The
new fall season is almost here. Starting next week, the cable and
broadcast networks will begin rolling out their new shows to see if
they take off like castaways on an island or singing casino managers.
Here, then, are the top ten new shows we're most looking forward to
seeing.
There are lots of reasons to be nervous about Life on Mars. It's yet another reworking, this time of a much revered British sci-fi-tinged procedural. It's had a troubled history getting to the ABC lineup, undergoing substantial story reworking, last-minute cast replacements, and a change of venue in just the last few months. And it's a period piece, stranding its main character, modern day San Francisco New York cop Sam Tyler, played by Irish actor Jason O'Mara, in an era that scares costume designers, set dressers, and prop masters nationwide: the 1970's.
But if the downside is big, so's the upside. By which we mean: any show that decides to replace Colm Meaney with Harvey Keitel is moving in the right direction. (No offense, Colm; we love ya, but you can be a little broad sometimes.) Throw in Michael Imperioli as Tyler's partner, and Gretchen Mol and Lisa Bonet as Tyler's past and present girlfriends and, well, we're starting to hate this O'Mara kid for getting such a cushy gig. Now if they can just keep the props and costumes from getting embarrassing... Um, hey, ABC, if there's a Swingtown estate sale, be choosy.
Life on Mars (Thursdays at 10PM EST) premieres Thursday, October 9 at 10PM EST on ABC
TOP TEN NEW SHOWS 2008
#1. "Fringe"
#2. "True Blood"
#3. "90210"
#4. "Life On Mars"
#5. "The Mentalist"
#6. "Sons of Anarchy"
#7. "Do Not Disturb"
#8. "Eleventh Hour"
#9. "Kath & Kim"
#10. "Knight Rider"
