Well, well, well we have made it through the dog days of summer TV viewing, and the new fall schedule brings with it a nice respite from the dregs of low-rent viewing options for the past few months, without a moment to spare!
There are a plethora of upcoming premieres, while not adding many new LGBT characters to the prime time landscape, these new inclusions will most definitely hold viewers’ attention.
So, let’s take a gander at which shows will attempt to do just that, shall we? In the spirit of fairness, we’ll go alphabetically by network.
ABC
ABC must have its hopes set high that its update of Charlie’s Angels won’t be cancelled like so many remakes before it.
The new trio of crime fighting babes will not be pulled from their hazardous duties as policewomen, a la the original (really, Cheryl Ladd was answering the phone that hard?), and will now be working for the mysterious Charles Townsend in order to redeem themselves. The new cast includes Minka Kelly as a street racer, Rachael Taylor as a master thief, Annie Ilonzeh as a dirty cop, and Ramon Rodriguez as hot tamale Bosley. Airs Thursdays at 8 p.m., beginning on Sept. 22.
Once Upon A Time started off many an old fashioned fairy tale, while its modern day equivalent in our community begins with, “Girl …” The fantasy series centers around an evil witch (are there any other kind, really?) who imprisons fairy tale characters in a real-world town. Airs Sundays at 8 p.m., beginning on Oct. 23.
While Pan-Am is described as a “period piece,” it’s more about flying the friendly skies in the swingin’ ’60s.
The series stars Christina Ricci as flight attendant Maggie, which is a good thing for passengers on the airliner, seeing as either her large forehead or ample bosom can be used as flotation devices. Airs Sundays at 10 p.m., beginning on Sept. 25.
CBS
Hunky Hollywood leading man, Patrick Wilson, who recently starred in the aptly titled horror movie Insidious, will be headlining A Gifted Man.
The plot revolves around a prominent, and very self-absorbed, surgeon who is visited by his dead wife’s ghost, which causes him to begin to make changes in his life in this supernatural drama. Sounds a bit more frightening than the aforementioned “scary” movie he was in. Airs Fridays at 8 p.m., beginning on Sept. 23.
CW
Ringer brings Sarah Michelle Gellar back to the prime time fold. But, the actress formerly known as Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be pulling double duty as sisters Bridget Kelly and Siobhan Martin, in a plotline which involves one sibling pretending to be the other one who is on the lam. Airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m., beginning on Sept. 13.
Fox
Simon Cowell will once again be sitting in judgment, and, no, this does not necessarily make him an honorary gay man. But, by bringing his across the pond singing competition, The X-Factor to American shores, he is more than likely to keep his gay fan base happy by re-teaming with former American Idol cohort Paula Abdul, our generation’s answer to Judy Garland. Airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m., beginning on Sept. 21.
The only new official gay kids on the block are animated, and aren’t children at all, but a couple of gay dads raising their precocious offspring in Allen Gregory. The animated world hasn’t seen characters this gay since the heyday of cartoons such as Snagglepuss. Airs on Sunday nights (time TBD), beginning on Oct. 30.
Logo
Get ready for the first spin-off of Logo’s The A-List: New York, as a new group of “Housewives with Balls” go west to The A-List: Dallas, to paraphrase the Village People’s answer to GPS in the ’70s. Airs Mondays at 10 p.m., beginning on Oct. 3.
NBC
While there are plenty of new offerings from the Peacock Network, including Eddie Cibrian getting gainful employment at The Playboy Club, there is only one show that I will be telling y’all to tune into: It’s Chelsea Lately round table regular Whitney Cummings in her new cleverly titled sitcom, Whitney. Airs Thursdays at 9:30 p.m., beginning on Sept. 22.
Cut. Print. That’s a wrap!
So there you have it, just a mere smattering of what fall TV has to offer audiences, and let’s keep our fingers crossed that the bumper crop of new shows won’t be a bitter harvest of disappointment. Until next time, that’s all of the news that’s fit to print.
