New TV shows for the fall season

Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes offers a quick take on the shows revealed this week at the network upfronts.

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THE MINDY PROJECT

Fox’s new Tuesday 9:30 p.m. comedy stars “The Office” writer/star Mindy Kaling, and was developed at NBC for NBC (NBC passed on it, although it will produce the series). Kaling plays a skilled (thank goodness or it would not be a comedy) OB/GYN pursuing her dream of becoming the perfect woman, finding the perfect man and getting her perfect romantic comedy ending.

Beth Dubber / Fox

BEN AND KATE

Fox’s new Tuesday 8:30 p.m. comedy “Ben and Kate” stars Nat Faxon, of “Bad Teacher” fame, who recently won an Oscar as co-screenwriter of George Clooney flick “The Descendants.” He plays a goofy guy who becomes the manny for his uptight single-mom sister’s kid. Playing Kate: Dakota Johnson – daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. Celebrity-daughter nepotism casting alert!

Beth Dubber / Fox

THE MOB DOCTOR

Jordana Spiro stars as the doctor with a big fat debt to the Chicago mob in Fox’s “House” replacement, Mondays at 9.

Nathaniel Bell / Fox

REVOLUTION

JJ Abrams apocalyptic drama about a world in which there is no power and nobody cuts back Kudzu won the lottery for the post-“The-Voice”-but-in-the-teeth-of-Monday-football time slot.

NBC / BOB MAHONEY/NBC

GUYS WITH KIDS

NBC will try again to launch a comedy block on Wednesdays with two new sitcoms, including “Guys With Kids,” about 30-something dads trying to hold on to their youth, exec produced by NBC late-night star Jimmy Fallon.

NBC / VIVIAN ZINK/NBC

CHICAGO FIRE

Wednesdays in the fall, NBC has scheduled Dick Wolf Theatre from 9-11 p.m. Wednesdays. “Law & Order: SVU” is followed by new “Chicago Fire” about fires, in Chicago, and the brave men and women who put them out.

NBC / SANDRO/NBC

ANIMAL PRACTICE

On Wednesdays at 8, where NBC had tepid results with two new comedies in 2011, the network will try again with two more new comedies in the fall. A capuchin monkey named Crystal stars as Dr. Zaius in one, called “Animal Practice.” He was the biggest hit with advertisers during Broadcast TV Upfront Week. Co-starring with Crystal is Justin Kirk, playing a hotshot NYC veterinarian who can’t stand humans.

NBC / CHRIS HASTON /NBC

THE NEW NORMAL

Ryan Murphy’s new comedy about a gay couple having a child via surrogate is one of two lucky new comedies that will follow “The Voice” on NBC’s Tuesday lineup.

NBC / TRAE PATTON/NBC

GO ON

Following “The Voice” on Tuesdays, NBC has scheduled two comedies, starting with “Go On” in which “Friends” alum Matthew Perry plays a grieving widower sportscaster in therapy. Yes, it’s a comedy.

NBC / JORDIN ALTHAUS/NBC

ELEMENTARY

The latest iteration of the Sherlock Holmes story is CBS’s gutsiest move for fall, not because it’s replacing “The Mentalist” on Thursday night, but because it begs the very large question: with American viewers accept a show that stars (Jonny Lee Miller) a character who speaks with a British accent, even if they’re playing Sherlock Holmes – in New York? And, will they accept Watson, if played by Lucy Liu?

Craig Blankenhorn / CBS

VEGAS

CBS’s new Tuesday drama, the 60’s-set “Vegas,” stars Dennis Quaid as the World War II veteran, rancher/mayor of Las Vegas who tangles with ruthless Chicago mobster Michael Chiklis for control of Sin City. “Vegas” will get the guy audience, while NBC’s “Parenthood” and ABC’s “Private Practice” squabble over the chicks in the 10 p.m. hour. Dennis Quaid has a smile that makes Simon Baker’s look like the minor leagues, but Quaid scowled, sneered, and grimaced his way through the trailer shown to advertisers in New York during Broadcast TV Upfront Week, to the disappointment of female execs.

Lorey Sebastian / CBS

PARTNERS

The new CBS comedy, driving “Two and a Half Men” out of Monday night, is basesd on the lives of comedy team David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, who created “Will & Grace,” only this time they’re a straight architect, played by David Krumholtz (“Numbers”), and his gay co-worker, played by “Ugly Betty’s” Michael Urie. “Men,” like the hoary old lion who’s lost a step or two on the savanna, will go lick its wounded ego on Thursday nights, in company with the show it helped turn into a hit back in the day, “Big Bang Theory.”

Matt Kennedy / CBS

MADE IN JERSEY

At 9 p.m. Fridays, CBS’s new “Made in Jersey” stars Janet Montgomery as a young working class chick from Jersey who lands a job as a prestigious New York law firm with the help of a sassy secretary, a sexy older sister and a big Italian family. No cliche left behind on this one!

David Lee

THE NEIGHBORS

A new comedy about aliens who’ve snapped up all the real estate in a gated New Jersey community won the lottery for the coveted post-“Modern Family” time period Wednesday. “The Neighbors” is the creation of Dan Fogelman, of “Crazy Stupid Love” fame, ABC president Paul Lee pointed out, by way of noting how many film creative types he’d snagged for ABC’s lineup next season.

Karen Neal / ABC

LAST RESORT

ABC’s new Thursday 8 p.m. drama “Last Resort,” from Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”), is about a U.S. ballistic missile submarine that receives orders, over a radio channel intended to be used only if the country has been wiped out, to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan. When the captain demands confirmation, he’s sacked; when his replacement demands confirmation the sub is fired upon and winds up crippled on the ocean floor. Naturally, the two sacked sub leaders decide their best bet is to take the sub and its crew to an exotic island where they will find refuge, romance and a chance at a new life.

Mario Perez / ABC

MALIBU COUNTRY

In November, “Malibu Country” joins ABC’s Friday lineup at 8:30 p.m., starring Reba McEntire as a country music singer who dumps her cheating country-star hubby and moves her kids and mother (Lily Tomlin) to the house she got in the split – their vacation place in Malibu, where she has to work hard to protect the kiddies from Hollywood corruption.

Nicole Wilder / ABC

NASHVILLE

ABC’s new Wednesday 10 p.m. drama hails from Callie Khouri, who wrote “Thelma and Louise,” and is directed by “documentarian RJ Cutler.” It stars Connie Britton as a country-singing legend whose popularity is waning, and whose record label wants to send her on tour with a disrespectful, untalented little vixen who is considered the future of country music and who is played by Hayden Panettiere.

Katherine Bomboy-Thornton / ABC

666 PARK AVENUE

ABC’s new Sunday at 10 p.m. player, based on the book series by Gabriella Pierce, is about an idealistic young couple (that’s Hollywood code for “from the Midwest”) who do not realize they are making a Faustian contract when they get hired to become the managers of a Park Avenue residential building with a “mysterious owner” (that’s code for “from the cast of ‘Lost,” like, say, Terry O’Quinn) who is married to a woman prone to “machinations” (that’s code for “vixen from some previous ABC soap, like ‘Ugly Betty’ or ‘Desperate Housewives,’ aka Vanessa Williams) – and nasty mysterious things start to happen.

Patrick Harbron / ABC

ARROW

“Arrow” kicks off CW’s new Superhero Wednesday in the fall. Usually it’s not a great idea to ask a new show to lead off a night. But “Arrow” is based on characters appearing in the already well-known and popular comic books and graphic novels published by DC Comics —which, not coincidentally, is owned by Warner Bros, which is partnered in CW with CBS Corp. Plus, when CW showed advertisers a trailer in which star Stephen Amell is seen chinning his way up, ever higher into the air, chicks in the audience began woo-hooing. According to a network insider, the reaction was the same during their in-house screenings.

Jack Rowand

EMILY OWENS, M.D.

Part of CW’s Doctor Tuesdays in the fall. Think Ally McBeal, if she was a doctor — very cute, utterly self absorbed. It stars Mamie Gummer, who is Meryl Streep’s daughter – yes, more celebrity-daughter nepotism in Hollywood casting! “Emily Owens, M.D.” is a first year intern at Denver Memorial Hospital and can, CW says, finally put her days as the high school geeky girl behind her – except she discovers her high school nemesis, the gorgeous and popular Cassandra Kopelson, is also just starting out at Denver Memorial, and is also a surgical intern, and they both have the hots for Emily’s med-school crush Will Rider. On top of that, the jocks have all become orthopedic surgeons, the mean girls are in plastic surgery, the rebels are in the ER, and the stoners have all gone in for anesthesiology. Note to everyone: under no circumstances ever seek treatment at Denver Memorial.

Michael Courtney / CW

Featured Photo Galleries

Homeowner David Firth tries to beat back a brush fire heading towards his home at Bettas Road and Low Drive as wildfire burns Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 in Cle Elum, Wash. The fire jumped the line they were trying to make but still stands after being sprayed with water trucks and further efforts to beat it back with the help of several neighbors volunteering. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, NO SALES . MANDATORY CREDIT TO: BETTINA HANSEN/THE SEATTLE TIMES.

Residents evacuate as wildfires rage through the West

This year’s wildfires are more numerous and have gotten bigger than last year’s, an official says.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British...

Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

India Independence Day, Syrian air strikes, Western wildfires, plastination and more in the day in photos

News and feature images from around the world.

Cast member Charisma Carpenter poses at the premiere of 'The Expendables 2' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 15, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 17. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Charisma Carpenter, Chuck Norris, Lionel Richie, Joe Jonas, Nelly, Alice Cooper and other celebrities.

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoppy days are here again

President Obama is making clear his love for beer on the campaign trail as he attempts to ferment a coalition of the swilling.

Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

The last time Washington was this good . . .

The Nationals have had the best record in baseball in August, starting to erase memories hardened by decades of mediocrity. Here are clues to...

Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

Homeless and adopted dogs, sand kittens, snow leopards and more in animal views.

Amazing creatures from around the world.

LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

iPhone snapshots at the West Virginia State Fair

An iPhone captures the fun at the West Virginia State Fair, in its 88th year. All images were created using the Snapseed photo-editing app&rsquo...

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