Fall TV Preview: Tuesday

Worth Checking Out:
Notes From the Underbelly-7:30pm CST/ABC: Although this show is preempted until November thanks to Dancing With The Stars I plan on sitting through the wait. Why you ask? Well...honestly...just because it costars Rachel Harris. You might recognize Harris from guest spots on other shows, stand up specials or the vast number of VH1 shows including Best Week Ever and I Love the (name that decade). I’ve developed quite the crush on her with her blatant sarcasm and bewitching eye glasses. She’s like the hot nerd girl that’s more hot then nerd. Anyway early word of mouth on this sitcom is very positive. The pilot was one of the critics’ darlings during preview week. The show sounds like light chick lit as it follows new mother’s who can’t let go of their pre child life...and that’s why it only rates a “worth checking out”.

Nip/Tuck- 9pm CST/FX: For the purposes of this preview I’m only highlighting cable shows that are kicking off new seasons at the same time as the broadcast channels and Nip/Tuck is one of those shows. I’ve been told by friends that I’d love this show and last season there seemed to be an article a week in my Entertainment Weekly about some facet of the show so I broke down and watched the last 4 or 5 episodes. I obviously was a little lost but series creator Ryan Murphy promises this season is a back to basics approach that will build on the future instead of dwelling on past seasons. Last week brought the season premiere and I can say it certainly held enough of my interest to come back for another week so we shall see.

Required Viewing:
Scrubs- ???/NBC: So once again we have to wait until January for another season of Scrubs. You would think with it’s Emmy nomination for Best Comedy, NBC would finally push the show, maybe pairing it up with The Office and My Name is Earl. Sadly though it’s back to a midseason replacement. Zach Braff has been pretty public that this is his last year on the show which most likely means it’s the last season period. When we left off JD had just found out he was going to be a papa, joining Dr Cox and Turk on the baby making mobile. If you need your Scrubs fix in the meantime, season 4 hits DVD on October 10th and starting next week Comedy Central will start airing the show at 6pm CST for an hour a day.

Gilmore Girls-7pm CST/ The CW: Last spring brought the horrible news that series creator Amy Sherman-Pallidino and her co-producer husband were leaving the show. Now as we enter the potential final season the big question is will the Gilmore Girls still sound like the Gilmore Girls? Early reviews say yes and it should not be a complete shock as the new show runner was a writer and producer with the show for years. If it is the final year it will be interesting to see if the independent women the show has been designed around give up their independence and settle down with their respect men. In the meantime I just hope they keep the smart and the funny coming.

Veronica Mars-8pm CST/ The CW: So here’s my Arrested Development of this year. My lost cause which I will champion for however many time slot changes, and episode cuts I need to suffer through. I will do it all because V Mars is a top five show. I was a late comer myself. After reading the enthusiastic endorsements from Kevin Smith and Joss Whedon I caught the first season on DVD about 8 months ago. Instantly I was hooked and started catching up on the second season. Not since Buffy has there been a truer depiction of teen life and while there are no vampires, the mysteries Veronica deals with would but Nancy Drew to shame. The 3rd season, as dictated by the network, will feature shorter mysteries that will wrap up sooner rather then later. That’s probably a good thing since the show only has an initial order of 13 episodes. So please, please give Veronica and her crew a chance.