Killer Women (ABC)
Molly Parker (Tricia Helfer), the only woman in the Texas Rangers, is a ballsy, beautiful badass who knows how to get to the truth and isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers along the way. Based on the Argentine series Mujeres Asesinas. The Playboy Club‘s Hannah Shakespeare will write while Modern Family‘s Sofia Vergara and Casino Royale‘s Martin Campbell will executive-produce.
Read the summary again and try to picture a world where this show lasts more than 6 episodes. Wait a minute, 203 episodes of “Walker, Texas Ranger” were produced. This could go either way. My bet is we wont see “Killer Women Christmas.”
GONE BY: THANKSGIVING (Nov. 28)
The Goldbergs (ABC)
A multigenerational, dysfunctional Wonder Years set in simpler times, inspired by Adam F. Goldberg‘s own experience growing up in the ’80s in a screwed-up but loving family, including Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Garlin, George Segal and Hayley Orrantia. Breaking In‘s Goldberg will write and executive-produce.
I love the 80s. Hell, I spent my formative years smack dab in the middle of Reagan era. And believe me, I want to champion any show set in that time period. Maybe I hold too high of a standard, but I haven’t been able to get on board with many of the shows that live in the time of leg warmers and the Sony Walkman.
I didn’t care for “That 80’s Show” and didn’t give “The Americans” a fair shake. So when ABC announced they were setting a sitcom in 1985, I wanted to root for it. After watching the first half of the pilot (that’s all I could get through), I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters, and think it will lose steam long before 1986.
GONE BY: CHRISTMAS EVE (Dec. 24)
Dracula (NBC)
Inspired by the classic Bram Stoker novel, this drama stars The Tudors‘ Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the title role. Based on a script from co-executive producer Cole Haddon, this version finds Dracula in London posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. But his true plan — to seek revenge on the people who ruined his life centuries earlier — is thwarted when he falls hopelessly in love with a woman named Mina (Jessica DeGouw ), who seems to be a reincarnation of his dead wife.
This has a chance of being success if the Twilight fans gravitate to it. It does have a handsome leading man in Rhys Meyers that would rival Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. And its source material is pretty strong. But at the end of the day, I wonder how long can it hold onto an audience. My gut feeling is if this show isn’t well written and doesn’t come out of the gate strong, it’s (un)dead. Sorry, I had to.
GONE BY: PAN AMERICAN AVIATION DAY (Dec. 17)
Friends with Better Lives (CBS)
A group of thirtysomething friends, including gynecologists Bobby (Kevin Connolly) and Will (James Van Der Beek) and model Jules (Brooklyn Decker), each think the other has it better. Friends‘ Dana Klein will write and executive-produce with The Neighbors‘ Aaron Kaplan. Rick Donald, Zoe Lister Jones and Majandra Delfino also stars.
any excuse
Kevin Connolly and James Van Der Beek as gynecologists. No chance in hell.
GONE BY: BOSSES DAY (Oct. 15)
Dads (Fox)
From Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, this live-action comedy stars Seth Green and Giovani Ribisi as two successful thirtysomethings who have their lives turned upside down when their fathers (Martin Mull and Peter Riegert) move in with them. Vanessa Lachey, Brenda Song and Tonita Castro also star.
It’s got a strong cast, a supportive network, and Seth MacFarlane. So shouldn’t this be on the renewal list? Unless they move it from its current time slow (Tuesday, 8pm) its going to get slaughtered. It’s up against Marvel’s Agent S.H.I.E.L.D, NCIS, and The Biggest Loser. Even the biggest Seth Green fan wouldn’t pick his show over The Avengers! Hell, Seth Green will be watching S.H.I.E.L.D.!
GONE BY: ALASKA DAY (Oct. 18)
Mr. Serious (@chapmanrunner) has been selling his whole life, nowadays he actually gets paid to do it. His long term goal is to retire young and spend his days watching old episodes of Saturday Night Live and tweeting about “the good old days”. He produces and edits the UnderScoopFire podcast.
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I see Goldbergs is on Hulu already. Looks awful. I really want to try Dads and had no idea its in that slot. Throw it on on Sundays with the rest of Seth’s audience!
That time slot is murder! Good call with Sundays, maybe Fox will smarten up after it gets its butt kicked and move it to Sethday.
I think with Green & Ribisi, Dads could last at least a season. I hated The Neighbors the first time I watched it but after a few eps I got into the weirdness of it and am looking forward to its return (presuming I have my info right).
Dads has to hold out. I mean, with the Cleveland Show gone, McFarlane needs another show on the air, right?
Does he need another show on the air? I mean, really?
Agreed. I thought The Neighbors was going to be ridiculous, and not last a season. But, after watching it a few times. It is actually quite funny
thanks again for joining the conversation here at UnderScoopFire, Nemo!
I’m pop culture guy and I haven’t even heard of most of these. Good post!
Thanks Will!
You don’t have to pretend to be cool.
Maybe a Joanie Loves Chachi-type sitcom featuring Paula Abdul and Mc Skat Kat as recently-enamoured star crossed lovers. Namely “Opposites Attract.” But she likes the movies, sadly. And only he, likes TV.
And with Paula’s popularity on the decline, the show would be cancelled by Halloween. Straight up!
For NBC, the only way they’ll cancel shows quickly is if they have record-setting lows (e.g. Do No Harm). The Peacock has settled for some shows hovering around the abysmal 1.0 18-34 rating for the past few seasons.
Sean Saves the World is given the key 9PM slot where The Office used to be. If Sean’s show can’t perform, it’ll be a major embarrassment for NBC. Especially since NBC Thursday is almost a clean slate. Also, Dracula airs Fridays (not very competitive night) after Grimm, so it’ll have to do very, very badly.
ABC: First, Killer Women isn’t slotted for Fall, but midseason. I will say that Killer Women can be a first-season hit on ABC given the right time slot. The Goldbergs looks lame at a glance; I thought it was an adaptation of the early 1950s sitcom named “The Goldbergs.” Mind Games & Mixology are mid-season shows.
http://cdn.media.abc.go.com/m/pdf/shows/new-shows/ABC_Fall_Schedule_2013_2014.pdf
FOX: Sleepy Hollow’s on Mondays? If so, it won’t get yanked early unless the early ratings are horrific (e.g. Lone Star). Monday nighters Terra Nova and Alcatraz finished their seasons then got cancelled by the May upfronts. Dads looks lame, but I can see it sticking around a full season because of Seth McFarlane.
CBS: We Are Men looks like a stinker bigger than Rob Schneider & William Shatner’s failed sitcoms. Friends with Better Lives isn’t slotted this Fall and nothing’s confirmed when it’ll air.
Clarence-
Thanks for dropping the knowledge! Looks like these shows technically wont be cancelled by Christmas if they HAVE DEBUTED BY THEN! Appreciate the info.
And thanks for your detailed breakdown of the shows by network!
*haven’t
Good. I forgot to get the New Season Fantasy league started up again. I agree with your predictions, but I definitely think some will be gone sooner.
What league are you talking about, Lamar??
I know a writer on mind games who says it’s a mess. The showrunner is never there and they are turning out mid-level comedy. This shouldn’t be a big surprise on a Slater show.
Slater= TV poison!!!
After Freaks and Geeks I need never see another ‘Set in the 80’s” show. You can’t top perfection.
Freaks & Geeks has its own wing in the USF TV Hall of Fame. Not sure if you caught this from last week:
http://underscoopfire.com/greatest-scene-television-history/ (from head honcho Howie Decker)
AMEN.
I disagree about Sleepy Hollow. That show is Good and so far, I think it’s getting a nice amount of praise.. I’m hoping Dracula fairs well. I’m surprised you didn’t have Agents of Shield on the list. Now that was a boring premiere.
You didn’t like it? I think it met my expectations, which were tempered. I think it will certainly ramp up a bit, but I have managed expectations for that as well.
I enjoyed the SHIELD premiere. Lots of potential there. And I could have my first misfire with Sleepy Hollow! But lets wait until Halloween fever has died down and see if the Craniacs (trade mark pending) still show up in droves. Thanks for the comments, Mary Sue!
SLEEPY HOLLOW renewed for Season 2! Mark the date and time- barely into October and I have my first mistake!
You completely missed “Lucky 7”.
While researching the shows this summer, I came across it but didnt feel strongly that it would be a giant turd or a moderate hit. Clearly, it was craptastic.
I don’t like Sleepy Hollow. Plot line seems farfethced that he would team up with a cop. I tried watching it,boring.I’m surprised it got renewed.
I have yet to catch an episode, but hear good things from those watching weekly. I will probably check it out over the summer, see if its worth watching live for season 2.
Except for Sleepy Hollow (on my DVR) and “The Goldbergs” (no on the DVR), I didn’t even know that most of these shows even existed.
Dracula, Mixology, Killer Women, and the others haven’t’ appeared on my radar at all and I watch my share of TV and am a big Internet fan. If they can’t get a little good press about Broklyn Decker, they deserve to be cancelled.
The shows may stink, but they certainly haven’t given them any support. My only hope is that Sleepy Hollow makes it. The rest will vanish without a trace.
You havent missed Mixology, Killer Women, or Dracula. When I wrote the article, I was under the impression that they were ALL fall shows. Not the case. Dracula does premiere this Friday night. Killer Women and Mixology are being held over as mid season replacements.
OH good, I was afraid I was more oblivious than usual.
Well you were wrong about Sleepy Hallow, renewed for a second season, first new show of the year to get that. But you were right about We Are Men, just wrong about the timing, it was caned after two episodes.
Completely missed the mark with Sleepy Hollow! I was quietly rooting for it to be a hit. Glad its going to get a second season. Maybe I will start watching it now. As always, thanks for your comments and thanks for visiting the site!
Great article with great research. One show here has been canceled, Sean Hayes’ show is likely to be canceled, though with NBC putting Parks and Rec on hiatus to extend The Voice until Sean Saves the World starts, that will likely boost its ratings. Two shows listed here have already had full season pick ups or a season two renewal, and the rest haven’t and likely won’t premiere until winter or spring. The Goldbergs is a total crapshoot. Its ABC, so who knows what they’ll do. Suburgatory has been kept alive with worse numbers.
Thanks for the comments, Joey! Its a fun game to play- guessing what shows the networks will keep/dump based on their “trailers.” Appreciate you visiting Under Scoop Fire!