Pop Vultures

Granted, all the networks have yet to reveal their schedules for next year, but in the wake of NBC’s unveiling of their fall schedule, I’m already getting a bit excited about what will be on the tube this September. Hey, after this pathetic excuse for a TV season, it takes very little to excite me. Seriously, film an hour of a kitten batting at a ball of string, and I’d probably watch. Here are at least five shows I’ll be checking out as soon as they hit the air.

5. Untitled Tricia Helfer Project. I suppose I should wait to see what the show’s actually about, but that really doesn’t matter. The hottest crazy cat lady ever already won my affection through her consistently fabulous work on Battlestar Galactica, and shallow or not, I like seeing such a frakking gorgeous woman take interesting, unexpected roles. It turns out her beauty is secondary to her talent and, basically, I’m just excited to see what she does next. Granted, she did sign the one-year talent holding deal with FOX, so there’s a chance she’ll end up in some bland procedural, but at the moment I’m hoping for only the best.

4. Friday Night Lights. Okay, you caught me. It’s not actually new. But it has been picked up for its third season, and let me tell you, there was much rejoicing in my house when I heard the news. Sadly, most people still aren’t watching it, so consider this yet another shameless plea to tune in. It’s brand new to you, after all! Okay, sorry about that. No more tricks. But considering that NBC is the only network to properly announce its schedule, I was a little short of options, so it was either this or feign excitement about a show in which Christian Slater kills people with his teeth. No, I did not make that up.

3. Merlin. Yes, yes, yes. I am a geek. I know. But it’s a fantasy series! On the BBC! And a major US network is showing it as is — no mucking about with their own version! And it stars Anthony Stewart Head, of Buffy fame! Okay, perhaps that is exclamation point overload, but with all that in its favor, how can I not be excited about it? Sure, before last week I had no idea that I needed a Camelot-based drama with a 21st-century sensibility, but that clearly just shows my lack of imagination. Now, I’m eagerly anticipating its arrival — and feeling a tiny bit smug that there’s a buzz-worthy show that the UK gets to see first.

2. Kings. First, take off your hat, bow your head and have a moment of silence for Deadwood. Now, throw that hat in the air with a mighty “Yee-haw,” because Ian McShane is coming back to television. Kings is, apparently, a modern retelling of the King David story, which I’m sure would mean something to me if I was anything other than a giant heathen who never read the Bible. As it is, I know that it’s the story of a city under siege, and there’s some young warrior played by Christopher Egan, and…oh, who CARES. It’s Ian freaking McShane, playing another badass. I’d buy the season pass on iTunes today, if I could.

1. Dollhouse. Allow me to channel Chandler Bing for an instant (not for long, though — that would hurt) and say, “Could I be any more predictable?” No, probably not. I’m Whedon’s bitch, after all. But, to my mind, Whedon is still the master at combining action and humor with emotionally gripping story lines, and his shows tend to be rather addictive, at least to his devoted fans. With another BSG alumni (Tahmoh Penikett, who plays Helo, right) joining the cast, it’s shaping up to be another excellent show from the man who rarely misses a step. Of course, it’s on FOX, also known as The Network That Killed Firefly, so I’m worried about getting too excited too soon, but my Pavlovian response to a new Whedon show simply will not be tamed. Bring on the hysterically heart-wrenching fight sequences, please.

What about you? Sure, it’s early, but are there any shows you’re already looking forward to?