2013-14 Network's New Shows from Best to Worst
This is how I would rank the new shows for the 2013-14 television schedule. I'm only including basic cable shows. What I think is the best is at the top and what I think is the worst is towards the bottom. I will continue to update the list until the season ends.
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- CreatorJon BokenkampStarsJames SpaderMegan BooneDiego KlattenhoffA new FBI profiler, Elizabeth Keen, has her entire life uprooted when a mysterious criminal, Raymond Reddington, who has eluded capture for decades, turns himself in and insists on speaking only to her.I was very surprised by this show. Great performance by James Spader specifically. So glad it's already been renewed.
- CreatorDan GoorMichael SchurStarsAndy SambergStephanie BeatrizTerry CrewsComedy series following the exploits of Det. Jake Peralta and his diverse, lovable colleagues as they police the NYPD's 99th Precinct.Another big surprise since I'm not an Andy Samberg fan, but this show mainly works due to it's cast.
- CreatorKyle KillenStarsChristian SlaterSteve ZahnMegalyn EchikunwokeCenters on the complicated relationship between the Edwards brothers: Clark, a bipolar genius in human psychology, and Ross, a slick ex-con, who solve their clients' problems using the real science of human motivation and manipulation.I'm actually surprised by how many people hated this show, I'm actually intrigued. Great performance by Steve Zahn. Too bad it's going to be cancelled.
- CreatorEmily HalpernSarah HaskinsStarsMalin AkermanBradley WhitfordMichaela WatkinsA reformed party girl finds herself an insta-family after falling in love with a man with three manipulative children and two judgmental ex-wives.Another big surprise, this show cracked me up for the most of the time. It's a shame it will probably be cancelled.
- CreatorJason KatimsStarsDavid WaltonBenjamin StockhamAl MadrigalWomanizing Will lives a carefree bachelor life on a Christmas song's royalties - until 11-year-old Marcus and his cute mom Fiona move in next door. Will provides an escape for Marcus from his vegan, hippie, uncool, depressed mom.It was funnier than I expected, but it plays out like a shorter version of the film.
- CreatorMaurissa TancharoenJed WhedonJoss WhedonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenBrett DaltonThe missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.Yes, it's a bit disappointing, I was hoping it would be my favorite show. But it's still good enough given most of the other shows this season.
- CreatorJ.H. WymanStarsKarl UrbanMichael EalyMinka KellyIn a not-so-distant future, a human cop and an android partner team up to serve and protect.It started out great, but now it's just alright. The best part is the chemistry between Karl Urban and Michael Ealy.
- CreatorAlfonso CuarónMark FriedmanStarsJake McLaughlinJohnny SequoyahJamie ChungA relationship forms between a gifted young girl and a man sprung from prison who has been tasked with protecting her from the evil elements that hunt her power.I'm intrigued so far, but it does seem a bit cliched.
- CreatorAaron ZelmanStarsOmar EppsFrances FisherMatt CravenThe lives of the people of Arcadia, Missouri are forever changed when their deceased loved ones return.It seems interesting so far, but if it turns out to be aliens, I'll be mad.
- CreatorPhillip IscoveAlex KurtzmanRoberto OrciStarsTom MisonLyndie GreenwoodNicole BeharieIchabod Crane is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers.When I first heard about it, it sounded like a joke. At least it knows it's a joke.
- CreatorJustin HalpernPatrick SchumackerStarsChristopher MeloniRachael HarrisConnor BuckleyA boy becomes a man, and a man becomes a father, in a time before coming of age was something you could Google.The pilot was surprisingly decent, but I'll have to wait and see.
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyStarsRobin WilliamsSarah Michelle GellarJames WolkOut-of-the-box Simon Roberts runs an ad agency with his Type-A daughter Sydney.Robin Williams is great and everyone else holds up well.
- CreatorAdam F. GoldbergStarsWendi McLendon-CoveySean GiambroneTroy GentileThis ABC show takes place in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania in the 1980s and follows the lives of a family named The Goldbergs.A decent surprise for me at least.
- CreatorWill GluckSam LaybourneStarsMichael J. FoxBetsy BrandtWendell PierceA comedy inspired by the life of Michael J. Fox.It's not as great as I thought it would be, but it still provides decent laughs.
- CreatorMark CullenRobb CullenStarsJames CaanMaggie LawsonBenjamin KoldykeCenters on Terry Gannon, a recently divorced single mother who temporarily moves in with her estranged father, a beer-swilling former baseball player.James Caan was great, Maggie Lawson was good and there were some decent laughs every now and then.
- CreatorDJ NashStarsJ.K. SimmonsEli BakerAva Deluca-VerleyA typical family in the middle of a divorce: two kids, mom, dad, and guide dog. Oh, and dad's blind.Better than I thought, it's entertaining but clichéd.
- CreatorGemma BakerEddie GorodetskyChuck LorreStarsAllison JanneyAnna FarisMimi KennedyA newly sober single mom tries to pull her life together in Napa Valley while dealing with her wayward mother.Anna Faris and Allison Janney are great, but the supporting cast is either bland (the kids), generic (the ex-husband and daughter's boyfriend), miscast (the boss) or underused (French Stewart).
- CreatorGregory Thomas GarciaStarsJ.B. SmooveMargo MartindaleWill ArnettA divorced reporter, looking forward to the single life, finds his parents' marital problems derail his plans.The pilot was terrible, but it has improved slightly.
- CreatorJulie PlecStarsJoseph MorganDaniel GilliesClaire HoltA family of power-hungry thousand-year-old vampires look to take back the city that they built and dominate all those who have done them wrong.Hate The Vampire Diaries, but this is slightly better. Sorry, I'm not a big fan of the main character for the most part.
- CreatorKevin BiegelStarsGeoff StultsChristopher LowellParker YoungCenters on Sgt. Pete Hill who, after a stint in Afghanistan, is stationed at a small military base in Florida to tackle the toughest job of all: leading his dysfunctional brothers' squad.I'm sorry, I just didn't laugh much with this show. However it does have its moments.
- CreatorMichael SeitzmanStarsJosh HollowayMeghan OryJohn BillingsleyA high-tech intelligence operative, enhanced with a super-computer microchip in his brain, aids an elite government cyber-security agency in special missions.Chuck + Person of Interest - Chuck's humor - The intrigue of Person of Interest = Intelligence
- CreatorHannah ShakespeareStarsTricia HelferMarc BlucasMichael TruccoCenters on Molly Parker, one of only two women in the notoriously male Texas Rangers, a ballsy, beautiful badass who knows how to get to the truth and isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers on her way there.Characters I didn't care about, situations I've seen before.
- CreatorJane EspensonZack EstrinAdam HorowitzStarsSophie LoweMichael SochaPeter GadiotIn Victorian England, the young and beautiful Alice tells a tale of a strange new land that exists on the other side of a rabbit hole.I've never seen Once Upon a Time, but I hope it's better than this generic and goofy spinoff.
- CreatorPeter DuncanPeter TolanStarsGreg KinnearJohn OrtizMiranda OttoAn outspoken and self-destructive criminal defense lawyer takes on the most challenging cases.Greg Kinnear is good and it has it's moments, but it's still up in the air for right now.
- CreatorLaurie McCarthyStephanie SenguptaStarsAdelaide KaneMegan FollowsCelina SindenMary, Queen of Scots, faces political and sexual intrigue in the treacherous world of the French court.Style over substance...now for teen dramas.
- CreatorJason RothenbergStarsEliza TaylorBob MorleyMarie AvgeropoulosSet 97 years after a nuclear war destroyed civilization, when a spaceship housing humanity's lone survivors sends 100 juvenile delinquents back to Earth, hoping to repopulate the planet.Part of me wanted me to like this show. The other part knew that it wasn't too impressive.
- CreatorMike SikowitzStarsMike O'MalleyMary McCormackJustina MachadoChronicles how cultures collide when a white family and a Latino family are bonded together by their children who fall in love followed quickly by an unplanned pregnancy.First episode was surprisingly decent, second episode was lame, third episode was terrible.
- CreatorFrank KetelaarRobert KievitDavid ZabelStarsHannah WareHenry ThomasWendy MonizCenters on Sara, an unhappily married photographer who begins a torrid affair with Jack, a lawyer for a powerful family.Characters I didn't care about, situations I've seen before.
- CreatorAmy Holden JonesStarsKelly ReillyDitch DaveyDavid AjalaCatherine Black, a famed neuroscientist with a job at the Center for Neurological Research and Treatment, struggles with mental illness. However, this is just one of the many secrets she hides from her fiancé and her family.More of a mixed bag for me. The performances were only okay, but it's just unfocused.
- CreatorMichael BrandtDerek HaasMatt OlmsteadStarsJason BeghePatrick John FluegerMarina SquerciatiFollows District 21 of the Chicago Police Department, made up of two different groups: the uniformed cops and the Intelligence Unit.I hated Chicago Fire, this was not much better.
- CreatorRand RavichStarsDermot MulroneyRachael TaylorLance GrossCenters on an idealistic Secret Service agent who finds himself at the center of an international crisis on his first day on the job. In his search for the truth, he will have to cross moral and legal lines as he navigates the highest levels of power and corruption.Clichéd characters, clichéd plot, does anyone care anymore?
- CreatorCole HaddonStarsJonathan Rhys MeyersJessica De GouwThomas KretschmannDracula travels to London, with dark plans for revenge against those who ruined his life centuries earlier. However, his plan is complicated when he falls in love with a woman who seems to be a reincarnation of his dead wife.I forgot to add this show originally, that should describe how I felt about it.
- CreatorDana KleinStarsJames Van Der BeekMajandra DelfinoZoe Lister-JonesA comedy centered around six 30-something friends who each think the other has it better.The chemistry's there, but I wished the jokes were at least passable. Also, why can't this be a spin-off of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 called Friends with James Van Der Beek.
- CreatorAlon AranyaJeffrey NachmanoffOmri GivonStarsToni ColletteTate DonovanRhys CoiroA premiere surgeon is blackmailed in a plot to assassinate the president after her family is taken hostage by a rogue federal agent.A massive disappointment for me at least. For a show that promotes that you'll never guess how it ends, it's pretty predictable.
- CreatorMichael CaleoCollier YoungStarsBlair UnderwoodPablo SchreiberSpencer GrammerCenters on Robert T. Ironside, a tough, sexy and acerbic police detective relegated to a wheelchair after a shooting who is hardly limited by his disability as he pushes and prods his hand-picked team to solve the most difficult cases.NBC, stop doing reboots and Blair Underwood, stop working for NBC.
- CreatorDavid ZabelJason RichmanKay MellorStarsSummer BishilLorraine BruceChristine EvangelistaFollow a group of seven gas station employees in Queens, New York, who have been chipping into a lottery pool for years, never thinking they'd actually win.Even rich people can have problems. So what?
- CreatorJon LucasScott MooreStarsAdam CampbellAdan CantoAlexis CarraChronicles the exploits of singles, five guys and five girls, in search of love all over the course of one night.The set-up isn't too bad, but the characters and jokes are.
- CreatorVictor FrescoStarsSean HayesMegan HiltyEcho KellumCenters on Sean, who must figure out how to parent his 14-year-old daughter, who just moved in, while navigating a temperamental new boss at work.There were only a couple jokes that worked, but most of them failed. What a waste of this cast.
- CreatorMeredith AverillStarsAimee TeegardenMatt LanterGrey DamonAbout an epic romance between a human girl and an alien boy when he and others of his kind are integrated into a suburban high school 10 years after they landed on Earth and were consigned to an internment camp.Premise of Twilight + Premise of Close Encounters of the Third Kind + Quality of Twilight = Star-Crossed
- StarsJodie WhittakerPaul RhysHarriet WalterCIA counter-intelligence officer Sandy Grimes works to save Soviet intelligence officers from being exposed by a mole inside her organization.It does have differences between itself and The Americans. The problem is it's just not interesting enough.
- CreatorGreg BerlantiPhil KlemmerJulie PlecStarsRobbie AmellPeyton ListLuke MitchellStephen helps genetically advanced teenagers hide from a paramilitary group hunting them down.I thought the CW was past shows that were this lame.
- CreatorRebel WilsonStarsRebel WilsonKevin BishopLiza LapiraThree nerdy female friends decide to have super fun every Friday night.Maybe it's just me, but I'm not a big Rebel Wilson fan. This wasn't really all that funny to me.
- StarsAri GraynorSara GilbertRyan HansenCenters on a sexy, foul-mouthed divorcée who becomes a teacher to find her next husband.I understand you're not supposed to like the main character, but wow!
- CreatorAlec SulkinWellesley WildStarsSeth GreenGiovanni RibisiBrenda SongTwo successful guys in their 30's have their lives turned upside down when their nightmare dads unexpectedly move in with them.I didn't hate this show because it's offensive, I hated this show because it's unfunny, bland, generic. The main characters were unlikeable, the dads were unfunny and the women were just there.
- CreatorRob GreenbergStarsKal PennJerry O'ConnellTony ShalhoubA young guy finds camaraderie living among the more experienced guys he meets in a short-term rental complex.This show makes me want to apologize for being a man. It's a shame that Tony Shalhoub, Jerry O'Connell and Kal Penn wound up in a show this bad.