5 New Fall Shows You Should Skip

Cristela Alonzo seems like a funny comedian and a smart lady, so why she's hawking bland, stereotypical jokes is beyond me. Here, she plays a law student hoping to land an internship and someday move out of her sister's home. There are some cute moments with her family, but Cristela employs a laugh track, which, in this case, just makes the humor seem even less funny.

When it starts: Friday, Oct. 10, at 8:30 p.m. on ABC

If only Debra Messing would find a good home on primetime, because The Mysteries of Laura just isn't it. It's got a little bit of comedy and a little bit of drama but not nearly enough of either. Messing plays a detective/single mom in the show, which is an adaptation of a Spanish series. Sadly, the humor just doesn't translate, and the whole "she can do it all" shtick feels old.

When it started: Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. on NBC

I wanted to like this comedy, mostly because it stars John Ritter's son, Tyler Ritter. He plays a gay man who is considering moving away from his staunchly Irish-Catholic family, including a mother played by Laurie Metcalfe and a brother played by Joey McIntyre. The characters try to be endearingly enthusiastic, but they end up being obnoxious. Unless you're a Boston sports megafan, there's not much to like here.

When it starts: Thursday, Oct. 30, at 9:30 p.m. on CBS

Can you turn a bunch of outcast tech geniuses into CIA agents? Apparently, but that doesn't mean they'll be entertaining. Scorpion is easily the most forgettable of the Fall TV pilots. Elyes Gabel (Game of Thrones) plays an eccentric genius who befriends a waitress (Katharine McPhee) with a kid to whom he relates. I guess it's nice to see Eddie Kaye Thomas, but it's not enough to justify a whole hour of your time.

When it started: Monday, Sept. 22, at 9 p.m. on CBS

Katherine Heigl is back, and it's not so great. She plays a CIA official in this political drama that is stretching itself way too thin. She's mourning the death of her fiancé, the President's (Alfre Woodard) son, who was shot down in front of her while juggling terrorist threats. It feels like all the boring parts of Scandal and Homeland, without any of the good ones, and Heigl is underwhelming.

When it starts: Monday, Nov. 17, at 10 p.m. on NBC