Designated Survivor

An attack on the President and several Cabinet members unexpectedly results in the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the next in line for such a situation, to be appointed to the oval office.

Designated Survivor follows Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, catapulted to the presidency after a fatal accident on the president. (A designated survivor refers to the person of succession after death finds the incumbent president.) “Tom Kirkman, the character Kiefer Sutherland plays in Designated Survivor, combines elements of Bauer, the grimly heroic patriot he played on 24, and Martin Bohm, the weepy father he portrayed on Touch.” says Mike Hale of the show on The New York Times.

In a state of apocalypse, Kirkman must find a way to fill the shoes of the president, a position that he never wanted to find himself in. His exploits are documented in this new drama, Wednesdays on ABC.

The Good Place

One of fall’s promising new comedies is also one of the strangest.

Created by Matt Schur, the writer behind The Office and Parks and Recreation, this new NBC fantasy sitcom takes place in the afterlife of Elanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a telemarketer who mistakenly finds herself in “the Good Place” – a Utopian community where only humanity’s most moral-abiding populace go after they’ve breathed their last mortal breath. In spite of her selfish behavior on Earth, she seeks a way to embrace the good person within and accepts her place in the Good Place.

The thirteen-episode series has an eccentric approach to life and death in the most refreshing of ways. Each episode features flashbacks to one of the Good Place’s residents and their perfect and imperfect lives and ends with a twist or cliffhanger that leads into the following episode. The Good Place to be is on NBC every Thursday night at 8:30pm.

Atlanta

The New York Times, The Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal are calling the Donald Glover-directed-produced-and-starring drama comedy one of the best shows on TV. Atlanta revolves around the city’s thriving rap scene and Earnest Marks, a man with dead-end job and a cousin with dreams of being a hip hop star. Earnest takes up the challenge of managing his cousin’s rap career to pull his young family out of poverty and to better places.

One element of the show that seems to set Atlanta apart from the rest is its witty, perspective humor. Sonia Saraiya, of Variety magazine, said about the show, “Unlike a sitcom full of punchlines, wordplay, and setups, Atlanta takes its time to build to its humor. But when it does get there, it’s hilarious.”

Donald Glover’s ultimate intention is to exhibit what it’s like being black in the United States and Atlanta does not to fail to manifest the three-dimensionality of these issues, perfectly portraying the lives and communities of African-Americans and putting them under scrutiny every Tuesday at 10PM on FX.

This is Us

This NBC-produced, emotional drama comedy is a show unlike any other series on network TV. Consistently rated among the best shows of this fall season, This Is Us demonstrates the raw realness of family. The show is praised for its outstanding storytelling which is evident from the pilot.

“Four people who share the same birthday — in that they’re all turning 36 on the same day — share a surprising connection (no spoilers!) in a series that aims for warm and winning and occasionally gets there. The rest of the time it’s corny as hell, but thanks to a solid cast and good writing, it should find its way to its best self if given enough time.” says Vox about the series.

The hour-long TV show gives a lot to look forward to every Tuesday at 9PM only on NBC.

Pitch

The new FOX drama series, Pitch, surrounds Kylie Bunbury as Ginny Baker, the first woman major-league pitcher for the San Diego Padres. Creators, Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer, capitalize on the pitcher’s adversity as the genders are swapped for her on the field, historically taken by men. Her ambitions are tested by the reaction of her peers, but she is reinforced as a powerful female character with a will to play baseball.

This unique, new show offers a fresh perspective on sport TV shows. “Fox’s new show has all the sports-story clichés except for one: It imagines the first female player to take the mound in the major leagues.” says David Sims of The Atlantic.

Authenticity is another appreciable factor of Pitch. For example, Kylie Bunbury’s character isn’t made out to be the best in the league, but rather comes up on her talent with hard work, dedication and perseverance to her dream of playing major-league baseball.

Ginny establishes that her position is an inspiration to those who seek seemingly unattainable dreams which can be tangible only if work follows it.