Fall 2011 TV Season - Friday Night

Fridays used to be the night where shows would go to die, but this season Friday is actually loaded up with some quality of programming.


New Shows:

A Gifted Man: 8:00 - ABC - September 23rd
A GIFTED MAN is a drama about a brilliant, charismatic surgeon whose life changes forever when his deceased ex-wife begins teaching him the meaning of life from the "hereafter." Michael Holt is an exceptional doctor who lives a materialistic life of luxury thanks to his work-obsessed career and powerful and wealthy patients; however, Michael's ordered world is rocked when his ex-wife, Anna, an idealistic free-clinic doctor and the love of his life, mysteriously appears to him. In an attempt to go back to his "normal" life, Michael visits Anton, a carpenter who moonlights as a Shaman to try and extract Anna's spirit from his body, but when Anna reappears and asks Michael to go to her clinic to help keep it running, he realizes she needs him more now then ever. Curious about Michael's sudden change in behavior is his efficient assistant, Rita, who works tirelessly to facilitate his schedule in order to accommodate his added responsibilities at the clinic. Touched by those in need and accepting of Anna's compassionate "presence," Michael's attitude toward serving the rich and poor is turned upside down, and he begins to see that there's room in his life for everyone.

I've watched a few different promos for this one and while it's got a few decent actors in it. This one has cheese written all over it. Looks like a serious pass for me.




Grimm: 9:00 - NBC - October 21st
"Grimm" is a new drama series inspired by the classic Grimm's Fairy Tales. Remember the fairy tales your parents used to tell you before bedtime? Those weren't stories -- they were warnings. Nick Burkhardt (David Guintoli "Turn The Beat Around") thought he prepared himself for the realities of working as a homicide detective until he started seeing things he couldn't quite explain. When his ailing Aunt Marie (guest star Kate Burton, "Grey's Anatomy") arrives, Nick's life turns upside down when she reveals they are descendants of an elite group of hunters, also known as "Grimms," who fight to keep the balance of humanity safe from the supernatural creatures of the world. As Nick digs deeper into her past, he realizes that he will have to shoulder the responsibility of his ancestors -- and contend with a larger-than-life mythology of the Brothers Grimm that is now all too real.

When I first saw the promo to this one, it looked wacky and I was passing on it. But then some serious buzz started to build on twitter by the good folks that actually do this for a living. I'll check out the pilot and go from there. Seems like a nice fit for Friday nights when I think back to the days that The X-Files was on Friday nights. I do like the fact that it's quite dark like a Grimm story should be.




Returning Shows:

Exterme Makeover: Home Edition - 8:00 - ABC - October 21st
They'll build beautiful homes, we'll tear up. Then they'll tear up when they wonder how they'll be able to afford to live in it.


Chuck: 8:00 - NBC - October 21st
Where we left off:
Before he can kiss the bride, Chuck puts everything on the line in order to save Sarah, including his own life.

What's Next?
Mark Hamill makes a cameo appearance as a villain forcing two hostages off a cliff. Craig Kilborn guest stars as Roger Bale, a dangerous man who steals secrets from other villains.


Kitchen Nightmares: 8:00 - FOX - September 23RD
More restaurents will get ripped by the worlds greatest chef.


Nikita: 8:00 - The CW - September 23rd
Where we left off:
Alex manages to dose Nikita with a toxin that feigns death. Percy has a lunch meeting with members of Oversight, where he reveals his plan to take over the CIA by letting Malcolm and Fletcher hack into the black box, which would unleash the nerve toxin from "Girl's Best Friend", killing them and the director of the CIA, and later Division will blame the attack on Nikita. Nikita however, awakens and injures cleaner Roan (Rob Stewart) by throwing acid to his face. Realizing Percy's agenda, she rushes towards Langley and manages to save the the CIA director, Malcolm and Fletcher. After she is taken into custody, Fletcher helps her escape. Meanwhile, Alex is brought back to Amanda, who kills her with the kill chip. She then revives her and lets her go free, but warns her not to return to Nikita. Birkoff releases Micheal and they decrypt a black box, before Michael makes an escape. Nikita returns to her loft to destroy it, but Alex returns just to get her new identity ready. The loft is destroyed when Division agents storm it. Nikita and Alex go their separate ways, but Alex is captured again. She is recruited by Amanda and Oversight to stop Nikita from releasing the black box, and in return they will help find her the man who ordered her family's death.

What's Next?
Nikita and Michael continue to try and expose Division. Amanda takes charge of Division, but Oversight assigns Sean (Dillon Casey) to keep an eye on her. Alex is tasked with finding Nikita to stop her from releasing the contents of the black box.


Shark Tank: 9:00 - ABC
Dragons' Den in America.


CSI: New York: 9:00 - CBS - September 23rd
Where we left off:
After a near-death experience Mac returns to his final unsolved case, a bodega robbery in 2002 that he and Aiden Burn worked on. New evidence suggests a young girl was kidnapped during the crime, so Mac and the team launch a country-wide manhunt to find her. She is reunited with her mother, and Mac tells Jo he believes he has done his share of good.

What's Next?
The tenth anniversary of 9/11 proves a wrenching but clarifying passage for Mac, who suffered a terrible loss on that day. Meanwhile, an open-and-shut robbery/homicide proves more complicated than anyone had anticipated. Cassidy Freeman guest stars.


Fringe: 9:00 - FOX - September 23rd
Where we left off:
Peter, with Olivia's help, enters the prime version of the machine, and experiences a vision of the future where the parallel universe has been destroyed and the same threatens the prime one. He opts instead to merge the two machine rooms, creating a bridge where inhabitants of both universes can solve their dilemma, before disappearing and being forgotten by both Walters and Olivias.

What's Next?
Just one week after Peter Bishop saved the day and was then wiped from existence, the truce between the two worlds remains intact and the two sides are forced to work together. Lincoln Lee joins the Fringe team as they investigate a shapeshifter case that is very personal to him.


20/20: 10:00 - ABC - September 16th


Blue Bloods: 10:00 - CBS - September 23rd
Where we left off:
In his attempt to expose the Blue Templar, Frank chooses to bypass Internal Affairs after a drug bust indicates dirty cops are involved.

What's next?
Frank is put on the spot when a supporter for the mayor is found dead and the mayor wants Frank to position it as a random act of violence to the public. Meanwhile, Jamie goes on his first undercover assignment at a bar where he meets and bonds with a suspicious patron.


Dateline NBC: 10:00 - NBC - September 23rd


What's playing in my Media Room on Friday Nights?
Maybe Grimm and Blue Bloods for sure even though I was disappointed with last years Finale.