Predicting what will or won’t succeed as a television series is a crapshoot.  Entire careers are made (and more often, broken) on such insights.  Some of my favorite shows have been cancelled in short-order; while others I find to be absolute snooze-fests, go on for years. 

So, this year, I’ve decided to go on nothing but my gut feelings.  No formula; just superficial things, like the charisma of the cast or the wig worn by the lead actress, as well as the track-record of the writers.  Regardless, all of these deserve watching (or, rather – I hope they do). 

And if any of these series displays half of the terrific writing or amazing delivery of Vicious (PBS) or You’re the Worst (FX) – hands-down the two best new sitcoms of 2014 – then it’s gonna be a great season, indeed!

Black-ish (ABC) #Blackish
PREMIERE:  Wednesday, September 24th – 9:30|8:30c
CAST: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Lawrence Fishburne
FROM: Kenya Barris (America’s Next Top Model) with Anthony Anderson and Lawrence Fishburne
NOTES: A successful black executive worries about his family’s lack of cultural roots
IMPRESSION: The Cosby Show meets Modern Family

Marry Me (NBC) #MarryMe
PREMIERE:  Tuesday, October 14th – 9|8c
CAST: Casey Wilson, Ken Marino, Tim Meadows, and Dan Bucatinsky
FROM: David Caspe (Happy Endings)
NOTES: An opposites-attract couple can’t quite get their proposal right
IMPRESSION: Happy Endings meets Rules of Engagement

The McCarthys (CBS) #TheMcCarthys
PREMIERE:  Tuesday, October 30th – 9:30|8:30c
CAST: Tyler Ritter, Laurie Metcalfe, Joey McIntyre, and Jack McGee
FROM: Brian Gallivan (Sassy Gay Friend) and Gabe Miller (The Cleveland Show)
NOTES: Sports-obsessed Boston family is overly interested in their gay son’s life
IMPRESSION: Will & Grace meets Cheers

Mulaney (Fox) #Mulaney
PREMIERE:  Sunday, October 5th – 9:30|8:30c
CAST: John Mulaney, Martin Short, Elliott Gould, and Nasim Pedrad
FROM: John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live) and Julie Klausner (Funny or Die)
NOTES: A stand-up comedian goes to work, writing for a game-show host
IMPRESSION: Seinfeld meets The Dick Van Dyke Show

Selfie (ABC) #SelfieABC
PREMIERE:  Tuesday, September 30th – 8|7c
CAST: Karen Gillan, John Cho, Tim Peper, and Amber Rose
FROM: Emily Kapnek (Suburgatory)
NOTES: Modern-day Eliza Doolittle and Prof. Henry Higgins deal with social media
IMPRESSION: My Fair Lady meets Born Yesterday

Fall 2014 TV - Sitcoms

Get into it!