Sir Griffin's Look at the Fall Schedule: Fox

We have finally reached the end of our fall previews with a look at the offerings from Fox.  Now Foxx is only giving us three new shows this fall followed by two midseason programs.  Of the new fall series I can tell you that I have seen the pilot episodes for them all and two of them are brilliant.  However, before I get to those quality shows I want to start with what may be the biggest piece of crap this fall. 

The Mob Doctor – Avid readers know that there are two TV genres that I despise: medical dramas and gangster shows.  This one hour drama unsuccessfully combines them into one dull and unwatchable mess.  Jordana Spiro (My Boys) stars as Dr. Grace Devlin, a brilliant surgeon in Chicago who puts herself, her friends and her loved ones in jeopardy due to a family debt owed to the mob.  Now if Dr. Devlin put her family and friends on Jeopardy to battle an evil Alex Trebek this show might have been interesting for a moment.  Instead we have our young, semi-attractive doctor making decisions on whether to save a patient or not depending on what the mob bosses want.  The whole plot is contrived and this moves so slowly that you could literally get up and cook Thanksgiving dinner before this turkey ends.  If this is a hot there is little hope for the American viewing audience.  Chances of me watching – You’re seriously asking me that question?

The Mindy Project – Mindy Kaling (The Office) plays an OB/GYN who is single and in love with romantic comedies.  She wants her life to be a romantic comedy as well, but it’s not quite working out that way.  As with any good comedy, Mindy is herself kind of loony, but she is surrounded by people who are equally and in some cases even more loony than she is.  The pilot was very funny and the comic timing between Mindy and the rest of the cast is top notch.  This show is an excellent companion to the already brilliant New Girl on Tuesdays.  Chances of me watching – Make a medical show a comedy instead of a drama and I’m okay with it.  I hope this is a big hit.

Ben & Kate – Here is another show that I hope is a big hit, but before I tell you about it I will share a brief

story.  In August of 1993 I spent a day at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World with some old friends.  As we were waiting in line for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride I saw Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith being escorted onto the attraction along with their young daughter Dakota.  Today that same little girl is smoking hot and starring as Kate in this very funny show about a single mother and her wacky older brother Ben (Nat Faxon).  I must say that I am intrigued to see a show about siblings who are pretty much exact opposites.  Most shows would have made the brother a side character and instead focused on Kate and her love interests.  I really like the dynamic between the siblings and Kate’s daughter Maddie may be smarter than either one of them.  Also in the cast is the always funny Lucy Punch (The Class) as Kate’s friend BJ.  Let me add that it was a great touch by the producers and writers to allow Lucy to use her natural British accent in the show.  Chances of me watching – 100%

The Following (Mid-season) – Kevin Bacon, apparently fed up with all the praise heaped on Kyra Sedgwick for her work on The Closer, stars as FBI Agent Ryan Hardy in this crime drama about serial killers.  From what I understand it appears that there is some nutty serial killer (as opposed to the normal kind I guess) who uses some special technology to create and entire network of serial killers.  Though I am not big into crime shows this one has an intriguing premise and I am sure I’d watch it at least once, but beyond that…who knows.  Chances of me watching – 49%

The Goodwin Games (Mid-season) – Another comedy, this one about three estranged siblings (Henry, Chloe & Jimmy) who return home after the death of their father.  In his will, dear old dad leaves them $23 million to inherit if they follow his wishes.  Essentially dad wants them all to play a specially designed game of Trivial Pursuit in which all the questions are about their lives.  If the siblings can come together and become a family again they get their inheritance.  If not, dad has appointed an old nemesis of Chloe to be the executor of the will and I am guessing she gets the money should the kids fail.  Intriguing I guess, but fighting over money can get old and there is definitely a chance of over-sentimentality.  It’s worth a shot I guess.  Chances of me watching – 71%

So that’s all there is on Fox so far.  Should they add anything else, which would be a surprise, I’ll be sure to fill you in.  And with that we have concluded Sir Griffin’s look at the fall (and midseason) schedule.  Tune in and let me know your favorites.