Fall TV Preview: From Limitless Reboots to Gal Pal Heroics

Cluttered with eager reboots and a thousand and one more superhero shows, this Fall on TV you can probably expect to see some duds, but you may also see some winners along the way. With popular shows like Arrow and The Flash birthing spin-offs like there's no tomorrow (wink, wink), even more murder thriller overkill, and The Muppets getting a face-lift, the new premieres of the Fall season look to be quite the interesting ride. Weary of over-used scripts and glossy shows harboring secret crappy plotlines, I'll take these new shows with a grain of salt, trying direly to not toss them away before I actually see them. Here are just a few that caught my eye: 

Reboots, Requels, and Resurrections - From Puppets to Power Pills:

Limitless- Retooling the 2011 film of the same name, which starred Bradley Cooper as an eager writer who develops an addiction to a fast-acting pill that opens up the brain's full capacity, CBS's Limitless takes an ambitious step as it continues the story from the film. Rather than rebooting Cooper's character with some fresh-faced kid out of nowhere, Limitless brings back Cooper's Eddie Morra as a willing mentor to fellow American Sniper costar Jake McDorman. Playing a down-on-his-luck kid who seeks to be something more, McDorman's Brian Finch must use the mysterious NZT drug to not just aid in his own life, but also save the lives of innocent people. A fan of the film back in 2011, with its intriguing style and bad-ass star, this TV sequel may be able to hold its own this Fall, at least with Cooper on-board for now. 

Minority Report- Another reboot/sequel, or requel, down the line is Minority Report, based on the 2002 Steven Spielberg film which is based on the story by Philip K. Dick. Telling of a "pre-cog" named Dash (Stark Sands), who is one of the three people who can detect crime before it happens, Minority Report takes place 10 years after the 2002 film, with the Precrime Department in shambles. Forced to work with a strict detective (Meagan Good), Dash must learn to harness his abilities in order to solve crimes. Debuting on Fox, nearly a year after fellow sci-fi buddy-cop show Almost Human was cut, it's sad to predict that this one might meet the same fate, as the story can only go so far and the premise isn't all that gripping in the first place. However, I will still make an effort to check out Minority Report, as I still hold a love for science fiction shows. 

The Muppets- In a surprisingly unsurprising premiere this Fall, the gang of colorful, loud, and always humorous puppets return to the small screen for a turn at adult comedy. A mockumentary that mocks mockumentaries, The Muppets takes us into the personal lives of our favorite characters, from a traffic-hating Kermit to a love-struck Fozzie. While some of us may have grown out of the whole Muppets thing, at least after that last few movies, there's still some dwindling flame out there that requires the fun-loving group to stay afloat. Even if it may seem gimmicky or unnecessary, this show may end up being as hilarious as The Office or Modern Family. 

 

Rush Hour- The last of this Fall's revamped movie-turned-shows is another buddy-cop action-comedy that we've all heard of. Rush Hour, based on the Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker film series that revolutionized the buddy-cop genre, tells the tale of a Hong Kong detective (Jon Foo) who must team-up with an arrogant LAPD officer (Justin Hires). Guaranteed to be the most martial-arts-filled crime show this Fall, Rush Hour, with its fresh-faced cast, basic premise, and questionable acting quality, may be able to provide eye-popping stunts (on a primetime budget), but may struggle to live up to the fame of the film trilogy.   

Supernatural Specimens - From Frankenstein to Flybys

DC's Legends of Tomorrow- Birthed from the ever-expanding DC universe that began with the CW's Arrow, Legend of Tomorrow aims to focus less on the big guys of Green Arrow and The Flash, but rather their equally-heroic side characters. Hoping to make characters like Brandon Routh's The Atom, Victor Garber's Professor Stein, and Wentworth Miller's Captain Cold even more likable than they already were, as well as introduce characters like Hawkgirl into the mix, this massive spin-off takes the CW's universe to new heights with even more time-travel, superpowers, and cross-overs. Debuting in January of 2016, this series just deserved to be mentioned as DC fans clamor for something new as Arrow and The Flash end their seasons this Fall. 

Supergirl- Veering away from the DC universe of Arrow and The Flash, we enter yet another DC Comics TV universe, where we meet cousin of Superman, Kara Zor‑El (Melissa Benoist). Witness to her planet's destruction 24 years ago, young Kara Danvers must soon embrace her amazing gifts, as the world she lives in becomes increasingly more dangerous. An alien of Krypton, like her famous cousin, Kara struggles to lead a normal life on Earth, as well as protect the people she cares most about. Following the route of Smallville, which introduced us to a decent TV Superman back in 2001, Supergirl looks like a promising freshman superhero series, as long as it keeps the sappy stuff to a minimum and offers up some awesome references to the comics.  

The Frankenstein Code- From the producer of 24 and Homeland comes a modern take on the tale of Frankenstein. Telling of corrupt retired cop Ray Pritchard (Philip Baker Hall), who is revived in a younger and stronger body (True Blood's Rob Kazinsky) after he is killed in a robbery, The Frankenstein Code is the perfect example of what happens when you get a second chance at life. However, while most would spend their youthful time partying or being a daredevil, this retired cop must dive into his past and find out if his younger self will be able to handle the weight of his clouded sins. An interesting and modern concept, Frankenstein Code may be able to survive its freshman season, but will have to step up the stakes if it wants to keep its lively spark.  

Lucifer- From the same realm that NBC's Constantine crawled out of, Fox's Lucifer plucks yet another DC Comics character to use at their disposal. Taking shape as a comedic crime-procedural, where the Devil himself (Tom Ellis) grows bored of his life as ruler of Hell to take on the beauty and crime of Los Angeles, Lucifer looks to be as fun, and conflicted, as Constantine. As it does look like a delightful treat for primetime, it may suffer the same fate as its Vertigo cousin, struggling to get enough people to tune in. Let's just hope star Tom Ellis can bring his A-game as the Devil, so this show can live longer than his previous job on the cancelled Rush. 

  

Heroes Reborn- Also premiering this Fall, we have the much-anticipated return of Heroes, which tells of ordinary individuals who must learn to adapt after gaining mysterious abilities. Resurrected as a 13-episode miniseries, Heroes Reborn takes us into a whole new story, while also including old faces from the show. Unfamiliar with the old show, as I wasn't much of a TV guy back in 2006, I'm not as excited as most would be for this new series; However, I may still tune in for the promise of some superpowered fun. 

Mysterious Murders and Wicked Thrillers:

Blindspot- You can't have Fall TV without the usual murder mysteries. Whether it's CSI, NCIS, or one of the fresh faces of crime-solving, there's always new bone-chilling tales to tell. The first of the new mysteries is Blindspot, the story of a strange tattooed woman found in Times Square that must find out who she is. While it might not sound like much, the tale gets more complex as you go along, as each tattoo on the woman's body leads the FBI to another clue of her past. Starring Thor veteran Jaimie Alexander as the mysterious Jane Doe, Blindspot looks to be quite the enthralling thriller, as each episode takes us closer towards to the truth.    

Containment- With the madness of The Strain (minus the vampires) and a premise like Contagion (minus the A-list actors), Containment brings us into yet another tale of a deadly outbreak that threatens the human race. Set in the bustling city of Atlanta, the show tells of ordinary people who must deal with a feverish outbreak that quickly divides the city. Looking to be quite the investing drama, with a plethora of characters and heart-wrenching emotion, Containment looks like another promising win for the CW, which has dominated the TV screen with superheroes, vampires, and pregnant virgins. 

Game of Silence- Telling of a successful lawyer (Revolution's David Lyons) who's perfect life is suddenly rocked by the return of his long-lost childhood friends, Game of Silence offers only silence to us right now, with little more than a synopsis to show. However, with a leading man like Lyons, who made for an excellent anti-hero on the short-lived Revolution, and an intriguing premise that sparks the slighted flame of curiosity in me, I'll give this one a shot. Adapted by the Turkish series "Suskunlar", this legal drama may offer something unique once it steps out of the shadows.

Wicked City- In 1982, the City of Angels was plagued by sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. It was also plagued something far worse: Murder. In this mysterious new anthology series, all the corruption and hysteria of the '80s begins with a single killer...but it doesn't stop there. With a new criminal case, as well as a new killer, every season, Wicked City may look clichéd and somewhat flawed in design, but it may be able to surprise us. Much like American Horror Story, the multiple storylines and characters presented each season may be able draw some murder-loving viewers.

The Player- Working alongside so-called "gamblers of crime" may seem like no easy job. But it's no problem for security expert Alex Kane (Strike Back's Philip Winchester), a man at the top of his game who must join forces with an elite organization of capturing criminals. Led by "pit boss" Mr. Johnson (Wesley Snipes), this organization takes a deadly gamble on crime, one that will undoubtedly push Alex to his limit. In this game of action-packed stunts and high-stakes thrills, The Player seeks to be as awesome and cut-throat as The Blacklist. Looking as gripping as any action film, The Player may hold some untapped potential as it rides full-force into the Fall.   

The New Office, A Modern Family Look-Alike, and Other Comedic Comebacks:

Superstore- Looking to be a new take on shows like The Office, 30 Rock, and Parks and Rec, the first of the Fall comedies is Superstore. Telling of a group of store clerks who must deal with the day-to-day hell of working in a department store, Superstore works to appeal to the fans of the other shows, but just doesn't have the same star-power. While 30 Rock had Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin and The Office had Steve Carell (for a short while), Superstore hopes that it can buy us with Ugly Betty veteran America Ferrera. Hopefully, the show won't just rely on Ferrera's lovable charm, but also its own comedic uniqueness to keep it afloat.
 

Crowded- With the Fall season drifting in quickly, more and more sitcoms make their way through, eager to gain laughs with every lame joke. While some prosper like The Big Bang Theory and Mike and Molly, others wither and die without even a goodbye. I don't know if that's the case with NBC's newest sitcom Crowded, but there's always the possibility. Telling of a family man Mike (played by TV veteran Patrick Warburton), who seeks to reclaim his wild side in his marriage, with no help from his intervening teenage daughters (Miranda Cosgrove and Mia Serafino), Crowded might not end up being a hit, but it could last longer than shows like Friends With Better Lives and One Big Happy. 

Grandfathered- Almost as corny as any new sitcom today, Fox's unconventional yet sophisticated comedy Grandfathered rides the train of comebacks, as it brings Full House's John Stamos and Drake and Josh's Josh Peck back to the small screen. Telling the tale of an arrogant bachelor (Stamos) who's life is flipped upside down when he finds out he has a secret son (Peck) and a granddaughter, Grandfathered may look sappy and stupid at times, but aren't all comedies like that? Reliant on its decent star power, as well as its numerous cameos from Lil Wayne to Bob Saget, this new comedy looks promising, at least for a John Stamos fan.
 

Life In Pieces- Seemingly the new Modern Family for CBS, Life in Pieces takes a look at members of quite a unique family, as they go through every hilarious, embarrassing, and odd experience each week. Funny enough to keep me laughing through the whole trailer, there may be hope for this freshman comedy, as it strives to bring new light to the 21st century family.

People Are Talking- From the director of How I Met Your Mother and the producer of Ride Along comes yet another stupid sitcom about couples. People Are Talking, which tells of two couples that don't keep anything out of bounds when it comes to relationships, is likely to be one of those sitcoms that is good for a while, but inevitably breaks down under the pressure of a weak script. Skeptical of it, like I am with most new sitcoms, I'm not sure even Saved By The Bell's Mark-Paul Gosselaar can save this one.

Whether it be the newest, jaw-dropping drama or the cheesiest of comedies, this Fall is chock-full of intriguing and mysterious shows. So what will you be watching this Fall? Leave your thoughts on these shows and others in the comments below, and make sure to share this post with all of your TV-loving friends. Stay tuned next week for my reviews of the explosive Mad Max: Fury Road, as well as the action-adventure that all kids will love in Tomorrowland!