|
by Julian Spivey  Photos: Netflix, ABC, CBS & NBC Abbott Elementary (ABC) – Wednesday, October 1 The fifth season of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” i.e., the only network comedy that the awards folks care about, premieres Wednesday, Oct. 1. The fourth season of the series righted the ship a bit after a disappointing third season, and I look forward to seeing how our favorite TV teachers are doing at the beginning of season five. Is there much left for showrunner/lead star Quinta Brunson to do on the series that hasn’t already been done? Part of the fun in sticking with an ongoing series is finding out the answer to that question. Saturday Night Live (NBC) – Saturday, October 4 “Saturday Night Live” returns to a bit of normalcy in its 51st season on NBC, following a star-studded anniversary season that coincided with a presidential election year. The season premieres on October 4 with singer Bad Bunny, hot off the announcement that he will be the Super Bowl 60 halftime show headliner, making his second hosting appearance on the show. However, he will not be the musical guest this time around, with Doja Cat taking over those duties, making her ‘SNL’ debut. This season has me more concerned than any I can remember (in my 20-plus years watching), as two of the show's longest-running cast members, Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim, are not returning for this season. It’s especially concerning that the cast of 17 once again finds itself without a single black female cast member. DMV (CBS) – Monday, October 13 You simply don’t get many new sitcoms on network television anymore, but “DMV,” premiering on CBS on Monday, Oct. 13, has a promising cast and a humorous trailer. Created by Dana Klein, “DMV” is a workplace mockumentary following workers at a DMV and stars Harriet Dyer, who’s very good on the Australian comedy “Colin from Accounts,” the always funny “Saturday Night Live” alum Tim Meadows, and Molly Kearney, who entertained me on their short ‘SNL’ stint. NCIS: Origins (CBS) – Tuesday, October 14
The first season of the CBS crime procedural “NCIS: Origins,” the sixth series in the “NCIS” franchise, was the biggest surprise for me on network TV last year. I didn’t expect much from a prequel following the original series’ character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and it wound up being my favorite new drama of the year, and one of the best dramas on network TV, outright. The second season, premiering Tuesday, Oct. 14, is my most anticipated returning series premiere, as the first season ended with the potential death of one of its main characters. It'll be interesting to see how “NCIS: Origins” handles the storyline. NBA on NBC (NBC & Peacock) – Tuesday, October 21 The NBA returns to NBC for the first time since 2002, with the 2025-26 season set to tip off on Tuesday, October 21. The network will feature a doubleheader, including the Houston Rockets against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers. I was a big fan of the NBA on TNT, which the NBC package is replacing, so I have mixed feelings about the league’s return to network television. However, I’m also excited to see what kind of product the network provides for its fans. Nobody Wants This (Netflix) – Thursday, October 23 One of the most pleasant surprises on television in 2024 was the debut of the Netflix comedy “Nobody Wants This,” which saw the budding relationship between a relationship/sex podcaster, played by Kristen Bell, and a rabbi, played by Adam Brody. The chemistry between Bell and Brody was palpable and hilarious, and both received Emmy Award nominations for their performances. Featuring a great supporting cast of Timothy Simons, Justine Lupe and Jackie Tohn, I can’t wait to see what the show, created by Erin Foster, is up to in its second season.
0 Comments
|