Fall 2011 TV Season - Thursday

So, next up is Thursday nights and quite frankly they scare me. They are so jammed already and that's without these new shows. Thankfully I don't watch the highly loved Bones and The Mentalist. That would drive me up to 11 shows just on a Thursday for those keeping track. Let's not waste anytime blabing away here, because Thursday is truly the best night on television. Except for maybe Sundays are certain points of the year.


New Shows

Charlie's Angels: 8:00 - ABC - September 22nd

Everyone deserves a second chance -- even a thief, a street racer and a cop who got in a little too deep. After all, the three women who solve cases for their elusive boss, Charlie Townsend, are no saints. They're angels... Charlie's Angels. Set in Miami, this fun, glamorous, action-packed take on the 1970s smash hit series introduces us to three new angels, all fearless detectives, head-turning beauties and close friends. There's Abby (Rachael Taylor), a Park Avenue princess who became a world-class thief. Then there's Kate (Annie Ilonzeh), a Miami cop who fell from grace, losing both her career and her fiancé. Finally there's Gloria, a disgraced army lieutenant who has a way with explosives. When one of the angels' missions ends in Gloria's tragic death, Charlie persuades them to partner with Gloria's childhood friend, Eve (Minka Kelly), a street racer with a mysterious past. They may not know each other yet, but one thing's for sure -- Abby, Kate and Eve will always have each others' backs. "Charlie's Angels" stars Annie Ilonzeh ("General Hospital") as Kate Prince, Minka Kelly ("Parenthood," "Friday Night Lights") as Eve, Rachael Taylor ("Grey's Anatomy") as Abby Sampson and Ramon Rodriguez ("The Wire," "Daybreak") as Bosley.

I've just discovered Minka Kelly in Friday Night Lights and while she's alright as a going through life teenager with teenage troubles. This looks pretty awful. Thursday at 8 is already too cramed for me. I'm going to give this one a pass.




How To be a Gentlemen: 8:30 - CBS - September 29th

HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN, inspired by the book of the same name, is a comedy about the unlikely friendship between a traditional, refined writer and an unrefined personal trainer. Andrew Carlson (David Hornsby) is an etiquette columnist whose devotion to ideals from a more civilized time has lead to a life detached from modern society. Infectiously optimistic, Bert Lansing (Kevin Dillon) is a reformed "bad boy" from Andrew's past who inherited a fitness center, but can still be rude, loud and sloppy. When Andrew's editor, Jerry (Dave Foley), tells him to put a modern, sexy twist on his column or be fired, he hires Bert as a life coach in the hopes of learning to be less "gentle man" and more "real man." Andrew's mom, Diane (Nancy Lenehan), and his bossy sister, Janet (Mary Lynn Rajskub), support the plan, as would Janet's husband, Mike (Rhys Darby), if he was allowed to have an opinion. Though Andrew and Bert's views may be centuries apart, they may find they're each other's missing link.

Oh boy, the guys from Entourage really aren't getting good work post-Entourage. Damn this looks awful, I can't imagine this keeping a lot of the lead-in from Big Bang Theory.




Person of Interest: 9:00 - CBS - September 22nd

stars Jim Caviezel, Emmy Award winner Michael Emerson and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson in a crime thriller about a presumed dead former-CIA agent who teams up with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes by using their own brand of vigilante justice. Reese's (Caviezel) special training in covert operations appeals to Finch (Emerson), a software genius who invented a program that uses pattern recognition to identify people about to be involved in violent crimes. Using state-of-the-art surveillance technology, the two work outside of the law using Reese's adept skills and Finch's unlimited wealth to unravel the mystery of the person of interest and stop the crime before it happens. Reese's actions catch the attention of the NYPD, including homicide detective Carter (Henson), and Fusco (Kevin Chapman), a cop who Reese uses to his advantage. With infinite crimes to investigate, Reese and Finch find that the right person, with the right information, at the right time, can change everything.

Umm, if you've been on this blog before you know I'm kinda a fan of Lost and by kinda I mean huge Lost fan. So you give me Abrams and Emerson again and I'm there. Throw in a Nolan and I'm there. Sure it looks a little bit too much like the prequel to Minority Report. I really hope this doesn't turn into a procedural and I REALLY, REALLY hope that there is a serious on-going plot. I'm there. I'm so there at 9:00 with bells on.




The Secret Circle: 9:00 - The CW - September 15th

Cassie Blake was a happy, normal teenage girl - until her mother Amelia dies in what appears to be a tragic accidental fire. Orphaned and deeply saddened, Cassie moves in with her warm and loving grandmother Jane in the beautiful small town of Chance Harbor, Washington - the town her mother left so many years before - where the residents seem to know more about Cassie than she does about herself. As Cassie gets to know her high school classmates, including sweet-natured Diana and her handsome boyfriend Adam, brooding loner Nick, mean-girl Faye and her sidekick Melissa, strange and frightening things begin to happen. When her new friends explain that they are all descended from powerful witches, and they've been waiting for Cassie to join them and complete a new generation of the Secret Circle, Cassie refuses to believe them - until Adam shows her how to unlock her incredible magical powers. But it's not until Cassie discovers a message from her mother in an old leather-bound book of spells hidden in her mother's childhood bedroom, that she understands her true and dangerous destiny. What Cassie and the others don't yet know is that darker powers are at play, powers that might be linked to the adults in the town, including Diana's father and Faye's mother - and that Cassie's mother's death might not have been an accident. The series stars Britt Robertson as Cassie Blake, Thomas Dekker as Adam Conant, Gale Harold as Charles Meade, Phoebe Tonkin as Fay Chamberlain, Jessica Parker Kennedy as Melissa, Shelley Hennig as Diana Meade, Louis Hunter as Nick, Ashley Crow as Jane Blake and Natasha Henstridge as Dawn Chamberlain. Based upon the book series by L.J. Smith (author of "The Vampire Diaries" book series).

I'll admit, three years ago when The Vampire Diaries started, I wasn't too excited about it. I thought to myself, this looks like it's oging to be 90210 with Vampires. Boy, was I wrong. Turns out to be a pretty awesome show. But this one, this really does look like 90210 with Witches. I'm going to have to pass on this one. I've watched the promo a couple of times and nothing is really pulling me in and making me say, I so need to watch this.




Whitney: 9:30 - NBC - September 22nd

A hilarious look at modern love, "Whitney" is a new multi-camera comedy series about Whitney (Whitney Cummings, "Chelsea Lately") and Alex (Chris D'Elia, "Glory Daze"), a happily unmarried couple. Together for five years, the duo is in no rush to get hitched. However, after attending yet another one of their friends' weddings, Whitney realizes that she and Alex are dangerously close to relationship boredom. Determined not to let that happen, Whitney consults her close circle of opinionated girlfriends -- including Lily (Zoe Lister-Jones, "The Other Guys") and Roxanne (Rhea Seehorn, "The Starter Wife") -- and then snaps into action. A few awkward sexy costumes and one botched seductive evening later, the couple ends up in the emergency room. Even so, Whitney and Alex realize that while their relationship might not be perfect on paper, they really do love each other -- and that works for them. Also starring are Maulik Pancholy (NBC's "30 Rock") as Lily's perfect boyfriend, and Dan O'Brien ("How I Met Your Mother") as an eternal bachelor.

Oh Whitney, I want to like you, I want you to be successful. Can you be? Sure. Will you be? I don't think so. I'll watch the pilot, but I think it might be a struggle.




Prime Suspect: 10:00 - NBC - September 22nd

Based on the critically acclaimed British television series of the same name, "Prime Suspect" has been redeveloped for American audiences by writer Alexandra Cunningham ("Desperate Housewives," "NYPD Blue"), director Peter Berg (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") -- and stars Maria Bello ("A History of Violence") as tough-as-nails Detective Jane Timoney. Timoney finds that being a homicide detective in New York City is tough enough and having to contend with a male-dominated police department to get respect makes it that much tougher. She's an outsider who has just transferred to a new precinct dominated by an impenetrable clique of a boys' club. Timoney has her own vices too -- with a questionable past -- and she tends to be forceful, rude and reckless. But she's also a brilliant cop who keeps her eye on one thing: the prime suspect. Also starring are Aidan Quinn ("Unknown"), Brian O'Byrne ("Flash Forward"), Tim Griffin ("Star Trek"), Kirk Acevedo ("Fringe"), Joe Nieves ("How I Met Your Mother"), Damon Gupton ("The Last Airbender") and Peter Gerety ("Blue Bloods").

Ok, so Prime Suspect in the UK with Mirren is like Britains greatest export. I really hope they don't mess this one up. I'm loving the promo and I think Bello is the perfect choice. I just started a marathon of Friday Night Lights a few weeks back and I loved what Berg did with that so what I'm saying is, I'm on board for this one as well. Damn Thursdays are going to be busy.




Returning Shows:
The Big Bang Theory: 8:00 - CBS - September 22nd

Where we left off:
When Bernadette announces that she has earned her Ph.D. and will be getting a well-paying job soon, the guys take advantage of degrading Howard for being the only non-doctor in their group. Bernadette decides to buy Howard an expensive Rolex watch as a present. Meanwhile, Leonard and Priya's noisy sexual encounters annoy and disgust Raj; ultimately, he agrees to become Sheldon's new roommate and let Leonard live at his apartment until Priya finds her own place. Later, Priya receives a video call from her parents and still doesn't want to mention her relationship with Leonard. Eventually, Leonard discovers that she was planning to move back to India the following month then tells Priya's parents about their relationship. Raj provides Sheldon a fancy meal as part of his "temporary roommate agreement". Eventually, Penny comes over and ends up getting drunk and sleeping with Raj. At the end of the episode, Sheldon discovers Leonard sleeping on the couch at their apartment, just before Howard knocks at the door and announces that he had a fight with Bernadette over the watch, and Raj and Penny come out of Leonard's room after their encounter, leaving Howard, Sheldon and Leonard confused.

This one is for sure on my list of returning shows I'm most excited about. What will be the fallout of Penny "sleeping" over.


Community: 8:00 - NBC - September 22nd

Where we left off:
As the paintball game continues, it takes a dramatic turn with new participants entering the game. The study group realize they must unite to defeat the enemy despite disagreements about strategy.

Another one I'm pretty pumped for, the producers and the stars have talked about exploring the relationship between Jeff and Annie a bit more this season.


The Vampire Diaries: 8:00 - The CW - September 15th

Where we left off:
Elena and Jeremy try to return to normal activities by attending Mystic Falls' screening of "Gone with the Wind". Meanwhile, Stefan seeks for Bonnie's help to find a cure for Damon's wolf bite, which is slowly killing him. He asks Bonnie to help him contact Emily so they can find a cure for Damon. Emily refuses to cooperate, but Bonnie hears the witches say a name: Klaus. Stefan goes to see Klaus and asks him for the cure. Klaus says he must first keep his promise to Elijah, that he would reunite him with the family he killed. He then betrays Elijah, stabbing and killing him with the dagger for the second time. Klaus reveals that his blood is the cure for a werewolf bite. In exchange for a vial, Klaus wants Stefan to become a ripper again and leave Mystic Falls with him. Stefan agrees and drinks human blood to prove himself. Sheriff Forbes attempts to ambush Damon at the Salvatore house, but Damon escapes. Jeremy is the next to intercept Damon and brings him to the Grill. Sheriff Forbes finds them and shoots at Damon, but hits Jeremy instead. Bonnie takes him and begs the witches to bring him back to life, which they do, meanwhile warning Bonnie of "consequences". The news of Jeremy's revival reaches Caroline and her mother, who make amends. Elena finds a delirious Damon and brings him back home, where Elena kisses him after Damon confesses his love for her. Katherine interrupts with Klaus' cure. Later, Klaus tests Stefan once more, asking him to chase and kill a human girl. Once Stefan does this, Klaus says they can now leave Mystic Falls. At the Gilbert house, Jeremy is awakened by noises. He goes downstairs, where he finds his deceased vampire ex-girlfriends Anna and Vicki.


Parks and Recreation: 8:30 - NBC - September 22nd

Where we left off:
Pawnee's favorite miniature horse, Li'l Sebastian, dies and the parks department organizes a memorial service. The extremely health-conscious Chris learns he has tendonitis and takes it very badly, but is comforted by Ann. Leslie and Ben have trouble keeping their relationship secret, and their efforts to do so causes problems with Li'l Sebastian's eternal flame that nearly kill Ron with a fireball. Tom and his friend Jean-Ralphio successfully organize Li'l Sebastian's service, which helps inspire Tom to leave city hall to start an entertainment company with Jean-Ralphio. After the service, Ron is taunted by his ex-wife Tammy, but both are horrified to learn his first ex-wife, also named Tammy, has arrived in town. Leslie is approached to possibly consider running for elected office, but when asked about any potential scandals, she neglects to admit to her secret affair with Ben.


Grey's Anatomy: 9:00 - ABC - September 22nd

Where we left off:
News of Meredith's dishonesty in the clinical trial comes to light, leading to unanticipated consequences for both her and others. Cristina finds herself in a compromising situation, which forces her to decide between her career and her relationship. Meanwhile, Owen posts his decision for chief resident and Teddy makes a surprising choice regarding her love life -- and her future.


The Office: 9:00 - NBC - September 22nd

Where we left off:
Deangelo's new replacement is sought out through a search committee process led by Jim.

Can this show cope without Steve C? I really don't think so.


Bones: 9:00 - FOX - November 3rd

Where we left off:
Booth and Brennan go undercover in a bowling league in an attempt to uncover a murder where a man whose unidentifiable and gruesome remains were lodged in the pinsetter at a bowling lane. Brennan's father Max was also a part of the victim's bowling team. Meanwhile, Angela works from the hospital via webcam as she comes closer to labor. Brennan has a secret that will change her and Booth's lives forever: she is pregnant and Booth is the father of the child.


The Mentalist: 10:00 - CBS - September 22nd

Where we left off:
The team works together to uncover the mole within the CBI. Patrick at last meets his nemesis, face-to-face.


Private Practice: 10:00 - ABC - September 29th

Where we left off:
With the Practice undergoing an investigation by the medical board, Violet decides to leave all her problems behind by going on a book tour. While Addison gets a very tempting offer from a mystery man (Benjamin Bratt) to go to Fiji. Although, Addison isn't the only one with a change as Naomi gets a life-changing offer with Fife. Amelia and Charlotte come to blows after Amelia is spiraling down either further with her sobriety. Pete also has a certain spiral after he has an issue of his own that could turn out to be fatal.At the end of the episode, Pete has a heart attack in front of Lucas.


What will my Thursday Nights Look Like:

8:00 - The Big Bang Theory, Community, The Vampire Diaries, The X-Factor.
8:30 - Parks and Recreation
9:00 - Person of Interest, The Office
9:30 - Whitney
10:00 - Prime Suspect