Every fall season brings with it the promise of dozens of new television programs — all of which fight for the attention of eyeballs and remotes everywhere.
Most fade quickly into memory and then are soon forgotten, like so many shows that never make it past the single-digit episode count.
On the rare occasion, though, a show hits and hits big, and becomes the new subject of water-cooler talk for millions of Americans. It’s not often that a “Walking Dead” or “Game of Thrones” comes along, but with the sheer number of shows that debut every year, it’s always a possibility.
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Here’s a look at three new fall shows that you may want to keep an eye on and check out when they debut.
1.) “SEAL Team.” LifeZette got a first look at the pilot for CBS’ “SEAL Team,” and it at least deserves credit for being different. A show that highlights American soldiers and the trials and tribulations of their lives and jobs is something that seems obvious for television, but military-themed programs have really only recently become the norm; both this show and History Channel’s “Six” specifically highlight America’s elite Navy SEALs.
Based on the pilot, “SEAL Team” has serious promise. The action scenes are staged well as the show depicts soldiers balancing their civilian and professional lives. It’s a series that could humanize and round out the one-note stereotypes when it comes to soldiers and veterans.
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David Boreanaz (pictured above left in the story image) stars as Jason Hayes, and just as he’s reeling from the death of a friend and brother in arms, a cocky new kid lands on his team. Clay Spencer (Max Thieriot, pictured above right) is the impressive but overly confident son of a legendary SEAL who has now earned plenty of enemies thanks to a tell-all book.
“SEAL Team” has the makings of a compelling network drama, something that could possibly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other long-running CBS procedurals with characters who strike a chord with audiences — such as “Blue Bloods” and “NCIS.”
“SEAL Team” premieres on CBS on September 27.
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2.) “The Brave.” “SEAL Team” isn’t the only military-themed drama headed to network television this fall. “The Brave” follows undercover special ops agents who go in and out of the most dangerous areas in the world.
While the show sounds a little more “Hollywood” than “SEAL Team,” it still looks to be a promising action drama with opportunities to highlight important covert missions and the servicemen and women who perform them.
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Starring Anne Heche, “The Brave” could end up being a gripping show if it focuses on the themes of unsung heroism and bravery week to week. The series is from writer Dean Georgaris (“The Manchurian Candidate,” “Tristan and Isolde”).
“The Brave” premieres on NBC on September 25.
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3.) “Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.” Right now, Americans love true crime stories. Just look at the ratings for last year’s award-winning drama, “American Crime Story,” which examined the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial from 1994 to 1995.
“Law and Order” is expanding its brand into the territory by looking at the case of the Menendez brothers.
In 1994, Joseph and Erik Menendez were charged for the 1989 murders of their wealthy parents. The trial took the country by storm and became a media circus. The brothers claimed sexual and psychological abuse had plagued their childhoods — and juries were deadlocked in two separate instances before the young men were sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.
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Headed by actress Edie Falco (“The Sopranos”) as the brothers’ lawyer, this show has the opportunity to be as gripping as “American Crime Story” if it plays its cards right.
The only “Law and Order” creation that is still churning out new episodes is the “Special Victims Unit” spinoff starring Mariska Hargitay. While the ratings have helped it sustain itself for a staggering 432 episodes, it has come under fire in recent years for being increasingly political and preachy.
The brand may be able to lose that angle by working from the blueprint of a true story with real characters. This new “Law and Order” could be exactly what the brand needs in order to reclaim the glory of the original show’s first years.
“Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders” premieres on NBC on September 26.
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