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(Photo: Justin Lubin/Courtesy of NBC (The Event); Courtesy of Fox (Glee); Carry Wetcher/Courtesy of HBO (Bored to Death); Patrick Ecclesine/Courtesy of Fox (Lone Star); Mathew Imaging/WireImage (Ferguson and Stonestreet); Brian Bowen Smith/Courtesy of Fox (Running Wilde); Ed Araquel/Courtesy of Fox (Horse); Matthias Clamer/Courtesy of Fox (Raising Hope)) |
1. Gossip Girl
With all due respect to Dan, Vanessa, Nate, Serena, Jenny, and their illegitimate babies, evil new girlfriends, and gravity-defying décolletage, the most compelling story line, as ever, will be that of newly uncoupled Blair and Chuck.
Returns Sept. 13 on the CW.
2. The Event
The series gunning most aggressively to be the new Lost. No polar bears, but unexplained phenomena, high-level government conspiracies, and a crackerjack ensemble, including Jason Ritter, Blair Underwood, Zeljko Ivanek, and Laura Innes.
Debuts Sept. 20 on NBC.
3. House
Hugh Laurie is still serving up master-class acting six seasons in. Whether the consummation of Dr. Gregory House’s longtime crush on Cuddy will be the show’s death knell is the question.
Returns Sept. 20 on Fox.
4. Lone Star
James Wolk is already the fall’s breakout star before an episode of this quirky drama has even aired. Fingers crossed that the beautifully shot, morally complex Texas-based series about father-and-son con men (co-starring David Keith and Jon Voight) doesn’t become the show so good nobody watches.
Debuts Sept. 20 on Fox.
5. Glee
The second episode of TV's most thrilling union of earnestness and camp will be a Britney-themed episode that creator Ryan Murphy has described as reverential. Plus: Carol Burnett as Sue Sylvester’s Nazi-hunting mother! Just, please, no Justin Bieber cameo.
Returns Sept. 21 on Fox.
6. Raising Hope
My Name Is Earl creator Greg Garcia reapplies his working-class, sweet-in-surprising-places sensibility to this dramedy about a naïve young man raising his baby with the help of a not-so-helpful family. It stars the always wonderful Martha Plimpton and Cloris Leachman (clearly due her Betty White moment).
Debuts Sept. 21 on Fox.
7. Running Wilde
Arrested Development’s cancellation still burns four years later. At least now Will Arnett (Gob), David Cross (Tobias), and creator Mitch Hurwitz are reunited, in this sitcom about a rich jerk (Arnett) and the do-gooder he loves (Felicity’s Keri Russell). A pilot reshot multiple times could spell trouble—or could mean the lowering of ridiculously high expectations.
Debuts Sept. 21 on Fox.
8. Undercovers
J.J. Abrams raided his own playbook for his new spy show: Alias, with a married couple. We’ll forgive the familiar territory since no one does banter-under-fire better than he.
Debuts Sept. 22 on NBC.
9. Modern Family
Last fall’s irresistible hit already has something going for it that season one did not: the much-promised, much-delayed Cam-and-Mitchell kiss.
Returns Sept. 22 on ABC.
10. Cougar Town
Cougar Town flirted with taking a new name, one that better reflects the show’s subject—goofy, heartfelt friendships—rather than a predatory Courteney Cox. The title is sticking, but don’t let that stop you from trying the very game cast and the series, which hit its stride in last season’s second half.
Returns Sept. 22 on ABC.
