include “Cars” (74% positive on Rotten Tomatoes), “Tangled” (90%) and “Crazy, Stupid, Love” (78%).
What could go wrong? Not a lot. “The Neighbors” pilot is funnier than "My Favorite Martian," “Mork and Mindy,” “ALF” and “Third Rock From The Sun” combined.
What’s It called? “Revolution”
What’s It about? A world that has been plunged back into the dark ages because electricity mysteriously stopped working 15 years earlier.
When does it air? 10 p.m. Mondays on NBC, right after “The Voice.”
Why is Herc excited? The premise is interesting, J.J. Abrams (“Alias,” “Lost,” “Fringe,” “Star Trek”) is producing. Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Cowboys and Aliens”) directed the pilot. Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad”) appears to have a major role.
What could go wrong? Bad Robot has a spotty track record; its most recent series were “Person of Interest” and the underwhelming “Undercovers” and “Alcatraz.”
What’s It called? “Vegas”
What’s It about? Nevada sheriff Ralph Lamb, who took on the Chicago mob in 1960s Las Vegas.
When does it air? 10 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS, right after the “NCIS” shows.
Why is Herc excited? It was created by Nick Pileggi, the screenwriter/author behind “Casino” and “GoodFellas.” And it pits Dennis Quaid against Michael Chiklis.
What could go wrong? Network TV may not be the best fit for Pileggi, who also created the 1997 CBS series “Michael Hayes,” which went nowhere fast.
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