2017-2018 TV Season: Shows To Watch

It's that time of year again. Amid the news of shows being cancelled and renewed, we also have a current selection of TV series waiting in the wings for the upcoming 2017-2018 television season.

1: 9-1-1 (FOX, mid-season)

Following the expected cancellation of Scream Queens, Ryan Murphy hasn't let go his association with FOX as both himself and Angela Bassett have teamed up for a mid-season show on the channel. The series will be a fast-paced exploration into the lives and careers of first responders – cops, paramedics, firefighters – the people who put their lives on the line to save others with Bassett herself taking on a leading role in the series. Whether or not this series will rule her out for the upcoming seventh season of American Horror Story, I'm not sure but here's hoping we'll see Angela in both shows.

Press Release: http://www.spoilertv.com/2017/05/fox-announces-2017-18-primetime-schedule.html

2: Black Lightning (CW, mid-season)

Adding to the CW's already packed DC TV roster, Black Lightning will also be making it's debut in early 2018. Starring Cress Williams in the title role, the series will focus on Jefferson Pierce, who retired from his superhero persona Black Lightning nine years ago, is forced to return when his daughter Jennifer (China Anne McClain), who is hellbent on justice and a star student, gets recruited by a local gang. Despite having the same producers and showrunners, the series will not be connected to the current Arrow universe, which is a pity as the trailer certainly impressed.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZpJeuXo2CY

3: Dynasty (CW, Wednesdays 9pm)

Another year, another reboot and following the likes of 90210 and Melrose Place, the CW are probably hoping their version of popular 80's soap Dynasty will be as successful as the former rather than the one and done of the latter (which I suspect is a fate that will befall this show). The trailer was a little better than expected, mainly due to wayward brother Steven Carrington (James Mackay) copping up with Sam Flores (Rafael De La Fuente) - a gay male version of the character Sammy Jo from the original series. The rest of the trailer sees a marriage between patriarch Blake Carrington (Grant Snow) and the scheming Cristal Flores (Nathalie Kelley) as well as a rivalry between the latter and daughter,  Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies). It looks okay but it feels like it should be on something like ABC rather than the CW if I'm being honest.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxacuu_vg8Y

4: Inhumans (ABC, Fridays 9pm)

Oh dear. This one really could be a non starter, couldn't it? First of all, like Once Upon A Time and Quantico, it's being dumped in the Friday night death slot as a precursor to Agent Of Shield's fifth season and there are only eight episodes. The trailer so far has only been a cryptic voice over of doom but at least the cast look with Anson Mount as Bolt, Iwan Rheon as Maximus, Serinda Swan as Medusa and Eme Ikwuakor as Gorgon: to name a few. The first two episodes will get an IMAX cinema airing before their television debut in September.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEVDBBaH6wM

5: Krypton (Syfy, mid-season)

Um, is this really a prequel anyone wanted? I know both Gotham and Smallville have shown that prequels can work for a good amount seasons and be pretty compelling in their own right but seeing as both shows had characters we generally knew and cared about, it made watching them a little easier at times. Krypton on the other will mainly focus on Superman's grandfather, Seg El (Cameron Cuffe) and Lyta Zod (Georgina Campbell) in the early days of the planet's life. Produced by David S. Goyer, there was rumours that the series was meant to have a link to the current DCEU but it seems that this will be a standalone series. It looks decent from the trailer but I kind of feel that Supergirl has us covered at the moment.

Trailer Description: http://tvline.com/2017/04/18/krypton-trailer-superman-prequel-series-syfy/

6: Roseanne (ABC, mid-season)

You didn't think Will & Grace was going to be the only sitcom to get revived this season, right? Well, there's also Arrested Development getting a fifth season on Netflix but it seems that ABC will also be bringing back 90's sitcom Roseanne in 2018 with nearly all of the original cast returning to the series. Sarah Chalke will play a different character and Johnny Galecki hasn't been confirmed yet.

Press Release: http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/roseanne-barr-reviving-roseanne-for-new-season-in-2018-w482626

7: Star Trek: Discovery (CBS/CBS All Access, tbc)

I know I highlighted this one last year when there were no cast members announced but with all the main players announced, Bryan Fuller stepping down and an increase from thirteen to fifteen episodes, it finally seems like we're on track here. Former The Walking Dead actress Sonequa Martin-Green takes on the role of USS Discovery officer Michael Burnham, the protagonist of the series along with Michelle Yeoh, Jason Isaacs and Rainn Wilson to name a few. It seems now that the series will be set ten years prior to Star Trek: The Original Series. The trailer certainly impressed and here's hoping it fares a lot better than Enterprise did at times. UK viewers will be able to see the show courtesy of Netflix.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rj4inzcAKk

8: The Gifted (FOX, Mondays 9pm)

And now we've got another X-Men linked series here. Following Legion on FX, Fox will be airing The Gifted, starring Stephen Moyer and Amy Acker as a couple - Reed and Caitlin Strucker with two mutant children, Lauren (Natalie Alyn Lynd) and Andy (Percy Hynes White) whom they will do anything to protect from the government. The pilot episode is also directed by Bryan Singer, who serves as an executive producer to the series.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTzW9rMcbzk

9: The Orville (FOX, Thursdays 9pm)

When he's not lagging with both Family Guy and American Dad, Seth Mcfarlane is back on the live action front with this Star Trek (more like Galaxy Quest) inspired space series, this is a one-hour science fiction series set 400 years in the future that follows the adventures of the U.S.S. Orville, a mid-level exploratory vessel. Its crew, both human and alien, faces the wonders and dangers of outer space, while also dealing with the familiar, often humorous problems of regular people in a workplace…even though some of those people are from other planets, and the workplace is a faster-than-light spaceship. I have to admit it looks funny enough.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy9sKeCE8V0

10: The X Files (FOX, mid-season)

Let's be honest - this one wasn't a shocker. While the tenth season wasn't the best (albeit an improvement on previous seasons) and a little too short for it's own good, it was however a success and proof that audiences still hungered for the truth and in particular, Mulder and Scully. With the 25th anniversary of the show looming in 2018, the show will return for an eleventh season of ten episodes and hopefully a strong resolution for that dicey cliffhanger we were left with last season.

Press Release: http://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/the-x-files/257640/x-files-season-11-set-for-midseason

11: Will & Grace (NBC, Thursdays 8pm)

Following it's successful Election special scene from last year, the show is back once again for twelve new episodes and even in it's own original-ish timeslot as well. To really get things into motion, NBC have released a musical themed trailer as Will, Jack and Karen all do their best to persuade Grace to embrace the return. While I felt the show had ended well enough back in 2006, I am actually looking forward to seeing the gang once again.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaZS9_69KF0

12: Young Sheldon (CBS, Mondays 8.30pm)

Did we really need a spin-off on a younger Sheldon Cooper of all characters? I mean, I like the character enough on The Big Bang Theory but I wasn't clamouring for a spin-off with him and I imagine others weren't either. The trailer for this prequel series sees the young genius, played by Iain Armitage as a nine year old in Texas dealing with his religious family and the pressures of school as well. The trailer was a little better than expected but again, it feels a little unnecessary as a series though. The show along with it's parent show will move to Thursdays during November though. Jim Parsons will also be involved with the series.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11zpOOYAXD4

There's a list of the potential big hitters for the next television season. Now we just have to wait for some UK transmissions and see how they fare.

Journey To The Underworld

It's been a while since I've done this but here's a look at some of the shows I've recently caught up on ....

Arrow: Sky1 are now currently airing the more recent episodes but I was impatient and did something of a catch up of my own. A couple of things - a) most of the flashbacks are still dull b) the Olicity stuff only works in small doses which is why I don't care too much for their break up and c) they certainly resolved the William storyline a little quickly, didn't they? On the other hand, the death of Amanda Waller, brief appearance of Vixen, Nyssa vs. Malcolm and the introduction of Damian's equally ruthless wife certainly added to the show during the last few episodes. It's also become increasingly clear whom the dead body is going to be as well, isn't it?

Once Upon A Time: The show has been off the air for nearly three months and given how disappointing and even terrible in places the first half of Season 5 was, I was relieved that the 100th episode actually delivered. Not only did we see a few familiar faces (Neal, James, Henry Sr, Pan, Blind Witch, Cora, etc) but this whole plot with the Underworld is actually a step up from the dull Dark One/Arthur plots and Hades is a far more charismatic villain than Arthur ever was in one brief scene alone. I'm really hoping now that the show has properly gotten it's groove back as this episode was a nice way of celebrating a landmark and returning the show to form.

Supergirl: With a certain crossover imminent, the last few episodes have been having their own fun in playing around with other things. We've had episodes adapting infamous comic strips from Kara's more famous cousin to good success, the death of Astra, the ending of Jimmy and Lucy's relationship, not to mention Maxwell Lord taken down temporarily as a threat, a brief encounter with Indigo, the arrival of Siobhan Smythe (who'll become Silver Banshee any episode now) and more moments for both Alex and Hank to shine. The show has certainly gotten more and more enjoyable during it's second half.

The Flash: And this show on the other hand has truly excelled itself. Okay, the episode with King Shark was a bit filler except for the reveal of Zoom's identity but the episodes focusing on Earth 2, along with the introduction of Killer Frost were definitely a high point in this show's second season. I like that we got to see Caitlin (well, a version of her) as that character and I really liked seeing Barry, Cisco and Iris's counterparts from that world as well. The Zoom stuff is moving along at a good pace too and it'll be great when the gang finally find out who they've been fighting all along.

The X Files: This revival has been interesting to see unfold. Within six episodes we were able to get back into Mulder and Scully's world and it genuinely felt like they had never left the screen and considering the ratings smash this was for FOX, it's a matter of when we'll see an eleventh season rather than if. I have to admit out of the six episodes, it was the Were Monster one that stuck with me the most for it's sheer absurdity. The finale wasn't bad as such but the show has done better ones and the cliffhanger was a frustrating moment. Still though, it might not be long before we see Mulder and Scully again.

- Pete Ploszec has bagged a recurring role as mysterious teacher Garrett Douglas for Teen Wolf's sixth season.
- Once Upon A Time has been picked up for a sixth season, Agents Of Shield a fourth season and How To Get Away With Murder a third one.
- Supergirl has also been picked up for a second season by CBS.
- Both Lady Gaga and Angela Bassett have been confirmed for the sixth season of American Horror Story.
- Augustus Prew, Rick Yune and Steve Mouzakis have been cast in major recurring roles for the upcoming Prison Break revival.
- Teddy Sears has joined the cast for 24: Legacy.
- Jonathan Groff and Anna Torv has been cast in leading roles for upcoming Netflix show, Mindhunter.
- Sky1 have cancelled You, Me And The Apocalypse.

How About A Smile?

It's been over a month since I've last done a TV jumble blog and for my last hit in this month, here's one for you.

Agent Carter: Season 2 of the not exactly a rating juggernaut but still good show has arrived and while UK viewers are only an episode or two behind, things have gotten off to a promising enough start. The action has moved to LA this time around with most of the first season cast back and the rapport between Peggy and Jarvis is as wonderful as ever (we even met the latter's wife). The main storyline in the first episode, surrounding a mystery mystery worked pretty well and it does seem like there's an interesting arc being set up for the rest of the season as well.

Beowulf: You wait ages for ITV to do some more genre television and then all of a sudden, you've got two of them in less than a few weeks from each other. Unfortunately, just like Jekyll & Hyde, it does look like this is going to be a one and done only series, given the lacklustre ratings for it. It's a shame in a way because while it did seem a little too heavily influenced by Game Of Thrones (the title sequence practically rips off the HBO hit), I found the opening episode enjoyable enough. I'll admit I haven't seen subsequent episodes so I don't know if things took an upturn, quality wise or the very opposite. I do hope that if this show does get axed (and I'll be surprised if it doesn't) that ITV aren't discouraged from trying more genre drama though.

Jessica Jones: Okay, I finished this show up a few weeks ago and I can honestly say that it is without a doubt, it's Marvel's best TV offering at the moment (or streaming offering, whatever). The second half of the first season gave some brilliant insight into all of the characters, truly upped the ante between Jessica and Kilgrave, alluded towards Luke Cage's inevitable solo show and even showed some great character growth for both Malcolm and Trish as Kilgrave caused a lot of carnage before being taken out of the question. If there was a weak point, it usually involved Simpson but even he couldn't deter the overall excellence of this show. Thank goodness it's coming back for seconds.

Supergirl: With the second half of this season yet to air on Sky1 (along with Arrow, The Flash and Legends Of Tomorrow), the first three returning episodes were certainly excellent to watch. While I thought the show copped out a bit with Cat learning about Kara and Supergirl being the same person and then having her tricked into thinking she was wrong, I did like the introduction of her other son, Adam and the episode that focused on Winn's Toyman father was brilliant too. However the best bits were the focus on Martian Manhunter/Hank's harrowing backstory and Maxwell becoming more than aware of Supergirl's identity, making him into a bigger problem than he had been in previous episodes.

The X-Files: And it's back. Fourteen years since the last series (and eight since the second movie), the show has returned to TV screens and I have to admit, I didn't realise how much I had actually missed seeing Mulder and Scully. While I enjoyed the show when it was on the air, I wasn't as religious about watching it as I had been with other shows but The X-Files has always been a classic series and one that's heavily influenced so many modern shows and with 20 million viewers returning to catch up with the FBI's most infamous of agents, I bet FOX will be desperate to get Chris Carter, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson back for more episodes. The first two episodes themselves felt both like a reboot for the series and an actual continuation from where things had last left off with Mulder and Scully investigating more alien and government conspiracy, brooding about their son William and encountering talk show hosts like Tad O'Malley (Joel McHale) for starters. I know the episodes generated some mixed reviews but I honestly thought they were a return to form compared to some of the shakier seasons and hopefully the remaining four will also deliver as well as the opening two did.

- Jada Pinkett Smith will be reprising her role as Fish Mooney for multiple episodes in Gotham's second season. The second half of the season has title of Wrath Of The Villains.
- UK viewers can catch The X-Files, Mondays 9pm from February 8th on Channel 5.
- American Horror Story's sixth season will not be focusing on Slender Man despite recent rumours.
- Vixen will appear in episode 15 of Arrow's fourth season. Stephen Amell will play an older version of Green Arrow in an upcoming Legends Of Tomorrow episode.
- Gilmore Girls is officially coming back for an eighth season, courtesy of Netflix with the original cast.
- Mike Colter revealed that Iron Fist has been cast. A Punisher spin-off is also being considered by Netflix ahead of the character's appearance in the second season of Daredevil.
- Ricky Whittle has been cast in the lead role of Shadow for Starz's upcoming adaptation of American Gods.
- Corey Hawkins and Miranda Otto have been cast as the leads for 24: Legacy.

FOX News

Yeah, I'm doing a blog discussing some of the recent new items in relation to a few shows that air on FOX. Some of it good, some of it a bit odd. Anyways, here goes nothing ....

It was rumoured a couple of months and thanks to the Television Critics Association last week, we know that FOX want more of 24. The snag however is that the proposed series, titled 24: Legacy will be the first series not to feature Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer and will instead focus on a brand new cast. I have to say, I don't love this idea one bit. For a lot of people (myself included), 24 is Jack Bauer and this just smacks of desperation. If they were desperate for more, they should've tried harder to get Kiefer back on board.

In the least surprising recommissioning news ever, Empire has been given a third season. While the first half of it's second season did divide viewers and dip a little rating wise, it's still one of television's highest rated network dramas and easily one of it's most talked about online as well. The remaining eight episode of Season 2 will air from March 30th. Meanwhile a spin-off formerly titled Star is also in the works with most of the main players for it cast, including Queen Latifah.

In other confirmed news, FOX have announced that Prison Break is indeed being revived with both Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller reprising their roles as Lincoln Burrows and Michael Schofield as soon as both actors finish up on CW series, Legends Of Tomorrow. The series will also feature other familiar faces (yet to be confirmed) and will begin production possibly as soon as late March with maybe nine episodes to boot. Personally, I'm not sure we really need the show back and if Heroes: Reborn is anything to go by, maybe some things are better left the way they were.

For a mixed response, FOX have also decided to take a chance and give Scream Queens a second season. Rumoured to be returning so far for the show's sophomore year are Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lea Michele with the setting this time around being in a hospital. I know Murphy doesn't always take note of criticisms to his work but considering how tonally the first season could be a mess at times, I'm hoping he calms things down a bit for Season 2. A part of me also hopes that he actually does go the American Horror Story route and literally bring back his cast as different characters along with some new blood as well. It could give the show a bit of boost as well.

Last but not least, The X Files. We're less than a week until the premiere of Season 10 (that's what it is, isn't it?) and for Irish viewers, you'll be able to see the series on RTE2 from January 26th while UK viewers can watch it on Channel 5 soon enough. The trailers have certainly ramped up the excitement as David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their iconic roles for six episodes. Creator Chris Carter has recently admitted that while FOX haven't asked for more of the series, he has written a third movie though. Either way, it's time to get to know Mulder and Scully all over again.

More Information: http://www.spoilertv.com/

I'll be doing a TV jumble blog again shortly.

First Look: 2015-2016 US TV Season Upfronts Part 2

And here's another look at some of more upcoming series for the 2015-2016 TV season with both NBC and CW also coming up with some interesting forthcoming series.

1: Legends Of Tomorrow - CW (Mid-season, TBC)

It's not just Supergirl that we've got to look forward to as the Arrow and The Flash spin-off finally has a proper name, a confirmed set of episodes (thirteen to air from January 2016) but it also released a pretty fantastic trailer in which Arthur Darvill's time travelling hero, Rip Hunter rounded up Ray Palmer/the Atom (Brandon Routh), Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (Ciara Renee), Martin Stein/half of Firestorm (Victor Garber) along with the newly resurrected Sara Lance/White Canary (Caity Lotz) and the slightly turned a new leaf duo of Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) and Heatwave (Dominic Purcell) as the band together to save the world from Vandal Savage. Looks like the CW have another massive future hit on their hands with this one.

2: Heroes: Reborn - NBC (Thursdays 9pm)

One of two shows being revived for the current television season, this mini-series might be returning the likes of Jack Coleman and Masi Oka as their most famous characters, but it's mainly a new cast with former Chuck actor Zachary Levi leading things. I have to admit that I'm still a little iffy about the show returning (it had an amazing first season but Seasons 2-4 were very hit and miss) but perhaps with a new cast and a five year distance, maybe lessons might have been learned and the trailer did tantalise though with hints of dark events to come.

3: The X Files - FOX (Sundays 9pm, Mid-season)

A trailer has yet to be released (then again, filming doesn't begin til summer, so it's gonna be a while) but we do know that David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are reprising their iconic roles over the course of six episodes that will comprise of both monster and myth driven arcs. We also know that several other popular characters are returning (Skinner! Cigarette Smoking Man!) and that we can catch the series again from January 24th. Actually come to think of it, that's a fair amount of information there.

4: The Catch - ABC (Thursdays 10pm, Mid-season)

Another television season and another addition to the growing roster of Shonda Rhimes involved series (made by her production company, created by Jennifer Schurr), the series will star The Killing's Mirelle Enos as a woman used to catch out con artists whilst unaware that she's being scammed herself until it's too late. I don't know if this show will end up being a mega hit in the same way that Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder (it will take the latter's slot mid-season) but all the writing tropes that you would be used in a Shondaland show are definitely there.

5: Containment - CW (Mid-season, TBC)

This one is interesting enough. From producers of both The Vampire Diaries and Arrow and starring the likes of Claudia Black and David Gyasi, the focus here is on a widespread epidemic in Atlanta while local and federal officials desperately search for a cure. It's somewhat different for a CW show and like the upcoming Legends Of Tomorrow, one that's being left for mid-season as well. Possibly worth watching the pilot episode alone.

6: Blindspot - NBC (Mondays 10pm)

A series about a Jane Doe (Jamie Alexander) covered in mysterious tattoos and discovered naked in Times Square, I think it's a little obvious what this upcoming conspiracy series might be influenced by. The trailer was intriguing enough but it's one of several new shows that has a premise that you can't see being sustained organically beyond an initial first season though.

NBC Trailers: http://www.spoilertv.com/2015/05/nbc-new-fall-2015-shows-promos.html
CW Trailers: http://www.spoilertv.com/2015/05/containment-first-look-promo.html

Overall there does seem to be some interesting new shows on the way. I haven't covered them all but with the links in this blog and the previous entry, you'll be able to see the trailers and decide for yourself what you intend to watch over the next twelve months.

The X-Files - Returning For 6 Episodes

It's not all about major television shows ending. This week also saw the announcement of one of the most iconic shows coming back - The X Files.

Early this week, Chris Carter announced that his popular show which ran for nine seasons between 1993 to 2002 as well as two movies in both 1998 and 2008 with I Want To Believe was to return to FOX with both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their roles as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully respectively.

The slight snag is that the series is coming back for only six episodes, which is kind of surprising considering that when FOX commissioned 24: Live Another Day, it ran for twelve episodes while NBC's Heroes: Reborn is running for 13 episodes and Showtime's third season of Twin Peaks has at least nine episodes. Now it could be to accommodate both David and Gillian's busy schedules (the latter who also has to film the third and final series of RTE1/BBC2 drama, The Fall), but it does seem a little short though.

On the plus side, while the return of this show is hardly a shocker (I'd say it's been pretty imminent for a while now) and the fact that I was more of a casual viewer than an obsessive, I am delighted that we're going to get some more episodes from the show. Even if you didn't religiously watch the show, it's influence on some many shows over the last decade has been felt. It'll be interesting to see where Carter can take his iconic creations this time.

Press Release: http://www.spoilertv.com/2015/03/x-files-ordered-to-series-by-fox.html

Filming for The X Files begins in the summer. An airdate for the episodes has yet to be confirmed by FOX.

Honourable Mentions Part 2

And here's the second and final part of my Honourable Mentions lists.

Piper Halliwell (Holly Marie Combs) - Charmed

Yeah, this was one of my guilty pleasure shows. There were times when I found Charmed extremely naff beyond belief but for eight seasons, even in all of it's naffness, it had some wonderful moments and the excellent, level-headed Piper was easily the best of the Halliwell sisters and the one who seemed to show the most growth as well as the show progressed.

Max Blum (Adam Pally) - Happy Endings

It's been one of these shows I've been watching on E4 and damn it, it's a bloody funny one. Max certainly seems to fall into my favourite type of gay character on TV - snarky, well rounded and a good mate all around and Adam Pally's performances have certainly gotten better over the two seasons of the popular ABC comedy.

Sarah Lund (Sofie Grabol) - The Killing

Is it a cliche to feature Sarah on my list? I know I don't talk about The Killing a lot but I have seen a fair amount of it and Sarah Lund is definitely one of the better and more original compared to the majority of our leading cops and way better than her American counterpart as well, though interestingly enough Grabol recently did pop up in the US version of the show that's made her a household name.

Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) - The X Files

Sometimes being the sceptic is actually better than being the believer. I loved Mulder as a character but between him and Scully, the fiery sceptic certainly edges him out though. Scully also seemed to work reasonably enough with Mulder at times and even with Doggett and Reyes too and she's a more deserving iconic female character than the Carrie Bradshaws of the world.

Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) - Will & Grace

In an ideal world, no-one would really want an employer, spouse or mate like Karen Walker, a woman who literally insults all and sundry without batting an eyelid with a helium sounding voice. That being said, she was a relentlessly entertaining character nonetheless and for that, I'll salute the madwoman. 

Well, that was fun. Any other characters anyone thinks I should've recommended?