NEW
Cast:
Anna Torv ... Olivia Dunham
Joshua Jackson ... Peter Bishop
John Noble ... Walter Bishop
Lance Reddick ... Phillip Broyles
Kirk Acevedo ... Charlie Francis
Mark Valley ... John Scott
Blair Brown ... Nina Sharp
Jasika Nicole ... Astrid Farnsworth
In a Nutshell: It all starts when an international flight lands on autopilot at Logan Airport, and authorities discover that everyone inside has turned to goo. FBI Agent Olivia Dunham is on the outskirts of a task force assembled to investigate, and in the course of her work she stumbles upon the names of two scientists who might be able to explain what happened: Peter Bishop, a genius who has exiled himself to the Middle East, and Peter's estranged father Walter, who's been cooped up in an asylum. Together, they realize that the airplane incident is just one of many experiments, conducted by an unknown entity using the world as a lab.
The Buzz: "Fringe's" twinkle of hope may also be the premiere's undoing, and that would be the imprimatur of executive producer J.J. Abrams. Placing his name front and center gives the viewer a certain level of expectation in our "Lost"-obsessed TV universe, including the idea that the thrills will start from the word "go." That was true of the first episode of "Alias"; it was definitely true of the opening minute of "Lost." When those series launched, there was no question they represented the start of something amazing. "Fringe," in contrast, feels like a tepid version of "The X-Files." The plot takes about half an hour to warm up, and by the time we pull in to our destination - and the series' true beginning - a viewer may have to persuade himself that Abrams deserves our faith and patience. Which is to say, it's not destined to rock the fall schedule out of the gate, but it may evolve into something worthwhile.
Besides, Fringe's saving grace isn't the action, or the dark conspiracy bubbling beneath the central plot, but its funny and preposterous demonstrations of science fiction. The pilot's best sequence starts with the elder Bishop offering Dunham the opportunity to mindmeld with an ailing loved one, by inserting a probe into the back of her neck while she's skinny dipping in dirty water. This, after scarfing down a variety of psychedelics and maybe even two scoops of raisins. When the agent agrees, Bishop gleefully declares, "Excellent! Let's make some LSD." Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the catchphrase and battle cry of the 2008-2009 fall television season.
Premieres: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9
Cast:
Niecy Nash ... Rhonda
Jerry O'Connell ... Neal
Molly Stanton ... Nicole
Jesse Tyler Ferguson ... Larry
Brando Eaton ... Jason
Jolene Purdy ...Molly
In a Nutshell: In an upscale boutique hotel called The Inn, nitpicky general manager Neal and his impossibly beautiful front desk staff often find themselves butting heads with the invisible staff members, the folks in reservations, housekeeping and other service positions, who are watched over by The Inn's mother hen of a human resources manager, Rhonda.
The Buzz: You know how there's always one sitcom that puts up a good fight for a while only to vanish into thin air, remembered by few and missed by no one? This certainly looks like this year's top candidate. Jerry O'Connell and Niecy Nash are so much better than the material they're given in this pilot. You'll get more worthwhile laughs by checking out O'Connell's work on FunnyorDie.com…and here's hoping "Reno 911" comes back for another season so we'll at least see more of Nash.
Premieres: 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10
Cast:
Various
In a Nutshell: An unscripted series that invites some of the country's wealthiest people to go undercover in some of the nation's poorest communities. At the end of their stay, they'll reveal their true identities and present a gift of at least $100,000 to the people who touch them the most.
The Buzz: Redeeming reality TV by practicing philanthropy is a surefire tearjerker, and Fox is wise to introduce this series during the gift giving season.
Premieres: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3; regular timeslot is 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning Thursday, Dec. 4
RETURNING
Cast:
Lena Headey ... Sarah Connor
Thomas Dekker ... John Connor
Summer Glau ... Cameron
Brian Austin Green ... Derek Reese
Richard T. Jones ... James Ellison
Shirley Manson ... Catherine Weaver
Garret Dillahunt ... Cromartie
Leven Rambin ... Riley
In a nutshell: When machines rise up and destroy humanity, our only hope will be Christian Bale -- er, John Connor, leader of the human resistance. First his mother, Sarah, must keep him alive with the help of a cutie-pie Cyborg named Cameron, sent back in time to protect him.
Where it left us: John Connor and Sarah continued their search for the Turk, an intelligent chess-playing machine that could be the predecessor to the new Skynet. This led them to a confrontation with a businessman named Sarkissian (#1.9, "What He Beheld"), who claimed to have it. Once Sarkissian discovered the Connors' true identities, he tried to blackmail them, but Derek Reese shot and killed him. The Connors stole Sarkissian's computer and John decrypted its files. Around the same time FBI Agent Ellison discovered a Terminator in the agency's ranks. When his team attempted to take down the bad robot, it killed them all - and made a point of leaving Ellison alive. Derek took John out to meet the child version of John's father, Kyle Reese (and his brother Derek) for his birthday. Lastly, Sarah sent their Friendly Pet Terminator out to get a cake. As Cameron got into the Jeep, John realized that the man Derek killed was not the real Sarkissian. The real one planted a bomb in the car, which exploded with Cameron in the driver's seat.
Oh, she's probably OK. That's less of a concern than if the show can fulfill its purpose and stay alive long enough to assist in building hype for next summer's big blockbuster "Terminator: Salvation." Joining the Connors' growing list of enemies is Catherine Weaver (played by Garbage singer Shirley Manson), the powerful CEO of Zeira Corp, a top-ranked technology company. Leven Rambin also is new this year, playing John Connor's new friend Riley. Wonder if she'll help us find out whether jealousy is part of Cameron's programming.
Premieres: 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8
Cast:
Hugh Laurie ... Dr. Gregory House
Lisa Edelstein ... Dr. Lisa Cuddy
Robert Sean Leonard ... Dr. James Wilson
Omar Epps ... Dr. Eric Foreman
Jennifer Morrison ... Dr. Allison Cameron
Jesse Spencer ... Dr. Robert Chase
Olivia Wilde ... Thirteen
Peter Jacobson ... Dr. Chris Taub
Kal Penn ... Dr. Lawrence Kutner
In a nutshell: Dr. Gregory House is one ornery mofo who just hired on three new diagnostic team members to torture. Dr. Lisa Cuddy, the chief hospital administrator, barely tolerates him, and Dr. James Wilson is House's best (and pretty much only) friend.
Where it left us: When House found out he'd have to share Wilson with his new girlfriend Amber (#4.11, "Frozen"), he wasn't happy about it. That didn't put House in an ideal position when he and Amber end up in the same bus crash. Amber's injuries, in combination with her treatment of a previously undiagnosed ailment, prove fatal (#4.16, "Wilson's Heart"). In the finale's fading moments, the implication is that Wilson holds House responsible for his girlfriend's death. Cuddy is by his side, holding his hand.
Not a cheery place to start the next season, but that's why we love this show. "House" is not a figure given over to sunshine and lollipops, yet he's still endlessly entertaining.
Premieres: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16
Cast:
Dominic Purcell ... Lincoln Burrows
Wentworth Miller... Michael Scofield
William Fichtner ... Alexander Mahone
Amaury Nolasco ... Fernando Sucre
Wade Williams ... Brad Bellick
Robert Knepper ... T-Bag
Sarah Wayne Callies ... Dr. Sara Tancredi
Chris Vance ... James Whistler
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe ... Susan B. Anthony
Danay Garcia ... Sofia
Michael Rapaport ... Don Self
In a nutshell: Well, technically brothers Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield broke out of prison two seasons ago, and Burrows has been cleared of the crime for which he originally was imprisoned.
Where it left us: A season after running from the law, Lincoln had to return the favor his brother originally did him in the first season, which was to break him out of prison by getting himself put in. Season three found Michael and several of his escape accomplices (and pursuers) in a Panamanian prison called Sona, which was run by the inmates and had the guards keeping an eye on things from the outside. The Company contacted Lincoln to get him to break one of its agents out, kidnapping Lincoln's son and Michael's lover Sara Tancredi as incentive to meet its demands. But when Michael blew the organization's deadline (#3.13, "The Art of the Deal") an operative allegedly beheaded Sara as a penalty. The brothers escape with the agent and trade him for LJ, but Michael has vowed to avenge Sara's death. When Michael escaped Sona with the Company agent, they left behind a number of accomplices including Sucre, who ended up inside as part of a finale twist.
Assuming Michael and Linc have a "no man left behind" policy, we'll probably see them go back for Sucre in season four. And as it turns out, Dr. Tancredi's head is attached to her shoulders after all. Actress Sarah Wayne Callies, originally written out of season three due to contract disputes, returns for the fourth season. New to the cast: Cress Williams and James Hiroyuki Liao.
Premieres: 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1
Cast:
Emily Deschanel ... Dr. Temperance Brennan
David Boreanaz ... FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth
TJ Thyne ... Dr. Jack Hodgins
Michaela Conlin ... Angela Montenegro
Tamara Taylor ... Dr. Camille "Cam" Saroyan
John Francis Daley ... Dr. Lance Sweets
In a nutshell: A team of forensic anthropologists working at the Jeffersonian Institute, led by Dr. Temperance Brennan, solve crimes via the intricate examination of human remains. They are assisted in tracking down the perpetrators by FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth, for whom Brennan shares a special chemistry that grows stronger with each passing season -- but has yet to be consummated, in observance of the "Moonlighting" rule.
Where it left us: A season long story arc about the Gormogon serial killer (introduced in #3.1, "The Widow's Son in the Windshield"), a man fond of eating his victims and leaving teeth marks on the bones, drew to its shocking conclusion. The team found the first clues about the Gormogon in a bank vault containing a silver skeleton. Some parts had been replaced by true bone; the last piece of evidence was a jawbone sent to Brennan in a box (#3.15, "The Pain in the Heart") The signs he left for the Jeffersonian team indicated the killer's obsession with a number of mystical societies, and some evidence that he had an accomplice within the Institute. That apprentice ended up being Zack Addy (Eric Millegan), Brennan's assistant, who killed a lobbyist as part of his devotion to the Gormogon and suffered serious injuries in an explosion he engineered in the lab as a distraction. As a favor to Brennan a prosecutor works out a deal to have him committed to a psychiatric facility rather than face the death penalty. Brennan and her team are understandably devastated.
Of course, that leaves the door open for Milegan to reappear on the show from time to time, giving anyone distressed his departure a small measure of comfort. The two-hour season premiere takes Bones and Booth to London, where they team up with local investigators on a high-profile murder case involving a young heiress.
Premieres: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3
Cast:
Kiefer Sutherland ... Jack Bauer
Robert Carlyle ... Carl Benton
Gil Bellows ... Frank Tramell
Jon Voight ... Jonas Hodges
In a nutshell: We always meet CTU Agent Jack Bauer on the worst days of his life. Because that's when he's at his best! So far he's had six of them, during which he's been tortured to death and revived a couple of times, shattered bones to get information and watched lots of friends die on him.
Where it left us: Throwing all laws of physics, time constraints and the perils of L.A. traffic out the window are but a few requirements to get onboard with this show. The other is a willingness to forgive. Day 6, the follow-up to one of the most fabulous (and sublimely ridiculous) seasons in this show's history, was an utter mess. Some viewers, people who put up with a lot of barely believable shenanigans out of love for Bauer and his superpowers, may have wondered if their continued loyalty was still worth it.
One might consider "24: Exile," the two-hour real-time prequel to Day 7, a first attempt by producers Howard Gordon and Jon Cassar to make it up to us. Partially shot on location in South Africa, the teleflick puts Jack Bauer and his mentor Carl Benton in the middle of an international crisis involving a coup and the recruitment of child soldiers, months before the series' first female president is due to take her oath of office. Apparently Jack is attempting to heal his soul by building houses for the poor. We wonder, though, if "24's" diehards would consider any skull-busting he engages in to be part of his humanitarian work.
Anyway, those who have a problem with the violence in "Exile" may be directed to tell it to Sally Struthers. Among "Day 7's" casting surprises: Previously-believed-to-be-deceased Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), will be back.
Premieres: 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. "Day 7" begins in midseason, in the 9 p.m. Monday timeslot.
company.
Advertise on IMDb.
License our content.