Dramas

Click through this slideshow to see all the dramas airing this fall. [Share this slideshow on Twitter]Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

Long before there was "Gossip Girl," "Friday Night Lights," or "One Tree Hill," there was "Beverly Hills, 90210." Back in the '90s, it was the hot show for teens (and plenty of adults, too). Nearly 20 years after the original series premiered on Fox, CW came out with its new incarnation, dubbed simply "90210." The premise is the same: Two siblings from the Midwest are thrust into the snobby and swanky world that is West Beverly High School, and must navigate the town's all-important social scene. Season 2 saw plenty of action with Dixon dating an older woman, Annie trying to cover up the fact that she may have accidentally killed a guy, Naomi making phony sexual harassment allegations against a teacher, and Harry and Debbie's marriage on the rocks. When we last left the swanky ZIP code, Annie had just confessed her crime to Liam, Naomi was about to get sexually assaulted by the teacher she accused, soon-to-be-daddy Ryan was drunk behind the wheel, and Liam was kicking Jasper's butt for setting his boat on fire. Season 3 will surely kick off with big-time drama, West Bev-style. Mondays at 8pm ET on The CW.The CW/Patrick Ecclesine - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

Not only is there a doctor in the house, the doctor is "House." Greg House, M.D. (Hugh Laurie) may have the worst bedside manner of all time (starting with his assumption that every patient is lying), but it's easy to look past that little flaw since he's a medical genius who solves every health mystery that enters his New Jersey hospital. At the end of last season's finale, House was so devastated after losing a patient that he nearly relapsed back into using Vicodin after kicking the habit. But when Cuddy confessed her love for him (despite having a fiancé!) he forgot all about those pills. Will they be able to make a relationship work during the seventh season? Mondays at 8pm ET on Fox.FOX/Florian Schneider - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

Get ready for an action-packed hour every Monday night with this new conspiracy thriller. "The Event" kicks off with Sean Walker (Jason Ritter) taking his girlfriend on a cruise in order to propose. But he never gets the chance — his would-be fiancée Leila disappears. As he attempts to find her, he uncovers an extraordinary chain of events and accidentally starts to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history. The plot involves the newly elected U.S. president (Blair Underwood), the leader of a mysterious group of detainees (Laura Innes, "ER"), and Leila's shadowy father (Scott Patterson, "Gilmore Girls"), and could ultimately change the fate of mankind. Mondays at 9pm ET on NBC.NBC/Joseph Viles - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

Last season's finale had "Gossip Girl" fans shocked at how much producers could fit into just one episode. Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) gave Dan (Pen Badgley) the surprise of his life, Chuck (Ed Westwick) was shot and abandoned in an alley, and Blair (Leighton Meester) and Serena (Blake Lively) jetted off to Paris for the summer. The season-ending cliffhangers were certainly dramatic, but promos for the show have already given viewers a glimpse at where season four is headed. Blair runs into Chuck (alive and well) in Paris, Dan meets the baby that's supposedly his, and Nate is charming a new group of ladies. Serena will also have a new beau this season, played by Sam Page of "Mad Men"/"Desperate Housewives" fame. Jenny Humphry (Taylor Momsen) will be MIA for the beginning of the season, with no official word on if and when she'll return. Making a guest appearance this fall is fashion guru Tim Gunn of "Project Runway" fame, although his plot details have yet to be revealed. Mondays at 9pm ET on The CW.The CW/Warner Bros. Television - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

"Lone Star," set against the backdrop of big Texas oil, is part "Dallas," part "Catch Me If You Can." The series follows lifetime schemer Robert Allen as he juggles two identities, two women, and two very different worlds. As Bob in Houston, he's married to the daughter of a rich oil family and has just been offered a job in the family business. As Robert in a small West Texas town, he's living modestly with girlfriend Lindsay, all the while scamming townsfolk out of their savings through phony oil investments. His father-in-law (John Voight) might trust him, but his wife's brother is starting to grow suspicious. Though Robert is beginning to have doubts about the path he's chosen, his slimy dad plays the devil on his shoulder, making sure his son continues to make him proud by remaining a full-time crook. Mondays at 9pm ET on Fox.FOX/Joe Viles - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

NBC's new thrill ride "Chase" comes to us from film and TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("Pirates of the Caribbean," "CSI"), who knows a thing or two about edge-of-your-seat entertainment. Kelli Giddish ("Past Life") stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a sweet Southern gal who happens to be the best at what she does: tracking down criminals for the South Texas Violent Offender Task Force. Now she has to show new team member Luke Watson (Jesse Metcalfe, "Desperate Housewives") the tricks of the outlaw-hunting trade. Along the way, she uses her wits — and her fists — to get her man. Mondays at 10pm ET on NBC.NBC/Vivian Zink - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

She's a sexy homicide detective, he's a charming mystery novelist — and together Kate Beckett and Richard Castle are the NYPD's secret weapon for cracking seemingly unsolvable cases. But could they also be something else? The chemistry between this pair (played by Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion) along with the procedural's outlandish cases helped drive up ratings for "Castle" last season, culminating in a moment where it seemed the two characters would finally come clean about their feelings for each other ... but didn't, of course. So will Season 3 finally unite the dashing writer with his beautiful muse? We'll have to wait and see, but considering the fact that Beckett arrests Castle for murder on the season premiere, the odds aren't really in their favor. Mondays at 10pm ET on ABC.ABC/Bob D'Amico - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

While you might be shaking your head at yet another remake, "Hawaii Five-0" is a chance for a whole new generation to experience this classic island cop show. After a stint in the Navy, Steve McGarrett ("Moonlight's" Alex O'Loughlin) is personally requested by the governor of Hawaii to head an intense anti-crime task force. There's no telling what kind of trouble the island's criminals are going to give them, but with a cast that includes "Lost" alum Daniel Dae Kim, Scott Caan ("Entourage"), Grace Park ("Battlestar Galactica"), and Masi Oka ("Heroes"), it's definitely going to be exciting. Need any further proof of the cast's dedication to making the series their own? Caan was recently hospitalized after being injured during filming, but a CBS spokesperson said his injuries will be written into the show. Mondays at 10pm ET on CBS.CBS/Art Streiber - Tuesday, August, 24, 2010, 11:24 PM

An everyday family becomes "No Ordinary Family" when its plane crashes into the Amazon River during what's supposed to be a relaxing vacation. As if the accident isn't enough, each of the family members discover they possess an unusual superpower upon their return home. Will their newly acquired powers bring them closer together or drive the family further apart? Michael Chiklis ("The Shield") and Julie Benz ("Dexter") propel the show as Jim and Stephanie Powell, exploring how these powers will shape their children, and alter their family, for the rest of their lives. Tuesdays at 8pm ET on ABC.ABC/Craig Sjodin - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

It may not have the buzz of, say, "Mad Men," but CBS' stellar procedural "NCIS" has quietly built a loyal audience, ending last season as the top-rated drama on TV. So much for buzz, huh? Mark Harmon stars as Leroy Gibbs, part of a group of special agents tasked with investigating all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties. His crack team includes Sean Murray as computer genius Timothy McGee, Michael Weatherly as ex-homicide detective Anthony DiNozzo, and Pauley Perrette as goth science wiz Abby Sciuto — all of whom signed new contracts this summer. Just in time for a whole new season of crime solving. Tuesdays at 8pm ET on CBS.CBS/Art Streiber - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

When Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray announced their departure from "One Tree Hill," fans were concerned about how much longer the show could last. But last season we see Brooke finally getting her happy ending when Julian romantically proposed to her. Could she really get married without her bff Peyton by her side as maid of honor? Hayley shared exciting baby news with Nathan, and she predicts they will be buying lots of pink clothes when the baby is born. But just as soon as audiences could soak up all the exciting news, they were instantly shocked in true "OTH" style, as Clay and Quinn were brutally shot. Rumor has it that Clay will be back this season, since Robert Buckley was spotted doing Upfronts for The CW in New York this summer, but Quinn's fate remains unknown. Tuesdays at 8pm ET on The CW.The CW/Frank Ockenfels - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

"NCIS: Los Angeles" followed in its predecessor's footsteps, finding a place in the Nielsen Top 10 in its very first season. This high-octane procedural follows Special Agents "G" Callen (Chris O'Donnell) and Sam Hanna (LL Cool J), members of NCIS's Office of Special Projects (OSP), as they go undercover to track down elusive criminals who threaten national security. Sounds like a tough job … but at least they get to do it in sunny L.A., right? And for Season 2, the OSP team is reportedly getting a new member: a tough-as-nails female intelligence analyst. Tuesdays at 9pm ET on CBS.CBS/Joseph Cultise - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

"Life Unexpected" is a coming-of-age family drama centered around 16-year-old Lux, who was given up for adoption but never adopted. When she's put back into the custody of her estranged-since-high-school birth parents, radio show host Cate and bartender Baze, the three form an unlikely family, complicated by the fact that Cate is engaged to her co-host, Ryan. Cate and Baze struggle with becoming insta-parents, while Ryan must deal with the fact that Cate's feelings for Baze aren't entirely in the past. Lux, meanwhile, tries to reconcile her past with her present, often torn between her old friends and her new family. After the unlikely trio grew together over the course of Season 1, Lux eventually encouraged Baze to reveal that he's in love with Cate. On the finale, Baze tried to stop Cate's wedding, but he was too late, and Cate married Ryan. Now what? Tuesdays at 9pm ET on The CW.The CW/Richard Phibbs - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

Inspired by the classic film comedy of the same name, "Parenthood" features an ensemble cast including Craig T. Nelson, Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, and the surprisingly strong Dax Shepherd as members of the close-knit Braverman family. No soapy drama scenes here. The show instead deals realistically with parenting and relationship issues, taking viewers into the world of this likable Berkeley brood. Last season ended with youngest son Crosby (Shepherd) deciding he wants to move to New York to be with his girlfriend and son, and patriarch Zeek (Nelson) trying to win back his wife of 40 years, Camille (Bonnie Bedilia) who left him after 40 years of marriage. Expect Season 2 to spend more time in Adam's (Krause) workplace after he gives his sister (Graham) a job there and gets a new boss played by Billy Baldwin. Tuesdays at 10pm ET on NBC.NBC/Art Streiber - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos") leads this new cop drama, "Detroit 1-8-7," as Detective Louis Fitch, a troubled homicide vet who is both respected and misunderstood by his colleagues. His new partner, the overwhelmed Detective Damon Washington, finds himself starting a new job and becoming a father all at once. Sexy Detective Ariana Sanchez has emerged from a rough background to become a rising star in the department, but finds herself at odds with narcotics undercover cop John Stone, a streetwise smooth talker. The team is headed up by Lieutenant Maureen Mason, a strong-willed single mom struggling to balance home and work. All share the same drive: to solve crimes in one of the nation's toughest cities. Tuesdays at 10pm ET on ABC.ABC/Craig Sjodin - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

In the wake of a string of real-life political scandals (art imitating life), "The Good Wife" kicked off its first season last fall and quickly became one of the most acclaimed new shows. The series follows Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies), the wife of a Chicago state attorney (Chris Noth), dealing with her husband's public sex scandal and corruption fallout. In order to support her family, she returns to work as a defense attorney at a big law firm after 13 years away from the workforce. The show gets an extra boost from Christine Baranski, who plays Diane Lockhart, the opinionated senior partner at Alicia's firm. Last season Alicia wrestled with a love triangle – her jailed husband, former lover, and now colleague Will. Season 2 will hopefully bring more of the same. Tuesdays at 10pm ET on CBS.CBS/Justin Stephens - Tuesday, August, 24, 2010, 10:24 PM

If you are in need of a J.J Abrams fix (yes, "Lost" fans — you), his new series "Undercovers" debuts this fall. This husband/wife spy series stars Boris Kudjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as retired CIA agents Steven and Samantha Bloom, who are suddenly thrown back into the action-packed world they had left. Teasers for the show are packed with intense shootouts and chaotic fights, but using a married couple as the central characters adds lighter, comedic moments. And as they take down bad guys around the world, Steven and Samantha discover that the adrenaline-filled chases the job presents might be just what their marriage needs. Will this be the next big hit for Abrams? Wednesdays at 8pm ET on NBC.NBC/Chris Haston - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

For two seasons now, "Lie to Me" has been wowing audiences with the perceptive abilities of Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth), the world's leading deception expert. By analyzing facial expressions and involuntary body language, he can read feelings ranging from hidden resentment to sexual attraction to jealousy. Lightman heads a team of experts at the Lightman Group, who assist federal law enforcement, government agencies, local police, and private individuals with their most difficult cases. His work gives him the knowledge and skill set to expertly deceive others, as well as detect lies. But as Lightman well knows, his scientific ability is both a blessing and a curse in his personal life, where family and friends deceive each other as readily as criminals and strangers do. Wednesdays at 8pm ET on Fox.FOX/Sam Jones - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

Detectives Olivia Benson (Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay) and Elliott Stabler (Chris Meloni) return to hunt murderers on the mean streets of Manhattan as "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" kicks off its highly anticipated twelfth season. Joining the leads and their superb supporting actors (Richard Belzer, Ice-T, and B.D. Wong) this go-round is Paula Patton ("Precious"), who replaces Stephanie March, and guest star Sharon Stone as permanent Assistant District Attorney Mikka Von, beginning in the fifth episode. With Season 12 possibly as the show's last, expect the producers, writers, and cast to deliver their best work to date. Wednesdays at 9pm ET on NBC.NBC/Justin Stephens - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

"Criminal Minds" revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. The Behavioral Analysis Unit's most prominent member is David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), a founding agent who has returned to help the team solve new cases. The team is led by Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), a family man who is able to gain people's trust and unlock their secrets. Season 5 ended with a cliffhanger, as the team hunted a serial killer who attacks families and leaves only one member alive. But many fans are also just as scared by recent casting decisions, which include the ouster of actress AJ Cook and news that Season 6 will be the last one for Paget Brewster. Wednesdays at 9pm ET on CBS.CBS/Monty Brinton - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

After her scholarship gets cancelled and she's in danger of losing her chance of graduating and attending law school, Marti Perkins (Alyson Michalka) decides to put her dance moves to use and join her college's cheer team. With a cheer scholarship on the line, now all Marti has to worry about is fitting in with the fierce squad, captained by Savannah Monroe (Ashley Tisdale). It only gets worse when Marti and Savannah are forced to room together, and it's only a matter of time before the backstabbing gossip turns into a full-fledged catfight. With a tagline of "hell hath no fury like a cheerleader scorned," "Hellcats" promises to be an edgier, sassier "Bring It On." Wednesdays at 9pm ET on The CW.The CW/Jack Rowand - Tuesday, August, 10, 2010, 8:10 PM

"Northern Exposure" and "Numb3rs" alum Rob Morrow teams up with former "ER" nurse Maura Tierney (returning from a successful battle with breast cancer) in this truly unique legal drama. "The Whole Truth" chronicles the way a case is built, from the perspective of both the defense and prosecution, courtesy of super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI," "Without a Trace," "Cold Case"). Morrow stars as Jimmy Brogan, a hotshot criminal attorney; Tierney stars as Kathryn Peale, NYC's Deputy Bureau Chief and Jimmy's law school buddy; and "Oz" vet Eamonn Walker co-stars as Senior Assistant District Attorney Terrence "Edge" Edgecomb. Wednesdays at 10pm ET on ABC.ABC/Michael Ansell - Tuesday, August, 24, 2010, 10:24 PM

Because you can't keep a good franchise down: Fans were crushed when venerable flagship "Law & Order" was canceled after its 20th season, but this new L.A.–based spinoff, "Law & Order: Los Angeles," should help ease the blow. Details are still sketchy at this point, but this much we know: Skeet Ulrich ("Jericho") and Corey Stoll ("Salt") are the two main detectives, and Terrence Howard ("Hustle & Flow") and Alfred Molina ("Spider-Man 2") will play a pair of deputy district attorneys. Otherwise, expect a crime, an investigation, a trial… well, heck, you know what to expect at this point. Wednesdays at 10pm ET on NBC.NBC/Dean Hendler - Tuesday, August, 24, 2010, 10:24 PM