There are ton of new shows fighting for your attention this Fall, and Man Up! enters the mix tonight as one of ABC's comedy contenders. Mather Zickel plays Will, one third of a group of lifelong guy friends, which also includes Dan Fogler and Christopher Moynihan (who is also the series' writer and exec. producer). The guys struggle to define their masculinity in the face of their romantic relationships, jobs, and friendship.
Where it works: The cast has some funny members, like comedian Fogler, Jake Johnson (who plays Will's son), and Henry Simmons, who plays an intimating but friendly beefcake.
Where it doesn't: The characters are a little uninspired. What's even worse is they feel like clones of those on other shows, like Will's wife Theresa (Teri Polo), who is a carbon copy of Modern Family's Claire. It's even eerier that Polo and her onscreen husband Zickel are so physically similar to Claire and Phil.
You might like this show if: You wish Modern Family had a bigger focus on the lives of the adult male characters.
When it's on: Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.
To see photos and a video preview of Man Up!, just read more
It's been over a decade since Tim Allen was a staple sitcom dad on Home Improvement, but he's giving it another shot with tonight's premiere of ABC's new comedy Last Man Standing. Once again, Allen is playing an alpha male, only this time he's living in a house filled with ladies instead of raising three sons (he's a little less accident prone this time around, too).
What it's about: Allen plays Mike, a father of three daughters who loves his family but also needs his fix of masculinity — which he gets from working for a catalog for men. When his boss (Hector Elizondo) cancels the catalog in favor of a website, Mike finds himself faced with the challenge of spending more time at home and wrestling with a new technology he's not totally comfortable with.
Where it works: Allen's still got his comedic timing, and he slips back into the dad role with the greatest of ease. Though the crux of the show lies in Mike's need to assert his manhood whenever he can, he still comes off as a believable doting dad rather than a pig.
Where it doesn't: Though Allen and Nancy Travis (who plays his wife) have easy chemistry, their daughters are a lot more one-dimensional and come off as kind of annoying. The show also feels very much like a '90s sitcom, which might not still hold up in the days of less traditional family comedies like Modern Family.
You might like this show if: You miss Tool Time.
When it's on: Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.
To see some photos and preview of Last Man Standing, just read more
Our favorite Upper East Siders are looking a little more sun-kissed than usual in these pictures from the new season of Gossip Girl. Perhaps it's because Serena is joined by a few of her best friends (mostly male, of course) on her new ventures in LA. Meanwhile, Charlie is still lurking around to cause trouble (now, with a bright new hat), and Elizabeth Hurley joins the cast. Oh, and did we mention that there's a Dan/Blair moment in this gallery? Blair may be planning a wedding, but we're still holding out hope for this coupling. Check out all the pics of Gossip Girl's fifth season, which premieres tonight — you don't want to miss seeing Chuck Bass's new motorcycle, do you?
Photos courtesy of The CW
The success of Mad Men has inspired TV to go back to the '60s, and the new Fall slate has a couple of contenders set in the same era as AMC's hit. ABC has the drama Pan Am, set in the friendly skies and the city the legendary airline was based out of: New York. The series, which premieres tonight, follows a group of stewardesses (they weren't yet flight attendants, you see) and pilots as they navigate their love lives and their travel routes — with a dose of some Cold War mystery thrown in for good measure.
What it's about: The core group of stewardesses is led by bohemian Maggie (Christina Ricci); Kate (Kelli Garner), a young woman getting caught up in the spy game; and her sister, Laura (Margot Elise Robbie), a beautiful girl escaping a prosaic life in the suburbs for a career.
Where it works: The pilot plants the seeds of some entanglements (both romantic and otherwise) and a few secrets under the surface without revealing too much. Plus, they manage to make the airline industry fascinating and glamorous, which would probably not be the case if it were set in present day.
Where it doesn't: Ricci is the most recognizable face in the cast, but her character seems the least interesting of the bunch — bad news if she ends up getting the most focus.
You might like this show if: You like to imagine that the life of a jet-setting flight attendant is exciting.
When it's on: Sundays at 10 p.m. on ABC.
To see some photos and preview of Pan Am, just read more
Grey's Anatomy is back tonight, and we've got a taste of what we can expect from the two-hour season premiere. We've already learned that Meredith will be getting fired, but, thankfully, she's not quitting motherhood — both Mere and Der are looking pretty sweet playing with their new daughter, Zola. It also looks like Karev's having some trouble getting back in good graces with Cristina and Meredith, and Teddy's ready to show off her new relationship with Henry to everyone at the hospital (yay!). Check out tons of new pics from the eighth season of Grey's.
Photos copyright 2011 ABC, Inc.
It's a good week for Modern Family fans — the show just won best comedy series at the Emmys on Sunday, and it returns this week for its new season. If you're excited for more funny shenanigans, you've got to check out this giant gallery of photos from the next few episodes. Take a look at the preview for pictures from a family vacation to a dude ranch, Phil and Luke goofing off around the house, and, of course, more glimpses at the new Lily.
Photos copyright 2011 ABC, Inc.
Fall TV wouldn't be complete without a few soapy new dramas, and ABC's Revenge, which premieres tonight, fits that bill nicely. Emily VanCamp (probably best known for her role on Brothers & Sisters) headlines the drama about a woman with a dark past who heads to the Hamptons to exact revenge on the people who destroyed her life and her family when she was just a kid.
What it's about: The pilot opens on the lavish engagement party of Emily Throne (VanCamp) and Daniel Grayson (Josh Bowman), who comes from a wealthy and powerful family. When Daniel is found shot dead on the beach nearby, we rewind five months earlier, to Emily's move to the Hamptons. As it turns out, Emily actually grew up in the Hamptons as Amanda, and her life was destroyed when the Graysons framed her father for a crime. Now that she's back in town, she's taken on a new identity and is set on destroying the Graysons to avenge her father.
Where it works: The plot moves fast and is chock-full of delicious scandal, not unlike a CW series. The story about Emily's plan to take down all the people that hurt her family is equally intriguing as the unfolding details of her past. The pilot also introduces us to just enough characters to round out the cast without shoving too much down our throats.
Where it doesn't: Emily seems to have a very specific goal, which makes it hard to imagine how long this show could last beyond a couple of seasons. Also, while VanCamp looks gorgeous, her character would be more believable if she exuded a little more charisma.
You might like this show if: You love the dark soapiness of Desperate Housewives.
When it's on: Wednesday's at 10 p.m. on ABC
To see more photos and watch a preview of Revenge, just read more
You'll probably notice there's something different in the Tucker-Pritchett household when Modern Family returns tonight: there's a new Lily in town. Pint-size actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons will be taking over the role as Cam and Mitchell's adorable daughter, and though the babies who originated the part were precious, I'm looking forward to a bit more liveliness from the little girl. Take a look at the first pictures of the new Lily — she actually looks eerily similar to the old Lily (just older), don't you think?
Photos copyright 2011 ABC, Inc.
When Glee comes back tonight with its third season premiere, some faces will be absent from the halls of McKinley High, and others will be planning their post-graduation exit. We know a few more details from season three, so read up and you'll know what to expect when the series returns. As an added bonus, we have a few new photos from the show to share as well!
Photos courtesy of Fox
