TV’s golden era will go on

September 25, 2016

A quick look at shows that definitely merit a place on your fall season TV shortlist

TV’s golden era will go on

Those of us who can’t tolerate Mann Mayal, Dillagi and other such luminaries from local TV hotshots can rejoice that the fall season is finally here and some incredibly diverse bunch of shows, both new and old are coming our way.

It’s not just the fact that some of Hollywood’s most iconic actors like Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore have decided to enter the experimental and explosive world of television. It’s really a combination of diverse stories made special by equally impressive acting display. So, here’s a quick look at shows that definitely merit a place on your fall season TV shortlist.

Designated Survivor

Starring one of television’s biggest names, Kiefer Sutherland, Designated Survivor, making its debut this September, is about a low-level cabinet member who becomes the President of the United States in the wake of a bomb attack that leaves everybody in the government dead including the President and Vice President of the Unites States

Kiefer Sutherland is essaying the role of Tom Kirkman (the secretary of housing and urban development) and though it’s no 24, Designated Survivor has potential. Sutherland is also backed by a strong cast that includes the likes of Natasha McElhone, Kal Penn and Maggie Q which bodes well for the show.

What’s great about Designated Survivor is that Sutherland’s 24 persona OF Jack Bauer has been left behind, a fact that has been pointed by critics and is the main reason why many find the premise of this show promising. With the success of political shows like Scandal, Veep and House of Cards, this could well be a fascinating spin on the power of the presidency and what happens when an unqualified person becomes the most powerful man on the planet.

Empire

Not enough can be said about the power of Empire, a show that has brought Terrence Howard back from the brink of obscurity and made us realize why Taraji P. Henson is such a remarkable actor.

The show that mixes family values with hip-hop music had a phenomenal debut but its second season earned criticism for being too cluttered. With the third season coming up, creators Danny Strong and Lee Daniels have gone back to the basics.

"The great part is through the suffering comes a great season because I really think Season 3 is off the chain," said Daniels in a recent interview. "We learned from our mistakes."

On the other hand, the departure of music guru Timbaland – a creative force behind songs like ‘Drip Drop’, ‘You’re So Beautiful’ and ‘Boom Boom Bang Bang’ – from the show could mean a dip in the sound. He has been replaced by Rodney Jerkins who has written and/or produced tracks for the likes of Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Beyonce among others. In addition, Ne-Yo and J.R. Rotem will stay on the music writing staff while this season will also feature Mariah Carey as a pop star called ‘Kitty’.

The Is Us

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Aside from the comebacks of fan favourite shows like Empire, there are some new candidates on the block that could fill in the gap left by shows like Parenthood and Brothers & Sisters.

Chief among them is NBC’s This Is Us which traces the story of four individuals who are turning 36 and share the same birthday. Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore essay a Pittsburgh couple who is expecting triplets; Justin Hartley and Chrissy Metz essay a brother-sister duo with the latter struggling with weight issues and Sterling K. Brown, who picked up his first ever Emmy Award last Sunday, is essaying business executive Randall who is looking for his biological father.

After the pilot episode aired, one of the show’s stars, Milo Ventimiglia – who is also returning to Netflix’s Gilmore Girls revival as Jess later this year – explained how the stories of the characters will be interconnected. "Now that it’s out, I’m very thankful. Now, you understand who these people are and how they’re connected and you understand the impact Jack and Rebecca have on Kate, Kevin and Randall and how that upbringing is impacting them now in their mid-30s."

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TV’s golden era will go on