Legends (?) of the Fall
The 2016 fall television season is just about upon us. Along with the usual round of expected renewals (Law and Order: SVU and The Simpsons are both renewed, for I believe their 72nd and 109th seasons, respectively - although I may be a little off on that figure) there are a few noteworthy new shows debuting this year, and I'd like to take the time to introduce you to them.
If you thought that movies these days showed a striking lack of originality, you'd be right - but that's a trend that is not limited to the big screen. Reboots, sequels, prequels, and spin-offs abound on the small screen this year. Speaking of movies, though, there are three television adaptations of movies starting this season. The Exorcist and Lethal Weapon (starring Damon Wayans as Murtaugh) are both on FOX, while a small screen prequel to the Taken films (which presumably showcases a young Liam Neeson acquiring a specific set of skills) will be airing on NBC, although that one will have a mid-season premiere date. I have to say that I'm intrigued by Lethal Weapon. As a fan of the film series, I celebrate that those movies are over the top, ridiculous, and (sometimes unintentionally) laughable. But I am left wondering who's clamoring for these Film-to-TV adaptations. We've already had to endure, as a culture and a society, the fact that Limitless and Rush Hour have been made into TV shows. Who really wants to sit through a watered down, episodic version of The Exorcist? How long can we keep watching Liam Neeson (I refuse to know the character's name) have things taken from him before it gets to be too much? At least one television series, it appears.
In addition to film adaptations, we can also expect to see some spin-offs, in the forms of 24: Legacy (FOX) and Blacklist: Redemption (NBC) - both of which seem like pretty safe bets for attracting the fan base of the originals. Then, we have a couple of reboots - MacGyver (Again, a series that I maintain no one was clamoring for) and Kevin Can Wait, a show that while it is not actually a reboot of The King of Queens, it might as well be. Promos for the series even feature "King of Queens" Kevin James and "Current" Kevin James interacting and discussing the upcoming show.
Pictured: Kevin James slipping into madness
These shows join CBS's lineup, which already features reboots of Hawaii 5-0 and The Odd Couple, not to mention three incarnations of NCIS, and prove that the good folks at CBS have officially run out of ideas.
And, last but not least, let's talk about the comic book shows for a second. First off, Agents of SHIELD (ABC) and Gotham (FOX) are returning. Supergirl is also returning for it's sophomore season, although not on CBS, it's original network home. It's moved over to the CW, where it's joining it's DC siblings Arrow, the Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow....meaning that superheroes are featured at least four nights a week on the CW now. When you couple that with other CW fare, such as Supernatural, iZombie, and The Vampire Diaries, it's beginning to look suspiciously like the corporate leadership of the CW has been taken over by a bunch of fifteen year olds.
The new season kicks off next week, with premiere dates for new shows starting Monday, September 19th. Check your local listings, if I haven't scared you into renouncing the idiot box entirely.
