It's our favorite time of the year! Networks are picking up fresh new series, giving us hope for an incredible season of quality television. But they're also rolling out trailers for those new series, and trailers usually either bolster our ridiculously high expectations or inspire us to bury that hope in a shoebox in the backyard.
NBC is the first network to unveil trailers for its new shows, and... well, it's NBC. Take a look at the clips below and share your thoughts with us.
THE DRAMAS
What it's about: From Kyle Killen (Lone Star), this psychological drama stars Jason Isaacs (Brotherhood) as a police detective. Sounds normal, right? Get this: After a car accident, he alternates between two realities... one in which his wife died in the accident, and one in which his son died in the accident. Major brain cramps ensue. Awake, previously titled REM, is being held for midseason.
Our take: Killen appears to have done it again. We were wowed by the trailer for Lone Star at this time last year, and so far Awake looks like the mind-bending thinking man's drama we've been looking for in primetime. Hopefully its procedural aspects will draw more viewers than Lone Star did.
What it's about: A policeman discovers he's one in a long line of Grimms, hunters who were formed to protect humans from supernatural beings. Turns out all of Grimm's Fairy Tales weren't just bedtime stories; they were warnings, and the baddies in them are very much real.
Our take: Spooky! But what will happen when the book closes on all the well-known fairy tales? Not every episode can be "Hansel & Gretel" or "Little Red Riding Hood."
What it's about: This adaptation of the U.K. hit follows a female police detective (Maria Bello) trying to make her way in a precinct that's dominated by men.
Our take: This tough-girl drama could work if it respects the spirit of the original.
What it's about: Set in Chicago during the 1960s, this drama follows comings and goings within the infamous gentleman's club where fantasies come true. But when a new bunny accidentally kills a mob boss, it's up to one philandering lawyer to help her out.
Our take: Wow! The Playboy Club looks like a fun place to hang out... until someone gets killed! We get the feeling that an executive at NBC asked for a Mad Men clone, then tacked on a murder when they felt it was too boring.
What it's about: This ensemble drama follows everyone involved in the production of a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. Steven Spielberg is credited as co-creator, and Debra Messing, Angelica Huston, and Katharine McPhee star. Expect lots of singing.
Our take: Is this Glee for grown-ups? Not a full-on drama, not a full-on musical, Smash might actually be able to carry a tune.
NEXT: NBC's new comedies for 2011-2012
UPFRONTS 2011: TV.COM'S COMPLETE COVERAGE
New Fall Schedules:
+ CBS: New Nights for The Good Wife and CSI
+ FOX: The X Factor Marks Its Spot
+ ABC: Tim Allen Is Back
+ NBC: Music Mondays, Chuck Fridays
Video Previews:
+ CBS's New Shows for 2011-2012
+ FOX's New Shows for 2011-2012
+ ABC's New Shows for 2011-2012
+ NBC's New Shows for 2011-2012
What a load of s***! I'll give Grimm a chance and probably Prime Suspect (although from the look of that clip they have gone way over the top with the boys club premise). The only comedy that could be worth a look is Free Agents, but it looks like another carbon-copy of the UK version, therefore, been-there-done-that! I do like Peet so I was looking forward to seeing Bent, but not anymore. No wonder NBC is dying? Especially when they put Grimm up against Supernatural and Fringe (I think it was those two), what the hell were they thinking?
Wow! They made Supernatural into a Cop show... what will the networks destroy next...
Grimm for me :)
Might tune in for Smash and Grimm, although the video ruined Grimm's ending...
oh now, this david walton is no romantic comedy material. yuck. ugly. and what's with his mouth?
but in all seriousness prime suspect looks pretty stupid. the only good part was her attention to detail other than that another boring cop how for the giant mountain.
smash looks like crap, prime suspect should switch names with the playboy club as they honestly would work better that way ;)
wow a show that aactually looks good. awake might be one of the few new shows i'll watch so far. while yes it is the usual cop show it does have a small twist which makes it interesting.
The comedy shows not look that good! Chelsea Handler will do it for me, because I haven't read the book and she is always hilarious. But the rest... OMG!
This shows ALL looks AMAZING! Let's hope they stay this way! Grimm is the one I doubt, because it could be tricky for this kind of shows not to get repetitive.
anyone else notice the kid in Awake is Jack's son from Lost? or am i just not over Lost yet...?
Whitney.......that's what NBC is replacing Outsourced with? Based on the preview, it'll be gone in about 6 episodes. I really enjoyed the former, as it was funny and original.....plus the network did the worst type of cancellation, by giving it a full season to really get people into the story lines!
Interesting that the network I watch the least has the most shows I would like to give a shot this season. Awake looks potentially brilliant. I wish Lone Star would have lasted. I'll also check out Grimm, Prime Suspect, and Up All Night.
Bent would make a cute movie...idk about a whole show though.
I'm so pissed at the cancellation of LOLA, Detroit 187, Chase, Human Target, Lie to Me, The Chicago Code, Suspect Behaviour, Better With You, Outsourced; I'm pissed at all the networks because they cancelled some of my favorite shows, and I'm not tuning in to any new shows. I'm catching up on Sanctuary, Justified and other shows I missed which are still running after 2 or more seasons. At least I know those have continuity. I didn't even watch Hawai 5-0 cause I didn't think it would last. I didn't watch V or The Event. I hear The Event is cancelled too? See what I mean. If V is still on then I can go and watch it online or get the DVD, but look what they're doing to The Event. It's a good thing I didn't bond with that. I can't take only one season of a show. So good luck with your new shows, NBC and other networks, cause this chick ain't watching.moreless
Regarding Awake, it's sounds good. But here's the deal. We had Journeyman, a man who used to alternate to the extent of going back in time. Loved, loved it. They cancelled it without a full season. We got His Own Worst Enemy, a man who had an alternate life/personality as well. Christian Slater. Loved, loved, loved it. It didn't get a full season. What makes anyone think that we're gonna get a full season of Awake. And Slater was great in HOW and Kevin McKidd (Grey's Anatomy) great in Journeyman. As much as Awake sounds good, I'll wait until I see a season 2 and then watch it on Project TV online. So good luck with that, NBC. And if viewers think like me, you could as well cancel it now. We're fed up that you don't give shows a chance as much as we think you can.moreless
I'll have to watch Free Agents, because Anthony Head is in it and I adore him, but I'll give some of the others a try as well
Wow! A whole new season of nothing to watch. Lots of cringe comedy at it's very worst. Looks like I'll get a lot of reading done. And thank goodness for Netflix.
Grimm seems to me to be a lot in the lines of Supernatural but with fairy tales. Not sure it can stand up to Supernaturals standards though. Also why must America remake everything!!!!
Awake and grimmgosh my hands are gonna be full with all these shows next season
Awake, Grim and maybe Prime Suspect, if only because the UK version was utter brilliance.
GRIMM, Free Agents, and I admit I watch Glee, and will give Smash 1 episode to get me hooked.
Awake looks pretty good, and I'll probably check out up all night free agents, and perhaps playboy club if the others arn't good. Excited to see arnett in something new, so i hope its good
i mean biggest mistake in cancelling LOLA sorry people...
With nbc making the biggest decision I think with cancelling LOLA. I maybe just one viewer of the network, but I am not sure if I will give these new series a chance.
I am very interest in seeing "Awake". "Prime Suspect" look good and I probably watch but I doubt it can be as good as the original. "Grimm" might be good after I get past the "Supernatural" comparsions.
Grimm and Awake look good..ill check out PlayBoy Club, maybe even Are u there Vodka..
awake and grimm look interesting
I think I will give Grimm a try......maybe......
the dramas are all mostly worth giving a chance, especially Awake. The comedies not so much. Hello vodka seems most chuckle worthy to me
Only "Awake" look interesting on NBC
Awake and Grimm look really good and I might also check out Free Agents and Up All Night
I will watch only Awake
Grimm is the only one I might watch. The others....meh!
nothing too exciting here...
Are you there Vodka may be the sitcom I've heard of yet and let me remind you that they announced Seth Macfarlene's rebooting The Flintstones last night.
Apart from that Musical show the dramas look decent, but the comedy shows are pretty much the worst of the word. So thank you NBC!
Another *** ASS \'\'so called\'\' new series for NBC i might as well not watch that channel except for Days of Our Lives and Chuck...i was so hoping for Wonder Woman!
i don'nt know , but awake and The Playboy Club sound nice
Awake and Grimm look like they are worth checking out, but like many other shows, afraid to get into them just to see them canceled after 1st season. Think they need to adjust ratings scales or something; does it even register when you record a show as being watched on the ratings?? We record everything and watch later because of our hatred of commercials.
I'll probably give Awake and Grimm a chance. The playboy club and smash trailers were boring so I most likely won't give them chance.
I don't know, maybe Prime Suspect and The Playboy Club for the articles. It just all sounds really boring and tired to me!
GRIMM its looks very interesting good choice NBC
I like the cast of Free Agents, but the show doesn't look very funny. I actually think Whitney Cummings is fairly funny, but the show looks bad. Up All Night has a great cast too -- I love Applegate and Arnett -- and I like the fact that it's not too silly/laugh-tracky, but it's still not that funny. I might give it a shot though. The Chelsea trailer has its moments, but blah, it doesn't look good. It surprises me a bit, but I might give Bent a chance... I like the cast, and it seems kinda funny -- but I agree with Tim, the premise is for a romcom movie, not a multi-season series.
Awake seems pretty good, but I think it's too original or creative for it to get big ratings. I trust NBC a bit more than FOX, but I still think it'll be cancelled... but I've been told that pessimism sucks, so whatever, I'll watch it. I thought the premise of Grimm was awesome, but I was wary about NBC making it too corny. The trailer was cool though, not corny at all -- I'll be watching it. I'm getting bored of police procedurals, so I might pass on Prime Suspect, even though the trailer looks decent. As much as I love beautiful women -- and Amber heard and co. certainly fit the description -- I'll probably pass on The Playboy Club. I didn't watch the trailer, but I'm certain I wont watch Smash.moreless
Interesting! I am definitely gonna watch Smash, and both Grimm and Awake seem like shows worth checking out. I'll probably see if the Chelsea-show is fun, too.
awake reminds me of 'the circle' books and grimm looks like a rip off of supernatural but depending on there day and time slots i'm probably going to give each of them a shot i just keep hoping nbc finally pulls out a win in the drama department i haven't watch nbc at all since heroes was canceled since i can see law and order svu on the usa network :)