premiere season check in

It’s the first day of fall, and premiere season is officially in full swing. This week, the major networks are debuting the bulk of their line-ups with a few exceptions here and there. Over the past two weeks, we’ve already seen some series and season premieres. Here’s brief rundown:

Privileged (Tuesdays on CW)
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this newbie for universal appeal, but I've been pleasantly surprised by this show. If I had a daughter who was 12 or 13 and had to pick among the teen-ish shows that are out right now, this would be it. JoAnna Garcia plays a smart, normal, sort of blubbering 26-year-old, who is hired as a tutor for two spoiled socialites. The characters are surprisingly believable and genuine. The themes are real and not insulting to normal teenagers (or quarter-life crisis sufferers for that matter). There's a strong, not too stereotypical, gay supporting character, which is always good to see. And there are silly lines that I would definitely use if I was a 16-year-old mean girl (and still might), like "I puke cuter than that outfit."

Fringe (Tuesdays on FOX)
I blogged about the premiere already, but happy to say the second episode made me like it even more. Anna Torv (playing lead character, Olivia Dunham) still needs to work her emotional vulnerability because she's coming across as a bit of an ice princess. Joshua Jackson and John Noble are perfect as the father/son team. It's surprisingly funny, and they already set the groundwork for some really interesting storylines. The show has a pretty comprehensive blog if you're interested: Fringe Television.

90210 (Tuesdays on CW)
I think the second and third episodes have improved since the pilot. The young actors are still working out the kinks (and the melodrama), as are the writers. There has been considerable press coverage of the very noticeable thinness of the young actresses, which is interesting, but I can't believe it will make them eat a burger. It's possible that I'm still stuck in the nostalgia of old Beverly Hills 90210, and I will lose interest in this cast, but I'm willing to stick around to see what happens. In the news, Jennie Garth has signed on for 11 more episodes this season. As of right now, Shannen Doherty has no plans to return after her four episodes. And Luke Perry (Dylan, as we just found out, is the father of Kelly's son) is repeatedly denying any desire to appear on the show. Possible spoiler, I'm hearing Adrianna, the troubled druggie actress girl, who we've seen very little of so far, will wind up in the hospital soon, and we will be shocked by who comes to visit her. Thoughts?? Either something is going on with that teacher, Mr. Matthews, or she's Steve Sanders' illegitimate child. Either way, I don't think it's looking good for this girl, since the writers still haven't given the character a last name.

House (Tuesdays on FOX)
So, so happy to have House back. The show got some harsh criticism for last year's major cast shake up. But I think the cast was brilliant when the dust settled at the end of the season. The finale last year when Amber died was one of the best episodes of television I have ever seen. Seriously. The season premiere last week kept the momentum going really well. If you don't watch this show, you can hop on without needing too much of a back story.

Biggest Loser: Families (Tuesdays on NBC)
I didn't get to watch this last week because it conflicts with too many other shows. Anyone?

Bones (Wednesdays on FOX)
Another one of my very favorites. Sure, it's a crime procedural at its core, but I think this show has some of the best written characters on television. The season has started off well with the absence of Zack leaving a big hole in the lab, which they're filling with a different "character" every week. I like that idea. I'm not happy about Hodgins and Angela's abrupt break up - didn't seem very realistic. We'll see where it goes.

Do Not Disturb (Wednesdays on CBS)
Dear God, this show is horrible.

Look out for new series premiering this week:

Monday: Worst Week (CBS)
Tuesday: The Mentalist (CBS)
Wednesday: Knight Rider (NBC), Gary Unmarried (CBS)

And some returning shows that left us hanging:

Monday: Dancing with the Stars, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Heroes, Boston Legal, CSI: Miami
Tuesday: NCIS, Without a Trace, Law & Order: SVU
Wednesday: New Adventures of Old Christine, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, Lipstick Jungle
Thursday: Ugly Betty, Survivor: Gabon, My Name is Earl, Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, ER

Despite my apparent lack of a real-life life, I'm not able to watch all of these, nor do I care to in many cases (I'm talking to you, Two & a Half Men). So, if you watch something that I never write about, post a comment about it or convince me to watch it. Or if you disagree with my opinion on any of the new shows, let me know. I'm interested to hear what premieres are working/tanking.