New to TV – Fall 2013 (Part Five)

Because so many new television shows premiere this week, I’m skipping the usual Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday post, and sharing the fifth installment of my New to TV – Fall 2013 series.

That’s right!  It’s that time of year again… the fall television schedule is here!  And as always, the networks have a lineup of many new programs to accompany our returning favorites.

Some of the series have promise, while others may flop—but, regardless, we’ll tune in to check them out!

Today, we’re mixing it up with comedy and the supernatural…

*****

Welcome to the Family

NBC Summary: Dan and his wife, Caroline, were getting ready for the experience of having their daughter, Molly, move away for college; but then Molly and her boyfriend announce they’re having a baby and suddenly the two families have to get used to each other.

The Yoder family (Dan, played by Mike O’Malley from Glee, My Name is Earl, and Justified; and Caroline, played by Mary McCormack from The West Wing and In Plain Sight) can’t wait to get back to their old life, just the two of them, after their daughter, Molly (Ella Rae Peck from Deception and Gossip Girl), graduates high school.  There’s only one problem—she’s pregnant.

That’s not all; Molly and Junior Hernandez (Joey Haro, Awkward) are madly in love and it is up to their families to make this work… for them.

The families… boy, are they two totally different families.  The Yoders are an upper-middle class family (Dan is a doctor) and the Hernandezes are a working class, blue-collar family.  Needless to say, they do not see eye to eye.  Especially the dads.  Bringing these families together is going to take a lot of work.

The new sitcom also stars: Ricardo Chavira (Desperate Housewives) as Junior’s dad, Miguel; Justina Machado (Six Feet Under) as Junior’s mom, Lisette; and Fabrizio Guido as Junior’s little brother.

Welcome to the Family premieres tomorrow, Thursday, October 3^rd on NBC.

*****

The Originals

The CW Summary: Original hybrid Klaus Mikaelson has returned to New Orleans to reclaim the French Quarter empire his family helped build 300 years ago from the control of his former protégé who has managed to inherit everything Klaus has ever wanted. 

Originally airing as an episode of The Vampire Diaries on April 24^th, viewers caught a glimpse of what it would be like having Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Elijah (Daniel Gillies), and Rebekah (Claire Holt) outside Mystic Falls.  Instead of hanging out at all the same locations as our TVD kids, this backdoor pilot took us to New Orleans.   This then potential spinoff followed our favorite Originals and introduced us to a few new vamps, witches, and humans, as well as brought along Tyler’s seductive werewolf friend, Haley (Phoebe Tonkin from The Secret Circle).

Within a day of the backdoor pilot airing on the CW, The Originals was given the green light.

I watched it.  And I liked it.  It was a breath of fresh air, stepping away from boring Elena and Stefan.  The pilot had it all—Klaus’ old vampire running mates, witches and their spells, the promise of a hybrid baby, and King Klaus.  The only thing missing was my boy, Damon.

The Vampire Diaries spinoff also stars: Charles Michael Davis (The Game) as Marcel, Klaus’ protégé; Daniella Pineda and Danielle Campbell (Ravenswood) as witches; and Leah Pipes (Sorority Girls) as Cami… a human.

The Originals premieres tomorrow, Thursday, October 3^rd on the CW.

*****

Witches of East End

Lifetime Summary: Having strived to maintain a normal existence for her daughters, immortal witch Joanna Beauchamp must at last reveal her family’s true lineage when a certain enemy from her past begins to stir up trouble once again. 

Based on the novel of the same name by Melissa de la Cruz, Witches of East End stars a ton of beautiful women, playing… witches!  Julia Ormand (Legends of the Fall, Sabrina, and many other major motion pictures) plays Joanna, mother to Freya (Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Channing’s lucky wife and former cast member of American Horror Story: Asylum) and Ingrid (Rachel Boston from The Ex-List and In Plain Site).  Madchen Amick (Twin Peaks) plays Wendy, Joanna’s mischievous sister… and Virginia Madsen (Sideways, Fire with Fire, Candyman, etc…) plays Penelope.

The guys are pretty too: Eric Winter (Days of our Lives, The Mentalist), Jason George (Mistresses, Grey’s Anatomy), Daniel DiTomasso, and supposedly even Freddie Prinze, Jr. (Buffy’s real-life husband!).

I can’t wait for Witches of East End!  I’ve been excited for this series since seeing the first teaser while watching Devious Maids.  Here’s hoping Lifetime has themselves a hit!  I need a new show about witches.  It has been a long time since Charmed…

Witches of East End premieres Sunday, October 6^th on Lifetime.

*****

If I had to rank these in order of which one I’m most looking forward to, I’d put The Originals at number one with Witches of East End following closely behind in second.  I’ve already seen the pilot of The Originals and LOVED it… plus I already know many of the characters.  And witches?  I will almost always watch a show with witches in it!  This lands Welcome to the Family in last place.  Sorry; I’ll take the supernatural over comedy almost any day.

What do you think?  Will you tune in to watch any of these new shows?  Which one most interests you?  I’d love to hear from you!