Fall TV

It's been awhile since I talked about one of my favorite subjects...TV. I admit it. I'm a TV junkie. Fall is one of my favorite seasons. And not just because it brings cooler weather and warm, fuzzy clothes. For me it means the return of my favorite shows and the opportunity to add new ones to the DVR list.

If you've been visiting the Playground for long you probably already know that I'm a huge fan of Castle, NCIS and the Mentalist. I mean, what's not to love about a sexy bestselling author shadowing a kick-ass detective? And how could you go wrong with the colorful cast of crime solving agents? And I love to watch the mental machinations of Patrick Jane.

But what I'm really excited about are the new shows. It's sorta like the excitement of buying new shoes. They look pretty and awesome in the store. And they never, ever pinch. At least not until you get them out the door. The new shows usually look promising too but I find that nine times out of ten the best bits appear in the first few episodes. But the fun of discovery is always there. And It'll be interesting to see which of these I actually stick with after the first month.

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Grimm (NBC) - how could you go wrong pitting well known fairy tale villains against the gritty detective destined to protect humanity? Even if the lead character is played by a Real World/Road Rules alum.

Hart of Dixie (CW) - okay, I'm not overly excited about this one, but it's set in Alabama and involves a fish out of water heroine. I think I'm going to have to at least give it a chance.

New Girl (Fox) - I think this is the one I'm most excited about. The previews are hilarious and I love Zooey Deschanel's ability to play characters with quirky personalities.

Once Upon a Time (ABC) - what can I say? I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale. My guess is that between Grimm and this show only one will survive. My money's on this one. I think I like the storyline better...and the writers are from Lost.

Person of Interest (CBS) - while I'm intrigued by the idea of this show, I'm afraid it might get bogged down in complicated details. The premise involves a washed up CIA agent tapped to prevent crimes before they occur. Michael Emerson from Lost stars so I'll probably watch at least once.

Revenge (ABC) - Any retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo gets my vote, even with a few twists. It'll be interesting to see if the TV format can do justice to the story without diluting the drama.

Terra Nova (Fox) - Steven Spielberg. Need I say more?

Unforgettable (CBS) - I was intrigued with the idea of someone who could remember everything after watching a news program about an actress who actually has the ability. I'm intrigued to see the main character - a detective - in action.

Whitney (NBC) - Yet another comedian trying to make the leap to prime time. The difference is I've always thought Whitney Cummings was hilarious so she just might make it work.

Take the Money and Run (ABC) - this show started a few weeks ago, but I'm really enjoying it. I'm intrigued by the interrogation tactics seen on the show. And I can't help but strategize how I'd hide that case of money so I could win it.

I'll tell you what I'm not looking forward to - all these retro shows like Pan Am and the Playboy Club. They just don't interest me. And I have to admit that I'm a reformed reality TV show addict. However, none of the new shows excite me and I'm getting pretty tired of the old ones.

The commercials have been airing for weeks. Stars are making the rounds of the late night talk shows. So, do you have any returning favorites or new shows you're looking forward to?

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