A look at the storylines that will dominate the upcoming television season
It's been a long summer for those of us waiting to find out how the Pritchetts react to Gloria's pregnancy on Modern Family. Or whether Victoria Grayson survives the plane crash on Revenge. Or whether shock treatments will thwart Carrie's breakthrough on Homeland. In other words, it's been a long summer for most of us. As the new fall TV season gets ready to roll out in the coming six weeks (give or take for some shows), fans and critics are gearing up for the premieres of breakout hits (New Girl, Once Upon a Time), returning favorites (The Walking Dead, Downton Abbey), and potential new gems (The New Normal, The Mindy Project). Here are some things to look out for to prepare for their long-awaited debuts:
Can a show survive its backlash?
Remember when Smash premiered to a veritable standing ovation from critics? It may be hard to recall those accolades, considering the lashing the show eventually received from those same reviewers. What began as a series providing a unique and lavish look into the making of a Broadway spectacle devolved into a subpar soap opera more interested in the lunacy of its inconsistently drawn characters than the intriguing making-of-the-sausage drama critics were so initially enamored by. For its second season, Smash ditched its least popular and most annoying characters, hired a Gossip Girl vet as a new showrunner, and signed a roster of new guest stars, including Jennifer Hudson and breakout Broadway hunk Jeremy Jordan (Newsies). Now the question is whether audiences will return—and whether the show even deserves them back.